CHAPTER 8 - Legalities of 18th Birthdays

"Are you SURE you're gonna be OK not doing anything for your 18th Birthday, Bells?" Pacing back and forth across our creaky porch, the house phone tucked against my shoulder, my cell phone in my hands, so I could text freely - I was trying to finalize everything for this weekend.

"Jacob, you know there's only one thing I wanted for my 18th birthday, and well, we agreed to hold off, a little while, right? Besides, its not like we aren't doing anything! Have you seen our schedule for the next two days?"

Her laughter eased my anxiety, momentarily, over screwing up her 18th birthday. But, hearing her talk about, THAT sent my mind reeling in a completely different direction.

Uggghh! I know enough about girls, by now, to know sometimes they say one thing and mean something entirely different. I'm determined to figure out everything about my Bella, or at least figure out her secret decoder ring - I never wanna make stupid mistakes that would affect our relationship or threaten to kill it.

Striking out with your girl on her birthday - huge disaster! Could easily put a dude way back into the friend zone. Permanently.

Bella's 18th birthday is this Saturday. Our Homecoming weekend.

"I know what you've been saying Bells. But, we're gonna be so busy, I don't want the day to fly by and you end up feeling like I ignored your birthday."

"Jacob, please. Not another word about Birthday!" she threatened sweetly changing the subject.

" Did you pick up your suit?" She asked eagerly. " Were the the red and white accessories with it? How does it look?!" I could just see her cheesing out. Her big brown eyes shining with excitement, as her little body bobbed up and down from that controlled bouncing she does, on the balls of her feet, chewing her hair excitedly.

"Yes. Yes. And, you'll have to wait till Saturday!" I teased, wanting to get her worked up in more ways than one and because I loved hearing her whiny protests.

J 3 B

"Jaaake!" I tried not whining like a girl, but he brought out that side of me with his constant teasing.

"Hmmm. That's weird..." His gruff, serious voice mumbled through the phone, as I was picturing how handsome he would be in his suit. His long hair, down, loose around his shoulders, or pulled back.

"What? What's weird?" I wondered out loud shaking images of him from my head.

" Just got a text from Newton. He says 'Fork's new defensive tackle is a killer...wear extra pads'.

Silence crackled over the phone line, making me nervous. Jake never worried about getting hurt, and I'd long ago given up trying to ever be his voice of reason.

"Hey, Bells, you have a ton of stuff to do and so do I. Can I check on you later? I wanna call Newton, see whats up."

"Sure, I needed to get going anyway... You gonna "check on me later" as in stopping by?" I suggested sweetly, hoping to coax him into my arms at least for a goodnight kiss.

"Maybe, baby...we'll see."

He sounded pre-occupied with Newton's text, which scared me a bit.

"OK. Bye Bells...talk to you later."

"Bye Jake"

We hung up, forcing my focus on the to-do-list in front of me. Overwhelmed, after just a few moments of review, I rolled off the bed, and found myself standing in front of my closet.

"Wow...this is so not me." I thought, running my fingers over the red satin sash. But, it sure made Jake, Charlie and Billy really happy.

Closing my eyes, I could hear the PA system screeching and crackling loudly - I'll never forget hearing my name called out.

" And our 2007 Homecoming Queen is...Bella Swan!"

My heart jumped into my throat, cutting off my ability to breathe or talk, as everyone around me roared with approval.

The girls on the cheer squad were jumping up and down screaming and hugging on me. I could feel myself being passed from one set of arms to another, too shocked to move on my own. My eyes finally locked on Jacob, who was already up on the stage - just crowned Homecoming King.

I'll never forget his smile.

It was so heart warming. I couldn't believe how emotional it made me. I couldn't believe anyone would ever look at me the way Jake does. Every day.

"Girls, Girls...Pleeeeeze - let Bella go to the presentation stand!" They were calling for me over the loudspeaker, as things started coming back into focus.

I was jostled around, losing eye contact with Jake, as the girls backed off leaving me wobbly and alone under the crowd's expectant stares.

Just when I felt steady enough to move, I took a step and got swamped by the entire day shift of the Forks Police Department.

Holy crap. I was suffocating in a sea of Old Spice, cigar smoke, damp armpits, creaking leather gun holsters, shiny black shoes and silver badges. Again, being passed from one set of arms to another, and way too may stashy kisses on the cheek.

Familiarity flooded my senses, and Badge number 55 hit my cheek.

"Daddy!"

"Bells!"

Hauling me against his chest, he kissed the top of my head, whispering, "Congratulations, Princess, I'm so proud of you. We're all so proud of you..."

Daddy...get me outta here! Is what I wanted to tell him as we hugged. But, I just clutched him tighter, burying my face against his shoulder.

"Okay folks...just a little delay to accommodate the entire Forks Police Department!" The announcer chuckled. "Hey Charlie! who's manning the route 101 speed trap? Yesssss you all know our 2007 Homecoming Queen is the daughter of Police Chief, Charlie Swan!"

The noise level rose again, as everyone cheered Charlie and the department. Dad and the guys turned their attention to the crowd - waving back their appreciation.

"Hey guys who's protecting the doughnut shop?" The announcer continued teasing the cops, between his pleas for me to get to the presentation stand. Dad's rookie, Ronnie, was making obscene hand gestures up at the announcer as he begged me to move to the stage.

I couldn't get away from Dad and his friends! They were like a bunch of hens clucking proudly and fussing over me.

Suddenly, the most beautiful person in my life was next to me, smiling knowingly.

"Jacob." I sighed, matching his enthusiastic grin.

Slipping his hand into mine, he squeezed hard, calming my out of control nerves.

"I need her for just a little while, Charlie...I'll bring her right back to you, I promise." Jake reassured my dad with a couple nods and his huge smile as he carefully pulled me away.

" I think I'm gonna hear those words from Jacob Black a lot, from here on out." Charlie mumbled to no one in particular as we turned away from him.

Jake got us free of the crowd, and we jogged across the football field to the presentation stage. It was useless to try to talk, the crowd was cheering like crazy, again.

Jake and I couldn't stop smiling at each other as we waved our appreciation at the crowd. Approaching the stage, we slowed our pace to climb the stairs and I stumbled badly, crashing onto one knee.

"Whoaa. You okay, honey?" He caught me, hesitating as I steadied myself against his arms.

"Fine, thanks." I blushed a dozen shades of red, eyeing the stairs warily.

"Lets go!" He laughed, scooping me into his arms, leaping up the stairs, 3 at a time.

'Jacob!' I gasped in surprise as I was hauled off my feet and flying up onto the stage.

As soon as my feet hit solid ground, he pulled me into a quick, joyful kiss. And then another and another, as the crowd went crazy over Jake's PDA.

With our foreheads resting against each other, I tried catching my breath. "Oh my god Jake..I don't believe this." I huffed and puffed.

Cupping my face gently with his warm hands, I wrapped mine over his, squeezing to make the trembling stop.

"My god Bella, I freakin LOVE YOU!" he pulled me against his chest, kissing my forehead, before turning us to face the crowd.

Last years King and Court, marched onto the stage presenting us with our crowns and bright red sashes.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN I PRESENT TO YOU YOUR 2007 HOMECOMING KING, JACOB BLACK, HIS QUEEN, BELLA SWAN and COURT."

I looked down to where the crowd had pushed onto the field and found Renee sitting on Billy's lap, laughing and clapping, obviously having fun. And then I spotted Charlie - standing behind them, hands on Billy's chair...beaming up at Jake and I.

This felt like home. Like family.

Aawwwww, Charlie. I'd missed him so much.

Fighting back the tears, I blew him a kiss, he caught it, saving it in his pocket as usual.

B 3 J

Grabbing my planner, I flopped onto the bed.

Tomorrow's already Friday! I doodled incessantly with a smooth red roller pen all over the calendar inside the planner.

Homecoming Pep Rally and Bon Fire after school. Check

Saturday morning the parade into Downtown Forks from the field at school, with ceremonies, then 3 games. Check damn - I'd need to go to bed early tomorrow. Definitely, no Birthday boinking.

Freshman, JV and Varsity. The Varsity game will end about 2 or 3 because halftime is 5 times longer for this game. Check - Oh shit...

I flopped onto my back, replaying the new routine Jake was gonna see for the first time. I was sure he was gonna love it...and wondered if he ever got hard watching us cheer on the sidelines... and if he did...

Fuckit. I needed to stay focused.

Dinner at the school at 7, Dance at 8:30 with Jake and I and the court "kicking it off."

We play Forks High School for the Homecoming game. My mind wandered to all the Forks students we knew, making me glad I chose LaPush, for the two hundredth time.

Gosh! It was so much to take in. We had a 8 page printed itinerary and instructions to stick to.

It looks like we won't have a minute to ourselves until Saturday night after we start the dancing.

Jake's so worried about it being my birthday. I've told him a thousand times, its no big deal. Honestly, I couldn't picture a better way to spend it than being his Queen for the day.

With everything organized for tomorrow, I crawled under the covers to try and get some rest.

I was sleeping much better than I ever had with all the physical activity I'd been getting lately Cheerleading and all. Joining the cheer squad actually turned out to be a good decision. It helps with my coordination, not to mention what it's doing to my thighs and glutes!

Pulling by body pillow to me tightly, I wrapped my arms and leg around it...my "Jake Pillow" as I call it, has one of his softest t-shirts on as a pillow case...mmmm I can smell him every night this way. Pretending I'm sleeping with him against me.

Smiling to myself at what I was gonna do someday, soon, to Jake with my newly toned thighs...I fell asleep thinking about what making love to him was gonna be like.

I woke, startled, from a dead sleep.

It wasn't my usual arousal by Jacob.

This was choking...tight chest...heart thumping...Fear!

I tried to recall a dream..but nothing would come to mind.

My heart was pounding, I was shaking uncontrollably on the verge of crying!

An arctic wind was blowing eerily thru my room, the curtains flapping furiously in the roaring breeze. How did my beautiful Indian Summer disappear in one evening.

I slid out of bed and ran to the window in the back of my room, slamming it shut. I froze. My eyes narrowing in concentration.

I swore I could see a figure, a man, at the tree line behind our small house.

By the time I blinked the sleep from my eyes there was nothing there. My heart pounded in warning, refusing to believe what my eyes would try to tell it.

A loud ratatatatatat against the glass of the front window, nearly made me scream.

What the hell was going on? Looking around desperately for something to throw, hit, poke or stab with...I spied my phone on its charger.

Fuck - I need you Jake!

My room was dark as hell as I crept cautiously towards the front window - the RATATATATATAT came again...even louder!

Then I saw that beautiful face push up against the glass and all my fear fell away. In fact...I snuck up on him, hugging the edge of my small room and...

"BAH!" I jumped in front of the window, scaring the shit out of him.

His mouth popped open wide in shock, his beautiful caramel colored skin, turned pasty white, just before he fell backwards off the window ledge.

"Jaaaakkkkeee!" I was laughing so hard I could barely get the window open.

"Jacob! I'm sooo sorry. I couldn't resist." I apologized to him hanging out the window, still gasping for air between giggles, as I motioned him back to the window.

He launched himself up to the window sill, pausing to glare at me as I choked back the last of my giggles. Reaching for the Firefly lamp to my left, he used his signature front flip to land in my room, as the soft light clicked on.

"Oh my god! No! Jacob, No!" I gasped loudly, both hands flying to cover my hideous outburst, as Jake swung around, hitting me with dark, searching eyes. I was frozen in utter disbelief.

"No? Really?" His cheeks turned scarlet as his hands plunged into deep pockets, and his ebony eyes dropped to the floor.

I was speechless. It was such a drastic change.

"I wanted to do this since school started." he confessed nervously, digging his big toe into the wood floor's grooves. "Then, today, Leah told me about her community service project, Locks of Love and I just had to do it." Shifting his eyes back to measure my thawing response, I felt the tingle of intense attraction, sizzling thru me. His long, wild hair was all gone. Replaced by a short, spiky... damn he still looked good.

"Now, some little girl with cancer is going to get a wig made from my hair. I hope it'll make her feel better, ya know Bells?." his eyes softened, then diverted to his feet as his hands nervously ran thru his now short, stylish hair.

"Jacob...you look so... grown ...grown up." I sighed, stepping towards him cherishing that intense feeling rushing through me.

"You look like a man." I gushed moving even closer.

"Shit! I knew you wouldn't like it" Turning on his heel abruptly, he headed for the window.

"Jake. Stop! " Launching myself at him, he caught me in his arms, like he always does.

" I just needed a minute to see you, to get used to it." I soothed him. "Some little girl is going to be very lucky to have your beautiful hair."

"Sorry, sure sure..." he huffed, tearing his eyes from mine, trying to hide his insecurity.

Reaching up on tip toes, I pushed my fingers thru his silky hair, my heart thundering as I got more and more turned on.

"Sexy." I breathed, reaching for his lips.

He just stared down at me. All tight and tense, his eyes scanning mine for any flicker of contradiction.

"You went from my wild child to this unbelievably sexy man. I love it, Jake." I wiggled against him, trying to get closer, closer than ever.

He leaned down into our kiss with a devilish smile.

"It feels like I'm, kissing a strange man." I murmured against his lips.

Jake groaned, tugging me closer and deepening the kiss.

"I feel like I'm cheating on my Jake." I gushed breathlessly, feeling my cheeks heating up, along with the rest of me.

"Hmmmm, " he chuckled, "It's OK ,Bells. Your Jake, won't mind you cheating on him with me." He snorted at his own joke, watching how his deep, alpha voice, affected me. I wondered if he could feel my need for him vibrating through my body.

He smiled against my lips, before thrusting his tongue back into my mouth. His kiss was consuming, as his hands roamed my body possessively. He was backing me towards my bed in a slow shuffle that had our hips brushing against each other.

"What are you doing out of bed anyway? Its way past your bedtime."

he accused when my thighs hit the edge of my bed.

Oh. that voice. that low, sexy, growly, commanding voice.

He swept my feet off the floor, as my knees wobbled, and laid me back into bed gently.

"C'mere Mr. Sexy Man. Keep me company till My Jake gets back." I cooed seductively at him patting the spot next to me in the bed.

Jake smiled through a long yawn. " I'm really tired Bells..." he complained shifting his stance and looking back towards the window he just came through. He walked over to the window, shut it firmly and locked it.

Well that's weird, I thought to myself, watching him pause to look outside the window, as his hand mindlessly rechecked the lock.

I scooted to the edge of the mattress when he turned, making his way back to me. I squealed, almost falling off the other side, as he wiggled his huge frame onto my bed.

Jake gathered me in his arms from behind, twisting his body in the shape that held me to him and us to the bed for the entire night. We moulded to each other like 2 spoons stacked on each other in the silverware drawer.

I put my arms and hands over his, snuggling deeper into his warmth and protection. "Spoon me, baby." I said seductively, wiggling my ass back against him as we settled in to our favorite position.

"Only if you fork me later." He whispered in my ear, leaving hot kisses down my neck, across my shoulders...until we were drifting off to sleep.

"Bells?" .

"Uh huh ummmmm?"

"Bella. I don't want you to sleep with the windows open anymore. The weathers turning and I - Uh, don't want you getting sick. Okay?"

"mmm huh...Okay...Jake...sleep..." I mumbled, falling away fast.

"NO, BELLA!" He flipped us over, caging me against the mattress, his long, lean, hard body, holding me down firmly, crushing all the air from my lungs as his eyes drilled into me.

"Look at me! I MEAN IT. NO. OPEN. WINDOWS!" he growled, letting a harsh rush of exasperation escape.

I was wide eyed and awake now!

The intensity of Jake's dark eyes and stern warning was frightening.

"Why? What's wrong?" I pleaded, wiggling hard under him.

"I'm not sure,yet. But I couldn't stand it if anything EVER happened to you. Please..baby..just keep your windows shut." he begged. " I won't be able to stay all night ,every night." He trailed off, rolling back to his previous position. Holding me tight.

"Okay, Jake."

I resigned myself to the fact something was bothering him.

"Hey, before you came to the front window, were you in the back? Near the treeline?''

'No. Why?"

"Oh, nothing." I trailed off, trying to snuggle back into his arms

"No, Bella. Tell Me." he argued.

"Its nothing."

He squeezed me hard, in warning.

"Okay!" Coughing to clear my throat... "I thought I saw someone out back at the treeline when I went to shut the window. That's all...My eyes were playing games on me cuz I was half asleep."

"That's why you were awake when I got here. There was someone out back?" Jake questioned jumping out of bed and going to the window.

"Your back window was open all night?"

Tearing the curtains aside, I saw him stiffen immediately.

"What Jake? What is it?"

"Nothing." he spat angrily..."just a spider" Slapping at the window sill for show, he stood looking out for a moment before jerking the curtains back into place.

He climbed back into bed, pulling me to him more tightly. Painfully tight.

I knew something was wrong.

My hands drifted up the sides of his face, and his eyes fluttered closed, as I rubbed his temples.

"Mmmmm, Bells, I love when you touch me." His head settled deeper into his pillow as he relaxed more and more, especially when my fingers ran through his spiky new hair, massaging and scratching his scalp with my nails.

After a while, with our lips almost touching, I tried talking him down.

"You worry too much, Jake." He snorted, and tried to bite my lip.

"With you as my protector...I know NOTHING will EVER happen to me."

Cocking his eyebrow in response , it was obvious he was thinking of a few things that were going to happen to me, very soon.

"Not so sure you're all that safe with me, Bells..." The twinkle of amusement in his eyes and the smirk on his lips were irresistible.

" Well, nothing that WE don't WANT to happen to me, ever will." I clarified, pressing my entire body up into his, capturing another passionate kiss.

I could tell Jake was keyed up. He didn't usually have trouble relaxing with me or falling asleep.

" You're too stressed." I slid out from under him, hit the floor and stood over him. He flipped onto his back, shoving his arms behind his head and stared at me.

"What?" I asked after a long moment of silence.

"Nothing...You're the one looking like you're gonna make a speech." He sat up a bit, tugging the blanket into place across his hips. "Shoot! I'm all ears."

"Well actually I was gonna climb on your back and give you a back rub, a massage, to release some tension but you flipped over." I felt my lips twitching into a smirk...

" could make it a front rub, if you think you'd survive it"

I couldn't hide the giggles watching Jake flip onto his belly, spread eagle without another sound.

I climbed up on his back, straddling his waist, using his sweet, firm cheeks for my seat and went to work on his back, neck and arms.

He groaned continuously with gratitude finding release from his stress.

Keeping my hands, lotioned and warm, they roamed freely over his body- kneading away physical and mental stress, heating me through and through.

'God, I love your body." I groaned, nearly in a daze of heated desire for him "Every freaking inch of it."

I swear it takes all I have not to jump his bones...well ONE of them, anyway.

"Bells...this feels so good, you have no idea. " he groaned. "Your hands are amazing, I think I'm gonna buy you a massage table for your birthday. How'd you'd like that?" He looked way too relaxed for being so chatty all of a sudden.

"I would like you to stop worrying about my Birthday!" I scolded in his ear, dropping my mouth to his neck. Kissing and licking him across the entire back of his neck and shoulders, I blew gently across the dampness, causing large, obvious goosebumps to blossom over his body like like a tidal wave .

He shivered and wiggled on to his back, while still under me...ooops!

" Not better!" I giggled as his eyes went wide with the realization

I was straddled on top of him, trapping his huge, willing and ready, playmate, Little Jake.

"Fuck..Bella.." he groaned, pulling me down next to him, resuming HIS favorite spoon position.

"yeah...spoon me baby." I said with a huge yawn, and only a little ass wiggling.

"Only if you promise to fork me later." he whispered in my ear.

"Shit. I'd FORK ya now if you'd let me" I grumbled into his massive bicep, not wanting to wait any longer.

" I heard that Bella..." he scolded.

"Yeek! "

Jacob thrust himself heartily against my backside.

"Feels like Little Jake heard it too! " I giggled. "Soon, my friend..someday, soon...you will win!" I wiggled against him affectionately, with no energy for anything else tonight.

JPOV

"Are you talking to him?" I growled in disbelief.

"Yeah...I figure I'd try to get him on my side." she said yawning, as she wiggled herself deeper in to my arms.

"He's already on your side, sweetie, so, please, stop antagonizing him."

"Mmmmm, Bella, honey.." My hands drifted over her breasts, nuzzling my face into her silky hair. Mmmmmmm, she smells so fucking good...

Rolling away from her for a quick breather, I tried to calm myself. If only she knew how hard he was for her, how fucking, painfully, hard! Little Jake was on her side, alright, he wanted to be on her ass, too - in her soft, wet mouth, wrapped in her hands! Hell, he'd be anywhere she wanted him to be.

Seriously, what the fuck are we waiting for? I wondered, throwing my arm over my face. The frustration and urgency was growing along with his hardness. Maybe they should just go ahead and "do it" for her Birthday. He argued with himself.

Just because they'd only been "officially" going out for about 4 weeks - didn't mean a damn thing to him. When it was right - it was right, he rationalized, knowing he'd never think any less of her, if they moved things along a little more quickly.

"Hey Bells." he whispered, rolling against her, scooping her back into his arms.

She murmured against his arm, settling into his grasp, like a missing puzzle piece.

"Look - I've been thinking. I know we're just turning 18, and we've talked about this, a little, but ya know, I really feel ready. I'm not sure I see a reason for us to wait any longer, you know...to...to...you know."

He was a little put off she wasn't responding, he thought she'd definitely be into the idea. Maybe a little more sweet talk and the right motivation would work.

His heart pounding in his chest, and Little Jake snapping to attention like the damn calvary, he was ready for whatever she was up for. Fuck knows they were Up and ready for anything!

"Please...please...talk to me Bells. I need you,baby." he licked her neck, kissing, sucking and nibbling on her sensitive skin with just the right amount of teeth, while his hands burrowed under her silky tank top, seeking her warm creamy breasts.

"I've waited 18 years for you, Bells. I've never been more sure of anything in my life." He sucked in a lungful of air deciding to explore lower, like around third base.

Bella twitched, kicking her foot out, grunting away the irritation on her neck, and down the front of her panties, before letting out a soft snore, as a bit of drool trickled onto his bicep.

"Seriously? You're asleep? Bells, Bella..." he shook her lightly, hoping she was teasing him.

How the fuck did I end up in a situation like this? Me! Jacob Black! A Sexually Responsible Teenager.

I buried my face in her neck letting her scent wash over me. She was the best thing to ever happen in my life. A perfect, undeserved gift.

More perfect than anyone I could ever imagine wanting.

I felt myself being lulled to sleep by the beat of her heart, the rhythm of her breaths and my dreams for us taking over my thoughts.