CH 10
Being Saturday morning and all, and of course not being an early bird, at all, I rubbed my eyes and stretched until I could process that I could possibly manage to roll over. Only did I then remember where I was and that once more I had slept on a not so wide couch. Fortunately, thanks to my awesome cat like abilities, I managed to quietly land on all fours after having to realize in mid air that I might suffer a head concussion if I didn't react in time.
"Well, good morning to you too there couz'," a surprised yet amused voice said.
I found Bella at the foot of the stairs fully dressed, looking at me with a sheepish grin. "Saw that didn't you," I said as I stood and yawned as I reached over to pick up the blankets that laid all over the wooden floor.
"Pretty much," she said trying not to laugh but still let out a slight giggle. "Um, I wouldn't laugh if I were you Miss I-do-that-all-the-time", I added with a smirk as I folded the blankets.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," she replied rolling her eyes as she stepped down from the stairs and headed towards the kitchen with a light grin.
"Want some breakfast?" she asked, her voice drifting to the living room where I was, still putting the couch back together.
"Sure," I replied, patting the pillow one more time before heading to the kitchen. "I think eggs could be on the menu?" I added in a semi loud yet normal tone. Bella gave a light jump, dropping a couple of eggs she had been carrying over to the stove.
"Damn it Layla! Why are you sneaking up on me like that?! First Edward, then Jacob and now you! No more sneaking!" she shrieked. I stayed quiet for a second then a much as I wanted to keep my straight face, a burst of laughter came gushing out of my lips.
"O-m-g Bella, you should have seen your face," I managed to say in between laughs. Bella's slight glare stopped my laughter and managed to compose myself. "Sorry cousin, I promise you I was not planning on scaring you like that," I grinned, "I gotta just say, we were at least on the same page about the eggs," I let out a light giggle.
"Ok, I've got to admit it was a bit funny as well," she said letting a light grin form on her face. "But no more sneaking," she said as she picked up the eggs with a paper towel.
"Slightly changing the subject now," I added shortly as I watched her throw away the smashed eggs, "you mentioned Jacob Black… do you see him often?" I asked calmly, trying not to sound curious.
"Yeah I see him all the time, why?" she asked looking at me strange, "I did say he was my best friend," she added with a sheepish grin.
"Yeah a furry best friend who might tear your head off in the middle of the night," I added sarcastically.
"Hey, just because he's a werewolf doesn't mean he's bad and will hurt me. He's actually safe to be around and you should meet him," she said smiling as she took more eggs out of the fridge and shut the door as if finalizing the statement.
"Um, hell yeah I'm meeting this guy, not because I can't remember him but because I need to protect you even more now. Not to mention you have a vampire boyfriend who might suck you dry at any moment. What's next, a long lost sister who is a zombie?" I exclaimed folding my arms across my chest. Now it was Bellas turn to laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous," she chuckled, "first of all, Edward would never hurt me. I know you don't trust the Cullen's fully, yet, but you will in time. As far as Jacob goes, he has his issues but in the end, I feel safe with him around. You will learn to trust him too," she added reassuringly even though in my mind she had no idea I was cursing every single one of them. "With that in mind," she said calmly, turning to the stove and cracking an egg and letting it drop into the pan, "we're taking a trip down to La Push today." My train of thought stopped for a second, and I shifted my weight. This is it, I can meet this Jacob Black and talk him out of being in Bella's life. A slight smile formed on my face as I thought of how to break it down to him. It was enough that Bella had Edward and like a gazillion other vampires in her life. She did not need any more monsters in her life.
"Earth to Layla!" I suddenly heard Bella's voice break through my thoughts.
"Oh sorry, it's still kind of early for me hence the lack of attention," I added with a snort slash chuckle.
"Um, ok," Bella added with a light chuckle yet weirded out gesture. "I forgive you," she added with a smirk as she looked down at the eggs she was now scrambling. "As I was saying, before you went to La-la Land, I want you to meet Jake and see that he's not dangerous," she still looked down at the eggs.
"I think it's a good idea," I chimed in. Of course I had my own agenda. "I would love to meet this Jake you speak so fond of," I added with a British accent and a hint of sarcasm. I grinned at her as she turned to look over at me.
"Ok did you just agree with me on this and add a British accent to top it off?" she looked at me with amusement yet with a weird and worried glance.
"Yep," I smiled innocently, "and for the record, I am so looking forward to this, meeting," I added with a grin. "If you say so," Bella added with a chuckle. "Alright couz," I said sighing and stretching out one more time, "this pretty gal right here needs to go get cleaned up before the days festivities," I yawned and smiled.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I don't know how much you remember how Jake looked like but he kind of transformed over the years so heads up," she said not looking away from the stove.
"As if the fur isn't transforming enough?" I asked sarcastically, rolling my eyes, with a smirk forming on my lips as I started to head upstairs to get ready.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" she yelled after me as I went up the stairs and into the bathroom.
I was definitely awake now, my full focus on the road in front of me, as I drove us to La Push. I had of course gobbled down my breakfast in order to hit the road ASAP. Bella seemed to be suspicious of my behavior but then again, my cousin is not stupid. Either way, no matter what, I am protecting my family, the ones who care for me that is, and I am not letting a pale wanna-be Ken and the wolf mans protégé, hurt my family. As much as I saw Bella love Edward, it still didn't show me his true intentions. I still had to figure him out and his family. For now, the mutt had to do. One step at a time Layla, one step at a time, I told my self as I passed the last house in Forks and hit the road that lead to the reservation.
"You know, we don't have to go this fast, we have all day today," Bella added, breaking my thoughts and what sounded like a nervous voice.
"Bella, this is not even fast, wait till I actually step on it," I replied with a snort, grinning right after. "Besides, what's the point in driving if you can't have a little fun?" I added turning to her and finding her concentrating as she gripped the seat and a bead of sweat lightly forming on the side of her forehead. I chuckled, "don't worry it will be over soon." I then stepped on it some more.
Ten minutes later, we were parking right in front of a red small house. Thanks to Bella's directions, we had made it even faster than I thought; that and the fact that we were going 95 miles per hour.
"So this is the place huh?" I stated, almost sounding like a question, as I closed the door to my car and looked over at Bella who seemed slightly paler than usual. "Oh come on! I was not going that fast," I crossed my arms over my chest looking at her in disbelief.
"I never knew I could get car sickness," she added weakly.
"Come on Bella," I said rolling my eyes then smiling as I went over to her draping an arm around her wait to support her as I led her to the front of the small red house.
"Hey!" a male voice from behind yelled, making us both spun around, my arm still around Bella, who seemed to be looking slightly better. The first thing I saw, about fifteen feet away from us, was a young guy running towards us, who's body was trimmed to perfection, every muscle defined. Especially since he was not wearing a shirt. As he came closer and closer, his height became clearer to me. He was towering over me by the time he was standing in front of us; my guess was about six feet four inches. Damn, he is tall, I thought to my self. As I took in his body, I finally realized I was starring into his eyes. His eyes a light chocolate brown, his cheekbones slightly high but just enough to give him that rugged look. His hair looked like it was starting to get too long as some strands lightly hung above his eyes. He looked like he could have been in his mid twenties at first glance, but his eyes showed he wasn't older than sixteen. I found myself gazing into his eyes and suddenly like a light switch I managed to snap out of what ever it was that had just happened and composed my self.
"Let me guess, you're Jacob?" I asked looking up at him with a light smirk.
"Jacob this is my cousin Layla," Bella chimed in suddenly making me remember I still had her next to me; her voice still slightly showing signs of her being squeamish.
"Hey Layla, I think I remember you," Jacob replied giving me a light smile then looking over at Bella who was still kind of looked pale. "Bella are you okay?" he asked, looking concerned then taking a step towards her as if trying to get a better look at her.
"She apparently gets car sickness now," I added rolling my eyes then grinning. "Maybe we should take her inside so she can sit down."
"Yeah, that might be a good idea," Jacob added and leaned in as if to pick Bella up.
With a quick swift step to the side I pulled Bella and I away from Jacob. "No hard feelings or anything but I think I got this," I said then winked at him with a light smile as I turned Bella and I away from him and towards the little house.
Once inside after sitting Bella down in the nearest chair, which happened to be the kitchen, I took a moment to look around and pay attention to where I was standing. Taking in my surroundings, I realized I recognized the place from many years ago.
"It's been a while since you've been here hasn't it?" Jacobs voice interrupted my observations.
"It's been more than a while I suppose," I added turning to look at him as he leaned against the doorway of the kitchen. "Everything in here looks the same, except you of course," I added looking at him with a light smirk.
"Yeah well, I'm not the only one who's changed," he added with a chuckle then returning the smirk. "I mean last time you were wearing some pink dress and ruffled socks," he added letting out a light laugh then started to circle me as if sizing me down, "now you're wearing a leather jacket and what looks like, combat boots. Trying to play Ms. Bad Ass now?" he said stopping right in front of me and looking at me in the eye, his gaze hardening. It was hard to tell if he was being playful or simply being an ass.
"You know, I hope I don't have to be tearing you both apart from each other," Bella suddenly added as she stood up from where she had been sitting. I looked over at her and Jacob did too. "Well, good to see you're feeling better you big baby," I added with a chuckle, trying to release the tension from the air.
"Jacob I brought Layla here so you two can be friends and so she can see that she can trust you," Bella suddenly exclaimed ignoring my remark and looking in Jacobs direction. "Yeah Jake, aren't you suppose to be showing me your non-dominant side?" I chimed in sarcastically. "Layla, that includes you too," Bella snapped back looking back at me.
"What? I didn't do any thing?" I added playfully, throwing my hands in the air and smiling innocently at her. She returned her gaze to Jacob.
"Layla knows what you are Jake," she said softly, "she is also not completely ordinary as well…" she added slowly as she turned to look at me.
"Surprise," I chimed in sarcastically, smirking at Jacob. "I know you turn into a fur ball and now you know I'm a mutant," I added with a half grin.
"Layla can produce fire amongst other things," Bella said grimacing as she explained to Jacob.
Jacobs' expressions started to change like a mood ring as Bella mentioned detail after detail. His brow softening then hardening then looking confused then finally hardening, again.
"So what exactly can you do?" Jacob asked looking over in my direction, as he seemed to be trying to not look impressed. "Hmmm I don't think you could handle it my fury friend?" I said taking a seat in one of the chairs and crossing my legs smoothly as I looked at him.
"You mean I couldn't handle you?" he asked smirking.
"No, I mean you couldn't handle me kicking your ass," I added winking at him one more time.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Bella yelled then stomped her self out side.
"See what you did!" Jacob exclaimed, stepping in my direction, his hands balled into fists, his eyes full of anger.
Standing up, I met his gaze, my eyes suddenly changing form, "Don't you mean what you did!" I added my face feeling warm as I felt my body full of adrenaline, my hands also into fists as they started to feel hot. Jacob stood in front of me slightly shaking. Then his face suddenly softened as he took in my gaze. He seemed to be taken back from what he was seeing.
"What?" I asked irritated as he starred at me, "Haven't you ever seen someone different before?" I asked, my eyes still in their cat form. His gaze seemed to change from perplexed to admiration.
"Look I'm sorry," he suddenly replied calmly, his eyes soft now and what seemed apologetic.
Taken back from his words, I felt the tension in my body start to disappear, my eyes changing back to their normal state and my hands began to cool. Calmly I found my voice. "I'm sorry too…I could have been less bitchy," I added letting out a small smile and looking down for a second then looking back up at him. He was beautiful to look at. What the hell is wrong with me! I thought suddenly. Please tell me I don't have the hot's for this fur ball. Composing my self, I crossed my arms over my chest casually, "maybe we should go after Bella, see that she's okay," I added calmly, yet awkwardly.
"Good idea," he added, running one hand through his hair awkwardly as if not knowing what to do next.
"You should keep your hair that length," I blurted out. Shit! I could feel my cheeks slightly turn red but still composing my expression so it was blank.
"It looks good," I added shortly, then with no warning, headed out the door with out looking back to see his reaction. All I knew was that I wanted to jump off a cliff.