Oy vey! This is my first day with electricity in 3 days! Ice storms are a b*tch! Anywho, this chapter gave me some trouble, hence why it would have been a little late anyway. To make up for it, however, I will posting 2 more chapters in the next 4 days. Also, we're due for more snow on Monday/Tuesday, so I may be without power again, so I figure I might as well try to stay ahead.
As always, I don't own any of the characters, just the ridiculous things they say.
Ch. 11- Purple Haze
"I can't sleep. I'm not even tired."
I was laying in Ness' California King bed. If you haven't noticed by now, the Cullens have a tendency to overdo things, so when Ness started sleeping in her own room here in the main house, Rose and Bella had spared no expense. Apparently, it was Edward's old room. They'd painted it a dark shade of lilac with white trim, and they'd found drapes that matched perfectly for the back wall of glass for privacy. Edward and Jasper had installed the window seat and built bookcases on either side. And of course, Alice had picked out the giant bed.
Despite the massive size, Ness had managed to sidle right up to my side. I stretched, but it wasn't very relaxing because the temporary cast I wore cut into my skin when I moved.
"I'm exhausted." And I really was. Granted, I'd be good after 5, maybe 6 hours tops, but Nessie needed even less sleep than me. She would keep me up 'till sunrise if I let her. "You know, having your bones broken repeatedly can really take it out of you."
"I'm sorry about this whole mess. I don't know why he would think-"
"Ness, I've told you 20 times today to stop apologizing. It's over." I felt her fidget beside me and I couldn't help but smile. "You shouldn't have eaten the whole box of chocolate. You've got sugar running through your veins, now."
"I couldn't help myself. It took daddy and grandfather forever to agree on the placement. I didn't even realize I was eating it all until it was gone."
"How did you get your dad to agree to let me stay in here anyway? He may have decided not to kill me, but I'm not his favorite person right now."
She was silent for a moment. Finally, she said, "he owes me."
"He told everyone, didn't he?"
"Not exactly, but I had to tell momma because she couldn't understand what was happening, and of course, they wanted to consult with Grandfather once they realized I was drinking human- well, almost human blood again. And it hardly seemed right or feasible to ask them to keep that secret. I'm sure the rest of the family knows by now."
"It's not a big deal, Ness. You'll see. It doesn't really matter."
Ness shrugged and sighed. She was done talking about it. "So how am I supposed to fall asleep?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Try counting sheep," I suggested without even opening my eyes.
She curled closer then, and turned so her tiny knee poked into my thigh. It wasn't half as uncomfortable as it should have been. It was just the opposite, actually. It was comforting, sending waves of tiny butterflies through my system. It made me want to roll to my side and pull her up against me- and that was why I needed her to move as soon as possible.
"You should give yourself some space. Might get heat stroke," I joked.
I could almost hear her roll her eyes. I blame that on her parents; between the two of them, it was bound to happen. Instead of listening to me, she pressed closer, her hand resting just under my rib. Suddenly, graceful little cotton balls popped into my head, arching from nowhere and bouncing off to the side to make way for the next one.
Twenty-two…twenty-three….
"Are those sheep?" I laughed.
She poked me in the stomach. She probably would have damaged the internal organs on a normal human, but I barely felt a thing. "I've known fruit flies with more gusto," I teased.
"Ow," I mumbled when she bit me in the same spot a second later. She didn't break the skin, but she left an angry red crescent for a few seconds.
"Go to sleep," she ordered, sounding quite smug as she resumed her puffball counting.
Just as I was falling asleep…
All these sheep are making me hungry came her annoyed thought in my head.
"They don't even look like sheep," I mumbled.
"On purpose," she sounded offended. "I was trying to avoid the hunger factor. It's not working."
I pulled her closer and sighed.
"Sleep, Nessie. Dream of something beautiful and sleep."
She was mentally silent for a while and I began to drift off. She began projecting her thoughts again a few minutes later, but they were soothing this time. I fell asleep to the sounds of the ocean as Nessie dreamt of La Push for both of us.
"So what is this bonfire for again?" Ness called from my bathroom.
After just two days, I was back on the Rez with no signs I'd been injured, and that was a reason to celebrate.
"Officially, it's a 'Jake's Better' bonfire. Probably one of the last ones this year. It's starting to get too cold for the other imprints. In reality, it's just another excuse to eat and hang out."
"Fine by me." Her voice grew closer as she continued to speak. "I love your house."
"You mean our shack?" I snorted. Then I caught sight of her in the mirror as she walked up behind me. I refused to turn around. Like medusa, I couldn't make eye contact with her or bad things would happen.
She was wearing a deep purple bikini top with one of those white knit sweater things on top. The kind with the really loose knit that still allowed me to see the deep neckline of her halter, and her flat stomach. Her maxi skirt matched her bikini top almost perfectly. She'd even done her eye make up with a little eyeliner and just enough purple eye shadow so she matched without being tacky. Her hair was out and wavy from the braid she'd had it in earlier. She looked like a bohemian goddess, relaxed and comfortable, but so sexy it just wasn't right.
My father's voice snapped me out of my daze.
"Did you know that Jake's grandfather built this house with his own hands? Every board and each shingle was fashioned by him. Except for the addition and a few small repairs, of course. Jake did most of that, with some help from the pack."
"One day, I want a house like this," Ness smiled softly. She was walking ahead of me, following my dad's lead as we headed to the beach, but I could hear it in her voice. She was content and it showed.
"You want a house that's at risk of falling down if you sneeze?"
"No, Jake. It's full of history, and warmth and you." She blushed when she saw that both my dad and I were looking at her. "You're scent. It's everywhere. I like that," she explained quickly.
I had no clue what to say to that, but luckily, the beach provided the perfect distraction.
The bonfire was just getting started; Embry and Collin were adding small branches to it and fostering the flames.
I knew it was just the imprint in me, but I cringed at the thought of Ness walking around in that bikini. I took a deep breath and placed my hand at the small of her back. I wasn't going to freak out on her, but I'd be damned if it wasn't obvious that things had changed between us, even if it was only on my part.
I felt a little better when I realized that Jared, Sam and Quil were too busy watching their own imprints to realize what a knockout Nessie was. Oh, well. Their loss. I really was one lucky bastard.
"Hey, Ren. Looking lovely," someone called out as he ran by us.
"Thanks, Seth," she smirked back, squeezing my hand in the process. She turned to look at me for a few seconds and smiled. "I know things are different here on the Rez, but as far as I know, it's rude to stare holes into your friend's head no matter where you're from. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I shrugged, hoping she'd let it slide. Maybe I was overreacting, but I didn't think so. Call it the pot calling the kettle black, but that kid was one horny mofo. Trust me-I've been in his head.
"Hey, Jake," Sam waved me over and began shouting obscenities and insults at me in Quileute.
Ness lit up and laughed. "Samuel Lahote!" she acted disappointed and began admonishing him in almost perfect Quileute.
"Nice accent, but don't think I'll be nice to Jake just because you can understand me now."
Ness accepted the cup of punch he was holding out for her. "I just started a few weeks ago. You really think it sounds good?"
Sam issued his approval and Leah nodded in agreement. "Jacob's just full of surprises lately." She threw an arm around Ness and pulled her off to hang out with Kim. "Come catch up with us, girl."
Over the years, Leah had mellowed a bit. She didn't fly off the handle so easily and she'd learned to laugh. Kim was just as wild, but in a different way and they'd really become close lately. I didn't know the details when it came to Kim, but both women had a dark streak from their pasts that they'd bonded over. I wasn't sure how Ness fit in, but she loved hanging out with those two, so I didn't ask.
"So you got your ass kicked by a centenarian. Way to make the pack proud."
"Shove it, Paul. He got me while I was distracted." I grabbed my second hotdog in as many minutes.
Rachael shook her head. "I don't know who I should worry about more, you or dad."
"We're fine. Besides, it was dear ol' dad that took care of me once I got home." I plopped down on his lap, sure not to put my full weight on him 'cause I wasn't buying a new wheelchair.
"Jacob Black, if you don't get off me, I swear to the powers that be I'll shove my foot so far up your ass you'll taste leather."
"There's so many things wrong with that statement," Seth laughed, while Paul gasped for air.
Now you see where I get it from.
"Is that even possible?"
"You wanna find out?"
"Not really." I jumped up just in time to catch Ness' gaze as she looked over at me. She was still talking to the other girls, but every few seconds, she'd look up at me, this unexplainable look in her eyes. Finally, she excused herself and motioned for me to follow her. I grabbed her hand once I'd gotten close enough, but she continued walking towards the forest.
"I need to talk to you, Jake."
I was worried, but honestly, I would have gone anywhere with her if she was dressed like that and saying my name.
I hope you enjoyed it. In the end, I wasn't as in love with this chapter as I have been with most of this story, but sometimes I'm just picky. I couldn't even think of a good chapter title, so the first one that popped into my head won. Let me know what you think and keep a look out for updates this weekend.