I spent the next morning lazily unpacking my few possessions, settling them in to their familiar places in my old room. Despite the lacking urgency, it didn't take long. Another cloudy day in Forks and not much better to do. The chilled air sneaking in through the slightly cracked window reminded me of Billy and Jake's offer for Christmas. I hadn't thought to do any shopping in Phoenix, knowing it would just add to the difficulty of moving. Not to mention the decision to bump the move date happened pretty suddenly. Renee and Phil weren't supposed to leave for Florida until after New Years, but an injury in the team's original line-up meant they needed him sooner. Though she'd never admit it, I knew she wouldn't want to spend Christmas without him, so the inevitable move to Forks just got bumped up a few weeks. I didn't even think to say goodbye to the sun.
A little after noon I decided to wander downstairs and investigate the grocery situation. It didn't take long to realize how dire it was. I made a list and decided there was no time like the present to go explore Forks, even if that just meant picking up groceries and maybe looking for some Christmas gifts. As I finished bundling myself for the cold and made for the truck, the jarring of the telephone stopped my momentum. I stumbled for the phone as quickly as I could, only bumping into the coffee table and couch on my way.
"Hello?"
"Bella? Hi!"
"Hey Jake, what's up?" I smiled to myself at his enthusiasm, still contagious over the phone.
"I just wanted to check in and see if you were settled? And make sure that truck didn't give you any trouble on the way home. I didn't realize how big it was until you sat in the driver's seat!"
"Like you said, Jake, it runs great! I unpacked my stuff this morning, and I'm actually headed to get some groceries for Charlie right now. Well, and explore a little. Not that I expect a lot of change, but it's been a while since my last stay, and I can't quite remember where everything is."
"Sounds like you've got your day planned out. Well, any chance we can hang out soon? I know you and your dad are coming for Christmas, but that's still a few days off. Maybe you could come over tomorrow?"
"I'll have to double check with Charlie, but I'm sure that's okay. Can I call you later tonight when he gets home?"
"Sure, sure. See you soon, Bells!"
A smile snuck onto my face, and a ghost of the warmth I'd felt last night returned as I made my way to the truck.
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Unable to sleep, I awoke early the next morning to a rare sunny morning, the weather reflecting my internal state.
I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth and hair, deciding not to let the unruly tendrils bring my mood down. A quick glance at the clock confirmed it was probably too early to call Jake and let him know I was on my way to La Push. Realizing I had some time, I sat down at my desk and switched on the ancient computer taking up most of the flat surface. I hadn't thought to let Renee know I was okay, not that she didn't have enough to distract her as well. Sometimes I wondered if she would ever be able to keep everything together without someone like me or Phil. Or Charlie. After the agonizing boot process finished, my email inbox indicated that Renee had done the opposite of forget. Six messages blinked back at me, each one with a more urgent subject line than the one before it.
I glanced over each one and wrote a quick reply, letting her know I was settled in but wouldn't check my email every fifteen minutes, and that so far everything was going okay. She seemed to be settling in well in Florida, so I was sure she wouldn't mind if I just checked in. After all, not much had really changed in the two days since I left. Well, except for Jake, the truck, exploring Forks. That could wait for the next email.
Finally, it seemed a decent enough hour to call over to the Black's. Jake answered on the first ring, which didn't fail to make my heart beat just a little bit faster.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jake, it s Bella. Is it too early to come over?"
"Not at all! I'm glad you called. Hurry up, okay?" His eagerness was comforting. I hadn't really had good friends in Phoenix. Jake's energy and vibrant spirit was new in so many ways to me. Definitely the sun breaking through the clouds.
In no time I'd made the drive, pushing the truck as fast as it could go down the wooded highway. At hearing the unmistakable growling of the truck's engine, Jake emerged from the back of the house with two other boys before I'd even put the truck in park. He nearly pulled me out of the cab and into a tight hug before I had time to catch a breath.
"Bella! I'm glad you could come today! We're going down to First Beach later so you can meet everyone." At the mention of "everyone" the two other boys jumped forward.
"Hi, I'm Quil, this is Embry, Jake's much better looking friends," Quil said with a grin and a wiggle of his dark eyebrows. He threw out a hand in greeting, Embry quickly following suit.
"So how's Forks so far? Tired of the clouds yet? You know, you're lucky you get to experience a sunny day here at all, let alone in December on your first week in town," Embry began. "I'm sure Jake's spent so much time talking about himself that he forgot to even mention us. Nice to see how the guy treats his best friends, eh?"
Laughing, I quipped back "Well he's been just fine to me! In fact, far better than I expected or deserved after so much time apart. We were childhood friends when I used to visit Chief Swan during summers. And Forks is okay, but La Push is probably better, so far." At that Jacob's face lit up, causing Quil to snicker quietly and Jake to send him a quick jab to the ribs.
"And I'm so glad to see the sun again. It's only been a couple of days since I left Phoenix, but it's amazing how much difference a little light can make." I glanced over to Jake, blushing a little at his still radiant smile and the double meaning of my words. "I guess that does make me pretty lucky, Embry."
"How about we go inside for a bit to stay warm? And get some food, I'm kinda hungry," Quil suggested.
"I'm down. Hey Bella, you want some lunch or did you already eat? We'll take some down to the beach later, if it's warm enough, but we might as well get some now."
"Sure, Jake." With that, the four of us trudged inside and settled in for the afternoon. Despite the three large boys and tiny Bella in the room, it seemed something was missing. Quil caught it first and asked, "So where's your Dad today, Jake? Not like him to be gone in the middle of the day."
He replied, "I think he went to hang out at the Clearwater's before the council meeting. He seemed kinda serious when he left this morning, but I figured he just didn't get enough sleep. With all the excitement of Bella 's arrival, who could, right?" He flashed me a silly grin and my cheeks flushed again and a small smile crept onto my lips. I wasn't used to all of this attention, and normally I'd hate it. Something about this was different, though. Jake's eager interest was like a welcomed assault on me, drawing me towards him with every smile. Something about him seemed older than just fifteen, and for a moment I wondered if the age difference could really matter.
I helped Jake throw together some cold cut sandwiches and the four of us happily plopped down on the couch in front of the television to spend the afternoon. When everyone was done, I instinctively cleared the plates into the kitchen, then returned to my dent in the couch. As I sat, Jake threw a warm arm around my shoulders and I snuggled in, realizing the chill in the air when I'd left the couch. He smelled like the woods and musk, a warm, deep, natural smell, relaxing and pleasant.
The four of us watched TV and joked around for a few more hours until Jake got a phone call announcing it was time to go to the beach. We piled in to the cab of the truck and made the quick trip down to First Beach where a roaring bonfire and several of Jake's friends were waiting.
As we made the walk down the beach, Jake tugged on my sleeve, silently telling me to hold back from the others. "I just wanted to give you a quick warning before you meet everyone. Emily, Sam's girlfriend, got stuck in a bad situation with a bear a while back. It got her pretty bad, but don't stare, okay? She doesn't mind it, but it makes Sam really upset. And he can be kind of scary when he's upset. But don't worry, he's a great guy! Just protective."
"No worries, Jake. I'm glad I'm getting to meet all of your friends. You know, this is already more people than I ever really knew in Phoenix." As much as I didn't want to think about it, I truly was already friends with more people—and better friends—than I had been in Phoenix. I guess when you have Renee, that's more than enough to keep you busy.
"Aw, any time Bells. Now let's get down there before they eat all the food. I'm starving!" With another tug at my sleeve, Jake swiftly took my hand in his warm one and we sped off to catch up with Embry and Quil. It pleased me that holding hands with a boy was so easy when that boy was Jake. His fingers left a warm, tingly sensation on my knuckles and I smiled at the reassuring squeeze he gave me as we approached the group.
"Hey guys, this is Bella, Chief Swan's daughter. Bella, this is everyone." I laughed at his detailed introduction, and quickly settled next to Jake on a log near the fire. The conversation in the group flowed easily, with quick banter back and forth between the boys until the food was ready.
During the upheaval caused by several overgrown teenage boys racing at the same instant for hot dogs and sticks, the woman who could only be Emily walked over and took a seat next to me and introduced herself. She was quiet, but not reserved, and beautiful. Even with the scarring on one side of her face from her eye to her lips, it was very obvious just how good looking she had been and still was.
"I know it can be hard sometimes running around with all of these boys, so if you ever need a girl to talk to, don't hesitate okay? Though Sam looks like he's in his late twenties, we're both only a couple of years older than you, so I understand things better than you might think," she added with a wink and a devious grin. "I couldn't help but notice the reaction our Jake seems to have in your presence. He's always happy, but with you the glimmer in his eye seems a little stronger. You two were old friends, right?"
Altogether unsure how to interpret her observation, I stuck with the basics. "Charlie and Billy are really good friends. As a result, Jake and I knew each other way back in the day. We've become reacquainted in the whole three days I've been in town. He's pretty easy to get along with," I finished, trying to keep the discussion as neutral as possible.
At that instant, Jake returned and ungracefully plopped down on the other side of me with two hot dogs, some chips, and a couple of drinks. "Thought I'd save you the trouble of having to cook the first one, but if you want more, next round is on you!" I laughed and took the hot dog and soda, trying to balance both without spilling anything.
The afternoon turned into evening, and as the temperature started to drop with the sun, I shouldered my way under Jake's arm to stay warm. He offered me his coat, which I nearly turned down until he claimed, "Bells, seriously, take it. I've been sweating all day anyway, and I still have a sweatshirt on without it. You need it more than me. Don't worry," he added with a cheeky grin, "I'll still let you huddle under my arm, if that's what you're really worried about losing!"
"If you insist, and you promise I won't lose the arm heat, then okay." I slipped my arms through the sleeves of his jacket, and suddenly realized he wasn't joking. "Jeez, Jake! You really are pretty warm. You aren't getting sick or something, are you?"
I noticed Sam, the biggest of the Quileute boys, turn suddenly to look at Jake out of the corner of his eye. From his seat near Emily, he looked almost frightening with the shadows of the fire dancing against his dark skin and serious eyes. He roamed once over Jake, eyebrows drawn together in concentration as if he didn't find what he expected to see. I looked away, not wanting him to acknowledge my observation.
"Nah, it's just my thick skin. I'm just a champ when it comes to the cold, Bells. But if I was sick, would you come take care of me?" he asked with silly puppy eyes and a childish pout to match.
"You wish, Jake. She totally likes me better, right, Bella?" Quil yelled across the fire, earning hearty laughs from everyone except Jake who continued to pout. The banter continued back and forth, and as I sat and watched my new friends joke and laugh, I smiled to myself at how things were working out so far. At this rate, even if I hated school in Forks when I started in a couple of weeks, I knew I'd have some place to go where I could forget all about it.
As we packed up to leave several hot dogs later, Jake took my hand again and led the way to my truck. "So you never really answered the question, Bells," he began as he opened the cab door and pulled me in for a rough hug.
Remembering I still wore his coat, I glanced up at him and asked, "Which question do you mean?" As my other arm freed itself from the coat, his eyes met mine, filled with a mischievous sparkle and something different… "Who do you like better, Bells?" His warm hands slowly worked up and down my arms, almost as if trying to warm them in the cool night air. Yet where his arms passed, the warm tingle I'd felt on my knuckles before was followed by a slight chill.
"Jake do you really have to ask? I've known you longest, I know you best. Of course it's you," I replied with as much innocence as possible. In truth he was starting to grow on me a in a very different way. The affection and concern for me, his eagerness and attention, the warmth in his smile and on his hands… it drew me to him.
The giddy smile returned. "Yes! I knew it! I win! For the record, Bells, you aren't so bad yourself." With that, he drew me into another hug, and I took advantage of the closeness to revel again his warmth. The woodsy scent I'd noticed this afternoon was only increased thanks to the bonfire, and the combination of the two brought a smile to my face.
"Thanks, Jake. I'd better get going before Charlie starts to worry. Not that we've really gotten far enough to talk curfew or anything, but I don't think Chief Swan would appreciate his daughter staying out too late on her first week in town."
"No problem. I'll see you soon, kay? Christmas, if not before!"
"Sure, sure," I yelled back over the truck's engine, laughing at the natural way Jake's phrase rolled off of my tongue.
That night I fell asleep quickly and into dreams of sunshine and grassy fields and sandy beaches. The common thread in every dream was the warmth on my skin and the presence of the boy who was quickly turning into my own personal sun in this land of clouds.
