Last time on P & C's….

One handed I open the little bag resting on my chest and dangle a cherry by its stem over my mouth, biting it from its suspended perch. It's sweet and juicy and once again, just what I need. The flavour washes out the figurative bad taste in my mouth from the evening's events. I'm still a little drunk and I spit the pit out, letting it land wherever in my room. From the soft muted thud I hear, I guess it's on the rug under my study chair. Five cherries later, I have a collection of seeds scattered somewhere around my room and I'm happy to just now go to sleep. I hope the clarity of a new day can help me figure this Bella shit storm out. I know I should get up and brush my teeth but I can't be bothered. I'll just do it twice in the morning.

I hear my phone ding with a message and I struggle to turn on the mattress so I can pull it out of my back pocket, checking it in the darkness. A friend request. Renesme Carlie Cullen—a picture of a crazy haired woman, leaning out over a balcony, an ancient city in the background. There is a message attached: make sure you drink plenty of water. And a little cherry emoticon at the end.

Before my eyes shut, I hover my finger over the screen.

'Accept.'...


Chapter 7- Riding in cars with boys… and a girl

It's two o'clock in the afternoon when I finally mosey on down to the beach. I slept late, waking up to a splitting headache and a mouth that feels like whatever it was that was growing in the back of Quil's car. I've been to see the doctor and I'm now sporting a lovely splint on my confirmed broken hand. My hand is immobilised for the next six weeks. Joy. At least though, it's a plastic splint and not plaster. Plaster would suck for the last week of summer. I say this as if not having to share your girlfriend with her ex isn't enough of a reason to have a sucky last week of summer.

As I had sat waiting to see the doctor, and then for the x-ray, and then for the splint, I had plenty of time to think about this whole Bella situation. I have come to the conclusion that no matter which way I look at it, this thing we have, it's probably on its last legs. Even if, after a week of sharing and patience on my behalf, she decides that I truly am the love of her life; I'm not sure she's still going to be the love of mine. And she'll be miles away in Pullman. I know she'll be even further from Dickward, but still. The long distance thing is hard. I would never have thought this only a day ago. But now… Now, I can't get past this idea of her uncertainty. Surely, soul mates know who each other are? You can't have two, so isn't it obvious who your soul mate is? I thought I had it all figured out. Obviously I was wrong. Dead wrong. About Bella. And about me.

Even with the manipulated green light I gave for her to see Edward, I can't help but feel two-timed and cheated. And I can't see me finding this an easy thing to get past. There is going to be a lot of poison seeds planted in our little garden of love. Maybe too many to weed out.

I am still resolute, however, that I'm not going to take her up on the 'hall pass' offer. I'm steering clear of the female gender until all this crap is sorted. We don't need any more reasons to doubt and any distrust stirred up between us.

And all this is assuming she chooses me. 'Cause if she doesn'… well… well then… then I really am a sucker. And I don't know what the hell I'll do.

But I don't want to think about that now.

With a beach towel over my shoulder, I kick off my flip flops and hook them over my mannequin like thumb splint. I can see Embry sitting next to a chick with long black, dead straight hair half way down her back, I'm guessing is his new girl. They're sitting by a massive driftwood trunk half way up the beach.

"Well look what the cat dragged out!" yells Quil from behind the trunk, standing up to grab something out of the cooler as I approach.

"What time do you call this?" asks Emb lightly, smiling at me, his arm draped over the girl's shoulder.

"I told Quil I wasn't coming for lunch," I retort.

"I know. I'm only jokn'. I hear you had quite the fucked up night last night?" he asks as I plonk down on the greyed mineral sand next to him.

"Royally fucked," I say, holding up the splinted hand.

"It's broken?"

I nod, "boxer's fracture they called it."

"Can you still swim?"

"Don't see why not."

"I want to take Raven up to Taylor's point and show her how we cliff dive," he says puling her nearer.

"Hi," I say, introducing myself cause by best friend is obviously not going to.

"Oh shit!" he cusses, "Sorry, Jake this is Raven. Raven, Jake," motioning between us both.

"Hey," she says in return, "it's good to finally meet you. Put a face to the name," she smiles and I can see what Embry sees in her, she's pretty. I hope they have a better time of things than me and Bells.

"So he's got you cliff diving hey?"

She shrugs, "I'm not sure. I think I'll watch the others. I don't think I'm game for it yet. Ness is way gutsier than me," she says, looking down towards the water.

My gaze follows Ravens and I see Seth running into the waves, diving and he tackles a chick into a swell. Ness. I have indeed succeeded in to committing the name to memory, at last. I don't remember much of last night, but her… I do remember. Images of last night flash by me. A tiny kid getting ready to deck me. A cracked mud mask. Water bottles. Pillows. Cheese sandwiches. Cherries. Ness.

She's sporting a little black bikini today. Far cry from her expensive brand pyjamas. And Seth was right. She aint no kid.

Well fuck me.

She is tiny, but there is no mistaking that body for a child's.

I watch them in the surf. Seth is trying to tackle her back into the water as she starts to run back towards the beach. He swings one arm around her waist, pulling her backwards, into the white wash and against him. It's obvious what he's doing. He's pulling out all the stops to touch her. Walking that fine line between touching before it becomes touching. I can hear her squeals as she gets up and gets pulled back for the third time. As I watch his overt display of pursuit, I can't for the life of me figure out why I suddenly want to pick Clearwater up by his throat and toss him out to sea. Can't he see the girl wants to get out of the water? Just fucking-well let her!

Eventually, he lets her up, casually draping his arm over her shoulder as they walk up the sand. All buddy-buddy like. I feel like a perv, but I can't help but watch her curves sway as she makes her way over to me— I mean us. She sneaks out from under Seth's arm as she ducks down to grab her towel, wrapping it around herself.

"Hi Jake," she says before she lifts the towel to dry face and squeezing it around the massive bun she has her hair up in. "So your hand is broken? I thought it would be." She's flashing quick morsels of creamy skin as she goes about drying herself.

"Well it made a loud enough whack," I say, trying not to be too obvious that I'm sneaking glances.

She lifts her head up, wrapping the towel around her shoulders and moves to sit between Raven and the driftwood trunk, effectively cutting off my show and also forcing Seth to sit somewhere else.

She leans back, behind Raven and Emb so I can see her again, her arm leaning out behind her as she inclines. "How long do you have to wear the splint for?" she asks, genuinely interested.

"Six weeks. But at least I can get it wet."

"What? You gunna come cliff diving with us?" she queries, a challenging glint in her eye. This is a very different girl from the one I met last night. She seems lighter, more comfortable.

"You're really gunna jump?" I can't keep the scepticism out of my voice. Most chicks run a mile at the ides of jumping off a twenty foot cliff.

She shrugs, one of her delicate shoulders rising up to her jaw, "Seth promises me that it's deep enough and that there is absolutely no hidden rocks to paralyse myself on underneath. What a life experience. To have access to what is normally private Reservation land and I have the opportunity to jump from… the continent of North America… into the Pacific Ocean. How can I possibly let that experience pass me by?" she says, an amazingly honest and free smile spreading across her lips.

I'm intrigued by her different and original look on life. The only time I could get Bells to show any interest in jumping is when she was in her near-suicidal stage. This little firecracker on the other hand, is keen to leap so that she can experience life a little more.

"Well, shall we go?" Embry chimes in, using my knee to help himself off the ground. He's looking at me over his shoulder as he does this. An eyebrow raised, a private question in his eye. I think to myself… what? Get your hands of me fag. But he keeps on looking at me. I just give a dead pan stare back. "What?" I mouth silently.

He leans over to his new girlfriend, holding her hand and hoisting her up as he says to me, "So I take it Bella's not coming today?" ever the subtle cock.

Alright asshole. I don't need a reminder that I have a girlfriend. I'm just talking to her. Jesus.

"No. No she's not Embry." I answer with a tight lip. "She's taking today to be alone to think about things. I'm going over to her place tomorrow." I really don't need a reminder of how fucked up my love life is right now.

Ness makes a little scoffing noise at my comment. I think she thought it was under her breath, but I heard it. I think I catch the tail end of an eye roll too as I turn my head to her. But then again, I can't see much of her face, because she's slipping a little cotton dress over her head. Her little-big tits are on fine display in that triangle bikini as she extends her arms over her head letting the white cotton dress slip over her chest. I see both Seth and Quill getting an eye full too. Again, I feel all protective of her. I'm not sure if I'm ok with her wearing that kind of swimwear. The dress is thin strapped, almost see-through now it's wet from her bikini and it only comes down to her mid-thigh. Really, it barely covers anything. I wish she had a turtle neck and sweats to put on. No, not ok with her choice of costume.

Oblivious the fact that three out of the four of us guys on the beach have just watched her dress, she picks up her bag and sandals. "So are we going cliff diving of what?"

We all snap back to reality, shuffling and making our way up the sand.

Embry has his two-door Tacoma already parked in the lot and we decide it easier if the four of us just sit in the back on the bed as he and Raven drive us up to the third beach trail. Seth jumps up first, reaching a hand to help Ness up while Quil gets her bag. It's a bit of a joke how tall Emb has jacked his pick-up. I mean, I helped him do it, it's hot. But when a five foot nothing little girl wants to jump up the back…It's a joke. On her tippy toes she can only just see over the tailgate.

"You want a boost?" I offer behind her, bending down to give my knee as a step up.

"I think that's a good idea," she laughs, bracing one hand against the truck and the other on my shoulder. I really could have just walked to the back and lowered the tailgate. But where's the fun in that?

In less than a second, she's up, standing on my leg and being pulled up from under her arms by Clearwater. And in no more than two more seconds, I'm up and in the back too. Seth sits against the rear window, facing backwards, patting a space next to him.

"It's easier if you can lean on something," he explains. Yeah right Seth, I'm sure you'll catch her if she bounces around too much I think, like a jealous asshole.

Bella. Bella. Bella. I chant to myself. Not collecting the hall pass. I love Bella. Gunna prove I'm serious about us. The kid gave her number to Seth anyway—not me.

She gave me cherries and a friend request.

Ness sits down and Quil follows, squeezing in beside them. All three are squashed between the wheel wells, hips and legs pressed together. You'd think it would be all sexy squeezing up against her. It won't be. It's gunna be mighty uncomfortable when we go over bumps.

I push the cooler into the rear corner with my foot and move to sit against the tail gate. Getting a good show of Tweedledee and Tweedledum as they vie for Alice's cousin's attention.

Emb backs out of the parking space and heads for the south exit onto the main road. It's highly illegal, sitting in the back like this, but who's gunna stop us? No cops here on the Res, the elders who police things like this are; my dad, Seth's mom and Quil's grandad. We're safe.

It doesn't take long for the first bump. In fact, it's only the speed bump in the parking lot. Embry takes it way too fast. Asshole. And all four of us, plus the cooler are airborne. Me, landing more or less where I started. Seth and Quill too. But Ness, she has nothing to hold on to in the middle like that and she flies up, landing sideways across the cooler that has slit half way across the tray. The right angled plastic corner into the side of her gut.

"Hey!" I shout to Embry. Thumping on the outside of the truck, motioning for him to stop for a sec. He does and we all lurch around by the sudden breaking.

"Are you ok?" Seth asks shifting to help her.

She nods, not answering, winded. She coughs a little, gripping her side as she does.

"Fucking go a bit faster next time dick!" Seth yells through the rear cabin glass to Embry.

"Sorry!" he yells back. "I just assumed you all would be holding on!"

"He has a good point," Quil agrees, "you can hold my hand if you like Ness."

Ding, ding, ding, ding! I was waiting for the Aterra charm to get turned on. Seth is glaring death rays at him. Ness just looks awkward.

"Um, I just might sit over here," she mumbles, crawling over to the back corner. Next to me.

I'm spread out all over the place, so I move, designating myself to one side and pull the cooler between us. She nestles into the corner, arm's out stretched over each side of the metal, her legs crossed in front of her. I bang on the back of the truck a few times and Embry takes off again, this time accelerating slightly under the land speed record.

We travel along the winding roads of the Olympic wilderness. I turn from my position, scanning down, out of the tray, at the white lines on the asphalt as they flick by underneath us. I can see in my peripheral vision Ness doing the same. I look over to watch her as she turns around and tucks her legs under her, peering over the edge of the tray. She gazes up to the trees that line the road, an exhilarated smile splitting her lips as her teeth are revealed. It's a warm day, and for once in our miserable lives up here in the pacific North West, it's sunny. The sun is shining down on us, unobscured by the Sitka spruce on our sideline and it's pleasant. She closes her eyes, and I can see her appreciating the warmth of the rays. Enjoying every moment for all it's worth. It's beautiful. She's beautiful.

Shit. I gotta cut this shit out. Bella. I love Bella. There is no doubt in my mind. There isn't. I'm going to go down with the ship if it's sinking. I'm not giving up this easily. I can't give up on us. I won't. There could never be anyone else who could compare to her. Never, ever, ever, ever. These are the things I tell myself. I mean, she's Bells. My Bells… But she's his Bella too. I think this ship is already under water.

And Ness is beautiful.

A few minutes later and we're pulling up to the little shoulder that has been etched out by the various visitor who have also stoped here in the past. The path is easy, well used by hiking enthusiasts and folks wanting a quieter beach than First is. Irrespective of this, Seth and Quill are still trying to help and hold Ness over every puddle and pebble. I just keep up my post, trailing from the rear as we walk mostly single file, sometimes two a breast. Ateara and Clearwater somehow managing to make it three alongside in segments. I stay solitary. Content to look but not touch. Bella is the only girl I want to touch. Even if it is thorough the bottom of a looking glass boat. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

We reach the sand and we stroll down to the beginning of the overland trail that will take us to the top of the point. Embry has decided to stay with Raven for the first round of jumps. Keep her company and all. Keep her mouth company with his tongue more like it.

We strip off our t-shirts, Ness… her dress. But why would I notice that? I don't, I don't notice.

The four of us—tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, Alice's cousin, and me, the Cheshire cat who disappears off the radar when the twins are doing their thing— we make our way along the path, up to the cliff top.

This path is not as well maintained as the first, there are various branches and shrubs encumbering our way. Seth is still fawning, offering his hand every few yards. I can't help the little feeling of satisfaction that settles in me as I note she only takes his offer of assistance twice on the whole half mile journey.

We've all done this climb dozens of times—all except Ness. It's practically an initiation into the Quileute tribe. Well, it is to our little gang of hooligans anyway. But no matter how many times I've done it, it's still breath taking to make your way out of the forest growth and see the visa below, north is Teahwhit head and south is the stunning outcrops around Strawberry point.

I'm always humbled being up here. How many generations of my people have stood and awed at the view, found their inner strength and leapt from this very spot.

"Wow!" gasps Ness, her voice carried on her breath like a hush as she comes through the undergrowth. "Just, wow!" It is quiet for a spell, nothing but the wind, the trickle of the waterfall as it cascades down into the ocean and the shrill piping call of the oystercatchers nesting on the small rocky ledges below us.

"It's so beautiful here." She turns to look at all three of us, like she's seeing us for the first time. "How many of your people must have stood right here, in this exact spot, and marveled at the view as they dived into this little slice of heaven?"

I can't reply. I'm too overcome by the way she has just taken the words from my thoughts.

"You think my grandfather new about this place when he was a kid?" Quil Ateara V asks, ... genuinely, as if this is the first time it has occurred to him that we, in fact, did not discover this cliff as eight year olds. I can't help but shake my head. Fucking idiot. And by the look on Ness's face, this one glimpse into the psyche of my friend has just knocked him out of the running for her affections. And boy, does little Sethie know it too. Smirking like an idiot. Thinks he's a sure thing now she knows Quil is obtuse.

"So, we gunna do this?" he asks, wasting no time to take his presumed winnings, holding her by the hand and pulling her closer to his side and closer to the edge..

"What? Together?" she shrieks, her eyes wide with caution. "Isn't that kind of dangerous? Won't we kind of… collide when we hit the water?"

"Noooo," says Seth instantly, all bravado and swagger. "We jump in pairs all the time."

He's lying, we don't, and if we do, it's several feet apart. You wouldn't want to smash heads on the way in, knock yourself out and drown. "Seth, come on man," I petition. I don't want her pretty face smashed in by Clearwater's watermelon head. "Let her go. You really should be at least a yard or two apart."

I pretty sure I'm giving my best 'older brother from another mother, I'm more responsible, the face of reason', face. Because that's the motive behind me basically telling him to get his hands off her. Safety.

He's not buying it, the face I mean, not the OH&S. He's eyeing me from the side. Like he's just realized I might be some sort of competition for him. Not that I am because, I love Bella. Bell is my life. She is my girlfriend. Even with a hall pass, I am going to maintain faithfulness. Bella. I love her.

Just not too sure if she loves me back.

Going down with the ship.

But Seth is eyeing me off, I can almost hear the mental growl of "Mine" coming from him. I get it. You got her number Seth. The only reason she's even here is because you invited her. She's yours.

But she gave me cherries.

And a friend request.

"Let's all go together," she logics. "Line up a good arm's length apart and count to three."

This kid is like a diplomatic expert, I've watched her for the last half hour dodge hands and looks, re-interpreted suggestive comments and save herself from anything from a broken nose to a lung full of saltwater by not synchronize diving with a sixteen year old who can barely synchronize his own hand when he tugs one off. Not that I have seen Seth tugging one off— it's just a saying— one that sounded better in my head.

'All in at once' sounds like a very good idea. So we line up, Seth situates himself right next to her and predictably, Quil scurries over to the other side. I move in over next to Quil, giving him a friendly slap on the back as I do. "Who's gunna count?"

"You do it Jacob," she says, leaning over and looking at me. Trust and something deeper in her eyes. I think it might just be fondness. I hope she can see it reciprocated back.

"Are you sure you're ready?" I ask her. And I mean really ask her. I'd hate to think she did something just because she felt pressured to do it. Like give Seth her number.

"Ready as the day I was born" she nods, the excitement evident in her voice.

"All right then." I nod, standing upright and taking a deep breath. My lungs filled with the clean fresh air of the ocean, a sight tang of salt on my lips. "One, two, three!"

And we all jump. Not an ounce of synchronization between the four of us. Landing in the water with mighty splashes. It takes a few seconds to surface and immediately, I check that Ness has surfaced. This protectiveness is almost instinctive. I would have made a good big brother.

We all start to swim to shore, casual long strokes against the current. And before long, we're up on the sand, laughing and walking to where we left our towels and our friends.

"Shit!" says Embry as we approach them, "If I'd known you were all gunna jump together I would have gone with you guys the first time."

I stand off, letting the water drip off me. No use wetting my towel if we're gunna go back in. In next to no time however, Ness has a towel wrapped around that bikini I haven't been looking at.

"You guys should go again, I'll stay here and keep Raven company. Have some girl talk," she says, sitting down into the sand.

"All righty then," Emb sings, leaning over to kiss his girl before taking off towards the trail, Seth and Quil with him.

I stall for a moment, watching as Ness slips that cotton dress over her head, the neck-line catching on the wet bun coiled atop her head. That silver chain around her neck stuck across her face. I resist the urge to reach out and help her.

"Jake!" Embry yells, a cautionary tinge to his tone. His shout pulls my eye from this tiny girl I've only just met, before she sees me peering. I jog up the white sand, making light of the natural obstacle course of the strewn drift wood as I catch up to my friends.

Again I follow up the rear.

I'm avoiding the probing look Emb gives me as I fall in behind him on the narrow, single file track. Embry's ass is far less inspiring than Ness's was. Not that I'm looking at his ass… I wasn't looking at hers either… much…I'm just saying… she was walking in front of me… and so is he… I can't help it… oh shit—don't worry about it…

Anyway, we jump again. The four of us guys at the same time. Still no synchronicity at all.

We swim back to shore and find the two girls deep in conversation. Ness is talking earnestly and Raven listening with equal intent. Emb makes some kind of whistle noise as we approach and they both jump. They look momentarily like they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. It doesn't last for long though. Raven gives Emb a welcome kiss and then she's eyeing me from her periphery, indecision in her expression. Why? — I have no idea.

Ness, on the other hand, is rubbing sunscreen onto her legs. I'm trying not to look at her, really honestly, I am, but for crying out loud, with those curves, I have no idea how I could have though she was a kid last night, none what so ever. Her gaze meets mine and she looks away quickly, not before I catch the look of sympathy though. What the hell? What does she know that would give her cause to look at me like that? Then it occurs to me. Any conversation I've had with her has been either, on the edge of heartbroken depression or drunken perversion. She must think you're such a looser. Real smooth Black, real smooth.

Everyone decides to call it a day and we start to head back along the trail to the car. Quill and Seth as arguing over who is going to drive Ness home. Quil's car is parked at the Clearwater's place, so they compromise, agreeing that they both will. Then quietly they negotiate the details out of Nessie's earshot, deciding that both the boys will sit in the front and Ness in the back. Neither one willing to give the other time in the back seat with a girl. I wouldn't trust either of them either.

Me though, I'm not really ready to go home yet. I might get Emb to drop me back at First beach, I wouldn't mind a good swim or a surf. I feel like I only just got to the beach before we left, in fact I had. I missed lunch and whatever picnic thing they already did because I was sitting at the clinic.

This thought of missing the picnic because of my hand now reminds me of two things. My pain meds are starting to wear off— they're sitting on the counter of my dad's kitchen— and I'm starving, the solution to that predicament, also in dad's kitchen. I'd better go home for both.

So here I am, following behind everyone; Emb and Raven up front, hand in hand, Seth and Quil still trying to flank the poor girl. I'm no expert in body language, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't want either of their advances. She's brushing off their totally transparent attempts at contact and sweeps of fingers. In all honesty, it's mostly Quil –he's a handsie little fucker—but she's brushing them both off. She's being pretty gracious about it too. I guess she has to be nice, if she wants a lift back to Forks. I could take her. If she was in my car, I'd let her ride shot gun. I mean… if she wanted.


So now we're getting somewhere… sort of. Seth may be a teeny weenie obstacle.

Thank you Aretee for the truck Americanisation. In my part of the word a 'truck' is a big big rig and in summer, at the beach of a fictional La Push, kids ride in utes. But we're a bit reversed here down under. So thanks L for removing all my S's and adding all those Z's ! (Note: I left the 'S' in Americanisation- just to prove a point.)

I'm terrible Muriel. (Only a tenth of you will get that line.) Let me know if you do

And if you enjoyed this chapter.

Cheers, Marina

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