Things had been… tense (for lack of a better word) since Kate had walked into the door of Bella's hospital room. Charlie had eventually excused himself (he really did last through as much college girl gossip and screaming as he could), but Jacob had continued to sit rigidly near the window and glare openly at Kate.
Kate for her part, was acting as if nothing was amiss in the slightest. She had joked with the girls, knocked Lil' K off of the bed for one of her terrible puns, laughed at everyone's antics, and been their normal coach. But Bella could tell that she was on edge, no matter how well she hid it from everyone else.
After nearly an hour and a half, the girls started to bid Bella their goodbyes and each reached over to hug her and tell her to "get her ass better quick!". Kate had thrown a last, lingering look over her shoulder at Bella and the human pouted subtly at her which just caused her to throw her a look letting her know she didn't like it any more than Bella did.
Jacob sat forward as soon as everyone had left and just stared at her incredulously. "What, Jake?" She asked as she shifted around in her bed and stuck another pillow behind her back.
"She's a fucking vampire, Bella," He nearly snarled at her. Bella shot him a look telling him that she didn't appreciate the tone he'd taken.
"I'm very fucking aware of that, Jacob," She said back in the same tone, "And I love her, Jacob. More than I've ever loved anyone. She's my soul mate. Hell, she's my entire soul. And if you have an issue with that, you can leave. I'm sure Charlie's ready to head out for the night anyway." She finished and didn't leave any room for argument.
Jacob glared at her for a long moment before standing and stalking towards the door. She could hear him talking to someone down the hallway and Charlie entered her room minutes later.
"Hey, Bells. It's been an eventful day. I'm sure you're tired and you need your rest. We're going to head out for the night, and we'll be back around breakfast time tomorrow," Bella nodded and told her dad goodnight as he hugged her. She watched him leave and sighed as she leaned back heavily.
She closed her eyes and took deep breaths before hearing her door open. Her eyes shot open and she sat up ready to snap at Jacob again before seeing Kate and softening dramatically. She smiled brightly at her vampire, but the smile was quickly being devoured as the vampire sped across the room, took Bella's face between her hands, and kissed her so soundly, Bella didn't ever think she'd stop kissing her (not that she minded so to speak).
When Bella started to feel lightheaded, she broke their kiss only to have Kate press butterfly kisses around her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, and down her neck. Bella giggled and tangled her hands into soft blonde hair, "What has gotten into you?" She asked through her laughs at Kate's antics.
"I love you so much," Kate said as she looked deeply into brown eyes, "Isabella Swan, you are my entire soul and I love you with every fiber of my being, darling," Bella understood now. Kate had heard her defend her to Jacob, "You are my entire world and I couldn't picture being here anymore without you. I know what they mean now when they say, "my heart walks around outside of my body"."
Bella lurched forward after Kate's impromptu speech and reconnected their lips in a somehow more powerful kiss than before.
0~0~0
Bella was allowed to leave the hospital a few days later, so Charlie and Jacob drove her back to her dorm. She insisted that they didn't need to walk her up, that she would be fine, but they then insisted that they needed to make sure she got up alright.
Bella unlocked the door to find JP lounging on the shared room couch. Her feet dangled off the back of the couch while her body laid along it. She was throwing popcorn into the air and attempting to catch it with her mouth. Though, the pile around her was evidence that she hadn't done too well yet.
"Still haven't beat the world record?" Bella asked as she passed her and caught the piece of popcorn in her hand that JP had just thrown.
JP stuck her tongue out at Bella, "I just don't believe that he caught 37 in a minute. It's not possible," JP said and then turned and said her hellos to Jacob and Charlie who were listening to the two roommates.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself, J," Bella said and JP squinted at her and threw a handful of popcorn her direction, "It's looking like you have plans to vacuum later," Bella said with a laugh as she opened her bedroom door and tossed her overnight bag down which JP had been nice enough to bring by the hospital.
Jake entered the room first being that JP had pulled Charlie into a conversation about life on the police force in a small town. Bella looked over at her friend to see him tense and his nostrils flared again. She rolled her eyes "Seriously, Jake, get over yourself," She said as she threw her dirty clothes into her hamper and tidied up the things she'd left out when she'd been sick several days ago.
"I didn't expect you to be a slut too, Bella," Jake bit out before turning on his heel and leaving the dorm. Bella bit back tears and made sure she was completely free of any sign that she'd had her feelings hurt before she looked up to see Charlie finally entering her room.
"Jake said he left because you needed to change. You done?" Charlie asked. Bella almost laughed. She was clearly still wearing the same clothes but nodded anyway, "Good," She shook her head. Her dad was truly something. "Bells, don't let it be months before one of us visits again okay. Your old dad loves you still," Bella laughed and accepted his side hug, "And don't let it be because your coach thinks you're dying."
Bella laughed and nodded. She bit her lip and contemplated her next words, "Dad there's something I want to tell you," She said and Charlie just nodded in her direction as he gave himself a tiny tour of her room, "I like girls," She said and figured he didn't hear her when he didn't say anything in response, "Dad?"
"Is that it?" He asked with a laugh. "Bella, your mother and I definitely already knew," He said, "You did dance classes solely because your dance teacher was pretty and so were the other ballerinas. We've known since, what? Age four?" He asked.
Bella stared at him slack jawed for a moment before laughing too, "Yeah, dad. Probably since then." She shook her head at herself, "Thanks for being cool about it."
