Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to katmom and Angelinia who beta this story.
Chapter Fourteen
Wolf Stuff
Things were going remarkable well for Bella at the moment. Actually, well didn't cover it; she didn't think extraordinary would cover it. Edward was no longer just staying in her room; he was now holding her as she slept at night. It took her a while to get completely used to this. Her heart would race until he would hum her to sleep and she needed at least one extra blanket, and some times more, so she didn't freeze. However, she quickly learned to deal with that and now she found that it would be impossible to sleep without him holding her.
Another thing that she was quite excited about was the fact that Edward didn't really seem to suffer at all when she kissed him. She figured that out as he often surprised her with intense, though unfortunately short, kisses when she wasn't expecting it. After that, she felt quite comfortable about allowing her instincts take over, though she hadn't had a chance to 'attack'... not yet at least.
She was also pleased when she noticed that Jasper no longer shied away from them whenever they were at the Cullens' house, which was quite often. That change didn't happen all at once, but within a week after she and Edward shared their first kiss she realized that Jasper was around her - even when Edward was there - just as much of the rest of the family.
The only slightly irksome part of her new found relationship with Edward was when she informed Charlie of the change in status. Edward was insistent that Charlie deserved to know that his daughter was dating someone... more specifically him... and she had to agree that he had a point. Besides, she felt that her dad probably already realized the truth and she didn't want to lie (she wasn't very good at it). So, that Sunday, she had told her father, and the evening somehow turned into having Edward coming over for dinner and she had to sit through an excruciating dinner where Charlie asked embarrassing questions before retiring to the living room. All in all, it wasn't so bad; at least Charlie didn't have a reason to dislike Edward.
She was startled when she realized that she had been in Forks for over a month and that it was now the first Wednesday of March, which would have been the day she would have been asked out by three guys. She knew that wasn't going to happen this time, not only because she was with Edward every possible second she could be even during school hours, but because she hardly talked to either Mike or Eric and she never even said so much as hello to Tyler.
Still, something was nagging at the back of her mind as she thought about this, though it had nothing to do with the dance or the boys who were supposed to ask her out. No, what she was thinking about was the fact that she had met Jacob in the book this weekend. She was thinking of the fact that other than the five phone calls, she hadn't talked to Jacob since the time he came to the Cullens' house. Obviously she hadn't seen him either, and she hated that. It was the one truly dark spot on her otherwise happy life.
As the weeks passed, she got more and more nervous about the silence, thinking that there had to be something she could do, but Edward was insisting that distance was the best thing for the situation right now. He did admit that he didn't think it would have taken this long. However, he still believed that things would work out in the end. Of course this only made her worry more as she realized there wasn't anything the Cullens could do to help Jacob out other than living their virtuous lives.
She had half a mind to march down to La Push and do whatever she could. However, she resisted the temptation. The only reason why she did this was because when she talked to Jacob those few times he had called, he said he was making progress and that most of the people in the village no longer hated him. Not altogether reassured, she at least had to take something out of the fact that he was able to joke about this.
Still, the thought of actually going to see her friend was appealing. As she thought of this, she realized that the Quileutes couldn't really say anything if she showed up at First Beach with a bunch of other people from her class. Of course, she wasn't really sure she was invited to the beach trip this time around... but it was an interesting idea to play with. Then again, would Jacob even be at the beach?
"Edward?" Bella said as she got out of bed, it was still several minutes before her alarm was due to go off but she had awakened almost an hour ago naturally. "What are our plans this weekend?"
Edward raised an eyebrow quizzically, having a feeling that she had a specific reason for asking this, but he didn't press the subject. "I don't think we've made any... though it is supposed to be sunny, so I thought we might go somewhere outdoors."
Bella's mouth thinned, just the thought of seeing Edward in the daylight made her want to abandon her half thought out plan. "That sounds nice... do you think you'll be taking me back to the meadow?"
"I'm not sure," Edward said thoughtfully. "I would have to make sure with Alice if the wildflowers are blooming yet... I wouldn't want to go there again without them."
"That's true."
"Do you want to wait to see me sparkle until we go to the meadow... that is if the flowers won't bloom until next week?"
"I don't think I can wait that long," Bella bit her lip. "The thought of how you look like in the sun is too appealing to wait for anything. Besides, I have a feeling that the sight will eclipse any surrounding."
Edward chuckled, smiling smugly. "What were you really going to say, Bella?" he then questioned, looking serious.
"It's nothing," Bella sighed, but he kept looking at her until she had to answer him. "I just thought maybe I could go to the beach on Saturday... to First Beach."
"Oh," Edward said thoughtfully, "It seems like time has passed without me even realizing it. To think it is already March..."
"I was thinking the same thing," Bella smiled at him.
"I take it you were inquiring about this because you wanted to see Jacob at the beach," Edward sighed.
"Yes, but I can find some other way to see Jacob," Bella said. "I really do want to see..."
"No, I think this is an excellent way for you to see your friend," Edward frowned, deep in thought. "I know you've been worrying about him more and more lately. You can see me in the sunlight anytime, but this is a safe way for you to go to La Push and put your worries to rest."
"Safe... do you think they would try to do anything to me?" Bella cocked her head to the side; that sounded ridiculous to her.
"No," Edward chuckled, "but I think something like this would make things easier."
"I still don't know if I want to wait..." Bella started.
"I actually need to hunt anyway, Bella," Edward said. "And I'm sure Emmett would like it if we went to Mount Rainier. The grizzlies are supposed to be extra irritated this weekend. I could leave Thursday after you fall sleep and I will be back before you wake on Sunday."
"I don't know..." Bella said, she didn't want him to be gone for that long, but it did seem like a good plan. "I suppose that will work. Now all I have to do is somehow make sure that I get invited to the beach trip."
"Don't worry, you know that you could do anything as long as you put your mind to it," Edward chuckled, "you've proven that time and time again."
Bella smiled at him and before she could say anything else her alarm went off and she had to get ready for school. Edward left then, so he could change his clothes before he came back to pick her up.
At school she found that it wasn't as difficult to get invited to the trip as she had thought, because Jessica asked her to come. It was after a rather lengthy conversation of how Mike had said yes when she had asked him to the dance and Jessica was so happy about this (and the well placed encouragement on Bella's part) that she just blurted out the invitation. Bella's happy acceptance seemed to please Jessica, though she looked slightly disappointed when Bella informed her that Edward would be camping with his brother.
At Bella's raised eyebrow, Jessica just shrugged, "Come on, I know he's your boyfriend and all, but I still wouldn't mind seeing him without his shirt on."
Bella blushed at that, she still hadn't seen that yet and she didn't think it would be fair if a bunch of other girls got to see that before she did. She was suddenly very glad that Edward couldn't go to First Beach. "That's understandable," she said coldly and Jessica mumbled an apology that definitely wasn't sincere, but she didn't expect it to be. Bella had a hard time concentrating for the rest of class because she was thinking of Edward without a shirt on... and even added what she thought he would look like in the sunlight...
"Earth to Bella," Jessica giggled, waving a hand in front of Bella's face, distracting her from her very appealing thoughts. "It's time to go."
"Okay," Bella sighed and followed Jessica to their next class. Bella determinately paid attention to everything that was said in Spanish class, she didn't want Jessica laughing at her again. This just made it seem like it took forever before the bell rang for lunch and Bella was able to see Edward again. After telling him of her success, she had to endure the others voicing their opinions on this matter. The least helpful of them all was that Bella should count herself lucky that she didn't have to see the wolves and it was best to leave them to their own devices.
The rest of the day had passed just like the weeks before it, everything was perfect. The only thing she had to complain about was that it was too short; it seemed like no time before she was sleeping in her perfect boyfriend's arms. The next day was much the same, though she had waited outside of the Biology class and told Mr. Banner that she couldn't stand being around blood, and he gave her a pass to go the library instead.
On Friday, Bella was a little sad, for when she woke up Edward wasn't there. He had left to go on his hunting trip. She went to school in her truck, something she hadn't done in almost two weeks, and was a little startled when she started the engine (she had gotten used to the purr of Edward's Volvo). She was surprised that Alice was waiting for her when she got out, but smiled all the same.
"What's up, Alice?" Bella asked.
"I had a vision this morning of Jessica asking you to lunch since she knows that Edward isn't going to be here," Alice shrugged, watched as Bella looked at her apprehensively, "just as I thought. You don't have to say no because you think you would hurt my feelings..."
"What if I don't want to have lunch with them?" Bella asked.
"Oh, because they're going to bombard you with questions about us," Alice said. "That will only last the first ten minutes, after that they move on to the upcoming dance. Besides, I have a feeling it will help Angela if you're there. Jessica and Lauren are going to make her go with Eric and the girl deserves so much better than that. If you're there you might be able to put her on the right track. And if not... well, you know we can't be there on Monday and Tuesday and I hate to think of you all by yourself for so long."
"Okay, okay, I'll have lunch with them," Bella said, rolling her eyes at Alice's last comment. Though, she felt pleased that she might be able to help Angela out.
Alice was right about the first ten minutes. The group of girls that Bella was surrounded by couldn't stop asking her questions about Edward and his family. She wasn't sure if it was her lack of juicy information or the fact that they were so excited by the dance, but the subject had turned and she was able to breathe again. She had sat down next to Angela, seeing as she hardly knew anyone else at the table, it seemed best. She couldn't get much word in edgewise when Jessica and Lauren made their case for Eric. The biggest point they could come up with was that he was tall, which admittedly seemed to please Angela somewhat. Bella decided not to say anything at the table though, knowing the shy girl wouldn't appreciate sharing this with everyone... she wasn't even sure she would share it with her.
"I noticed you didn't seem very interested in Eric," Bella said, as she and Angela headed towards Biology.
"Well... I mean he's nice... I just, I don't know," Angela said, shyly.
"Sorry... I don't mean to pry," Bella sighed, she shouldn't have started the conversation off like this, she sounded just like the other girls.
"It's okay, Bella," Angela smiled easily, before she frowned. She seemed to deliberate about something before she added in a whisper, "I just wish I could be as brave as you are..."
"Brave?" Bella said, not agreeing with that. "I'm not really that brave."
"You're with Edward, aren't you?" Angela shrugged. "You make it look so easy, but I'm sure it took some courage to be with him."
"Maybe a little," Bella said, thinking back to her first day when she wasn't sure what would happen when she first meet Edward. "But being with Edward is the most natural thing in the world to me."
"Well, I'm happy to hear that, and only slightly envious," Angela chuckled, and then sighed.
"Hm... do I sense that you might like someone?" Bella questioned, keeping her voice light.
"I..." Angela said, her cheeks coloring in a blush. "I... might."
Bella smiled, she wasn't sure if Angela was going to open up to her, and if this didn't work she was going to let the subject drop. However, it seemed that she might still be able to help her friend with this. Still, she wasn't sure how to proceed. And, unfortunately, they had reached the classroom at that point and the bell was about to ring.
"Um... if you want to talk about it, you could call me... or we could do something after school," Bella said with a smile, but didn't get an answer right away. It wasn't until after the class that Angela agreed to talk to her after school. Pleased, Bella walked towards her gym class with a rare smile, though it didn't make the actual class any better.
Bella and Angela ended up at Bella's house after school and after a light amount of prodding Angela told Bella about liking Ben.
"... I don't know why I'm saying this," Angela ended with a sigh. "I don't even think that he likes me... I mean sometimes it seems like he might, but... nothing ever happens."
"Maybe he's just nervous that you don't like him," Bella offered. "It's hard for guys to ask a girl out. Take Edward for example," she went on, feeling uncomfortable being this open, but she knew that Angela wasn't going to tell anyone else what she said. "We had been spending all our time together, but he seemed so nervous when he asked me out..."
"Really?" Angela asked, truly surprised. "But he seems so confident about... everything."
"Tell me about it," Bella chuckled. "But like you said, it's sometimes hard to be brave where the heart is concerned."
"True," Angela said, looking timid again. "I suppose you want me to be the one to ask him out."
"I wouldn't go that far, but I do know someone has to make the first move or nothing is going to happen," Bella sighed. "Is Ben coming to the beach tomorrow?"
"I'm not sure," Angela said.
"Well, if he is, maybe you should just try talking to him," Bella suggested.
"Maybe," Angela said and Bella could tell the conversation was over; there was no use to push the topic any farther. The two girls quickly fell into a different topic and Bella smiled at how easy it was to be with Angela. Who said she can only relate to supernatural people? Angela went home not too long after Charlie showed up, and Bella made dinner for them in a semi good mood. She had a good day, much better than she thought she would, but she still missed Edward terribly.
O
Bella smiled as she walked back from the tide pools. They were just as intriguing as they had been a month ago, even more so because of the fact that they were very different than they had been at that time. However, the reason why she was smiling at the moment was because Angela was talking to Ben as they walked back up the beach. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she had a good feeling they might be able to work out their issues on their own.
When she got back to the beach she looked around hopefully, but it didn't seem like Quileutes where there at all. Sighing in disappointment she sat down near the driftwood fire so she could eat her lunch.
"Bella?" she heard a familiar voice say and she looked up to see Jacob smiling at her with two boys that were about their age standing behind him. That is, they looked as if they were fifteen, though Jacob looked older than that. He had grown a lot in the last few weeks and his face no longer had the same roundness it did when she had first met him.
"Jacob!" Bella said, beaming at her friend and got up to hug him.
He chuckled when he hugged her back, and when he pulled away from her he said, "I didn't expect you to be here! It's good to see you!"
"Ah, so you're the girl that got Jake in trouble," one of Jacob's friends said. "I can see why he did it."
"I take it you're Quil," Bella said holding a hand out to him.
"That's right," Quil smiled, looking slightly taken aback that she knew his name, but shook her hand anyway. "And I would be happy to get in trouble because of you anytime," he waggling his eyebrows.
"Idiot," Jacob smacked him on the back of his head, and pushed him away from Bella, who was trying to hold back a smile. He was just as Jacob had described him.
"You must be Embry," Bella said turning to Jacob's other friend.
"That's right, it's nice to meet you, Bella," Embry said, shaking Bella's hand.
"So, how are things going?" Bella asked, knowing she wouldn't get proper answers with the other two boys there, but she wanted to make sure Jacob was okay.
"Better," as Jacob said just as this other person, for she couldn't call him a boy, walked over to them. "Oh, hey Sam. Um... this is Bella."
Sam looked at her closely and Bella had to fight the urge to fidget. For some reason she envisioned this man banishing her from the beach. Telling her that she was part of the Cullen family now and that she couldn't come down here. Irrational as the thought may have been, she knew it came from the fact that she viewed herself as being part of the Cullen family.
"Hello," Sam said and gave Jacob a look before he moved on.
"Hi," Bella answered too late.
Quil and Embry were laughing, and Quil said, "I don't think I've seen him that irritated before. What did you do to him? Steal his teddy bear or something?"
"That's enough," Jacob groaned. "Why don't you two beat it...?"
"Sure, Jakey, we'll give you some alone time with your girlfriend," Quil said in a cooing voice as Embry snickered. When Jacob made to step towards them, the two scattered.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Jacob said to Bella when they were alone, he was looking over her shoulder and noticed a few people looking at them. "It would be better if we talk in private."
"Of course," Bella said and they walked until they found a piece of drift wood they could sit on that was well away from the others. "So tell me... everything that happened."
"Okay," Jacob said thoughtfully. "Well I told you about what happened at my house that first day with Dad and Sam. They found out that I was hanging out with the Cullens and that I knew that our legends were true. After that...
Jacob woke up the next morning feeling like crap and it just got worse when he remembered everything that had happened. His dad had yelled at him, called him a stupid kid that didn't understand how dangerous his intentions were. What hurt worse though was when he was called a traitor, for being sympathetic towards the Cullens he was considered a traitor.
When Bella called the next day he found it awkward having Billy watch him, his eyes were cold and he looked regretful about something. When he hung up he knew what it was. Billy didn't like that Bella was around the vampires either, he didn't like to think of Charlie's little girl being around those monsters. He wanted Jacob to listen to reason and try to warn her how dangerous the vampires were. Jacob's defense that she knew them better than Billy could imagine didn't help the situation at all.
Billy took Jacob to the Council Meeting that he had called that evening in hopes that the story that they could tell could make him see the truth. Jacob was under the impression that Billy thought the Cullens had brainwashed him and Billy was trying to counter that the only way he could think of. Jacob found the stories fascinating... hearing them when you knew they were real brought a whole new light to them and he could see why the Elders were so scared. However, he had seen the Cullens as humans, he had seen that they have wants and desires that go beyond just blood and they weren't the same as the monsters in these stories. He told the council as much, he tried to tell them everything he'd learned, but they weren't listening to him. They all looked at him with a mixture of pity, fear and disdain. However, when he said that he by no means found other vampires to be less than vile monsters everyone seemed to be slightly appeased.
Sam and Jared approached him after the meeting and he felt unnerved. He knew they were werewolves, and he knew it was likely that he was one day going to join them. He didn't like to think that they would hate him when and if he did; it seemed like a bad thing. Especially, since he would apparently share their thoughts.
"Even though you haven't changed yet, Jacob, it seems like it will be only a matter of time," Sam said in a calm voice. "Therefore, I think it would be best if you continued to come to the meetings... and I am going to be considering you a member of the pack."
"Um..." was all Jacob could say to that, he wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not.
"Relax, kid, we're not going to hurt you or anything," Jared chuckled. "We just want you to understand everything about your heritage... and stuff like that."
"So, you're going to try and brainwash me..." Jacob started to say, but knew he said the wrong thing when Jared started to shake in an unnatural way.
"Jared," Sam said in the same calm voice, placing a hand on his shoulder. The other boy took a deep breath and stopped shaking. "Go take a run."
"Yeah," Jared sighed, and he left, his movements so fast that Jacob could hardly see what had happened.
"You should watch what you say, if we lose our tempers..." Sam said and cringed, his face becoming so remorseful Jacob couldn't look at him. "You seem to think that the Cullens are more than just monsters, and you might be right, but it won't be easy for you to prove that. I just ask you, Jacob, that you listen to our story... learn what we have passed down through the generations.
"Oh, and you might be interested in the fact that it's because of the Cullens that we transformed in the first place," Sam said, his voice no longer calm, it was filled with an anger that made the hairs on Jacob's arms rise. Sam ran away before Jacob could say anything about that and he was left with his thoughts. He wondered what Sam had meant, and he wondered if he would resent the Cullens when and if he changed or if he would be able to remember what he had learned.
When Jacob and Billy got home, Jacob was told that he wasn't going to be going out anytime soon. It was so weird to have Billy assort his authority like this but Jacob didn't want to push his dad at the moment. Still, the next day he didn't head straight home like he had promised. There was something that he had to take care of before and he didn't want to wait.
He knocked on the Clearwater's door and was glad (though terrified) when Sue answered the door. She had been at the council meeting the other night along with her husband so Jacob wasn't surprised when she looked at him coldly.
"Jacob," she said, clearly saying 'what are you doing here'.
"Um... there's something that I have to tell you," Jacob said, Sue just continued to look at him coldly; a raise of the eyebrow was the only movement she made to indicate that she was listening. "Well, I didn't really get a chance to explain how I came to... um... know the Cullens..."
Sue made an impatient noise there, narrowed her eyes and made to close the door, but Jacob put his hand to still the door.
"Please... just give me a minute," Jacob said earnestly and Sue's expression relaxed slightly. "I read a book... it was about the future..."
There was another skeptical rise of the eyebrow from Sue at this point.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true," Jacob said, "me and Bella read a book about when she first got to Forks and it was... I don't know it was real... everything made sense."
"I don't see what this has to do with me..." Sue cut in coldly.
"I know what I read was true... the book told about a future that was going to happen," Jacob went on talking really fast now. "And if things go as they did in the books Harry's going to have a heart attack."
"What?" Sue said her eyes going wide in shock and Jacob could see a myriad of emotions cross her face before she blocked her expressions.
"I know it sounds crazy," Jacob repeated. "And things might have changed enough that this wouldn't happen... but I had to tell you..." the mask that he was looking at filled him with dread. She didn't believe him... She thought he was just making this up. "Please... if you don't believe anything else, you have to believe that I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or Harry. You've been like second parents to me... and I don't want Seth and Leah to know... I don't want them to go through that..."
Sue let out a breath, and her eyes turned stoic, "thanks for telling me this, Jacob."
Jacob didn't know what else to do, so he nodded his head and left. He wasn't sure if she had really listened to him, but at least he knew that she would watch Harry closely. Feeling slightly better now, he went back home to serve his punishment. It was hard to stay home all the time, not even able to hang out with Quil and Embry, but he didn't complain. He used this time to think over everything he learned. And he was learning something new almost every day. Sam was true to his word, and he was told all the legends... explained what it meant to be a werewolf.
When he went over to Sam and his girlfriend, Emily's, house, Jacob really learned a lot. Emily told him about how she really got the scar that marred her beautiful face and how much pain Sam had to go through when he turned. Jacob knew that Sam had very good reasons to be mad at the Cullens, and to an extent he was upset too, but he knew that it was never their intention to hurt anyone. He could also see why Sam had never told him this himself, it was too painful for him to be in the same room as Emily relayed the story. Jacob knew that as soon as he transformed he was going to be able to see this... see Sam's memories of all of this and he knew it would be so much worse from that point of view.
"... that's pretty much what I've been up to," Jacob said. "Billy just let me out of the cell yesterday."
"I'm so sorry, Jake," Bella sighed.
"For what? You didn't do anything wrong," Jacob shrugged. "And things really weren't that bad... I think I'm starting to get to them."
"And they're not making you think the Cullens are monsters?" Bella asked.
"They're trying, but I still remain unaffected as of yet," Jacob chuckled. "Of course, they're still unaffected at my insistence that they're not so bad... I guess we're at an impasse."
"Hm... maybe when you're all wolfed out you'll be able to get the point across more clearly," Bella said. "I mean you can't really hide anything when your minds are linked like that right?"
"Probably, but I'm actually hoping not to turn for awhile," Jacob said.
"Oh... Jake, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that," Bella bit her lip.
"You're so easy," Jacob laughed at her. "I..."
"Hey, Jacob, there you are," someone said and Bella saw a tall boy walking towards them. "Oh... sorry, I didn't see you were with someone..."
"It's cool," Jacob said, "Jared, this is Bella, Bella, Jared."
"Oh," Jared said, he seemed to be confused about what to think judging by his expressions, "hey."
"Hello," Bella said timidly.
"I suppose I don't have to be all secretive and covert now, do I?" Jared mumbled to himself, before he turned to Jacob. "Sam wanted to see you... I guess you can bring your friend..."
"No, that's okay, I think the others are about to leave, I really should be getting back or I'll be left behind," Bella said.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Jacob sighed. "It was good to see you again, Bells."
"You too, Jake," Bella hugged him. She wasn't sure when she was going to see her friend again. "I really hope I'll be able to see you again soon."
"Subtle hint there," Jared muttered and then smiled at Bella.
"It might have been," Bella smiled back at him, "I really miss my friend."
"Well, you can come back here anytime," Jared said, "just don't bring your leeches."
Bella grimaced at this, but didn't say anymore as the boy left.
"He means well," Jacob shrugged after he sighed. "And hey, at least you're invited back... it would be nice if I could see you more than once a month."
"Yeah," Bella agreed and hugged him again before she returned to her other friends.
A/N: Well, I had no idea where the first half of this chapter came from, but I think it was nice. And hey, I finished the werewolf part I wanted to get done for now so I get to move on. As the way things stand at the moment, there will be one more chapter before I do the one where Bella reads New Moon.