#forks core

Now Playing: Don’t Hurt Yourself by Beyoncé, feat. Jack White

Warnings: arguing, cursing, allusions to potentially controlling behavior?? Idk how to word it but Paul’s basically being an ass for like 90% of this sorry (he’ll get better I promise guys), miscommunication bc Paul’s emotionally constipated, Sam’s tired of his bs, reader’s tired of his bs but also on some bs 👍

Days passed. I didn’t see Paul, I hardly saw the others. Jacob was too busy catering to Bella, Embry was caring for Quil after his change, and Jared seemed afraid of getting his head ripped off anytime he even looked at me.

Emily and Sam treated me normally enough. The “enough” part comes into play when they would give me odd little looks when they thought I wasn’t looking.

Whatever. If they wanted to be weird, fine.

Roy’s was slower than it’s ever been, but Max always kept me company. He had stopped asking what was wrong, and I never brought it up. I almost felt like Bella when anything about the Cullens was mentioned. Except, unlike my sister, I didn’t break down into tears or get nauseous. I only felt angry.

Against his will, Paul had come to pick me up to take me back to Emily’s. Spitefully, I had given Max a long, lingering hug.

I knew Paul didn’t like him, and it seemed to have rubbed off on the others, too. I didn’t care. Max was my friend, and I wasn’t going to cut him out because the pack had some weird bullshit going on.

I ignore Paul as I walk to my truck, ignore him as he climbs in the bed of the truck instead of the cab, and ignore him as I start to drive.

The drive to Emily’s goes by excruciatingly slow. I’m unwilling to admit, even to myself, why that is.

I turn the truck off and go inside, not waiting for Paul. I hear that god-awful sound of his entire body popping into another shape, and he leaves for patrol.

I go into the house, slipping through the dinnertime rush in the kitchen to shower. The hot water feels good against my skin, and I had long since moved most of my things over here. Sam and Emily were happy enough to have me here, and I liked being in the house well enough, even after Paul decided to be an unbearable ass.

I slip on my pajamas and walk quietly to the kitchen to pick at leftovers. A plate had already been set out for me, to my pleasure, and I assumed Emily had done it. I eat quickly at the kitchen stove, eager to sleep. It had been a long day, and I just wanted it to be over with so I could start the weekend.

---

I woke up early to help Emily make food in the kitchen. Bella was still asleep, and the house was quiet except for the radio playing softly in the corner.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. My face was lined from sleep, the sheets creasing my cheeks and neck. My eyes were crusty, my mouth dry, and my lips slightly cracked. I sighed.

Wordlessly, I started helping Emily make eggs. She smiled at me as she began to focus on the biscuits and muffins. Making food was always quicker with another set of hands, especially when it was for boys who could out eat an army.

When we were done, I set out a plate for Bella and one for myself, putting them in the microwave to hide.

---

“You have until June, Paul.” Sam said slowly, “Then you tell her, or I do it for you.”

“You were the one that kept me from telling her in the beginning, but all of a sudden you give a shit?” Paul scoffed, anger bubbling in his chest.

Sam sighed, “That was a mistake on my part, I’ll admit it. But now your mess is interfering with the rest of us trying to go about our lives and trying to keep the Swan family safe.”

Paul stood suddenly, storming out of the house and slamming the door behind him. He didn’t need this shit right now.

Sam closed his eyes, a weary sigh exhaled from his lips. Emily put her hand on his shoulder, comforting him.

When Paul left in a rage, Jacob followed. He had been sitting outside, waiting with the rest of his brothers to be let back in.

Had he been eavesdropping? Sure, but so was everyone else, so it cancels out. Besides, it was for the benefit of the whole pack, so it’s not such a bad thing.

Jacob quickly transformed, following Paul to wherever he was going.

---

I woke up late today.

I suppose it’s not a surprise, since any time I was asleep, it was restless. I didn’t remember my dreams, but Bella said I murmured a lot in my sleep because of them.

Jacob and Paul weren’t at the house when I woke up, and Emily said that they had left the night before after Bella and I had gone to bed.

Paul’s probably only being moody. Jacob’s who I was concerned about, but whatever. They were grown enough to make their own choices and grown enough to handle themselves.

I focused most of my energy on helping Quil adjust. He was scared about all the changes, and he didn’t know what to say to his mom. He didn’t want to tell her because he didn’t want her to be put in danger because of it, and he didn’t want to risk her not believing him. I knew how he felt more than I wished I did because if Charlie’s ignorance to the… magical world? Supernatural world? Whatever.

---

Jacob and Paul didn’t come back until dinner time. Bella gave them both the plates she had saved for them as I washed the dishes.

“Paul, why don’t you help y/n put the dishes up while the rest of us clean up in here?” Jacob suggested, and I slid my eyes towards him, pinning him with a flat stare. He cleared his throat, “Uh, or maybe not.”

Paul rolled his eyes, getting up to come to the kitchen. He reached for the dish in my hand, but I pulled it away from him.

“Quit being childish, Y/n.” He grunted, reaching again for the plate. I rolled my eyes, setting it on the drying rack instead. A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he didn’t say anything.

I didn’t speak to him as I washed the dishes, and he kept his distance. The silence between us was tense, and I wouldn’t be the one to break it.

---

“Tell Max to stop bathing in that god awful cologne.” Paul ordered, his arms crossed as he leaned against my truck. I was surprised that he used Max’s name, but I didn’t mention it.

“If you’re so bothered by it, stop picking me up,” I countered, exhausted from the day and not in the mood for his bullshit.

“How about you stop rubbing on him to make a point?” He accused, and I shot him a dirty look as I pulled out of the school parking lot.

“What, I can’t hug my friends now, Paul?” I demanded, “First you try control who I’m friends with, now you’re trying to control what I do with my friends?”

“I’m trying to tell you—” He cut himself off with a rather impressive show of restraint, but he wasn’t going to get any gold stars from me.

He was silent for a long moment before he managed to grind out, “You know that he’ll be in trouble if the Redhead picks up your scent on him, and you know he can’t know anything about it, or us. You care about him, so I’m trying to help you out.”

“Victoria’s after my sister only, what does she care what I do?”

“So fucking difficult, all the time,” he muttered angrily to himself, “I can’t believe this shit.”

“Boo hoo.” I snapped tiredly, cutting the engine off and marching inside the house. Noticing the tension between us when we walked in, Sam sighed.

Embry stared for a little too long and Paul smacked the back of his head. Quil and Jared were quick to mind their own business after that.

The rest of the day was spent helping Emily cook, like usual. She had tasked me with getting some more ingredients for the soup, and I went to go get my shoes.

Paul looked up as I put on my boots, asking, “Where are you going?”

I flicked my eyes over to him, “The store for Emily. Why, should I have asked your permission first?”

Before he could respond, Sam butted in.

“Take Paul with you. The rest of us have chores, and I don’t want you to go alone, just in case.” He said, pointedly busying himself with his cleaning so he didn’t have to look at me.

“Fine.” I conceded to avoid conflict, and I slid my eyes back to Paul, “Put a shirt on. They won’t let you in without one.”

He rolled his eyes and snatched a shirt from Quil, who was folding laundry. He quickly put it on, holding his arms out and staring at me. Happy?

I wordlessly turned and went to the car.

---

The drive to the grocery store is done in silence, save for the pop music blaring quietly from the radio. He moves to turn it down. I turn it back up.

We go in and I peruse around, looking for the potatoes and corn. Paul skulks behind me, his presence alone warding off anyone who would look our way for too long.

When I find it, the corn I need is on the top shelf. I purse my lips, debating if asking Paul for help would really be worth it.

I turn to him, “I need the corn on the top shelf.”

He looks at me flatly, “Think you’re missing a word.”

With gritted teeth, I force out, “Please.”

Triumphant, he reaches up and gets the corn for me and puts it in the basket around my arm. I continue in search of the potatoes, finding them easily enough and going to check out.

I move to grab my purse to pay the cashier, but Paul reaches around me and hands a twenty to the woman, who takes it quickly and counts out our change.

---

“So,” Charlie starts, poking at the salad Bella was making him eat, “What’s the deal between you and that Paul fella, Y/n?”

I stare at my plate for a moment before looking my father in the eye, “Nothing, Dad. Why?”

“Just because you and him seem bit… tense.” He glances at Bella, and I giver her a dirty look. Traitor.

“I didn’t tell him anything about your issues with Paul!” She defends, “Jake did that on his own!”

“That furry little freak, I’m never saving him food again,” I mutter, pushing around the mashed potatoes on my plate.

“Jake’s just looking out for you, Y/n,” Charlie reasoned, “He told me that you were sore with the boy because he overstepped his boundaries because he didn’t like that Maxwell kid.”

“Dad, do we really have to talk about this?” I sigh, and he nods.

“I learned my lesson about not talking about things after that Edward boy took his toll on your sister,” he said firmly, “So we’re having family meetings about— boy troubles.”

I only stay serious until I make eye contact with Bella, who’s unable to stop herself from letting out an involuntary snicker of laughter. The two of us cackle at Charlie, and he sighs.

“Hardy-har, you two, but I’m serious,” Charlie says, “So. Who wants to go first; Bella about Jacob, or Y/n about Paul?”

Bella coughs, “What’s there to say about Jake and I? We’re only friends and—”

“I might be your old man, but I’m not so old that I don’t know about teenage love, Bella.” Charlie says, his eyebrow raised at her. I smirk as she flounders for an answer.

“Well, Jake and I just spend a lot of time together because we’re good buddies and—”

“Does he know that?” I say slyly, glancing innocently at her.

“Does Paul know he doesn’t have to be jealous of Maxwell?” Bella counters, and I scowl.

“Paul’s not jealous, he’s just an ass because he’s not getting his way.” I inform her, and she rolls her eyes.

Charlie, trying to follow, says, “Now hold on, since when was I supposed to be keeping an eye on Maxwell?”

Bella snickers and I put my head in my hands, “You don’t! Good lord, Max is just a friend!”

“Then what’s got Paul bent out of shape?” He asked, and I wanted to scream.

“Look what you’ve done now,” I groan, smacking Bella across the shoulder, “Dad, Paul’s just being pigheaded, I don’t know what’s wrong with him, and I don’t really care since he won’t tell me.”

---

“Paul,” Sam started over lunch.

“I’m getting around to it!” Paul protested grumpily, picking at his food. Quil opened his mouth to ask, but Embry stopped him with a sharp shake of his head.

“Paul,” Sam started again, “You need to talk to her.”

“And what? Get yelled at?” He shot back, a sneer on his face.

Sam sighed deeply, about to respond when Emily put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“Paul,” Emily said gently, “You need to explain your behavior. Without knowing why you’ve been so… agitated, Y/n thinks you’re just being an ass. You need to apologize to her and explain everything. It will help.”

“Look, I know that, okay?” Paul said, frustrated as he pushed his plate away from himself, “I’m well aware of what I need to do. But we all know what happens when Y/n and I are in the same room for more than a few minutes, especially when I try to do anything for her.”

“Yes, which is exactly why you need to explain everything and—” Emily started, stopping when Paul stood up and started to march out.

“Look, I appreciate the advice, but you aren’t telling me anything new, so both of you cut the shit.” With that, Paul slammed the door behind him and ran off into the woods.

After a long silence, Quil spoke up.

“…Can I have the rest of his food, since he’s not going to eat it?”

---

(Edited 1/4/25)

Ok short chapter today! What do we think??

I plan to do another chapter specifically on reader and Paul’s current relationship (or lack thereof) + adding in a scene request I got ☺️ if anyone wants to see anything specific in there lmk 😁

Anyway, then I’ll get back to the book-central plot and keep it pushing

Thanks for reading guys 🥰

ps do we like the first person or do we prefer third person?? I’m curious which people like more