I returned to my old life on a Wednesday evening. It was around 6pm when a taxi pulled up to a place I once called home.
"Thank you," I said paying the driver.
"No problem!" he nodded and helped me get my stuff out of the car. Taking my duffle bags, throwing one over my shoulder and holding the other in my hand, I slowly made my way to the house.
It was easy to tell someone was home by the way the light shined in the darkness outside. Closing my eyes, I imagined Charlie sitting in the living room, the football game on while holding a beer in hand. Turning the doorknob, I took in a deep breath and walked inside.
I swept my eyes over everything around me. The staircase was in front of me, off to the side a bit; the living room was to my left and the kitchen and hallway to the right. Everything was just the same as it was when I was 9.
Heading to my left, I stared at the crowded room. There were nine large men sitting all around while my dad sat on his recliner chair.
Dropping my bags, I bit my lip and opened my mouth. "Hey dad," I said softly.
All eyes turned on me as I stared at Charlie.
"Bella," he breathed getting out of his seat. He looked exactly the same. Sure he was a bit older and taller, but he was just as I remembered.
He came over, hugging me tightly. "I was supposed to come get you wasn't I?" he said shutting his eyes frustrated with himself.
"Nah, you were fine. I got a cab. The airport was kind of crazy anyways," I smiled. Relief washed over me as I saw no rejection or disappointment on his face when he opened his eyes back up. There was no awkwardness in his body language either. His eyes carried love and affection and his stance seemed relaxed and at ease.
"I'm so sorry Bells. It just slipped my mind. I wasn't thinking at all- I must have not wrote it down, or maybe I forgot it somewhere I just-"
"Dad," I laughed, "its fine. I'm okay and I made it here safe."
He gave me a small nod and smile but I could tell he was still mad at himself. "Your little girl's all grown up now," I smirked with lightness in my tone.
This time he let out a real laugh and leaned forward again to give me another hug and a kiss to the top of my head.
A throat cleared and I pulled away from Charlie. Looking around for the source of the noise, I turned my head and found a familiar face sitting on the couch.
"Jake?" I asked. My eyes went wide as I realized it really was him.
"Jake!" I yelled in happiness as he came over and gave me a hug.
"Chica," he said coming over to hug me. I was stunned. This was my Jake? The boy who was once this scrawny kid and play with me in the mud?
"Look at you!" I said pulling away. He was about 5'8" or 5'9" with toned muscles in places I never knew could look so good.
"Well look at you," he smiled. I looked down at me and didn't see what he was seeing. I was fair skinned, maybe a bit thinner than the average person, around 5'"5 and had brown curlyish hair.
"Jake, you look amazing," I said still getting this all together. He blushed a bit and I let out a laugh. Hugging him again, I noticed how warm he was.
"And you are super warm," I said touching my hand to his bare chest. "Why are you half naked in my dad's house?" I asked, as he stayed silent.
He let out a laugh along with everyone else in the room, including my dad.
"Long story," he said.
"Must be a very long one since…everyone is half naked here," I said quickly scanning the room.
Everyone laughed again and Jake hugged me to his side.
"So what are you doing here?" he wondered, gazing down at me.
I went a bit stiff and looked over to Charlie. He didn't tell anyone?
Giving me a blank expression I turned back to Jake with a feeble smile. "Long story."
Jake gave me a suspicious look and dropped it as I looked at anything but him. The thing about Jake was he could read me better than anyone. It was like we had this connection between us. I swear at times we could read each other's minds.
"So…introductions?" Charlie prompted us.
"Oh, right!" Jake exclaimed. Turning us to face the couch, he introduced me to the farthest person sitting from us. "Bella, this is Embry Call; Embry this is Bella."
"Nice to meet you Bella," he said sweetly. "You too," I smiled.
"This is Quil Aterra," Jake said next. I said hello and gave him another friendly smile. After that, I met Paul, Brady, Seth, Collin, Sam, and Jared. They all seemed really nice. Each gave me a friendly smile and shook my hand. There was something about Sam though. I couldn't explain it, but I just felt excited and happier than a few seconds ago when he smiled at me and shook my hand.
After the introductions were done, I let out an embarrassed laugh. "Wow, these are a lot of names."
"You'll get the hang of it," Jake said positively.
I smiled up at him and laughed a bit. Still the same old Jake- had all the confidence in the world for me.
"Did you eat Bells? We had dinner a while ago but im sure I can still order you a pizza," Charlie asked me.
I smiled and shook my head. "No im okay. I can whip up something later. Do you mind if I go unpack?" I asked him.
"Sure honey," he said as Jake's arm fell from my back.
"Thanks," I told him.
"Need any help?" Jake asked me.
"Nah," I smiled, "Stay with your gang." Kissing his cheek real quick I headed for my bags. Picking up my stuff, I made my way upstairs and to my old room. The door was shut and admittedly, I felt a bit nervous to open it.
Turning the handle, I braced myself for what I would see. I was shocked once again. It was almost just the same as I left it when I was 10. The bulletin board full of my drawings and colorings were all still hanging up; some pictures of Jake and I when we were little were still framed on my nightstand. I noticed my twin size bed was now replaced with a queen sized one, and the border of Scooby Doo that once went around my turquoise walls was now gone. My bedspread was now a dark purple rather than the once animated one I had for my 'big girl bed'.
Setting my stuff down on the floor, I strolled over to my bed and sat on it. How had everything changed so fast? The little girl that once lived in this room was no longer me. What had happened? Where had the time gone?
I noticed the moon's light shining down on me. Turing to look over my shoulder, I glanced at the beauty of the night. The moon looked full and bright; the stars were all shining showing what a clear night it was.
Moving over to the window, I let out a heavy breath and laid my head on the wall beside it. It all seemed so calm and peaceful. It was almost perfect. Staring out at the night, my thoughts began to wander over everything that happened. I wasn't here to visit like I wished for in my dreams I was here to stay. Finding Renee's body hanging in the doorway of our exercise room, as we called it, had me move right away. How could I possibly stay in that house after finding my mother dead after hanging herself? My mother's suicide took a part of me that made my heart and head feel so worn down. I needed to try and get that back, whether it was going to be here or at Aunt Betty's farm. Focusing my eyes back onto the beautiful night, I took in a breath, pulling up my hair into a pony and got down to business.
First, I trotted down the stairs and into the kitchen. Glancing in the kitchen, I couldn't find much. There were some bottles of beer, a jar of pickles, and some bottles of water, but other than that, not much to eat except for condiments.
Sighing, I looked through the cupboards and pantries and found a box of noodles. Gathering my bearings, I found that Charlie hadn't even changed the places of his dishes, cups and pots. Everything was literally the same from when my mom and I had left. Putting on a pot of water, I turned on the stove and waited for it to boil.
"You did what?" I heard what sounded Jake yell.
"Jake," someone warned to him.
"How could you imprint on her? She just got here for God's sakes!" he continued to yell.
Walking into the living room to investigate, I found Jake standing up looking furiously at Sam.
"Everything okay here?" I asked the men.
No one spoke; Jake just continued to glare at Sam, huffing out harsh puffs of air. I noticed he was staring to tremble a bit.
"Jake, you okay?" I asked a bit nervous. The air was thick with tension.
"I need to get out of here," he muttered walking past everyone, including me.
"Jake?" I asked again ready to follow him. Not only did he not meet my eyes as he past me, but he was also trembling even worse.
"Bella don't." Charlie said stopping me from going after him. I looked up at him with a confused look, clearly puzzled on why he was stopping me. Jared and the guy Paul, I think it was, brushed past us and slipped outside to Jake.
A toilet flushed and a few seconds later Seth came out of the bathroom with a bewildered look on his face.
"What did I miss?" he asked.
No one answered, not until Seth continued to walk into the living room and Embry whispered something to him.
"Sam imprinted on Bella."
"Huh?" I asked as I heard my name. What was imprinting? I wondered.
All heads snapped up to me, Sam looking like a deer in headlights at me.
My eyes snapped back to Charlie as he let out a sigh and shook his head. What was happening?
I continued to feel uneasy. I didn't like this. Shifting from foot to foot, I couldn't stand it anymore. "My water is probably boiling," I said pointing back over to the kitchen. Charlie nodded, letting go of my arm.
I turned back into the kitchen and was beyond lost. I couldn't understand what was going on between Jake, and then Sam and then the phrase I heard Embry tell Seth.
Pouring the box of noodles into the pot, I watched as they all sunk to the bottom.
"Find something to eat?" a voice asked. Jumping a bit, I turned my head and found Sam in the kitchen doorway.
"Yea," I said softly. "Noodles," I told him holding up the empty box.
Silence passed between us and I felt awkward again. What could I possibly do? My noodles wouldn't be ready for a few minutes and this interaction I had going on between this guy named Sam was not going too well.
I walked over to the fridge, pulling out the container of shredded parmesan I saw in the fridge earlier. Going back over to the counter, I pulled out a bowl from the cupboard and waited some more.
God this was excruciating, I thought in my head. I could feel Sam's presence behind me. I was guessing he was still leaning against the doorway watching me. Why? I asked myself. No idea.
"I'm sorry for what you heard back there," he finally said. Moving to face him, I observed how his eyebrows were furrowed and he was looking down at the floor.
"It's fine. I'm guessing im not going to be getting any explanation soon though," I assumed.
He shrugged his shoulders. "There are going to be a lot of things that you are going to hear around here that won't make sense to you. But im asking you to trust me and be patient."
"Be patient for how long?" I asked.
"I don't know," he said.
This time my eyebrows furrowed. "Your asking me to trust you, a guy who I have just met, so you can not hide whatever you guys are hiding, and not tell me?" I asked. Was he seriously thinking straight?
"And," I continued, "You want me to be patient for…who knows how long so you can..."
Reading his face I nodded. "Right, can't tell me."
I went back to my noodles, finding them ready. Turning off the stove and straining the water from the pot, I poured them into the bowl and sprinkled parmesan over it.
"Bella, im sorry," he said to me. Shivers ran up and down my arms. His voice and apology seemed so strong and true.
"Not a big deal," I told him with a small smile as I grabbed a fork from the drawer.
I went to walk out of the kitchen and my head snapped up when the front door opened back up.
"You okay?" I asked Jake as he came walking back in with Jared and Paul in tow. Sam's presence was right behind me. I could feel his heat radiating off of him.
He nodded but I could tell he seemed a bit sullen. Walking over to face him, I stood on my tiptoes. Laying a soft kiss on his cheek, I gave him a small smile and then walked upstairs to my room.
I had no idea what was going on. I wanted to know, yet at the same time I knew I wouldn't get to know until they were ready to share whatever they were hiding with me.
Plugging in my ipod, I debated unpacking. Its not like brought many things. I only two bags to be exact. The rest was supposed to be airmailed to Charlie's house, hopefully arriving in a few days.
Sitting back on my bed, I ate my bowl of pasta and checked my school email. This year I was going to be taking all online classes since I was now living in Forks and couldn't be at the campus to attend the lectures and exams.
"Knock knock," Jake said coming into my room.
"Hey," I said logging off and shutting my computer.
"Hey, I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" he asked looking at my laptop.
"No, I was just checking some emails and such. Nothing too exciting," I said. He nodded and came to sit next to me on my bed.
"I'm sorry for my actions earlier," he told me.
"Its okay," I told him.
"It shouldn't have happened." He said punishing himself.
Shifting my body, I put a hand on his shoulder and leaned my chin on him too. "Things happen Jake. I'm not mad at you. I'm just sorry I couldn't have been any help."
"Don't be sorry, it was none of your doing," he said looking over at me. "But it was about me right?" I asked him.
He seemed to be a bit shocked and worried at the same time. "Its fine, no need to share anything with me." I said looking at his face.
"I'm sorry, I want to, its just, I cant-"
"Jake, just don't," I told him. I hated hearing that. For once in my life, after knowing I say it myself, I hated that phrase. Maybe it was because I had a low patience today. With all this bullshit going on right now and the secrets, maybe that was it. But hearing 'I can't' coming out of Jake's mouth was something I really didn't want to hear at the moment.
"Bells," he said trying to come up with something to make me feel better. Sighing, I leaned off of him and got up from my bed. The pasta was now gone and I felt empty just like the bowl as I set it down on my desk. Moving my laptop to my desk also, I plopped on the bed, lying back to stare at the ceiling.
"I want to tell you Bella, but I cant be the one to tell you. I mean-" he said finding it didn't come out right.
"Can we just drop it?" I asked looking at him. Hearing he couldn't be the one to tell me something squeezed something inside of me. I wasn't sure what he meant or was trying to say, but it wasn't making me feel any better.
"Bells, I need you to understand that I want you to know everything I just-"
"Jake," I said exasperated. "Just drop it okay? I know you aren't going to tell me whatever secret you are hiding and talking about it isn't going to make it any better when you cant say anything about it. So just shut up about it, please." I asked with my hands to my forehead.
"But I don't want you to be mad. I really do want to tell you everything its just so complicated Bells and-"
"Jake!" I reprimanded now sitting up frustrated. He huffed and I could tell he was hurt by my actions but I really couldn't take any more. What was the point of talking to me about something he was hiding when he wasn't even going to tell me? It was like dangling a piece of meat in front of a hungry dog.
"Come on," he grunted to me, taking me by the wrist.
"Jake, what-"
He led me downstairs and back into the living room. Great, I thought to myself.
"You need to tell her," Jake said to Sam.
"Jake," Charlie said in a cautious voice.
"I can't keep such a big part of my life hidden from my best friend- especially since she is now apart of this." He told my dad. I looked at the two men confused. What was I apart of?
"Sam tell her," Jake said, sounding like he was almost pleading with him.
"Dad?" I asked confused by everything. Sam was still over by the fireplace sighing and Jake was staring at him waiting for him to make a move.
"Bella, do you remember the stories we used to tell you and Jake?" Charlie asked me. I tried to think back to everything but I wasn't drawing up much.
"Vaguely. I remember always sitting around a fire and Uncle Billy always used to tell them. A few times you would pitch in or tell them too, but it's all kind of foggy from there."
"You don't remember the tale of the Chosen One, the Legend of the Man, the Cold Ones, The White Wolf…" he asked.
I put a hand to my forehead and tried again to bring the memories back. Still, I didn't come up with much. "Dad, that was a long time ago. Almost 10 years," I reminded him. He sighed.
"There was a legend we always used to tell you- the story between the Cold Ones and the Tribal Men."
"Okay," I said remembering bits and pieces. "The Cold Ones were bad- they resembled vampires or something right?" I asked.
He nodded, "Do you remember anything about the Tribal Men?"
"Umm," I said thinking over what I could remember. "They were protectors right? They protected their land and people. Dad I don't remember much of it all."
He sighed again. "In the legend, as you remember, the Tribal Men were protectors- guarding the land and the people. But they were also shape shifters. They turned into werewolves remember?" he asked me carefully.
"Yea…" I said finding bit and pieces were becoming more familiar now. "They fought against the Cold Ones with their razor sharp teeth and claws. They also had really good agility or some shit like that."
"Bella, what if those legends were true?" Charlie challenged my thinking.
"Dad, they are just stories- or legends as you call them. They have been past down from generations to generations. Please don't tell me you actually believe in that." I asked him.
"They aren't just stories Bella. They are real Bella," he said.
"Dad," I huffed. How was it that I always fell into the parental role?
"Boys," he said pointing over to Quil and Embry.
"Just watch," Jake whispered to me as they stepped outside. Moving to the window, I watched as the two men turned into wolves.
"Holy shit," I cussed out. I couldn't believe my eyes. This was not real. This was the stuff they carried in movies, and I, was unfortunately not in a movie.
I wiggled my way through the tense crowd and went to open the front door. There was just no way they were real. This had to be a prank. It was the only logical explanation.
"No way in hell," I said aloud as I stood in the doorway with two large horse sized wolves standing in the front yard. "You're telling me this is real?" I asked still watching them.
"Yes," Charlie said.
"Right," I breathed, pulling my hair out of its ponytail and running a hand through it.
"So tell them to change back," I said.
"You might want to turn around," Seth stated. I looked at him puzzled.
"They are naked when they phase back," Sam said to me while throwing the guys some shorts.
"Right" I said blushing a bit as I turned around. I waited for a few seconds till Sam gave me a nod and I turned back around. Jared and Paul were human again. It was scary.
"So?" Jake asked me.
"This is some scary shit," I told him.
"I'm sure you have questions," Sam asked me.
"Umm…no. Not at this moment. My head is kind of fuzzy or well…empty. I'm just- taking it in." I said in the nicest way possible.
Charlie nodded and then brought me to his side, kissing my head. It reminded me of how Jake does that. Jake…my best friend. Who is now a werewolf. Or was a werewolf, or I guess is a werewolf.
"Holy shit, my best friend is a werewolf." I said. Putting a hand over my mouth I internally hit myself. I didn't mean to say that out loud.
"Come on," my dad said, guiding me back to the living room. They all gave me a few minutes to process this all. It was like this loop of swirling jumbledness. From what I saw to what I think is logic, it was like a never-ending battle in my head. When I gathered somewhat of a mental capacity to understand and listen, they went over everything. Sam was the alpha of that they call 'a pack'. It was rightfully Jake's but he didn't want to take it, so since Sam was the first to change, it was his position. From there, they talked about why they changed (because of the vampires in town) and what they do. They also went over what the trembling was and why they had such hot skin.
"Wow," I breathed running a hand through my hair again. I found myself doing that when I was stressed. "Anything else I should know?" I asked weakly, a bit of jokingness in my voice. There possibly couldn't be anymore…could there?
Everyone's eyes darted from side to side or each other. "Oh dear lord, there is more," I said as I watched all of the men. "Just spit it out," I said trying to deal with this as best I could. Not only was I antsy, but I also had a pit in my stomach that I didn't like. I looked at Charlie waiting for him to say something but he just glanced over at Sam.
"What you heard earlier- what we were telling Seth," Sam said, "Involves you…and me."
"You and me how?" I asked not liking where this was headed. Charlie seemed to be a bit shifty and Jake wasn't looking at me- as a matter of fact, nobody was.
"See, imprinting is when a wolf find his mate. The wolf instantly feels this connection to the significant other and is tied to them."
"In laymen's terms, its love at first sight."
"Right," he told me. "Both the wolf and the imprint find themselves now devoted to each other, spending the rest of their lives together as mates."
"So then what does this have to do with you and…- oh god," I said pulling it all together.
The breath in my lungs had suddenly disappeared and I put a hand to my mouth. Sam imprinted on me. That means…oh fuck. I was tied to Sam, or well, he was tied to me. Forever. His life… my life. Holy shit, he is the guy I am supposed to be with for the rest of my life!
I swallowed hard and continued to analyze this. This is my life now, he is the one. I'm done dating and trying to find Mr. Perfect. Shit, how did this happen? Where has my life gone? I'm supposedly in love with him now? Or going to be… or am or…wait. I'm supposed to fall in love with a werewolf! My Mr. Perfect is a freakin' werewolf. Fuck!
"This-…this-…" I repeated now moving my hands to my head. My head wasn't forming words as I struggled to make out a sentence. I was supposed to fall in love with a man…this man who just happens to be a werewolf and the Alpha of the so-called 'Pack'- A man that I just met about an hour and a half ago. Why don't I get a say in this?
"I don't get a choice in this?" I asked looking up at him.
"Bells, it's not like that," Jake said softly.
"Not like that…then what is it like Jake?" I asked a bit mad. "Cause right now, I was just told that I am expected to fall in love with a man…who I just met not even two hours ago. Who is a werewolf and the alpha of his pack, which by the way, you are in…and you are seriously sitting next to me saying its not like im not getting a choice?"
"No, I just meant, your feelings will change," he said. After he spoke those words, I flipped even more shit. My feelings will change? What the hell did I do to the world to get this thrown on me?
"I need to get some air," I told everyone.
"Bella," Sam said standing up.
"Please don't," I said staggering back from him a bit. I didn't want to be near him right now. I wasn't sure how I felt about this. "Its all a lot to handle right now. I mean, jeez, you all just freakin' told me you were werewolves just a second ago. And now im supposedly destined to fall in love with the alpha of the pack. Great, I have to go digest this."
Walking unsteadily out of the house, I threw my head back and looked out at the stars. This was some seriously messed up shit. Sighing, I took in some breaths and tried to pull myself together. I'm sure Sam was just as antsy and upset about this as I was. I ran off and pushed him away. Imprint or not, he didn't deserve that.
Walking around a bit, I leaned against a tree, the police cruiser and even kicked some stones on the driveway. My brain had to organize this. I accepted I could no longer understand it, but I had to cope with this some how.
One step at a time Bella, I told myself. Analyzing everything about werewolves seemed like pie compared to this whole thing between Sam and I. God, why was this so difficult. Pepping myself up for what was to come turned and moved to walk back into the house. When the door opened, the silence seemed deafening.
"So, I think I am getting a handle on this better," I smiled weakly. Jake let out a relieved smile and came to hug me.
"Did you want to take to us about anything honey? You can ask us anything, don't be afraid," my dad said.
"I'm just trying to piece this all together. It's just so illogical. I mean, vampires and werewolves? What's next? Are you going to tell me the tooth fairy was real and she's floating around here somewhere too?"
There were a few laughs around the room and it made me feel a bit better. Charlie rolled his eyes and chuckled a bit, "no, sorry, that was still your mother."
As he mentioned Renee, I oddly felt something. Of course, those images of finding her immediately popped into my head and made me feel sick, but I actually felt… a twinge of heartbreak.
Charlie gave me an apologetic look and I just brushed it off into this weird emotional night.
"You think we can talk?" Sam asked me.
"Sure," I breathed out, a hand running through my hair. I got up, nodding for him to follow me out back.