Chapter 7
"Wishing Weed"
The wedding was off, a complication Seth wasn't too clear on.
I was pretty sure between Bella and I we'd ruined that dress of hers. Which was a shame, because she looked like a goddess in it, even with the blotchy face. It did take forever though to wash that awful makeup off. Makeup wasn't Bella. Bella was loose jeans and flannel shirts.
I knew better than to get ahead of myself, but I couldn't help the smug sense of satisfaction that I ruined the leech's weeding day. And I couldn't get her eyes out my head.
The way she looked at me, like one looks at the sun rising after a long dark night. It was haunting.
I felt at that exact moment something change, shift in the air. And even though I wasn't entertaining any special prayers, I was foolishly hoping. I was hoping I'd get to see Bella again. A human Bella complete with awkward balance problems, a knack for attracting danger, and a blush so vivid she turned the color of a tomato.
Even if she was a Cullen, as long as warm blood flowed through her veins my heart would continue to beat for her. Maybe even after.
Sick and twisted but nonetheless true.
And after losing the good fight for her you'd think by now I'd learn to give up.
But I'm a glutton for punishment. And I'd take as much as I'd have to if I could see her look at me like that again.
I wish I'd known what she was thinking while she just stared into me. Stared like I was keeping something from her, or for her. And then there was the hungry look that came into in her eyes, not quite desire, I mean the day Bella Swan wanted to jump my bones I'd die a happy man. But it was more like….finding a glass of water in the desert.
I wanted to be the cause the wedding was called off. I wanted it to be my fault because that meant I was important. I was important enough to cancel a wedding. Or maybe it really was the dress. Either way it didn't happen that day.
And that made me happy.
For now I was content dreaming my weird dreams. My Bella dreams. Tossing and turning to the picture of her marrying me. Or sitting on the beach, happier than I've ever seen her.
It was a beautiful kind of pain I would relive every day if I could.
So I phased again. I was falling apart in my own head.
Jake!
I groaned, a strange sound coming from a wolf throat, but it was Quil, and if I heard anything more about Claire I'd scream.
Not funny. Claire is the most….
And I tried my best to drown him out as he went on a particularly long diatribe on Claire's amazing attributes.
You know she drools right?
Embry came into the picture. One look in his mind and I knew he was looking for me.
Leave me alone.
No problem. But he didn't mean it.
Yeah I do.
You're such a liar.
Quil was still going on about Claire.
Soon they fell into pace beside me, making a game out of tripping each other up. When we reached the cliffs we stopped, and I watched my idiot friends act like puppies.
Ha. Puppies.
It was a rare sunny day, and there was a strange peace over everything.
But everyone was alert and attentive when the engine of a car broke through the nature sounds. It was sleek, and expensive, and there was only one family I knew that could afford to flaunt that kind of money. I growled, which made Quil and Embry do the same. The dark tinted windows didn't allow us so see inside.
But then Seth's stupid head popped out the passenger's seat. I just knew he'd brought his favorite leech to our spot. So what if the land wasn't covered in the treaty, there wasn't a place more beautiful in all of Washington and the idiot had to share.
But a second later my eyes played a trick on me. Bella? Out here?
But Seth was smiling a shy smile.
Her eyes flickered over the three of us, landing on me and staying. She was so easy to read, the guilt and hope jumped off her face like a neon sign. She was biting her lip nervously, playing with the collar of her shirt. She nodded to Quil and Embry, barely managing a smile.
They were both thinking that if she hurt me any more, Bella or not, girl or not they'd push her off the cliff. I didn't growl because one, they wouldn't do it, and two, they liked Bella a lot.
Bros before h-
I was glad Embry shut him up before I had to.
Bella took a hesitant step forward and then she looked back at Seth.
"Um, you could've mentioned everybody was letting the wolf breathe." Seth shrugged. He jogged out of sight and was phased in a second.
Is this ok? His eyes were concerned.
Quil and Embry were both taking up every inch of my head with images of me hurt, their own pain when I ran away and a good ten thousand reasons why Seth should take her back to La Push.
If I had brought clothes I'd phase back.
I have pants. Seth volunteered but he was much smaller than I was.
Oh.
It's ok. It wasn't lost on me that Quil, who was closest to my size, hadn't volunteered.
You destroy all your clothes Jake.
It was true enough. Seth decided that the situation was calm enough to phase back. He threw on his clothes and told Bella hurriedly that it was going to be a one sided conversation….being I didn't have pants and all.
You could always confront her in the nude.
Shut up Quil.
I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
Shut up.
I growled for emphasis.
She's engaged. They snort.
The thought shot through my mind like a spiked and poisoned arrow. I had to shake my head to stop if from bouncing around.
Dude, no ring.
My head snapped up. Sure enough, she was still talking to Seth, animating with her hands and…..
I heard a pop before I could think out what I was doing. I was standing there in an instant, human and as naked as the day I was born.
"Where in the 7 layers of hell is that ring!"
"Holy-" Seth grabbed Bella before she turned all the way around.
I marched right up to Quil and untied his pants from his leg. He growled but one pointed look and he backed down.
"Jake, I-"she looked at Seth. "Can you let me go?"
"He's not, yet, ok," and he shrugged as I finally struggled into them.
She turned to face me and despite my anger I couldn't deny she looked beautiful. Amazing. Stunning. Perfect.
As soon as our eyes connected something in hers sparked. I felt a chill to my bone and tried to continue looking intimidating. Didn't work. Bella had never been scared of me.
Even as she took a few tentative steps forward, I knew they weren't out of fear. Testing the waters was a great analogy.
"Hey," she sighed and relaxed bodily.
"Ring?" she looked down at her bare hand and pain flickered across her face. Did she lose it? Impossible.
"I uh, gave it back to um, Edward," her checks were scarlet. Number four on my list of things I love about Bella Swan. I wanted to tug her into my arms so badly but I wouldn't. Couldn't. Bella felt too right in my arms and they were sick of getting the pleasure of a second while the other one got all night.
"Jake could we talk? In private?'
"There is nothing private about pack life, remember?" I was unnecessarily cold but it was just starting to penetrate the fog in my mind that she'd given the ring back. What the hell did that mean?
"Yeah well, if they have to hear I'd prefer not to be around," she was trying to smile. She was pleading with me not to be a jerk. I wasn't going to be nice. She had a nice guy. I sugary sweet smelling bloodsucker that would happily dictate the rest of her life.
But while I was enjoying calling he-who's-name-I-refused-to-use every name but the one his momma gave him, she had honed in on me again. There was that hunger. The staring. Seth was getting twitchy and I was growing warm all over.
"Ok," when she looked at me like that there was nothing I could deny her.
Before I could move Seth, Quil and Embry stealthily began to clear out. Seth tossed me a grin, and I knew he was thinking positive thoughts. Embry whined and motioned for the cliff, reminding me of his and Quil's earlier threat.
"Won't be necessary," and I have to fight back a smile.
It felt like an eternity waiting for her to speak, to move, to do anything other than personify that hunger. The few feet between us felt like a chasm. I wasn't ready to risk falling, falling for Bella Swan hurt like hell.
But Bella didn't have my reservations. She took a step forward, and then a few more. She started to smile but it was as sad as it was bright. And it struck me with violence how much I loved her. How much it meant, for her to be here with me, staring, as if I were holding her world in my hands.
See, I told you I'd let you into Jake's head ^_^ I love writing from his perspective. Ok, shoutouts, because you guys are totally awesome!
Jharv241 welcome to my story. You reviewed every chapter and that's just really freaking cool of you! All my anonymous reviewers, thanks for stopping in. Thank you so much everyone who enjoyed Leah's tongue lashing….like I said, AugustFirst hinted that Bella wasn't really getting how much she hurt Jake so Leah had to step in. Mila-Renae, gosh child you had me smiling like a psycho. But I'm not giving away how the story ends ^_^ I'm not completely sure myself.
Just know guys, that there's very little that makes me as happy as your reviews. I treasure every single one of them. And for those that checked out Closer too, I noticed, and you're freaking amazing for giving it a try.
