𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖
i am scared to get close to anyone... what if they leave, too

MADDIE SNUCK HER way out of the house, her hair falling down her back in loose waves. She was wearing black and white plaid high-waisted pants, a black crop top with a middle finger on it, and combat boots.

She slung a bag of weapons out of her window before jumping down as well. She took a slow breath, looked up at her bedroom window with a smirk before picking up the bag, and began making her way through the woods.

There was no specific reason to her sneaking out, other than having a small adventure away from the house which she has been stuck in for a whole day once Charlie saw her heavily bruised and cut wrist. It wasn't fractured like she had thought, but it was slightly sprained and severely bruised.

Charlie had forced her to go to the hospital, even though he knew she despised it, and gotten both pills and salve to help the swelling and bruising. It still hurt like a son of a bitch, but Maddie was able to move it now without wanting to cry out in pain, so that's a plus.

Maddie stopped walking and looked over her shoulder, pursing her lips. She rolled her eyes and continued walking.

But, after a moment, she stopped again and sighed heavily. "I know you're there, you might as well show yourself." A figure stepped out from behind a tree as she turned around to face it, raising a brow in question.

Paul Lahote stood there, looking sheepish. He twiddled with one of his rings on his fingers, and released a small breath. "How did you know I was there."

"Hunter senses," she smirked.

They stood there for a few seconds, just staring at one another before Maddie rolled her dark brown eyes and began sauntering off further into the woods.

"Where are you going?" Paul called after her as he quickened his pace to be slightly behind her. When she didn't answer him or even look in his direction, his shoulders slumped in dejection. "Maddie—"

"I don't think it's any of your business," she snapped and then sighed heavily, coming to a stop. She shook her head at herself before turning to fully face him. "What do you want, Paul? And why the hell are you even following me?"

Paul stared her in the eyes for a second, feeling the tightening in his chest from the Imprint bond that wanted him near her, protect her. Even if it didn't end up romantically, he was fine with it. He just wanted her to accept him one way or another. Though, he knows it will take a while because of all the things she has went through. He wants her to trust him before he even reveals that they're pretty much soulmates.

"The Cold One, the one who hurt you, wasn't the end. He wasn't alone, said so himself. I'm just watching out for you... and Bella," he admitted, twiddling one of his rings again. He hated being vulnerable, always have since his mother died and his father used any feelings he had against him. He was lucky that Sam had practically taken him in since his fathers death a year ago. Now, this way, he can try to figure himself out, and make sure he's with something to someone like Madelyn.

The redhead just stared at him, non-blinking, just processing his words and the concern in his eyes. They might've been hanging out for the past few days at Emily's, but it's not like they were close enough for concern to be warranted. And as she has learned, Paul wasn't a very caring individual, so why did he care so much about her?

But, then again, much could be said about her from people outside of her family. People like Jessica think she's a heartless bitch who doesn't care about anyone but herself, but that's far from the truth.

Madelyn Swan is someone who would give her life for those she loves — and she has done so multiple times already. She is someone who would take care of you even though she's hurting inside.

And maybe she doesn't show that much, but she tries. She tries so hard. But, it's so hard to show love and be full of life after everything she has been through.

"I can protect myself," she simply told him, not breaking eye contact. For some reason, she felt compelled to be near him. It was like some source was within her, guiding her to this one boy. She had never felt this way for anyone, not even Jo even though she had loved the blonde with all of her heart before her death.

Paul grinned at that. "I know you can."

Maddie couldn't help but smile at that. She loves when someone knows how independent she is and doesn't push her for things. "Follow me," she told him before beginning to walk through the woods again, but this time, she was more relaxed.

Paul smiled to himself as he matched his speed with hers, not being able to contain his happiness, not even a little.

It only took another minute or so before Maddie stopped walking in a clearing with some dead trees that she plans on using for a shooting range.

Paul looked around with furrowed brows. "What are we doing here?"

His only answer was her laying down her big duffel bag of weapons. She bent down and unzipped it, showing off the dozens of weapons she had hidden inside.

"Maddie..." he didn't say anything, only watched as she pulled out a bow from the bag.

The redhead barely acknowledged him as she gripped her recurve bow firmly in her left hand, as she held it out in front of her torso. Reaching down by her right side, the thumb, index and middle fingertips lightly grasp the black and red arrow that was hanging out of the duffel bag.

With a skilled hand, Maddie notched the arrow and drew the bowstring back, her muscles flexing at the strength of the recurve bow — it was a new one she had bought a few days back that she hasn't gotten to use yet — bringing the arrow back to her cheek.

Taking in a small breath and steadying her hand, she finally released the arrow, and watched as it soared through the air, hitting one of the skinnier trees about fifteen feet away from her.

It wasn't a long distance, but she hasn't used one of her bows in while, and needs to get used to it again.

Grinning to herself, she lowered the bow and turned her head to look at Paul who was impressed.

"Damn," he breathed out, and smiled once he saw that she was staring at him.

Maddie tilted her head forward and smirked. "If you like that, you should see this." She gently laid down her bow and went back into the bag, pulling out one of her throwing knives. It was one she has used a million times over and has a sentiment value to her. It was one that Dean had used growing up and had passed down to her. It had his initials carved into it, and seeing as it is now hers, he had carved her initials into it too.

Smiling down at the object, she delicately moved her fingers over the initials before standing up and flipping the knife in her hand for a few seconds.

Then, she turned her attention to Paul, smirking before she threw the knife, not breaking eye contact with the shapeshifter. The throwing knife soared through the air much like the arrow, and hit the space just above the arrow.

"That was amazing!" Paul exclaimed in excitement as he jumped up and down.

Maddie couldn't help but smile at that, feeling her heart lighten slightly at his compliment and the way he was staring at her with soft melted chocolate eyes.

THEY HAD STAYED in the woods for a few hours. For the first thirty minutes, Paul was just standing there, watching her in awe as she practiced. The rest was spent with Maddie trying to teach him how to use a recurve bow which didn't end well. He had almost shot her with an arrow that had him feeling terrible but left her laughing at his clumsiness.

After him almost shooting an arrow into his own foot, they had made their way to the Swan household where they decided to hand out in her room.

They had ordered some pepperoni pizza and was currently chowing down on it, feeling relaxed in each other's presences.

Maddie was laughing as Paul told her a story about how Quil once lost a bet and had to run through the town butt-naked. It was funny as hell because Jared and Embry had taken videos of the whole incident.

Paul smiled at her, loving how happy and relaxed she seemed in this moment. He knew it probably wasn't going to last, but he was going to try his best to keep that beautiful smile on her face.

But, now he has to figure out when and if he should tell her about the imprint. She has every reason to know about it, it affected her too, but he was too scared to ruin their already messy friendship. So, for now, he was going to play the waiting game.