LPOV
DING
I glanced at my phone and saw a new text from Bella. I really had to thank her for everything she has done for me lately. I clicked on the message.
/Staying at Jake's tonight. Figured you could use some space or whatever you need right now. Is Sam with you?/
I glanced over at Sam drying the wet dishes he'd just finished washing and smiled. It was so… normal. He refused to let me help, I think maybe because he was feeling guilty but he didn't have any reason to feel that way. Thanks to Bella, all was right in the world. I hit reply.
/He's here. And thank you, we definitely need a bit of space right now. Trying to figure things out. What's up?/ I hit send and turned back to watching Sam like he was going to disappear if my eyes drifted from him for too long.
I turned around at the sound of the door opening up at the same time Bella's reply came through. I picked up my phone and read her message as my mom and Seth walked through the door.
/Meet at Jake's tomorrow at 10. All pack members. I'll have a buffet ready. Let him and Seth know?/
That's weird. Since when does Bella call the shots? Not that I'm complaining because clearly she has her shit together.
/Ok babe. See you tomorrow/ Send.
"Sam, what are you doing here? Should we expect to see you around more now that Leah and Seth have joined the pack? We sure did miss having you around." Oh Mom, she loved Sam like a second son, she is going to be thrilled. And Seth? Well he always looked up to Sam like a brother. Being in the pack has made him so happy because he got that back.
"Mom, I'm going to say this as simply as I can because I just don't want to talk about this situation any more than I have to but… Emily put Sam under some weird binding soul mate stealing spell and Bella figured it out and broke it and now Emily's grandfather took her back to the Makah reservation to pay for her crimes of using magic and Sam actually would have imprinted on me if that boyfriend stealing bitch wasn't involved."
Seth smiled and glanced back and forth between us while my mom's mouth literally dropped. She just stared at me for a minute then looked over at Sam who confirmed with a simple smirk and shoulder shrug.
"Well, honestly, it never made sense that you weren't soul mates. Glad to have you back Sam." She walked over to him and wrapped her arms as far around his broad chest as she could. She went back to the few groceries she picked up on her way home and placed them in the fridge while Seth set down the pizzas they brought for dinner. "I was hoping to have leftovers for lunch, you kids sure do eat a lot, but I can't say I'm unhappy this will all disappear right now."
I laughed and smiled a real, full smile at my mom and I swear I saw a tear build in her eye before she turned around and brought her hand to her face.
"How's dad?" I asked, hoping for good news.
"He's doing great. Dr. Cullen said your father should be good to come home at the end of the week. There will be some changes to what food comes into the house which is one of the reasons I brought pizza." She looked empathetic about that, must be hard trying to keep us fed when she will be buying more expensive foods. "I won't be buying stuff like this anymore. Home made pizzas if anything to control the ingredients and portions."
"That's great. Oh Sam, I almost forgot. Bella said she wants to hold a meeting with everyone tomorrow at Jake's at 10am. She said she'd be cooking up a lot of food too. Not sure what about but asked me to let you and Seth know."
I watched as his face went through a few emotions. Confused, irritated, understanding, impressed and disbelief. Having Bella call the shots today has been so odd but I don't think any of us will be doubting her. Ever.
"Alright, we'll be there. Embry and Paul will be patrolling all night. Jared will be trading off with Embry first thing and I was going to be letting Paul off shortly after. Now that we have you and Seth. We need to figure out a proper schedule that allows everyone to still go to school when possible. Seth will of course be going to school all week and coming out in the evenings and weekends. Anyways I'll figure something out. Right now? I'm starving. Shall we?"
I smiled as I sat down next to Sam at the dinner table for the first time in over a year. The only thing that was missing was my dad in his spot. Soon.
"So, Sam… will you be staying here tonight?" my mom asked, though I could hear the hidden question about where our relationship stood.
"Well," Sam glanced between me and my mom. "I was hoping I could. Home doesn't quite feel like home right now, if you know what I mean."
"Oh I completely understand. If you want, I could help you redecorate, get rid of anything of hers to help make it more your own?" she offered.
"That would be nice. It's going to need a lot of work. I think I'm just going to bag up everything and have someone else drive it down to her mom's. Maybe new paint on the walls. Something to make it look and feel different without costing too much."
I could definitely help him with this but I also feel like it should be HIS, and I shouldn't even help out. He already had one woman controlling his life. He deserves some space. But what he said next surprised me.
"I was kind of hoping to have some input from Leah, I would hope…" He looked at me like a lost puppy, "That Leah would someday be there with me. Whenever she might be ready. If ever." He looked back at my mom and I let the smile that was building, out.
After we ate. Sam and I went to my room to talk. I didn't know exactly what he wanted to talk about and it had me a bit uneasy. I sat down on my bed and Sam stood in front of me, holding my hands in one of his before kneeling in front of me.
"Leah, more than anything in the world I just want things to be easy with us but I just don't know how that is possible after everything we've both been through." He reached for my necklace with his free hand before pulling away and pacing my room. "What Emily did screwed over both of our futures for her selfish idea of happiness. We can't ever get back to where we were. But we're older now. Maybe where we were isn't where we need to be. I also need to think of something to tell the normal people in our lives. Why Emily is gone and I'm back with you. I don't care what they think of me but I don't want anyone thinking anything bad about you for taking me back."
"Well she IS crazy so you could throw that in there somewhere. Maybe… Emily blackmailed you into being with her? Yeah. Emily was holding something over you and the only way she'd keep it a secret was if you left me for her. Whatever she was holding over you is no longer an issue and you called her grandfather to take her away the second she couldn't ruin you anymore. The moment she was gone you came running back, knowing our love could overcome what she'd done." I chewed on my lip a little as Sam just looked at me.
"Yeah. We can go with that. Close enough to the truth without bringing the supernatural into it. And us? Where are we? Where do you want to be from… where we started to wherever we end up, where are we at?" Sam looked like he was afraid of whatever answer I would give him but honestly I had no idea. Where do you start off after something like that?
"I definitely don't want to start at the beginning." I said. "We've been through so much but should we start where we left off? I don't feel like that's right either." Sam turned away from me, hopeful that things will get back to some form of normal soon, I could imagine.
"Maybe… maybe I should go home." Sam walked to my bedroom door and opened it up. "You can take all the time you need to think about what you're comfortable with. I'll see you tomorrow at Jake's."
"No, Sam you got it all wrong. I meant…" Sam turned, closing the door as he listened to what I had to say. "We've been through so much, in general and together. I'm saying that we shouldn't waste time anymore because you never know what might happen tomorrow, like say… a crazy witch turns you into her slave. I've had enough of not being with you and I don't want to ever be away from you again. My heart lies with you."
Sam's face when he smiled at me was the definition of ecstasy. "I feel the same way. Leah, you have no idea how much Hell I have been through but I want that all in the past. Let's live in the now."
Sam walked over to me on the bed and leaned down, kissing my lips and gently ushered me to move back on the bed from my position at the edge.
"I've missed you so much Leelee." I was laying down now, my head on my pillow and Sam was hovering above me, staring into my eyes. My face got hot and I knew I had to be blushing. I wasn't used to his words anymore but even when I was, he always seemed to make me blush.
I pulled his head down and kissed him deeply, moaning into his lips as the weight of his body lowered onto mine, one leg to my left and the other between my own. We stayed that way for a long while, but that was all. I definitely didn't want to lose my virginity with my brother in the next room. When this whole mess with Victoria was over or maybe just when things are a bit slow, I wanted to work on getting Sam's place Emily-free. When it was time to sleep, for the first time ever, Sam and I slept in the same bed. His arms around me as his breathing calmed and eventually turned into a soft snore was pure perfection. I needed sleep but I just didn't want this moment to end. Listening to the beat of his heart was like a lullaby though and I quickly drifted off to sleep as rain hit my bedroom window.
BPOV
The thunder roared and lightning lit up the sky as I stared into the face of James and Victoria. Victoria bared her teeth at me threateningly as the Cullen's stood behind me in the clearing with their baseball gear in hand, doing nothing.
"You're going to taste… delicious." Victoria whispered in my ear as she circled me. The thunder boomed again as a lightning bolt set fire to a nearby tree just before Victoria sank her teeth into my neck and the searing pain of venom flowed through my veins. I screamed and woke up to Jake shaking me.
"Bella! Honey, wake up."
"Jake?" I sobbed into his chest at the realization that it was just a dream but when the sky lit up and the thunder boomed once more, my whole body jumped. It was the first time I'd heard thunder since knowing Victoria was out to get me and I guess it brought back those feelings from the baseball game last year.
"Are you ok?" Jake seemed worried so I explained to him about that night with the Cullen's. "Well rules be damned, come to my room. I'm not going to lay in there and pretend you're okay when I can hear your heart about to jump out of your chest."
I nodded. If anyone could make this feeling go away, it was definitely Jake. I followed him back to his room and laid down as he went to use the bathroom. When he returned, wearing nothing but his boxers, I knew I was in trouble. My Qahla laid down next to me, and pulled me closer to his overheated body. I laid there, my head on his chest and his arm wrapped around me as I curled into his side wearing nothing but a very large Jake t-shirt which fit like a nightgown and my panties since everything I had was at Leah's. My leg wrapped around one of his, stealing his heat for myself. He leaned his head closer to mine and breathed in the scent of my hair, moaning quietly and in that moment, I vowed to never change my hair products.
"Just let me know if you're uncomfortable, ok? I'm like a heater and I don't have a fan." He said into my hair. My leg rubbed against his, not that I needed to add more warmth to this scenario.
"Of course, though given how cold the night is and the storm, I doubt I'll be too warm." I looked up into his beautiful brown eyes and sighed. "Thank you, Jake."
Despite being pressed up against Jake's body, I managed to fall asleep fairly easily and slept until morning without any more nightmares. When I woke up, I was overheating. The morning sun was coming in through Jake's window and it created a room much too hot for snuggling a werewolf. I'd make sure to pick up some fans or an AC unit next time I went into Forks. I shifted ever so slightly and my eyes went wide when I felt something hard beneath my leg that had found it's way across Jake's hips. I didn't know how to move to not disturb Jake and make this situation any more uncomfortable than it already was. I'd kick Jake in the face it I lifted my leg higher, and it… seemed trapped in the crook of my knee and preventing me from just sliding my leg back down to his legs. Up and over seemed like it could work, right up until the point where I tried and realised it was much bigger than I had imagined causing my leg to rub it a bit as I tried to escape.
My face was red as a beet and the only thing saving me from complete embarrassment is that Jake was still sleeping. I set my leg gently back on Jake's hips and decided to just climb over his body and rush to the bathroom before he realises what's happening. I angled the foot on the side overhanging Jake's body so I could step onto the bed beside him and shifted my body so I would go up and over without touching a… thing. Here goes.
I hoisted my body up so my foot was planted safely on the other side of Jake and my other knee was holding my body up. Using my good hand and the strength in my legs, I lifted myself up off of Jake to a standing position above him. I placed my good hand on the ceiling to steady myself as I stepped over Jake's enormous body and just when I thought I was good to place my foot down on the bed, Jake whispered my name as he shifted his body. I was startled and his hand hit my one foot still planted on his bed and down I went.
I thought my face would hit the floor but Jake caught me and my body fell back onto his. It shouldn't have been possible but I managed to find myself in a position that was even more embarrassing than the first. I was now sitting on his thighs with… it, between my legs and I was so not prepared to be this close to Jake yet.
"Shit, Honey, are you alright? I'm sorry." Jake sat his body upright which didn't help things at all, angling it toward me.
I was biting my bottom lip trying not to think about whether that massive thing would even fit inside… oh God. Shut up Bella. I looked up to the corner of Jake's room, avoiding his gaze as thoughts of us together in this bed filled my mind. I could feel that need again between my legs and that part of me anticipated the start of my actual period so the Depo shot would be effective and maybe… No, Bella stop. You only just started dating. Take it slow.
"Everything okay? Are you hurt? Is it your wrist?" Jake asked, completely oblivious of the situation and my internal monologue.
I took a deep breath and looked at Jake. "I'm… good." Yeah, we'll go with that. Nothing says good like deep breaths and being unsure. "I'm just uh..." Jake shifted beneath me to lower himself onto his forearms and I couldn't stop myself from glancing down, hoping he didn't see but when did I ever get out of embarrassing situations with ease? Not today.
Jake looked confused then followed where my gaze went before my good hand covered my red, embarrassed face. Jake reached up for it and moved it away so he could see me.
"Honey," He shifted a little, trying to make things less noticeable but it just made things worse.
It rubbed against me through the thin fabric of my panties and the feeling was indescribable. My teeth automatically caught my bottom lip between them trying and failing to keep the tiny moan from escaping my lips. Jake's eyes widened at the sound before swallowing loudly and before I could even blink, Jake was out from underneath me and left the room. I didn't realise he could even be that fast.
I brushed my hand through my hair and removed myself from my seated position on the bed and walked out the door to go back to the twins bedroom to change into my clothes from the day before. The front door was open and Billy was on the front porch with my dad. Oh God. I rushed past the closed bathroom door and into the room I was supposed to be sleeping in and got dressed. When I was done, and calmed enough to show myself I walked out to ask if anyone was hungry and there Jake stood, in front of my dad wearing nothing but a towel, water dripping down his chest. Oh this was a horrible idea. I brushed my hair with my hands again, something I seemed to be doing a lot of when nervous around Jake and looked at the floor.
"Hey Bells." My dad said, cheerfully. He must not have figured out I was in Jake's room. Thank God, something was actually working out in my favor. "how'd you sleep?"
"Um," I glanced up to look at him and saw Jake smirking beside him, looking as sexy as he ever has. Pull it together Bella. "Yeah. Aside from the thunder which woke me up once, I slept great. How was the hunt? Find any giant wolves?" I joked but I was so grateful my dad made it back without incident.
"Ha, yeah, we saw deer. It was uneventful, thankfully."
"That's great. I'm going to go make some food. The rest of the pack will be here at 10 and I know how hungry they get. Don't worry Billy, I will replace anything I use." I walked back into the house to make breakfast and after a few minutes I could feel Jake's presence behind me. He came closer until he was right behind me and my breathing quickened.
"I'm sorry about this morning. I almost tossed you on the floor when you tried to escape while I slept."
I turned around, assuming Jake would be dressed but that would just make sense now, wouldn't it? Couldn't have logic here. My hand touched his chest of its own accord and I noticed the water had all dried on his superheated skin.
"It's alright. You had no idea."
"I should have expected it though. I knew exactly what you'd wake up to, and I should have realised you would want to disappear. Make things less awkward. I'm going to go get dressed before you burn the food." Oh crap!
I turned back to the eggs and moved them to a plate. When I turned back around, Jake was just about at the hallway, and he started to slip his towel off. I could see the top of his butt just before he disappeared and my face turned red. I quickly turned to finish making breakfast as our dads walked inside the house. Obviously Jake had no shame, but I did, and I also wanted to take things slow. Maybe we needed to talk about this, see where each other stands and maybe figure out what we both expect from our relationship right now. I finished making the breakfast and put it all on plates to serve buffet style in the middle of the table.
For the most part, we ate in silence. Charlie and Billy talked about the Mariners and about their day which would consist of fishing, again. The moment they were done eating, they got up and starting getting things ready to leave.
"Bells, you good here? I know I haven't really been around much for spring break." Charlie looked like he was feeling guilty. Not spending years with him must be making him feel he needs to make up for lost time but the best situations with him are the regular ones eating meals or sitting in front of the TV.
"I'm good, Dad. I have to actually cook for the entire pack who will be here in two hours and that is definitely equivalent to a full time job. I'll be pretty busy. Go, have fun… I love you."
"I love you too Kiddo, but is everything okay? Not everyday I get to hear those words."
"Dad, Harry almost died. If I didn't stop it, Leah would never get to make a meal for her dad or tell him she loves him ever again. I'm just done taking things for granted. So, I love you, and I will miss you. Catch lots of fish. Tomorrow, I'm making seafood chowder."
"Aww Bells, you don't need to worry about me. I still have a few good decades in me." Charlie winked and I let out a small chuckle. "You definitely know the way to a man's heart."
"Ha, thanks dad. See you later." He walked away and waved. After about 15 minutes they were out in the cruiser, driving away and I had muffins being placed in the oven.
Jake came up behind me while I added ingredients to a bowl to make omelettes and brushed my hair to one side, placing a kiss on the crook of my neck, building up that need once more. Luckily it seemed that the bleeding had stopped. No. Shut up brain. Nothing is happening. Especially not before my period starts and I can trust this thing to be effective.
