Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight Saga. I own twitchy fingers that enjoy writing for no profit.
Chapter 24: Enmity and Eating
When we got to the Clearwater's place, everyone was sitting together on the wrap around porch, Harry his son, Seth, and Paul Lahote taking it in turns to jog out into the rain to tend to the barbeque they had set up out there.
"Hey Charlie, Bella. Good to see you. Pull up a chair and grab yourselves a drink each." Harry called out, gesturing at the cooler Seth was resting his feet on.
"Thanks." I said, and I waved hello to everyone as I grabbed a beer for Charlie and a Coke for me out of the cooler.
Sue Clearwater came out of the house carrying a huge platter of food which she set down on a little table in one corner.
"Now you men let Bella, Rachel, Leah and I pick ourselves some of this out before you demolish it all." She warned the guys with a laugh. I smiled at her and picked out a decent plate of food for myself, Sue, Rachel and Leah doing the same before the men all jumped up to devour the rest. Harry came up from the barbeque, balancing a couple of plates loaded with steaks, burgers and ribs. I took a burger when he offered the plate to me and sat down next to Rachel.
"Hey Rachel. It's been a long time. How's it going?" She looked at me and gave me a tight smile, glancing at Paul quickly. Seeing him smile over at her, then turn to look at me, his smile turning into a mocking sneer, she answered.
"Pretty good, thanks. Sorry, I've just remembered I needed to say something to my dad." She quickly stood up and walked over to Billy, catching his elbow to get his attention and then talking away to him at a fast rate. "Huh. I don't remember her being this stand-offish." I thought to myself. "Maybe she's just a little shy or something." I decided I'd try talking to Leah for a bit instead. I wasn't going to launch straight in to telling her about Sam and I dating, but maybe I could get a little friendly conversation out of her, and then gradually turn out talk in the right direction to casually mention who I was dating. I stood and wandered over to her, where she was sitting next to her brother, staring out into the rain.
"Leah?" I said quietly, not wanting to startle her as she looked deep in thought. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" She looked up at me, her face changing from the lost expression she'd had while staring out into nothing to one of contempt.
"Actually yes, I do." She hissed quietly. She obviously didn't want to draw the attention of our parents, but the hostility was clear. "Oh crap. Looks like gossip moves even faster in La Push than it does in Forks." I realised.
"Have I done something to upset you?" I asked her.
"Well I guess that depends on your point of view." She snapped back at me. "If you consider sleeping around with most of Forks and half of La Push, and then setting your claws into the man I'm still in love with, then yes, I guess you have done something to upset me." I was completely at a loss at what to say. I couldn't allow myself to snap back at her; I needed Charlie to be happy spending more time on the Rez, and if he knew I was getting this hostile reception from his friends' kids, he would at the very least avoid spending so much time with them for my sake, and maybe even worse, end up falling out with his friends over the whole thing. I tried to make a polite response to the all-out attack.
"I'm sorry you feel that way. But just so you know, I haven't slept around with anyone in Forks, or in La Push either. Sam and I have only been on one date, but we like each other and plan on spending some more time together. Neither of us is trying to hurt anyone else." I reasoned with her "We're just getting on with our own lives and trying to have some fun. I thought Sam and you split up a couple of years ago now." She seemed to almost swell in her seat, her hands trembling with either upset or anger, I couldn't tell which.
"That's beside the point." She almost growled at me. "We were completely in love and then he just ended it out of the blue for no good reason I could see. Not that my relationship with him is any of your business. Until now he's not dated anyone at all, which has to mean he's still in love with me too. But then you get your whoring claws into him, as you've run out of other options in the area, and suddenly he's 'trying to have some fun'. Well he never needed fun before. He had me." I bit the inside of my mouth, hard, to keep myself from laughing at her accidental self-insult. Laughing right now would clearly be a very bad plan.
"I'm sorry that you're hurt, Leah. I'll keep out of your way, if that will help you, but I've got no intention of stopping seeing Sam unless he tells me that's what he wants , in which case I'd happily stand aside and let you have him. Again, if that's what he wants." I stepped back, turned and walked over to my dad and Harry, who were chatting away off to one side of the main group, not giving Leah a chance to say anything more. The evening wasn't going at all as planned, but then again when did things in my life ever go according to plan?
As I approached, Harry and Charlie hurriedly broke off their conversation and both turned to me with false cheery smiles.
"Hey, Bella. Having fun?" Harry asked me, rubbing the fingers of his left hand with the fingers of his right. It was a gesture I'd noticed him repeat a couple of times already that evening.
"Sure am." I lied with a bright smile. I figured that didn't count as lying to Charlie, as I was actually talking to Harry, not my dad. "Thanks for inviting us over. I've been telling my dad he should spend more time with you and Billy. Maybe you guys could do this sort of thing more often, even if us kids aren't joining in." I hinted. As I'd hoped, he took the bait.
"That sounds like a great idea. What do you say, Charlie? You Billy and I should get together more often, whether it's for a barbeque or just to watch a few games or something." Charlie smiled.
"I'm definitely up for that. Why don't you go suggest it to Billy?" Harry nodded happily, and wandered, rubbing his left upper arm now, over to where Billy was sitting in his wheelchair, talking to Paul. As soon as Harry was out of earshot, Charlie leant down a little to whisper in my ear
"Leah already heard, huh?" I looked up at him in surprise. He'd caught on to the hostility Leah had towards me very quickly.
"Guess that's why you're the chief, Chief." I grumbled. "Nothing gets past you, does it?" he chuckled at me.
"Not a thing, Kiddo" he said. "So Leah's not at all happy with you, and Rachel won't sit still long enough to talk to you as she doesn't want to upset either Leah or Paul, who also has some problem with you. Do you know what his issue is?" I shrugged.
"No. He's had a problem with me from the first time we met, and I can't for the life of me work out why. The only reason I've got any intention of continuing to try to get on with the guy is that he's one of Sam's close friends and I'd rather everything was relaxed and friendly. You have any suggestions?" I asked.
"Sorry, Bells, but this time I'm fresh out of ideas. I do know that you'll get it all fixed up one way or another. You're a smart kid, I'm sure you'll find a way eventually." I nodded glumly. I couldn't agree with him this time and still keep my 'no lying to Charlie' rule. Even if I had the smallest clue what to do about the animosity I was getting from Paul, Leah and, to a tiny extent, Rachel, the chances were that before I had a chance to put any plans in action, I'd run out of time on the Victoria front and have to concentrate on that instead. The thought reminded me of my secondary reason for spending more time on the Rez myself. I looked around. Billy and Harry were talking animatedly about something, and as Charlie left my side and joined them, they began including him in whatever it was they were discussing. Sue was talking in another group with Leah, Rachel and Paul, who was standing just behind Rachel, his chin tucked comfortably on top of her head and his arms wrapped loosely about her upper body. Only Seth was free to talk, sitting, feet once again resting on the cooler, by himself, devouring the enormous plate of food he'd fixed for himself. As I approached him he looked up. I was steeling myself for another hostileglare, but instead I got a friendly smile. He hurriedly swallowed the mouthful he'd been chewing and said
"Hey, Bella. You're looking a little lonely there. Want to come keep me company for a bit?" I smiled gratefully at him, taking the chair next to him in relief.
"Thanks, Seth. I was beginning to feel a little out of place there." I told him. Thinking it would be best to get any rejection that might be coming over and done with, I squared with him straight off. "Your sister's upset with me because I've just started dating Sam. Seth grimaced.
"Yeah she's still really hung up on him, despite the fact that he's made it clear on several occasions that they won't be getting back together. She's not doing either of them any favours by holding out any hope in that direction." Seth seemed like a sensible kid, despite being so young still. I smiled at him sadly.
"It can be very hard to give someone up when you've loved them. Especially if you truly believed it was going to be a forever kind of a deal."
Seth and I chatted together for about twenty minutes about nothing of any real importance, before I was able to carefully and casually inch the conversation around to what I really needed to know. I'd finally managed to get him talking about the old legends, and the wolves when Billy wheeled over just as Seth said
"But the Elders tell us that when the cold ones are near, the fever will set in, and those who have ties to the wolf lines will protect the tribe." Billy accidentally ran over Seth's feet, drawing a loud yelp from the kid.
"Oh shit. Sorry, Seth." Billy was very apologetic. I'd never seen him accidentally roll over someone before; he'd always seemed to have complete awareness and control over his chair, I figure it was just due to the large crowd gathered in the small space. As sorry as I felt for poor Seth's squashed toes, I was even more frustrated at Billy. I was sure that Seth had just been about to mention something important. Something that could've given me a clue. "Just my luck." I thought. "Seth was just about to say something useful and Billy runs him over. What shitty timing for an out of character mistake." With Billy joining the conversation, and firmly steering it in a new, and to me far less interesting, direction. I gave up on my mission for the time being. Something Seth had said triggered a fleeting thought. So fleeting in fact that in drifted out of my head before I could pin it down. "Never mind." I told myself. "I'll figure it out later. Either while I'm meditating, or Taha Aki will give me some new dreams to dig around in."
It was another couple of hours before we left. I knew I wasn't fooling anyone except maybe Seth, but I continued to pretend that I was completely at ease and enjoying myself. I had to prove to Charlie that I could handle the hostility and awkwardness without breaking down, or he'd almost certainly decide not to spend as much time with his friends for my sake. Just before ten, I got a text from Sam, asking me if I was still in La Push. I quickly answered that yes I was still there, although I was expecting to be leaving soon. He invited me to stop by at his place before I headed home, just to say "hi". I smiled to myself. "At least the evening would hopefully end on a positive that way." I reasoned. Wandering over to Charlie, I hinted that I'd like to be getting home soon, and he was happy to start saying his goodbyes to everyone. I thanked Harry and Sue for having me round, said a few words to Seth and then gave a politely distant nod to Rachel, Leah and Paul, then I went to sit in the cruiser and wait for Charlie. He was only a few minutes longer than I was. As we pulled away, heading towards the Black's place to collect my truck I asked him
"Dad, do you mind if I make a quick stop at Sam's on my way home? I won't stay longer than half an hour."
"Sure, Kiddo. As long as you're not late back – it is still a school night after all." I gave him a grateful smile, and when we got to Billy's I jumped out of the cruiser and straight into my truck, giving Charlie a quick wave as I pulled out and turned the truck towards where I knew Sam's house was. I'd not been to his place before, but I knew the general area, and that it was the house right at the top of the hill, so I wasn't worried I'd find it too hard. Sure enough, as I neared the top of the hill, there was only one house up there; a large, single storey cabin which backed directly onto the forest. Sam was sitting out on his porch, a beer in hand, and despite looking very tired, he gave me a big grin as he rose to greet me.
"Hey." He said, leaning down to give me a light kiss on the lips. "Had a good day?" I wasn't really sure how best to answer that. There was no way I was going to lie, but should I give him the whole truth, or would the details of my friend hating him so much we had a screaming row about it, one of his friends disliking me so much that he deliberately made me uncomfortable in front of my dad, and his ex-girlfriend despising me completely count as "drama"? I decided I'd best be open about it, or it would look bad if he heard about it from someone else.
"My day was…. Interesting, I guess." I told him. "I had a row with Jake last night, and this evening I went with Charlie over to the Clearwater's place where I discovered that I'm really not the favourite person of quite a few of the other guests." He gave a small grimace.
"Shit. Did Leah give you a hard time?" he asked, understanding at once who at least one of my antagonists was.
"A little." I admitted. "Paul and Rachel don't seem to be my biggest fans either." I said with a rueful smile. "I can understand Rachel not wanting to be disloyal to her best friend or new boyfriend, but I really can't for the life of me work out what Paul's issue with me is." We walked inside and sat side by side on Sam's couch. "It's not that bad." I hastily assured him, "I can deal with it. Not everyone has to like me. I just wish I knew what I'd done to upset Paul so I can apologise." Sam's face became a little tense and angry.
"Paul has anger issues, Bella. It's probably easiest to just let it go and accept that the two of you just aren't going to get along." I wasn't really happy with that plan, but Paul was Sam's friend, so I had to believe he knew what he was talking about. I nodded in reluctant agreement.
"Well the no drama rule is a little on the frayed side already" I joked. Then seeing him tense up again I continued "but I'm dealing with the animosity just fine, so unless you want to stop thing between us?" I trailed off, not really knowing how to end the sentence. I'd been about to say 'that's fine with me' when I realised that actually, it wouldn't be fine. It would upset me quite a lot to stop seeing him, even this early on in our 'relationship'. "Careful, Bella" I reminded myself. "This isn't supposed to be going anywhere important. You can't afford to actually fall for the guy."
"NO!" he almost shouted, then blushed and went on in a calmer voice. "No, I don't want to call it off already. I'm looking forward to spending some time with you. He reached into my lap and took hold of my hand, intertwining out fingers and using the fingers of his other hand to gently stroke my knuckles. I smiled up at him.
"Good then." I said. "I'm looking forward to that too." We sat there quietly for a few minutes, just enjoying the quiet and each other's company before Sam spoke again.
"Are you coming to the Drop-in centre tomorrow afternoon?" he asked me. "It's tutoring night, but I'm sure I can arrange it so that you don't have to deal with Paul.
"Yeah I'll be there. Actually, I was going to give you something to give to Paul." I suddenly remembered. "It's in my truck. I'll grab it out just before I leave." At Sam's quizzical look I continued. "It's just a few leaflets about dyslexia and the problems it can cause with school, as well as the information for a testing centre he could go to if he wanted and find out if dyslexia is what's holding him back. I figured it would go over a lot better if it was coming from you and not me." He chuckled a little.
"You're not wrong there. He'd get all defensive and proud if you gave him the literature, and then just throw the lot of it out instead of looking at it." That was about what I'd thought, so I wasn't surprised. "I think you're probably right though. I'll pass the stuff on to him." Smiling, I leant into his side, enjoying the warmth that poured into my body from his. He let go of my hand and slid his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in tighter. I sighed happily, feeling a little of the tension form the evening at the Clearwater's leaving me.
"This was just what I needed after this evening, thanks Sam." I murmured, pressing my cheek into his broad chest. He bent a little and kissed the top of my head, resting his face I my hair and staying like that or a few moments, just breathing.
"Yeah. Me too." He whispered. I lifted my face to look at him and he bent that little bit lower to give me a soft kiss. The tingling returned to my lips and I pressed mine harder against his as he made a quiet sound of approval. When I started to part my mouth a little, inviting his tongue to enter however, he pulled back with a regretful expression.
"We don't have long before Charlie will be expecting you home." He said. "If we let this kiss go the way the last one did, I don't think I'd be able to let you go for a few hours at least." Though I knew he was right I pouted at him, pulling my lower lip right out. Sam just gave a little laugh and gently flicked at my lower lip.
"If you'd like, we could hang out here after the drop-in centre tomorrow, watch a movie or something?" He offered. "I don't have much food in right now, but we could always order pizza."
"Or I could cook, if you don't mind me rummaging around in your kitchen?" I ventured. His eyes lit up.
"Do you think you could make some more of your amazing lasagne?" He asked eagerly. "I've never tasted anything as good as that." I laughed.
"Sure. I've got to stop in at the Rez shop for groceries anyway. I'll pick up why I need while I'm there. You want me to make a really big one so you can freeze a few portions?" The grin on his face widened.
"You serious?" he asked "Hell yeah. Yes, please. I'd have to keep it hidden from Jared whenever he comes by – I honestly think he'd fight me for it if he knew I had some, but that'd be really great!" He gave me a hug. "I knew there was a reason I was keeping you around." I laughed again.
"Well I do still owe you two favours apparently, so I guess now we're down to one?" I asked
"Oh no you don't. That doesn't count as one of the two – you're going to be eating with me so you can't use that as a payoff." I pouted once again.
"But then how am I ever going to get square with you?" I asked playfully.
"I'll think of something" he told me, pulling me in tight against his body. His voice grew low and husky, almost a growl. "After all." He said "I wouldn't want you to be in debt to me now, would I?" I swallowed, suddenly dry mouthed due to his proximity and the lust that I could clearly see in his eyes. He moved in for a kiss and at the last second I turned my head so he caught me on my cheek.
"Now, now." I said "I've got to be going, remember. He groaned in frustration and I hid my smile. I was catching on quite quickly to this flirty teasing thing. Giving him a quick peck on the lips, I stood and walked towards the door.
"I'll see you at the drop-in centre tomorrow then?"
"Sure. Tomorrow." He answered, standing himself to walk me out to my truck. After one last little kiss I climbed in and, with a little wave, drove home.
That night, Taha Aki appeared as usual in my steamy sex dream. The naked sweaty me was moaning and screaming as usual, but this time Sam's name could occasionally be heard, as well as his voice calling out my name in return. I figured it was to be expected after the date, that kiss and the flirty teasing we'd been indulged in at Sam's place, but I was even more uncomfortable than ever at having Taha Aki there to witness the scene. I was actually glad this time when he gestured me towards the window and told me to "Watch".
I did as he asked and out of the window I once again saw a group of wolves lying and sitting around, seemingly on guard outside. This time, the silvery grey, the brown and the newer, grey with black spots wolves were watching the forest with what I could only describe as expectation, and when a new, russet coloured wolf walked out of the trees to join them, I wasn't at all surprised. I turned to Taha Aki.
"So I was thinking about the meaning behind the wolves outside. I knew there were at least two, from the letter that Victoria left me, but there has to be a reason for you showing me this group of wolves here. Does each one of these represent one of the tribe's current protectors?" He nodded at me, a surprised but proud expression on his face.
"Right." He said, and the feeling I had come to refer to as the right feeling washed over me. It was my turn to be surprised.
"Hey I know that feeling!" I said. "Has that been you this whole time – giving me that feeling so I knew when I was on the right track?" He nodded with an amused smile.
"It seemed that you needed the encouragement to see the correct path, Young One." He told me. "Though you have clearly made some progress yourself, without my help. You are learning to both look and see, although there are still some things you refuse to accept, despite them being right in front of you." He chided me. I didn't bother to ask – he wouldn't tell me. I was supposed to learn things for myself in order to understand them completely. That little niggle I'd felt in the back of my head while talking to Seth earlier tickled at me again, but it floated away before I could turn my attention to it. I sighed with frustration and moved away from the window, and the scene shifted.
I was back in La Push again, only for once there was no screaming. No blood and death and destruction. It was a simple, everyday scene, set in modern times. Had I not known for a fact that I was dreaming, I could easily have mistaken the scene for reality. My eye was drawn to a middle aged man, walking towards the forest edge. At a slight tug on my elbow from Taha Aki, the two of us followed the other man as he wandered, apparently aimlessly through the trees. Eventually he stopped and bent down, checking a trap on the forest floor before rising and heading off again in a new direction, rubbing one hand against the other in a strangely familiar gesture. I couldn't put my finger on where I'd seen the gesture before, but it felt important that I work it out. As we followed, I noticed his gait become a little unsteady and slow, his right hand gripping his upper left arm and then, with no warning he stopped in his tracks, and collapsed to the ground, his hand grabbing at his chest. Unable to do anything but watch, I saw him grow pale and die right there amongst the dead leaves and mud. The scene reset. I saw me/not me talking to the same middle aged man, apparently attempting to get him to return to the house. At first the man merely shrugged and laughed, but as me/not me continued to try to convince him, he began to grow angry and stormed off in the direction of the forest only. His death was only different in that he didn't make it so far into the forest this time. I guessed his anger had brought things on quicker. Again the scene reset and I watched as me/not me attempted to convince the man's wife and daughter to keep him home. This time all that was achieved was angering the two women. The man still went into the forest alone, and still died there. Finally, I saw me/not me accompanying the man into the forest. Then, with a weird feeling, like the whole world flashing past, I saw the same man, now between five and ten years older, judging by his appearance, dying peacefully in his bed, surrounded by his family.
The first thought that struck me as I woke the next morning was "Now what the fuck was that all about?" I' become used to the dream scenes featuring Taha Aki, but I'd come to expect them to have some important relevance to the Victoria situation, or at least to the wolves. This latest dream seemed to have nothing to do with either. For a second I was tempted to consider the thought that it was just an extremely random but "normal" dream, but the presence of Taha Aki ruled that assumption out. I'd need to give it some more thought.
School seemed to drag by in a mind numbing blur that day. I was looking forward to spending some more time with Sam, and of course as I wanted time to go faster, it perversely slowed right down, every minute feeling days long. When the final bell went, I was out of my seat and nearly to the door before anyone else had even reacted, let alone stood up. Waving a quick goodbye to Angela and Ben, and nodding at Angela's "call me" hand signal, I rushed through the halls towards the exit, and managed to get to my truck, only tripping three or four times in my haste, before anyone else had even reached the parking lot. I headed straight for the Rez, grocery list tucked in my pocket, and took my time wandering around the aisles looking for the best ingredients I could find for the lasagne. It dismayed me a little just how enthusiastic I was about cooking in Sam's kitchen for just the two of us. "Yeah. That's taking it slow, and not taking it too seriously alright, Bella." I thought to myself sarcastically. "Nothing says 'casual, not too deep, dating' like bustling about like a fussy housewife, trying to find the very best ingredients to cook for her man." It was definitely a concern. Despite all my best intentions, there I was, only a couple of daysin, and I was catching myself getting attached to Sam in a way I'd told him, Charlie and myself that I wouldn't do. I firmly reminded myself of the warning I'd given myself the night before – I couldn't afford to actually fall for this guy. I needed to keep thing light and fun, not serious.
I picked up everything on my list, and made my way to the check-out, smiling as usual to the lady on the till. She smiled back and took up our conversation where we'd left off the last time I was in the store. It had become our usual pattern over the last few weeks.
"So has that girl tried anything new at school, Bella?" she asked me. I nodded my head with a grin."Yep." I said, popping the 'p', and I filled her in on a cliff's notes version of the whole "rotting deer in the gym locker" incident. By the time I got to the end, the pair of us were folded over laughing. It was funny how well the two of us got on, bearing in mind that the only time I ever saw her was when I came into the Rez shop for groceries, but when she'd realised who I was the first time I came in, and asked why I'd made the trek over to the Rez to shop, rather than using the Forks supermarket, we'd bonded over our shared loathing of small town gossips and the damage they can do. I hadn't inquired about the specifics, but she'd briefly mentioned that gossip had done a lot of damage to her and her son's life several years ago, and I felt a certain kinship with her. Slowly but steadily, a new friendship was building there. I paid, and gathered up my bags.
"Bye, Allison." I smiled. "Catch you soon with the latest instalment of the the life and trials of Bella Swan!" She laughed and waved.
"See you soon, Bella honey." I walked out to the truck.
Planning ahead, I'd put a cooler in the back of the truck before school to make sure that none of the groceries would go off while I was putting in my time at the drop-in centre, so I packed the food away, and drove off to get started on the tutoring. True to his word, Sam made sure I wasn't paired with Paul – he'd sat Paul down with himself – and instead I was helping a pair of 9th graders called Collin and Brady. They were good kids – a little cheeky and full of themselves, but pretty smart. They just had a little trouble grasping the math they'd been assigned and were taking the opportunity to get a little help. They were both quite tall for their age, and pretty well filled out too. "Jeeze, is there something in the water here on the Rez?" I wondered to myself. "Sam, Jared, Paul, Jake, Quil, Embry, even Seth and these two…. Shit it's like all the guys I know around here are just huge." I guessed there were some seriously good genes in the tribe to produce all these tall, well-muscled, good looking guys. I helped Collin and Brady work their way through their math assignment, ignoring their terrible attempts at flirting, and was still helping Brady draw up a graph when Sam came over.
"She's not working you guys too hard, is she?" he asked the boys with a grin.
"Nah, we're cool." Collin replied
"She can work me as hard as she wants." Brady said cheekily, giving me a little smirk. Sam gave him a light tap on the back of the head.
"Watch yourself there, kid. I don't want to have to hurt you." Sam closed the last few steps to stand directly behind me, putting both his hands on my shoulders and leaning down to plant a kiss on the top of my head. From the table the two of them had been working on over in the corner, Paul gave a disgusted snort of derision. I looked up in time to see Sam shoot him an angry, warning look. Paul scowled and, picking up his books, stalked out of the room.
"Oh. Sorry, Sam. I didn't know she was spoken for." Brady apologised to Sam, looking a little nervous at having upset the guy he clearly idolised.
"Well now you do, so try not to drool all over poor Bella" Sam replied, despite the fact that we'd not actually officially declared ourselves as exclusive. Although a part of me thought I should be mad at Sam for getting territorial, I had to admit to myself that I kind of liked it. For one, it was nice to be wanted, especially by someone as hot as Sam, and for another, well a certain amount of jealousy was kind of hot. "I guess that kinky little submissive side I discovered when I started having the sex dreams is rearing its naughty little head again." I noted, blushing a little, while at the same time, noticing a slight dampening in my panties. Sam cleared his throat loudly, shoving his hands roughly into his pockets.
"Well anyway, It's time to start wrapping things up now. Can you boys manage the assignment yourselves from here?" He asked them, and when they nodded cheerfully he told them. "Ok then. So you wanna grab up your stuff then? Bella and I need to lock up here and she's promised me some more of her famous lasagne. We all heard his stomach growl loudly. "And as you can hear, I'm one hungry guy!" We all laughed lightly, and the boys started collecting up their books. Sam had walked down to the Drop-in centre, so I gave him a ride in the truck back to his place. On the way he told me about how he'd given Paul the literature on dyslexia that I'd left for him.
"He was a little defensive about it at first." Sam told me "but after I'd pointed out that dyslexia had nothing at all to do with IQ, but was just about how your brain was wired, he started listening. I think he's going to discuss it with his school guidance councillor next week." I was pleased that I might have helped Paul out a little, Even if Paul never knew the help had come from me, it didn't matter. What mattered was Paul finding the source of his problems and maybe finding a solution to some of them.
When we got to Sam's he reached into the back of the truck and picked up the cooler without me having to ask, carrying it in one hand and slinging the other arm around my shoulder.
"I've got a few different movies to pick from." He said, dropping his arm from round my shoulders to unlock and open the door. Gesturing for me to go on in ahead of him, he continued. "As I know you like Monty Python, I picked up 'The Holy Grail', 'The Meaning of Life' and 'Time Bandits', and then just in case you'd had enough of Python for a while, I also picked up 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Sweetest Thing'. I figured that was a good round selection." He picked up the stack of DVDs and offered them to me so I could make my choice.
"Do we have to watch just one, or can I pick out a couple?" I asked him. I'd not seen 'The Meaning of Life' or 'Time Bandits' but all the others were films I'd really enjoyed and I was going to find it hard to pick out just one to watch. He looked pleased.
"If you don't have to be rushing off this evening, I'm happy to watch as many of them as you like." He said. "Do you have a curfew on weekends?" I shook my head.
"No. Charlie's pretty cool as long as I let him know where I am and let him know what sort of time I aim to be back." I told him. "On the weekends anyway. He's a bit tougher on school nights." Sam put the stack of DVDs down on the couch and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Great. Then it's entirely up to you. I'd be happy to keep you up all night." At my immediate blush, he quickly added. "To watch movies, I meant. Not anything to do with sex….. Not that I wouldn't be happy to keep you up all night with sex, but…I …we….you…it" He finally trailed off, blushing almost as much as me. "Sorry. Just ignore all that rambling, would you?" he asked and took a breath. "What I meant to say was, I'd be really happy if we sat up all night watching movies, or talking, or pretty much anything. I'd really enjoy your company." I found his flustered awkwardness endearing, and I couldn't honestly say I was upset he'd had even a fleeting thought about keeping me up all night with sex. I wasn't quite ready for that step just yet, but I was definitely interested in becoming ready.
"What rambling?" I asked, letting him off the hook. "I didn't notice any rambling." We both laughed.
"So how about I get the dinner started off cooking, and we watch 'Time Bandits while the lasagne is cooking?" I suggested. He was happy to take the change of subjects and nodded, bending to pick up the correct DVD.
"Do you want any help in the kitchen?" He asked me
"No, I'll be fine. I might need to ask where you keep things every so often, but other than that, just some company while I cook, so we can chat would be great."
Once I'd got the hang of where everything was in Sam's kitchen, I found it pretty easy to get into my usual rhythm with the chopping, browning and stirring, and I enjoyed having someone in the kitchen with me to talk to. Sam only made the mistake of trying to nab a taste while I had my back turned. I caught him without even turning around, just knowing that he was reaching towards the pile of chopped mushrooms I had sitting on the chopping board, waiting to be added to the tomato sauce.
"I'd stop right there, before I got a hot, sauce covered spoon slapped across the back of my hand if I were you." I told him without bothering to even turn my head. I could hear the surprise in his voice.
"Are you serious?" he asked
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" I responded, holding back my laughter. He didn't bother holding back his own. It burst out of him in a surprised burst.
"My mom says that one too." He told me between chuckles.
"Sounds like a sensible woman." I grinned over my shoulder at him. After adding the mushrooms to the sauce I said "The sauce need to simmer for a while, so if you don't mind pausing it again in a while when I have to build the lasagne, we can start the first film now.
We sat on his huge, comfy couch, and as the film started, Sam pulled me over to sit on his lap. I looked up at his face, startled at the sudden move. He gave me a warm smile.
"This ok?" he asked. I nodded, my mouth too dry all of a sudden to answer. My mouth was the only thing that was dry; his unexpected, gentle but forceful move had once again sparked that little, unexplored part of me that clearly appreciated being in a submissive position and my panties dampened once more. I wriggled a little on his lap, trying to get a little friction where I most needed it, and felt under my ass his erection trapped in his cut-offs. He gave a small moan as I rubbed against him and I quickly froze my movements.
"Sorry." We both spoke at the same time and he gave a little chuckle.
"Maybe I shouldn't have done that; it's gonna be kind of hard to concentrate on the movie now." I snorted in amusement despite my blush.
"I'm sure we can handle it." I answered with a raised brow. It was his turn to give a snort.
"If you insist." He said, and he leant back against the back of the couch and made his face pleasantly blank, turning his face towards the TV screen. "We'll see." He added. A little disgruntled, I went to slide off his lap. He clearly thought I'd break before he did. "Screw that." I thought. "He thinks I'll break first? 'We'll see' indeed!" Sam's arms firmed around me, a gentle but iron tough cage round my waist keeping me from leaving his lap. "Huh. So that's how he's going to play it then? Ok. Well two can play at that game." I cleared my own face of expression and stopped trying to leave his lap, instead wriggling more firmly back into his hard on, deliberately teasing him against my ass. It cost me a little of my own composure – the heat and dampness between my thighs increasing once more- but it was worth it to hear his quiet groan which slipped out from between his clenched teeth. I looked up innocently.
"You ok?" I fluttered my eyelashes a bit and fought against the smile that was trying to break out on my face.
"Just fine, thanks." He ground out through his clenched jaw, and I had to fight a little harder to hold back my smile. I turned back to the screen and attempted to combine concentrating on the move with an occasional, well timed wriggle of my ass whenever I felt his hard on soften a little. After about the fifth time I'd pulled this little trick, his hands dropped to my hips and when I tried it next, his hands suddenly firmed, holding my lower body completely still against him. As frustrating as it was to have my movement restricted like that, that little submissive part of my mind clearly liked it and I felt another rush of heat and damp to my core. I let out a tiny moan against my will and was pleased to hear it echoed by Sam. His grip lessened for a fraction of a second and I quickly shifted my hips, rubbing against him and providing myself with a little friction the same time. I didn't allow my expression or my attention on the screen to waver for a second. He threw his head back against the couch cushions and muttered.
"For fuck's sake, you've got to be kidding me." I finally turned to face him.
"Shhhh. I can't hear what they're saying." I said, gesturing at the TV and pretending to be disgruntled. He let out a low sound I could only describe as a growl and began leaning in towards me, clearly giving in and moving in for a kiss. I quickly pulled back, and struggled out of his lap to stand up in front of him. He looked up, confusion, frustration and concern on his face.
"Time to build the lasagne." I said with a cheeky grin, and when he flopped back against the cushions I gave an all-out laugh and headed for the kitchen, brushing my thighs together with unnecessary force as I walked to try to relieve some of my own tension. I heard him get up from the couch a few minutes later and head off to the bathroom and grinned to myself. I was surprised and pleased that despite my lack of experience in the area, I'd managed to get him so riled up. Before long, Sam joined me in the kitchen. I looked up at him with a grin.
"Better now?" I asked cheekily. He shook his head ruefully.
"You, woman, are a health hazard, you know that?" My grin widened.
"Well thank you, I'm taking that as a compliment." I said
"Oh it was." He assured me. He hopped up onto the counter next to where I was working, layering up the lasagne "Can we call a truce for now? Much as I'm enjoying myself, it'd be nice to calm down and relax a little." He asked. "Well at least for a while, anyway." He gave me an evil little smile and I gulped. I could see in his eyes that he was going to step up his game in the next round, and I wondered if I'd be able to handle it after-all. I wasn't sure I was actually ready to sleep with him, despite how horny he was making me, and I briefly wondered if in my inexperience I'd pushed things too far and led him to expect more than I was willing to offer.
"Ok, a truce it is." I answered. I hoped that with a change of pace, I'd be able to back track a little on any unspoken promises I might've inadvertently given.
The lasagne placed in the oven, Sam and I wandered back into the sitting room to watch more of the movie. This time he didn't pull me into his lap, which I was both pleased and sadden by, but instead he wrapped his arm around my waist and let me settle into his side, my head resting on his firm, muscly chest. Beneath my ear I could hear the slow and steady beat of his heart and I let it sooth me almost into a meditative state like the ocean sounds, but I kept hold of my awareness, not wanting to miss any of the evening in his company.
I was incredibly relaxed and comfortable by the time the movie had finished and it was a bit of a chore to pull myself to my feet and go get our dinner served up. We ate together on the couch, watching the next movie and when we'd finished eating, Sam just took our plates and put them on the floor, swinging his legs round and then lifting me up as easily as if I was a pillow, then arranged us both on the couch in a sort of spoons position, his back pressed against the cushions of the huge comfy couch and mine pressed against the front of his body, my head resting on one of his giant upper arms. The position was so comfortable and I felt so at ease with him that I found myself drifting off as the movie wound to a close.
I don't know how long I dozed, snuggled up in the heat of Sam's embrace, but I suddenly sat upright, realising I'd forgotten something important.
"Charlie!" I gasped. I'd fallen asleep without letting him know what time I'd be back. I wasn't sure what the time was, but I had a feeling it was too late to keep him from worrying and probably being pretty pissed at me. I made a grab for my cell, waking Sam who'd fallen asleep with me.
"Wassa matter?" I slurred sleepily.
"I didn't let my dad know when I'd be back, and I'm…" I looked at the time on my cell, nearly two AM. "nearly two hours later than I'd said I'd probably be."
"It's ok." Sam told me, sitting up and putting his hand over mine on my cell. "When you drifted off I texted him and told him you'd fallen asleep on the couch. He said not to wake you as he was planning on staying at Billy's for the night anyway to get an early start fishing tomorrow." Sam rubbed my shoulders reassuringly. "You can take my bed if you want, and I'll sleep out here." Pulling me up from the couch, he led me to his room, where a massive bed took up most of the space. As sleepy as I was, it looked very inviting and I toed off my shoes and flopped straight down on top of the covers. Chuckling at me, Sam lifted my legs and pulled the covers back, tucking my legs beneath them and pulling them up to my chin. He leaned down and kissed me gently, squeezing one of my hands.
"Night, Bella." He said, and turned to leave the room. I didn't let go of his hand. As he reached the full stretch of my arm, I tugged him back gently.
"Stay with me?" I asked him. "I was so warm and comfortable wrapped up in you on the couch. Will you come hold me like that now too?" He looked torn for a second, but then made his decision. Walking back to the bed, he sat down and the edge and crawled under the covers with me, turning me onto my side and tucking my back up against his front in much the same position as we'd been in on the couch.
"None of your funny business now, Miss Swan." He teased. "It seems we could both use some sleep as we drifted off before the second movie even finished. I gave a sleep giggle and agreed.
"Promise." I said and was already fighting the dropping of my eyelids. I felt so warm and safe tucked up in his arms, I dozed off again almost immediately with a peaceful smile on my face.