"Isabella Marie Swan, are you out of your damn mind?"
Bella and Jacob stood toe to toe the following morning, surrounded by their fathers, half of the pack, and Sue. Jacob's was far from the only angry face in the Black's living room. Even Billy glared her down as if she'd suddenly gone daft. Perhaps requesting their little gathering hadn't been the best idea after all.
"You seriously think that I - that we are going to let this happen? No fucking way, Bella," Jacob said.
Bella dared not look across the room at Paul. She didn't need to. His fury was palpable as he watched her and Jacob argue.
Jacob continued, "Let me get this straight. You want to invite Leah and Dean, a human, to wherever this place is to spend the weekend with Alex? Even though you understand it's likely a trap?"
Bella plopped down on the couch between Sam and Embry as she said, "Yes, Jacob. It is the best possible solution right now. I can learn how Alex is involved in all of this. If Ed shows up, I can ask him what he knows about Riley and find out what he wants from me. None of us will get those damn answers until I talk to him. None of you leave my side long enough. I will have Leah with me. I trust she can keep me safe, control her thoughts, and I'm sure she'd be more than happy to act human for a couple of days. Since Dean doesn't know anything, he's not an information risk. Edward can't read my mind, either. He never could."
Embry snickered and patted her knee affectionately, displaying his support. Bella couldn't help but smile at him in return. She was surprised when Paul stood and stomped towards the front door. He slammed it shut behind him as he left. Bella fought the urge to follow him, wondering what could have set him off this time.
Embry frowned and asked, "What is his problem?"
"Probably your hand placement," Charlie grumbled, glancing at the hand that still lay on Bella's knee. It was a gesture Embry did so often that it had never occurred to her anyone minded. If Bella didn't, why did they?"
She said, "That's just Embry, Dad."
Charlie countered, "And Paul's just basically your boyfriend. Meanwhile, you're sitting here talking about going away this weekend with two men who are attracted to you while you and Paul are fighting. You can't tell me that if Dean is going, Nick won't tag along. Come on, baby girl. Use your head, Honey."
Charlie's tone hurt. She had wanted to protect his friendship with Paul, but not to the detriment of her image. She wasn't the one who had been caught scheming and turned the tables.
The many pairs of eyes on her suddenly felt heavy with judgment, and her temper flared. Bella snapped, "When I left last night, he might as well have told me to fuck off. Do not lecture me about Paul. That is not why we're here." Bella bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering. Everyone but Charlie looked away from her quickly, wisely staying silent.
Bella leaned into Embry's side, seeking his comfort in her aggravation. It seemed he was the only one that supported her plan. She silently wished her cousin was there. Bella did not doubt that Quil would have her back, too.
Bella said, "I'm doing this with or without your approval, guys. I hoped for the support, but I'm doing this anyway. I need to know what Edward wants, and honestly? The best case scenario is that getting away from here for a couple of days might do me good."
Jacob scowled, understanding her desire for distance and hating it.
Turning back to glare at her father, Bella said, "And, I never said anything about taking Nick along. He and Dean act too much like the rest of you. He'd probably toss me over his shoulder like a caveman and run me out to the truck the second Edward showed up."
"Good," Billy grumbled. "Maybe he should go." He and Charlie shared a rueful grin. Sam couldn't hold back his chuckle.
Bella smirked at Sam and asked, "Et Tu, Brute?"
Sam scoffed and reached up to ruffle her hair affectionately. He said, "If you're going to do this, either way, you gotta take more than just Leah, B. She's tough, but we need to consider this other Leech that followed you yesterday. Leelee is no match against two vamps by herself."
Bella nodded, worried about the other vampire, too. She said, "I'm more concerned about that one than Edward. Believe it or not, Edward could be useful. He's a mind-reader. He would know if someone dangerous came close."
Jacob asked, "And what if he's not? What if Alex is truly innocent in all of this and this other vampire comes looking for you?"
"That's why I want to take Leah," Bella said. "You guys said this other one is fast. No one but Edward is faster than Leah."
Charlie said, "I'm surprised you want to get near Cullen, Bells. How can you not be worried that he might physically turn you?"
Bella said, "Honestly, I don't see Edward trying to hurt me physically. He saved my life more than once. Do I still harbor a lot of resentment toward him? Yes. Did he fuck my head up? Fuck yes. But his eyes are still yellow. We all know what that means. He's not going to eat me, okay?"
Charlie, Billy, and Sue cringed as Bella laughed nervously. She clearly wasn't convincing them. Jacob finally sat down on the floor in front of her feet, concentrating on his thoughts as he tuned out the rest of the room. Bella wondered if he was talking to his wolf or scheming another protection detail. She leaned forward and dug her hands into his tense shoulders, rubbing them the way he liked. Billy shook his head and winked at her as Jacob's whole body dramatically relaxed under her ministrations. Bella ignored Sue's suspicious glare as the last of Jacob's tension melted away. It wasn't unusual for her stepmother to keep her eyes on Bella and Jacob. If she suspected that they imprinted, she had thankfully chosen to keep it to herself. Her silence had not kept her from watching them, however.
Sam asked, "Who would you recommend besides Leah, Jake?"
"Quil," Jacob suggested. "He should go. He won't try to control her personal choices, though he will keep her safe. That way, when Leah is preoccupied," he glanced hesitantly toward the scowl on Sue's face, "someone will still be paying attention."
Embry said, "Quil is supposed to spend the weekend with his new fling. He's off work and patrol."
"That's perfect, then," Sam said.
Embry's brow furrowed in confusion as he asked, "Why?"
Bella said, "I'll just invite her, too. Alex said this so-called cabin is basically a lodge. There's tons of space, like six bedrooms. I will have my own. Alone. So will Alex. If Quil and his new whatever want separate rooms, there are enough."
"Assuming he agrees," Embry said and laughed.
"Well, we will just have to ask him later tonight," Bella said, playfully pinching Embry's bicep. "You can help me," she added as he laughed.
"This could work," Jacob said, nodding absently.
"It could," Bella agreed. "I'd be glad to have Quil along. We haven't spent time together in a while. Who is the girl?"
"I don't know," Embry said. "Annie or Amy. Something like that."
Billy asked, "Question, son? Why didn't you offer for you and Reagan to go?"
Jacob chuckled as he looked up at his father. "Trying to get us out of your hair, Dad?"
"There's a lot of screaming around here lately," Billy grumbled.
Bella admitted, "That's part of the whole 'me getting away' thing. Jake and I need space. We are constantly fighting lately. I think it will be good if he has a couple of days with Rae without me here. It will do me some good, too."
Tentatively, Billy suggested, "Or maybe you two need a couple of days together without Reagan here."
Jacob scoffed and said, "You don't like her, do you, Dad?"
Billy said, "Son, I don't even know her yet. I haven't had much opportunity. I know relationships can wedge friendships apart when we aren't careful, though." He raised his eyes to meet Bella's gaze as he continued, "Don't let arguments, other relationships, and trivial things drive you apart. You're too important to one another." Bella could only nod in understanding. She knew Billy wasn't talking about her relationship with Jacob alone. He meant Paul, too. As if confirming her thoughts, Charlie smirked as he nodded in agreement.
A gentle squeeze on her knee from Embry pulled her from her thoughts. Bella turned toward him. "Yes?"
Embry gave her a dazzling smile and said, "I'm going to beat your ass at beer pong tonight."
"You're on," Bella said through her laughter.
Jacob said, "If she doesn't get any sleep, she's not going to get much drinking done tonight."
"For sure," Bella admitted. Getting enough sleep seemed to be easier said than done, however. She had finally fallen asleep near four in the morning and was wide awake by eight. After Breakfast, clean-up, and their impromptu meeting, Bella was ready for a nap. She asked, "What time are we starting on the bike?"
"I figured around three," Jacob said. "That should give you about four hours from now to sleep."
Sam laughed and nudged Jacob's shoulder as he asked, "And what are you going to do?"
Jacob scoffed and said, "The same damn thing. Rae kept me up talking half the night."
Charlie groaned as he stood, and Sue immediately rose at his side. "I have to work in a couple of hours, so I need to take Susie home and get going."
"Gonna be late, Chief," Billy teased as he reached to swat Charlie's arm. Charlie guffawed and grinned as he slapped his friend back. Bella could swear Sue was blushing as Billy's implication struck her. She laughed.
Sam shook his head and whispered, "They're as ornery as the rest of us." Bella giggled as she stood to hug her father and stepped around Jacob.
Charlie squeezed her tightly to his chest and said, "If you do this… be careful, baby. Please. If anything happens to you, my ass will end up in prison." He pulled away to look her in the eye. "I'll hunt that Alex pricks down if it does. You better warn him."
"I know, Daddy. Thank you," Bella said, rolling her eyes as Sam, Jacob, and Embry cackled. "You can put his plot in the woods next to where you threatened to leave Dean and Nick, okay?"
Sue gasped as Charlie cackled and leaned in to kiss Bella's forehead. It wasn't long after they left that Sam and Embry followed. She need not wait long for her nap afterward. Bella was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The motorcycle got fixed within a couple of hours, and Jacob was halfway through a new paint job by six. Bella was in the backyard and using the grill while Jacob worked. Quil and Embry were in the garage, blaring the radio as their laughter poured from the building. The three of them had already gone through a case of beer. Bella rolled her eyes as another empty can flew out of the garage, landing in a heap to be crushed and recycled later. She hoped they would slow their roll a little since she couldn't drink until she had eaten. At the rate they were going, there wouldn't be any alcohol left.
Leah and Seth had sprawled out in lawn chairs beside her. Leah sipped her wine cooler as she stared off into the treeline. After eating, Seth promised to stand guard for the others in case the mysterious vampire made another appearance. Bella had been alarmed to wake up from her nap and find Jacob gone. Their howls had torn him from his sleep, and Jacob had rushed out to help them. The stranger was twice chased away that morning, her hooded cloak trailing in the wind behind her. Jacob had said she was like a phantom, her face hidden in the shadows and her small, lithe form constantly out of reach. Sam feared she was toying with them, searching for weaknesses in their patrols to get past them somehow.
Bella was surprised when Sam didn't cancel Jacob's party plan. Instead, he'd gone home to get Emily at Jacob's behest. The two were inside the house with Billy, helping create the feast they would soon tear into.
As if reading her thoughts, Leah asked, "Are you nervous about seeing Paul in a little bit?"
Bella looked over at her siblings and couldn't help but return Seth's cheerful grin. She said, "Uh, yeah. A bit. I hope he's had some time to calm down."
Bella certainly had. Her dreams that afternoon consisted of nothing but Paul. Despite her anger, she missed him. She understood he had done these things to protect her, but the sneaking around and bite of his dismissal after their fight still stung.
Absently, Bella mumbled, "All I asked for was some space to think. I never fucking said I didn't want to see him anymore. I just wanted a minute to wrap my head around shit, you know?"
"He's just mad at himself, Sis," Seth said and chuckled as another beer can hit the pile.
Knowing they would hear her despite the distance, Bella called out, "You three better not touch that fucking case of beer until after we eat!"
A loud, unanimous groan came from the garage, making Leah cackle. "Idiots," she said, her eyes never leaving the treeline.
Bella called out again for Sam, asking him to bring her roasting pan outside. Within seconds, he was grinning next to her, holding the pan securely as she filled it with steaks and thick hamburger patties. She opened a marinade bowl full of pork chops and reloaded the grill as he carried the roaster inside.
"Damn, Swan," Leah said. "I'd ask if you're feeding an army, but I know how these fuckers eat."
Bella sighed as she closed the grill lid. She said, "Yeah. Everyone is out running their asses off for me right now. Seems like a nice way to say thanks."
"You can pay me in food any time, Bella," Seth teased.
Leah sat up in her chair and shot Bella a mischievous grin before turning on Seth as she asked, "So where is Bella's twenty bucks, anyway? Huh, Seth?"
Bella cackled as his cheeks turned pink. Seth hesitated to respond. "I'll get it eventually," he finally answered.
"How about eventually getting that job," Leah huffed as she resumed her relaxed position.
Bella laughed as she walked over and sat on Leah's lap. Her stepsister grunted as Bella leaned back against Leah's chest. Leah's arms slid around Bella's waist, and she chuckled.
"Always gotta sit on one of us," Leah teased her.
"You're just so warm," Bella returned and laughed as they both relaxed.
Emily's giggle caught their attention as she walked outside to begin loading the picnic table with dishes. Sam barked a laugh as he followed behind her, his arms laden with more food. He said, "You two look cozy."
Leah made a face at them as their backs turned. "Play nice, sister," Bella whispered and laughed as Leah poked her in the ribs with a sharp knuckle.
The lawn chair slowly sunk into the ground, reclining with their added weight. Bella grunted as she tried to stand and Leah cackled underneath her.
Bella pleaded, "Seth? Help?"
His arms now empty, Sam laughed and ran to help Seth pick them up. Rather than pulling her off Leah's lap as Bella expected, each man grabbed part of the lawn chair and lifted it out of the ground with both women still in it. Leah's eyes went wide as she briefly panicked and grabbed the arms.
"This chair isn't strong enough for this," she squealed as they placed it upright. Leah reached behind her head and playfully slapped Sam's arms as Seth pulled a cackling Bella from her lap.
Bella glanced at Emily and received a soft, genuine smile. Eyes shining, Emily looked back at Leah and Sam and sighed. Bella could feel the peace slowly becoming restored between the three of them. It filled her with hope and a nurturing sensation she couldn't explain.
This is my family, she thought happily. And she loved them.
When a car door slammed out front, Bella walked around the side of the house to see who had arrived. A tall, somewhat chubby young woman grinned at her as she swung her long braid behind her back and lifted grocery bags in her arms. Although her face was plain, there was something beautiful about her. Bella could sense the gentle calmness from Kim that Jacob had always talked about and rushed forward to help her. Bella raised onto her toes to kiss her cheek as she took some of the bags from her.
"You must be Kim," she said as she pulled away.
"That's me," Kim said, both pleased and surprised. "I didn't have time to cook anything, but Jacob asked me to grab hamburger buns, chips, and condiments. I hope there are enough other sides and such."
"Between Emily, Sam, and I, honey - trust me. There's enough," Bella laughed.
Kim said, "So, you're the famous Bella?"
"More like infamous," Bella joked as she led Kim to the backyard. "I'm so glad to meet you finally!"
It's too bad Reagan and Dean can't be here. For once, everyone would be together.
The swell of emotion returned as everyone gathered around the picnic table. Bella listened to them all chatting as she finished cooking the pork chops and added them to the nearly overflowing roaster. Once everything was ready, Jacob phased, calling for Paul and Jared.
Jared's arrival had everyone grinning as he spotted Kim, and he ran over to embrace her immediately. She giggled as he loaded the side of her face with quick, hard pecks while one hand patted her butt.
"I didn't know you'd be here, Babe. I'm so glad," Jared gushed out as she turned to hug him. The couple was complete opposites, both physically and in personality. Jared had paid her no mind before imprinting. It had been like a fairy-godmother answering Kim's prayers, as she had already loved him. Rather than being bitter about his stolen choices, Jared had never spent one second resentful for the change. He believed the imprint opened his eyes to everything he would have missed before. For Jared, no one is better or more beautiful than Kim. Bella could see it in his face as he sat by her, practically pulling her leg over his own as he kept one arm around her back.
Everyone talked for a while, waiting for Paul to arrive. Eventually, Bella sighed at the empty seat beside her. Where is he?
Sending Bella a worried glance, Leah asked Jacob, "Is Paul not coming?"
"He said he would," Sam grumbled, frowning at the empty seat.
Bella took Paul's plate and leaned to grab a piece of each meat. His plate was passed around the table, loading it with what the other pack members knew he liked best. Bella thanked them as it returned to her. Jacob got up and ran into the house. When he returned a moment later, he spread a large sheet of cellophane over Paul's plate and set it aside.
"I'll take it to him later if he doesn't show up," Sam reassured her.
"Thank you," Bella said and bit into her bottom lip, desperately trying to hide her disappointment. She, Emily, and Kim were encouraged to make their plates before the wolves dug in. Despite the size of their meal, there wouldn't be much left.
Halfway through her plate, Bella gave up and laughed as three forks stabbed into her leftover chunks of steak. She met Kim's amused gaze as Jared finished Kim's plate. Emily had put a surprising dent into her own and leaned back to rub her food baby.
"This was awesome, guys. We needed this," Emily said. The others nodded despite many looking curiously toward Paul's empty place.
Leah sat up straight as the pack all turned toward the treeline. Paul's large, silvery-gray wolf stepped into view and sat at the edge of the woods. Bella blushed as everyone turned to look at her and back toward his wolf in silence.
Bella picked up Paul's plate and a fork before walking toward him. He stood as she came near and stepped further into the woods.
For a moment, she was afraid Paul would run off. Instead, he strode behind a tree to phase.
"I didn't think you were coming," Bella said as he came back into view.
"I didn't think I was going to," Paul admitted. "Is that for me?" He nodded at the heaping plate of food in her hand.
"Yeah," she said and held it out to him. He hesitated for a moment before taking it and sitting down on a nearby tree stump. "I can go if you'd rather be alone," she offered while he unwrapped the plate.
"Don't," he said as he reached to catch her left hand. Paul squeezed it gently and asked, "Stay? We need to talk." He picked up the pork chop with his fingers and tore out a large bite with his teeth. He moaned as he chewed and asked, "Who was the chef at the grill today?"
"Me," Bella said as she leaned against the tree closest to her.
Paul said, "No one should touch that grill but you from now on."
"I always did the cooking at home," Bella said. "Renee, my mom - she can't cook for shit."
Paul chuckled. The sound of it made her heart flutter. She knew he heard the uptick as he side-eyed her, smirking. After swallowing another large bite, he took a moment to compose himself before setting his plate down on the tree stump beside him.
"I've done a lot of thinking about our fight last night," he said. "I'm willing to admit I fucked up, Bells. I did. I know I did. I overreacted, too. I didn't mean that shit I said before you left. I don't want you to go date whoever you want. I'd be a damn liar if I said I could even stand the thought of it."
"Paul, I don't want to," she began, but he held up his hands, cutting her off.
"Just … just listen for a second, okay?" He picked his plate back up and poked around at his food with his fork as he continued. "I want you to trust me, Bella. I fucked that up. I know. I meant what I said about keeping my distance when you have plans with other people. This shit is all new to me. I've never cared this much about any woman, Bella. I honestly don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
Bella hated the insecurity she could see in his eye, knowing that somehow she had put it there. She said, "I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, either, Paul. We were both upset when I said I needed to think, but I never expected you to react how you did."
Paul said, "I didn't plan for you to find out how you did, either. I was going to tell you eventually. I tried to figure out how to do it without you freaking out, but it all went wrong."
She sighed at the admission of his fruitless effort and said, "Paul, I was going to freak out either way. I think you knew that."
He continued eating, nodding as he chewed. "I know," he mumbled. "And you were right to be mad. You were right when you said. I'd never let anyone do that shit to me. I am sorry, Bells."
She stood silently, waiting as he quickly wolfed down all but his steak. He grinned as he looked back up at her from his seat and set the plate aside. "Saving that for the wolf," he said. He became serious again as he stood and stepped in front of her.
"Please don't go through with this crazy plan, Babe," he pleaded. "It's too risky."
Bella sighed, letting her head fall back against the tree. "One way or another, it has to be done," she said. "It's not like you guys are gonna carry me around on patrol and let me chit-chat with the vamp when it comes back."
"You're right," he said and chuckled. "But if this goes wrong, you're a sitting duck."
"Leah and Quil won't let that happen," she argued.
"I hope you're right," he said. "I won't be there to save you this time, Bella. I won't follow you guys or lurk around for this one. As much as I hate it, I need you to know you can believe what I say. I also can't stand the thought of listening to Alex flirt with you all goddamn weekend."
Bella said, "I told him I only want to be friends."
Paul snickered and said, "Yeah. You gave me that impression once, too."
What the hell is that supposed to mean? A scowl crossed his face for a moment. It made Bella's cheeks flush red as she realized she had asked the question out loud.
He said, "It means your signals are misinterpretable, babe. At least for me. Until you finally told me you were falling for me, I didn't know which way was up or down."
"I was confused about what I wanted between us," Bella said. "I'm not confused about Alex. I don't want him. I want you."
Paul gave her a dazzling smile and asked, "Yeah? Still?"
She chuckled, nodding. "I'm pretty sure."
Paul reached up to cup her cheek and gently slid his thumb across her chin. His voice lowered to a whisper as he asked, "You gonna forgive me?"
Tentatively, she asked, "Do you understand why it was so triggering?"
"Yeah, I do," he said as she reached up to push his hair back from his face. "Do you understand why your bolting felt triggering for me?"
"Not really," she admitted. "I just wanted some time to absorb everything. I wasn't dumping you. I never said that I was."
Paul said, "It isn't the things we are certain of that trigger abandonment issues, Bella. I got abandoned, too. I already knew you were capable of shutting me out for weeks if you wanted to. I didn't think I could bear that, and I panicked."
"I'm sorry," Bella said as she slid her hands around his neck. Paul leaned further to press his face against her neck and inhaled deeply. She stared after him in surprise as he pulled away and stepped back.
"I need to get back out there," he said, gesturing toward the forest behind him. "Go on. Have fun tonight. We can talk more about us when you return on Monday."
"Okay," she said as worry filled her once more. "Are we still fighting?"
"Nope," he said with an affectionate grin. "But, a few days apart might still do us some good. I want you to be careful this weekend. You don't need to have your mind preoccupied, worrying about whether or not you and I are okay. We can always come back to this discussion and see where we are after you get home."
See where we are? She said, "Wait a second. I'm confused as Hell here. Are we okay then or not?"
Paul said, "For now, we're fine. We're friends, not fighting. We care about each other. No different than the day before yesterday, okay?"
She asked, "Friends? We're not together?"
"We were never together, Bella," Paul said and laughed. "No labels yet. One day at a time, then. One day at a time now."
Bella frowned, looking away from him in frustration. He wasn't wrong, yet they had felt like so much more. She asked, "What if I don't want to take things a day at a time anymore?"
Paul grinned as he stepped closer and leaned down to kiss her cheek before he said, "Then we can talk about that on Monday." Before she could say anything else, Paul phased in front of her. He picked up the steak between his teeth and trotted into the woods without looking back.
"Hmph." Bella grabbed the plate from the tree stump. Lost in thought, she headed back to the house to ask Leah and Quil about their weekend plans.
Hey, folks. I know this isn't much after two weeks of waiting but it's the best I have for now. What do you think of Bella's plan? What about Paul's change of attitude? Please leave your thoughts below. They keep me motivated. XO.
