Chapter 10

Where the Hell Have You Been, Loca?

Scott

Hopefully, this wouldn't end up with Bella reverting to the girl she was before Christmas, Scott couldn't help but muse to himself as he sat in the passenger side of the Beast, on the way to La Push. He didn't spend as much time as he should have down on the reservation, all the time there were either because the four of them wanted to go to the beach or because Willow wanted to draw but didn't want to go alone. They tried not to outstay their welcome, and always clean up after themselves.

Not that Willow let them do it, but they also weren't slobs.

Even if Georgie's room felt like a tornado.

Which somehow always managed to get clean for when Riley was over? Motivation.

The was something warm and cosy about the Black house, he mused as the Beast rumbled to a stop outside of it. The bungalow was quaint, dressed in narrow windows in white trim and a ramp-up to the white doorway. The red chipping paint made it look like a little barn, embraced by the trees that surrounded it like sentries. Off to the side, sat what looked like a separate garage, the doors opened outwards, letting air into the small, enclosed space, along with light and making the space probably seem bigger.

Jacob Black came jogging out like some casual looking titan – all bronze skin, long black locks held away from his face and a sunshine grin to match. The kid that Scott remembered from the day they looked for Bella seemed to be an echo of a time gone back. The olive shirt seemed this side of too small across his broadening chest and Scott couldn't help but wonder what the fuck the kid had eaten to get that much height in six months.

But then again, he mused as he fell out of the truck, puberty did do weird things to the body – especially to males. Scott just missed out on the whole height thing, unlike the rest of his cohort.

'Bella!' Jacob cried, like an excited puppy, snatching the clutzy brunette from the ground as she stepped down from the driver's side. 'Where the hell have you been, loca?'

Scott blinked, a little confused but then again, Bella Swan was the Master of Crazy. The two heavy bike carcasses on the back of the Beast were a result of her decision-making skills. 'You grew again!' the brunette in question exclaimed as if it wasn't as noticeable as the Trojan Horse.

When Jacob grinned, his teeth were almost shockingly bright against his russet-brown skin. 'Six five.'

But had his voice stopped cracking? That was the real question Scott was wondering. He only stopped squeaking when he was nearing his seventeenth birthday, an event that still made his friends laugh when they reminisced. 'Bet I could still beat you over to the garage though?' Scott grinned, holding a hand out. 'I don't remember introducing myself last year, Scott—'

'Forrester.' Jacob nodded, shaking his hand back, grip maybe border lining a little too tight. Why did people see him and Bella together and think they'd work romantically? Even if he did like her that way, Isabella Swan lacked self-awareness of not only her safety but the consequences that her actions could have would irritate the shit out of him and he doubted they'd last long. Didn't mean he'd leave her in the middle of a fucking forest, though. 'What are you two doing here?'

Scott pulled his hair half back with an elastic he'd pilfered from Georgie so that it wouldn't stick to his face as the rain came down. 'Mainly to act like her Jiminy Cricket actually.'

Jacob seemed to realise that the wonderful weather of Washington had graced them with its presence again and ushered them towards the house. Luckily, the bike carcasses had been covered with the tarp he'd taken from the garage. Not that it would make it different, Scott couldn't help but think, as he followed Bella and Jacob into the house.

Inside, it was all open planned, archways connecting the back to where the living room, dining and kitchen all were. It was a warm, little place. Worn painted walls in some earthy tones that Willow would probably wax poetry about, the floors a slightly faded warm brown. It was simple and minimalist, making it easier for Billy Black to move around in his wheelchair, a point further cemented as the man himself wheeled closer.

Scott didn't have much of a grasp on the man, though he and Dad had gotten a lot closer now that they had deliberately all started to interact to get Chief Swan to relax a little. But then again, he didn't come to the Forrester house a lot. Probably because the house wasn't all that accessible, and because it was always so loud with the girls. Like the noise was some way to establish dominance.

Fuck, he had to look into classes.

'And this is Scott Forrester.'

Billy gave him a warm smile, dimpling even without the teeth as they shook hands. They were rough, Scott realised, worn and weathered from moving about with his hands and doing a lot with them. 'Your Dad and I always seem to butt heads with our team choices, how's he doing, by the way?'

Scott nodded. 'Good, good. Soph's been picking up drama club stuff in Port Angeles and now thinks she's going to be following Lucy to Broadway so he's raring for the weekend to hurry up.'

The three of them, because Scott was left to make sure Sophie didn't burn the house down as Elizabeth had a book club and now Georgie and Riley were serious, would head over to either the Chief's place or here and they'd watch the game, have a few beers and some fried food before coming home.

Sometimes Scott wished he had more guy friends.

Should probably look into getting more. Could give them tips on how to not be an ass to women. It was not difficult.

'I'm sure,' Billy grinned before turning to Bella as Scott shoved his hands into the kangaroo pouch of his hoodie. 'Can you stay for dinner? You're welcome too, Scott.'

'Thanks.' Scott smiled, noting how tight that laugh was that came out of Bella's mouth, 'But I can't. Got to make sure Sophie doesn't try to eat chicken nuggets and ice cream. Minus the nuggets now that I think about it. And with this one,' he tipped his head towards Bella, 'she might even be able to drop the good Chief down on the weekend, let him have a few.'

Billy laughed. 'Okay then, maybe next time. Good to see you two.'

'You too, Mister Black.'

As they stepped back out into the now heavy rain, it was like Scott was just a fly on the wall. But why did he get the feeling that the big ol' moon eyes that Jacob was sending Bella as they made their way towards the garage were going to cause problems later?

Scott tucked that negative thought into his back pocket, making a note to bring up their previous conversation about girls, and those who identified as such, later. Hopefully, the behemoth of a guy wouldn't go apeshit on Scott calling him out, but time would only tell.

But he was thinking positive.

'Don't worry about it.' Jacob was saying. Oh right, they were talking about birthdays. That reminded him, he still had to get Georgie hers. Theirs was coming up not long before Spring Break. Big old twenty year old. Fuck, he was nearly in his twenties.

Nearly in his twenties, having never had a solid, stable relationship, or a solid life plan in mind, still living at home with his parents and never having done anything substantial or of note. Oh, he had to get his life together. Maybe he should get a tattoo?

Willow could draw him one, surely.

Taking his phone out, he flicked a text to her – You up for doing something probably stupid for Spring Break?

As he waited for a reply, Scott realised that they had managed to sneak around the house, back to the Beast, without a) him noticing what they had done, or talked about, and b) Billy noticing. Nice one.

He vaulted into the back of the Beast, having understood the stupid way he'd stabilised the carcasses – because the Marks boys had not done a good job on that front – and helped Jacob get them down and into the garage.

'Do you not want one?' Jacob asked him, handing him a screwdriver to help take apart Bella's little red death trap.

Bella grinned from her spot in the passenger side of the Rabbit. 'Scott doesn't do bikes.'

Flipping her off, Scott shook his head. 'I've already tempted Death enough for one lifetime, and that was in a three-door Micra and I do not want to try a second time. I do not care that girls like them, they also like musicians, and I haven't done half bad with that.'

They also didn't mind a guy that could find the clit and offer solid opinions on clothing choices without telling them that they looked fat. The benefits of being raised by a very independent mother, alongside her double of a twin and growing up with two other girl best friends.

Jacob laughed. 'What do you play?'

'Guitar. Six-string and electric.'

'I didn't know that.' Bella scowled at him from the car.

He looked over his shoulder at her. 'You've also been a corpse for the past few months and have never been in my room. And it isn't exactly necessary information.' He ended with a shrug, turning back to the bike, trying to see what could be salvaged and what was scrap. 'Lucy needed someone who could read music, and Willow tends to shy away from the piano because of family reasons. Dad's always known how to play, so has Richard, so they taught me when I was twelve.'

'Can you teach me?' Jacob perked up, his dark eyes flicking to Bella.

He thought about it. Scott had a spare guitar and, apart from being able to help with the bikes, teaching the guy how to play an instrument would give them another thing to talk about that didn't involve the pensive brunette behind them. But Scott swore to any deity that would listen, if this kid tried to use it in any form to get Bella to like him, he would be using a steel string as a garrot. No hesitation.

If Bella Swan fell back into that destructive depression as she had at the end of last year because of a kid whose voice hadn't completely broken yet, he'd go nuclear.

'Let's get these carcasses alive first,' Scott drawled, pointing a spanner at him, 'Then I'll teach you.'

It was like Scott had offered the kid the secret to the universe with that beaming grin. Like he was the human embodiment of sunshine.

Scott was still hedging his bets.

For the next few hours, they managed to get the red bike - which Scott had discovered to be an older Honda model, the exact type undetermined as of that moment, with the amount of rust, caked-on – apart. Its pieces laid out onto two sheets of tarp – one with usable bits and the other with scrap – when the topic of Jacob's friends – Quil and Embry came up.

As Scott let Bella drive the conversation, encouraging her subtly, he got off the bucket he'd turned over as his phone buzzed in his back pocket. After he tossed his hoodie over the door of the Rabbit, Scott pulled his hair up into a full bun and pushed his sleeves up before pulling the phone out.

What are you thinking?

He grinned at what was Willow's tentative agreement. Tattoo. Could you draw it for me?

Her response was faster, so she must have been out of class. Again, what are you thinking?

Either a shoulder or forearm piece, of what I have no idea yet. I'm out on the reserve atm, but can we skype later, talk it over?

Sure. What are you doing there?

B's friend Jacob Black knows his way around an engine and it's easier to hide them here than at my place.

Fair. Say six?

You got it.

Bella watched as he stuck his phone back in his pocket. 'Willow?'

'Yup. Plans for Spring Break.' He threw to her. 'You know the offer's still on the table till I leave, right?'

She nodded but fiddled with the strings of her hoodie. He squeezed her foot as he sat down again, turning to the rusted parts. He sent a message to Georgie, thumbing over the muffler – what's the best way to get the rust off something? – as two voices came from the outside of the garage, calling for Jacob. Judging by the droop in his shoulders, he probably didn't want to have Bella's attention split more than two ways.

Biting back a grin as he checked the message from Georgie – baking soda and vinegar and lime. Acids. – Scott also took a glance at the time. It was now nearing late afternoon and they needed to get the stuff to take the rust off, maybe he could see if he could salvage a few more parts when the two voices gained faces.

They were younger than he was, around Jacob's age, baby fat still clinging relentlessly to their faces even if the shorter of the two seemed to benefit from the metabolism boost with the way his shirt was straining over his chest. But then again, they were both taller than Scott, closer to Jacob's height. Especially the skinnier one, his pin-straight black hair half tucked behind an ear, part of Scott yearned to feed the kid, and his joints ached with phantom pains, remembering back to those growth spurts of his own.

Shaking his head a little as they both lasered in on Bella, Scott wiped his hands off on a spare cloth, snagging a pen from the workbench to scribble down a brief list of things they'd need before heaving himself up.

Again, if Scott wasn't confident in the fact that he could put the two newcomers on the ground, and if he hadn't been raised with a twin who was a few inches taller than him, he'd feel a little self-conscious about his height. But then again, he wasn't a pubescent child, hopped up on hormones. He made his way to his jumper as he caught the shorter one winking at Bella, having to force back a grin. Because what the hell was Bella eating? The girl was fucking catnip to guys. And it was hilarious.

'Hi, there.' And there was the slight break in his voice.

'Quil, Embry—' Jacob introduced them both, 'this is my friend, Bella, and Scott Forrester.'

The two of them exchanged looks that made Scott wish he was a betting guy because he'd bet that Jacob didn't shut up about the brunette in question. But also because the amount of drama within the last handful of months alone could fill a shitty romance series for years.

Doing the universal chin tip, Scott smiled at them both. 'Hey.'

And, of course, put a girl into the equation and he was invisible, the shorter one stepped forwards. 'Charlie's kid, right?'

Was Scott ever this bad? Was he flexing? Next thing was that the two of them were doused in Axe. Sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph, they had to get out of there before he started to break down in tears of laughter.

'I'm Quil Ateara.' He smiled, which meant the skinny one was Embry.

'Hi,' he gave them a shy smile, preferring to stay back by the doors and wave simply. Scott liked him, he didn't feel the urge to show off. 'I'm Embry, Embry Call – you probably already figured that out, though.'

Scott resisted the urge to snap his fingers in front of Quil because that stare was bordering creepy. 'Flying a kite.' Managing to get his attention, Scott noticed Bella relax a little. 'Bee found two bikes and we're in the process of taking them apart.'

So, turns out they weren't as bad as he thought, Scott, mused as he checked the time as Bella got out of the car. They would still be able to grab some stuff from the shop for the rust.

'We're boring you, aren't we?' Jacob sighed, grimacing a little when he looked up.

Scott was happy to note that the spark back in Bella's eye wasn't fake as she spoke, nor was there any hint of a lie he could tell in her words. 'Nah,' she shook her head, 'I just have to go cook dinner for Charlie.'

'And, if we leave now, I can grab some stuff to see if we can get any more of the rust off. See if we can salvage anything else.' Scott threw out.

Jacob looked down at the sheet of scrap. 'You sure?'

'According to my twin, apparently vinegar, baking soda and lime juice – but we'll see.'

He nodded. 'Oh, well, I'll finish taking these apart tonight and figure out what more we'll need to get started rebuilding them. When do you want to work on them again?'

'Could I come back tomorrow?'

Scott cheered inwardly because getting her out and doing something of her own volition was like trying to lift an elephant without machinery. Near impossible. 'I can't.' he spoke lightly, tugging the hoodie on, 'I've got work but Bee, you can just keep the stuff in the back of the Beast and take it down tomorrow.'

Jacob was like a white light, he was so gleeful. Honestly, kid, even Bella could spot he had a massive crush on her, 'That would be great!'

'Maybe you can use the time to go shopping for parts?' Scott threw out as an idea, catching the eyes of Quil and Embry and swallowing back the urge to laugh. They had noticed the blaring sign too apparently.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

Going by the murmured comment that caused Quil to get smacked across the back of the head, they thought so too. With dark cheeks, Jacob growled at them. 'That's it, get out.'

'Nah, you're all good.' Scott grinned, 'We gotta go anyway. Nice meeting you both.'

'You too!' the two grinning boys chorused and Scott wondered what shit they could do to embarrass both of them.

Shoving Bella gently out the door into the mist, Scott barely managed to get back to the Beast before he was shaking with laughter, Bella's giggles light too. 'He so has a crush on you.'

'He's sixteen!' she hissed at him, cheeks flushing further as he got thumped on the arm.

His laugh was bright in the cab of the Beast. 'Oh come on, Bee. I swear to fuck, that kid was glaring lasers at me when I stepped out of the truck earlier. And Quil's flexing, somehow this is making me glad the girls tore all of those ideas from my head when I was their age.'

'What's the thing with Willow?'

'Thinking of a tattoo, actually.' He threw out as they rocked onto the road back towards Forks, 'Got a few months to look at artists in the BC area and Willow's down for drawing it, I just have to think of what it is, I want.'

'What about something from a book?' she offered an idea, 'Was there any story your parents read to you as a kid?'

He thought on it, thumbing his lip. 'Lewis Carroll. But I don't want the Jabberwocky, I want it to mean something.'

'Pocket watch?'

'Not a bad idea.' He mused. 'Everyone in my family is fucking nuts, so it works.'

'Do you regret not having gone to college as Willow and Lucy did?' Bella asked as they idled at a set of lights.

Scott's sigh was weighted. 'I needed the break from school and I think the months off have done that, but I'm not used to being so idle so yes, and no? Do I enjoy working in the Diner for fuck all, no, do I enjoy having spare time, yes? Do I wish to have some sort of plan worked out for the new school year? Absolutely. What about you? How's everything going with everything?'

'Great English there, Scott.'

'Fuck off.' He laughed, shaking his curls out as she pulled into the shop car-park. 'You want to stay in the car or do you need shit for the Chief?'

Her tipping out of the cab sealed the answer. 'Everything's going alright. Things have plateaued in my classes but with mid-terms coming up, all the teachers have been going on about how close the end of senior year is and that's more nerve-wracking than the actual exams.'

'Tell me about it.' Scott laughed, leaning on the handles of the trolley as he followed Bella through the store, grabbing what he needed to get the rust off as they went, the conversation tapering to more mundane things as the store was filled with gossiping ears.

'But, in all honesty,' he asked as he shut the door to the Beast behind him, 'furthering your education? It on the cards?'

Bella seemed to fall back into herself for a bit, fingers drumming on the wheel. 'What if they come back?'

'What if they don't?' he volleyed back, hating playing Devil's Advocate but she could not put her entire future on hold for a 'what if'. 'What if Doctor Cullen enjoys California? What if the others end up enjoying the heat and going to college there? Or abroad? Bella, take charge of your future. Will you look back on these times in regret because you let the best years of your life waste away because of a boy? Or are you going to do what's best for you?'

Her cheeks were flushed, not from the cold but what seemed in frustration or anger. Scott slid out as she idled on the road outside his place. 'I don't mean to upset you, but look at how happy being down on the reservation made you? Imagine what the rest of your life will be like if you started thinking like that. Enjoy tomorrow and I'll let you know when I'm free to come down.'

He patted the window and headed for the house, the roar of the Beast still behind him, along with the accompanying squeak of her window. 'Scott?' He turned to her, looking, 'You're still okay with this?'

'Someone's got to make sure both of you don't end up with your brains on the tarmac.' Scott teased, causing her to roll her eyes. 'But yeah, Bee, I do. If anything, to give you some respite amongst the hormones and the squeaking.'

'Ha ha.' She grinned. 'Thanks for doing this.'

'Like I said,' he shrugged, 'I'm your Jiminy Cricket. Have a good weekend, Bee.'

'You too.'

With one last wave, Scott headed into the quiet house. Everyone was out – Elizabeth at her book club, Daniel working late, Georgie spending the weekend in Seattle with Riley and Sophie at a sleepover till the next day. He sighed to himself, before making his way to the garage, grabbing some frozen things to chuck in the oven before staring at the empty place.

'You have got to get a girlfriend.'

Hey, maybe Willow knew some attractive people that she could introduce him to? Ones that were in his league, rather than Olympians gracing the mere mortals with their presence? Even just a hook up would do. It was like he was a hermit, who only had children as friends.

Oh, that did not sound right at all.

Shaking that from his head, he snagged a notepad and pen. He'd use the time his food took to cook to make a list of ideas for when he spoke with Willow.

She'd help him make sense of things.

He needed more friends.

Once again, whilst cutting it close, I still manage to get this chapter up on time. I know some of you are loving these points of views and let me tell you something, writing some of these scenes was just hilarious. Like Scott was completely above having acted like a tool around girls he liked.

You all know the drill by now, let me know what you think.

I'll see you next Wednesday,

Enjoy,

K x