Love Makes Blind

[Paul's Point of View]

I had gone home after I was done talking to Sam. I had to see my mom because she was very upset about Mirella’s death and she told me about the beautiful memorial they had held for her. And she was so worried about Elia, my mother hadn’t been aware that it was a shape-shifter that hurt her. And that she was blind again. That poor girl, she said.

I slept in my own bed because if I went to Elia I had to wake someone up to get in and then I would probably wake Elia when I got in the bed. I went to my own room; I hadn’t slept in my own bed for ages, I preferred Elia’s bed. I collapsed on top of the covers with my clothes still on. I hadn’t slept a full night in over a week.

^^^

I woke because the sun was shining directly at my face; I’m sure if I had remembered to pull the curtains close I would have slept longer, possibly a week. I got up lazily and looked around – I was disoriented but slowly I remembered I was home again and that I fell asleep fully clothed and so on. Damn it, I was supposed to be with Elia now but I figured that she would already be up and wouldn’t mind if I took a shower and got myself cleaned up before I went over to her.

My mother had already left for work when I walked into the front room. I considered whether I should eat breakfast before I left but decided that I could eat with Elia. It was strange that the sun shone so early, it was the main reason I hadn’t remembered where I was. But I could feel the pressure of the clouds that it would start to rain soon. I hurried up to get to Elia’s house before it would come.

The door was unlocked so I walked in and expected them to be in the kitchen eating but I saw a note on the table instead.
Paul,
Darin and I went to see the new apartment, Elia is still asleep.
Make breakfast to her.
Leah.

I walked up the stairs and into Elia’s room but she wasn’t there. I was confused but then I heard soft sobs coming from her bathroom and I rushed over to the door. Elia was sitting with her back against the bathtub and her hands wrapped around her knees.
“Elia, what is it?” I asked and sat down beside her. I pulled her against me but it only made her cry more.
“I- I think.” She let out a sob. “I think I’m pregnant.” Her voice broke as she buried her face in my sweater.
“What?” I asked in total shock. I could feel the fear of the unknown run through me.

“I just threw up and my period is late.” She said quietly against my neck.
I was silent for a second. “But how?”
“You know where babies come from Paul.” Her voice was weak.
“Yeah, but we use condoms.” I said dumbfounded.
Elia sighed and a shiver ran through her body. “Not the last time, the morning before we went to the beach, remember?”
I closed my eyes and rested my head on top of hers. “I’m sorry.”

She shivered again and I wrapped my arms tighter around her, but she flinched away and I remembered her wounds.
“Why are you so upset?” I asked. “Isn’t this a good thing?” My voice was hopeful; there was no hiding that fact.
“But it’s illegal.” her voice was barley over a whisper. “I’m only seventeen and you are twenty. Darin could report you.”

“He wouldn’t.” I said but suddenly I wasn’t sure.
“And look at me, I’m blind and wounded, I’m in no condition for being a mother.” She sighed sadly.
“You don’t want our child?” I asked her.
Elia straightened up. “I do, just not yet.”

“But there is a chance you’re not pregnant; you’ve gone through a lot of trauma and stress, that could affect your period and maybe you just ate something bad on the plane or something.” I tried to calm her.
“Can you buy a pregnancy test?” Elia asked me weakly.
“Of course; I’ll have to drive up to Forks to the drug store, are you sure you’ll manage alone, or do you want me to call Leah?” I asked.
“No! No, you can’t call her; she’ll only tell Darin. I’ll be fine, just hurry.” She stood up and I led her back to the bed.

I kissed her before rushing downstairs again. I found the car keys for Mirella’s car on the kitchen counter. I snatched them and walked out and got in the car. My stomach rumbled off hunger as I put the car in drive – I regretted not eating breakfast. I sped down the road towards Forks and hoped that Chief Swan wasn’t out on speed control, which would defiantly not look good when I applied for a job as a police officer.

There was a possibility that I would be a father. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought; yeah, we were young, but we loved each other. I surprised myself when I thought that I wanted the test to be positive.

I parked the car in front of the drugstore and got out. I had no idea what to do; I had never bought a pregnancy test before because I was always careful with using some sort of protection. I decided against looking around the store like an idiot and walked straight to the counter where a young girl stood. I groaned inwardly when I vaguely recognized her as one of my earlier fuck buddies.

“Good morning, what can I help you with?” She beamed at me.
I remembered why I dumped her; she was so… irritatingly happy all the time. “Uh, I was wondering where the pregnancy testsare.”
Shock covered her face for a second before a smug smile replaced it. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
I straightened up – I had nothing to be embarrassed about. “A pregnancy test.” I repeated a little louder; the shop was almost vacant it was just the young girl behind the counter and an old man sleeping in a chair.

She turned around smugly and found one in a shelf behind the counter. “Do you want me to explain how it works?” she asked in her high pitched voice.
“No thank you, I know how to read.” I paid for it and rushed out to the car again.

Elia was asleep again when I got back. I shook her shoulder lightly and led her to the bathroom. Her embarrassment was evident as I had to help her take the test.
“Now we’ll just have to wait for two minutes to get the answer.” I said and put the test on the sink.
Elia nodded.
I pulled her into a hug. “I want you to know that I love you and I’ll be here for you no matter what.”
She nodded again. “I love you too.”

We stood in silence until the two minutes had passed and I kept one arm around Elia’s waist as I picked it up again. My heart fell as I read the test result.