Chapter 7

aaahh i almost didn't post a chapter today but here it is and i hope you enjoy :)

(i was running purely on bubble tea fuel when i wrote this)

Whether it was the dream catcher snagging the nightmares in its tiny trap or her body simply shutting down, Bella slept well despite her worries. She awoke in the morning refreshed by the good night's sleep and lay in bed for about an hour, finally permitting herself to rethink through yesterday.

Why did it scare her so much to know at some point in his life—not now, but still—Jacob had feelings for her?

It distressed her more than it should, considering that he was a child at the time. But Quil... Quil had said he wouldn't be surprised if Jacob still acted like that.

So what exactly was Bella supposed to think of that?

But no, she promised herself. The wound Edward left had only just started to heal. She couldn't reopen the gash by dwelling on all that lovey-dovey crap right now.

Knowing this new fact about Jake would change nothing.

She wouldn't let it.

...

As promised, Jacob stood on the doorstep of the Swan residence at 10:30 sharp on Sunday morning.

Charlie opened the door, his yawn breaking into a smile as he recognized the boy. He clapped Jacob's shoulder in a hug and called upstairs for Bella.

As they waited for her, Jacob could practically feel his nerves jumping out of his chest. He didn't know why.

"Anything new going on down at the rez?" Charlie asked, his mustache hidden behind a huge mug of coffee.

Jacob shrugged. "Same old, same old."

Charlie nodded.

Silence.

Charlie set down his cup.

"Now I don't normally like to talk 'bout other people's business," he began, lowering his voice to a whisper, "even though Bella is, well, my daughter. But Jake, ever since she started spending time around you…it's like she's her old self again. Better. Healthy. And… I'm awful grateful for it, son." He ended with inhaling a deep breath, likely grateful that his speech was over.

Jacob had never heard Bella's father speak more than two sentences in a row before. He looked down, hoping to conceal the ray of hope that just flared in his cheeks. "Thanks."

Then, she appeared at the door. Fresh. Excited. Happy.

She waved at Jacob, flashing a grin reminiscent of the one yesterday.

"Be right there," she told them, and dashed upstairs again.

...

Bella said a quick goodbye to Charlie and hopped into Jacob's truck, hoping any inward tension she felt was safely hidden for now. But Jake seemed to have forgotten everything about the day before as he drove them out of Forks, and that made her a whole lot more comfortable.

"Where are we going again?" she questioned.

Jacob gave her a strange look. "We're picking up Seth. Then we're going to Port Angeles to buy some insulin for my dad and Harry's heart medicine. I thought I told you that."

Port Angeles?!

Right, yesterday.

The next minute dragged by, and Bella had never heard silence quite that loud.

"About Quil…" Jacob finally started.

Please, please don't.

"It's fine. He was just being a jerk like usual," Bella said curtly.

Jacob nodded, slowly dragging his one free hand down the side of his face. "Yeah. He, uh, does that a lot."

"I really don't care, don't worry," she told him just like how she tried to persuade herself hours before. "Ignore him."

If only it was that easy, she thought to herself, and Jacob seemed to agree. "Would you believe me if I told you I've been trying to do that for years?"

She really couldn't answer that and all the way to the Clearwaters' house, Bella found herself wishing she had paid attention to his words last night before she rashly agreed and dashed home. .

...

Jacob first tried the door handle, seeming surprised that it didn't automatically swing open. He knocked, twice.

Moments later, Leah stomped out of the house, a permanent scowl etched on her beautiful face. Bella had sometimes seen the girl hanging around the plot of land behind the garage before, and she was always impressed by how her rich, glossy black hair complimented her bronze skin. She had enviably sharp features, with a pointed nose, rounded lips, and beady eyes that seemed to be able to pierce through Bella's skull and flip through her thoughts.

The moment she saw Bella one eyebrow went up, but Jacob whispered something to her, and her frown relaxed. She grunted at Bella in greeting, then shouted in the direction of the upper left window of their house, "SETH! Get down here, idiot."

Bella smothered a smile.

Soon the gangly teenage boy tumbled out of the house, shrugging his arms into a raggedy t-shirt. His eyes alighted on Jacob, and he broke into a grin as he pulled the rest of the shirt down over his head, slapping Jacob a high five as soon as his hands were free.

"Road trip! Let's go!" then as he noticed Bella, "Oh, hi Bella."

She grinned. "Hey, Seth."

Sue rushed out of the house almost immediately after him, large orange lunch pail in hand.

"Here," she said, propping it into Seth's arms. "Sandwiches and drinks inside." She beamed at Bella, warmth radiating from her kind eyes. "Take care."

Leah tossed a scrap of white paper that Bella assumed was Harry's prescription to her brother. It fluttered in the air for a second then drifted slowly to the ground, Seth snatching it up before it landed. He blew it off, folding it into his pocket carefully. "See ya," he nodded towards his mother, and kicked a twig at sister. "Don't miss me too much."

Leah snorted. "I wouldn't count on it."

"And I expect the container back unharmed. Preferably not melted again, please," Sue called after her son.

Seth promptly turned a rare shade of pink as Leah cracked up.

"What…" Bella began.

Jacob interrupted her, steering them towards the truck. "Long story. Thanks for the grub, Mrs. Clearwater," he said louder. "We'll bring the box back. C'mon, Seth."

Seth stopped his objections and followed them into the car.

...

The day was usually bright and clear as they took off along the long road towards Port Angeles, the mildness a nice change from the crisp weather they had been having recently.

In the back, Seth cracked numerous knock-knock jokes until Jacob reminded him of the homework his mother insisted he bring along. Following a fair amount of grumbling, Seth finally produced a stack of papers and a pencil, still complaining.

Hushed mutters of "stupid circumference" and "I don't stinkin' know" drifted over to the front of the truck, and Bella and Jacob glanced at each other, holding in their laughter.

After that, a comfortable silence settled. Bella rested her head against the upholstery and gazed out at the horizon, trees and mountains zooming by.

Around twenty minutes in, though, a slight breeze wafted through the open the window, surprising Bella by how chilly the weather had become.

Jake stuck his head out the side and sniffed the air, shaking his head. "I don't like this."

Seth looked up momentarily from his Algebra. "It's gonna rain," he announced gravely.

Just as he predicted, the sky grew darker— unnaturally dark— in a matter of minutes, clouds cramming into every inch of spare space above. A noisy patter on the tin roof announced the arrival of the brewing storm.

"Dang it," whispered Jacob, peering at the raindrops scattering across the windshield.

"It's pretty light," Bella offered. "It won't slow us down, will it?"

Jacob shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road. "It's fine right now, but if this continues, we'll have no choice but to go another way. The really, really long way." he added, putting emphasis on the last "really". "Darn it."

"The highway always floods," informed Seth.

Bella drummed her fingers across her thighs. "Great."

The only one excited about this, Seth seemed unnaturally giddy, drunk on the cool air. He hollered out the window at a couple of frightened deer, then, deciding that "they didn't deserve it" apologized to their shadows.

After rummaging through the lunchbox, he passed Bella an already cracked open can of Coke, and it sloshed over the cuffs of her sleeves as she took it.

Jacob glared back at him.

"Oops."

The sheets of rain fell harder and faster, beating down on the rusted roof of the truck with such intensity Bella had to cover her ears. "Gosh, it's really coming down," she commented.

Jake pounded the steering wheel with a clenched fist, swerving the truck to the right. "No no no. This is not good."

Seth draped himself over the back of Bella's seat and swung a sandwich just above her face. "Better eat up, Bella. This might be the last meal you'll ever have," he told her, a serious expression on his usually cheerful face.

Bella grabbed the hovering food just before Jacob swatted Seth's hand away.

The slightly squashed sandwich was delicious, ham on white bread with cheese and lettuce. Bella smiled at Seth in thanks and he winked back, returning to his math.

Screeeech.

Tires skidded on the slick ground as Jacob abruptly hit the brakes, pulling the truck into a jagged U-turn.

Bella clutched her seat belt, regaining balance from the sudden change of course. "Woah, we're not turning back, are we?"

Jake shakes his head. "No, not back to Sue's. I just missed the sign for the other road up there."

"Klutz," Bella shook her head in mock disappointment.

Jacob blinked twice then snatched her half-eaten sandwich with his free hand, holding it into the rain, a smug smirk plastered across his face.

Bella gasped, pretending to be horrified. "Jacob Ephraim Black. Give it back now." She could see the poor thing hanging limply, now dripping water.

Jacob laughed wickedly, and drew it back in, squeezing what was left of the food into a moist ball streaked with mustard. He threw it onto Bella's lap, soggy and gross.

It was absolutely revolting.

"Eww. Seth, catch," and Bella tossed the sopping bread behind her. An indignant squeak resounded as it landed on Seth's homework.

The mushy glob was instantly flung out the window, and they all heard it land on the sidewalk with a final squelch.

"Food-waster," Bella tutted.

"Meanie," shot back Jacob.

"Love birds." Seth blurted.

A dreadful silence immediately descended, all the awkwardness from Saturday evening crashing back down.

Suddenly, Bella's stained shoelaces had never been more absorbing.

Jacob cleared his throat and stared straight ahead at the road, his ears turning a tell-tale red.

"Say Bella, can you help me with this one math problem?" Seth piped up after a moment, clearly feigning innocence.

Grateful to get away from the blushing boy beside her, Bella awkwardly twisted her legs to slip into the back seat. She just hoped her rear wasn't shoved up to high heaven.

Taken the slight cough from the direction of the driver's seat, it was. She sighed, and continued squeezing past until she collapsed in a heap on the leather cushion.

The seat was cool and comfortable; unlike the sticky padding she was expecting— and spacious.

"Hey, no fair! You have so much room back here."

Seth grinned. "I know."

He prattled on and on about the school on the rez, his teachers, his classmates, the troublesome homework problem forgotten.

And was there anyone special at school? she inquired, glad for the excuse to take her mind off other things.

Yes, he told her, a girl called Elisabeth.

Jake snorted, glancing back. "Seth and Beth. Ironic."

Seth nodded proudly, but Jacob seemed intent on making him as uncomfortable as possible. "She know you like her?"

No, she didn't. Yet.

"Maybe your mom should pay a visit, huh? I mean, you should probably get to know her family before you ruin her life— ooh, and you'll have to meet her dad. Tough one. Yeah, good luck with that. He's gonna absolutely demolish you. If she even puts up with you long enough to introduce any of them to you. Which I doubt she will, you little—"

Seth had completely wilted.

Bella kicked the back of Jacob's seat. "Shut up, Jake. It's okay, Seth. You're a really good kid. Kind. And… if she can't see that, that's on her."

"Promise?"

"A thousand percent."

The engine suddenly roared as a heavy foot pressed down on the gas pedal in disagreement.

alright so don't question the sandwich scene. they're wild teens doing wild things, ok? including...smushing their lunches. anyway.
btw i have some schoolwork to get done before thanksgiving break, so i might not be posting tmr or the day after as i figure out the ~next parts~

i'd love it if you could tell me which parts you like so far. tysm to those who've commented on my story already! hearts and hugs for everyone
til next time!