A/N: Hey, I updated! I would've done it sooner, I mean, I skipped four out of the five days of school since I was ill, but hey my left hand was strapped to an IV. Hehehe... I felt like Bella while I was at the hospital (I had a bout of dengue... I know, it sucks. I'm lucky to be alive though). Anyway, hope you like the chapter...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Really.

Two Worlds: Exposed - Chapter 26

"C'mon, Bells," Jacob begged - literally. He was on his knees, fingers interlaced as if he was praying, and his eyes looked pathetic and puppy-like. It took my best efforts to not succumb to his wishes. "It'll mean so much to me!"

I rolled my eyes at his exaggeration, sidestepped around him and proceeded into the living room, where my laptop was currently stashed.

"Be-lla!" Jacob whined. There was some scuffling, a loud thud followed by large footsteps and before I knew it, Jacob was in my line of sight again. I forced my face to not give away my amusement. Honestly, whatever age Jacob might look, he's still sixteen years old and very, very immature.

"Pwease?" he jutted his lower lip out.

"Jake," I sighed as I took my laptop from the coffee table and propped it on my lap. "I don't see why I have to go. It's Saturday. I told you yesterday that I'd be spending every moment of the weekend trying to catch up on school work."

"And you can do that!" Jacob insisted. "All you need is a short break is all, and I'm inviting you over for dinner at my place. You know I can't stand to be with my dad right now - "

"Jake -"

"I thought he could sink no lower, but then bam! He invites the Clearwater family over. Honestly," he shook his head. "I've no problem with the 'rents, Harry and Sue, and Seth's okay for a kid… but Leah?" Jacob visibly shivered.

I frowned at his actions. "What's wrong with Leah?" I asked. "She sounds all right to me - a bit too self-righteous, but she's all right."

Now it was Jacob's turn to roll his eyes. "Bella, you only think she's all right because one, you're too kind for your own good; and two, you've only met her twice: once at that bonfire, which doesn't really count, and the other at the Christmas party, and if you don't recall, she was a total - "

"Jake!" I interrupted, pointing a warning finger at his direction. "There'd be no swearing coming out of your mouth, especially in this household."

"What?!" Jacob spluttered. "Did you just - ? Bella," he clicked his tongue, "you can't stop me from swearing the house down."

"Whatever." I turned away from him and focused on the laptop on my lap. Thankfully - though Jacob doesn't know this - I've already finished the most critical assignments last night and this morning. I'm now just working on some of the minor classes' work. At the moment, I was writing an essay for Art about my favorite artist.

"Sir John Everett Millais," I muttered to myself as I clicked on the link to his Wikipedia page.

"Who?" Jacob asked from beside me. I jumped at his close proximity.

"Jake!" I screeched, smacking him on the arm with a nearby pillow. "Don't sneak up on me like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Well," he grinned wolfishly, "it's a good thing the hospital's not too far. That, and the fact that Dr. Gerandy's working tonight."

I sent Jacob a queer look. "How did you know that?"

"I have my ways."

Sticking my tongue out in reply, I turned to my laptop and began work. Fifteen minutes' worth of work later, I was halfway through the essay when I heard a groan of boredom beside me. I stiffened, but after a second of nothing, went back to work.

"Argh," Jacob groaned and again, I ignored him and continued typing. At his third groan, I uttered a throaty scream and quickly hibernated my laptop. I simply couldn't concentrate with Jacob making childish noises. I ran up the stairs and shrugged a leather jacket and boots on. When I was just about to step out of the front door, I heard Jacob ask, "Where are you going?"

"Where else?" I answered heatedly. "To La Push because someone," I sent him an equally heated glare, "was too impatient to wait for me to finish my homework." Jacob blushed and shrugged his shoulders. "Well," I softened my gaze. "At least you have the decency to blush."

"Sorry," Jacob muttered. In a louder voice, he said, "But if you told me that you were gonna finish your homework first, then I wouldn't've been so impatient about it."

"But, I did say that."

"Yeah, but you weren't very clear about it. I thought you were just making excuses to avoid the invite."

"Aww, Jake," I visibly melted on the spot. "You know I would never say no for a chance to go to your place. You always hang out here with Quil. It's about time I get to go to the rez again."

After writing my dad a note about how I'll be spending most of the night at La Push (he was working late, staking out somewhere in the town, making sure there aren't any trouble), I flipped the switch of the living room's lights off. Jacob rushed over to my side, afraid of being left behind. I fished in my pocket for the garage door remote when I was certain that everything was off and that no kind of fire might start while I was absent.

"Whoa," Jacob whistled. "I didn't know your garage door was automatic."

I looked at him mysteriously, blew on my nails and said. "There are a lot of thing you don't know about me, Jacob Black."

"Sure, sure," was his flippant reply. I barely heard it when I caught sight of my baby, my Mini Cooper. I sighed inaudibly. No matter how many times I see it every day, I swear, I will never, ever, ever tire seeing it in all it's dirty white glory.

Bleep-bleep! The locks unlocked and I slipped into the passengers seat.

"Y'know, Bells," Jacob said from outside, "you don't have to take your car out if you don't want to. I can always give you a ride in my Rabbit if you're willing." To prove his point, he revved the engine of his two-wheeler machine. It made a discordant yet musical sound.

"Nah," I shook my head, allowing a couple of strands of my hair to fall over my eyes. "I prefer taking my baby out. I never take it out often enough for my tastes."

"Wh-what?" Jacob managed to say between his laughter. "Bella, you drive that thing to school every day - that's like, five days from out of the seven a week."

"Yeah," I grinned. "Your point?" I stuck my keys into the keyhole and twisted it. I revved the engine, satisfied by the soft purring sound. Despite the freezing temperatures outside, I had the AC turned on. The radio was on as well, spouting one of Britney's countless catchy songs. I was singing along to the music, and before I knew it - too soon, I reckon; I was enjoying the smooth drive - I was backing up to the Blacks' driveway.

"Ah, Bella!" Billy greeted enthusiastically from the kitchen window. "I see Jacob's invited you! What are you doing out there, standing in the rain? Come in! Come in!"

"Sorry for not calling beforehand to tell you of the change of plans," I murmured, my cheeks flushed with red, both from the bitter cold outside and from embarrassment. "It must've slipped my mind."

"No, no," Billy shook his head, opening the door for me. Jacob hurried past me and relieved his father of the chore. Of course, I then sent him a pointed look before I too, relieved him of the chore.

"I am perfectly capable of opening doors, thank you very much," I told him with a sly grin.

I followed Jacob to the kitchen, where already four people were situated. A wooden table was in the center, with only seven chairs were found instead of the customary eight (for that size of the table, at least). I guess, since Billy was in a wheelchair, he wouldn't need a chair.

"Jacob Black!" a tall woman with soft eyes said in a chastising tone, arms on her hips. "You are late for dinner." Her eyes relaxed when she saw me. "Oh, you must be Isabella." She took both my hands and enclosed them in hers. "Jacob has told us so much about you."

"Oh," I felt my eyes widen and my cheeks heat up. "He did," I coughed, "did he?" I looked at Jacob, and saw him stuffing his face with a piece of bread, avoiding my eyes.

"Yes, yes," the woman said. "I'm Sue, by the way, Susan Clearwater."

"And I, erm, am Isabella," I said awkwardly. "As you already know because of…" I nudged the tall Black by my side. I was satisfied when he flinched. "But please, call me Bella. I prefer Bella."

"Well, ain't that a relief!" shouted a sandy-brown haired kid with a zit on his chin. "Here I was thinking that I was gonna keep having to call you 'Isabella' for all the night. The name's such a mouthful."

That comment earned him a smack upside the head courtesy of Leah.

"You must be Seth," I said, leaving Jacob's side to stand beside the kid. "I've heard so much about you."

Seth chocked on his drink. "You have?"

"Oh yes," I nodded my head convincingly. "You know Jacob," I whispered. Seth leaned closer to hear. "He's such a big admirer of you, but don't tell him that I told you that. You know how it is, embarrassing to find that you admire someone much younger than you, especially a close family friend."

"Wow, I mean, really?" Seth gushed, eyes wide and alight with wonder. "What kind of stuff does he tell you?"

"Oh, you know," I blew on my nails, "the normal stuff. He likes the way you deal with your sister… you know, keep her in line and stuff. Jacob says it channels men's superiority over women, or something like that."

I tried my best to not laugh as I spewed lie after lie after lie. Who knew I could make something up this readily? I guess I just have inspiration. This is my revenge for Jacob introducing me to his friends as Isabella. Really, doesn't he know that I go by Bella?

Dinner was great - Billy obviously was such a great cook, better than Charlie, anyway. It was around nine when all the adults adjourned to the living room and took over the television to watch Oprah. I would've gone and joined them - I love Oprah - but Jacob insisted on me sticking with him throughout the night. That, and I think the adults needed some private time alone, to discuss stuff without the children… it looked like it, anyway.

"Hey Bells," Jacob whispered to my ear, "do you know why Seth's been sneaking weird looks at me during dinner?"

"I dunno…" I said faintly, examining a family picture of the Blacks. Jacob must've been around four, five years old. "Maybe you have something on your face?" I suggested.

"You sure?"

"Check the mirror, Jake," I smirked. "'Coz I'm not sure if that black spot on your chin is a mole or a leftover of Billy's dark chocolate medley."

With an eep!, Jacob jumped off his chair and was upstairs in the bathroom in a matter of seconds. "Bells!" I heard him shout through the ceiling, or I guess, floor in his point of view, "there's nothing on my chin!"

"Hmm?" I shouted back. "Oh, sorry for the trouble then!" I looked at the siblings in front of me and saw them laughing wildly. "What?" I asked innocently, before cracking up in laughter myself.

"You know," Leah said through her hiccups, "you're not bad for a pale face."

"Er…" was my not-so-coherent reply. What can I say to that? "Thanks, I… guess?"

"Welcome," Leah said, flashing her pearly whites. "So," she said after a while. We've all sobered up - of course, we were sobered up before, but then Jacob turned up with that frown on his face, which made us crack up again.

"So…" Seth copied his sister, which made said sister frown.

"I wasn't talking to you," she hissed.

Seth shrugged. "I thought it was an open 'so', like, you know, anyone can join."

"Yeah, whatever."

My head bobbed from side to side, from Seth to Leah and back, as the two argued like the siblings they were. It was funny to watch. I can't help but wonder though, that if I had a younger brother or sister, then maybe this might've been me… bickering with him or her. I sighed and hit myself mentally on the head. I can't be thinking about stuff like that. I can't think about what could've been. I have to accept that what I have, which is a sibling-free life, is what I've got.

"Yo Clearwaters, shut up!" said Jacob in a loud, authoritative voice. I jumped slightly in shock. Leah recoiled and Seth whined, crossing his arms childishly with a pout of his lower lip. Jacob just raised an eyebrow and said, "Look, be quiet. You're giving Bella a headache."

"What, no…" I shook my head. "I'm fine," I smiled. "See?"

"Bella, what were you thinking about?" asked Seth, clearly missing the warning looks from Jacob. When I didn't answer immediately, Seth blushed slightly and said, "Well, you kinda looked like Leah whenever she was thinking about Sam - " Leah stiffened in her seat " - so I figured maybe you could share it with us. My mo always says that a problem shared is a problem halved."

"Doofus," Jacob muttered loud enough for only me to hear. "Seth, how'd you think that one out?" he asked sarcastically. He gave a not-too-subtle a look over at Leah's direction. She was frowning. Deeply.

Seth's jaw dropped open in shock. "Oh," he said, before shutting his mouth closed and donned a sheepish expression. "Sorry."

There was an awkward silence that followed. I didn't look at anyone, instead finding interest at the snow outside. Hmm, the snow's slowly letting up, so maybe in a few week's time, there'd be no need for thick coats, not that I wear them even if I needed to. I didn't mind just wearing my leather jacket…

I grimaced at the still unbroken silence.

"Look, Leah," I spoke, tired of the deafening quiet. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean -"

"Why," Leah's eyes thinned into slits, "it wasn't your fault. It's was my doofus of a brother's for even bringing that topic up."

"Yeah, but if I paid attention, then he wouldn't have - "

"You should really stop that whole martyr complex you're going for. Not many men go for it."

"Leah," Jacob warned. She just ignored him. "Bella's just trying to apologize, which is better than what you're brother is doing."

I chanced a glance at Seth, whose head was bowed down in shame. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and he looked up and met my smile. 'It's okay,' I told him through my eyes. 'It wasn't your fault.'

"I didn't ask for an apology," seethed Leah. She was shaking in anger. "I didn't ask for her to butt in into my business. And how did you know about it, anyway?" she turned to me, accusing. "Who'd you hear it from?"

"I -" I was at a loss for words. Really. How am I supposed to tell her that her ex-boyfriend's love life came up during a discussion about his supposed participation in a cult? Leah wouldn't take that so well, especially since she was obviously still hung up on him. I'd come out crazy, explaining it to her, anyway, and I'd go even lower in her book.

"She heard it from me," Jacob announced, standing up. "Got a problem with that?"

"Yes," Leah mimicked Jacob's actions, standing up as well. "I've got a problem with it. I have a right for it. It's my business after all. You, however, haven't got a right to spreading it about to pale faces." She said the last word like an insult, and my heart constricted somewhat.

"Jeez, Leah," groaned Jacob. "You're such a fanatic about those legends. And Bella's not a pale face. There's no such thing as a pale face. They don't exist, so stop using it as a derogatory term."

Legends, what legends? I leaned in discreetly, my curiosity piqued.

"Oh, come on, Jakie-poo," Leah drawled insultingly, "you turning your back on your heritage?"

"I'm not." Jacob crossed his arms. "You're just jumping to -"

"Am I? Tell me the truth, Jacob Black. Am I?" At Jacob's hesitation, Leah smiled winningly. "See? You can't even answer. She's turned you into a traitor, Jake. She's a pale face, through and through."

"Stop it!" Surprisingly, it wasn't Jacob who rushed to my defense. It wasn't Seth either. He seems to be into shock, leaving only one person left to come to my defense: me. "Can't you see you're hurting him?" I hissed. My words were true. Jacob was speechless, a pained look on his face.

"Do I look like I care, pale face?"

I couldn't think of a witty enough a reply to her insouciant comment. Actually, I don't even care if I say a witty reply or not. She insulted my friend - one of my best friends at that - she doesn't deserve my efforts.

"What's a pale face, anyway?" I asked, crossing my arms. "What's so bad about being one?"

"It's not being racist, if that's what you're thinking," she said as she glared scathingly at me. At my resolute gaze, her shoulders slackened and her whole body language crumpled inwards. She sat back on her seat and placed her chin in her hands. "In Quileute legends, there are stories about… well, stories about wolves."

"They say the Quileutes descended from them," inserted Jacob. Happy to see him responding to the world again, I draped an arm over his shoulders and squeezed.

"So…" I sat down on my seat. "How's that related to 'pale faces'."

"Well," Seth said, a tad too energetic that appreciated. He stole his sister's cue, earning him a glare that he was too excited to notice. "Legends say that the natural enemy of the wolves - well, not really the wolves but the werewolves, which were men of the tribe that had the ability to turn into wolves and back - the natural enemy of them are the…" he gulped, as if afraid but the twinkle in his eyes were still there.

"Just spit it out, Seth, or I'll do it for you!" Leah rolled her eyes. I noticed that a hint of a smile was playing on her lips.

"Fine," Seth rolled his eyes heavenwards. "Ruin my fun… Anyway," he cleared his throat. "The natural enemy of the werewolves were the pale faces."

"Pale faces?" I stated more than asked. "So, the enemy of the 'werewolves' are people who are really, really pale?" I meant it as a joke, but no one laughed. Well, no one but me. My laughter faded feebly in my throat before it even got a chance to be heard.

"Not just really pale," Jacob said. "Try about…" he shared a look with Leah, and together, they said, "deathly pale."

I stiffened, my smile dropping off of my face. Did they just say deathly pale? I'm no stranger to deathly pale. Deathly pale and I were pretty good friends a couple of months ago… we even dated for a while.

'Ohh, for the love of all things good,' I thought. 'Can't they just leave me alone!'

A/N: So... is it okay? Well, I got nothing else to say, for once.

=D