Being There
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you so much for the lovely reviews. As always your support is really appreciated. Nikki :)
Part Thirty Six
Bella sighed as she looked at herself in front of the mirror. What was she supposed to wear? Nothing fitted...well nothing decent anyway. Her rounded belly loomed large in her eyes and she stroked it gently. "Not too long now." She murmured.
A knock on the door disturbed her musings. "Can I come in, Bella?" Leah's voice floated through the door.
"Yes." Bella called out.
Leah opened the door and slipped in gracefully. Bella was still staring at her reflection irritably. "Need any help?"
"Unless you've got an amazing outfit that actually makes me look halfway human, then no, probably not." Bella whined.
Leah laughed at Bella's dramatics. "You look lovely in whatever you wear."
Bella snorted. "I look like a whale."
"Stop exaggerating." Leah came up behind her and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "What about that nice blue top that your mom bought for you? It really brings out your eyes. Wear that." She suggested.
"It's a bit low cut, Lee." Bella's eyes darted down to her enlarged breasts. The only plus to being pregnant was she actually had a cleavage.
"Good, it gives you a chance to show them off while you have them." Leah gave her a sly wink.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Ha ha."
"Come on, Bella. Be bold, be brave, be..."
"Overexposed, cold." Bella arched an eyebrow making Leah laugh again.
Leah turned her around so she was facing her. "Come on, Bella this is probably going to be your last night of fun before it's all dirty nappies and sleepless nights. Be daring."
"You really are pushy, Leah Clearwater." Bella complained.
"That's a compliment coming from you. Now come on let's get you ready." Leah stalked over to the wardrobe and pulled out the blue top and waved it in front of Bella.
"I suppose there is something in what you say." She conceded taking the top from the other girl.
Leah smiled. "You know it makes sense. Although I do have another suggestion." Her eyes lit up at the thought.
Bella looked at her dubiously. "What?"
A wicked grin crossed Leah's face. "Let's just say that Jake's eyes will pop out of his head when I'm finished with you, Bella Swan."
XXXXXX
Quil waited for Jessica to say something. She was standing with her mouth open staring at him. He had just rendered her speechless. She stayed like that for a good while before she shook her head as if trying to clear it. "You are joking, right?"
"No, everything I've just told you is the absolute truth." Quil said firmly. "You know me, Jess. I can't lie to you."
"And Bella knows all about this? Jake is one too?" Jessica queried, she wrapped her arms around her waist as she tried to get her head around what he was saying.
"Yes, there are eight of us all together, including one female."
"Whose the female?" A touch of jealousy coloured Jessica's voice.
"Leah." Quil told her.
"Leah Clearwater? The really tall, attractive girl..."
"Who is very much in love with Sam Uley and wouldn't give me a second glance." He said quickly. Quil knew Jessica so well.
"I am not jealous." Jessica said defensively.
Quil tried to hide his smile. "Of course not."
"I'm not." She snapped. "So you're a big bad wolf."
"Big, but not bad." Quil lost the fight and grinned at her. "Say something, Jess."
"I'm your imprint?"
"Yep."
"And you love me despite the imprint?"
"Yep."
"And according to the rules of this imprinting thing you have to do or be whatever I want."
"Yeah." Quil gave her a suggestive wink. He narrowed the gap between them so that they were barely inches apart. "What do you want, Jessica Stanley?"
Jessica gazed into his sexy dark eyes which were looking at her with such love and desire that she felt like she was on fire. "You could kiss me." She whispered.
Quil's grin grew wider. "I thought you were never going to ask." He said before pressing his lips onto hers.
XXXXXX
Jacob and Embry finished setting up the tables in preparation for the food. They had erected a small bonfire and placed some chairs around it in case Bella or any of the others felt like resting. Jacob looked at his friend as he straightened up one of tables; an intense look of concentration on his face. He hadn't had much time to spend with Embry lately and he wondered what was going on in his life, he never talked much about what he did outside of the pack.
"Hey Em, bringing anyone special with you tonight?"
Embry glanced up at him. "No." He replied distractedly.
Jacob tried again. "That's a shame. Isn't there anyone you're interested in?"
Embry stopped what he was doing and frowned. "Why all the questions?"
Jacob shrugged. "Just wanted to catch up. I'm sorry I haven't had much free time lately."
"I'm not worried, Jake. Bella is about to give birth, it's understandable." Embry resumed what he was doing, effectively closing down the conversation, therefore avoiding answering Jacob's probing questions.
Jacob sighed, Embry could be quiet at the best of times but lately he had been mute. He worried about his friend. Everyone was settling down in their own way but Embry seemed to be drifting. "Are you okay, Em? There's nothing bothering you, is there?"
Embry sighed irritably. "I'm fine. If there was something I'd say. Now is that all?"
Jacob looked around him. Everything had been set up now, it was only the food that needed to be laid out, Sue and Leah were in charge of that. "Yeah, that's about it."
"Great." Embry ran a hand through his hair. "I'm off, I'll see you tonight."
"Bye, Em." Jacob watched his friend take off. There was definitely something he was hiding and Jacob was determined to find out what.
XXXXXX
Jacob came home to find Billy getting ready to head down to the beach. Harry was picking him up in his truck. "Ah your back." He said by way of greeting. He rolled his chair over to Jacob and gestured for him to kneel down so he could whisper in his ear.
"What is it?" Jacob hunkered down so he was on his dad's level.
"Bella has been locked in your room with Leah for ages. All I could hear was giggling and whispering. I think they're up to something." Billy said in a low voice. "Just giving you a warning son."
Jacob tried not to laugh at his dad's warning. "Thanks for that." His old man was definitely losing it.
"No worries." The sound of a horn blaring outside signalled Harry's arrival. "Well see you down at the beach, Jake."
"See you, dad." Jacob watched as his dad manoeuvred his chair out of the house as he went to meet up with Harry.
His keen hearing caught the sound of laughter coming from the room he shared with Bella. What were the girls up to? He walked down the hall and knocked on the door to his room. There was more giggling then Leah opened the door slightly.
"What?" She asked, her eyes alight with mirth.
"Let me in Lee." Jacob began to push on the door. Leah pushed back.
"NO. Bella's not ready just yet. Go wait out in the living room. She wants to make an entrance." Leah declared.
Jacob glared at her. "What have you persuaded her to do now?" He asked suspiciously.
Leah just laughed and shut the door in his face. "We'll be out soon." She called through the closed door.
Jacob sighed, it looked like he had no choice but to do as she asked. He went back down the hall and headed into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich while he waited.
XXXXXX
Bella studied her reflection in the mirror. "Are you sure I look okay?" She asked Leah for the hundredth time.
"Yes, Bella, you look great. We're in matching outfits." Leah twirled around in hers.
"Yeah, but you look like a Quileute princess and I look like Cinderella's ugly stepsister." She complained.
"Bella you're pregnant. You should be proud to show off your bump. Really look at yourself, you are glowing girlfriend. Now stop whining and let's knock Jake's socks off." Leah put her hands on her slim hips and stared Bella down.
"Alright." Bella finally caved in. "I suppose it's now or never."
"Oh, it's definitely now." Leah smiled as she took Bella's hand and tugged her gently out of the room."
XXXXXX
Jacob was halfway through his third sandwich when Bella and Leah finally emerged from the bedroom. He nearly choked on the bread as he saw Bella for the first time. His eyes went wide and it took him a moment to take in what he was seeing. She looked absolutely stunning. When he didn't speak Bella's face flushed with embarrassment. She glared at Leah. "I told you I look stupid."
"No you don't. Look at his face, Bella. The boy is in shock." Leah snapped her fingers in front of Jacob's face and he flinched.
"Bells," he said huskily, putting the remains of his sandwich down. "You look absolutely beautiful."
Bella blushed again. She could see by the sincerity shining in his eyes that he meant every word. Leah laughed quietly to herself. "My job here is done. I will see you both at the party." She smiled to herself when neither of them answered, they were too caught up in each other. Leah left them alone.
"Do you really like it?" Bella asked Jacob tentatively as he took her hands in his own and drew her nearer.
"Honey, you look amazing. Where did Lee get those outfits?" He asked as he looked her up and down appreciatively.
"They belonged to Sue's grandmother. They are traditional tribal regalia. We had to adjust my outfit a bit. Sue's grandmother was tall like Lee, and of course I had to make room for our baby." She glanced down at her bump wryly. "Lee did my hair and make up."
"Just perfect." Jacob reached out and touched Bella's hair. Leah had plaited it into one long braid, leaving wisps to frame Bella's heart shaped face. Woven throughout the braid were feathers and different coloured ribbons. The make up she had applied accentuated Bella's pale skin, making her beautiful brown eyes seem huge. Her lips were ruby red and inviting to be kissed. Jacob leaned down and did just that, his mouth lingering on hers, taking her breath away.
"Wow, all the effort was worth it." Bella laughed happily when he pulled away. She ran her hands over the soft deerskin hide of the dress. It reached her knees, the soft fringes swaying gently as she moved.
"Well honey are you ready to go?" Jacob held out his arm and Bella took it.
"Yes."
Jacob gave her one of his trademark grins as he proudly led his Quileute princess out into the late evening sunshine as they headed for the party
A/N-second part of this chapter will be posted tomorrow. Thanks for reading!