Fool For Him
by Momma2fan
FAGE 15: Endings.
Title: Fool for Him
Written for: Brierlynn03
Written by: momma2fan
Pairing: Bella/Paul
Rating: T
Summary/Prompt used: I’m in love with an idiot.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The funeral was over, and she was cleaning out the clutter from the house she’d grown up in following the death of her father. Bella was grateful for the time she’d been able to spend with Charlie before the cancer took him away forever. Bella never dreamed she would end up moving back to the town where she had experienced so much pain at the hands of the boy she’d loved, but she had.
She stood in the attic, staring at the boxes her packrat father had held onto all these years. Most of them were things she’d moved up there before leaving for college. Several contained memories she’d rather forget.
Pulling her hair up, she got to work. She looked through box after box, scooting them all closer to the attic opening so they could be tossed down and thrown away or donated. It was when she got to the last box that she found it. After ten years, it had lost its shine, but she could still see the red heart surrounded by gold. Holding the chain up to the light and flipping over the charm, Bella could barely make out the words engraved on the back. With tears in her eyes, she allowed the memory of her Senior year in high school to invade her thoughts.
~F4H~
Forks was a small town where everyone knew everyone because they either grew up together, were related in some form, or had dated—even the people from the LaPush reservation, which was thirty minutes away. When the high school on the res burned to the ground ten years before, there was no talk about rebuilding it, they just matriculated those kids to Forks High School, and life went on. There were never any changes, at least nothing anyone would notice. Until the year the chief’s daughter visited her mother and came back a whole new person.
Growing up the daughter of the Chief of Police meant Bella was no stranger to pranks and practical jokes. She’d been the butt of the joke more times than she could count and tried not to let it bother her. At least until Bella got to High School, where it seemed there was someone there to play a prank on her everywhere she turned. Most times, they were harmless; balloons floating out of her locker when she opened it, a frog jumping from her backpack, and one time there was even an exploding canister of confetti. It wasn’t until her Senior year that they became more personal and hurtful.
Bella had spent the summer in Florida with her mom and Phil and had come back to Forks looking completely different. Gone were the too-large shirts, flannels, and baggy jeans. In their place were form-fitting jeans and leggings, with tops that accentuated her curves, making her look like a woman. The only thing she hadn’t let go of was her beloved chucks. However, now she had them in a variety of colors.
Not only had Bella changed her clothes, but her mother had convinced her to update her hairstyle as well. Knowing her daughter loved her long hair but didn’t know what to do with it, she’d taken her to her hairdresser, who’d cut layers in and made it so that Bella’s natural red highlights showed through. Bella had also learned the fine art of a flat iron and a curling brush. Her hair was now shiny, healthy, and no longer in a messy bun on top of her head.
Walking into school that first day, she was in no way prepared for the attention she would receive, especially once people figured out who she was. The girls, who were generally exceptionally bitchy, became more so, and the boys, who had never noticed her before or thought she was a tomboy, were staring so hard she was afraid their eyes would bug out. Unfortunately, or fortunately, one of the guys who was bug-eyed happened to be the one boy Bella had a crush on.
He was a player, a fact she was well aware of, but Bella’s heart still raced when he would pass by her in the hallways. He never gave any indication he’d noticed her, until that morning. Unfortunately for him, his friends also noticed him see her, and there began the most extensive and cruelest prank to be pulled on Bella Swan.
Never one to participate in extracurriculars, Bella avoided everything to do with school spirit. She never went to any of the sporting events, pep rallies, or parties that were thrown, content to volunteer in the library or tutor the elementary kids who needed help. Bella had vowed never to turn into someone she couldn’t look at in her own mirror.
When the final bell rang on that first day, Bella walked to her locker to get out the books she’d need for her homework. She was surprised when she saw a folded-up piece of paper fall to her feet. Picking it up, she looked around to see who might have left it. Seeing no one, she put it in her bag to read later and slammed her locker closed before heading to the parking lot.
When Bella got home, she grabbed the mail and walked into the house, dropping her bag on the couch. After grabbing an apple and setting out something to thaw for dinner, she sat down and began her homework, never noticing the note fall out of her bag. She was still studying when her dad walked in the door.
“Hey, Bells.”
Looking up, she smiled at him, “Hey. Are you early, or am I running behind?”
Charlie chuckled, “I’m early. I have to go back later tonight to cover for Mark.”
Bella stood up, “Okay, I’ll get dinner going while you rest for a while.”
“Thanks, honey.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and went upstairs.
After Bella had made dinner and her father had left for work, although not before he made sure she had locked up completely, she settled in to read her book. Eventually, Bella began nodding off and decided it was time to clean up and head to bed. As she was putting everything away, she found the note on the floor. Sighing, she unfolded it and was stunned by what she read.
Bella,
You are absolutely beautiful, and I would love to get to know you better. Please come to the game on Friday and join me afterward for some pizza. I hope to see you there.
-P
Bella reread the note several times before shaking her head and crumpling up the paper. She would not allow them to play such a sick joke on her. Seriously. Using the boy she had a crush on to hurt her.
Things happened the same way over the next several months, notes would appear in her locker or on her windshield, and sometimes they would be accompanied by a flower or some candy. Finally, Bella had enough, threw everything into a box, and brought it to school. She had a plan; she just hoped she could see it through.
Walking into the cafeteria, Bella marched to the table where the jocks sat and slammed the box in front of him. “Stop sending me notes, flowers, and anything else you might want to make fun of me with. I’m not interested in being the butt of your joke.”
Having said her piece, Bella spun around and fled the cafeteria. She never expected him to follow her.
“Slow down, Swan!” He reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. “Stop.”
Bella wrenched her arm free, “What do you want?”
“I want to know what that shit was that you slammed in front of me. I haven’t sent you anything.”
“Well, then perhaps your friends are having a laugh at both our expenses. Either way, I want no part of it. Excuse me,” she spun back around and left him standing there with his mouth agape.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. The notes and gifts continued; in fact, they were ramped up. Every day there was something new in her locker or on her car. Not only the gifts but there was also a particular person at each location, and he was starting to annoy her.
“Do I need to get a restraining order?”
“Ah, come on, Swan. You know you love seeing me.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Lahote.”
Paul chuckled and stared at the beauty before him. He knew exactly what his friends were up to, but unfortunately for them, their tricks would backfire. He wanted her attention, and now he had it. His only problem was figuring out how to keep it.
“Come on, Bella, one date. That’s all I’m asking.”
“No,” she replied as she slammed her locker shut and walked away.
He let her walk away, and Bella sighed in relief. She was getting tired of being the center of attention. She decided to talk to her dad about it.
“Why don’t you just go out with him?” Charlie asked while they ate dinner.
“Because he doesn’t really want to go out with the police chief’s daughter. I’ve been the butt of everyone’s jokes ever since I can remember. This is the first time it’s ever been in order to get a date.”
Charlie knew that the kids picked on her because of who he was, but he never realized how bad it was. “Do you want me to call Aaron or Bonnie?”
Shaking her head, she really didn’t want to involve his parents. “No, it’ll blow over. Eventually, he has to stop, right?”
She was wrong. It was after the Christmas/New Year break that people began to notice the change in her. She wasn’t as unaffected by all the attention and joking as she seemed. Her hair was back in its bun, and her flannels had begun reappearing.
Paul approached her cautiously one day in mid-January. “Bella?”
Bella sighed, “What do you want, Lahote?”
“I want a date with you. Just one date. If you have a miserable time, I swear I will leave you alone. If you have fun...” Paul trailed off.
Looking down, she hunched her shoulders and sighed, “Fine. One date.”
One date turned to two, and before she realized it, Bella had been dating Paul for nearly a month. As Valentine’s Day approached, she prayed their relationship wasn’t all a prank, and he wasn’t out to hurt her. She knew if it were, she would be devastated since she had fallen hard for him.
Paul had spent the last month telling his friends to back off her. He was in love with her, and he just knew they were going to destroy what they had. After he bought a special gift for her, he knew it was time to lay down the law with them.
“You guys need to back off.” When the guys around him only laughed, Paul stood up, slamming his hands on the table. “I’m not kidding. I love that girl, and you guys better not do anything to ruin it. If you do, God help you when I get a hold of you.”
For Valentine’s Day, Paul took her to a fancy restaurant and pushed a jewelry box across the table to her.
“What’s this?”
“Just open it.”
Bella smiled at him as she pulled the red ribbon from the box. Lifting the lid, she felt tears well up in her eyes when she saw the contents. Nestled inside was a gold necklace with a gold heart. The heart was filled with what looked like a garnet.
“Paul,” she gasped.
“Turn it over.”
She flipped over the heart; engraved on the back were the words Paul loves Bella, Always.
“I didn’t spend a lot,” he reassured her quickly. Standing up, he reached for the necklace and clasped it around her neck.
That night Bella gave Paul a gift she could never return, her virginity. If she had known what she would find a month later, she would have never given that part of her away.
She had agreed to meet Paul at a party at one of his friends' houses after she got off work. The party was in full swing when she walked in, but she didn’t see Paul anywhere. She found one of his friends and asked where he was. Walking in the direction pointed to her, she was in no way prepared to see the boy she loved in bed with another girl. Bella ran out of the house, the laughter from Paul’s friends following her out the door.
The next day she made arrangements with her school to take her final exams and graduate early. She packed up her relationship with Paul and threw it in the attic. After telling her father what happened, he was livid but knew better than to try and interfere. He drove her to the airport and watched as she got on a plane to Florida.
Paul, on the other hand, had chased after Bella as soon as he found out what she’d walked in on, but he was too late; she was gone. When Paul discovered the roles his so-called friends had played in what happened, he beat the shit out of all of them and told them to stay the hell away from him. Paul eventually made his way to Forks and had a long conversation with the chief, explaining everything. He knew he’d been an idiot.
Charlie had no idea that kids could be so cruel and blamed all of them for his daughter leaving. In retribution, he watched them all like hawks, and even the most minor infractions had him taking them into the station. Nothing would stick, but it let them know how badly they’d screwed up. When he was diagnosed with cancer nine years after she’d left, he prayed his doctor daughter would come home.
~F4H~
Present day...
Bella wiped her eyes and put the necklace back in the box, closing it up and sliding it into the corner. She’d heard from Paul after she’d fled the state, telling her it wasn’t what it appeared to be. Eventually, she had changed her number and made her dad promise never to tell anyone.
Paul, however, was miserable without her, and his parents were worried he was going down a dark path. Finally, after months of wallowing, he cleaned up his act and graduated before heading to Seattle and college. That was where Paul met a group of guys who helped him stay on the straight and narrow. Guys who listened when he told them what happened, who convinced him that making something of himself would prove to her he wasn’t the devil she thought he was.
So that’s what he did. He buckled down in his classes, taking extra courses in order to graduate early. He was incredibly proud of himself when he got his acceptance to medical school. He graduated top of his class and began his residency at UW Medical Center. It was eleven years to the day he last saw her when Bella crossed his path again.
When Charlie had been diagnosed with cancer, Bella had made arrangements with her advisor to complete her residency at Forks Memorial. Since her specialty was pediatrics, she only had one year left. When Bella wasn’t at the hospital, she cared for her dad. Bella barely slept for that year, so she could graduate before he died, and he was thrilled to see her get her degree. He had a lot of fun calling her doctor every chance he got.
Paul hadn’t been able to visit the chief in the last year, but now that he’d graduated and accepted a position at Forks Memorial, he wanted to drop by. He was unprepared for who opened the door.
Bella was walking down the steps when someone knocked. She wasn’t expecting anyone, so she wiped her hands on her jeans and walked to the door. She was surprised to see the person on the other side.
“Paul?”
“Bella?”
They spoke at the same time and then smiled at each other awkwardly.
“What can I do for you, Paul?” Bella broke the awkwardness.
“I was coming by to see the chief. I try to visit whenever I am home on break from school.” Looking behind him, “I didn’t see the cruiser. Is he here?”
Bella felt a fresh wave of sadness wash over her, and the tears started before she could stop them. “Dad’s gone, Paul. He died last week.”
Paul couldn’t stop from taking her in his arms as the tears fell from her eyes. Bella allowed herself to be comforted by the familiar arms of her ex only because she had no one else to lean on. Picking her up bridal style, Paul carried her into the house, kicking the door closed behind him. Sitting on the couch, he held her until her breathing evened out as she relaxed into sleep.
After ten minutes, Paul moved Bella from his arms and onto the couch, covering her with the throw from the back. He went into the kitchen to make some coffee and noticed the refrigerator was full of casserole dishes. Selecting the one that smelled and looked the most appetizing, Paul got it out and preheated the oven to warm them up some food. He had no intention of leaving her alone, especially not after the promises he’d made to the chief.
Bella woke to the smell of Mrs. Cope’s chicken pot pie casserole. Sliding the blanket from her, she stood up and walked into the kitchen, seeing Paul sitting at her kitchen table with a plate and a cup of coffee.
“When did you start visiting dad?”
Paul started at the sound of her voice. Looking up at her, he indicated she should sit down as he rose and got her a plate and mug. Bella sat at the table and waited for him to answer.
Setting a plate of food in front of her, Paul resumed his seat. “I started visiting the day after you left.” He sighed and ran a hand over his neck in a gesture Bella remembered well. “I came because I wanted to talk to you, but you were gone, so I talked to him and told him what really happened that night. He wasn’t really interested, but I begged. I think it was the bruises and swollen knuckles which convinced him to let me in.”
Bella looked at him in shock, “Why were you bruised up?”
Paul looked at her with a raised brow, “Are you ready to listen?”
Before she could reply, her cell rang. Sighing, she went to the counter to grab it. “Dr. Swan.” Listening for a moment, she finally replied, “Dr. Clearwater is on call; I’m still on leave...What do you mean you can’t reach her?” With a sigh, “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Hanging up, she looked at Paul. “I have to go to the hospital. The pediatrician on call isn’t answering, and they need me.”
“Do you want me to wait here?”
“You don’t have to.” Bella was walking toward the door where her shoes and jacket were. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Is that the reason, or do you not want to talk to me?” Paul’s stomach clenched at the thought.
“Paul, I want to talk to you, but I don’t know what I’m walking into. If you want to stay here, that’s fine. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Nodding, Paul helped her into her jacket and then locked the door behind her. He next cleaned up the kitchen before pulling out his phone and calling one of his buddies.
“Paul, what’s up?”
“Are you with Leah, Sam?”
“Yeah, we’re having a picnic on the beach. Why?”
“I’m at Bella’s; she got called into the hospital because Leah didn’t answer.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, bro; we must have been in the water when they called. I’ll tell her.” He heard Sam yell in the background. “How’s that going, by the way? How’s the chief?”
“He died, Sam.” Paul explained what he’d learned and Bella’s reaction. “I’m gonna stick around here until she gets back. She actually agreed to talk to me.”
“That’s great, Paul. It’s what you’ve been waiting on. I’ll have Leah call in and get Bella back to you. Just remember what Jared and I have always told you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Keep my temper in check and tell Bella the truth.” He hung up and sat down on the couch to wait.
Half an hour later, Bella walked in the door and was surprised to see him still there. “I didn’t think you’d stay.”
“I told you I would.”
Sighing, “I don’t know if I can handle this conversation tonight.”
Shaking his head, Paul stared at her. “Fine, I’ll just go then.”
“That’s it; you’re not gonna fight me on it?”
“Why would I do that, Bella? I mean, it’s been almost eleven years. What’re a few more days? Of course, you ran away before I could explain back then. I doubt you’ll listen now.” Paul headed to the door, knowing his angry response would not garner a good reaction.
“Really? That’s what you fucking say to me after you destroyed everything?” Bella allowed her anger to come through.
Paul spun around, “We were both played, Bella! I didn’t do anything that night except have a beer that my so-called friends gave me. I didn’t sleep with that girl! Hell, I don’t even know who she was.”
Bella’s irritation quickly dissipated, and she sank onto the couch. “Explain.”
Paul sat beside her and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Do you remember what happened before we started dating?”
“You mean the notes, flowers, and other crap?”
Nodding, “Those weren’t from me, but I was willing to use anything I could to get your attention. I didn’t realize Mike, Eric, and Tyler were setting us both up.”
He continued explaining what had happened that night, and Bella was stunned at the lengths they went to just to play a trick on her.
“So they put something in your drink, and you passed out?”
“Yes, they admitted it to me later. I beat the shit out of all three of them for it, and then I went to your dad.”
Bella put her face in her hands and shook her head. “I was so hurt by what I saw. All I could think about was getting away from you.” She shook her head and looked over at him. “The laughter of everyone at that party made it worse.”
Paul nodded, “I wasn’t the same after you left. I was angry all the time, got into more fights, and my grades started slipping. Mom and dad were worried about me, fearing I was heading down the wrong path. Then your dad started arresting the three of them. It used to crack me up; he was getting them for the stupidest things. That’s when I started coming by. Once, sometimes twice a week. I needed a connection with you. I missed you so much. Your dad would tell me about you, and it made me happy to hear that you were doing well. Made me want to do well.”
Bella licked her lips, “My mom tried to tell me to forget about you and forget how hurt I was, but I couldn’t. You were my first everything, Paul. I thought you’d be my last. Lord, I was such a fool. I should have known I’d fallen in love with an idiot.”
“Aren’t most men idiots?”
Bella laughed, “I suppose, just like most women are fools. Especially for the idiots they fall in love with.”
The pair of them laughed together and then spent the evening catching up. Paul noticed that she didn’t forgive him, but Bella didn’t throw him out either.
~F4H~
Bella walked out of the bank with a smile on her face. She’d been approved for a loan to buy old Doc Snow’s Pediatric practice. The doctor wanted to retire and agreed to sell to his former patient. Bella had an idea for the practice, but she needed to see the office with fresh eyes first.
She walked into the building and smiled as she recognized the receptionist. “Hi, Mrs. Weber.”
“Well, hello there, Isabella. I mean, Dr. Swan. Dr. Snow is with his last patient, and then he’ll see you.”
Nodding, Bella took a seat and pulled her phone from her bag. She hadn’t said anything to anyone at the hospital about what she was planning, least of all Paul. While they had been getting along and speaking a lot over the last few months, Bella wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. She’d talked to her friend Leah, whose boyfriend was a friend of Paul’s, and knew he wanted something other than friendship from her. She was scared to take the chance again; she had been since she fled Forks all those years ago. Paul was the last man she had dated, deciding to concentrate on school before she got into a relationship.
Going into private practice meant she would have more time for a social life and maybe a family someday. She wanted to make a home and fill it with love and perhaps some children. First, she needed to take care of herself.
An hour and a half later, Bella smiled as she walked out of her new office. Dr. Snow was set to retire at the end of the week, and the practice would close for two weeks, long enough for Bella to remodel the exam rooms and give everything a fresh coat of paint. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weber would be retiring with him, so she would also need a new receptionist.
Pulling into her driveway, she wasn’t surprised to see Paul sitting on her porch. She laughed and shook her head as she got out of the car. “Don’t you ever work?”
“I go in at seven. I have the overnight shift for the next three days.” He stood and walked toward her. “I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you want to get some dinner?”
“Sure,” she followed him over to his car, smiling when he opened the door for her.
Ten minutes later, Paul pulled into the diner and led Bella to a table in the back. He waited until the waitress had taken their drink orders before speaking.
“I’ve been thinking about going into private practice. That’s why I chose Family Medicine in the first place. I thought about having multiple doctors with me and wanted your opinion.”
Bella couldn’t believe what she was hearing, nor could she hide the grin that formed on her face. “Interesting you would choose to speak to me about this. Especially given that I have been thinking along the same lines.”
It was Paul’s turn to be surprised. “Really?”
Bella told him what she’d done already that day to get the ball rolling. He was happy for her but then got an idea.
“Do you want a partner?”
Bella smiled, “Did you know Dr. Snow owned the whole building his practice was in, even though he only made use of one floor?” When Paul shook his head, she continued. “Here’s what I’m thinking. Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and an OB/GYN, all in the same building. One place to go, with trusted medical professionals.”
Paul was nodding his head. He knew Sam and Jared were looking to get out of a hospital setting into a more relaxed atmosphere while continuing to help people as they had trained.
“I know Sam has been looking to leave the hospital, and my friend Jared is also an MD in Family Medicine like me. His fiancee, Kim, is a nurse.”
They had ordered their food while talking, and the waitress had just brought it out when Bella mentioned they would need to sit down and plan with the others to decide how and if they wanted to proceed. Paul agreed to talk to them while at work that evening.
“There’s something else I wanted to talk about.”
Bella took a drink of her tea and nodded. “What’s up?”
Taking a deep breath, Paul looked into her eyes. “In the last couple of months, we’ve gotten close, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“I’m gonna be frank, Bella. I’m in love with you, and I want us to start over.”
Sighing, “Oh, Paul.” She looked down and collected her thoughts before she lifted her eyes to his. “That night, all those years ago, has haunted me and kept me from getting close to another man the way I did with you. When I was in school, I focused on that. When dad got sick, I focused on him. I’ve not wanted to make a fool of myself the way I did before. And then you knocked on my door.”
Paul watched as she gathered her thoughts, bracing himself to hear what she had to say. She had the power to destroy him or lift him up. He waited with bated breath for which one it would be.
“What I have come to realize these last few weeks is that I have always been a fool for you.”
“Bella,” he choked, not believing what he was hearing. Was she really going to give them a chance?
Reaching across the table, she wrapped her fingers around his. “I love you, too, Paul. I always have. You’re my first, last, and only.”
Throwing some money on the table, Paul helped her up and rushed them out to his car.
“Paul?” Bella giggled, wondering what he was doing.
He pushed her back against his car and pressed his body against hers. “I needed to get you somewhere so I could do this properly.”
She watched as he came closer, closing her eyes when he pressed his lips to hers. Their lips moved together, tongues intertwined in a promise for their future. One where they let go of the past and allow themselves to become what they always should have been. No more idiocy, no more childish games. Just fools for each other, her for him and him for her.
~Fin~
Title: Fool for Him
Written for: Brierlynn03
Written by: momma2fan
Pairing: Bella/Paul
Rating: T
Summary/Prompt used: I’m in love with an idiot.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The funeral was over, and she was cleaning out the clutter from the house she’d grown up in following the death of her father. Bella was grateful for the time she’d been able to spend with Charlie before the cancer took him away forever. Bella never dreamed she would end up moving back to the town where she had experienced so much pain at the hands of the boy she’d loved, but she had.
She stood in the attic, staring at the boxes her packrat father had held onto all these years. Most of them were things she’d moved up there before leaving for college. Several contained memories she’d rather forget.
Pulling her hair up, she got to work. She looked through box after box, scooting them all closer to the attic opening so they could be tossed down and thrown away or donated. It was when she got to the last box that she found it. After ten years, it had lost its shine, but she could still see the red heart surrounded by gold. Holding the chain up to the light and flipping over the charm, Bella could barely make out the words engraved on the back. With tears in her eyes, she allowed the memory of her Senior year in high school to invade her thoughts.
~F4H~
Forks was a small town where everyone knew everyone because they either grew up together, were related in some form, or had dated—even the people from the LaPush reservation, which was thirty minutes away. When the high school on the res burned to the ground ten years before, there was no talk about rebuilding it, they just matriculated those kids to Forks High School, and life went on. There were never any changes, at least nothing anyone would notice. Until the year the chief’s daughter visited her mother and came back a whole new person.
Growing up the daughter of the Chief of Police meant Bella was no stranger to pranks and practical jokes. She’d been the butt of the joke more times than she could count and tried not to let it bother her. At least until Bella got to High School, where it seemed there was someone there to play a prank on her everywhere she turned. Most times, they were harmless; balloons floating out of her locker when she opened it, a frog jumping from her backpack, and one time there was even an exploding canister of confetti. It wasn’t until her Senior year that they became more personal and hurtful.
Bella had spent the summer in Florida with her mom and Phil and had come back to Forks looking completely different. Gone were the too-large shirts, flannels, and baggy jeans. In their place were form-fitting jeans and leggings, with tops that accentuated her curves, making her look like a woman. The only thing she hadn’t let go of was her beloved chucks. However, now she had them in a variety of colors.
Not only had Bella changed her clothes, but her mother had convinced her to update her hairstyle as well. Knowing her daughter loved her long hair but didn’t know what to do with it, she’d taken her to her hairdresser, who’d cut layers in and made it so that Bella’s natural red highlights showed through. Bella had also learned the fine art of a flat iron and a curling brush. Her hair was now shiny, healthy, and no longer in a messy bun on top of her head.
Walking into school that first day, she was in no way prepared for the attention she would receive, especially once people figured out who she was. The girls, who were generally exceptionally bitchy, became more so, and the boys, who had never noticed her before or thought she was a tomboy, were staring so hard she was afraid their eyes would bug out. Unfortunately, or fortunately, one of the guys who was bug-eyed happened to be the one boy Bella had a crush on.
He was a player, a fact she was well aware of, but Bella’s heart still raced when he would pass by her in the hallways. He never gave any indication he’d noticed her, until that morning. Unfortunately for him, his friends also noticed him see her, and there began the most extensive and cruelest prank to be pulled on Bella Swan.
Never one to participate in extracurriculars, Bella avoided everything to do with school spirit. She never went to any of the sporting events, pep rallies, or parties that were thrown, content to volunteer in the library or tutor the elementary kids who needed help. Bella had vowed never to turn into someone she couldn’t look at in her own mirror.
When the final bell rang on that first day, Bella walked to her locker to get out the books she’d need for her homework. She was surprised when she saw a folded-up piece of paper fall to her feet. Picking it up, she looked around to see who might have left it. Seeing no one, she put it in her bag to read later and slammed her locker closed before heading to the parking lot.
When Bella got home, she grabbed the mail and walked into the house, dropping her bag on the couch. After grabbing an apple and setting out something to thaw for dinner, she sat down and began her homework, never noticing the note fall out of her bag. She was still studying when her dad walked in the door.
“Hey, Bells.”
Looking up, she smiled at him, “Hey. Are you early, or am I running behind?”
Charlie chuckled, “I’m early. I have to go back later tonight to cover for Mark.”
Bella stood up, “Okay, I’ll get dinner going while you rest for a while.”
“Thanks, honey.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and went upstairs.
After Bella had made dinner and her father had left for work, although not before he made sure she had locked up completely, she settled in to read her book. Eventually, Bella began nodding off and decided it was time to clean up and head to bed. As she was putting everything away, she found the note on the floor. Sighing, she unfolded it and was stunned by what she read.
Bella,
You are absolutely beautiful, and I would love to get to know you better. Please come to the game on Friday and join me afterward for some pizza. I hope to see you there.
-P
Bella reread the note several times before shaking her head and crumpling up the paper. She would not allow them to play such a sick joke on her. Seriously. Using the boy she had a crush on to hurt her.
Things happened the same way over the next several months, notes would appear in her locker or on her windshield, and sometimes they would be accompanied by a flower or some candy. Finally, Bella had enough, threw everything into a box, and brought it to school. She had a plan; she just hoped she could see it through.
Walking into the cafeteria, Bella marched to the table where the jocks sat and slammed the box in front of him. “Stop sending me notes, flowers, and anything else you might want to make fun of me with. I’m not interested in being the butt of your joke.”
Having said her piece, Bella spun around and fled the cafeteria. She never expected him to follow her.
“Slow down, Swan!” He reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. “Stop.”
Bella wrenched her arm free, “What do you want?”
“I want to know what that shit was that you slammed in front of me. I haven’t sent you anything.”
“Well, then perhaps your friends are having a laugh at both our expenses. Either way, I want no part of it. Excuse me,” she spun back around and left him standing there with his mouth agape.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. The notes and gifts continued; in fact, they were ramped up. Every day there was something new in her locker or on her car. Not only the gifts but there was also a particular person at each location, and he was starting to annoy her.
“Do I need to get a restraining order?”
“Ah, come on, Swan. You know you love seeing me.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Lahote.”
Paul chuckled and stared at the beauty before him. He knew exactly what his friends were up to, but unfortunately for them, their tricks would backfire. He wanted her attention, and now he had it. His only problem was figuring out how to keep it.
“Come on, Bella, one date. That’s all I’m asking.”
“No,” she replied as she slammed her locker shut and walked away.
He let her walk away, and Bella sighed in relief. She was getting tired of being the center of attention. She decided to talk to her dad about it.
“Why don’t you just go out with him?” Charlie asked while they ate dinner.
“Because he doesn’t really want to go out with the police chief’s daughter. I’ve been the butt of everyone’s jokes ever since I can remember. This is the first time it’s ever been in order to get a date.”
Charlie knew that the kids picked on her because of who he was, but he never realized how bad it was. “Do you want me to call Aaron or Bonnie?”
Shaking her head, she really didn’t want to involve his parents. “No, it’ll blow over. Eventually, he has to stop, right?”
She was wrong. It was after the Christmas/New Year break that people began to notice the change in her. She wasn’t as unaffected by all the attention and joking as she seemed. Her hair was back in its bun, and her flannels had begun reappearing.
Paul approached her cautiously one day in mid-January. “Bella?”
Bella sighed, “What do you want, Lahote?”
“I want a date with you. Just one date. If you have a miserable time, I swear I will leave you alone. If you have fun...” Paul trailed off.
Looking down, she hunched her shoulders and sighed, “Fine. One date.”
One date turned to two, and before she realized it, Bella had been dating Paul for nearly a month. As Valentine’s Day approached, she prayed their relationship wasn’t all a prank, and he wasn’t out to hurt her. She knew if it were, she would be devastated since she had fallen hard for him.
Paul had spent the last month telling his friends to back off her. He was in love with her, and he just knew they were going to destroy what they had. After he bought a special gift for her, he knew it was time to lay down the law with them.
“You guys need to back off.” When the guys around him only laughed, Paul stood up, slamming his hands on the table. “I’m not kidding. I love that girl, and you guys better not do anything to ruin it. If you do, God help you when I get a hold of you.”
For Valentine’s Day, Paul took her to a fancy restaurant and pushed a jewelry box across the table to her.
“What’s this?”
“Just open it.”
Bella smiled at him as she pulled the red ribbon from the box. Lifting the lid, she felt tears well up in her eyes when she saw the contents. Nestled inside was a gold necklace with a gold heart. The heart was filled with what looked like a garnet.
“Paul,” she gasped.
“Turn it over.”
She flipped over the heart; engraved on the back were the words Paul loves Bella, Always.
“I didn’t spend a lot,” he reassured her quickly. Standing up, he reached for the necklace and clasped it around her neck.
That night Bella gave Paul a gift she could never return, her virginity. If she had known what she would find a month later, she would have never given that part of her away.
She had agreed to meet Paul at a party at one of his friends' houses after she got off work. The party was in full swing when she walked in, but she didn’t see Paul anywhere. She found one of his friends and asked where he was. Walking in the direction pointed to her, she was in no way prepared to see the boy she loved in bed with another girl. Bella ran out of the house, the laughter from Paul’s friends following her out the door.
The next day she made arrangements with her school to take her final exams and graduate early. She packed up her relationship with Paul and threw it in the attic. After telling her father what happened, he was livid but knew better than to try and interfere. He drove her to the airport and watched as she got on a plane to Florida.
Paul, on the other hand, had chased after Bella as soon as he found out what she’d walked in on, but he was too late; she was gone. When Paul discovered the roles his so-called friends had played in what happened, he beat the shit out of all of them and told them to stay the hell away from him. Paul eventually made his way to Forks and had a long conversation with the chief, explaining everything. He knew he’d been an idiot.
Charlie had no idea that kids could be so cruel and blamed all of them for his daughter leaving. In retribution, he watched them all like hawks, and even the most minor infractions had him taking them into the station. Nothing would stick, but it let them know how badly they’d screwed up. When he was diagnosed with cancer nine years after she’d left, he prayed his doctor daughter would come home.
~F4H~
Present day...
Bella wiped her eyes and put the necklace back in the box, closing it up and sliding it into the corner. She’d heard from Paul after she’d fled the state, telling her it wasn’t what it appeared to be. Eventually, she had changed her number and made her dad promise never to tell anyone.
Paul, however, was miserable without her, and his parents were worried he was going down a dark path. Finally, after months of wallowing, he cleaned up his act and graduated before heading to Seattle and college. That was where Paul met a group of guys who helped him stay on the straight and narrow. Guys who listened when he told them what happened, who convinced him that making something of himself would prove to her he wasn’t the devil she thought he was.
So that’s what he did. He buckled down in his classes, taking extra courses in order to graduate early. He was incredibly proud of himself when he got his acceptance to medical school. He graduated top of his class and began his residency at UW Medical Center. It was eleven years to the day he last saw her when Bella crossed his path again.
When Charlie had been diagnosed with cancer, Bella had made arrangements with her advisor to complete her residency at Forks Memorial. Since her specialty was pediatrics, she only had one year left. When Bella wasn’t at the hospital, she cared for her dad. Bella barely slept for that year, so she could graduate before he died, and he was thrilled to see her get her degree. He had a lot of fun calling her doctor every chance he got.
Paul hadn’t been able to visit the chief in the last year, but now that he’d graduated and accepted a position at Forks Memorial, he wanted to drop by. He was unprepared for who opened the door.
Bella was walking down the steps when someone knocked. She wasn’t expecting anyone, so she wiped her hands on her jeans and walked to the door. She was surprised to see the person on the other side.
“Paul?”
“Bella?”
They spoke at the same time and then smiled at each other awkwardly.
“What can I do for you, Paul?” Bella broke the awkwardness.
“I was coming by to see the chief. I try to visit whenever I am home on break from school.” Looking behind him, “I didn’t see the cruiser. Is he here?”
Bella felt a fresh wave of sadness wash over her, and the tears started before she could stop them. “Dad’s gone, Paul. He died last week.”
Paul couldn’t stop from taking her in his arms as the tears fell from her eyes. Bella allowed herself to be comforted by the familiar arms of her ex only because she had no one else to lean on. Picking her up bridal style, Paul carried her into the house, kicking the door closed behind him. Sitting on the couch, he held her until her breathing evened out as she relaxed into sleep.
After ten minutes, Paul moved Bella from his arms and onto the couch, covering her with the throw from the back. He went into the kitchen to make some coffee and noticed the refrigerator was full of casserole dishes. Selecting the one that smelled and looked the most appetizing, Paul got it out and preheated the oven to warm them up some food. He had no intention of leaving her alone, especially not after the promises he’d made to the chief.
Bella woke to the smell of Mrs. Cope’s chicken pot pie casserole. Sliding the blanket from her, she stood up and walked into the kitchen, seeing Paul sitting at her kitchen table with a plate and a cup of coffee.
“When did you start visiting dad?”
Paul started at the sound of her voice. Looking up at her, he indicated she should sit down as he rose and got her a plate and mug. Bella sat at the table and waited for him to answer.
Setting a plate of food in front of her, Paul resumed his seat. “I started visiting the day after you left.” He sighed and ran a hand over his neck in a gesture Bella remembered well. “I came because I wanted to talk to you, but you were gone, so I talked to him and told him what really happened that night. He wasn’t really interested, but I begged. I think it was the bruises and swollen knuckles which convinced him to let me in.”
Bella looked at him in shock, “Why were you bruised up?”
Paul looked at her with a raised brow, “Are you ready to listen?”
Before she could reply, her cell rang. Sighing, she went to the counter to grab it. “Dr. Swan.” Listening for a moment, she finally replied, “Dr. Clearwater is on call; I’m still on leave...What do you mean you can’t reach her?” With a sigh, “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Hanging up, she looked at Paul. “I have to go to the hospital. The pediatrician on call isn’t answering, and they need me.”
“Do you want me to wait here?”
“You don’t have to.” Bella was walking toward the door where her shoes and jacket were. “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Is that the reason, or do you not want to talk to me?” Paul’s stomach clenched at the thought.
“Paul, I want to talk to you, but I don’t know what I’m walking into. If you want to stay here, that’s fine. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Nodding, Paul helped her into her jacket and then locked the door behind her. He next cleaned up the kitchen before pulling out his phone and calling one of his buddies.
“Paul, what’s up?”
“Are you with Leah, Sam?”
“Yeah, we’re having a picnic on the beach. Why?”
“I’m at Bella’s; she got called into the hospital because Leah didn’t answer.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, bro; we must have been in the water when they called. I’ll tell her.” He heard Sam yell in the background. “How’s that going, by the way? How’s the chief?”
“He died, Sam.” Paul explained what he’d learned and Bella’s reaction. “I’m gonna stick around here until she gets back. She actually agreed to talk to me.”
“That’s great, Paul. It’s what you’ve been waiting on. I’ll have Leah call in and get Bella back to you. Just remember what Jared and I have always told you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Keep my temper in check and tell Bella the truth.” He hung up and sat down on the couch to wait.
Half an hour later, Bella walked in the door and was surprised to see him still there. “I didn’t think you’d stay.”
“I told you I would.”
Sighing, “I don’t know if I can handle this conversation tonight.”
Shaking his head, Paul stared at her. “Fine, I’ll just go then.”
“That’s it; you’re not gonna fight me on it?”
“Why would I do that, Bella? I mean, it’s been almost eleven years. What’re a few more days? Of course, you ran away before I could explain back then. I doubt you’ll listen now.” Paul headed to the door, knowing his angry response would not garner a good reaction.
“Really? That’s what you fucking say to me after you destroyed everything?” Bella allowed her anger to come through.
Paul spun around, “We were both played, Bella! I didn’t do anything that night except have a beer that my so-called friends gave me. I didn’t sleep with that girl! Hell, I don’t even know who she was.”
Bella’s irritation quickly dissipated, and she sank onto the couch. “Explain.”
Paul sat beside her and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Do you remember what happened before we started dating?”
“You mean the notes, flowers, and other crap?”
Nodding, “Those weren’t from me, but I was willing to use anything I could to get your attention. I didn’t realize Mike, Eric, and Tyler were setting us both up.”
He continued explaining what had happened that night, and Bella was stunned at the lengths they went to just to play a trick on her.
“So they put something in your drink, and you passed out?”
“Yes, they admitted it to me later. I beat the shit out of all three of them for it, and then I went to your dad.”
Bella put her face in her hands and shook her head. “I was so hurt by what I saw. All I could think about was getting away from you.” She shook her head and looked over at him. “The laughter of everyone at that party made it worse.”
Paul nodded, “I wasn’t the same after you left. I was angry all the time, got into more fights, and my grades started slipping. Mom and dad were worried about me, fearing I was heading down the wrong path. Then your dad started arresting the three of them. It used to crack me up; he was getting them for the stupidest things. That’s when I started coming by. Once, sometimes twice a week. I needed a connection with you. I missed you so much. Your dad would tell me about you, and it made me happy to hear that you were doing well. Made me want to do well.”
Bella licked her lips, “My mom tried to tell me to forget about you and forget how hurt I was, but I couldn’t. You were my first everything, Paul. I thought you’d be my last. Lord, I was such a fool. I should have known I’d fallen in love with an idiot.”
“Aren’t most men idiots?”
Bella laughed, “I suppose, just like most women are fools. Especially for the idiots they fall in love with.”
The pair of them laughed together and then spent the evening catching up. Paul noticed that she didn’t forgive him, but Bella didn’t throw him out either.
~F4H~
Bella walked out of the bank with a smile on her face. She’d been approved for a loan to buy old Doc Snow’s Pediatric practice. The doctor wanted to retire and agreed to sell to his former patient. Bella had an idea for the practice, but she needed to see the office with fresh eyes first.
She walked into the building and smiled as she recognized the receptionist. “Hi, Mrs. Weber.”
“Well, hello there, Isabella. I mean, Dr. Swan. Dr. Snow is with his last patient, and then he’ll see you.”
Nodding, Bella took a seat and pulled her phone from her bag. She hadn’t said anything to anyone at the hospital about what she was planning, least of all Paul. While they had been getting along and speaking a lot over the last few months, Bella wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. She’d talked to her friend Leah, whose boyfriend was a friend of Paul’s, and knew he wanted something other than friendship from her. She was scared to take the chance again; she had been since she fled Forks all those years ago. Paul was the last man she had dated, deciding to concentrate on school before she got into a relationship.
Going into private practice meant she would have more time for a social life and maybe a family someday. She wanted to make a home and fill it with love and perhaps some children. First, she needed to take care of herself.
An hour and a half later, Bella smiled as she walked out of her new office. Dr. Snow was set to retire at the end of the week, and the practice would close for two weeks, long enough for Bella to remodel the exam rooms and give everything a fresh coat of paint. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weber would be retiring with him, so she would also need a new receptionist.
Pulling into her driveway, she wasn’t surprised to see Paul sitting on her porch. She laughed and shook her head as she got out of the car. “Don’t you ever work?”
“I go in at seven. I have the overnight shift for the next three days.” He stood and walked toward her. “I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you want to get some dinner?”
“Sure,” she followed him over to his car, smiling when he opened the door for her.
Ten minutes later, Paul pulled into the diner and led Bella to a table in the back. He waited until the waitress had taken their drink orders before speaking.
“I’ve been thinking about going into private practice. That’s why I chose Family Medicine in the first place. I thought about having multiple doctors with me and wanted your opinion.”
Bella couldn’t believe what she was hearing, nor could she hide the grin that formed on her face. “Interesting you would choose to speak to me about this. Especially given that I have been thinking along the same lines.”
It was Paul’s turn to be surprised. “Really?”
Bella told him what she’d done already that day to get the ball rolling. He was happy for her but then got an idea.
“Do you want a partner?”
Bella smiled, “Did you know Dr. Snow owned the whole building his practice was in, even though he only made use of one floor?” When Paul shook his head, she continued. “Here’s what I’m thinking. Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and an OB/GYN, all in the same building. One place to go, with trusted medical professionals.”
Paul was nodding his head. He knew Sam and Jared were looking to get out of a hospital setting into a more relaxed atmosphere while continuing to help people as they had trained.
“I know Sam has been looking to leave the hospital, and my friend Jared is also an MD in Family Medicine like me. His fiancee, Kim, is a nurse.”
They had ordered their food while talking, and the waitress had just brought it out when Bella mentioned they would need to sit down and plan with the others to decide how and if they wanted to proceed. Paul agreed to talk to them while at work that evening.
“There’s something else I wanted to talk about.”
Bella took a drink of her tea and nodded. “What’s up?”
Taking a deep breath, Paul looked into her eyes. “In the last couple of months, we’ve gotten close, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“I’m gonna be frank, Bella. I’m in love with you, and I want us to start over.”
Sighing, “Oh, Paul.” She looked down and collected her thoughts before she lifted her eyes to his. “That night, all those years ago, has haunted me and kept me from getting close to another man the way I did with you. When I was in school, I focused on that. When dad got sick, I focused on him. I’ve not wanted to make a fool of myself the way I did before. And then you knocked on my door.”
Paul watched as she gathered her thoughts, bracing himself to hear what she had to say. She had the power to destroy him or lift him up. He waited with bated breath for which one it would be.
“What I have come to realize these last few weeks is that I have always been a fool for you.”
“Bella,” he choked, not believing what he was hearing. Was she really going to give them a chance?
Reaching across the table, she wrapped her fingers around his. “I love you, too, Paul. I always have. You’re my first, last, and only.”
Throwing some money on the table, Paul helped her up and rushed them out to his car.
“Paul?” Bella giggled, wondering what he was doing.
He pushed her back against his car and pressed his body against hers. “I needed to get you somewhere so I could do this properly.”
She watched as he came closer, closing her eyes when he pressed his lips to hers. Their lips moved together, tongues intertwined in a promise for their future. One where they let go of the past and allow themselves to become what they always should have been. No more idiocy, no more childish games. Just fools for each other, her for him and him for her.
~Fin~