She didn't though. She just ended up following her urge and smacked him in the arm.
"Damn, baby girl. Watch it. These are movie star arms." Riley whined, with a teasing grin.
Giving him, well at least attempting to, a glare, she huffed. "You deserved it."
She shook her head and giggled when he pouted. Along with keeping her sigh of relief to herself when he finally put his shirt back on. Taking out her school supplies, she moved next to Huey, taking the time for him to explain some things to her and show her where she would make mistakes at. That was how her Dad caught them together. She hadn't even realized how much time had passed until he walked in. She stood up, becoming flustered.
"Holy crow! I'm so sorry Dad. Huey and Riley were helping me catch up on my school work and I let the time slip by me." She ran her hand through her hair, smiling sheepishly. "I forgot to make dinner." Her heart felt warm when all her father did was walk up to her, giving her a hug.
"Don't panic kiddo, I'm glad you are getting back on your feet with school. I'll just order some food for us all."
"No fast food." She raised her eyebrow at him, waiting for him to try and tell her no.
"Okay Bells," He chuckled. "No fast food."
She gave him a wide smile. "Thank you!" She hurried off and sat back in her spot as Huey and Riley gave their hello's. When the food arrived, they sat and discussed their work but strayed off to making plans with her to travel to Seattle. She needed some information first. She did not want the guys knowing that she wanted to get a probably well over some centuries year old vampire's name tattooed on her. Christ. Just thinking of that made her feel like she was crazy herself.
"Are you guys coming with me to the movies though? I don't feel comfortable going alone. Even if Angie will be there too." Bella whispered shyly. Two hands ruffled her hair, causing her to whine.
"You know I'll be there for you ma." Riley grinned at her.
"Same here. Better than staying at home and watching Riley make a fool of himself."
She started giggling when they argued. There was a knock on the door that made them pause. Her dad, that was sitting on the couch, watching the game, sat up to go answer it.
"I hope you don't mind Bells. I invited Billy so he could watch the game with me." He spoke as he walked away. Bella tensed up. The last time she's seen Billy, he constantly tried to give her warnings to stay away from them. He must hate her. She wouldn't blame him if he did. She had ran with the enemy. A hand rubbing her back pulled her from her musings and she looked into Riley's concerned eyes. He raised an eyebrow but she shook her head. 'Later', she mouthed. She took a forkful of lo mein and started nibbling on it as Billy wheeled in along with his son Jacob. Both eyes widening in surprise. Probably at seeing her with two big boys they've never met before. What she did not know was that they were also shocked at seeing the way they were all sprawled on the ground by the coffee table. Riley was on her right with his arm around her shoulder, plate in his lap. Huey was on her left, sipping on his soda as he looked up from her to the guests. She blinked when she saw Jacob's eyes narrow on them. What was his problem? And she knew the boys had seen his reaction too because Riley's arm tensed and Huey twitched closer to her side. Taking a peek at both, their eyes were also narrowed and cold. Menacing.
" Billy, Jake, this is Huey and Riley Freeman. Riley, Huey, this is Billy Black and his son, Jacob" Her dad introduced. Billy cleared his throat.
"It's nice to meet you both. Though when Charlie was bragging about Bella's new friends, I assumed you were both girls. Keeping secrets now old man." Billy jabbed at her dad.
She looked up at Riley again when his arm tensed up some more before he pulled her closer to him. She poked his side, gaining his attention. She needed to break the death glare contest before Riley became even more mad. 'No fighting.' She mouthed to him again. A sigh of relief escaped when he nodded. He waved a hand towards the rest of her food with a raised eyebrow and she sighed again. This time in exasperation. She could have made it difficult for him. She didn't. But that did not stop her from sticking her tongue out at him childishly, laughing along with him when he let a belly laugh. His laugh was nice. It felt like it came from his soul. It was a real genuine laugh. Not the faked ones she heard before the Freeman's moved to Forks. It was the kind of laugh that you could not help but join in. Though it scared the other occupants that were sitting in awkward silence. Except for Huey, who was still glaring at Jacob. Giggling, she elbowed him in his side.
"Please be nice Huey, for me?" She asked quietly.
"This is nice. Otherwise, I would've knocked that color off him by now and I will if he don't stop looking at us like that." Huey deadpanned.
She felt like she has sighed for the hundredth time of the day. Finishing her plate, she stood up and collected the others, swatting Riley's hands away when he went to help her.
"I got it." She smiled. "I'll be back with some beer for you guys too."
Walking past the couches and into the kitchen, she knew one of the boys would probably follow her and it was one she kind of did not want to be alone with.
"Hey Bells!" Large arms lifted her up in a hug and twirled her around after she had set the plates down. Turning she gave him an awkward smile.
"Hey Jake, how are you?" She asked, pulling her hair back behind her ears. She really needed a headband.
His teeth stood out as he gave her a large wolfish smile. All bright and white in contrast to his tan skin. His hair pulled back into a ponytail. Wearing a black T - shirt and dark wash blue jeans. She could say that he was handsome. And that he's seem to grow since the last time she saw him. He was not Riley. His hugs, even though they were warm and friendly. They were not Freeman hugs. They gave her deeper warmth and she felt safe.
"I'm good. It's finally good to see you again, loca."
"You too.." She gave him a closed lipped smile and went to the fridge, taking out a pack of beer.
"So..I guess, you're starting to get over him?" Her head snapped over her shoulder to look at Jake. Her whole body becoming tensed and he seemed to read into her mood because his hands started flailing around. "I didn't mean for it to come out like that, it's just that y'know, your dad and my dad like to gossip, and he told us about how you were for the past couple of months and I'm happy to see that you're feeling better." She watched him explain quickly. It was like he did not take a breath between his sentences. She forced herself to unravel, trying to keep the tears at bay.
"Y-yeah. I guess I was messed up. I'm trying though." She closed the fridge and started walking towards the living room. "It's tough."
"So those two guys?"
Her eyes looked at him and she slowed down to keep from tripping. "Riley and Huey moved here almost a week ago."
"Oh." He looked down. "They go to school with you?"
"Yeah."
She wanted to end the conversation so she quickly moved into the next room, placing the beer down on the table. Her dad and Charlie were immersed into the game. Huey was reading his book. Riley's eyes looked into hers as she came into view, he lifted his arm towards her and she immediately sat by his side and he went back to going through his phone. She did not know how much time had passed while she was staring at his screen and before she realized it, she was dozing off on his shoulder. Only to snap back to consciousness when shouting was heard. She looked around to see that she was in Riley's arms being carried. He was snapping at someone besides them.
"What the fuck is your problem? It's a bad thing that I'm taking her to bed? You best be getting out of my face before I smack it." Riley snapped. His hands tightened on her and she finally moved her head to see Jacob glaring at him. He went to answer but all the other men standing around closed in on both.
"Jacob, son, calm down. He's just bringing Bella to bed."
"No point now, since his thick-headed ass woke her up." Huey monotoned, stepping in front of both her and Riley. She could see through the tight materials of his shirt. Muscles were coiled, and some of the veins in his neck were popping out.
"I'm sorry we woke you up baby girl." She looked back to Riley and shook her head.
"It's okay. Sorry you had to go through the trouble."
"Ma, it'll never be trouble taking care of you." She blushed as his voice went soft. He slowly put her down, making sure she stood correctly.
"Now I do not know what the issue is but you boys need to handle it. How about Jacob go to the movies along with you all?"
Bella looked to her father with wide eyes. "Dad, I never told you that yet."
He grinned at her. "Riley mentioned it while you were drooling."
"I do not drool!" She squeaked. She blushed when all the guys chuckled around her. Riley's arms wrapped around her shoulders.
"You good, ma. We know you don't drool." He chuckled before bringing his voice down to a whisper. "But your sleep talking is adorable baby girl. I love hearing my name come out of your mouth while you claim my arm as yours."
She smacked him.
"Yeah it's fine dad. It's a group outing Mike decided to invite us in."
"Ha. More like he was too scared to say no to me and Huey."
She smacked him again.
"Well it's time to go Izzy. It's getting late." Huey said turning to her. "Better keep your phone on you this time in the morning." He chuckled. She smacked him too with a grin. She walked with them as they gathered their wings and to the front door. She gave Huey a hug first. A small smile on her face when he kissed her hair. Riley lifted her up and gave her a bear hug. Her small smile became slightly bigger when he kissed her forehead.
"Be ready in the morning, Bell."
"I will. See you Riley. Bye Huey." She waved towards them as they entered their car. She watched as they pulled out and drove down the street until she could no see them anymore. Turning to go back inti the room, she went and gave her dad a hug.
"I'm gonna go to bed now dad. Love you."
"Love you too kiddo." He grunted, his eyes back to being glued on the screen. She gave Billy and Jacob a wave then basically ran up the stairs, feeling extremely odd at the way Jacob's eyes had seemed to follow her around the room. She tittered nervously, quickly shutting her door. Stripping down her clothes and slipping on her pajamas, her eyes strayed towards the bed where her pillow was. Would anyone find it weird that she does this? Would he find it weird? Who knew. She wasn't giving it up though. It gave her security. Comfort. His hoodie was the one thing that kept her from screaming at night. Being near him made her think rationally. Sometimes. If she were to say what time of day she enjoyed, it would be slipping back into bed at night.
She crawled into bed, taking the large hoodie into her arms, cuddling it as if it was a teddy bear. Pulling the blankets up, she turned off the lamp beside her; burying herself in the mass of sheets, letting the warmth lull her to sleep.
She was sitting on the porch patiently, eating a slice of toast with cream cheese when she heard them coming. Did he want to wake up the whole neighborhood? She did not recognize the song or the person rapping it. She couldn't help it when her head started nodding to it. Her heart squeezed sharply when Riley pulled into the driveway recklessly. Was he trying to crash? All the windows were rolled down so it easy for him to poke his head out with a smirk.
"Let's go baby girl!"
Shaking her head, she carefully made her way down the stairs and the paveway towards the back of the car. Only to pause when Huey, who was laid out in the backseat, watched her over his book with a smirk on his face. Huffing, she turned and sat in the front.
"Morning Izzy." He chuckled.
"You need to stop making me sit in the front Huey." She pouted.
"I didn't make you, I'm just tired today."
"Yeah, sure."
A hand came down to ruffle her hair and she whined. Riley gave her a soft smile when she looked at him. She noticed he turned the music down mostly.
"Had a good night sleep?"
She nodded timidly.
"That's good." He looked at the toast in her hand. "An' what is that?"
Bella blinked at him. "Uh, breakfast?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"That ain't breakfast. You can't even count that as a snack ma." He reprimanded as they reversed and pulled out of the neighborhood.
"I'm not hungry."
"Don't matter. Three square meals a day, that's important. I will fatten you up until I'm satisfied, Bell." His eyes stayed forward but his hand reached up and ran down her cheek. "I dont wanna see your cheeks poke out like they're doing now. I've seen your pictures. And I want you back to that point in your life before you met that boy. He ain't a man if he sucked the life out of you. You're a queen and you should be cherished as one."
She stared at the toast in her hands, hee vision starting to grow more blurry. She fluttered her eyes to bat away the tears. This man always knew what to day to her. He didn't sugarcoat things for her. He told her what's what that did not make her feel as if he was putting her down for her imperfection. He made her feel. The butterflies fluttered constantly at his touch. It was nothing like with her and him. He was a good friend. Both him and Huey. Then again, she could not help but feel that it was too good to be true. She did not want to be a downer. She should be positive. It would do good if she got back on her feet. And it would be a start when she gained her weight back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Nothin' to be sorry for at all. Just try for me, okay?" His thumb rubbed at her cheek. She nodded, wiping at her eyes and giving him a watery smile. She finished the rest of her toast as soon as his hand pulled away. She will be a better friend to these boys. She at least owed then that. What she did not like was all the constant attention though. It annoyed her to no end. The whispers never stopped. She did let out a few giggles when Riley leaned over and whispered about each student he caught eye contact with. Condoning his behavior was not like her usual self. She was not sure on how to establish that to herself on why it did not bother her. Her smile did grow as she spotted Angela taking books out of her locker.
"Angie!" Angela's head turned towards her and gave her big smile along with a wave, waiting until they came up.
"Hey Bells. Ready for another day of torture? Hey Riley...hey Huey." Bella blinked as her best friend started blushing, her eyes flashing down shyly. Huey was leaning against the lockers next to hers, giving her a small grin.
"Hello Angela." Both Bella and Riley looked between the two. What Bella did see from the corner of her eye was Riley grinning madly. He was up to something.
"Well! Time for class, let's go baby girl!" Riley pulled her away and the other two followed. She noticed that the grin did not fall from his face even as he walked away to his own class, staring at Huey and Angela. He was definitely up to something and she had no idea whether it was good or bad, when she started to realize how crazy he could get. This man was a wild streak, and from the teasing glint in his eye, it would be very far from over.