A/N: I haven't updated in a while so I apologize. Things are probably gonna get slow once school starts up again but I'll try to update weekly. This might possibly be my last year of high school(:

9.5 by Default of Drowning

I couldn't sleep and I looked for distractions. After my dad said he was going to bed, I went into the kitchen and made potato salad for twenty, knowing my boys and their love for eating. When I was finished, I opened one of my many cook books and searched for desserts, choosing chocolate chip cookies and apple pie. I baked enough of each to feed a small army. I heard Dad's footsteps coming down the stairs as I put the sweets into any containers I could find.

"Bells, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I was just making some desserts for the barbeque at Billy's," I answered casually.

He looked at the clock on the oven. "At four in the morning?"

"Mhm," I replied, "I'm just about done. Would you like a cookie? They're fresh."

He reached for the cookie I offered, taking a bite. "This is worth waking up at this god forsaken hour."

"Oh, I woke you up, didn't I? Go back on up to bed. I'm just gonna finish putting these away," I said guiltily.

"I'm up already, let me help," he said picking up a plate of cookies.

"Sure," I replied.

"Jeez, Bells, did you plan on feeding an army?" Dad asked incredulously as he put the last of the cookies into the large container. I laughed seeing the six large Tupperware containers on the counter full to the brim with cookies.

"Well, you know how I've been hanging out with Sam's crew lately?" he nodded and I continued, "They eat like pigs. I thought it'd be a good idea if there was actually food left over for the other guests."

He looked thoughtful and said, "Yeah, good idea."

We went to our respective rooms after we finished. I heard Dad's snores after a few minutes. I looked around my room, my eyes landed on my black laptop. Hello, distraction. I pushed the power button and carried my computer with me to my bed, placing it on my lap as I sat down with my legs crossed. As it loaded, I tapped my fingers lightly on the keyboard, staring at the screen. I hummed a song quietly, grabbing my headphones and iPod from the dresser. I opened the browser as I set my iPod on shuffle. "She called last night, still waiting for a reply…" I checked my email finding two new messages. The first one was from my friend in Phoenix, Davie:

Subject: 3=

I still don't forgive you for leaving like you did, Izzy. I miss you so much. I know things have been rough since…what happened. I love you Izzy. You have to come and visit soon. Come back home.

Davie.

Re: Subject: 3=

I miss you too, Davie and I love you, but you have to understand I can't move back. There are too many painful memories in Phoenix. Maybe I can visit though. I don't know…How have you been? How's Stormy?

3 Izzy.

The second was from Renee telling me about all her kooky adventures with Phil and the baby. She sent pictures of her newborn baby. The first picture had a caption: 'Our first photo of Jeremy.' Renee held him in her arms with a tired smile on her face, sitting up in a hospital bed with Phil's hand on her shoulder. They both smiled, gazing lovingly at their new son. My baby brother was adorable. His grey eyes shimmered with the innocence of new life. His short brown hair stuck up in every which way, oddly endearing. His little hands reached out at me through the photo. A wide, toothless smile graced his sweet face. I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. I looked at the pictures until the sun rose and I heard Dad stir in his sleep.

I turned off my laptop, gathered my toiletries, and went to the bathroom for a shower. After blow drying and brushing my hair, I went downstairs to make breakfast. I settled for omelets, seeing as I used all the flour last night and I couldn't make waffles. I turned on the coffee maker hearing Dad's approaching footsteps.

"Morning Dad," I greeted, putting two plates of food on the table.

"Jeez Bell, do you ever sleep?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Of course not," I answered teasingly. "Last night—err, this morning, I was online and I got a message from Mom."

"Yeah? How's she doing?" he asked. His words were muffled due to the food in his mouth.

"She's great. She just had her baby," he quirked his brow in interest. "His name is Jeremy. She sent me pictures if you want to see them."

"Sure," he replied and continued to eat. I checked the time, running out of distractions. "You alright?" Dad asked.

"What? Yeah, why?" I replied.

"You look a little out of it. Did something happen last night with the Cullen kid?" he asked.

"No," I answered too hastily. I hid my face, taking a bit of my egg to hide my blush. I swallowed, gathered the plates, and washed them quickly.

"Are you s—?"

"I, uh, have to meet up with Sam and the guys. I'll see you at Billy's," I lied awkwardly. I didn't need to leave until ten, but my dad didn't need to know that. "Bye, Dad." I rushed out of the kitchen.

"Bella, wait up!" he called after me. I spun around to face him.

"Yeah?"

"You forgot something," he said pointing behind him to the countertops riddled with Tupperware.

"Oh yeah, thanks," I said with a smile. It took us six trips to load all the food into my truck. I sped upstairs to grab my bag and ran out the door. "Thanks Dad, bye."

I showed up on Sam's doorstep at eight. He answered the door before I could knock.

"Hey Bella, what are you doing here so early?" he asked.

"Just excited I guess?" I answered half-truthful. He looked skeptical and was about to say something but I interrupted, "I come bearing gifts." I went to my truck carrying as many containers I could without looking suspicious to any neighbors who might have been watching. "I hope Emily doesn't mind," I added with a smirk, "There's way more in my truck."

Sam pointed me to the kitchen where Emily was drinking coffee. She greeted me and smiled. I put the containers on the table and headed outside to make another trip, but I saw Quil, Paul, and Jared (all shirtless) helping Sam carry the rest inside. I stopped in my tracks and gave them a once over. "Thanks for the help guys," I said with a smirk.

"Sure thing," Quil said. Paul and Jared exchange a glance, nodding.

"See something you like?" they asked in unison, smirking arrogantly.

I smiled impishly, "'Course."

"Yeah?" Jared asked confidently. I nodded my head.

"And that would be?" Paul asked.

"I don't have to carry all that chow out of my truck anymore. Thanks a lot," I explained smiling brightly. Quil and Sam snickered at their crestfallen expressions. I took pity on them. "Aw, c'mon guys, you know we love you," I said.

"No we don't," Sam and Quil teased.

I frown and slapped Quil's arm. Sam wasn't within my reach so I used my shield to smack him too. "Ow." Paul and Jared chortled as Sam and Quil rubbed their arms.

"That's what you get for being mean to your brothers," I stated indifferently. I turned and walked back inside the house opening one of the containers of cookies. "Want one?" I asked Emily.

"Sure."

I sat at the table with her as the guys came in and set the containers on the counter. As I nibbled on my cookie my mind wandered to Edward. I wasn't sure what to think when it came to him. I mean…

"Bella?" Jared's voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"What?" I asked.

"You were kind of zoned out," he replied.

"You okay?" Quil asked.

"Fantastic," I lied.

Emily put her hands on the table and stood. "Well, I have to go to the store. I promised Billy I'd bring chips to the barbeque," she said.

I stood quickly, "Do you mind if I come along?"

"Not at all," she replied with a smile.

I turned to look back at the guys and pointed a finger at each of them accusingly. "Do not eat the food I brought. Got that? You all know I can kick your sorry butts any day of the week. Even if you all gang up on me, I can take you without breaking a sweat," I threatened playfully but all that came across was the menace. I saw genuine fear in their eyes causing me to chuckle. They relaxed at my laugh. "But seriously though, you can eat those cookies," I pointed o the open container on the table, "but nothing else. Save the rest for later."

We drove to the grocery store on the reservation. As soon as the house was out of sight, Emily turned to face me.

"What's going on?" she asked.

I glanced at her and back at the road. "What do you mean?" I asked nervously.

"You know what I mean," she said. I didn't reply. Emily continued, "I mean: you've been acting strange today. I mean: your date with Edward was yesterday. I mean: what happened?"

I sighed and turned to her, "Promise you won't tell Sam?"

She smiled, "Promise."

I looked back at the road and pulled in to the small parking lot of the store. I opened my door and Emily followed. We walked into the small shop.

"Hello," an elderly Quileute woman said. She sat behind a counter. We offered our hello's and strolled through the aisles.

"Last night was really fun," I started smiling sheepishly, "The Cullens were dressed like they were about to walk on the red carpet. Edward tried to waltz during a rap song. It was hilarious. We danced. We laughed. We had fun. Then…" I hesitated, "Then Edward drove me home and he k-kissed me," I blushed remembering his tender kiss, I avoided Emily's gaze.

"And? There's no need to be ashamed of a little kiss," Emily stated grabbing bag after bag of chips from the shelves and tossing them in the cart.

"The thing is…I could've pulled away but I was frozen. I didn't kiss him back. He was the one to pull away and there was such rejection and regret in his eyes. I felt terrible. He just kept apologizing and then he was gone," I explained, "The kiss wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. It was kind of nice and that just doesn't make sense because I hate leeches—"

"Bella, stop," Emily started, "First, you're talking way to fast. I'm still human and I can't understand a word you're saying. Second, this grudge you have against vampires is understandable, but not all vampires are like the ones who did what they did to you. Give the poor kid a chance. It's obvious that he's head over heels for you and who knows? You might end up liking him more than you think," she said smiling.

"But—"

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do," Emily interrupted, "I'm telling you to listen to your heart and don't let your prejudice against his kind cloud your judgment."

The pack dragged me away from the house before I could take even one step inside. We walked along the forest. I told them about my conversation with the Cullens the night before.

"I think they're completely oblivious to the fact that there are still shifters on the res," I explained.

"Wicked. We've got the upper hand," Paul said.

"As long as they stick to the treaty, it doesn't matter if they know or not," Sam added.

"So Bells, how are we gonna do this?" Quil interjected.

"What do you mean?" I asked him.

"Well, you're still partly human, right? I mean you still have a beating heart and blood and stuff. You're still warm, so does the cold bother you?"

"Hmm, I still get cold, but it doesn't seem to bother me as much ," I replied. The winds picked up, as if on cue, and I involuntarily shivered. Goose bumps rose on my arms. A snickering Quil wrapped his muscled arm around my shoulders.

"One of us will jump in first and wrap you in our warmth so you don't die," Sam said half joking.

"I won't die," I muttered defensively. The effect I was hoping it would have died instantly when I wrapped my cold arms around Quil's waist, pulling him closer to absorb his warmth. The guys laughed at my expense.

"Shut up," I snapped, "it's not my fault you guys are so hot." I froze, internally scolding myself for my choice of words. Paul and Jared pulled off their thin, white t-shirts, revealing their sculpted torsos, and, much to my horror, started flexing their muscles, snickering as I blushed fiercely.

We reached the top of the cliffs minutes later. Paul, Jared, and Quil's teasing turned to placing bets.

"Fifty bucks says I make the biggest splash," Jared said confidently.

"Psh, I'll throw in an extra fifty if you win," Paul challenged.

"Both of you need to stop hoping and get realistic. This is my bet to win," Quil interjected. Sam and I watched their banter, but I got bored and decided to intervene.

"I'll give the one who can beat me five grand and a week's worth of my doing your bidding. Anyone up for the challenge?" I asked quirking my left eyebrow.

"Hell yeah!" the four wolves shouted.

I smirked and added my condition, "But if I win, you will have to pay the price," Paul was about to say something but I cut him off, "and I don't mean money."

"And what would that be?" Jared asked.

I grinned mischievously. "You'll see. So who's first?" I asked.

"Get ready to do my bidding, sweet cheeks," Paul said with an arrogant smile. He ran to the edge of the cliff and dove into the angry sea. The waves below crashed against the rock face of the cliff.

I leaned over and saw his head resurface. I shrugged and turned to the pack. "Six and a quarter?" I asked.

"I give him a five," Jared said.

Quil ran off the cliff and jumped with an impressive splash.

Jared and Sam shared an awed look, "Eight and a half."

"Sounds about right," I agreed. Jared an Sam followed with a performance that didn't surpass Quil.

"C'mon down Bells!" I heard Quil shout over the waves. I slipped off my jeans and t-shirt revealing my black tank top and boy shorts. I extended my arms to the sides stretching my shield out. I leapt off the side of the cliff loving the cold wind blowing my hair up. I closed my eyes exhilarated by the rush, adrenaline coursed through my veins.

The water crashed against my shield making giant waves. My concentration wavered. My shield dissolved. The fierce waves pulled me under water. My mouth opened on reflex to take in a breath but was met with water filling my lungs. I started panicking trying to find the surface. I felt a warm hand grasping my arm, pulling me. As soon as my head broke the surface I tried desperately to fill my lungs with air but was choked by the salty water that tried to escape. I allowed myself to be dragged out of the water by the warm arms that held me. I shivered clinging to his warmth. I heard my name being called by concerned voices followed by firm pounding on my back.

"Bella, Bella? Are you okay?" I heard Quil ask as my coughing slowed. I looked up at him and gave him a reassuring smile. He smiled back, "Good because that was AWESOME!"

I laugh/coughed. "I won," my voice was hoarse and quiet. My comment was met with gruff chuckles. My teeth chattered in the cold.

A/N: Review for a sneak peek. Yes? Do you have any suggestions as to what Bella is gonna make the pack do? Tell me what you think.

On another note, give 'Die, Leeches, Die' a read. Give it a chance and leave a review. Thank you good sirs and misses(: