Choices Matter; but Timing is Everything
Disclaimer – Just in case there is anyone who doesn't know already, I do not own twilight or the characters within. I'm just playing with the plot a bit to spice up my boring life. Thank God for Stephanie Meyer.
A/N - I decided not to make this two chapters, it's kind of long. I hope you'll enjoy the movie. Bella sure didn't.
Chapter 10 – Three Men and a Bella
Bella's POV
My plan to get a group together for the movies was quickly disintegrating. Once Lauren and Jessica found out it was my plan, they suddenly had an overriding desire to pay special attention to their hair, and made sure that Tyler and Eric and the rest were similarly busy in bogus pursuits. So in the end our group was a bit male heavy, Angela and I being the only girls, along with Ben, Mike, Jacob, and possibly Quil as well. I was really glad to have Angela along. Ben had chosen the movie; Underworld; Rise of the Lycans. I wasn't sure what it was about, but it sounded like action adventure so I figured it was a safe choice.
I spent most of Thursday and Friday thinking about the boys in my life, and the one gone from my life. I was pondering Jacob's Valentine's Day promise to me during my morning run on Friday before school. He had once promised a similar thing, but found a loophole, and in the end he was just a promise breaker of the worse kind. I replayed Jacob's speech in my mind, "Bella, I will never leave you. I know what it did to you when he left, and I will never do that to you. I need you to know that, to know that you can let me in, you can always count on me, not matter what." I began to wonder if I could try to let Jacob in. I already did count on him. On his sunny personality, his companionship, his willingness to accept me though I was broken. He has been a great friend to me, could we be more? For the first time since he, since Edward, (I could think his name now, I'm getting stronger) left I found myself at least able to consider the possibility of moving on, of letting someone else into my heart; maybe not just yet, but someday.
I tried to think it through a bit. I know I love Jacob. Do I love Jacob in a romantic way? Could I picture myself with him as a girlfriend? I'm not sure. Jake was always finding any excuse to touch me, holding my hand, wrapping his arms around me to pull me into a hug, and he's even stolen a kiss or two. And I really don't mind this behavior. It's not mind muddling and heart racing like it was with Edward but, it is nice, the contact, the warmth of another hand in my own.
But I was taken by surprise by where my pondering mind took me next.
I guess I was thinking about touch. A picture of Quil flashed through my memory, the first time I met him standing with a confidence that was somehow incredibly sexy, and how his eyes never left mine. It was a little disconcerting but intoxicating. I remembered how broad his shoulders were, how his flexing bicep had distracted me, even during my grief over Edward. Quil is a sight to behold. I remembered how my hand had tingled at his touch, when he took mine introducing himself.
And then another flash, Quil yanking the motorcycle off of me like it was a 10 speed bicycle. He had taken his shirt off and pressed it into my cut, before I had even, fully registered he was there. I remembered his soul-piercing gaze, as he placed his hand gently on my cheek as he spoke to me. His touch gave me a shiver and though I hadn't been dizzy a minute before, when he looked into my eyes like that, it did kind of take my breath away. I remembered how he spoke to me in a voice filled with a tenderness that you would never believe could come out of him. And then he scooped me up, in his big arms and placed me in my truck.
I was half way to La Push, almost at my turn around point when I remembered him dropping off the helmet for me like it was no big deal. I remembered his dazzling smile, and care free manner when he, Jacob, and I were joking around in the garage, at the beach, and at Billy's house.
As I remembered my last encounter with Quil I got lost deeper in my thoughts. I was inviting them both to the movie we were going to see tonight. Quil had responded to me, as usual. He secured my attention with that irresistible way he gazed into my eyes whenever he spoke directly to me. How did he do that?
And then he surprised me by saying "Well, I'll try Bella, I'll have to get back to you after I talk to my mom."
It was so out of character I had to ask, "Why?"
"I got into a little trouble in school today, you know a detention. No big deal."
I also remembered what a hurry Quil suddenly seemed to be in to leave, when he caught sight of Jacob's valentine.
How had I missed this? I had shrugged each of these encounters off and never given them a second thought. Am I attracted to Quil? Does he have some kind of interest in me? Jacob has told me about Quil's popularity with girls at their school. Why would he want me? Maybe it was how he was with all girls. Oh boy. I wonder how much Jacob knows. Had Quil noticed my reactions to him even though I'm a clueless dolt? Did he just think it was funny? Maybe he has this effect on all girls. Jacob and Quil are probably both coming tonight. Add a crazy Mike Newton into the mix and I am dreading this movie even more. I am sooo, sitting next to Angela. I turned around and headed home, picking up the pace, and trying to just focus on the run.
School flew by, like it always does when you don't want it to. And before I knew it I was standing in front of my closet wondering what outfit I could wear that would scream let's all be friends! Or at least one that didn't scream hey guys come fight over me. I settled on some Forks staples, jeans, a patterned thermal shirt, and light cord jacket. I had said good bye to Charlie who was headed up to the Clearwater's for dinner with his friend's family. And I waited.
Jacob arrived first. I answered the door and was immediately taken in by his smile. It was plastered wide across his face and his eyes twinkled with excitement.
"What is it Jake?" I asked matching his smile without even knowing why.
"I have a big surprise for you. Come check it out." He gestured to the street where his Rabbit sat.
"Wow, Jake!"I beamed at him, jumping up and down with excitement. "You finished the Rabbit." I was so proud of him, and I pulled him into a big hug. "That's it you win, you're older." I conceded in defeat. "This is amazing Jacob."
We were both standing there in my driveway admiring his creation, when Mike pulled up in his Suburban. He took a glance at Jacob and lifted his shoulders with a sigh. But when he stepped out to of the vehicle he smiled his normal friendly smile our way. I did the introductions, but it seems they remembered one another from some other meeting. And though the conversation was light the looks were rather menacing.
"Mike," I began "do you think we could let Jacob drive tonight? He just finished building this car and it's kind of like its Maiden Voyage." Just then my cell phone rang. I checked the caller ID. It was Ben. I answered. The guys watched me as my face, and my spirits fell. "That was Ben," I explained after I hung up. "Ang is sick with some kind of stomach flu. He said they won't be meeting us. He is going to stay with Angela and take care of her." I was happy for Angela. She had such a caring boyfriend. But I selfishly wished she had waited until tomorrow to get sick. The night was looking bleaker and bleaker.
"Well," Mike began "we could reschedule."
"I'm still game, but you go ahead and call it night, I'll take Bella to the movie. "Jacob responded jubilantly.
Mike acknowledged the challenge. "No, no I was just thinking of Angela and Ben I'll go if you guys are going."
Oh my, we had better get this show on the road I thought before one of them tries to pee on my leg, and mark their territory. This has to be one of the worst ideas I have ever had.
Mike decided to drive himself, so it was just Jacob and I in the Rabbit on the way to the movie theatre. "So, is Quil grounded after all?" I asked, wondering where the third member of our friendly trio was, blushing slightly when I remembered my thoughts from this morning. I'm not sure if Jacob noticed the blush, but his smile faded and his voice was more serious when he responded.
"I guess. He never called me. I thought maybe he would have called you."
"Nope," I shook my head.
"Maybe he got his phone taken." Jacob shrugged. He then launched into a story about what happened in auto shop at school that day and before we knew it we were at the movie theatre.
Mike pulled in just behind us. And standing in the parking lot leaning up against his car with his arms crossed in front of his body, looking like some kind of GQ ad, was Quil. I saw his eyes light up when he saw us. He stood up and walked over to the Rabbit.
"Hey Jake, you finished the Rabbit," he congratulated, giving Jake a high five.
I guess Mike saw this as his chance, so he hurried over to open the car door for me, while Jake was distracted by Quil. I heard something like a hushed growl, emanating from Jacob's chest.
"So what movie are we seeing Bella?" Mike inquired offering me his hand as he opened the door. "Three Men and a Bella," he teased.
I ignored his hand, "ha, ha, Mike." I rolled my eyes. And I wondered if my giant Quileute friends made him nervous. He looked a little pale and kind of clammy.
"So what are we seeing?" Quil inquired of no one in particular, but looking at me.
"Well, Ben chose the movie, but he and Ang had to bail at the last minute, she is sick with a stomach flu." I began. "Underworld, Rise of the … something" "Rise of the Lycans" all three guys practically chanted rolling their eyes at my lack of knowledge on such crucial matters.
"Whatever." I replied. "Let's get going before we miss it." And I felt so strange walking into a movie with my three "friends", knowing that at least two of the three were wishing this was a date. And not knowing what to do about any of them.
The movie was okay at first. Lots of violence and carnage, of course the rich stereotypical vampires were a bit of a blow. I couldn't help but remember the conversations I had with Edward about the facts and myths about real vampires. And then there was the seating arrangement. We had filed into the left row, Quil first then Mike, me, and Jacob on the aisle. And I sat trapped in this dark theatre with my arms tightly around my torso trying to not get sucked into this movie about mythical creatures that I knew to be all too real. I wasn't totally sure if my current arm position had more to do with the poorly chosen movie or the two hands both held palm up on each of my arm rests that reminded me of steel traps. Mike was the first to remove his hand. He pulled it in and looked down at his shoes, resting his head on both of his hands. I looked away from the movie I was slowly being pulled into, despite my best efforts to ignore it.
"Are you okay?" I whispered.
He shook his head. "I think I'm going to the rest room. I'll be right back."
Ten minutes later and Mike was still not back. I had already suffered through a maddening blush filled, scene in the movie where the Lycan, Lucian, a kind of civilized werewolf and a princess vampire Sonja had made love. To make it worse they spoke of their love. Of course it was doomed to fail because they were different. I could feel the hole Jacob and I had spent all these months patching up starting to rip again. We were nearing the conclusion of the movie, but I was worried about Mike, and I couldn't go to the Men's room to check on him, so I leaned over and whispered in Jake's ear.
"Jake, could you go check on Mike? He's been gone for a while and he didn't look so well when he got up." Jacob looked irritated. He was into the movie, but being Jacob, he did it, because I asked him to.
And then it all unfolded. Earlier in the movie Viktor, the evil head vamp had sentenced Lucian to be brutally whipped thirty times and then imprisoned him in the dungeon. Sonja saved Lucian and he escaped with other prisoners to the woods. Viktor discovered that Sonja is pregnant and in love with Lucian, he locks her up in her room to force Lucian to return to the castle to rescue her. Of course he comes. And I found myself taking deep breaths, tears running down my face, when poor Lucian had to watch as the love of his life, the person he'd do anything for, the mother of his child was taken from him in an instant. The stitches holding the hole in chest together burst open. And though I kept myself from sobbing, my pain was obvious.
Quil, must have been watching me. He moved over into Mike's spot and placed a comforting arm around me, hugging me into his chest. I couldn't help but comply, burying my face in his chest, spilling tears down his shirt. I needed the comfort.
He bent his head down and whispered into my ear, "Love always seems to have so many obstacles, sometimes happily ever after seems impossible, doesn't it".
A shiver ran through me when I felt his hot breath at my ear. But his statement shocked me out of my pity party. Quil had put into words, exactly what I was feeling. And I slowly regained control of myself. I looked up at him and he brushed my tears away with his thumb.
"You okay, Bella?" he whispered so softly that only I could hear, resting his forehead on mine.
"Mmm, hmmm" I nodded. It was then that I heard Jacob's footsteps coming down the aisle. Quil must have heard them too, because he straightened up slowly removing his arm from around my shoulders. I turned to glance at Jake and knew what I saw burning in his eyes, hurt, fury, and betrayal. He was shaking with anger. The credits started rolling.
"Mike was in the bathroom puking his guts out. He said to tell you both goodbye, he was heading straight home. Sorry I interrupted your little cuddle session. Don't stop on my account. Why don't you take her home Quil, then you can pick back up where you left off." Jacob spat at Quil.
"No, Jacob, no I sputtered. Quil was just, the movie, you know me and my crying…" I scrambled to try to get the words out. To explain what he saw. "Quil wasn't making a move on me, we weren't making out, he was comforting me and my ridiculously broken heart." But Jacob wasn't listening to anything I was saying. He was shaking with anger and glaring at Quil. He turned on his heel and practically mowed down four people as I watched him race out the door.
Oh, man. What have I done. Now I've gone and hurt Jacob.
"Don't worry Bella," Quil spoke with sincerity in his voice. "Jacob is reasonable, He just really likes you and was surprised to see me so close to you. He'll forgive you." Quil emphasized you, as if he wasn't so sure that same forgiveness would be extended to him.
"I know, Jacob promised, he'll never leave me. I'll call him and clear this up as soon as I get home. But, thanks Quil for being here for me. I guess I wasn't really ready for such a tragic love story. I thought I was in for action and adventure."
"No problem Bella, I like being here for you." With that he grabbed my hand and towed me through the crowd, to his car. We didn't speak much on the way home. But it was a comfortable silence. When he pulled up in front of Charlie's house I remembered that he had thought he might not be able to come tonight because of a detention or something.
"So, your mom didn't ground you after all, huh. Did you sweet talk her out of that, Mr. Charming?" I joked.
"Not really, he answered, I just told her the truth and she took pity on me. I think she might remember what it's like, to be. . . "and then it seemed like he switched gears finishing with, "young, you know. You better get inside, it's getting cold. And I know you're anxious to call Jacob. I'll try to talk to him tomorrow, too. Don't worry Bella, it will be fine."
"Thanks Quil, I'll talk to you soon." I said hopping out of his car and heading into the house.
I walked without hesitation to the house phone, picked up the receiver and dialed….