It's been too long I know. Been busy decking the halls (: One of my personal favorite chappies! It's super long, double the size of most chapters. It was originally two chapters, but if I didn't combine the story was choppy. I like how it turned out though. Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed or added this to their faves or story alerts. Enjoy
JPoV
Edward texted us early the next morning to tell us he was bringing Bella over. Of course, no one woke me up and told me that.
I sat up in bed and yawned. I had stayed up listening to Edward's stories about Bella. My stomach was growling and I didn't know that there was anyone in the house that I cared about seeing me so I kept my sweatpants on. I didn't even bother looking for a shirt. I came down the stairs from my room on the third floor, and came face to face with Bella.
"Jacob!" she said, surprised to see me. I lived here. I was surprised to see her.
"Bella! What are you doing here?" I asked. I looked at Edward's hand in hers. "Oh, thanks for the warning, Edward."
"I assumed you would be up before noon," he answered.
"You know me better than that. I need my beauty sleep. Gotta fit in round here," I joked. Edward laughed, and Bella giggled shyly. She probably wasn't used to vampire humor yet.
"Have you met everyone yet? Esme? Carlisle? Alice? Jasper? Dad? Mom?" I asked. Oh, oops, I wondered if Edward had told her who my parents really were.
Edward nodded. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, ye-es." He stretched my mom's yes out. Mom was never good at hiding distaste. I wish I had been awake to remind her to be nice.
"How bad?" I asked.
"Bad enough to be removed by your father," Edward said.
"Oh," I said, "Sorry Bella. She really isn't bad once you get to know her."
Bella nodded shyly. She wouldn't acknowledge that my mom had been rude vocally.
"What have you guys done so far?" I asked Bella.
"Edward played on the piano, beautifully," Bella said, making goo-goo eyes at Edward. Remember Jacob, you don't like Bella anymore. Still, I couldn't help showing off.
"I play piano too," I said.
"Really?" Bella asked, impressed.
"It was one of those things my mom made me learn," I shrugged.
"Mine too!" Bella exclaimed, "Until I whined, and she let me quit."
"Lucky! I had to stay in lessons with this guy," I jabbed a finger at Edward, "until I was twelve, and football got too busy."
"You must be good if Edward taught you," Bella said. Edward smiled at her.
"I guess I'm pretty good, but Edward was tough," I said, remembering my multiple whining sessions at the piano, "I still don't know who Debussy is by the way."
Edward rolled his eyes. "You used to fall asleep and drooled on my beautiful instrument."
"That's because you didn't understand that humans need to sleep," I said, "I hope you're taking better care of Bella. Remember that's three meals a day and eight hours of sleep."
"I was properly fed although he didn't walk me," Bella said.
I laughed. "I'm guessing you want a tour of my bedroom." I said, raising my eyebrows up and down. Bella blushed, and Edward gave me a death glare.
I put my hands up. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding," I said.
"If Bella wanted to know what your room looks like, she would go to the landfill," Edward said.
"Don't worry. I'm sure my room is worse," Bella said.
"No, it isn't," Edward said, using his tone to emphasize to me the fact that he had been in her room.
"Too much information," I said, grimacing. Then my empty stomach made itself known. "You two kids have fun. I'm going to get breakfast."
"Don't you mean lunch?" Edward asked. Smart-alick.
"Probably both," I said. Bella smiled but didn't laugh. She was staring at the cross ornament hanging behind her. Edward caught her gaze. He opened his mouth, and I sauntered away.
After half a box of Pop-tarts and a few sausages later, I walked back upstairs. Esme had asked me to wear a shirt too so I put on a white wife-beater. I went back up to my room. I shared the third floor with Edward and storage space. He was the only one quiet at night.
But not today. Through the wall, I heard a soft thud and Bella giggling. I banged on my wall.
"You kids keep it down over there," I yelled. More giggles, this time Edward joined Bella's. I heard the door open and Alice's voice. We really need to get thicker walls. I walked next door. Jasper was by the door, and my aunt was sitting in the center of the room. Bella was sitting on Edward's lap on the couch.
"Are you game?" Jasper was saying when I walked in. He must be talking about the baseball game. There was a storm coming
"Please come, Bella," I pleaded, "We need to even the teams out. And you're the only person worse than me. No offense."
"None taken," Bella said sourly, "Um, what are we talking about?"
"We can only play ball when there's thunder. You'll see," Edward said.
"Okay then. Will I need an umbrella?"
The four of us laughed.
"No. The rain will be in town," Alice assured her.
"Good," Jasper said eagerly. I could feel his enthusiasm.
"Let's ask Carlisle," Alice said.
"Hmm, you must be dying to know what he'll say," I teased.
"Because of you," she said but with no blame in her tone. She leaped and kissed my cheek with perfect accuracy then danced out of the room. Jasper nodded to me and followed Alice swiftly. I looked at Bella. She had watched my aunt and my exchange curiously. It must look strange to an outsider.
"What can I say? Everyone loves me," I said. Bella laughed.
"Probably because you're so modest," she teased. Edward laughed.
"So you gonna play?" I asked hopefully.
Bella squirmed. "I'm really no athlete. I'm considered a danger to those around me."
I shrugged. "That's okay. I'm an amazing athlete, but I still watch most of the time."
"Modesty, Jacob," Edward chided, "Unless you need more etiquette lessons from Esme."
"No thank you," I said quickly. Edward laughed. Esme made every family member learn manners. My mom and dad had to retake the lessons a lot. We were in them together more than once. It was easily the most boring hours I had ever spent; of course I could never say that to Esme. There were a few standards my parents held. I was spoiled, but not rotten so I went along with them even when it meant learning manners, languages, lying, how to forge illegal documents, etcetera. Being a Cullen wasn't an easy job.
"What'd you have to do? Balance a book on your head?" Bella said sheepishly. She was always hesitant about making fun of people. After a while with my family, that will be gone.
Edward and I laughed loudly. Bella smiled.
"No," I said, "but there was a lot about table manners. A tad ironic when your teacher doesn't eat." Bella laughed more comfortably.
Edward never stopped looking at Bella, especially her lips. It was so obvious. He shot me a quick glare. Bella didn't notice. If she did, she would be so embarrassed. I'll never look at anyone that way that was for sure.
Before the game, Edward had to take Bella home to change, and he wanted to meet Charlie. Because Bella and I couldn't run to the field, we needed the off-roader to get there so I ended up having to tag along with them. The plan developed complications though.
The plan was to drive to Bella's house in her old Ford. While she was changing her clothes, Edward and I would wait for her, and he would talk to Charlie. Then we would go back to the house, grab the jeep, and go to the game.
But Edward couldn't go in to the house because Charlie had a friend from the reservation over. Which meant I couldn't go in the house because certain people shouldn't know I existed. So Edward dropped Bella off and said he and I would come back with the jeep later.
I called my mom to tell her we would be late. She was slightly annoyed, but I told her it was for the secret. When we got back to the Swan house, the old car the Native American guy drove was gone. Bella's dad answered the door, and Bella was a step behind. She ushered us in excitedly. She had changed into jeans and a tee, but a huge rain jacket was in her hands.
"Hello," Mr. Swan said, "Which one of you is Edward?"
"That would be me, Chief Swan," Edward said politely. Ooh, chief. We walked in, and I passed a gun-sling hanging on a coatrack.
"I'm Jacob, Edward's brother," I introduced myself, falling into the story. Chief Swan looked at me, confused.
"You two are brothers?" Bella's dad asked, confused.
"Adoptive brothers," Edward clarified.
"Oh," Chief Swan said, "Can I take your coats?"
"Thank you, sir," Edward and I said together. Bella laughed, probably remembering my mention of Esme's School of Etiquette. Her dad looked at the both of us strangely. I told my parents that adults thought teenagers were weird when they were polite.
"You play football, Jacob?" Charlie asked. He had noticed my letterman's jacket.
"Yes, sir. Varsity," I said.
Charlie gave a low whistle. "Good for you. Bella said you're only a freshman."
"That's right. Football season's over now though. Now I'm playing for the lacrosse team."
"Is that so?" Bella's dad said, impressed. I spotted a signed basketball on the mantle. Bella's dad is a sports guy. Too bad Edward was more of a music nerd. He glared at me behind Bella's back. Okay, I'll give him this- he can run.
Chief Swan led us to the living room. Edward took the only chair so Bella and her dad were on the couch. I didn't want to squeeze on there with them so I stood behind the couch, leaning on Bella's side of it.
"So I hear you're getting Bella to watch a sport?" Chief Swan asked.
"That's the plan," Edward said.
"Couldn't convince her to play," I added.
"Well, that's probably for the best," Chief Swan said. Edward and I laughed, and Bella cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Okay. Enough fun at my expense. Let's go," Bella said. Edward and she stood up at the exact same time. Bella's dad shook his hand, then mine.
"Take care of her, y'hear?" Chief Swan said to Edward. Bella groaned. I tried not to snicker.
"I promise, sir. She'll be safe with me," Edward said sincerely. Bella stomped out. I laughed this time as did Edward and her dad. We stepped outside on the porch.
Bella and Charlie widened their eyes at the jeep. It was more of a monster truck really.
"Drive safely," Charlie barely managed.
Bella needed a lift into the car and help doing her harness. I had to sit in the back again.
"What do you expect?" Edward turned to me and asked. "That's where the kids sit."
"Eyes on the road!" Bella yelled.
I lifted up my foot and stuck it in Edward's face. He pushed it back with one finger, barely putting any force into it.
"How about next time I drive, and you sit in the back?" I suggested.
"Yeah, right. You can't handle this. You're lucky we let you behind the wheel at all," Edward said.
"You drive?" Bella asked, shocked and disapproving. I guess when your dad's a cop in a town where most of his job entails scraping totaled cars off the freeway, you grow up with extreme caution.
"My mom's taken me out more than once. She couldn't wait until I was sixteen," I shrugged.
"I hope Edward's not teaching you. You'll lose your license before you have it," Bella said. Edward laughed.
"I've never been in an accident," Edward said in a repetitive tone.
"Not yet," Bella mumbled.
Edward turned off the road. The clearing where we played baseball was on our land, but it wasn't close to the house. Before we moved here, Esme "human proofed" the woods. I liked being piggy-backed until I was nine. Now I refused to be carried anywhere by my family. Esme had cleared a few trees so we could drive to our favorite clearing by car.
Edward parked past the outfield. I'd forgotten how much I liked this place. It was huge, and you could see the mountains behind the trees. I put on my Yankees cap. I threw one at Bella, but she left it in the car. I had grown up in New York, and the Yankees were my home team. Maybe not going after Bella was smarter than I had thought.
The others were far from us. Edward offered to run, but Bella said she would be fine with walking. She was trying to hide how she hated moving too fast. I had caught her momentary look of panic when Edward asked her. It didn't matter anyway; they came to us.
My mom smiled welcomely towards me and faked politeness towards Bella. It was an improvement. Dad chucked a bat towards me. I caught it but let it hang at my side.
"Not playing," I announced.
"Ah, come on, Jake," Dad asked. I shook my head. They always went easy when they played with me; it was more exciting to watch them go full-out.
"Why aren't you playing baseball for Forks anymore?" Jasper asked. He and Alice were throwing a baseball back and forth too fast for my eyes.
"Forks has a one sport a season rule. I'd rather play lacrosse. The baseball team sucks," I explained.
"Maybe me and Edward should join it," Jasper joked. It was something my dad and him fantasized about. They never could-it was too risky- but they could dream.
I snorted. "Just like how Bella should join it," I joked. Edward laughed, and Bella elbowed my stomach. It felt like hardly more than a poke.
"You two and my dad need some new material," she mumbled.
"We could talk about your car," I suggested.
"No," Bella said, "That's my first car. I bought it myself. And it will never break down. It's a good car."
"Mmm, you know there's a new Ferrari coming out soon," Edward said not very casually.
"That's nice," Bella said, "Hope there aren't any more silver Volvos coming out. Those cars are the worst."
"Ooooh," I said, rather immaturely.
"Bella, you cannot possibly back up that argument," Edward said defensively.
"It's time," Alice said excitedly.
Thunder rumbled from far away.
"Spooky, right?" I said. Bella nodded. Mom, Dad, and Jasper ran to the batter's square. Edward beamed at Bella before taking his spot in the outfield. Esme, Bella, and I began walking towards home plate. Esme was walking human speed or Bella speed. I was a few feet in front of them as they talked.
During the game, Bella watched astounded as the ball darted, the players moved in blurs, and the bat sliced the air. She winced the first time the bat made impact with the ball. It wasn't that cool to me anymore. I snickered, and she stuck out her tongue.
Edward ran over to Bella when it was his turn at bat. They exchanged a few words, and he stepped up to the plate.
"Boo," I yelled. Esme gave me a chiding look, but my parents snickered. Even though I knew they were really old, they sometimes acted their age or younger.
Bella rolled her eyes and clapped for Edward. He turned and widely smiled at her while he hit the ball. While they were at bat, Carlisle's team scored more than the other team, but the lead went back and forth.
When my grandfather was at bat, Alice gasped. Edward snapped up from the catcher's stance and met her eyes. A thought passed between them, and Edward was at Bella's side in the blink of an eye. Mom appeared at mine without knowing what was wrong.
"Alice? Edward? What's wrong?" Esme asked, concerned.
"What did you see, Alice?" My mom asked. The rest of my family surrounded Alice.
"There are three of them coming. They heard us playing, and they changed their course. I saw it wrong before."
"When?" Carlisle asked Edward.
"In a few minutes. They want to join the game," Edward said angrily.
"Can you make it?" Grandpa asked, flicking his eyes from me to Bella.
"No. We can't let them catch the scent and start hunting," Edward said.
Carlisle nodded in thought.
"If there is only three of them..." Jasper said, letting his thought trail off.
"We should try to keep peace," Carlisle said, "Of course if it came down to it I guess we wouldn't have a choice."
"Wait, are you guys talking about fighting them?" I asked, shocked. I knew Uncle Jazz's story and his capabilities, but I didn't want to see my tiny aunt, my gentle grandma, or my mom fighting rogue vampires.
Bella's eyes widened and she looked at my family's faces.
"Hopefully, it won't come to that," Carlisle said, "if they are simply curious."
Esme asked Edward something, vampire speed. He shook his head, and her face was calmer.
"I'll call," Edward said, "You catch, Esme."
"I'll call," my mom insisted.
"Rosalie," he growled.
"Rose, catch. They'll be here before we switch sides," Alice said tersely.
Mom and Edward glared at each other and took their positions.
To Bella, Edward said tightly, "Put your hair down. Stay very still. Don't make any noise Stay by me." He wrapped an arm around Bella protectively.
The fun we were having was gone. My dad missed a chance at stealing third keeping a wary eye on me. My mom never looked when she caught the ball. Her face was terrified. The only time she ever took her eyes off of me was when she sent Bella dirty looks. I bet she was blaming the infamous danger magnet. Nobody hit more than a bunt. Edward never looked at the plays.
"I'm so sorry, Bella. It was stupid and irresponsible to put you in danger like this," Edward said remorsefully.
Everyone's focus turned to a spot in the dark forest. Edward positioned himself in front of Bella, nearly hiding her. My mom and dad appeared in front of me, teeth bared.
Thank you for reading! Please review, it brings me so much joy. Also, I'm just gonna pimp out my oneshot so if you enjoy stories about Leah finding herself, check out "Back." Have a great week everyone and thanks again!
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