So this chapter is up a little later than I had planned – sorry guys, I had to work. Technically it is still Wednesday the seventeenth of December... in Australia it is anyway : )
Thanks to magically dorky, Fudgie-chan and Viper003 for your reviews and thanks to everyone reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Have fun!
Nine Ladies Dancing
Wednesday the Seventeenth of December
I woke up late this morning and continued with my usual routine of pacing downstairs to eat breakfast over Charlie's note:
Bella,
I'll be home around three today – Billy and Jacob Black are coming round to watch the game at four. I told Carlisle I'd be at The Sullen Cullen to help out with the Ball later tonight – so we'll have dinner there. Have a great day Bells.
Charlie.
I vaguely remembered Jacob and his father Billy from when I used to visit here. I'd kept in contact with Jacob via phone and email until about three years ago, but I hadn't seen him since I was six.
The game - of course, baseball. Charlie was mad for it. I never really got into sports, but I guessed Jacob could keep me company whilst Charlie and Billy yelled at the TV.
The day went by slowly. I watched some TV and tried to concentrate on Wuthering Heights but my mind was elsewhere. That's why, when the doorbell rang at three o'clock I was glad to rush out of my seat and let myself become distracted. I opened the door expecting Charlie. Instead...
"Hey Bella!"
It was Jacob. Though he was a year and a bit younger than me, he certainly didn't look it. He had to be at least six-foot-five and he had muscles I'd never seen before on a sixteen-year-old. He wore the same exuberant smile I'd always remembered, but he'd cut his hair short – when we were kids he'd always had it grown out to shoulder length.
"Jacob," I said lightly as he passed me into the lounge room.
Billy was just behind him, wheeling his chair inside, "Hello Bella," he said, "It's nice to see you again."
"Yeah," I said, "You too."
They made themselves at home in the lounge room as I tried to make conversation, "Charlie said you weren't coming til four," I said as I packed the soft drink bottles and cans of beer they'd brought over into the fridge.
"Speak of the devil," I heard Billy say as Charlie entered the house.
"Sorry Bella," Charlie laughed as he went to greet the Blacks, "I should have warned you of their habit to arrive fashionably early."
"As always," Jacob chuckled as I sat on the couch next to him. We spent the next hour chatting about insignificant things – just as Charlie and Billy had got onto another one of their fishing stories, the game started. From then on it was silent apart from the occasional cheer or yell from Charlie and/or Billy. Jacob rolled his eyes at me and stood up, indicating for me to follow. We exited out into the backyard and sat on the bench.
He smiled at me, "So how have you been these past – what is it? – eleven years?"
I laughed, "I'm good," I answered, "What about you?"
"Great," he smiled hugely. From then the conversation flowed easier than I thought it would. He told me about the cars he'd been fixing up and how boring school was. His open personality was refreshing after spending so much time dwelling on Edward's enigmatic tendencies.
In return I told him about my life. About how I loved Phoenix and how I was actually enjoying Wisconsin.
He feigned shock, "You?" he pointed, "Enjoying this?" he indicated towards the dark sky and then towards out thick coats.
I laughed along with him, "It's growing on me," I answered. I didn't know why, but I didn't want to tell him all about the carnival and its influence – or one specific carousel attendant's influence – on me. But then...
"Hey, there's a Ball down at the carnival tonight. They do it every year – on the 'Ninth Day of Christmas'," he made air-quotation marks with his fingers, "Charlie usually goes, will you be there?"
It didn't sound as if he was asking me on a date, so I shrugged casually, "Charlie said we'll be having dinner there tonight. But dancing isn't really my thing."
"Oh yes," he said grinning, "Little Miss Clumsy, I remember." He tilted his head back as he laughed. That sparked a conversation about how uncoordinated I was. It surprised me how much he remembered from when we were young. When Charlie came out to tell us that we were heading off to the carnival, I was shocked to discover it was nearly seven. Jacob seemed to notice my surprise.
"Time flies when you're having fun, eh?"
I smiled, it was impossible not to enjoy yourself when a guy like Jacob was around.
---
The carnival was packed. Unlike the last time I was here when it was open, there was scarcely anyone under the age of ten here. There were, however, lots of loved-up teenagers sharing sticks of cotton candy and carrying oversized teddy bears.
When Edward had first mentioned the Ball I had pictured big dresses and tuxedos. Instead I found checked shirts and cowboy boots and as I passed a line dancing competition I couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Jake asked as he handed me a hotdog.
"Nothing," I smiled and continued walking.
Jake shook his head and followed me. As we aimlessly walked around conversation flowed easily. Jacob's eyes lit up when he saw the 'Hammer Slammer' – as the sign above the game stated. I recognised it as the game where you had to slam the oversized hammer as hard as you could on the sensor in order to ring the bell at the top of the tower. Jacob did it easily and handed me the huge pink teddy he'd won.
It didn't even occur to me how it must have looked from the outside until Alice ran up to me whilst Jacob was getting more cotton candy. She raised her eyebrows suggestively, "I see you've met Jacob Black," she stated.
"Yeah, childhood friend," I explained, "How do you know him?"
"He comes here every year," she answered, "He's nice," she said simply.
"Yeah," I responded.
She indicated towards the pink teddy, "You know, it looks an awful lot like you two are more than just 'childhood friends'," it seemed air-quotations were a big hit with me today.
"It's not like that Alice," I laughed, "I haven't seen him in like ten years!"
"Like that would stop him," Alice said under her breath. I glared at her.
"Why would it matter if we were more than friends?" I inquired suspiciously.
Alice paused and gave me a long-suffering look, she disappeared as Jacob came back holding two sticks of cotton candy, he offered me one and said, "Follow me."
As I did I wondered what Alice was so upset about. Did the Carnies not like Jacob? And why would Alice – someone I'd just met – care who I dated anyway? I looked at Jake as he led me to wherever he was heading.
As I saw where we were heading, I gulped. Just outside of one of the larger tents was a large stereo system which was currently playing an upbeat pop song that everyone except me seemed to know the words to. In front of the stereo system danced happy couples surrounded by hay bales which served as seats for those exhausted from the dancing. I looked at Jake as he gently took the teddy out of my hands and placed it on a spare hay bale, he returned to take my hand, "I'm going to rid you of your fear of dance," he said, laughing. I tried to smile back, unsuccessfully.
That's when I felt a hand at my shoulder.
"I thought I might see you here tonight," the owner of the hand said, "Though I wasn't expecting you to bring a date."
I turned around to see Edward staring at me with a strange look in his eyes, but a smile on his lips.
I instantly melted, "Umm, Edward, this is... Jacob Black. A... erm, family friend. Of mine."
Edward stepped forward so that he was in between me and Jacob. He offered Jake his hand politely.
"It's nice to see you again, Jacob."
They shook hands.
"You too, Carnie."
They stared at each other for what felt like a century. The air was tense until Jacob smiled and said cheerfully, "She's all yours," he moved his hands in my direction dramatically and gave a bow.
"See ya later Bells," he said casually as he strode off.
It must be a guy thing. I looked at Edward confused.
He merely shrugged and offered me his hand, "Dance with me?"
It was definitely a question, but his eyes willed me to say yes.
"Yes," I almost whispered.
Typically, just as he took my hand and placed his hand on my waist, the music slowed.
There was only a slight hesitation as Edward pulled me in closer. It was hard to relax completely when my mind was so intently focused on my feet.
"Relax," Edward whispered in my ear, "Just step with me."
So I did and I slowly began to enjoy myself. By the end of the night I was immensely proud of the fact that I hadn't stood on his toes once. Once the music had stopped playing and all the visitors had gone, I relished the quiet atmosphere. By this time, Emmett had a bonfire going in the middle of the makeshift dance floor. I sat on a hay bale with the teddy Jacob had given me. I looked over at Emmett and Rosalie who were snuggled up together on another hay bale, then over at Alice and Jasper who were dancing without the need for music. As I looked around the find Edward, I found Jacob instead.
"Hey Bella!" he said, cheerful as ever.
"Hey Jake," I smiled.
"Me and Billy are heading off," he said, "I had fun with you today," he added, "I hope I don't have to wait another eleven years to see you again," he grinned.
I laughed, "With any luck we can get it down to five, at least," I said.
He waved as he walked away, "Later Bells!"
I waved back.
I looked back at the fire and smiled sleepily. I felt Edward sit beside me on the hay bale.
"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" he asked. His tone reminded me of Charlie's when he had asked me the same question only a few nights ago. I smiled.
"Yes, actually," I yawned and then, "What was that thing with Jacob about earlier?"
I looked up at him questioningly.
"It's a guy thing," Edward answered. I rolled my eyes.
The next thing I knew Edward was pushing something into my hand. I didn't even have to look down to know what it was.
"Let me guess," I told him, "a dancing lady?"
Edward laughed, "What else?"
"What's the story behind this weird tradition anyway?" I asked.
"It's been a tradition within the carnival ever since it was named The Sullen Cullen. When I joined the carnival, it became a competition of sorts between Emmett and I. He would hide the pieces and bet me that I couldn't find one for each day. Of course, I know now that he used to let me win – I was nine when I first came here, Emmett was fifteen. So I guess he was a big brother to me. I've become compelled to collect one of each piece every year since then. I'll show you my collection one day," he smiled.
I remember speaking to him about other more insignificant things and then before I knew it I was drifting to sleep against his shoulder.
Hehe, I couldn't resist adding a little Jacob : ) He probably won't have an integral role in the remainder of the story – so never fear. This is EdwardxBella all the way! Lol. Thanks for reading, first one to review wins an oversized teddy bear!
