Author's Note: If you are one of those amazing people who are reading all of my WIPs at once, I wanted to provide a recap here to help keep things straight because this one and You Are 17, Act Like It are both dealing with Jacob in different ways at the same time. In this story, Jacob hid Edward from Bella and that's why she is mad at him. They haven't had any other interactions since the confrontation in the woods the night she called out to Edward.
I'm going to try to finish some of the WIPs soon so it's less to keep straight, but my brain keeps thinking of ideas and demanding that I publish them to see what everyone thinks. Haha!
Thanks for reading!
To my surprise, Edward actually wanted to have dinner with my father, Billy, and Jacob on Friday, despite the fact that he would have to choke up anything he ate later on. Initially, I didn't want to, but I hoped that maybe if Jacob and his father could see how good Edward was to me and how happy I was, maybe they would back off and realize they were mistaken about the Cullens like the rest of the Quileutes had recently.
Although Alice couldn't see them in her visions due to Jacob being a wolf, Edward felt that it would be a good opportunity to put some of my father's concerns about him to rest. He was excited about the dinner, even, and maybe getting to know more about what I had done while he was away.
"Alright, fine. Which human foods are the least disgusting for you to choke up?"
"Why do you ask?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and grinning at me.
"So, I can make a dinner menu."
"Oh, well they are all pretty bad. I can't say that I've deliberately eaten many of them. What were you planning on making?"
"Probably some of Charlie's favorites, fried fish or steak, baked potatoes, a salad, maybe a cake."
He made a disgusted face. "That shouldn't be too bad either way, although I imagine fish can be rather greasy."
"Yeah, I'll go with steak. Want me to leave yours extra bloody?" I joked.
"Would you be so kind?" he asked, leaning towards my neck, and kissing along the side of it. "Although there is a different kind of blood that I would much prefer." He licked my neck and I giggled.
"Gross."
"Your smile says differently." he teased.
"If I cut myself cooking, I'll be sure to drip my finger on your plate." I laughed but he looked horrified. "I'm kidding, Edward. I'm not going to hurt myself on purpose."
"I don't like to even think it."
"Cow blood it is, then."
The week went by too quickly and it was Friday before I knew it. Edward gladly accompanied me to the grocery store after school and I filled him in on some of the topics Charlie and Billy were likely to talk about, as well as a bit of human food etiquette.
"There are some parts that we don't eat. For instance, bones. No one eats those. I, personally don't eat the fatty bits of the meat, so no one will look at you weird if you cut around them. Not everyone eats potato skins so it's OK if you don't. You can claim to be full and skip dessert, if you like, or you can just ask for a small piece. As far as salad goes…" I cracked up laughing, wondering what type of salad dressing a vampire would eat. A lady looking at meats a few feet away looked at us funny and hurried to another aisle.
"What is it, love?" he asked, a smile playing on his face at my amusement.
"Well, I was wondering what type of salad dressing you like."
"I'll just copy you."
"Ranch it is, then." I said, picking some steaks and putting them in the cart.
"And why is that so funny?"
"Because it has garlic."
"Oh, and you believe I can't eat garlic?"
"I know you can, I just think it's hilarious."
"Glad I amuse you." he said, smiling and following me through the store. We finished the rest of my list quickly and went home to start preparing dinner.
I marinated the steaks and Edward helped me chop and slice vegetables for a salad, making sure that I didn't cut myself or so much as get a scratch from anything sharp.
"Woah, smells great in here!" Charlie called, coming in from work and taking off his jacket and gun belt.
"Hi dad! You smell the cake in the oven."
"Cake? What's the occasion?" he asked with a big smile.
"As if you don't know, you big goof." I said, rolling my eyes. He smiled and greeted Edward politely, in a great mood. I hoped that his mood would last after Billy and Jacob would be on their best behavior for him.
I opened a pack of cream cheese to make homemade frosting, accidentally getting a large papercut from the foil wrapper. I panicked for a second, looking at Edward, but he just smiled gently at me. "I hoped that if I did all the knife handling, you wouldn't get hurt." he joked.
Charlie laughed and went into the bathroom to get me a bandage. Edward got a paper towel and walked over to examine my finger, cleaning the blood off gently and bandaging it up when Charlie offered him the supplies.
"Do I need to go to the store?" Charlie asked.
"No, it's still sealed. I didn't even get anything on the wrapper."
"Good. Because there's a game about to start." he said, teasing and going into the living room.
Edward kissed my bandaged finger. "Good as new."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You can't help it."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm with you. I'm more than alright." he smiled, kissing me gently on the lips before going back to his chopping.
"You weren't bothered?"
"Not at all. I guess that's the effect almost losing you has on me. I could never hurt you again in any way. I wasn't tempted."
"What about by the steaks?" I teased.
"Definitely not."
"They were pretty bloody."
"Yes, but old blood, not fresh. Big difference." he smiled, and we worked in silence for a while, him chopping and prepping vegetables and me making homemade cream cheese frosting.
"Hey, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"What is it, love?"
"Can we go out tomorrow night? If dad is alright with it."
"Any time you want to."
"There's a new movie I really want to see. I thought we could go on a real date since we haven't in so long." Also, Edward in a dark theater sounded like fun. I wanted to erase the awful memory of movie dates with Jessica and Jacob in his absence.
"I would love nothing more." he answered.
"You didn't even ask what movie."
"Doesn't matter. You'll be with me. That means it will be a perfect evening."
"Gross!" Charlie said, coming to get a beer out of the fridge with a teasing smile and a roll of his eyes. "Everyone knows that's not how you treat a chick. It's a movie this time and before you know it, she will have you wrapped around her little finger doing anything she asks…watching chick flicks…painting her toenails…talking about your feelings….ew."
"I'll take my chances." Edward smiled at him and then looked at me.
"So, can I go?" I asked.
"Be home by ten."
"Thanks, dad."
There was a knock on the door. "They're here. How much longer on dinner?"
"Probably about thirty minutes."
"Alright, we'll watch the game then. Want to join us, Edward?" Charlie asked.
He looked at me, asking permission. "Go ahead, I've got this."
"No more papercuts?"
"I'll try."
He walked over and kissed me on my forehead. "Let me know if you need me."
"Just go." I teased.
Charlie jokingly rolled his eyes again and they went into the living room, threw open the door and greeted Billy and Jacob. They thankfully all stayed in the living room watching the game and talking. Though I listened closely for signs of violence, there was none. It was mostly just quiet, other than the TV.
Jacob came in the kitchen a few minutes later, just as I was pulling the potatoes out of the oven.
"Can I help?"
"Um, sure. You can set the table."
"Cool." he got everything out of the cabinets, having spent time at Charlie's his entire life, and started to set the table. "I'm not mad at you, you know."
"And why would you possibly be mad at me?" I asked, shocked by how full of himself he was.
"Choosing a bloodsucker over me."
"That's none of your business. And I don't like your language!"
"We used to be friends. What happened?"
"You hid him from me."
"So?"
"I love him, Jacob. He makes me happy in ways that no one else can. You were willing to let me live the rest of my life miserable and empty without him, rather than letting me know he was nearby. I can't forgive that."
"I could make you happy, Bella. I would make you happy."
"No." I said, starting to make everyone's plates. "You wouldn't. You aren't Edward. There is no comparison."
"You wouldn't have to change for me. Or miss any of your friends or family. You could go out in the sunlight, travel, spend as much time as you wanted on the reservation…I know you love the beach."
"I do love the beach, but that doesn't change how I feel about Edward. Not a bit."
"Just think about it." he insisted.
"I won't." I answered. "Dinner's ready!" I shouted, putting a clear end to our conversation as I finished setting the table with everyone's plates and the salad bowl.
Dinner was spent in mostly silence, though Charlie did try to start conversation multiple times about the weather, the game, local gossip, even praising the food repeatedly. Edward and I talked to him, but Billy and Jacob barely said a word other than to thank me for dinner. When they did talk, they glared at Edward or me the entire time.
They left almost as soon as we had finished eating.
"OK, that was awkward. Wonder what the hell is going on with them?" Charlie finally asked after they left.
"It's because of me." Edward said, looking at Charlie sadly.
"They were acting like you killed their pet or something."
"They don't approve of me being with Bella, but truthfully, they don't like my whole family."
"Not even your dad?"
"Especially not my dad." Edward answered, looking into Charlie's eyes.
"Well now, that doesn't make any sense!" Charlie insisted. I panicked a little, wondering what Edward was about to tell him. He sensed my panic and guided me to the couch to sit down beside him. Charlie took his recliner beside us.
"The Quileutes have these crazy old legends. Most of them have grown past them and accept them for what they are, stories, heritage to pass on, but not the Blacks."
"And what are the legends exactly?" Charlie asked. I hid my face against Edward's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around me.
"They believe we're vampires."
I froze, but Charlie laughed loudly. "Be serious!"
"I am." Edward said, chuckling along with him. "They call us 'cold ones.'"
"Your family?"
"Yes."
"They call Dr. Cullen and his wife and children; the most well-behaved family Forks has ever seen vampires?" he continued to laugh.
"It's because of our eye color." Edward explained. "Most of my family shares a genetic condition that makes us have to wear yellow tinted contacts. It also makes our skin a little cold. It requires a lot of appointments when we are younger and so we're less likely to be adopted, which is why Carlisle seeks us out. But because of the eyes and because there are so many of us together, they equate us with their legends."
I saw an opportunity to continue to play up the absurdness of the legend, and so I did. "Edward ate garlic butter on his steak and ranch in his salad. I thought vampires were repelled by garlic?"
"I also thought we were supposed to disintegrate in the sunlight." Edward added.
"And you bandaged my finger when I cut it earlier. Why didn't you just drink my blood?"
"Oh, my bad. I didn't think about that." Edward smiled and winked at me where Charlie couldn't see.
"Is this the part where you turn into a bat?" I joked.
"No, this is the part where I go home to sleep in my coffin."
"At night?"
"Oh, right." he corrected. "Guess not."
"Don't stand in front of any mirrors. You know, like the one hanging on the wall behind us." I laughed. "Or else I might actually believe them if you don't have a reflection."
"I'll avoid mirrors then at all costs. Wouldn't want to shake your faith in me." he smiled playfully at me.
Charlie was laughing beside us. "Vampires. Ha! I didn't think they were that superstitious."
"The rest of the Quileutes aren't. In fact, I consider Seth Clearwater a great friend." Edward said.
"Me too." I added.
Charlie started asking Edward more about his family and what it was like growing up as a Cullen after his adoption. I quietly slipped out of the room to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen, letting them get to know each other. I heard laughter a few times and smiled, glad that they were finally getting along.
There was a knock on the front door and a minute or two later, I was held in a tight, giggling hug with a mess of dark hair flying around me. "Um, hi Alice."
"Bella! I brought some magazines you have to look at with me."
"Not more wedding stuff!" I groaned.
"It will give them more time to bond. Edward won't feel guilty about not helping you clean if I do it." she whispered in my ear, too quiet for Charlie to hear.
"Fine."
"Everything went perfect. Edward is erasing all of his fears right now." she said, and I smiled.
"I guess that's worth an hour or two of wedding planning then."
"Good! Let's get this mess cleaned up and we'll get right to work."
Alice helped me clean the kitchen in record time and then we sprawled out at the table with a huge stack of bridal magazines, some in languages I couldn't even read. She was asking my opinion on five types of veils that look identical to me when Edward came to kiss me goodnight.
"Going home already?"
"I'm afraid Esme is expecting me soon. I'll see you tomorrow though for our date. I love you." he said, kissing me softly. He whispered in my ear. "I'll be back in a few hours."
"I love you too. Take Alice with you?" I asked, teasingly.
"Not a chance." he replied, ruffling her short hair on the way out.
Charlie came to talk to Alice and me a few minutes, but quickly excused himself to bed when she started asking his opinion on dresses and flowers too. She laughed and smiled mischievously at me.
"Edward is at home choking up all of the food he ate, or he will be shortly. Jasper and Emmett are cheering him on and laughing at how gross it is."
"Typical teenage boys."
"Always. Even when they insist they aren't." she laughed. "Want me to stay with you until he gets back? I know Charlie won't mind."
"Yeah, actually. I'd like that. But no more wedding stuff tonight?"
"Alright. What do you want to talk about?" she asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously as if she didn't already know.
"Well, Rosalie told me what it was like for her to change. What was it like for you? Do you remember your past life any?" I asked, curious about Alice after Rosalie's talk with me.
"Not much. I know that I was in an asylum. When I first woke up, I was alone. I wasn't even sure of my own name. It came to me in a vision shortly after I woke up and we were eventually able to research the area and the asylum a little to figure out the whole thing. Mary Alice Brandon." she said with a sad smile.
"You don't have any human memories?"
"No. My first memories are waking up super-fast and strong and with this intense, all consuming burn in my throat. I hated killing humans. It felt so wrong. So cruel. My very first vision was of Jasper's smiling face and I knew that I would be happy someday. It gave me the strength to go on. Eventually, I also had visions of the Cullens, which only grew more intense with time. I realized that I could survive on animals and not harm humans anymore, and so I showed Jasper as well when he came along. It was an eternity waiting for him to catch up to me."
"Wow."
"You should have seen Edward's face the first time he saw into my head!" she laughed. "There were so many visions swirling around in there that he was even disoriented. He didn't know anything about me, yet I knew almost everything about him and the Cullens. I even knew that he could read my mind."
"Why do you think you didn't see me ahead of time for Edward? Like how you saw Jasper?"
"I'm not sure. I guess at first, I didn't know to look for you. My visions are based on millions of possibilities and they settle with time into less and less until the real event happens. You only started to come into focus as someone really important to him after the day he almost killed you in Biology."
I shuddered. She continued, "There's no harm in telling you now that he's agreed to change you. I've seen you as a member of our family ever since then. The vision of you with yellow eyes smiling at Edward's side has never changed or faltered, not even when he ran away from you."
"Why did he go if he knew it wouldn't do any good?" I asked sadly, looking at the wood grain on the table.
"He's stubborn. He felt certain he could change things and save you from him if only he stayed away long enough and gave you a chance. We promised him we wouldn't interfere. I didn't want to…"
"I know. I'm not blaming you, Alice."
"I know that. But you had questions for me."
"A few." I answered honestly.
"You're scared about changing?"
"Not really. I know it's going to hurt, but it will be worth it. I've never wanted anything more than to be with Edward, and to be your sister." I added honestly. "I'm just really curious about everyone…wanting to prepare myself as much as possible."
"Be careful what you ask Emmett." she giggled. "If you ask the wrong question, you will get very detailed descriptions of exactly what he thought when he first saw Rosalie."
"I'll keep that in mind." I laughed. "I feel like his story is the simplest. Man sees bear, man dies by bear, man wakes up vampire?"
"Pretty much." she smiled. "Edward should be back in an hour or so. May I do your nails?"
"Since when do you ask permission?"
"Don't get used to it." she winked.
"And you travel with a full complement of nail stuff?"
"In the car, always." she answered, dashing outside and back in at her chair before I could even call her name. Her smile was contagious, so I just gave her my hands and enjoyed the time with my soon to be sister.
Edward returned an hour or so later while Alice was putting the finishing touches on my nails and cracking me up laughing with stories of visions of Emmett and Jasper teasing Edward in advance of our wedding.
"I'm glad you find my discomfort amusing." he said, coming in the unlocked back door and taking a seat at the table.
"Won't Charlie see you down here?"
"He's snoring upstairs. If he wakes up, I can tell him I came to retrieve my runaway sister." he grinned, and Alice stuck her tongue out at him.
"Dinner went well." Alice said. "Charlie still resents you some for hurting Bella like you did, but he's going to trust the two of you together more. I see him encouraging Bella to have a good time at the movies with you tomorrow."
"Good." Edward said. "I'm sure you're a wonderful chef, my love, but I never want to encounter ranch dressing again."
I giggled at the nasty face he was making. "I hear Emmett and Jasper enjoyed themselves tonight."
"Very much so. Me, I'd rather not have a repeat performance."
"I guess I owe you a sincere thank you then." I said, leaning towards him for a kiss.
"And that is my queue to leave." Alice giggled. "Don't mess up her nails!" She warned Edward sternly on the way out.
"Thank you, Alice!" I called after her before turning to face Edward. "Is Charlie still snoring?"
"Yes, he's dreaming about buying a bigger boat."
I laughed. "I was going to shower, but I guess I better not mess up my nails either unless I want the wrath of Alice. I'll wait a while."
"I rather liked them as they were."
"Oh, you're not a fan of neon red?" I joked. Truly, I wasn't either, but I knew there was no arguing with Alice. It made her so happy.
"That's almost the exact color your eyes will be, you know. When you change." I was shocked to hear Edward talking about my change so openly, so calmly. "I hear you asked Alice about hers."
"Oh, yeah. How long do they stay red?"
"A few months usually. We suspect it's due to the leftover human blood in your system. Once it gets diluted with animal blood, they will go golden." He lifted one of my hands to admire Alice's work before kissing it and sitting it back on the table.
"I'm not afraid."
"I know."
"I don't have any doubts about my decision. I know you heard what Jacob said."
"I did. As much as I want to focus on what I can't give you, the way you said 'You aren't Edward'…I can't possibly explain to you what that does to me. How it makes me feel…" he trailed off, his eyes soft and a serene expression on his face.
"Show me, then." I smirked, leaning towards him as he slowly brought his lips to mine. The spark when our lips touched was almost shocking. It sent pleasant shivers down my spine and I leaned into him more, kissing him with a quickly growing passion. He rested his hands on my face as he kissed me until I was dizzy, lost in an abyss where there was nothing but Edward. I never wanted to emerge.
"Shower time for the human." he said, pulling away with a shy smile. "I'm sure your nails are dry now." I wanted to complain, to kiss him until sunrise if that were an option, but I noticed how he had sunk down in his chair a little, hiding his lower body under the table. I blushed and he chuckled, stroking my cheek. "Not tonight, my love."
"You better be waiting for me upstairs." I pouted.
"I'm already there." he said, disappearing in a blur. I laughed quietly and slowly went upstairs to gather my shower things, fantasizing about my change and a time when he wouldn't need to pull away.
All in all, it was a good night. At least nobody murdered each other before I could serve the cake, and my handsome fiancé was waiting for me at the top of the stairs with a smile that would have made it not matter even if they had. It was a very good night.
