Chapter 37: Imprints, Arguments, Surprises and Secrets

Emily narrowed her eyes before she pulled Claire behind the bench.

Quil snapped out of whatever fantasy world he was in and his eyes met Emily's.

Emily looked furious although I didn't blame her.

"You did NOT just imprint on her," Emily growled.

"I can't help it. It's not something I can control," Quil said, raising his hands.

Emily stepped forward.

"I'm not letting you anywhere near her."

"Why not?" Quil asked, pain evident in his voice.

"She's two!"

"What difference does it make?"

"She's two Quil! She's practically still a baby! There's no way you're having a relationship with her!"

"I don't want a relationship; I just want her to be happy."

"So you say! I'm not exposing my niece to this at such a young age!"

"What?" Claire asked.

"Nothing Claire, it's alright," Emily said calmly.

"Bella, help me out here," Quil said.

"Sorry Quil. I'm on Emily's side. You are not having a relationship with Claire."

"I don't want a relationship! I just want her to be happy. Yes, she is the one I'm meant to be with but I just don't feel that way for her right now. I will be whatever she wants. I'll be a brother; a protector... heck I'll even be a sister if she wants! I'll do anything to make her happy."

Emily stared at Quil for a moment before she glanced at Sam.

"It's true. Imprinting doesn't always cause you to want a romantic relationship. A wolf will be whatever their imprint wants and needs whether it is a brother, protector, friend or lover," Sam said.

Emily sighed.

"I... if you do anything to upset her or if you do anything I think is even slightly inappropriate you will never see her again."

Quil smiled.

"Alright, now that everything is settled let's eat!" Jared exclaimed.

Emily laughed before walking over to the fridge to get the food out.

I was glad to have that argument over and done with.

I glanced around at the couples in the room.

Sam and Emily were sharing a kiss; Quil was bouncing Claire on his knee as she tried to feed him a muffin and Jacob had his arms around my waist with his head resting on my shoulder.

He brushed his lips against my neck before spinning me around.

"Sorry about the icing," he said, a small smile still plastered on his face.

"Yeah, whatever flour man," I laughed.

He rolled his eyes.

"After I eat we should probably head back to my place to clean up."

"Yeah. If I don't get this icing out soon I'll never get it out."

"You can use the shower upstairs if you like," Emily said.

"That would be nice but I don't have any clothes. I'd have to wear these again and then I'd just have to take another shower due to the fact these are covered in egg, icing and flour."

"You can borrow some of mine. I'm pretty sure we're the same size. Come with me," she said as she walked up the steps.

I sighed and followed her.

She walked into her bedroom and pulled out a black shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Here, these look like they would fit you."

I took the clothes out of her hand and checked the size.

"Yeah, they should. Thanks Emily, I'll bring these back tomorrow."

Emily smiled and walked downstairs after handing me a clean towel.

After getting undressed and climbing into the shower I let the hot water run over my body.

I washed my hair twice just to make sure all the icing was out before I started washing the flour off my arms and neck.

Once I was done, I climbed out, dried off and changed.

I put the towel in the washing pile and picked up my flour-covered clothes.

"Yeah and then you and Bella could..." Emily's voice came to a stop as I walked downstairs.

"Never mind," she said before turning to the dirty kitchen.

"What were you talking about?" I asked.

"Uh... nothing," Jacob said.

"Are you sure? That didn't seem like nothing."

"It's nothing you need to worry about."

I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to get an answer.

"Well, I'd better head back home," Jacob said.

"Alright, bye Jacob," Emily replied as she started sweeping up the flour.

"Do you want any help?" I asked.

"No, I'll be fine. You've had a shower anyway."

"Alright, bye Emily," I said as I followed Jacob outside.

I climbed into the car but stayed silent.

I had heard Jacob and Emily talking while I was in the bathroom but I hadn't been able to work out what they were saying.

I was curious but I had no idea how to get an answer.

As Jacob pulled up outside his house I turned to face him.

"What were you and Emily talking about?"

"I told it was nothing Bella. You don't need to worry."

"Jacob, I know it was something. Please tell me."

"I... I wish I could but I can't."

"Does it have something to do with vampires?"

"No, Bella please just stop asking. You don't need to know right now."

I sighed and climbed out of the car angrily.

I wasn't happy that I wasn't getting any answers.

"Bella! You'll find out soon, I promise!" Jacob shouted from the car.

I waved my hand and walked inside.

"Hi Bella," Billy greeted me.

"Hey Billy."

"Those aren't your clothes," Charlie stated.

"I know, they're Emily's. We kinda had a big flour fight and I had a shower over there. I'm taking these back tomorrow."

With that, I walked up the hall into Rachel's old room.

To my surprise, Rachel was sitting on the other bed.

"Bella!" Rachel exclaimed, looking up.

"Hey, I guess you're out of college for a while."

"Yeah, I'm glad to back here actually. I've enjoyed the sun but my heart will always be here in the wet, cloudy place I call La Push," she smiled.

"Whoa, who is that?" Rachel asked loudly as Jacob walked down the hall.

"That would be the flour man," I laughed.

Jacob turned to face us.

"Yeah, It all started when Claire covered my head in flour. After that, Bella and Emily joined in and well, it ended with me looking like this. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go get this egg out of my hair."

I laughed again.

When Jacob disappeared I sighed and sat down.

"What's up?" Rachel asked.

"Nothing."

"That doesn't work with me."

"It doesn't work with me either but Jacob seems to think it does."

"What did he do?"

"He was talking to Emily about something but I don't know what and he won't tell me. I heard me name a few times but he says it's nothing and I don't need to worry."

"Knowing Jacob, he's definitely up to something. I'm sure it's nothing serious though. If I were you, I would just leave it be. He'll either come clean soon or whatever he's up to will become evident."

I sighed.

"I guess. I just really hate surprises."

"I know you do. You always have," she laughed as the phone started ringing.

I heard Billy's rough voice answer it.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

After a pause, he spoke again.

"I'll let them know. See you soon."

Rachel and I looked at each other.

"Rebecca's coming home for a while!" Billy called.

Rachel jumped up and squealed.

It was kind of childish for a twenty year old woman but I honestly didn't care.

If she wanted to act like a child I would let her.

She was older than me anyway and I had no authority over her.

Jacob walked down the hall groaning.

"What are you groaning about?" I asked.

"Rebecca's coming back."

"You don't want to see her?"

"I do, it's just now I'm going to have two annoying sisters in the house... and a slightly annoying girlfriend," he said with a smile.

I knew he was joking at the end but I stood up anyway.

"I'm annoying am I?"

He nodded, a sly grin on his face.

"That's it!" I laughed, chasing him down the hall.

"Watch it! This house isn't big enough for you two to be running around," Billy said.

Jacob stopped running and looked at Billy.

"Sorry Dad."

I smiled and jumped at Jacob, landing on his back.

"Hey!" he laughed, spinning around.

Once he put me down I sighed.

The day had been crazy in a way.

We'd had to deal with imprints and arguments.

Rachel had come home as she was on a break from college, Rebecca was flying over from Hawaii and I knew Jacob was hiding something.

Imprints, arguments, surprises and secrets; what a day.

A/N: Review please!