Author's Note* Slight change in plans, I am moving the bonfire to line up better with when they had the bonfire in the books since I'm just not prepared to do that scene yet. I have already edited Chapter 2 to reflect this at the time Chapter 3 is being published so if you just started reading when this chapter was published, the comment about the bonfire has already been altered.
When I woke up the next morning, I could hear Billy talking with someone in the kitchen. I got up and walked toward them.
"Morning Bells." I heard my dad say before I could even see his face.
"Dad? What are you doing here?"
"Meeting up with Harry in a bit to go fishing. I sure was surprised when I knocked on the door and saw you sleeping on the Black's couch."
"Yeah, sorry. After baking all day I went to hang out with Jake before heading back and fell asleep on the way." I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
"That's alright Bella. It isn't a problem. I'm just glad you kids are talking again. I didn't need a repeat of… Anyways, I'm stopping by Sam's on the way to Harry's. Maybe Emily will let me sample some of that baking you've been doing."
I feel like he was trying to catch me in a lie, luckily there was plenty of snacks at Sam's that the pack was forbidden from touching. "Sure. There's a whole lot to choose from though. Might get a bit overwhelming."
I heard Jake clear his throat from behind me before he spoke. "I hope there's enough for me too."
"Jeez Jake! Look at you. Hit a growth spurt did ya? I'm not sure there's enough food on the reservation to feed a growing not your size."
I heard Jake laugh as I turned around and my mouth dropped. Jake was standing in the entrance to the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxers. He was like a Calvin Klein model but no airbrush required.
"Bella?" I heard my dad say beside me.
"Hmm?" I responded, not taking my eyes of Jake, his thick muscular arms specifically did something weird to my insides.
"You're drooling." He said before he and Billy burst into laughter as I wiped at my mouth. Nothing was there but that sent them roaring with more laughter. I was so embarrassed. I couldn't believe my dad just caught me ogling my best friend. My boyfriend. My soul mate. Oh my God did he know we were together? Did Billy tell him? My eyes went wide.
"You're funny Chief." Jake said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward his bedroom and locking the door once we were in. "Sorry Bella. My dad probably told your dad that we're together when he saw you here." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you okay with that?"
"Of course. A heads up would have been nice though."
"I need to be at Sam's in like 20 minutes. I got the first shift of the morning and I'm starving." Jake gave a little whimper like a starved dog. "We could leave now and I'm sure Emily would have something made for when we get there."
"How about, I make breakfast here then we drive over?"
"Well, I guess that would work too. I love your cooking. Let me get dressed."
I walked out of Jake's room and started throwing things together for French toast which cooked up pretty fast. I used a whole loaf of bread and a dozen eggs and some cinnamon and before I knew it, we'd gone through it all, Jake eating the majority of course. And no more sarcastic words from my dad before everyone headed out. Charlie dropped Billy off with another one of their friends before meeting me at Sam's.
"Where's Jacob?" Charlie asked when he got there.
"Oh he took off with a bunch of his friends, not before raiding the pantry for muffins and cookies though." I explained.
"Oh, you you're actually here to bake?" Charlie seemed confused. I knew he was trying to catch me in a lie.
"Of course she is, Chief Swan." Emily said. "Bella is a great baker and I'm going to be able to sell a lot more having her help. The Youth Center is really going to benefit this year."
"I'm happy to help." I responded and noticed Charlie just smiled and nodded at her.
"Could I buy some snacks for the fishing trip? I'm afraid everything might be gone by the time we're back on land."
"Of course, Charlie. Take your pick. I have these little boxes I picked up that will hold six muffins or cupcakes or a ton of cookies for anyone looking to buy more than a single item." I admitted, proud of myself for thinking ahead.
"Well then, I think I'll have a filled box of cookies and a box of cupcakes. Can't have enough snacks on the water."
I laughed and started pulling cookies and cupcakes out for him to decide before boxing them up, taking his money and sending him on his way.
"I'm going to start bringing Tupperware out to the car. Would you mind helping?" Emily asked me, with an irritated tone.
I helped her out and we drove in silence to the youth center where the bake sale was being held. A couple other tables were set up with home made trinkets and yard sale type stuff people were getting rid of, anything to raise money for the center.
The bake sale went well for the most part. We sold almost everything which was a huge surprise to Emily since she normally doesn't sell half of what she makes and this time there was double from me helping out. The boys would be happy to know there was leftovers though.
Halfway through the day I could have swore I saw a glimmer of bright red out in the water but it must have been my imagination because when I looked again, there was nothing and it's been three hours and I'm still alive. I made a mental note to bring it up with the pack though, just in case.
When we arrived back at Sam's, Jake and Embry were joking around in the yard like they used to and it made me happy to see them that way. Jake has been through so much in such a short time but at least he has Embry still, though it did make me think of poor Quil who wasn't let in on the secret.
"There's leftovers if you guys…" I started but was interrupted with a quick kiss.
"You had me at leftovers." Jake said and Embry opened up the trunk to kidnap the food before Jake could get to it.
"Hey! I'm starving here. Withering away. I need sustenance Embry. Get back here!" Jake joked, running into the house after his best friend.
I stood there just shaking my head at their antics, but also hopeful that Jake got some food. I walked inside and the two boys were sitting at the table, devouring the leftovers before Emily swiped the containers away and what was left in them.
"Have some manners. Sam will want some too." She said and something about it irked me. I don't know what it was about Emily but she just didn't sit well with me.
I looked back at Jake who looked like a pouty dog that was told no licking when a vision hit me. Alice stood in a brightly lit wood cabin with a snowy mountain outside the window.
"I saw Victoria in the water, stalking Bella then… Bella's whole future disappeared. I can't see her anymore. I think… I think Victoria is going to kill her. We have to go back. NOW!"
When I came out of it, Jake was standing next to me, holding me up. Oh boy, this would have been dangerous if I was driving.
"What did you see, baby?" He asked with so much concern it made my heart melt and calling me baby made my insides flutter and I smiled, and he smiled back and for a moment we were lost in each other's gaze but Embry had to ruin it by clearing his throat.
"Oh. I'm. First I need to say that I thought I was seeing things because for a quick half a second I thought I saw a bright red streak in the ocean today which made me think of Victoria. But now, after my premonition I think it really was her."Jake looked angry and irritated.
"She's going in the water so we can't find her. She has no smell there, the water washes it away and we have no trail to follow. You're in danger near the water." Jake said, his body vibrating.
"Jake." I said, placing a hand on his arm and looking into his eyes. "Let me tell you what I saw before you freak out, ok? Maybe we should go outside first." We walked outside but I kept close to Jake despite Emily's protests. I knew I'd be alright. "So I saw Alice in some mountainy cabin and she had just had a vision of Victoria watching me from the water, so I guess I wasn't seeing things and then she couldn't see me anymore. She couldn't see my future at all. See thinks… that maybe Victoria kills me and we'll, they're coming back to make sure that doesn't happen."
"Wait, she can see the future? How accurate is it?" Embry asked.
"Well it isn't one hundred percent. Different choices people make changes things. I could choose to go to a pizza place and nothing happens or I could choose sushi and get into an accident on the way, ya know? So it isn't set in stone. And yeah, sorry. I forgot about their abilities since they're no longer around. Not all vampires have special abilities but some do and, well, the Cullen's have a good amount."
"If they're heading back, we need to know now. What abilities?" Jake asked, still shaking.
"Alice of course, sees the future. Jasper can affect your emotions. If you're angry or scared he can calm you and make you feel safe or he can make you sad, hopeful, whatever is needed at the time. Rosalie is just Rosalie and Esme is Esme. Carlisle has an unnatural affinity for helping people though that could just be years of practice or something special he has. Emmet is the strongest vampire you will find and E… Edward can read everyone's mind. He hears what you're thinking like you're talking to him. Everyone except… except me. He could never read my mind."
"So they're a bunch of super freaks with super powers on top of being insanely fast and strong vampires. Lovely." Jake seethed. He backed away then shifted while running toward the trees.
"He's just going to let off some steam while letting the rest of the pack know. He'll be ok Bella." Embry reassured me.
I did the only thing I could think of while I waited, I cooked the pack a nice hot dinner. Emily made dessert and by the time we were done, all but Jake was sitting down to eat.
"He'll be switching up with Embry before you have to head back home. He'll go with you. Embry will follow your truck to your house and keep watch and I'll be patrolling the reservation. You'll be safe Bella." Sam explained, which didn't help me feel any better.
"Thank you Sam. For everything." I made Jacob a plate to make sure he got fed and then made a small plate for myself before sitting down to eat. By the time I was starting to feel sluggish Jacob was walking through the door
"Perfect timing, Jake. I'm... Soo… tired." I yawned my words out, covering my mouth as Jake barely chewed his food.
"I'll make sure you get home safe."
I was half asleep and I think I said, "My knight in furry armor." before my phone ringing startled me awake. Jake almost choked on his food from laughter though I wasn't sure if it was from my words or the phone making me jump.
The caller came up as unknown but I picked up anyways. "Hello?" I answered.
"Bella? Oh my God, Bella!" I heard Alice's voice through the phone but the shock of it kept me quiet. "Listen carefully, Victoria is back and she is after you but we're almost there. We won't let her hurt you. Bella? Are you there? Where are you so we can pick you up"
"I'm here. I'm on the reservation" I said numbly.
"Meet us at the treaty line, you know we can't go on their land. And hurry, I can't see you for some reason and it's unnerving." Alice hung up before I could respond.
"Bells? You okay?" Jake asked, an annoyed expression on his face. "I could hear her. That was Alice?"
"We need to meet them Jake."
"Like Hell we do! They don't get to just come back here and tell you wha…"
I had to interrupt him, he got it all wrong. "We need to meet them to tell them they're no longer welcome here, Jake. Get whoever's available to come with us, just in case. Being out from under their circle, I realised just how possessive they were of me. I couldn't even choose what clothes I wanted to wear." A shiver went down my spine as I remembered the dance after Phoenix and the dress Alice made me wear.
"Good. Let's go." Jake seemed all too eager to run off to the Cullen's. "Sam will be needed, as our pack leader he has to be there for any meeting with the leeches and Embry is already supposed to follow us. Paul and Jared can look after the Rez until Sam gets back." He paused, realising he was making the decisions and looked at Sam who nodded in agreement. Sam called Paul and Jared, ran off to the woods and we drove off my in truck to meet up with the Cullen's.