Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the Twilight characters.

Rated M for adult themes and language.

Denial: Bella Swan Edition

"What are you guys watching?"

'Teen Wolf.'

"Seriously?"

Bella sat on the arm of the couch and stuck her hand inside Seth's giant bag of Doritos.

'Yup. Allison is so hot.'

"Who's Allison?"

'Scott's Girlfriend.' Seth replied, his eyes glued to the television screen.

"Who's Scott?"

'Sshhhhhhhhhh…we'll fill you in later.' Quil shushed her.

Bella popped the potatoe chip into her mouth, and the loud crunching sound made all three wolves turn their heads in her direction.

"What?"

'That was the loudest crunch in the history of crunching.'

"Why? Do you have surround sound attached to your delicate wolf ears?" Bella snorted, helping herself to another chip.

'Go get your own Doritos.' Seth protested, hugging the bag closer to his chest.

"Sharing is caring, Clearwater. Now hand me the bag…"

'No.'

"Come on, just gimme the damn bag…"

Quil suddenly snatched the orange bag from Seth's hand and tossed it to Jared who was standing in the doorway.

'Thank you very much.' He saluted Quil before disappearing down the hall.

"Traitor!" Bella reached across the couch to smack Quil on the arm.

'That was the only snack left in the house.' Seth pouted.

"Ooops…"

'And I'm super hungry…' He added.

"Jesus…I'll go fix you a sandwich." Bella rolled her eyes and rose to her feet.

She felt incredibly at home in the Clearwater's kitchen, fixing herself a grilled cheese sandwich and making three more for Seth.

Once Teen Wolf was over, she hitched a ride with the boys to the beach, texting Leah along the way.

'So Bella, how's your kitty?' Quil snickered from behind the steering wheel.

Seth shot him a warning look but he ignored it.

"Shut it, Quil. I'm not in the mood."

'Bummer.' He sighed. 'How come you let Jake get away with teasing you? Huh?'

"Because…" Bella's voice trailed off.

She had no idea why exactly.

'Wait a second! I know why.' Quil exclaimed all of a sudden.

"Really?"

'Yep.' He nodded. 'You like him...'

"DUH. Of course I do. We're friends."

'Bella, you and Jake are faaaaaaaar from friends.'

Seth nodded in agreement, earning himself a smack on the arm from Bella who was sitting in the tiny back seat of Quil's Honda.

"If you say that one more time, I will ban you from my kitchen, Ateara. I mean it."

'Oooh, burn.'

"You too Seth." She pinched the young wolf's cheek. "Promise me!"

'Okay, okay! I pinky promise.' He whined.

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.

.

There was a large crowd at the bonfire that night with members of the wolf pack engaged in a cook-off of sorts.

Paul was forcing people to try his latest sandwich, which was also known as The Paulwich. It was a combination of barbecued meat, pepperoni, sliced cheddar cheese and two layers of smoked salmon topped with marshmallows.

Jared was serving Mexican burritos stuffed with beans and ground meat to a herd of hungry teenagers, including Brady and Collin.

There was plenty of food for everybody since Embry was also grilling fish by the fire.

Bella laughed in amusement when they asked her to judge their cooking based on flavor, texture and presentation.

Leah stepped in at the last minute and told them to go judge themselves. She then took Bella by the arm and led her to a quiet corner where they were able to eat their food in peace.

'Jared's burritos are the best, hands down.'

"They are, and Embry's grilled fish tastes awesome."

'Yeah, but it's nothing compared to mom's fish fry.'

Bella was just about to say how great Sue's cooking was when she felt a pair of dark, penetrating eyes burning holes into her back.

She slowly turned around to find Jacob standing there with a tall, skinny brunette on his arm.

"Who's that?"

'How should I know? It's probably his slut of the week.' Leah snorted.

The girl was busy feeling up Jacob's right bicep, giving him the chance to aim a glare at Bella.

She frowned in response but her eyes betrayed her. They zeroed in on his tight muscle shirt that had the words Sexy Beast printed on it.

'Sexy beast my ass.'

"Right? I don't know why he thinks he's God's gift to women."

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.

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An Accident Waiting to Happen

The glare-fest continued throughout the entire night and Bella stuck to her –talk to the hand- rule and avoided Jacob at all costs.

She hung out with Seth and the boys, listening to Quil's dirty jokes and Paul's sandwich ideas.

Leah handed her a beer while she was shooting daggers at Jake.

He was playing host to a bunch of older girls who were giggling and acting like groupies.

'Bella?'

"Yes?"

'What's the deal with you and my brother?' Rachel asked the frowning girl.

"He's...umm…he's annoying! And…did you see that? He keeps on glaring in my direction." Bella complained.

'He's an immature brat, just ignore him, ok?'

"Easy for you to say." Bella muttered before getting up.

She tossed her can in the trash and decided to go for a walk down the beach.

'Be careful!'

"I will."

'Don't trip over your own feet, Sweetkins!' Paul called out after her.

Bella ignored him and took a deep calming breath.

She needed to clear her head so she ventured away from the bonfire.

Seeing Jacob in the company of so many girls made her feel both antsy and agitated. She used to be cool about the whole thing, but now she found it hard to picture him with another woman.

The thought of him having sex with a random stranger was revolting.

"Get it together, Bella."

.

.

'Get what together?'

Jacob's husky voice caused Bella to spin around so quickly, she ended up tripping on a protruding rock and falling backwards.

"Ow! What the hell is wrong with you?" She screeched in pain.

Her leg was bleeding, thanks to another rock that somehow managed to scratch her inner thigh.

'Jesus, Bells. I've been following you from a distance.'

"I didn't see you! Wanna know why? Because you're a creepster."

He chuckled in amusement and crouched in front of her in order to examine her leg. 'You'll be fine but we need to disinfect the wound.'

"Oh you've done enough." Bella hiked down her skirt in embarrassment. "I'll do it myself."

'You are one stubborn Swan.' Jacob's eyes glowed in the dark.

"And you're an accident waiting to happen, Black." She retorted.

'Haha. Very funny.' He snorted, hooking an arm under her legs.

"Jake. I can walk, you know."

'I know.' He grinned. 'but I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress.'

Harry Clearwater's house

"Ouch!"

'Hold still. I need to clean the scratch behind your knee.'

"This is all your fault." Bella tugged on his short hair but he barely felt it. "You should wear a bell around your neck from now on."

Jacob growled in response. His wolf hated seeing the injuries on Bella's alabaster skin. He hated watching her laugh at Seth's jokes and complimenting Embry on his grilled salmon.

"Jake?" Bella shook his shoulders. "Your attention span is getting shorter by the second."

'It's a wolf thing.' He muttered, stroking her inner thigh with his thumb.

The burn from the alcohol faded all of a sudden and Bella's injury felt a whole lot better.

"Keep stroking."

'Where? Here?' He smirked.

"Yes." She nodded. "It feels…better when you do that."

Jacob swallowed thickly as his hand traveled the length of Bella's creamy thigh.

'Bells…'

"Mmmm?"

'Do you like it when I touch you?'

"Why are you asking?"

Jacob's nostrils flared and he tightened his grip on her thighs, sliding her body across the sink in one smooth move.

'I can smell you…' He groaned into her neck.

Bella gasped in realization, her cheeks burning like fire. She tried squeezing her thighs together but he was wedged right between them.

'Your scent…it's….fuck.' He kissed her neck, mouth sucking on the sensitive skin below her ear.

She stifled a moan and moved her hands to his muscular chest.

"It's what?" She panted, running her nails down his torso.

His shoulders stiffened, but not from her words.

Seth was on his way to the bathroom so Jacob quickly deposited Bella on the closed toilet lid and pretended to wash his hands.

'Jake, Bella! Are you guys done? We need you back at the bonfire.'

'We're coming…' Jacob grunted.

He glanced at the flushed brunette, and cursed himself for acting like a horny bastard.

"W-hat…what was that?" Bella stuttered before darting to her feet.

She was beyond turned on, yet confused and agitated at the same time.

"You left a mark on my neck!" She pushed past him to examine the big-ass hickey in the mirror.

'I'm sorry…' Jacob apologized on behalf of his possessive wolf.

"Shit. Thanks a lot, Jake." Bella stormed out of the bathroom and straight into Leah's bedroom in search for a concealer.

.

.

In the meantime, Seth tiptoed out of his own bedroom and headed straight to the beach.

His sister was right.

Jake and Bella were head over heels for each other.

They just didn't know it. Yet.

Later that night

'I'm not driving you home, Swan.'

"Pleaaase Leah…I don't want to be alone with Jake. Not after what happened in the bathroom."

'Christ.' Leah sighed. 'Get over it, Bella. Seriously…'

"But…he kissed me." She whispered.

'JACOB! Bella wants to go home.' Leah exclaimed, tossing an empty can of soda in his direction.

The Alpha surprised everyone by dropping his arm-candy like a hot potato and saying goodbye to her.

'Did he just…' Quil's jaw dropped in shock at the sight of Jacob fishing out his car keys. He really was going to drive Bella home.

'Come on, let's go.'

Leah pushed Bella off the beanbag, forcing her to grab on to Jacob's outstretched hand.

"Bitch."

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.

.

'I heard that!'

Jacob was an excellent driver.

It was hard not to stare at him while he drove his powerful Mustang.

Of course, Bella was no exception, so she found herself ogling his handsome profile and thinking about his lips and how good it felt to have his hot fingers on her thighs.

'Bells, talk to me.'

"I've got nothing to say."

'Yes you do.' Jacob insisted.

He was tired of skirting around the obvious attraction she felt towards him. He wanted her to admit it, preferably on national radio.

"Ok. I think you need to lay off the teasing and the glaring. It's immature and annoying."

'You think I'm immature?'

"Yes." She nodded. "Your t-shirt is proof enough."

Jacob parked his car in the driveway and killed the engine.

'So you don't think I'm a sexy beast? Huh?'

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but no…" She slid out of the passenger seat. "I don't find you sexy. You're like, the opposite of sexy."

'Liar.' He slammed his door shut and followed her to the house.

She ignored him and proceeded to unlock the front door.

'You were jealous tonight, weren't you?' He trapped her against the door, leaning forward to look her straight in the eye. 'You wanted to be on my arm instead of Sandy.'

"Oh my God. You can't be serious."

'I'm dead serious, Bella.' He asserted, studying her face intently.

"Why do you care what I think?"

'Because…' He swallowed. 'I need to know…'

"Know what?" She hissed. "That I'm attracted to you? Sure, I am! But don't expect me to trip and fall into your bed anytime soon, Black."

'Why not?' He nudged her nose with his own, stroking her lower lip with the pad of his thumb.

"Because we're friends."

'Friends fuck all the time, Bells. Not that I want us to be friends with benefits or anything…' He backtracked, but it was already too late.

"You don't know what you WANT, Jake." She opened the door and stepped into the foyer. "So go back to the bonfire and fuck Sandy's brains out!" She barked before slamming the door in his face.

'And she says I'm immature.' Jacob muttered.

The door swung open a second time and Charlie appeared in his flannel pajamas, looking as intimidating as ever.

'Son, you'd better get your ass off my property on the count of three. One…two…'

'Hold your fire, Chief. I was leaving anyway.' Jacob grunted.

'You okay, son?'

'Yeah…I'm great.' He growled. 'Just great.'