Hey, guys! Long time no see and all that jazz! Sorry I took so long with this chapter. I know everybody was like, "Well, damn! When is he going to update this sorry awesome ass story?!" Lmao.
No worries. Here it is. It's quite lengthy, but I am really excited about this chapter. It's one of my favorites of the series.
Enjoy!
Jacob's P.O.V.
"Alright, I think we should be heading back now, it's getting dark" Edward says a little after the Sun has set.
Everybody chips in and packs up the lunch we- well, I had. Bella barely ate anything but Esme's homemade applesauce and ¼ of the Panini's. Emmett disappeared sometime before Edward and I called our last game of Frisbee. When he comes back, he's cleaner. I mean, his clothes are still shredded to pieces, but for the most part, he's decent.
Bella and Edward fall into a conversation turned argument on the way back. All I still silent in the back seat.
He continues to stare out the window, his eyes lifelessly moving across the mountains and fields.
I memorize every dip and curve of his solid cheekbones and the slight indent where his dimples lay. The way his nose comes down in a perfect arc over his pink lips.
He sighs and looks up front and then to me. His expression, though brooding, is the tad bit curious and serious at the same time.
Before I can even grasp my own thoughts, I'm mouthing "What?"
He watches me for a moment before his eyes drop. "Nothing…" He says audibly. His eyes flash back to mine before he turns back out the window.
I half think he'll turn back with more words but he doesn't.
I don't even know what that was, but… I turn back to my window. The landscape rolls by like it's on film.
We don't speak for the rest of the drive to the Cullen's.
He doesn't say a word when he steps out and blurs into the house without even a glance back. Edward watches him go and with a sigh, heads in after him. The truck's still running.
Bella plays with her fingernails when she turns back to me fully. "So…what was that all about?"
"I…" I look up at the lit up house. "I don't even know, to be honest"
She nods subliminally. "Right…"
I huff. "I'm serious, I don't"
Edward slides back in. "What I miss?" He eases down their driveway.
I shrug. "Nothing, I guess…"
"Hm…" He looks at me in the rearview mirror. "Don't take anything he does personal. It's…it's complicated with him"
Bella nods. "Sounds like simple bullshit"
It does, but. "Which reminds me. What were you to snickering about earlier while were playing Frisbee? I heard my name come up just over several times"
She brushes a hair out of her face and slouches in her seat. "We had a simple conversation that will be better if you didn't know of" She looks back at me. "Okay?"
"So…more secrets, is that what I'm hearing?"
She shrugs nonchalantly. "Yep"
Edward only shakes his head.
Edward drives slowly over the border into La Push. He doesn't even drive all the way down to my house. He stops just off the main winding road before you get to the field and my house.
He turns to me. "I don't want to get you in any trouble, if you don't mind"
I shrug. "I get it. Thanks" I unbuckle my seatbelt. "Well, it's been a cool, awkward day with you two, thank you" I open the door and slam it shut. "I really enjoyed myself"
Edward nods solemnly. "You're welcome" His eyes drop to Bella's fiddling hands.
"Yeah, well, you're totally welcome" She says, climbing out the car herself.
He places a protective hand on her wrist, but he doesn't grip her. "Bella, what-"
She sighs. "I'm just going to say hello" They have a stare off before Edward eases back. "I'll be fine, I have Jake with me"
His arm drops away as he acknowledges it. "Be careful" He says looking to me.
She shuts the door behind her. "I got her, Robocop" I say. He glares and looks out amongst the perimeter.
We walk up to the house. She locks her left arm in mine. "So did you really enjoy yourself today or were you just being sarcastic"
I look at her and lick at my lips. "No, I'm serious. It was nice, despite the fact that I was kidnapped, but…" I shrug. "It was cool, no complaints"
She nods. "Okay…just making sure"
The lights are on in the Living Room and I can hear booming voices. I exhale as we walk in.
Dad, Sam, Paul, and Seth look up at me. Sam's sitting on the couch leaning towards Billy like he's in mid conversation. Paul's sitting at the Dining Room table and Seth munching on my damn Poptart's.
"Hey, Bella!" Seth skips over and hugs her. He stops. "You're wearing a dress?"
"Shut up" She smiles, despite the tension. She looks over to where Billy is sitting. "Hey, Billy"
His smiles. "Hi'ya, Bella" His eyes are on me, though.
She walks over to him and hugs him. "How are you?" Everybody is watching her.
He sighs. "Well, I'm…" I drown them out and snatch my Poptart's from Seth before I turn to Sam. He inhales and stands.
"What's going on?" I asks curiously. Something's up. I can tell by Paul's shifty eyes.
Sam snorts and glances at Paul. My eyes fall on the latter.
He raises his eyebrows. "I just heard Sam was coming past and I thought you'd be here, so…"
My thumb flinches. "Okay, but…" I look back at Sam and speak low. "Did you tell him about…" I gesture to Paul.
Sam clears his throat. "No, I didn't. That is not something I'd discuss with anyone without your consent"
I don't like the way he's looking at me, but I let it go. "Yeah, I guess…"
I turn back to Bella. "Yeah, I'll let her know you asked about her, okay?" She says, stepping away from Dad.
He smiles warmly. "You do that and please remind Charlie to pick me up tomorrow for the game"
She smiles a repressed smile. "Will do" She steps over to me.
"Bella" Sam speaks.
She nods awkwardly. "Hey" She turns and looks up at me. "Call me tomorrow?"
"Yeah" I say, hugging her. Dad is staring me down. She lets me go and sends a wave around the room before she steps out into the night and Seth waves after her before he shuts the door.
Paul is instant glaring out the window on instinct. I hear the wheels rotate the dirt as Edward peels off the Reservation.
Dad's eyes are on me. "What?"
He shakes his head and looks back to Sam.
I throw a glance around the room and then go into my own.
"So what were you saying?" Dad asks.
Sam clears his throat. "Well…there is a reason for his actions the other day. Uhm…Paul-"
What the…No!
I dash back into the room. Paul's still sitting at the table with his hands covering his face. Sam's frozen in mid-sentence.
"Sam, what the fuck?!"
He exhales. "Jacob…"
"No, you just fucking lied in my face! What the- like what?!"
He blinks a few times and crosses his arms. "Remember who you are addressing"
I look at Dad. He's avoiding all of our looks. "Is it true, Jacob?" He doesn't even look at me.
"Dad…"
He shakes his head once and forces a tight smile. "No, it's, its fine" His expression is unstable.
"Dad, I-"
He raises his hand and quietly rolls into his room and shuts the door behind him.
I shake my head and glare bitterly at Sam. "How could you…" I can't even get the words out I'm so angry.
"You know why" He says. His eyes flicker to Paul and then back to me.
I blink back a death glare and look to Paul. He sits there with his hands in his lap and his expression in a frozen state of disappointment and sadness.
Seth hasn't spoken the entire time. He raises his hand. "Uhm…I'm gonna…I'll see you guys tomorrow" He jets out the door quick and shuts it behind him.
I run my hands over my face. Fuck. "Can I...can I crash at your place tonight? I…I can't wake up tomorrow morning and see that look, that hurt and disappointment on his face" He'll try and mask it to make himself feel better, but I know better.
Sam nods and then sighs. "Paul"
He blinks and then he's looking at Sam. There's no tears, but he looks like he wants to cry. "C'mon" Sam walks to the door and opens it. Paul walks out without a word. Sam looks at me and then steps out. I stare after him for a moment before glancing around and turning the lights out. I follow them out.
Paul's walking ahead of Sam in the trees. I fall in step beside Sam.
"I'm sorry he had to find out that way" He says.
I'm not ready to go there, yet. "I can't believe you did that…" I look him in his eyes. "You looked me right in my eyes and lied to me"
He exhales and turns away. "It was either that, or tell him the actual truth" His eyes speak words. "You tell me which would have been easier to go through"
I look at him and then look ahead to Paul. He's walking slowly.
"Paul?" I call out to him. He falters in step and turns his head. I walk up to meet his stride.
"Are you…"
He doesn't look at me, doesn't meet my eyes. "I'm fine" He says quickly.
My heart drops. "Paul, I'm so-"
He shakes his head. "Don't, just…" He meets my eyes. I can't even place his emotions. "I'm fine" His eyes wander. "I'm gonna head home"
I just nod in silence. I want to reach out to him, but he just glances over to where Sam is watching and veers off down his own path to his house.
I stare after him, even after his shadow has blended into the dark. Sam steps past me and I fall in behind him.
He leaves the front door open. The Living Room is dark, with only the light above the stove to make up for it.
I shut the front door and slouch onto the couch. I bury my face into the pillow set out for me and inhale the faint Frebreze.
A door creeks lightly and soft footsteps are padding across the floor.
"Do you need a blanket, Jake?" Em asks.
I sigh into the pillow. "No"
"Okay. Get some rest" She says, rubbing my shoulder before she fades away and their bedroom door closes.
My eyelids feel like weights and I drop them.
I awake to a heat wave sunbaking my legs. Like somebody put a radiator right next to me.
I sit up with a start. "Move" I growl.
Seth slaps my thigh. "Aw, c'mon, Jake. We're going cliff diving today, remember?"
When did that ever come up? "Not today, Seth" There's voices outside the house. I lie back down.
"It won't be any fun if you don't come…" He whines.
I exhale. "Seth, not today" I close my eyes.
He huffs. "Well, Paul said the same thing and Sam's making him go. You don't see him complaining"
I open my eyes. "Where is he?"
He points behind him in the Kitchen. Paul leans against the counter with a cup in his hand. His eyes are on me.
I start to speak, but he drinks the cup in one gulp and sets in the sink and walks out.
I flop back down. Dust floats around me.
"You guys okay?" Seth asks.
I exhale. "Can you get the fuck off me? That's the last time I'm saying it, Jesus!"
He hops off the couch. "Geez, don't have to be a Grinch about it" He walks out.
I stand up and go to the bathroom. I stir some mouthwash in my mouth and spit it out. I stretch and walk on outside.
Another damn sunny day. Everybody's gathered in the front yard, besides Leah and Em. Paul's sitting on the fallen tree trunk.
Quill lets out a holler. "Thank you for joining us, Sleeping Beauty"
I roll my eyes. "Fuck off"
"So you coming or what?" Seth asks.
I sigh. "I told you, not today"
"So you're not going with us?" Sam asks. I look him in his eyes. Emily walks out in shorts, a wicker sun hat and a heavy beach bag thrown over her shoulder.
I shake my head. "I gotta go and talk to Billy"
He nods in understanding. I turn around and see Paul's eyes on me.
"You're not going?" He asks. He says like he's still mad, but its utter curiosity.
I look his way. I can tell he is still mad, but… Just say no. Say no. I shrug and exhale. "Yeah, sure. Why not" Seth shouts a yes.
Paul nods a little with his hands in his pocket and spins on his heel. Sam's staring me down, but he nods and he and Em join hands. "Alright, let's move" He takes the bag from Em and we start walking.
Everybody falls into a conversation while Paul walks alone behind Embry and Quill. Sam and Em walk ahead hand in hand. Seth and Jared are arguing like it's nobody's business.
"C'mon, tell me what I did" Jared pleads. Wait…
Seth doesn't even look at him. "I don't know why you keep acting all dumb like you don't know"
"Can you just quit being a jack ass for five seconds and tell me!" Jared barks. Em and Paul look back but they're the only ones who notice.
Seth spins around to him sharply. "You know what you said! You fucking love me? You didn't even fucking mean it and now your-" Seth breaks off in a dark laugh. "Jesus, I don't even know why we're doing this. It doesn't even matter anymore"
I almost trip over my own feet. Hell no…
Seth looks directly back at me. I just raise my eyebrows. He turns back around.
"Seth…I do love you, you know that. It's just…"
Seth shakes his head. "Like I said, it doesn't matter. You lied to me and I'm done talking about it" He picks up speed.
Jared starts to go after him, but he stops and just drops his hand to his waist. "Fuck"
No fucking way. Seth can't be…could they be? I mean, that kinda explains now why Seth was so cool with the imprint, but…then again, Seth is always a cool confident. Hm.
The pathway starts to narrow as we cross from the dirt path to the rocky asphalt of the road that lines the hills and rocky's. I peer down over the metal railing lining the edge of the road. The water's below is a dazzling mix of sapphire and emerald.
Paul walks a few steps to the right of me. He's staring past me over the railing, too. I move closer to him. He looks at me out of the corner of his eye and looks forward again.
Well… "I am sorry. You do know that, right?"
He doesn't even do as much as blink. "I know. I forgive you" He glances at me. "And I wasn't mad or anything, just…you know, hurt" He shrugs like it's not a big deal. "I wish you would've told me about how you feel about everything that's going on"
"I didn't mean to lie to you, it's just that…" I can't tell him the real reason.
He looks down at the ground. "You love me, and sometimes loving someone is keeping something from them that can hurt them"
I stare at him. "Aw, don't get all philosophical on me, all deep and shit"
He grins and wow, if it doesn't feel good to see that. "Yeah…" His grin fades slowly as he looks around and then stares at nothing.
"Could we just forget about it and move past it?" I ask. I feel like it's the best thing to do.
He looks at me and smiles. "Yeah, but promise me you'll tell me the truth always" There's a hint of eagerness in his voice.
I hold out my pinkie. "I promise"
He bites his lip in a grin and crosses my pinkie with his. There's a blush on his cheeks.
All of a sudden, Seth is sprinting towards the area we're heading to. "I'm going first!" He yells behind him, his voice climbing up and down the ridges of the mountains.
"Not before me!" Embry blazes after him.
Em adjust her hat as she steps onto the landing at the top of the cliff that leads to the main road. She pulls out three old quilts from the bag Sam carries and lays them out on the rocks. Sam watches Seth and Embry wrestle for the first dive.
"How about a game of rock, paper, and scissors!" She shouts out, smoothing down her shirt and sitting down.
Paul flashes a goofy grin beside me and stealthily runs up and lifts Embry by his waist and tosses him over the edge. He turns to Seth menacingly. "Paul, no. No, no, no!" He backs up, but Paul swoops in and grabs him from behind and off the cliff Seth goes.
Both of them plunge down with whoops and hollers. Paul grins. Sam sits down next to Em and takes a picture of the two of them.
Quill runs up out of nowhere and smacks Paul on the ass before he back flips off the ledge. "Haha! Yeaaaaaaaaaaah bitch!"
I shake my head. "Idiots" I drop down on one of the blankets. Seth and Embry come flying up the hill drenched.
"Still cold?"
Seth shakes his head, out of breath. "Dude, its Queen Elsa freezing"
"Whooo!" Embry shakes off and water flies everywhere. Em groans. He runs a hand through his shaggy hair and there's more water.
Ice droplets hit my skin. I glare. "Dude"
Embry stops. "Sorry, dude"
Jared walks past a glaring Seth. They both spin to look at each other and Jared walks backwards. Seth shrugs. Then Jared is being manhandled by a grinning Paul and heaved over the cliff and screaming all kinds of shit.
Embry is gagging.
Seth plops down next to me. "Getting in?"
I shrug. "I dunno" I make my voice quieter. "So, I'm curious about that conversation with Jared on the walk here" His face falls and his eyes drop to the ground. "No, I'm now, you know, joking or anything. I'm honestly just curious"
"Oh…that" He hesitates and chews on his nails. "I mean, I was going to tell you a while back. I should have told you, but…I didn't know how, you know? I just…I didn't"
I shrug. "Well, at least we were both in the same boat for a while" Quill runs up the hill.
He nods with a sigh. Then he gets what I said and looks at me.
"We can definitely talk about that later. We're out here to chill out and have some fun. Because I can talk all day"
He scoffs. "'Chea, okay. Later, I promise"
I nod my head. "Ight"
He grins one more time before he rises and dashes off the cliff with a somersault.
"Hey Jake, why aren't you in the water?" Emily asks.
I shrug and give her that look. "Uhm, it's cold and I'm hot"
She holds her hand at her eyes to keep the Sun out. "And? Never stopped you before" Sam glances at her and past me.
Jared runs at full speed to the landing. "Gah damn, that shit's cold!" He bends over to catch his breath. "The fuck, Paul?"
Paul burst out in laughter behind me.
I point at Jared. "My point exactly" I laugh.
She waves me off and looks out on the water. Sam whispers something to her with his eyes on me and she nods and looks at me. Sam stands to his feet with that trickster ass smirk of his. He looks at Jared and I hop up off the blanket.
"C'mon, shit. Sam, you're better than this"
He shakes his head. "Your right, but you already know everyone has to go over. It's tradition"
"Fuck tradition" Jared grabs at me and I swing at him. He laughs his ass off. I take a step back. "Guys, c'mon"
Seth and Emily watch with grins. Embry joins Jared and Sam and advances on me.
"Embry, I swear, you push me over and I'll fucking disown your ass. I'll kick your ass so hard, you'll be fucking clipping my toenails with your teeth" I growl.
Seth freaking cries at that. Embry just grins harder. There's a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. I count the faces in front of me. Embry, Sam, Jared, Seth, Quill…who…?
My legs are swiped from under me in a backwards grip and I'm fucking launched over the edge. The wind whips around me. There's a grip still on my waist as we plummet faster and faster towards the water. His hands drop away as soon we hit the water with a skin tingling smack.
THIS WATER IS FUCKING FREEZING! JESUS CHRIST!
My feet slide along the shallow floor and I kick off to the surface to take in the sweet, crisp taste of air. I wipe the water out of my face and look around. There's Paul with that stupid ass grin standing in chest deep water.
I splash the fuck out of him. "What the fuck?"
His grin falters. "What?" There go the doe eyes.
"That shit wasn't funny" I growl. I turn away from him.
He follows me. "C'mon, it was a joke" He says. "I'm sorry" His eyebrows are raised like he's waiting for me to forgive him.
I roll my eyes. "Pull some shit like that again and I swear…"
He smiles. "Yeah, yeah? Some shit like this?" He dashes in and wraps his arms around my waist again and dunks me under.
I come up splashing and glaring.
He shrugs innocently. "You weren't specific"
I splash him again and wade over to the rocks. I go through the curtain of water falling down from a small falls about ten feet up. There's a shallow cave here that's about twenty feet deep and maybe seven feet across. I hop up on the ledge and sit with my feet in the water.
Paul steps through and runs his hands through his wet hair and shit, if he doesn't look like he just swam off a cover shoot for GQ, then damn me. He leans against the ledge beside me. He watches me and grins because I can feel my face still set in a glare. I push his head away and he chuckles and hops up beside me, one leg in the water, the other propped up. He faces me with his back on the wall.
I lie back and relax. The rock is cool and slimy, but it's smooth. It's serene. The falls gush down the rocks in front of us with a weird sense of calm.
I glance up at him and he flashes a smile and then looks out and then down to his lap.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask randomly.
His eyes flicker to me and his eyebrows flinch just the slightest. "Now?"
"No, next week"
He huffs and drops his eyes. "You…" He looks up at me through droplet sprinkled eyelashes.
Hm. "What about me?" I turn on my side and balance my head on my hand.
He drops his legs and pulls them in Indian style. "I dunno" He mumbles, all of a sudden finding the palms of his hand more interesting.
I rest my hand on his knee cap. Not that it's any of my business what he thinks of me, still. "C'mon, tell me"
His face is clear of all hysteria. "The various characteristics and traits I like about you" He scratches his neck.
"Now I'm really curious"
He smiles faintly. He fiddles with his fingers. He's nervous. "Um…I mean, I like the way your nose is shaped" That brings about a giggle from me and he looks at me like I just interrupted a wedding ceremony. "C'mon, I'm serious"
The laughter subsides. "Sorry, carry on"
He shakes his head. "Nah, maybe another time"
"No…" I slide over to him and rest my chin on his knee. "No, tell me" He looks down at me with kind, bold eyes.
He hesitates. "I love your eyes. I've always been a bit jealous of them, how they always seem to speak the words you don't say and spell every emotion out on your face…" He gazes.
I can't help but smile and blush. "Look at you, all lover boy and shit"
He grins and drops his head some. "Then I love the way you smile because your dimples show" His fingers brush against my cheek. "Then there's your lips…" His eyes stray. "They always look so pink and soft and warm and like, even when you bite them, they just plop back out like your blowing bubbles or something" He hesitates and again drops his gaze. "Just makes me want them more than I already do every time I see you"
And right here and now, something pulls me to him like a magnet that's so powerful, I don't even recognize what's happening until it is happening.
His eyes bore into mine as I climb closer over to him. I flick my tongue across my lips and his mouth draws open.
My nose grazes his, our eyes never leaving each other's. He shifts forward slightly and his lips touch mine.
His lips, my God, are so soft and plump and cooler than the rest of him. He pressed into the kiss and his hand comes into smooth contact with my cheek. I feel his other hand slowly snaking down to my waist and apply pressure.
The weirdest moan slips out and he instantly backs away from me. The sound of our lips breaking away is so loud.
He stares at me, looking in both my eyes before he grins. "Did you just…"
I roll my eyes. "Shut up" I replace my lips back on his. I need this.
He nips at my lower lips and I pull away from him.
He's staring at me through alert lidded eyes. This is my first time kissing a guy and it feels…different. But amazing.
His hands are hands are roaming and his fingers are stroking my jaw and lips and fuck it. The distance between us closes again and I let him in.
When our tongues collide, it's like a sudden burst of electricity. We both inhale and fall into it. His tongue is cool and slick against my own. I feel him win over me as he explores my mouth. I grin and press in.
I'm sitting on his lap and cradling his face in my hands. His hands are running down my back and squeezing and I just…
His hands snake up my ribs and ripple over my nipples and I let out a moan that has him bucking up into me.
He sucks on nibbles on my bottom lip before he licks his way down to my neck. His tongue laps everywhere and I just can't handle it! I grip his hair and fall back into him, giving him more access.
He licks his way down to my collarbone and traces his teeth alongside it. He makes his way back to my lips.
Fuck it. I'm greedy. I grab at him more and more until I can feel his heart drumming with intensity in my own chest. His hands are everywhere at once. Our kiss has grown sloppy, but soo good! I feel his hands creeping down my shorts and I just…I-
"0No fucking way…"
I break away from Paul fast as hell and whip around to see Jared standing there watching.
"Like, oh my God!" He grins.
I panic. I push away from Paul and climb into the water. I wade over to the rim and get out.
"Jake!" Paul runs after me. I storm up the hill.
"Aw, Jake, c'mon!" Jared's walking right behind me. I'm so mad right now. "C'mon, I was just saying-"
I turn on him quick. My hands are all in his face. "Don't you say a fucking word!" Paul's holding me back from him.
Jared raises his hands and steps back. "Alright, dude, shit chill"
I exhale and look at Paul before I keep walking.
"Damn, what he do, drown you?" Quill asks lying in my spot on the blanket with Seth right next to him.
"How about you drown on this dick and move" I nudge him with my foot.
He rolls his eyes but moves. "Somebody's pissed"
I flop down and just simmer. Seth looks at me. "You alright?"
Jared walks past with a nervous glance in my direction. I glare daggers. Paul lies out on his stomach horizontally behind me and Seth.
"Yeah, he annoys me too" Seth says.
I turn to him. He looks calm and young, but there's a storm brewing behind those milk chocolate eyes of his. I lie back on Paul some. "That story is going to be so good" Paul's body heat is surprisingly soothing.
Seth chuckles shyly and stares off for a while as his smile fades. Embry and Quill dive back over the cliff. Jared sits on the edge and watches them with glee.
Paul stretches his hand out past my right thigh. He drums his fingers on my skin. A knowing smile flashes on my lips when I turn back to him. He's like a mirror and holy shit.
We just kissed! I just had my first kiss with him! I flit my fingers through his and he attempts to hold my hand, but I smack his wrist. He only grins.
I honestly didn't see us going there, like, at all. A few hugs here and there, maybe some touching, but that…wow.
My first kiss with a guy was epic. Kissing Bella ain't got shit on this. She and I were caught up in the moment, but this…? I mean, were we caught up? It was so unexpected and sudden, yet utterly amazing.
I hear Sam and Emily talk in hushed voices. I don't look at them in order to cause suspicion.
"I don't know if now would be the time. He's been going through some things lately, you know that" He says.
She sighs. "Sam, it's a week and a half away. When is the right time to ask?" I can hear the sternness in her voice.
He exhales. "Emily…"
She shakes her head. "Just ask him. If he says no, then we'll ask the others"
He clears his throat. "Jacob?"
I look over innocently. "Yeah?"
He adjust his position on the blanket to turn to me. "I'd like to ask you something" He glances at Em. "More of a proposal"
I roll over onto my stomach. "Dude, if you're asking me to be your Best Man, hell yeah!"
Em burst out in a grin. "Oh my!" She waddles over to me and falls all over me with a hug. "Aw, thank you so much, Jake!"
Sam contains his excitement with a tight lip grin. "Thanks, Jake. Means a lot to me" He holds out his hand and we dap up.
"As if I would say no" I scoff.
"Shit, if I was asked" Paul says.
"Yeah, hey" Seth chimes.
"Bottom line is that he asked me" I brag. Paul shoulder bumps me with a smirk and Seth just groans. "I'm sure you two will be my back up or something"
Sam laughs. "No, I was hoping all of you guys will be involved, actually"
Paul nods. "Don't even have to ask me"
Seth beams. "What? Hell yeah!" Emily grins.
"So…when are we going tuxedo shopping?"
Sam shrugs and relaxes back into his position. "I'm not too sure, yet, but definitely soon. Possibly before the weekend is out"
"You know, now that I think about it, a tux may be a bit too much" Em adds. "You guys will get really hot standing there in full length suits. I know for a fact that Sam plus an extra eighty degrees won't work out well" She gives him a knowing look which he reflects with a grin.
Paul shakes his head. "See, I knew you guys wouldn't wait till the wedding"
Emily blushes with a shady look.
Sam's face falls dead serious. "That's enough of that"
I hold in my laughter. "You always got something to say"
He grins and leans towards me. "Can't blame me for what comes out my mouth" I swear that has a subliminal message attached, but he just bats his lashes and keeps on grinning. I push him away from me and he laughs.
I look out at the clear blue sky. You can see for miles from where we are. It's beautiful.
I catch Sam's look at Paul and I. His eyes linger on the both of us before he smiles approvingly. Paul looks at me and tries to contain the blush bleeding into his cheeks.
I bump his shoulder and he drops his head and bumps back.
"What is with you two?" Seth asks, lying on both of our backs. "All of a sudden so secretive"
I almost push him off, but I catch Paul's mischievous look. Hell yeah.
"You know, the hardest part of a business is minding your own" I say, rising to my knees. Paul does the same.
Seth looks at me like that doesn't make sense. "What? That doesn't even make sense!" He stands to his feet and scratches his head. Paul and I both exchange that look.
"Meh, it was worth the try" He says and we both dive in and take one of Seth's legs.
"No, put me down!" He shouts. He's kicking and screaming and we're laughing hard as fuck.
All three of us go over the cliff at the same time. Seth screaming and cussing us out, Paul and I still laughing.
Fucking hilarious.
That was a fun chapter to write. I know everyone got a big kick out of that kiss, right? Lol.
I believe the next chapter will take a bigger step towards the development of Jake's and Emmett's relationship. I'm tightlipped on what happens, but it'll be good. Promises, promises.
Boomerang me a review, will ya!?
- Wallabyway.