When Edward dropped me off twilight had reached its peak and the evening was flowing into the night. As we neared the house i could hear the sound of anothers engine and the flash of headlights ahead.
"Charlie is around the corner." he warned, staring through the downpour at the oncoming vehicle.
I hopped out at once ,once the car pulled up to the rain was louder as it hit my jacket in separate droplets.
I narrowed my eyes a little as the car came around the corner. It was not Charlie's cruise, but an unfamiliar black car. Through the windshield i could make out the figures of Jacob black and his father coming towards us.
Edward was staring at the car; his gaze locked firmly on Billys. His expression was a mix of frustration and defiance.
Then when i closed the car door he revved the engine, fully prepared to take tires squealed against the wet pavement, and the volvo was out of sight within seconds.
This must have something to do with the tribes treaty. Do they still actually believe in that nonsense, it didn't seem like jacob did at all when he spoke about it to me.
"Hey, Bella," called a familiar, husky voice from the driver's side of the little black car.
"Jacob?" I asked, pretending to squinting through the rain. Just then, Charlie's cruiser swung around the corner, hsi lights shining on the occupants of the car in front of me.
Jacob was already climbing out , his wide grin visible even through the darkness.
The remberal face of Billy black sat inside the car, staring at me , scrutinizing my face, so i smiled tentatively at him. I only know him for what Charlie has told me about him. He was about six years older than Charlie , with russet skin tone, matching Jacobs, and long silver hair ties back in a pony tail.
His eyes were wide to my smile, his nostrils flared and i watched the hairs prickle on his skin. My smile faded slowly as i took in his response to me. Can he sense the greae within me? His people are the ones who captured them.
Billy still stared at me with intense, anxious eyes, i groaned internally. Please dont let there be any complications tonight, just let them come and go without any drama , just for tonight.
"Billy!" Charlie called as soon as he got out of the car.
I turned toward the house, beckoning to Jacob as I ducked under the porch. I heard
Charlie greeting them loudly behind me.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see you behind the wheel, Jake," he said disapprovingly.
"We get permits early on the razz," Jacob said while I unlocked the door and flicked on
the porch light. Renee was a the dining room table flicking lazily through a newspaper and sipping on some tea.
"Hey , mum" I greeted, time to put on the daughter glanced up confused then saw Jacob, Billy and Charlie entering for behind, realization flickered through her eyes and she smiled.
"Hey sweetie, did you have a good night with your friends?" She questions me like any other mother and i smile nodding at her in reply.
"This is a surprise seeing you coming up from the reservation, i didn't think you would come down here unless you were with Harry?" Charile question while Billy wheels squeak and they enter the living room. I give Renee an eyeroll and she stifles a if they are in the other room i can hear them clearly.
"To be honest Harry's been acting like the one in a wheelchair lately, so i have you to turn too," I hear Billy explain. "And you have a big tv so when i watch a game ill be actually to see the ball," He chuckles and the rest of the boys follow.
"Go in there Bella instead of just spying on them from in here. Ill make pizza," Renee tells me and i raise an eyebrow. Through all generations of Swans ive lived with none have been able to cook. Lets just say culinary skills are not in are genes.
"Just remember Renee that black and golden brown are two very different colours,"I tell her seriously. If i smell one ounce of burnt dough in the air i know she's burnt the food , again.
"Ha ha , very take them some beers." Renee hands me four bottles and i give her one back with a smirk. I dont drink at all really, the thought of being reckless and a magnet to death, is quite scary.
"Here you go boys, drink up." I tell them handing them each a bottle and placing the bottle opener on the table. "Re- I mean mum is making some pizza for the match," I hint looking at the tv and seeing some football game playing. Not my type of thing but im mainly here just to listen in on their conversation.
"So, how are things?" Jacob asked me, as i ungracefully collapsed into the seat beside him on the three seater sofa. Billy and Charlie both engrossed to the screen in there own little armchairs.
"Pretty good." I smiled. His enthusiasm was hard to resist. "How about you? Did you
finish your car?"
"No." He frowned. "I still need parts. We borrowed that one." He pointed with his
thumb in the direction of the front yard.
"Sorry. I haven't seen any... what was it you were looking for?"
"Master cylinder." He grinned. "Is something wrong with the truck?" he added suddenly.
"No."
"Oh. I just wondered because you weren't driving it."
I stared down at the pan, pulling up the edge of a sandwich to check the bottom side. "I got a ride with a friend."
"Nice ride." Jacob's voice was admiring. "I didn't recognize the driver, though. I thought i knew most of the kids around here."
I nodded my head noncommittally , my eyes caught the slight turn of Billy's head at our conversation.
"How's things going with school." I tried to change the topic hoping it would work.
"Yeah its going fine." He smiles. "So who was it?" He asked, turning his body to face mine some more.
I sighed and wondered what type of response would come from Billy. "Edward Cullen."
To my surprise, Jacob laughed and Billy clenched his teeth. I glanced up at Jacob ,he looked slightly embarrassed.
"Guess that explains it ,then," he said. "I wondered why my dad was acting so strange." He spoke lowly so Billy couldn't hear. Though from Billys frown he obviously could.
"Jacob will you come and help me get some more drinks and the pizza, im sure its done ,but mum just doesn't understand cooked form uncooked." I joke, slightly making fun of Renee. He laughs ,but obliges and follows me into the kitchen, it's hard to talk with Billy right there.
"What do you two need?" Renee questions smiling at us from her place. Privacy, i think to myself ,but i dont say that, that just sounds like it has a very weird hidden meaning.
"Oh, um you go sit down in the living room mum , me and Jacob our going to get the pizza ready and everything. You go put you feet up." I lie trying to sound like a caring daughter. She raises her eyebrows confused ,but plays along. She probably would love to relax anyway.
"Alright sweetie thank you," She walks out of the room and i turn back to Jacob.
"So Billy believes in all the legends and stuff?" I ask.
He shrugs. "He can be a superstitious old man, and especially when the Cullens are mentioned."
I nod in thought and wrap the kitchen towel around my hand to avoid a burn by the backing try. When i open the door the warm air hits me and lights up my skin with its hot air. I grab the tray and try to quickly place it on the side.
"Can you get the plate from the cupboard. There in the one above the sink." I ask and he nods ,reaching to grab a large one.
"you dont think he would tell Charlie do you? About the- legends?" I add on and i hope i dont come across as being really nosey with all the questions im asking.
"I doubt it," He answered while crossing his arms over his chest ,making the muscles under his skin prominent. Being a girl i have no problem in saying this was distracting ,but not as distracting as Edward could ever be.
"There not really that close, and it's not something you just talk about to anyone." He tells me and knowing what i need he opens a draw and passes me the pizza cutter. I get to work right away, being extra careful in front of Jacob. If i cut myself and instantly heal that will be hard to answer.
"You told me," I say, then i hear the pick up of his heart beat at my words.
"Thats because you're special," His words make me blush and i place the slices in a pile on the plate once there all cut up.
"Um, you carry the plate i'll get the bottles." I pass it to him while going to the fridge, taking out three more bottles. Nice turn of conversation there Bella.
When we walk back into the living room Renee is in fits of laugher and Billy and Charlie are coughing from laughing so hard, tears are literally in there eyes.
"What happened here that we missed?" I ask slightly letting out a laugh for no reason.
Charlie grins and Renee looks up at me with apologetic eyes. "Charlie thought it would be a good time to tell a little childhood story of yours, from when you were a baby and playing outside with him throwing a ball,"Renee winks at me, for only my eyes to see.
This is obviously a load of rubbish seeing as im not actually there son. But a few white lies never hurt anybody. White lies actually save people if you think about it. If it helps to strengthen my fake persona then i dont mind what they make up on my behalf.
"Oh that story, well im glad you found it funny. But enough with the stories and time for pizza," I cheer excitedly and Jacob places the plate down , greedy hands grabs slices before the glass even hits the table.
It was a long night, all the pizza was consumed within minutes and the boys were still hungry for more, though they didn't make any complaints. I'm surprised the pizza was even edible, though it did have a weird tinge to it , you could still eat it.
"Are you and your friends coming back to the beach soon?" Jacob asked as he pushed his father over the lip of the threshold.
"I'm not sure," I hedged. I dont think it would be safe if the folks find out about the greae; if there even real.
"That was fun, Charlie," Billy said to Charlie with a small smile.
"Come up for the next game," Charlie encouraged. Im glad he's made another new friend he can hang out with. Even if that friend does come with some hefty baggage.
"Sure, sure," Billy said. "We'll be here. Have a good night."
His eyes shifted to mine, and his smile disappeared. "You take care, Bella," He added seriously.
"Thanks," I muttered, looking away.
I headed for the stairs and was glad when Charlie or Renee didn't call me for anything. I could act like normal now that Billy and Jacob have left. I couldn't wait to get in bed and just sleep the long hours of the night away. The closer the morning got , the closer the mystery begins to unravel.