So sorry you guys for the long wait. Been busy with family and everything - my uncle's wedding is this weekend. Which means I probably won't be updating again until another ten days. I'm sorry...family calls. But at least I got to update today! I really hope you enjoy this chapter and leave a review telling me you did or didn't. I would love that. :) So here goes chapter nine...read and enjoy.
So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think of where we've been
No going back
I'm fading out
All that has faded me within
You're by my side
Now everything's fine
I can't believe…
Chapter 9
Bella
"Hey, Bella!"
I was trapped, standing in the semi-stranded hallway behind two huge unfortunate sophomores that were blocking me from escaping the annoyance that was Jessica Stanley. Usually, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of avoiding her, but today I knew just exactly what she wanted to talk to me about, and it was not a subject I wanted to touch on at the moment.
However, lo and behold, I was trapped. And all because of the stupid tall, gangly sophomores that just refused to move a considerable inch away from the door, which would give me the chance to slip out quickly and sprint towards my truck before Jess got the opportunity to catch my pathetic, cowardly ass.
But no, fate didn't happen that way. Fate hated me.
"Bella, wait up!'
I turned around and beamed Jessica a huge, friendly smile, greeting her as I normally did. "Hey, Jess."
"Oh my God, so you will not believe what I just heard from Lauren!" Jessica gushed ecstatically, walking with me past the sophomores, finally, and out the main double doors. I flashed an irritated glance behind my back, mentally cursing the boys for not moving their tooshes beforehand.
"What?" I questioned Jess absent-mindlessly, forcing myself to not cringe in my friend's presence.
"She heard from Angela, who heard from Eric, who heard from Mike-" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, "-that you're dating Jacob Black!" She let out an obnoxious giggle. "Isn't that just outrageous? I mean, you dating Jacob Black…totally crazy!"
"Um, Jess…I am dating Jacob Black," I told her, frowning. Poor, poor Jessica. I would hate to be in her position right now. What could she possibly be thinking?
That I'm a loser who is dating a sophomore that is secretly a werewolf, not to mention the person who just took my virginity…on a BEACH!
But she didn't need to know that. I'm sure that if she found that out, it would be all over school, thereby crowning me The Biggest Freak of Forks High.
I wasn't sure I wanted to live up to that reputation.
"Wait, are you serious? You're really dating Jacob Black?" She blinked in astonishment.
I nodded solemnly and murmured, "I really am." However I was ready to defend my werewolf boyfriend at whatever the cost, even if it meant I was to be considered a freak by my peers. So what if they all thought I was crazy? I loved Jake and that was all that possibly mattered. To hell with those who thought differently.
"Oh…" She looked at me strangely and then glanced away quickly, suddenly seeing a group of her friends near one of the cars. "Um, I gotta go, later Bella."
And then she was gone, having quickly removed herself from my most likely despicable presence. Not minding her sudden absence at all, I sauntered over to my truck and started to unlock it.
And then I felt a pair of hands. Again.
Except this time, they weren't placed on my book bag…
This time, they were planted on a rather compromising position on my sides.
"What the…"
I gasped as the hands suddenly became more purposeful, roaming down my sides and then gripping my hips. Dropping the keys from my hands and not even hearing them fall to the ground, I whirled around and stared into eyes of sparkling blue.
Of course, it was Mike.
I could tell that something had changed. He wasn't the friendly, fun-loving friend that I had known ever since I had come to Forks. His eyes were hard, and they were gleaming with demand. I tensed and attempted to maneuver myself away from him. His hands on my hips turned immobile.
"Let me kiss you, Bella," he whispered, pushing me gently against the truck and all the while staring earnestly into my eyes. "Please. Just once."
"Mike…" I gazed softly at him and slowly shook my head. "I'm sorry. Jake…"
I let out another gasp when he suddenly crushed his body against mine, making it hard to breathe. His tone turned desperate as he pleaded, "Just one time. Please, Bella? I've wanted to do this ever since I first saw you…Jake doesn't even have to know."
"I'll know," I snapped, struggling within his grasp. I never realized just how weak I was, even towards a teenage guy, if not a vampire, or a werewolf. I was almost tempted to knee him one right in the balls, but I didn't want to hurt Mike. Even if he had turned into a total jerk recently, he was still my friend. I glared at him fiercely and demanded, "Let me go."
"No," Mike said calmly, "Not until you kiss me."
"No." I was starting to get angry, resulting in the tears that were beginning to prickle at the back of my eyes. I inhaled sharply and tried to remain sensible. Talk to him rationally, I thought to myself. Try to make him understand...
"Mike, I like you, I really do," I began. "But I love Jake. I would never do anything to hurt him."
"What about me?" he shot.
I blinked, mildly confused. "What about you?"
"Would you ever do anything to hurt me?" He questioned patiently.
"Of course not," I replied, not quite understanding. I gazed at him warily.
"Then kiss me," Mike pleaded one more time. "If you don't, I'll never talk to you again," he added seriously, pulling me towards him. He looked at me expectantly.
"That's not fair," I muttered.
"Life's not fair. Now are you going to kiss me or not?"
"You know what?" I remarked suddenly. "If the only reason you want me as your friend anymore is to get me to kiss you, then you're friendship isn't even worth it. So no, I won't. Now let me go Mike."
I knew that would hurt him, I could see the hurt now so clearly on his face as he stared at me in stunned silence. I watched the emotions play across his face – shock, confusion, dejection, and then lastly, but most prominently...anger.
"To hell with Jake. I hate him for ruining my chances with you!"
"What chances?" I cried out in exasperation. "Mike, I have always liked you only as a friend. I have never done or said anything to go against that." Were boys really so clueless?
I was beginning to think they were.
"Then give me a chance now, Bella."
I didn't even have the chance to think before his lips crashed hard against my mouth. Emitting a ruffled moan, I pushed my hands frantically against his chest, not at all liking the disturbing feel of his lips pressing enthusiastically against mine. Lord, someone get him off me! I thought anxiously, feeling his hands slip under my shirt to touch the cool, bare skin beneath...
I flinched, opening my eyes and glancing past Mike's shoulder to see that Jess and her group of friends were too busy socializing to even notice the awkward predicament I was now currently in. Great.
I was considering pinching his skin hard to get him to let go when, quite unpredictably, his body was flung in the opposite direction. I heard a very distinctive snarl come from nearby and my heart quickened immediately at the sound. I knew who it was even before I regained my composure and glanced across at the scene.
Jake.
I stared at in him alarm as he threw Mike to the ground and started to beat the crap out of him. I could feel the fury roll off his body likes waves, and I knew that he was trying hard to keep himself in human form. I shuddered at the thought of him phasing in the middle of the school's parking lot. Definitely not a good idea if he planned on keeping his secret.
Before he could injure Mike any further and quite possibly rip his head off in the process, I stepped forward and carefully placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. "Jake, stop. That's enough."
Finally, Jake faltered in his fit of rage and stood up, his chest heaving wildly. I grabbed his hand and leaned forward to wrap my arms around his muscular build. "Relax Jake," I murmured gently into his ear, "Just relax."
"Relax?" He let out a harsh laugh. "Yeah, right. I came here to pick you up, and what did I see? This damn Newton kid all over you! I'm not going to fucking relax until I get an explanation."
"Let it go," I told him quietly. "Please just, let it go."
He glared at me briefly, and then glanced back down at Mike. His fists quivered with the rage that was rapidly surging through him, making it difficult for him to think the least bit rationally. I continued to gaze at him, patiently waiting for him to calm down.
When he did, he breathed out a sigh and crossed his arms.
"All right, I'll let it go this time. But I'm warning you Newton," Jake hovered over Mike's crumpled body and shoved a finger warningly at his face, "If you ever touch Bella again, I swear I won't hesitate to kill you. Got it?"
"Y-yeah...I got it."
"Good."
Grabbing my hand, he jerked me towards his motorcycle. This time I pulled back, shaking my head. "No, Jake, I can't leave my truck again. Charlie wasn't too happy about it last time. Why don't we just meet up at your place?"
He glanced down at me and frowned, hesitating. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "I'll meet you there," I repeated reassuringly.
"All right, I'll see you soon." He turned around and climbed onto his motorcycle. As it roared to life and disappeared from the parking lot, I glanced nervously behind my shoulder and saw Jessica and her huge group of friends staring at me and Mike, who was momentarily groaning against the thick pavement, his arm twisted in an unnatural position beside him.
Thanks for the help guys, I thought sarcastically, ignoring them as I bent down to help tend to Mike and his Jacob injuries.
"Are you okay Mike? I'm really sorry that happened," I murmured, caressing his face lightly with my hand. "Here, I'll help you up."
"No, we'll help him," one of the friends from Jessica's group snapped, striding over quickly and gently taking a hold of Mike's arm. "Why don't you just go?"
"Yeah, go and see your Jacob," Lauren sneered, standing beside Jessica and holding hands with her boyfriend. She flashed me a nasty glare and then glanced down sympathetically at Mike as the guy began to help him up.
I looked over at Jessica, expecting her to say something on my behalf. When all she did was glance away and murmur softly to Angela, I let my wary gaze fall on Eric, my last remaining friend. I felt the disappointment rise like bile in my throat when my usual cheery friend didn't even spare a glance.
Don't cry...I told myself forcefully, feeling like I was on the verge of tears. Don't cry.
"O-Okay..." I whispered, inhaling a sharp breath before whirling around and walking towards my truck. I picked up the keys that I had dropped on the ground and proceeded to unlock it. I quickly climbed inside and turned on the ignition, my vision unmistakably getting blurry.
By the time I had driven out of the school's parking lot, the tears had long since started to flow. I gripped the steering wheel tightly and attempted to take deep breaths, not wanting to risk getting into a car accident as a result of my lame, pathetic emotions. I swear, they were going to be the end of me someday.
However, on the way to Jake's house, I realized something.
The closer I got to Jake...the further I drifted away from my friends.
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
~*~
He was there the moment I pulled into the driveway, parking in the usual spot, beneath one of the trees. Luckily the drive to La Push had been long enough for me to get a hold of myself, so when I finally opened the door and slipped out, I was able to offer Jake a non-teary, everything-is-fine, perfectly fake smile.
I must not have gotten it just right, because he immediately wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, murmuring softly in my ear, "I'm sorry Bells. I didn't mean to hurt Mike, I was just so...mad. When I saw him kissing you I just freaked. I wasn't thinking."
"Yeah, you weren't," I whispered.
Hearing the broken tone of my voice, he pulled away and gazed into my eyes with a puzzled look on his face. "Bella, are you okay?" He brushed a strand of my hair away from my face to get a better look, and I immediately glanced down at my shoes.
"I'm just...not on good terms with my friends at the moment," I murmured awkwardly.
"Is it because of me?"
"No," I lied.
I didn't want him to feel any more guilt than he already was. I loved him too much for that.
Way too much.
I narrowed my eyes when he took my chin and tilted it so that I had no other choice but to look at him. "Don't lie to me, Bella."
Sighing, I nodded slowly, wishing I didn't have to say it but knowing that Jake would want me to regardless of the feelings that might stir up in him if I did. Suddenly admiring him for the way he was dealing with this, I found the courage to tell him.
"My friends don't like you Jake. They know you're different. And so when they saw you beat up Mike, one of their friends...they didn't like it. And the more I hang out with you..." I trailed off, biting down hard on my bottom lip. "You get the picture," I added when I saw a look of understanding on his face.
"Yeah, I understand," he replied, and then he unexpectedly crushed me against his chest, his strong arms locking affectionately around my neck. "You do what you want to do, Bella. Hang with me, hang with them...I don't care. It doesn't even matter to me what they think about us. It shouldn't matter to you either, Bells. We love each other, right?" He raised an eyebrow.
I cracked a small smile and murmured, "Yes."
"Then why the hell, Bella, should anything else matter?"
"It doesn't," I remarked matter-of-factly.
"Then don't get so upset about it," Jake stated, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. "I seriously need to teach you lessons on how to not care about what other people think," he added jokingly.
I rolled my eyes. "I think I'll pass."
"Aww, but Bells, it'd be great. We could go around acting like idiots wearing monkey suits around town! Or we could even do something reckless. You like being reckless, right? Maybe we could-"
"Jake," I winced at the crazy mental image, and turned around to restrain him. "Try to act more mature, please."
Jake snorted. "I can be mature while wearing a monkey suit. Who ever said monkeys aren't mature?"
I groaned, and began walking towards the house, not even bothering to listen as he continued to babble on like the fun-loving idiot I knew and loved.
"Well, maybe baboons...the way they jump up and down and then poop on the roof of your car...now that's immature."
I walked inside and slammed the screen door shut.
Yeah, so the baboon part kind of cracked me up. I added that because it actually really happened to me - my family and I were in Africa sight-seeing the savanna in our little jeep and we stopped because there was a whole band of baboons on the road. We were just waiting for them to cross when they unexpectedly came bounding over and began jumping all over on top of our car...it was kind of scary, because baboons are pretty wild, so it really freaked my mom out. And then they pooped on the roof. Yeah, it was pretty funny. My dad also had the foolish audacity to get out of the car and throw a rock at a sleeping cheetah...but that's a story for another time. I hope you liked this chapter. Leave me a review, pretty pretty please. :)
~Mystic
