Chapter 255: Graduation Party Part 2
I was glad that Jake came in time for the party. I didn't feel comfortable that we would start the party without him. Embry assured me that Jake doesn't mind starting without him since Jake didn't want to hold us back from partying. Both Sam and I got up to go greet Jake and Bella. Jake was mesmerized with the decorations, food that we all did for their graduation party. He was wearing a long button-down shirt with long jeans. This is the most dressed that I ever seen Jake in. He is usually in his cut off pants or a simple white tee shirt. I smiled that Jake put a little more effort today for his graduation party. His smile got bigger when he saw us at the table. Jake greeted Sam with a small nod, and he gave a small wave to me. I would like to give him a hug, but knowing Sam, it would make his wolf spirit very uncomfortable.
Bella popped behind him. She was wearing a blue maxi dress with black flip flops. She had her hair in a low bun. She looked more..alive. Her face is not as sunken as before. She doesn't have permanent dark bags under her eyes. It looked like she had gained some weight too. Not that she was anorexic or anything, but she was on thin side. I felt genuinely happy for her. She looked more like herself.
In the distance behind Jake and Bella, I saw Charlie walking towards the elders and Billy. Charlie even got dressed up too. The elders had their own foldable white table pulled out for them as well to eat and chat together. I guess he didn't come toward us to give us some privacy which I appreciated. Bella gave an awkward smile and wave.
I blinked and greeted, "hi, Bella."
She replied casually, "hey,,it's been awhile."
I nodded slowly, "yeah.."
She nodded as well. There was an awkward silence between us. I didn't know what else to say. Bella cleared her throat, and walked few steps toward me and Sam. She glanced both Sam and I, and she asked nervously, " I..uh have some things to say to everyone..Is it okay if I speak to the pack?"
I glanced at Sam, and Sam with his neutral expression said, "go ahead."
Bella grimaced, "thanks.."
She rubbed her hands and Jacob gave a small pat behind her. He said encouragingly, "you got this.."
She gulped as her expression grew pale and she responded quietly, "yeah."
It sounded like she was trying to reassure herself. Sam and I stepped to the side, to let Bella go stand at front of the table. Everyone laid their eyes on her. Paul was eyeing Bella with rage and disgust. He didn't held back from the obvious dislike towards Bella. Jared was sitting next to him and elbowed him hard that made Paul grunted. He glared momentarily at Jared before looking down at his plate. As in for Quil and Embry, it looked like they were trying not to give anything away from their expression. They held a neutral expression, so it wasn't feigned disinterest like Kim, Claire, and Emily were giving to Bella. Maybe Quil and Embry don't know what to think of Bella. They knew her briefly before they all phased. They have seen her when she was sort-of catatonic, but they also know how she treated Jacob. I have no doubt that Jake mentioned how Bella manipulated him to tell her the stories and fix the bikes just to see a hallucination of Edward. They probably have their own opinions regarding her, but because Jacob is their close friend, they might be willing to give Bella another chance. Jared's eyebrows were furrowed in uncertainty. He wasn't sure what to make out of Bella, but he is willing to hear what she got to say. It was only Seth who had a positive expression on his face. He was smiling, in anticipation of what Bella's going to say.
From the mixed expressions that everyone was giving to her, Bella's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She immediately turned her gaze down at the table before she collected herself and stared above everyone's heads.
She began, "I uh..asked Billy and Jake if it was okay for me to come because I , uhm, have something to say to all of yall…So everyknows that I..wasn't in a good head space."
Paul muttered, "no shit."
Bella kept going, ignoring Paul's comment, "but..it's no excuse for my behaviors.." She gulped, biting her lips nervously as she glanced at each pack member one by one. "All of y'all helped me in ways that I can't pay you guys back. I..took advantage of y'all's kindness for my selfishness and i-it wasn't right. You guys sacrificed." Her eyes widened when she noticed Claire and Emily were eating with use at the tabl, so she stuttered to not give away pack's secrets in front of normal people, "uh your..time..uhm effort to help..me feel..safe in La Push." Bella lip biting became more profusely, "and I-I know this won't change what I-I did nor how I was in the past..and I know me..promising to be better not only for me but for everyone else doesn't have any weight. I can see why you guys won't trust me..."
Her eyes started to tear up and with trembling lips, "But, I know for sure that everyone deserves an apology.."
She ended with that, and everyone grew silent. Her apology seemed sincere. I won't take it too personally and take it at face value. It seemed like everyone was thinking the same until Seth spoke up to break the awkward silence.
Seth said, "I, uh, appreciate your apology, Bella. I wasn't around when you were ,uh, around more in the Rez, but..I'm open to see the new you and you're always welcome at our place. Charlie, and my mom are more than happy to have you come over in the weekends with us."
Then, Jacob added, " Yeah, Bella, you're always welcome at my place. Billy and I are more than willing to have you over" then he said smirking, "and have more of your cooking too."
Bella laughed lowly. She looked gratefully at Seth and Jacob, and she mumbled, "thanks, guys."
I assumed this is all she is going to say, so I stepped in before things got awkward again. I stood by Bella and said, "Thanks Bella for that ,uhm, heartfelt apology… Let's get this party started?"
The pack cheered.
Jacob along with Bella went to grab food. Sam and I took our seat and waited for those two to join us. Since I haven't taken the first bite, the pack hasn't either. Claire and Emily were confused. They looked at Seth, and Seth mouthed, "I'll explain later." Claire and Emily glanced each other and shrugged as they waited patiently. Once Jacob and Bella got their plate and sat down, I took the first bite then everyone dig in.
I snuggled close to Sam and ate my meal. The elders came by to give us refreshments and seconds for the guys who already finished their first plate. Quil, Embry, and Jake were have a great time. They were bickering among themselves, laughing, and smiling. They were taken aback of how much they were getting pampered by the elders and their wives. Even I was being fed second plate by them too. They made three rounds, before they stepped away and sat down to eat for themselves with Charlie and the other council members.
Claire and Emily mouths were dropped to see the amount of food that the pack was eating. I guess Quil sensed Claire's discomfort, so he started talking to her to lightened things up. Sometimes, I would feel eyes on me, and when I looked around, I sometimes locked eyes with Bella. She would quickly looked away and focused on other's conversations. I frowned, but I shrugged that away.
When Sam had finished his fourth plate and I was still finishing my second plate, he decided to personally feed me by the fork. Initially, I was shaking my head, rejecting it because I was too shy to do it in front of everyone. Then, Sam gave me his version of puppy eyes, so I eventually relented. I let him feed me as he was smiling and his wolf spirit resurfacing on occasion. I wasn't paying attention to what the others were talking about, but once I heard my name. I looked to see who said my name.
Paul was saying, "I bet on Ale!"
Jacob, placing his hand on wow, you rather place your bet on her than me?
Jared said teasingly, "You aren't trying to get into her good graces, right?"
Paul, defending himself while getting red by the minute, "N-no! look how she drove from the Rez to Forks with a broken leg!"
Seth exclaimed, "What? For reals?"
My mouth was twitching to smile, but I said in feign nonchalance, "yeah, what of it?"
Emily and Claire gasped and looked at me in awe. Sam was pulling me close with pride and adoration in his eyes. I was getting slightly uncomfortable from the attention, but I really wanted to see what they are going with this.
Jake said while putting his hands, "alright. I admit, she got some guts, but I think I am a better driver. Hell, I even taught Bella on how to ride!"
I snorted, "didn't Bella only drove few times before it got taken away by Charlie?"
Jared coughed as he choked on his food and started belly laughing. Bella's face turned red with her mouth slightly gaping open.
she said arrogantly, "I'm pretty sure I can beat you! Jake's the greatest teacher."
Sure he is Bella. Sure he is I thought to myself.
I took a sip of my coke then crossed my legs, playing along and said, " oh, yeah? Do you want to test that theory out? I'm confident that I can beat both of y'all. I got years of motorcycling on my belt."
Kim had her hand in her mouth, holding back a chuckle as she was nursing Amelia. Jared and Quil both 's mouth was slightly hanging from my declaration.
He turned to Quil and Embry, "and you two. Who do you think would win?"
Quil started whistling and looking everywhere but Jake. Jake was dumbfounded. He even looked offended that his best friends didnt't even got his back. He playfully glared at Embry. Embry was scratching behind his head, so he said nervously, "uh…sorry, Jake. I bet on Ale. She's a city girl too. "
Paul started laughing loudly. Jake asked, "Sam, wanna go grab the bikes from my place?"
Paul said as he was finally able to stop crackling, "I'm so dying to see this."
Sam snorted from Paul's dramatic laughing. Sam responded while grinning, "sure. I want to see this for myself as well."
Because so many things going on at that time like Jared getting injured, Bella running off, Seth's phase and Kim's delivery, Sam never brought it up to me. Even I forgot that I had stole Jake's motorcycle and drove off to Forks to stop Alice from meeting Bella, so this was my first time hearing Sam anything regarding me with motorcycling.
Not gonna lie, I was nervous, but also excited. I can start doing the things that I like to do, and I can show other parts of myself to the pack as well. I..have been closed off with the pack, and I want to bond with the guys not because I am Sam's mate, Alpha female, but this is going to be my home now..So, I need to make more effort to build a home in this reality. Then, one day when I am comfortable and ready, I can tell the guys who I really am. Seeing how much they have accepted me so far, I think..I am not as afraid to tell them when that time does come.
I scooted away for Sam to get up. Sam gave me a quick peck on my temple before leaving and muttered for only me to hear, "I'll be back."
I nodded while Sam headed towards his truck with Jake following closely behind him. Jake jumped on the back of his truck as Sam turned on his truck and drove off. I finished the remaining food in my plate. When I got up to take my plate and Sam's to the trash bags. The guys did the same after me. The guys helped clean up the mess that they made. It was the least we can do for all the hard work the elders and their wives did to make this big for everyone. The girls and I helped put up the foldable tables and chairs and place them on the ground. Bella's staring became more intense and frequent. I made a mental note that to confront her before Sam and Jake comes back.
Paul shouted, "let's go play some football while we wait for those two to come back. That sounds good?"
There was collective agreement among the guys.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Jared helped Kim settles down on a big mat with cushions to help Kim be comfortable before he went off to play football with the guys, so Kim can relax with Amelia. Quil gave a surprised hug to Claire. Claire wasn't expecting that from Quil, so she froze like a deer at headlights when Quil wrapped his arms around her. It was a short hug, nevertheless, I knew it left a big impression on Claire. Quil let go and asked her to watch him play and win for her. Claire simply nodded and waved goodbye to Quil. Kim called Emily and Claire join with her by the mat, so she wouldn't be alone. Once Kim didn't mind watching the guys play because Emily and Claire wanted to play with her baby, so it all turned out well.
While everyone was getting ready to be occupied, I took this chance to approach Bella.
Author's Note:
Surprise! While writing the previous chapter, I was also making this one and the next chapter. I have been just writing anything and everything that comes to mind. I know I have been dragging this part of the story out, but it has its purposes.
Enjoy!
Update:
sorry, I forgot I killed off Harry..Oops.. I fixed it. Enjoy!
