Chapter 10
You don't play with your food
Author Note: Sorry about the delay and leaving you all hanging.
Billy turned to the owner of the voice and raised an eyebrow as he remarked'' She's the reason your brother is nursing a broken heart.''
When she'd first heard Rachel speak, her heart had painfully stuttered as Rachel's words and voice washed over her. If it hurt this much for Jacob's family to think so little of her for the choices she'd been making then how would it hurt to hear directly from Jacob as to how much pain she'd put him through.
Despite promising that she could do this to both herself and Ephraim, she couldn't help but doubt herself as she continued to stare at Jacob's older sister. She hadn't seen Rachel in several years but she would be a liar if she said that she wasn't scared of the eldest Black child.
Fully excepting Rachel to bitch-slap her like she'd seen her do many a time to girls who had gotten on her wrong side, she was surprised when Rachel walked over and simply held out her hand. '' I don't fucking bite, you know'' Rachel snapped, taking hold of the younger girl by the arms and yanking her up forcibly as she dragged her further into the house.
With a look thrown over his shoulder, Billy backed his chair up and turned towards the kitchen doorway. Bella looked up from the floor, disbelief evident on her face as she looked upon the scowling form of one Rachel Black.
''This whole mess you've made truly outshines anything else you've ever done. My mother would be ashamed of you and the way you've hurt my brother'' Rachel remarked then arching an eyebrow as she continued to stare Bella down.
Bella stumbled over to the couch as Rachel strode forward and slammed the door shut behind her. Bella clenched her hands together tightly as she looked down at her lap and closed her eyes, waiting for something.
Rachel hadn't been lying when she'd told her father that Bella was family. Despite Jake being heartbroken because of this girl, Rachel still cared for Bella like she did her own twin and she could easily sense Bella's fear as she waited for Rachel to go off at her.
''Jake's on patrol at the moment. Have you been to Sam's already?'' Rachel questioned, her voice gentle as she kept a tight hold on her anger that lay in waiting. Bella's eyes shot up from her lap to meet Rachel's, a question clear as day in them. Rachel nodded, silently answering Bella's question of just how much she knew.
''I come home for one weekend to see Jake and Dad which turns into a frigging homecoming because La Push's resident man-whore imprinted on me. To say we're working things out is an understatement. Paul's a complete jackass but he's mine'' Rachel explained, laughing at the 'gift' she'd been given according to the Elders.
''Paul?'' Bella whispered, wide-eyed as she stared at Rachel who nodded and smiled briefly.
''You're not the only one who was surprised. My baby brother nearly ripped Paul's throat out for imprinting when he found out but he threatens to harm Paul every other day. Paul can't keep his thoughts to himself when phased so Jake sees everything. Enough about me for now through. Why don't you explain everything to me? Leah made me promise to keep my cool and hear you out'' Rachel replied, taking Bella's hand in her own as she smiled encouragingly at her.
Bella took a deep breath before opening her mouth and starting to explain this whole mess.
''I stupidly got involved with the Cullens but when Edward left me last September, I became a zombie and the only person to bring me out of it was Jake. He phased in February and he found a way around Sam's order so he could tell me everything'' Bella started, her words trailing off as she registered Rachel's furrowed brow and the way she seemed to be thinking over everything Bella had told her.
''What's up?'' Bella questioned, sending Rachel a pointed look which seemed to snap her out of the daze she'd been in. Rachel shook her head and muttered quietly that it was nothing and for Bella to continue.
Bella raised an eyebrow at Rachel but continued on with her story, missing the disbelieving expression Rachel shot her. Rachel had heard the whole Jake and Bells story from the perspective of Paul and the others but hadn't realized just how far her little brother had gone to hide the fact he'd imprinted on Bella.
''Hold on, you jumped off a cliff? I wasn't aware you had decided to add crazy to the list of negative personality traits you already have. You could have gotten yourself killed!'' Rachel shrieked, glaring at Bella who shrunk back under her look and suddenly found the floor so interesting.
''Wait till I see that bunch of overgrown mutts. They sure as hell didn't mentioned you stupidly jumping off a cliff when they were telling me about the clusterfuck you got yourself in. I don't know what the hell you've done with your brain these last couple of years but if I ever see or catch wind of you doing something so dangerous again then I will kill you myself'' Rachel snapped, sending Bella a pointed look that promised total retribution Rachel-Black style if she dared go against her.
Bella opened her mouth to reply and defend herself when Rachel shook her head and stood up pacing. Bella closed her mouth and looked up at Rachel whom she could clearly see was getting ready for some ranting at her. She figured she'd seen nothing yet of Rachel's anger and kept her attention on her, knowing from growing up with her that she'd truly angered the older girl and things would only get worse if she didn't listen properly.
''You were a handful when you were younger with the things you and Jake got up to but I can't believe just how stupid and reckless you've been these last few years. I'm not repeating myself again so listen up. If you so much as look at a bloodsucker in anyway other than enemy then I will fuck your shit up. In case you didn't get the memo, bloodsuckers would happily make a MEAL out of us and vegetarian or not, they do not give one iota about us. Think of the witch in Hansel and Gretel, Bella. She didn't care at all about them; she was thinking first and foremost of hers and only her needs. Like the part where she intended to EAT them both. My parents always told me not to play with my food but I suppose bloodsuckers don't particularly recall that piece of advice'' Rachel ranted, sending Bella a withering look before taking a deep breath and continuing.
''Now that I've got that out of the way, let's get down to the most important shit. You don't need to say anything, I know you're in love with my little brother and that is as much as I need to know. If you break my brother's heart again then I will systemically hunt you down and drag you back here by your hair to face every single member of the pack. Cullen is to blame for most of this shit so I'm letting it fly this time but next time, it's all your fault. Now that my rant is over, would you like a soda?'' Rachel finished, her calm and random question marking the true end of her rant without any words required.
Bella simply nodded in answer as Rachel smiled at her and stood up, heading towards the kitchen. Bella pressed her fingers into her forehead, feeling her previous headache reappearing as she thought over her and Rachel's 'chat'.
She didn't really feel like they'd chatted. She felt more like Rachel railroaded her about every stupid choice she'd made lately, making her feel like so much more of an embarrassment and failure.
She already felt guilty about the pain she'd caused Jake but hearing, without any words necessary, just how disappointed the closest thing she'd had to a mother growing up would be in her had enough power to her knees.
Growing up with the Blacks, it had always been Jake 'n' Bells but Rachel had always kept a close eye on what she'd done, being the bossy older sister figure she was whereas Rebecca didn't care as much.
''Here you go'' Rachel said, her reappearance from the kitchen making Bella look up in order to see the can of soda flying through the air in her direction. Bella dived to the side in order to catch the can but instead fell off the couch and missed catching the can.
Rachel started laughing quietly, knowing it was a stupid thing to throw the can to Bella in the first place. The can rolled for several seconds before bursting open all over Bella.
Rachel tried to stifle a laugh but the look of complete shock on Bella's face was too much and she stopped trying to laugh instead choosing to double over laughing as Bella sat on the floor in utter shock.
At Rachel's laughter, Billy re-entered the room where he suppressed a smile as he glimpsed Bella's predicament. ''Rach, what the hell happened?'' Billy questioned, making Rachel laugh harder.
Bella snapped out of her shock, rising from the floor as she looked upon herself in disbelief. ''She threw me a can'' Bella stated, glaring at the laughing Rachel.
''You're suppose to drink it, not wear it'' Billy quipped, no longer trying to suppress his laughter or able to remain completely angry with Bella when she was wearing a can of soda.
Before Bella could say anything else, the door opened and Jacob's tall form stepped into the room.
Jacob took one look at his sister and father before locking eyes with Bella. ''Is there a reason you two are laughing at Bells?'' Jake questioned, sending a pointed look in both their directions.
Rachel laughed harder before choking out between laughs, ''She's wearing Essence of la soda. It hurts to laugh so much'' to which Jacob merely looked back at Bella who simply looked down at her feet.
''I'll put your clothes in the wash and you can lend some of my old clothes. How long you got to wait?'' Jacob asked, sending a pointed look at Bella as he headed towards his room before looking back at the unmoving girl.
Jacob held out his hand which Bella slowly took, welcoming the hot heat of his hand as he tugged her along behind him. '' I was hoping to talk to you'' Bella whispered, knowing Jacob would hear her regardless of how quiet she spoke.
''We can talk when you're not wearing Essence of la soda as my sister so eloquently put it'' Jacob replied, sending a small smile to Bella that didn't reach his eyes or hide the pain that showed so clearly.
Author Note: I promise
No-one's going soft on Bella just yet so no worries.
I don't think Muse is ready for the discussion that they need to have but you will get the much anticipated discussion very soon.