Glad You Came

"You cast a spell on me. You hit me like the sky fell on me. And I decided you look well on me."

Chapter One

Cold Pizza and Soccer Balls

The sound of ripping tape reverberated around the now empty dorm room as I taped up the final box filled with the last random ends of my belongings. Taking one last look around the eleven by fourteen college dorm room I had lived the last three years of my life in I kicked the door shut behind me and headed towards the RD's office to drop off my key. It was hard to believe I would never attend another lecture on campus again. I had officially graduated, and a year early at that. Now it was time to begin a new chapter of my life: filling out job applications and waiting for responses to those already sent. My plan was to rent a small apartment in Portland while I waited but renting costs had skyrocketed recently, higher than my budget could afford, and I was left with only one option: return home to La Push.

La Push. The one place I had avoided for years, making excuses so I wouldn't have to return during holidays. Because I knew every part of home would remind me of my mother and the pain would simply be too much to bear. Especially without Becca there with me. A part of me wanted to back out on my decision and crash at a friend's place, but I had already called home. Dad was expecting me late tonight. Both Jake and him seemed excited at my announcement that I was coming back home for a little while.

I could tell the moment I had crossed into Forks, even though it was dark out. Raindrops thudded against my windshield when moments earlier there had been silence. Rain. It was always raining here. Not that I minded the rain much, I just wasn't as used to it as I once was. As late as it was when I pulled up in front of the little red house there was still a porch light on. Someone was waiting up for me. Perhaps even two someones. I couldn't really blame them, neither had seen me much over the three years and talking on the phone just wasn't the same.

Cutting the engine I sat where I was for a few minutes, taking deep steadying breaths. I could do this. I used that as my mantra as I finally emerged from my vehicle, pulling a small duffle from the passenger side that contained the necessities. Standing on my own front porch felt strange and as I was contemplating whether I should knock or just walk in the door opened for me and I got my first glimpse of my living room before I was enveloped in a scorching embrace.

"Welcome home Rach" a deep tenor voice reverberated in my ear. Jacob. His voice, only deeper. I suppose puberty would have hit him while I had been away. It's just that I had expected to see my unchanged little brother. Not the man that stood before me now.

"Been eating your spinach then Popeye?" His smile was still the same, making him look young again, like my brother.

"He's been eating much more than spinach. We can't seem to keep enough food around." Jacob's laughter barked out as he stepped to the side so I could see dad approaching. It seemed he was done patiently waiting his turn to see me. "Rachel," he whispered my name with a small smile as I bent down to give him a hug. "We've missed you around here."

"It's good to see you too." It was more than good. I hadn't realized how much I missed my family until now. It swelled up inside me warm and bright as I stood back to take in Jake and my dad. For now, in this moment, I was happy to be home.

That fondness faded slightly once I was alone in the room Becca and I used to share. The twin bed seemed smaller than I remembered, decked out with a pale yellow bedspread that was faded from the sun that filtered onto it from the window it lay under. The room felt emptier without Becca. I had never stayed in the room without her snoring on the other side of it and now it felt as if something was missing. Until Jake started snoring from across the hall, lulling me into sleep. It was nice to get a break from the silence as I had grown used to having noise filter in from my dorm window as I fell asleep.

For the first time in three years I didn't wake up to an alarm clock screaming at me to get up or I'd be late for class. Not that I slept in much. My eyes opened of their own accord around eight and I forced myself to lay in bed for another half hour before I gave up on falling back to sleep. The house was silent until I padded my way towards the kitchen and found dad sitting in front of the tv that was turned so low that it was basically on mute.

"Morning dad," I called out as I opened the cupboards to try and find something to eat. Most of the boxes of cereal were empty but I managed to combine the ends of several into a bowl and make a sizeable serving.

"Have you already eaten?" I asked as I sat down beside him in the old recliner.

"Yeah, I had the last of the leftover pizza in the fridge." Sighing I shook my head, making a mental note to go grocery shopping later. Honestly there was no food in the house. I don't know how Dad and Jake have survived this long.

Dad caught me in the act of writing up a grocery list and he quickly pulled it away from me.

"It's your first day back Rach, why don't you go enjoy the sun. It's actually making an appearance today." Glancing outside to see the sun feebly shining I debated internally with myself. There were things that needed to get done: resume's to send, groceries to buy, clothes to clean. But it technically was summer vacation and I did deserve at least a little break after the past three years. One day wouldn't set me back too far.

After changing into jeans and a t-shirt I grabbed a blanket, a pair of sunglasses and a book from my bag before heading out the back door towards the beach. It was actually pretty crowded today. After a bit of walking I found a decently secluded spot of sand and plunked myself down on the blanket, ready to dive into the book I had brought whose subject matter had no relation whatsoever to anything dealing with business or computers or any other part of my major. With the warm sun on my back it was simply glorious. I was so relaxed that I found myself drifting off to sleep and finally succumbed to it, setting my book to the side.

I'm not sure how long I was out. The only reason I woke up was because some jerk who had been playing soccer with his friends kicked sand up on my face as he ran by to retrieve the ball. Sputtering I wiped at my face until the sand was out of my eyes, sitting up in the process. The sun had gone behind clouds now and it looked as if it might rain so I decided to pack up, now that my nap had been disturbed.

"Next time watch where you're kicking sand," I grumbled more to myself than the guy who had done the deed. Just when I had gathered up my things I turned only to find a soccer ball flying towards me. Dropping my things in favor of catching the ball and preventing it from hitting my face I felt my anger spark.

I didn't know if the guy approaching me was the same one who kicked the sand on me, but regardless he was going to feel my wrath.

"This may come as a surprise to you, but this isn't a private beach." I glared up at him. And I do mean up. He was obscenely tall even for a guy. "Some advice. Learn better ball control." Thrusting the ball into his chest forced him to move his hands to hold it, but other than that the guy remained frozen in his spot, staring at me in disbelief.

He only moved when I started collecting my things from where I had dropped them in the sand. To my surprise he offered his help. I didn't really want it, not that he cared what I wanted because when I told him I got it he continued to help anyways.

"I'm Paul," he spoke as he handed me my blanket which he had attempted to fold. Without saying a word I shook out the blob of material and refolded it neatly while he watched. Draping it over my arm I finally glanced back up to find him staring at me expectantly.

"Rachel." I answered gruffly before walking off back down the beach towards home. Rain drops had started to fall, big and fat, and made me want to get inside as soon as possible. Once it started raining here it never really let up. I didn't want to be wet and cold. That and I didn't want to stay and have to converse with Paul, the jerk who almost broke my nose with a soccer ball.

A/N

And theres your taste of the Rachel/Paul story.

Rach

xoxo