A/N: You have fallen on the nice list, so here is your Boxing Day treat. I loved getting your reviews they made me giggle. The total number readers was down (You know: Christmas) but the number of reviews went way up. So thank you, folks. I feel the love. (Keep it up.)
Answers to some questions: This is AU with no wolfie/vamp stuff. I leave it ambiguous for a reason. I like the wondering. I see the whole wolf/vamp thing as a metaphor anyway. I left some things in this chapter ambiguous as well. Answers will come when I update on Sunday.
As always, MarinaNamaste really helped with these chapters. I wrote them when I was tired and she pointed out some major deficiencies. Reward her by reading her story Pineapples and Cherries. If you're Team Jacob, it's a hot little Nessie story.
Hold on folks, it gets a little worse before it gets better.
"Jake what are you doing here?" Bella asked over the thumping of the bass of the terrible teeny bopper music that blared through the gym. Bella could see his hastily knotted tie was the one she bought Billy for Christmas last year. He looked good under the pulsing lights. Bella had to resist every urge to wrap her arms about his bulky, sexy neck.
"My dad bribed me to come talk to you tonight. He said he'd give me the money for the parts I need," Jake said in an unconcerned tone. The flexing muscle in his neck betrayed his emotion. He's was working hard to hold in his anger.
"So you came to my dance at my school? I thought you said it was rude to invite yourself to someone else's dance," Bella bit back at him with her hands on her hips. She looked around for Edward who had gone to get them something to drink. "You haven't talked to me in two weeks, Jake. Two fucking weeks and you show up at my dance?"
"I had to come see if what Embry said was true," Jake shot back in an angry tone.
"And just what did Embry Call tell you?" Bella asked, though she knew that news of Edward asking her to the winter formal had spread quickly and caused some ripples in Forks. She didn't know it had made it to La Push.
"That you were here with…" Jake started in an incredulous tone.
"No, Jacob Black," Bella scolded, cutting him off, "you don't get to be angry. You made it perfectly clear how you felt about taking me to a dance and then afterwards you made it perfectly clear that you didn't want to be with me." Bella's voice broke.
Jake looked away because he couldn't hold her eye contact. He'd been so jealous and then he felt so guilty he didn't know how to even begin the conversation. He'd been so miserable that Billy bribed with the only thing he knew would hit home—car parts.
"I…a…" Jake faltered. He still didn't know where to begin. She looked so beautiful in her shimmering silver dress. She must have borrowed it from someone. "You look nice," he finished. He still avoided her eyes.
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Bella squeaked. "After two weeks of nothing and avoiding me?" She was pissed. And she missed him. She didn't know what to do with all that emotion. She wanted to beat the crap out of him and kiss him, all at the same time.
"Isabella?" Edward approached her from behind. Since their excursion to the nurse's office, she'd spent quite a bit of time with Edward over the past week. He'd driven her home that day and picked her up the next day because her truck was still at school. Edward kissed her in the car that morning and since she was still so lonely she just played along.
"Thanks, Edward," Bella said as she took the drink he offered her. She cleared her throat and looked nervously between the two. "Edward, I'd like you to meet my friend Jacob. Jake this is Edward—my date tonight." Embry had told Jake that she had a date and he went from moping around the house to unbearable. It was Billy's goal to give Jake a reality check—if Jake didn't pull his head out of his ass soon, he'd lose Bella… even as a friend.
"Edward," Jake gruffed, holding his hand out for the lanky shit to shake. Edward sent Bella a knowing look and shook Jake's hand gingerly.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Bella asked, acutely aware of how awkward this was for everyone—but mostly for Jake.
"I just wanted to tell you that—" his eyes flickered towards Edward, "can we talk alone?" he finished lamely.
"That what, Jake? No. Just say it. You shut me out for two weeks and then showed up while I'm on a date to tell me what exactly?" Jake flinched at the mention of the word date.
"That I'm sorry?" his voice cracked, it sounded like a question. He really was sorry. He'd learned some very important things about himself during the two week hell he had imposed on himself. First, that he was a very jealous person and he needed to dial that back a bit. Secondly, that he was rash and did really stupid things without thinking. And thirdly, that he missed Bella more than he could even manage to think about clearly. All three of those things combined just about made him explode when Edward's arm snaked around Bella's waist. She placed her hand over his at her waist and ran her thumb over his and Edward entwined their fingers.
"Are you sure?" Bella scoffed. "That sounded like a question to me."
"Bella," Jacob pleaded and shifted his eyes to the floor. His previous anger seemed to have fled. This was so hard for him. Bella could see it. She could feel it. But she was angry. She'd been so hurt. For six days all she could think about was what she did to make Jake angry at her. And he wouldn't even text her. Then Edward had distracted her with his clever mind and striking eyes.
Jake's eyes flickered to their hands and pain ripped through his chest. Jake knew he'd fucked up. He was never sure why Bella hung out with him and then when they started their experiments, he was never sure when they were going to end. He was terrified of the day that he knew was coming—the day when she was going to wise up and realize that he was just an Indian living on a very small reservation. He shook his head at the thought. She'd already found someone new—and it was all his fault.
"Well, I am sorry," Jake finally said and his shoulders drooped in defeat. His eyes shone, though the only person who would have noticed was Bella. He fidgeted with his ring. "I'm sorry if I ruined your evening. Edward," that muscle popped out in his neck again, "it was very nice to meet you." Bella was surprised by this abrupt change.
"Nothing's ruined, man," Edward said. "She's missed you. Your apology probably means a lot to her." Bella squeezed his hand as an affirmation. Edward was sure he was going to get lucky a little bit later. He'd found Bella to be extremely responsive when she was emotional. It'd been a good week for him.
Bella eyed Jake. She knew him better than he knew himself. She knew he was sincere in his apology, but she was just so angry and still so hurt. He'd shut her out and cut her off after she…well it hurt to think of all the things they shared with him and then he left her… with nothing.
"Jake," she called in a softer voice, "can I call you tomorrow? Please?" Her big brown eyes pleaded with him and they shined, betraying her emotion. "We have some things to talk about." Jake couldn't deny her anything at that point.
"Sure, sure," Jake said. "I'll be around." He looked at her skeptical face and then added with a smile, "I promise." She smiled back and his heart cheered a small degree. He wanted his Bella back.
Damn his father for knowing him so well. He'd been moping around the house for two weeks and hiding when her truck rumbled down the driveway. Billy had finally had enough. You're driving me crazy, Jacob, and you need to see her to be reminded about how much she means to you. Now get out of here before I get my shotgun and shoot you.
Bella watched him exit the gym and jealousy balled up in her stomach as she noted all the girls who pointed and stared at him. He really was beautiful and she'd been lucky enough to see all of him. Memories danced in front of her eyes, it stirred up all those urges and yearnings again.
"Do you want to dance?" Edward whispered into her ear making her heart thud. Or was it already thudding by Jake's presence? She didn't know. "It's a slow song." He took her drink and placed it on the table next to them.
Bella didn't answer, but she didn't object when Edward led her to the dance floor. Slowly Edward lifted her hand, placing it on his neck and traced her bare arm all the way back down to her waist. He was pleased with the goose bumps that were left in his fingers' wake. Looking into her eyes, he pulled her flush with his body, a figure he was becoming quite familiar with.
What started off as an experiment to simply piss Mike off had turned into some pretty hot make out sessions. He was hoping to make it to second base tonight. Maybe even farther. In the few times they'd been supine, Edward noticed that Bella liked his rhythm.
Bella shivered as his other hand brushed across her shoulder blades and she melted into his chest. She liked being held and Edward was a great dancer. He said his mother insisted on lessons and he knew how to make the most awkward person look graceful. Bella was the proof. She felt his lips on the top her ear as he sang along with the song. She thought it was sweet that he was trying to make her feel better.
With her head pressed against Edward's chest her mind ran over what had just happened with Jacob. Jake looked so defeated when he left. It tugged at her heart. He apologized. She imagined Jacob's hands at her waist; running up her arms to her shoulders; Jacob's lips on her neck. She imagined Jacob leading her out to the car and parking in a secluded spot overlooking the lights of the Valley. She imagined Jake reclining her seat and climbing on top of her; Jake's touches and kisses sending chills down her spine. She imagined Jake spreading her legs and rubbing against her.
Edward's voice finally made it through to her brain and she finally realized that it was not Jacob who was with her.
"Isabella!" he grunted his satisfaction. Bella was suddenly very aware of her surroundings. She realized that Jake's touch didn't give her chills; it set her on fire. She wasn't on fire right now. She was cold and exposed and confused. Bella straightened her dress and pulled the skirt down that had risen up to her waist. She looked over at Edward who was back in the driver's side seat of his shiny silver Volvo. Tucking himself back into his pants he rolled down the window and threw something out.
"Isabella, that was amazing!" Edward panted.
She really didn't know what he found amazing. She remembered everything that happened but refused to acknowledge much of it. Mentally she cursed herself for letting it go that far. But, it made her realize that she didn't want Edward. She wanted all those things with Jake.
Jake.
"I need to get home," Bella smiled back at him. She was confused, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Curfew," she said to Edward's fallen face.
"Oh, of course. We don't want to upset the Chief of Police," Edward replied as he turned onto the highway that led back to Forks. She finally breathed easily when Edward dropped her at her front door. She avoided a kiss at the door, again using Charlie as an excuse. Edward skipped down the stairs, apparently very pleased with how the evening progressed. Bella shook her head and let herself in the house locking the door behind her.
"Bells?" her dad's voice called from the living room.
"Yeah, it's me," she let her feet carry her into the living room.
"You're home early," Charlie replied nonchalantly. "It's only eleven." An idea popped into Bella's brain.
"Dad, I have to go to La Push. You extended my curfew to one tonight. I'll be home before then, I promise."
"Sure, Bells." Charlie eyed his daughter. She ran up to her room to grab her keys; she didn't even change out of her dress or grab a jacket. For the first time in her life she pushed her truck almost to its limit and made to Jake's little red house in fifteen minutes. She let herself into the dark house and crept down the hallway to Jake's little room. She was just a little surprised that Jake was already home and all was dark and quiet.
She turned the door knob and silently opened his door. She looked at Jake sprawled out in his bed by the light of the moon shining through the window pane. On the few nights that the sky was actually clear, Jake always pulled his curtains open. He was awake. He had to hear her truck approach.
"Whatcha looking at Bells?" his low grumble shook her core. Bella bit her lip and considered how to answer him.
"My best friend?" Bella squeaked.
"Was that a question?" Jake asked. She could see him grin by the light of the moon. He looked pleased that she was there.
"Well…" she began, "I was hoping that maybe he wanted more." Bella entered slowly and knelt near his bed. Jake rolled to his side and propped his head on his hand. Bella bit her lip again. She needed to tell him about what happened with Edward. But she didn't want to shatter the pleased and hopeful look on his face.
"I've always wanted more, Bells," he whispered. "I thought we were becoming more." A pained look crossed his face.
"We were," she agreed. "We…are. But I think we may have messed it up a bit." She looked at his face, his beautiful, chiseled face. "Do you think it's fixable?" His face split into a grin.
"Come here," Jake invited and scooted over in his bed. Bella jumped at the chance and climbed into his open arms. He hugged her close and he felt the goosebumps on her arms. "Bells, you're freezing." He lifted the blankets so she could crawl underneath them.
"Jake," she giggled, "you're naked!"
A/N: A little better? Maybe?
Leave me love (or hate-some of those made me giggle).
