Attraction

39.

The coffee shop is fairly empty tonight aside from one other table across the restaurant from where Regina is sitting. I greet her and order a latte before sitting down across from her.

"What's going on?" I ask her as I fold my hands on the table.

"Aren't you even a little bit scared?"

"What do you mean?"

"Li- Dylan, could still be out there. I can't stop thinking about the fact that Jessie dated him and he stabbed you." She confesses. She takes a deep breath after she talks.
"I'm just worried. If the police still haven't caught him, what if he's planning his next move?"

My brows pull together, I wish I could just tell her that Dylan is dead—I wish I could tell her he isn't going to be a threat to me or anyone else anymore. But I can't tell her about the vampires without telling her about Paul's secret and I could never to that to him.

There has to be something I can tell her to comfort her worries and end her stress, but what? I don't like to lie but I guess if lying is the only thing I can do to make her feel better about all of this—Maybe it's not so bad. I will have to pretend to be clueless for now until Paul can help me figure out what else I can say to her after tonight.

"I know, it does feel scary. I'm just hoping he's given up. The police are looking for him, his name is all over the news in this area for people to be on the look out for him. Maybe he left the state, or the country. You said he was last seen in Vancouver?" I quiz her trying to act like I don't know what happened.

"Yes, that is true. Maybe. I just wish I knew what happened to Jessie, do you think he killed her?" She asks worriedly. Regina's eyes fill with worry and sadness as my chest stings with guilt, I hate this—I wish I could tell her. She and Jessie's family deserve some sort of closure.

"I wouldn't put it past him. He was brazen enough to break into my apartment and stab me." I tell her.

Regina nods. "What a vile person, I'm so glad you're ok...I hope he's thrown in prison." She scoffs and shakes her head.

"Me too." I respond softly.

"Even if Jessie was cheating on me, she didn't deserve what she got in the end..." She sighs deeply.
She looks down at her lap and sighs softly before making eye contact with me again.

"I know. I'm so sorry..." I tell her wholeheartedly, she smiles weakly.

Regina and I make small talk for the rest of the time being, she tells me about her job here and how she also works at a salon in Forks as a hairdresser.
She ends up giving me her card and tells me to come by the shop anytime I need a trim or if I want my hair styled. I thank her as we finish our coffee and I get in my car.

As I begin driving the rain starts lightly, before I go back to Paul's house I make a trip to the grocery store and get a few items before going back to the house. Paul isn't home when I get back but I figure he's out with Jacob working on motorcycles or maybe he's with Quil. I start dinner, spaghetti and meatballs—the house smells amazing by the time the food is finished cooking, I quickly change into a pair of sweats and  at shirt before grabbing two plates and forks.

The sudden knock at the front door startles me, I hesitantly walk over to the door unknowing of who it might be—It could be Paul, maybe he forgot his key. But I open the front door to see Renesmee, her curls are damp from the rain but they still look intact and pretty.

"Renesmee!" I smile cheerily, "Come inside before you get anymore soaked."

She steps inside and I close the door behind her as she takes a seat at the dining room table.

"What's up?" I ask as I turn to face her.

"Oh, I was in the area and I wanted to see how you were doing." She says sweetly.

"Oh. I'm—surprisingly well." I answer her honestly, "I mean, he's dead now so I know he isn't going to try to come after me again."

"I'm glad you're okay. Jacob was there, he told me what happened after he came back home." Renesmee slowly shakes her head. "I can't even imagine.. I'm so glad he's gone now."

"Me too. I didn't think I was going to make it if I'm being honest. He wanted to turn me into a vampire."As I hear the way the words sound leaving my lips, my body suddenly feels like jello.

The words sound so strange and unreal saying out loud—It's almost hard for me to wrap my mind around the whole ordeal. Renesmee's eyes widen.

"That would have been—a big change." She says raising her brows.

I look down at the ground for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "Can I ask you something?" I say looking at her.

"Sure you can." She responds.

"If I would have been turned, do you think Paul would have still loved me, or wanted me?" I ask her.

Renesmee keeps her expression kind and calm as she ponders my words, she ticks a strand of her almost dry hair behind her ear.

"Of course he would have. Paul loves you, Willow. He imprinted on you, I don't think you turning into a vampire—if you would have, or anything for that matter could ever change his love for you." Her eyes and her tone say honesty, a sigh leaves my lips as I smile softly at her. I want to believe her.

"I don't know why I'm so focused on that but it feels like it's all I can think about. I really thought he was going to turn me, I had prepared myself that Paul wouldn't want me anymore." I tell her

Renesmee nods slowly as she takes in my words, trying to understand where I'm coming from and what I am saying. Her eyes seem to light up for a second as if she's remembered something.

"Vampires and wolves are enemies, but when I was born Jacob imprinted on me. None of that mattered to him about me, I may not be fully vampire but he didn't care about that regardless. He loves me, like Paul loves you." She smiles softly.

"Thank you, Renesmee, I appreciate your friendship." I smile at her and I mean my words. She stands up and wraps her arms around me giving me a tight hug before facing me.

"You too, Will. I should probably get going, but let's catch up sometime." She says using my nickname.
I nod my head as I walk her to the front door as she leaves. My phone chimes and I go to look at the notification.

I'll be home soon, I got stuck at work. -Paul

Okay, I made dinner. Love you.

Love you, too.

Renesmee's words play back in my head as I process what she's saying, that Paul would love me no matter what, even if I had been turned into a vampire that night—Paul would still love me.

I chew on my bottom lip for a second, I want to believe her—I had prepared myself that night to lose Paul, it was more terrifying than dying to me. I don't want to live without him, I love him. That night I would have rather died when trying to jump from that cliff that be turned into a vampire and risk losing him forever.