CHAPTER 11
Sue.
Seth.
He invited the Clearwater's over for breakfast?! And he didn't want to warn me to at least look presentable?!
Jacob's actions at the table a few moments ago all begin to make sense.
Oh gosh… This is the first time Seth and Jacob are seeing each other again since the night of the fight. I have no doubt that Seth will be respectful, but Jacob on the other hand…
In this moment I'm glad Uncle Billy held this reunion here where him and Sue can moderate so that hopefully Jacob won't pull a stunt again on Seth.
I get up out of my seat and wait patiently behind my chair to greet them.
"Billy! Thank you so much for inviting us over for breakfast! I brought us some pie!" Sue says as she hugs Billy and steps to the side so her son can enter.
"Morning Mr. Black," Seth says with a huge smile on his face, identical to his mother's, as he enters the house.
"Good morning son! And you know to call me Billy. Besides, we're pretty much family now," Billy tells him, the last part quieter than the rest. Seth blushes at the comment, while I hear a 'cling' sound from where Jacob is seated.
I turn to look down at Jacob and see two halves of a fork in front of him where there was once a perfectly functional, single fork.
"What happened to your fork?" I whisper to him before the guests enter the room we're in.
"Broke."
Sue enters the kitchen first, followed by Billy, then Seth. Jacob finally stands up as she comes to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Jacob, so good to see you again," she says cheerfully to Jacob, as if she doesn't know he punched her son not that long ago.
"You too, Sue," Jacob replies with a smile, actually bring friendly for the first time this morning.
Sue turns to me, and I'm suddenly more self-conscious about my appearance. Curse you, Uncle Billy!
Sue embraces me in a giant hug and once she lets go says, "So here's our little Aiyana, all grown up and beautiful. Seth hasn't stopped talking about you since you've came back."
"Mom…," Seth says quietly from behind her, embarrassed by her comment.
She steps aside so he can greet me. "Good morning, Aiyana," he says as we look into each others' eyes, and it feels like it's just the two of us in the room.
"Good morning, Seth," I reply, still looking into his eyes. Somebody-Jacob-clears their throat.
We're pulled out of our trance and awkwardly turn back to face the others in the room. Sue looks like a giddy child staring at us, Billy is smirking, and Jacob looks like he wants to kill some one.
Seth turns toward Jacob to shake his hand, but Jacob ignores Seth's outstretched hand and rudely sits down at the table while the rest of us are still standing.
"Jacob-," Uncle Billy begins to scold Jacob but is cut off by Sue trying to lighten the moody saying, "Good idea Jacob, we're starved! Sit down everyone; let's eat!"
At the round table, Sue sits to my left, while Jacob is seated at my right. Next to Sue is Seth, and between Seth and Jacob is Uncle Billy.
Sue and Uncle Billy make small conversation in attempt to clear the awkward silence.
"So Billy, where's Rachel?" Sue asks him.
"She spent the night at Paul's. Does that most nights now; we barely see her anymore here," Billy explains.
"Bad enough we already have one sleeping with a pack member…" Jacob mumbles quietly as he grabs his orange juice and takes a sip. Despite his hushed tone, every one obviously heard it. Uncle Billy shoots his head to face Jacob, the heat steaming out of his eyes. Jacob just looks down into his cup as he swirls it around calmly.
"Jacob, I swear if you don't-," Billy begins.
"So Aiyana, I heard your only staying for the summer?" Sue cuts him off, trying to amend the awkwardness once again.
"Yes Mrs. Clearwater, just the summer," I respond.
"Oh, my dear, please just call me Sue."
"Sure thing Mrs. Clearwa—I mean, Sue," I correct myself. I hear a little chuckle and notice it came from Seth. Great, now I've just made a fool out of myself in front of the guy I like, his mother, my family, and all the while looking like I just woke up (which I did, but that's besides the point).
"Why don't you stay here longer? Summer will be over before you know it and you'll have to leave," she says.
"I mean, I'd love to stay, but I have school."
"Kids these days actually need a degree Sue, it's not like our days," Billy jokes.
"Well why don't you just take your units here for a semester? See how you like it. And if you don't you can always head back and your units will be transferable! But I'm sure you'll like it here, I have no doubt about that," she says with a wink.
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea, I mean, if you're okay with it-," Billy begins to say to me.
"No, she's not okay with it," Jacob answers for me.
"Oh? And why is that, son?"
"She has a life to get back to. A real life," Jacob says sending daggers his father's way.
"You don't get to speak for her Jacob. She's a mature young woman; she can decide for herself. So I suggest you shut your-," Billy never got to finish, as Sue again cut him off.
"You're right. This is Aiyana's life; she gets to decide for herself. Like you said, she's a mature young woman. So sweetheart, what do you say?"
"I mean, the only thing I really have left in Hawaii is Rebecca, that's it," I reply hesitantly, suddenly aware of all the eyes on me.
"No boyfriends back home to keep you back?" Sue asks.
"No ma'am, no boyfriends."
"That's great! Listen, you don't have to make a final decision right this second, but at least think about it. We would love it if you'd stay longer."
"Sure, Sue, I'll think about it," I say, and attempt to peak a glimpse at Seth to see his reaction. He's pretending that his whole focus is on eating his breakfast, but I see him look up at me through his lashes with bright eyes, and smiles.