Behind the Bitterness
Author: L
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters.
Author's Note: Jacob and Leah are in this chapter but they're not in this chapter together, if that makes any sense. I know it's not interesting to read but I really wanted to write these two moments into the story.
Chapter 7
When Billy entered through the front door of his house, he found Jacob lying on the couch with his legs dangling over the armrest. He was staring absentmindedly at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.
"What's on your mind, Jake?" asked Billy as he wheeled himself towards the couch.
"Nothing," replied Jacob.
"You should just tell her how you feel," Billy said with a knowing smile.
Jacob's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and drew into a frown. He pulled himself into a sitting position and faced his father. "Bella knows how I feel," he muttered.
"I'm not talking about Bella," murmured Billy. His smile grew wider when a puzzled expression crossed Jacob's face. "I'm talking about Leah."
"Leah?" repeated Jacob in disbelief. All his thoughts seemed to collide at once and he struggled to make sense of them.
"You've been spending a lot of time with her recently," Billy pointed out.
Shaking his head, Jacob muttered, "It's only been two days." Something had been weighing heavily on his mind all afternoon but he couldn't seem to figure out what it was. His father had only succeeded in confusing him further.
Billy almost felt like laughing at how oblivious his son was. "Well, you've been a lot happier these past two days than I've seen you in months," he said. "And I'm certain Leah has something to do with that."
Jacob had to admit that Leah was the reason why he had stopped moping around but he still couldn't quite understand what his father was getting at. "Yeah, she's been a really good friend."
"Is that all she is?" asked Billy. The curiosity was unmistakeable in his voice. "I remember a time when you and Bella used to make each other happy. These days you only seem to make each other miserable. She's made her choice. You've accepted her decision. You've let her go. You just haven't realised it yet."
As far as Jacob was concerned, Billy was talking in complete riddles. "What does this have to do with Leah though?"
"It's been months since I've seen you smile. It's been even longer since I've seen Leah smile. Within the space of two days, you're both laughing and joking with each other. What does that tell you?" Billy murmured.
"We're just friends," insisted Jacob, refusing to even entertain the idea that there may be more between them. "She's been helping me move on from Bella."
Billy nodded. "I can see that, and she's been successful." He chuckled at the groan that escaped from Jacob and decided to just spell it out for his son. "You're very stubborn, Jake. When you make your mind up about something, no one can change it – I don't even think Bella could – yet with the slightest bit of persuasion, Leah was able to convince you to stay in La Push."
Jacob snapped his head towards his father in surprise. "How –"
"Nothing happens in La Push without my knowledge," he smiled. "When you're ready, you should tell her how you feel, Jake."
While Billy went outside to get some fresh air, Jacob pondered his father's words. Running a hand through his hair, he stood up from the couch and picked up the phone. He dialled the Clearwaters' home number and nervously pressed it against his ear.
What am I doing? I don't even know how I feel, Jacob thought to himself. Before he could hang up, a voice rang out from the other end of the phone.
A knock on her bedroom door snapped Leah out of her thoughts. It opened slowly and her mother stepped inside with the phone in her hand.
"It's Jacob," Sue whispered, holding the phone out to her daughter.
Leah hesitated. "Could you tell him I'm asleep?" Her voice held a pleading tone and a flicker of desperation could be seen in her eyes.
Sue wore an apprehensive look as she brought the phone back up to her ear. "Jacob, I'm sorry but Leah is sleeping at the moment." She paused to listen to Jacob's response. "I will tell her you called." After saying goodbye, she hung up and turned to face her daughter with a worried expression.
"Thanks," murmured Leah while she fiddled with the seashell in her hand.
"Leah, you've spent the whole day in your room since you came home. Is everything alright?" asked Sue in a concerned voice.
"Yeah, everything's fine," replied Leah. The corners of her lips curved in a slight smile but Sue could tell it was forced.
She sat herself down on the edge of Leah's bed and hoped that their conversation would go a lot better than the one they had had earlier in the day. "Leah, you know you can always talk to me." When Leah responded with nothing but a silent nod, Sue sighed and tried again. "Did you get in a fight with Jacob?"
Leah shook her head.
A defeated expression flickered across her mother's face. "How are things going between the two of you?" she asked. It was a last-ditch attempt at making conversation.
This caught her daughter's attention. Confusion washed over Leah's face as she flew into an upright position. "What do you mean?"
"I know your relationship has only just started but how are –"
"Wait. Did you just say relationship?" asked Leah. Her eyes were wide with astonishment. "What makes you think Jacob and I are in a relationship?" She didn't know where her mother could have possibly gotten that idea from.
"After everything that has happened during these past two years, I don't think I've ever seen you smile as much as you have lately. I have to admit it was quite a surprise this morning to hear you say that you've been having fun," laughed Sue. "And it seems like Jacob is the source of your happiness."
"There's nothing going on," Leah protested but her blushing cheeks betrayed her. "He's in love with Bella Swan."
Sue smiled at the hidden resentment in her daughter's tone. "From what I've heard, Jacob stayed in La Push for you, not Bella."
"Where did you –"
"Nothing happens in La Push without Billy's knowledge," murmured Sue. "I rang Billy yesterday to ask about you and Jacob, and he insinuated that there was something going on between the two of you." She smiled and added, "It looks like he was right."
"Mom –" Leah started to protest.
She reached for Leah's free hand and took it into her own while she rested her other hand against her daughter's cheek. "You deserve to be happy, Leah. Don't spend the rest of your life living in the past. Don't let love pass you by."
Leah nodded and her hand unconsciously closed around the seashell.
