"Dude, there was no way that waitress was hitting on you. Keep dreaming," Embry teased as Quil scowled.

"No way! She was into me, Embry," Quil retorted.

Paul laughed as their exchange and I felt his hand clasp around mine. "You know I gotta love you in order to put up with these two," he sighed.

I glanced at him and smiled. Love me? He must be kidding. I gasped when he pulled me in front of him, wrapped his arms around my waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder. "I don't wanna leave you," he whispered.

As we walked back to my apartment building, I felt it too. This day was almost over and then I had to say goodbye to Paul for God knows how long. I took them to a nearby sandwich shop so I could reward them for all their hard work, but I would've done anything to get them to stay a little longer.

Now standing in front of the Suburban, there's no more stalling. I know Paul has a long drive ahead of him and it's not fair of me to prolong this goodbye any longer. "I guess you guys need to head out soon?"

Paul leaned against the driver side door and nodded. "Yeah."

I gave Quil and Embry hugs, thanking them for all their help. They beamed proudly and I felt lucky that my brother has these two fiercely loyal friends in his life. Jacob gave me a scowl, silently asking me not to embarrass him in front of his friends.

Of course, I ignored his silent plea. I yanked on his shirt and said, "I loved being home with you this summer. I've missed you," my voice cracked. "I hope you can forgive me for deserting you all those years ago. I never meant to hurt you. I love you, Jacob."

He blinked back tears as he pulled me into a tight hug. "I love you too, Rach," he sighed.

"That's so sweet," Quil gushed and we both turned to scowl at him.

"Eat it, Ateara!" I grumbled.

The boys laughed and I watched as they scrambled back into the Suburban, leaving me alone with Paul.

Paul.

I approached him cautiously, refusing to meet his gaze. I twisted my fists in his t-shirt and tried not to cry. "I don't wanna say goodbye to you," I murmured softly into his chest.

"Then don't say goodbye," he replied, wrapping me up in his arms. "This won't be forever. We will see each other again soon."

"I won't see you tomorrow," I groaned, my forehead still pressed to his chest. I felt myself getting angrier by the moment. My body tensed and Paul must have felt it too because he raised a hand to my neck and kneaded the muscles there. He lifted his other hand to my chin, trying to lift my gaze to join his. I saw the desire in his eyes and it just made me mad.

When he leaned in to kiss me, I pushed him away. "You should go. Please be careful getting home."

I twisted away from Paul's grasp and he called out to me. "Rachel, don't do this!"

"Just go!" I hollered as I ran from him and escaped into my apartment building. I bolted up the stairs and fled into my apartment. I slammed the door shut and leaned against the door. "Dammit!"

I didn't want to need him. I didn't want to hurt this badly. But I can't just let him go.

As I raced back down the stairs, I knew there was chance that I was too late. I flung the door open and screamed for Paul. I saw the tail lights of the Suburban as it reached the exit of the parking lot. Paul put the car in park as I ran to him. I stepped up on the running board and leaned in through the open window, completely breathless.

"Did you forget something?" he asked, worry etched on his face.

"Just this," I gasped, pressing my lips to his. He sighed as he reached under my arms and dragged me in through the window. He turned my body and placed me across his lap. I licked his lips with the flick of my tongue and his mouth parted slightly, allowing me entrance.

He held me so tightly against him as our tongues danced. I felt his hand behind my head, tilting it back, allowing him to kiss my chin and down my neck. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held onto him for dear life. "I'm gonna miss you so much," I admitted, struggling to catch my breath.

Paul buried his face in my neck and nodded. "I'll miss you more." He lifted his hips a little, pressing his arousal against my hip. He lowered his voice and whispered, "And Pablo will miss you too."

"Dude, pay up! I told you she'd come back down here!" Quil howled as I saw Embry scowl.

I laughed and I began to relax. Paul gave me several more soft kisses to my lips before I opened the door and finally said goodbye. "Please look out for my brother when school starts. Please?"

Paul nodded and grabbed the side of my neck, he kissed me once more before I gave him a look that let him know I'll be okay. As they drove off, I heard Embry ask, "Who's Pablo?"

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

I only let myself wallow about Paul for a little while. I found a box containing all the presents from my going away party and I smiled. I was given some nice things for my apartment like a cute apron from Sue Clearwater, a rack to hang my keys on from Jacob, and Quil gave me a really great coffee table book about La Push.

In the box, I also saw an unwrapped gift I must have missed. It's wrapped in plain newspaper and no card. When I opened it, I see a beautiful rustic wooden framed picture of Paul and I on the beach. I smiled at the memory, knowing exactly when it was taken.

Paul was standing behind me, arms wrapped around my waist, head buried in my ear. I am mid-laugh, my smile warm and bright. We looked so happy together. When I turned the frame over in my hand, I found the inscription.

Rachel,

I just wanted you to see what the best summer of my life looks like.

Paul

I held the picture to my chest and let the tears fall. How will I survive this year without Paul?

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

"Anybody home?"

When my roommates returned later, I've made no progress in unpacking my room. I'm still clutching the picture of Paul and I when they came creeping in. "Are you asleep?" Kira asked when she found me lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Did your friends leave?" Holly asked. You mean is Paul still here? Ugh.

"Yeah they had to get back to La Push."

Just then I saw Holly reach down and pick up her crumpled phone number off the floor. "What the hell is this?"

"Paul wasn't interested," I blurted, realizing that was a bit harsh. "I'm sorry."

Holly stared daggers at me. "Bull. What did you say to him?" This girl just can't handle rejection.

"Nothing. He said something about not liking blondes." My jaw kept clenching as I got angrier.

Holly stood there pouting and then approached me, grabbing Paul's picture from my hands. "What's this?"

I felt my anger boiling now as I watched her run her finger over Paul's face and smile. When she turned the frame over and read the back, the smile disappeared. "Best summer, huh? So he's your boyfriend? You coulda said something, Rachel!"

I stood and snatched my picture back from her. "He's not...but it's complicated."

Kira finally chimed in. "Let's calm down. We should set some ground rules about boys, dontcha think?"

We then began to talk and I explained some of the situation with Paul, other than his age. Holly still seemed pissed, but I didn't care. When I had admitted that I had encouraged Paul not to wait for me and to go ahead and see other people, Holly rolled her eyes. We all agreed we would be more honest with each other. Kira wouldn't let up with the peacemaking until we hugged it out. She was the polar opposite of Holly in looks and attitude. Kira was a petite brunette, curvy with a sunny personality. Holly's icy personality seemed to match her white blonde hair and chiseled features.

That night, I went to sleep with Paul on my mind. Jacob had called to say they made it home safely and that Paul had plans to go home and get to bed after the long drive. I was disappointed that he didn't call. God, it was already so hard to be apart from him.

I was about to drift off when the phone rang, startling me. I answered it quickly, hoping it didn't disturb my roommates. "Hello?"

"Did I wake you?"

I let out a huge sigh of relief when I heard Paul's warm voice come through the line. "No...I wasn't asleep yet."

He sucked in a deep breath and says, "So..."

This felt awkward. We've never had a hard time coming up with something to talk about, but now the distance seemed to be swallowing us up. "So..."

Paul hummed softly in his gruff, sexy voice, "What are you wearing?"

Heat pooled between my legs, but I laughed and all the tension seemed to disappear. The conversation seemed to flow better, even though my want for him was still constantly in the back of my mind. I begrudgingly ended the call, trying to be aware of long distance charges. It was hard to let him go again. I just hated it.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Things got busy for both of us after that day. Paul got a new job, although he wouldn't tell me where. It made me think maybe it was a job I wouldn't appprove of. I started at the book store and after a few weeks, I picked up another job waitressing at the pizza place that Kira worked at. I also tutored a couple hours a week. Keeping up with schoolwork and finding time to sleep became a battle.

Lots of Paul's calls went unanswered because I was never home. He sounded frustrated when he left me messages. Later we agreed that I would call him, usually on Sundays. Once a week didn't seem to be enough for him, but I was trying. No matter how crazy our days were, that phone call on Sunday became the thing I looked forward to the most.

I expected my feelings for Paul to subside a little with the distance between us, but it didn't...at least not for me. I still melted at the sound of his voice and I would constantly fantasize that I would open my door and find him standing there. Concentration became another battle for me as Paul was forever on my mind.

That must have been why I called him that night after me and Kira got drunk making our own margaritas in the apartment. I had confessed my love for Paul to her and made her promise not to let me drunk dial him, but after she passed out, I did it anyway.

That was a terrible mistake.

......
A/N: please vote and/or comment if you have time. I'd love to know what you think!