AN: Thanks for reading ;)
Chapter Fourteen: Backlash (part two)
The fluorescent light strips above me hummed distractingly as Jake and I sat in-between the silence. I was waiting for him to speak and he, well, he was just stalling.
Finally Jacob looked up from his fascination with all things that weren't my eyes. "Where do you want to begin?"
"After school," I told him, "today" I added.
He patted the table with his finger tips, hesitating. "I wasn't there," Jake said drearily, "So I can only tell you what I've heard happened." I nodded trying to hurry the answers. "It's very one sided; very Paul sided," he snorted.
"I don't care whose side said what. Just tell me what you know."
"Well I was writing a history essay when Embry came by the house. He asked me if I was up for hanging, whatever, and I couldn't because, well, my essay was due tomorrow." He scratched his knuckle as his eyes darted. "Guess I won't get it in on time after all," he mused.
"Charlie called at about seven, told me some things, uh, went down, I guess. Those aren't his exact words but," he shook his head, shrugged slightly before continuing, "So I came straight here, Billy stayed back; I told him I would call him."
"I wasn't exactly surprised to see Paul had got in a fight. I mean its Paul." He over emphasized Paul's name like it was enough to explain away the situation. A heater clicked on adding to the buzzing white noise that persisted in the room.
"But, before, when Charlie called he said something about Sam and Embry and they're both even tempered guys, you know... So I pulled Paul aside and pretty much did what you're doing to me now." He looked me in the eye and held my stare for a few seconds. "Paul isn't hurt badly; he had to get some stitches on his knuckle, that's all. Which is pretty unfair, no offence to Paul, well actually, all offence to Paul, because he's the one who couldn't keep his fists off them."
"Have you ever noticed when people say 'no offence' it usually comes out sounding really fucking offensive?" Jake asked in an aside.
"People tend to say that just so other people know that they aren't trying to be rude. I don't know. Does it really matter right now?"
"No, guess not. Um, well I talked to Paul and he told me his side. I guess Embry, Sam and him were hanging around and they came across Jasper, James and Laurent, perfect combination, of course. And Paul said that James was using his big mouth to insult them. I don't know how true that is, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul was the one who started digging at them but…" he trailed off.
"I guess one thing led to another; Paul jumped James and here there aren't really details. They broke themselves up, the cops didn't come or anything but people were hurt so," he drew out, "we're here now. They won't tell the police what really happened. That's not how we do things, you know?"
I didn't know but I nodded anyway. "But everyone will be fine?"
"As far as I know."
"And when I say everyone," I paused not sure if this was the right thing to say but needing to know anyway, "I mean everyone involved. Not just Sam, Embry and Paul."
Jake's eye flicked back up, he looked speculating. "I think so. Jasper was hurt pretty badly."
It was obvious that he didn't really care how Jasper was but I did. I could just imagine their side right now. I pressed on my temples trying my best to get the image of a devastated Alice out of my head.
"This is a mess," I whispered.
"It's not the first time something like this has happened," Jake disclosed.
"That is absolutely ridiculous; childish," and my words sounded angry even to my own ears.
"But that doesn't really change anything."
"No it doesn't."
I rubbed my eyes, just needing to keep my hands busy. "What time is it?" I asked.
I didn't look up but I imagined Jake fiddling for a clock. When he had uncovered or found the time he spoke, "Two minutes to eleven."
This surprised me. "Is it really?"
"Yeah."
"Wow."
"Bella come over here." I looked up; Jake was eyeing the other cushion on the couch. I got up wearily and sat down beside him. I didn't care why he wanted me closer, there were too many things running through my head.
I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling. One of the florescent bulbs flickered; it was going to die soon.
"I'm sorry about how I acted last time," he spoke slowly, quietly, like he was afraid that he wouldn't be understood.
"Jake, we both know that was my fault, all of it. I should have told you before, but I didn't. I am so, so sorry. I just didn't know how to tell you. It was… it was weird and… well we've been kind of, I don't know, not defined in that respect so I just didn't know."
"It wasn't your fault. It was just… a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to have found someone else. Emmett always said you weren't interested in any of the boys at school and you'd never talked to me about anyone so I…"
I stopped him there. "I should have said something. I know that." It was interesting to learn that Emmett had talked to Jake though, some of my suspicions were confirmed, I wasn't sure if I was happy to learn I was right.
"But you don't have to tell me everything about your life."
"I don't have to tell you everything," I agreed feeling so tired I could barely keep my eyes fixed on the overhead lighting, "But that was one thing I defiantly should have told you."
"But I want to be friends with you Bella. I don't want anything or anyone to get between us."
"I don't think anyone could." I whispered.
"I'll hold you to that." He chuckled, what a relieving sound. I listened to his breathing for a couple minutes trying to relax my tense muscles, "But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying."
I tilted my head to eye Jake. He looked serious and contemplative, "You shouldn't waste your time."
He grinned; his eyes closed, "It's my time to waste."
I shook my head at my best friend but it was futile because I was glad. I didn't put much thought into his romantic pursuing; I wouldn't say I was happy about that, but I was glad he hadn't given up on me in general. I hoped that was the case when he learned the truth, the full truth.
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I stumbled back to Sam's room; Jake followed after me. We had sat together in companionable silence for over an hour; now it was time to rejoin our friends. Emily and Sam were both still awake and they still looked awful.
Jake took my hand and pulled me over to the bed beside Sam's. He sat up on it and I sat beside him facing the couple. I leaned back so my hair was hanging over the edge. While listening to the others low-pitched talking I let the sleepiness take me under. They're voices were like a mumbled lullaby, a chorus, and while I didn't fall into a deep sleep, I was relieved to get at least a small amount of shut eye.
"So everyone's going to be fine," Jake whispered.
"Oh good," Emily sighed.
"I should have talked to you before Bella; I didn't realize we'd be gone so long."
"Don't worry about it. We're here all night after all."
And their voices became progressively dulled.
"Yeah"
"And you and Bella worked everything out?"
"I guess you could say that…"
Words ceased processing correctly at this point. Everything had a dream-like quality. It was too hard to separate the words my friends spoke from those of my dreams.
I smiled when Edward's face floated in the periphery of my imagination. He smiled back but I didn't bother speaking with him, I wasn't deep enough, immersed enough, to understand his words and I was aware enough to know I was dreaming.
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I woke up with my nose pressed against a hard body; a woodsy smell permeating the air. I shook my head, letting my hair drape around me. I pulled back, sat up, and realized I was lying against Jake. I blinked a few times before rolling out of bed. Then I looked up and around me trying to figure out where I was; Emily stared back at me. Sam seemed more interested in reading a magazine.
And just like that I remembered where I was. "Jacob moved you when you fell asleep." Emily explained. I turned back to look at Jake and sure enough I noticed that he was lying properly, with his head at the headboard and so on.
"That was thoughtful of him," I replied keeping my voice down. "Did you stay up the whole night?"
Emily nodded, "Yeah, we both did," and she tilted her head slightly as to include Sam.
"The cafeteria opens in about," she looked up at the clock on the wall, "Like ten minutes. They don't have much, bagels, sandwiches, maybe soup, but I'm heading down if you wanna come."
"Yeah I probably should." I yawned and leaned against the wall in-between Sam and Jake, both still in their respective beds. "Maybe we should wake Jake. He's probably starving."
"He looks dead to the world, maybe we should just leave him," Sam said. It had been so long since I'd heard him speak I'd almost forgotten the way the tone in his voice made you think 'leadership.'
"No, no I'm coming," Jake gurgled in a voice so filled with sleep it was hard to believe he was aware of the goings on around him.
"It's alright Jake, I can grab you something; you stay here." I told him in a motherly voice.
"No, I want to get up, walk around." I watched him as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stood up. He looked disoriented. I chuckled at him when he ran his hand through his hair.
"If you two are both going maybe I'll just stay back," Emily spoke up. "I don't really want to leave Sam."
Sam made a grunt like noise, "Emily I'm not a child."
She raised her eyebrows in Sam's direction, "Don't act like a child then."
He rolled his eyes and smiled. It was nice to see them interacting like themselves.
"What do you guys want us to bring back then?" Jake asked. As the couple had talked he had walked over to the door and was already holding it open. I stumbled over to him, still only mostly awake.
"Can you just bring us, I don't know, four bagels, something to drink?" Emily asked.
"That sounds good," Sam added.
"Okay we'll be back soon," Jacob returned as I walked past him and into the hall.
"Don't bother hurrying. I think I told you last night, 'we'll still be here'." Emily chuckled as Jacob joined me in the hall.
"What was that about?" I wondered trying to recall last night and everything we'd spoken about.
"Emily's just kidding with me," I tipped my head; he was smirking like a fool.
"You have a strange relationship."
"Nah, it's pretty normal."
I laughed, "Whatever you say."
Jake pushed the down button beside the elevator doors, "Things are going to get better. This was the bottom."
"Somehow I don't believe that," I was trying to sound easy going but I couldn't help how my point sounded valid.
Jake chortled at me, "Don't be so serious."
The elevator dinged, I turned to Jake as the door opened with a small half-hearted grin. Maybe he was right.