Ricochet
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Chapter Thirteen
"I want to tell CJ the truth about me." Jacob said steadfastly. He saw panic flicker in Bella's eyes at this pronouncement, but ignored it. "He needs to know."
"I was hoping to ease him in gently." Bella argued. "You can spend more time with him, let him get to know you better…"
"No more delays, Bella. CJ is a clever kid. We look so alike. Before long he's going to begin to put two and two together, if he hasn't already." Jacob cut her off before she could come up with anymore excuses. "I know you're worried about how he's going to react, but he'll be alright. I bet he's more resilient than you give him credit for."
"Like you?" Bella asked, an audible lump in her throat.
Jacob's face relaxed into a small smile. "Yeah…. just like me."
"Okay, then." Bella finally agreed.
Jacob's eyes widened slightly at the fact that she had given in so easily without a fight. This was new. The Bella he used to know would have stubbornly stuck to her guns, delaying any painful confrontation until the inevitable happened. Becoming a mother had changed her in ways he had yet to explore. "How will we go about this?"
"If we're going to do this, we should do it together." Bella suggested slowly. She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, her expression thoughtful. "But before we do that, I still think we should all spend time together, like a family."
"I like that idea." Jacob smiled again, but this time it reached his eyes, filling them with a warmth, a sparkle in the ever loving black.
Bella found herself mesmerised by his earthy beauty. "Great." She murmured, levelling her gaze with his.
The seconds ticked by as they stared at each other, it was Bella who was the first to break away. She bit her lip, eyes everywhere but on Jacob. Then he moved closer with those eyes that looked so deeply into her own. "Hey, it's me." Her breathing softened, the pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the morning light. Her body squirmed just a little as her muscles relaxed. There was something about that gaze of his she knew she'd never find in another man, as if in that moment their souls had made a bridge.
The moment was broken by the sound of the front door opening. They heard Rosalie's tinkling laugh, followed by Charlie's much deeper baritone. Jacob and Bella quickly put space between them on the sofa.
Charlie was the first to appear, he was holding two pizzas in his hands. He'd bought two large ones; he was well acquainted with Jacob's huge appetite. "Good, you're still here, Jake." He said too cheerfully. "Rose said you would be."
Rosalie appeared just behind him, wearing an innocent smile. Like she hadn't planned the whole thing. "I went to see Charlie at the station and convinced him to take a break. He works far too hard." She flashed him one of her most lovely smiles, causing him to grin goofily in response. "And once I told him that Jacob was here, he decided having a break was a good idea. He was the one who suggested the pizzas."
"I can't take credit for that." Charlie laughed awkwardly. "Rose suggested you might all be hungry."
"I bet she did." Bella mumbled under her breath. She cast a knowing look in Rosalie's direction, but the cool blonde just smiled disarmingly back at her. "Why don't you help me plate these up, Rose?"
"Whatever I can do to help." Rosalie took the pizza boxes out of Charlie's willing hands and moved gracefully over to Bella's side. "The talk went well?" She whispered.
Bella relaxed a little as she glanced over in Jacob's direction. He was making small talk with Charlie. "Yes, it went better than expected."
"Well, that's good, isn't it?"
"Yes." Bella led the way into the kitchen, dumping the pizza boxes on the counter, she opened the cupboards and pulled out three plates.
"Then what's with the worried frown?" Rosalie pressed.
Bella sighed. "Its Edward."
"What has he done now?" Rosalie didn't hide the impatience in her tone as she opened up one of the pizza boxes, wrinkling her nose at the potent smell.
"Jake went to see him before he came here. Edward revealed his grand plan-he thinks with some 'gentle persuasion' he'll manage to convince me to leave CJ behind with Jake. He believes that I always knew it was inevitable, and my guilty conscience would be eased by the fact that I would be leaving CJ with family."
Rosalie's lovely face burned with fury. She quickly discarded the pizza box before she crushed it in her balled-up fists. "He is unbelievable!"
"And never changes." Bella added with resignation. "We should have expected he would try and take advantage of the situation for his own ends."
"Damn him!" Rosalie shook her head irritably as she tried to rein in her temper. "He needs to be set straight, Bella. I could do it, if you like."
"No." Bella was adamant. "He won't believe you unless it comes from me."
"And you think he's going to listen to you?" Rosalie answered doubtfully. "He never has before."
"He won't have any choice." Bella's voice turned hard. She divided the large pizzas up into three unequal portions-one slice for herself, three for Charlie, leaving the majority for Jacob. "I am done being scared. I won't let him manipulate me anymore."
"Wow." Rosalie breathed, impressed for once by Bella's determination. "I actually believe you mean it this time. Good for you."
"It helps that I have back up this time." Bella confided, glancing back toward the living room, where Jacob and Charlie were relaxing as they waited for the girls to bring back the pizza.
Rosalie followed the direction of her gaze. "You intend to take Jacob with you?"
"Not just Jake." Bella said nonchalantly. "I've decided to take a leaf out of your book."
"In what way?"
"To make my point to Edward, I think I need to be overly theatrical, like you were when you dealt with Royce."
"You're not planning on wearing your wedding dress for the occasion?" Rosalie quipped.
"It would add a nice touch." Bella laughed darkly. "But, no, I am sure the snarling wolves I'll bring along with me will make my point very clear."
"Does Jacob know about your cunning little plan?" Rosalie asked.
"He does now." Bella glanced toward the living room again. Jacob was looking over his shoulder at her, his expression inscrutable.
"So, you really are intending to leave Edward?" Rosalie mused.
"Yes, its time." Bella returned her attention back to Rosalie. "I can't be a coward anymore, Rose. I have to stop being afraid. If CJ has any chance on establishing a relationship with Jacob, we need to stay here in Forks."
Rosalie's musical laughter filled the air. "One more question?"
"Fire away."
"Can I watch?"
"You can have a front row seat for all I care, Rose. I just want it done."
"Foods ready." Bella announced.
Charlie and Jacob eagerly took the plates she offered them. Bella and Rosalie held back, watching them with affectionate eyes as they devoured the pizza, Jacob finished his pile even before Charlie was starting his third slice.
Bella picked at her own slice. She really wasn't that hungry. Her mind was full of what tomorrow was going to bring. Jacob looked at her often, but she was too preoccupied to notice. Rosalie did, however, as did Charlie. They exchanged meaningful looks with one another.
Then out of nowhere, startling everyone, came CJ's drowsy voice. "I smell pizza."
Bella whipped around in surprise to find her small son standing in the doorway. His silky black hair was tousled, his eyes thick with sleep. "Hey, sweetie, we didn't mean to wake you."
"I hungry, Mommy." CJ stifled a yawn as Bella hoisted him up into her arms. Over her shoulder he spotted Jacob and he smiled tiredly. "You came back."
"Hey, CJ." Jacob returned his smile warmly, but it didn't disguise the worry clouding his eyes. "You managed to sneak up on us there, kid. That's quite a gift."
Bella tensed when he said this. "You didn't hear him?" She asked Jacob.
"No." Jacob said in a low voice.
"Rose?" Bella checked.
"No." Rosalie murmured anxiously.
CJ was already picking up on the tension. "Did I do something wrong, Mommy?" His lower lip began to wobble.
"Of course not." Bella faked a reassuring smile. "You just surprised us all." She kissed the top of CJ's head and ran her thumb over the swell of his right cheek.
"Can I have pizza?" CJ asked, perking up again. "I hungry."
Right on cue, his stomach rumbled.
"I don't know. It's very late." Bella hesitated.
"I don't think one slice will hurt, Bells." Charlie was the only relaxed one in the room. He was the only one unaware of the significance of what CJ had managed to do-sneak up on a vampire and a werewolf without either of them hearing him.
"Okay, just one." Bella agreed. She set her small son down next to Charlie, who passed an eager CJ his last slice.
CJ inhaled the pizza slice like he hadn't eaten for a week. He sat with the empty plate, struggling to keep his eyes off of Bella's. She smiled and told him. "Oh, I can't finish all this. It's such a shame for food to go to waste."
CJ didn't need any more invitation than that. He slid Bella's plate toward himself and ate her slice so fast it was like a high-class vanishing trick.
A/N-thanks for reading!