Sealed With A Kiss
Ch. 12
J.P.O.V.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. I own nothing pertaining to the TWILIGHT SAGA. Stephenie Myer owns all recognizable characters. I only own the idea of S.W.A.K. And of course, Francesca.
It'd been weeks since the southern leech had made an appearance at our meeting discussing the next steps in our defeating the Vulturri. I was already sick of the stench on my land and the obvious fraternizing with our enemy. True to her word, Bella had to have this gathering of the masses, inviting kids from Forks High to the frigid beaches of La Push. Offering them her friendship wasn't enough for her, she had to cook for them and show them how we were all alike. I laughed to myself, gaining the attention of one Mike Newton.
"Whats so funny Black?" He raised the red plastic cup to his lips, smirking as he drank the red liquid inside. A dribble escaping his lips and ruining the white material of his jacket. "Oh, jeez, can I have a napkin Jess?" He smeared the red all over the front of the puffy jacket, ensuring he never got the stain out, ever.
"Nothing, just thinkin', but hey, this works too." I said pointing to the mishap on his front side. "Maybe try some baking soda and peroxide. That's how we get the stains out from our fishing trips." I had to hide my obvious joy from the turd, he really got my blood boiling. I was already pretty pissed as it was lately, and this guy just really took the cake.
"Yeah, I guess I will have to try that. Thanks." Mike spat through tightened lips. He was obviously embarrassed, he was trying to impress Bella on a rather regular basis now. Turd.
"We can get you back to the house and try and get it out now if you'd like Mike." Jessica offered sweetly, she had it bad for turd boy. It was almost pathetic.
"Yeah, I mean we have all the stuff right there in the kitchen, the parents are there, but you're welcome to get to it, to save that Aeropstale jacket. It had to cost a good chunk of change, hurry Mike, so it doesn't dry. You might have to buy a new one. God's forbid..." Paul interjected. Feigning exasperation. He laughed openly at the expense of Newton and the turd turned about as red as the ever increasing stain. It was truly a sight to see.
"It's really not that funny Paul, Jacob. Go ahead Mike, get the stain out. I will get the burgers and dogs off the grill. When you get back, we can eat." Bella sent daggers our way and we shut down our laughter immediately. Bella was not one we needed to get angry at us, but I almost didn't care. I downed the rest of my drink, threw the cup into the trash bag and took off.
"Hey man, where you headed?" Paul came after me, I wasn't expecting that at all.
"I just have to get outta here man, I'm so sick of pretending to like that guy, He makes me sick, I want to punch his smug face and tell him to keep his wiener to himself. UGH!" I punched a tree with a loud crunch, the tree wavered and the blood came forth from my knuckles. I could care less, Mike Newton was a piece and we all knew it. He was trying to stake a claim on me girl, and I wasn't having it. Not one little bit.
" I know Jake, but Bells wants us to blend in. In case the ancient leeches come looking for information. Eddie and his tramp were supposed to be in communication weeks ago. They are bound to come find us. The sooner we get this over with the better. Then we can breath fresh air again. I'm so tired of choking back vomit for us to be able to defend the tribe. It just seems a little overkill no?" Paul had leaned up against another tree, after we had made it a little farther into the forest. I was looking for somewhere to let the rage out, maybe phase, and run a little.
"Look, come back for a few, and eat. Show that moron what Bella really means to you. She can't resist you when you turn up the heat, it'll really piss him off." Paul had his notorious evil grin plastered on his face. He was right, I just needed to show Mike that Bella wasn't up for grabs anymore.
"Okay, you're right. I'll go back, but I can't promise you anything. I may just punch him anyway." Paul clapped my back and we laughed as we made our way out of the foliage and back to the sands of the beach.
Upon our arrival, Mike was sitting next to Bella and Jessica at the fire pit. He was attempting to make Bells laugh, and she just chuckled and turned to me, rolling her eyes, while Jessica forced her laughter out and attempted to get the turd's attention. It was the dumbest thing I had ever seen this far. I had to get rid of him before I really got mad. Something just seemed so off with him. It rubbed me the wrong way.
"Hey Bells, can I share your seat with you?" I flashed her my pearly whites and winked. Mike stirred uncomfortably in his seat, he looked like a turd even. Bella stood coming to stand in front of me. On her tip toes, she reached up and kissed me sweetly. I seen Mike sneer out of the corner of my eye, just you wait marshmallow, just you wait.
"I love you baby. I'm glad we did this. We needed it so bad. I'm sorry about how I acted before. I don't want to ruin your barbeque. I really do love you Bells." I said as she smiled brightly at me. Licking her lips, she got up on her tip toes again, and with more passion, really kissed me this time. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled up my body. Holding her tightly, she made my body surge with heat, not the same as when we phase, something different. We both felt it and if we didn't stop now, it would ignite us both. Reluctantly, I pulled away and set her down. Her crimson coloring now stretched deep past her neck line of the hoodie she was wearing for show. I could honestly care less about what Newton thought and in that moment, I relished in the sweet taste of Bella Swan on my lips. Not even looking in the turd's direction, she bit her bottom lip and smiled seductively at me, grasping my hand and pulling me toward the grill she said, "I love you too Jake." She had the meat stacked high under foil and she gave me a plate. "Eat up!" Turning toward the others she called for them to come get food too. And she stepped out of the way.
~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~SWAK~
After everyone ate, we were seated around the warmth of the fire chatting with each other and trying our best to push away the anxiety of what we would faced with in the coming weeks. This was our way of letting the reality of our lives wash away for just a moment. It was almost hanging in the air, the understanding of this possibly being the last time we'd ever have together as a whole. We might never get a chance to see each other this way again, to be a family, to be kids. I looked around at our pack, carefree kids, young enough to still be caught up in video games and comic books, reading silly teenage love novels. In almost 2 weeks time, this would be no more. We would be in full on battle mode, possibly getting ripped to pieces and dying an excruciating death at the hands of the cold ones. I tried to let it go, let it slip from my mind, enjoy my girl and our friends. As luck would have, my earlier demonstration of love for my Bella was tested as I hear Newton mentioning how I practically devoured her face, and how could she want someone who openly ravages her.
"... I mean, is that what you want Bella? Some guy to just eat your face in front of everyone?" He looked more sick about who was eating her face rather than the actual act of her face being eaten.
"It's really none of your business Mike. I love how you think she just needs to fall all over you and lavish you with her body. You're so consumed with getting her into bed, you don't even see the people in front of you who actually are interested. I 'm so sick of you and your arrogant attitude. Piss off Mike Newton! No one wants a self centered ass for a boyfriend!" Jessica stood up, slapped him in the face, hugged Bella and made her way to her to car. Mike went stumbling after her seeing as she was his ride home, Angela and Ben weren't able to make it. We were all in shock. Jessica was the one to slobber all over Mike's every word, lie or truth. Here she was slapping him and leaving him a cloud of dust to walk home in the frigid early evening air. What a turd!
"Well, not that that was said and out of the way, anyone for some dessert?" Leah said, making her way to the table. She opened the container of cookies and stuffed one into her mouth, closing her eyes obvious ecstasy. Ignoring the awkward rants off in the distance, we too enjoyed the cookies and brownies that Bells had made from scratch. What a day.
Cleaning up the beach, we could have been a little less morose, but seeing as we had to immediately get to patrols and back to practicing killing maneuvers, it just wasn't happening. The silence was thick, and the agitation was palpable. We had officially lost a good portion of innocence while having to train. No one wanted to leave this beach, no one wanted to deal with this anymore. It was killing me slowly.
The stench hit my nose before I actually heard them approaching. I nearly gagged from the sweet aroma. We all looked up at the same time. Smelling them in unison, we bristled as they came into view. I just didn't want this anymore, I couldn't stand the way we just accepted them on our land, after the danger they put Bella in. She was even starting to feel the aggravation we did.
"Are we ready to learn some more?" Jasper was always so chipper when he showed up to fight. It's almost like he couldn't wait to teach us how to kill his kind. Like he was just showing us how to kill him. I got the feeling, he really wanted us to kill him too in the end. We would, if that was what he wanted. Bella would be upset, these were her friends, she may feel angry with them, but she wouldn't want to outright kill them. Pushing my inner anguish away, we all nodded in unison and finished the task at hand. Jasper and the other Cullen's helped up pick up the rest of the mess, and headed back to my house. The parents were waiting to dig into the rest of the food we had left over, Bella had made some extra piping hot food for the, just before we came back. They were grateful to say the least, digging into potato salad and cookies and burgers. The Elders were busy stuffing their faces when I had suddenly felt an overwhelming need to beat the crap of out someone or something. It may have been the close proximity to the leeches that had me bristling, but how knows, I had to get out of here.
"Whats wrong Jake?" Bella had touched my back and I took off running. I could sense her hurt,but something was pulling me forward, I needed to leave, I needed to find some solitude. I needed to be left the hell alone. "Jake?" Her head hung.
"It's alright Bells, he just needs a minute. He'll be back. I promise." Paul hugged her, I could see him comforting her as I ran through trees at the edge of the forest. I knew he would always have my back, always be there for Bella, always for the pack.
These last few weeks had proved he was my ally for sure. We were closer than ever, and I needed to have that right now. Someone who would protect this pack in the event of my death. Deep down I knew my time was limited, that's why I had been so angry. I punched a tree again, ignoring the stinging in the bones and skin. I could smell the coppery blood drops before they even fell out of my torn flesh. Another tree, kicking it full force, it toppled sideways and then another tree, another and finally, I screamed. Releasing my hatred into the air, hoping all the dead things could feel my ever increasing need to rip their bodies apart. The dead had no business in our world, causing rifts between families and killing at will. I was out for blood now. I wanted to feel the heads snap from the hard bodies, feel the way their limbs popped off and smell the aroma of their burning pile of parts. I had become something to fear in my own head. The constant interaction with the blood suckers was fueling the fire inside me. The need for revenge, and to set the world right was eating away at me. I kept running, hitting and kicking trees and now huge rocks and uprooting vines in mass.
I came to a clearing, a few logs of long since forgotten trees were covered in moss in thick sheets. I sat on one, hoping to find relief with the non movement, no such luck. Relief would never come, not until every leech was a burning plume of smoke. I was looking to destroy to entire vampire world. They made me this way, an animal, never to have a full life ever. My kids would be cursed with this mess, their mess. I would fear for my family until I took my last breath. The thought from the last month consuming me alive. I screamed again, grabbing the hair on top of my head, and wept for the loss of my sanity.
I could feel the eyes on my quaking form, I knew someone was there, someone was watching the cracking of my mentality. Not caring, I sobbed a little more, is this what you want to see? Take a good look because there was a chance this was as sane as I was going to be ever again. Take a good look, look at what this world has done. I'm a shell, and I have no idea how to be whole again.
I looked into the familiar eyes, but something was different about them. I had seen her so many times over the course of training and I had never seen her eyes quite this color before. "What are you doing here?"
