Edward and I were watching a movie Saturday afternoon at my house when we had an unexpected visitor…Seth. Charlie greeted him enthusiastically and welcomed him into the living room with us after asking him about the wellbeing of what seemed like his entire family.
"Hey Seth!" Edward and I said practically together with big smiles on our faces.
"What's up?" he asked, sitting down in the chair beside us.
"We're just watching a movie." Edward answered. "Care to join us?"
"Sounds fun! Oh, is that a zombie?!"
"It was my choice." I grinned and Edward rolled his eyes. "Edward says zombies aren't believable enough."
"I think it's a great choice!"
We all finished the movie together, Seth and I enjoying ourselves loudly laughing and encouraging the zombies to kill people, and Edward questioning how ridiculous everything was. Charlie even came in the room and laughed at all of us a time or two, especially Edward's disgusted faces whenever the zombies were particularly gory.
Charlie was clearly alright with Seth spending as much time with us as he wanted, as were we. Even in my worst depression, Seth could always make me laugh. I found myself wishing I had spent more time with him instead of Jacob over the summer. Seth, I knew I could trust with anything, as did Edward.
"Hey, I wanted to thank you for what you did for us on the reservation. I know your good word had a lot to do with that letter we got from Sam." Edward said.
"It's what friends do!" was his cheery reply.
"I can never thank you enough." I smiled, holding Edward's hand and Seth smiled back.
"Aren't you glad I didn't admit that I'm secretly in love with you when you encouraged me to?" he asked jokingly, and Edward laughed seeing the memory in his thoughts.
"Very. Although, you know we would have had fun together."
"For sure. Hey, I did have a slight purpose in coming here. Nothing serious though."
"You're welcome to come hang out with us any time."
"At our house as well." Edward added.
"I'll keep that in mind! Sam wanted me to come and talk to you guys about the Jacob situation. We don't agree with his hatred. I was told to tell you that we are grateful for what you did for us and while we aren't sure what that means just yet, we want to work on being friends."
"Will you send him our thanks?" Edward asked. "We hold only Jacob accountable for his own ill will and would love to be friends. Although, you know we already consider you one of the best, kid."
"I think he's just jealous. That you're my favorite wolf instead of him." I said.
"Is that so?" Seth laughed.
"I mean, I've never seen a wolf stick their tongue out before. You can't hide your goofiness even in that form." I said, smiling at him.
"Why bother?" Seth asked with a grin. "I best be going. I'm going to take you up on that offer sometime, Edward. I bet you all have a killer gaming setup!"
"You know we do, especially Emmett." he answered with a smile and offered Seth a handshake.
"Come back any time Seth. Tell your mom hello for me?"
"I will."
"I'm not mad at her for hiding stuff from me. I'm sure she thought she was just trying to keep me safe and didn't know about Edward."
"She didn't."
"Thanks." I said and he was gone.
Edward was smiling. "That might be the best news we've ever had from them."
"It's about time."
"I agree. Were you flirting with Seth at that party?" he asked with a sparkle in his eye.
"I was trying to." I said with a grin.
He laughed. "At least if you had to pick a werewolf, you picked the best one." Edward's smile quickly turned to a frown and he hid his face in his hands, groaning.
"What's the matter?"
"Jacob."
"What now?"
"He's brought you, or your dad rather, a gift."
Judging by Edward's face, this wasn't a good gift. I immediately realized the one thing that Jacob would want to still talk to us for. "My motorcycle!"
He nodded.
"Can we make a run for it and escape to your house for the evening?" I asked, hoping that there was still time to run far, far away from this situation and my dad's impending wrath.
"There isn't time without Charlie getting suspicious." Edward answered and I panicked.
"He's going to ground me. He's going to try to stop me from seeing you. He's-"
"Shh." he whispered. "Don't let Charlie hear you. Just act normal until he's gone. You know I'll still see you at school and at night." He kissed me on my head and wrapped his arms around me to try to calm me down just as I heard the unmistakable roar of the motorcycle engine.
"Who the hell?!" Charlie said, sprinting down the stairs and going outside to see what was causing the racket. I hid my face against Edward, savoring his scent before Charlie sent him away to start the grounding that I was positive I had coming.
"Jacob's thoughts are so childish." Edward said. "He thinks that if Charlie grounds you, I'll get bored and move on to someone else. He has no concept of us as people with feelings."
"What's dad saying?" I was much, much more concerned with my dad's thoughts than anything Jacob had to say.
"That he can't believe Jacob is acting like such a child." Edward laughed. "Pretty well exactly what I'm thinking."
"The legends are true!" Jacob shouted outside.
"I don't care if he's the damned loch ness monster! He's good to her and she's happy! I know you love her, but this isn't your business, Jake. You aren't even being a good friend to her right now." My dad was furious. Him shouting was rare, especially in public or outside where others could hear him. My heart swelled with pride at his defense of Edward.
"Jacob hasn't even gotten to tell Charlie it's your motorcycle." Edward laughed. "I don't think he's going to."
"Get out of here, Jacob. I'm going right down to the reservation to have a talk with your father and set this nonsense straight!" Charlie shouted, stepping only halfway inside to grab his keys, and getting in his cruiser right as the motorcycle sped away.
"Should I be afraid?" I asked Edward.
"No." he laughed. "Sam and Leah followed Jacob here in wolf form assuming when he sped off on your bike that he wanted to come cause trouble. Want to step out with me and talk to them?"
I nodded and we walked out the back door. "Sam had to go." Leah called from the woods. "I'll be out in a second. Just putting my sweats back on."
We got comfortable sitting on some logs and waited for her. "It's nice to see you here for a change, Leah." I said as she stepped out of the woods.
She smiled at me. "Yeah, well, I wanted to apologize to Edward too. Seth showed us all how rude we were being. It's not the Cullen's fault that they are what they are. And they really don't hurt people, although if they ever did, I'm sure my opinion would change."
"That's more than fair. Thank you." Edward replied.
"Don't worry about your dad, Bella. Sam ran ahead to catch Jacob before Charlie can talk to him. He's going to alpha order him to not say another word to him about the legends or what the Cullens are and not to shift in front of him."
"I'm actually more afraid of him finding out that's my bike." I answered honestly.
She laughed. "You're more fun than I realized. Bike and all. Too bad we didn't spend more time together this summer instead of Jake."
"I agree." I said, very much wishing it had been Leah or Seth I had spent my summer with.
"Want to drive over there and witness the shouting match going on at Billy's with me?"
"I don't think my dad would like that very much."
"No, but we would enjoy ourselves, wouldn't we?" she asked, grinning mischievously. "Besides, it sounds like your dad would enjoy seeing you hang around me and Seth more based on what Seth said when he got home earlier."
"He would, and so would I. You two are so much cooler than I imagined." I answered honestly. It was crazy how quickly most of the rest of the Quileutes were becoming some of my best friends. It was nice to have friends where there were truly no secrets to keep, no backstabbing like with Jessica and most of the girls at school, and no attempts at forcing me away from Edward like Jacob. The only friend I really had in Forks that wasn't a Cullen was Angela. Spending more time with Leah and Seth could be fun.
"Then let's go cause some trouble in that old truck of yours."
I looked at Edward, sad to be away from him for the day knowing that he couldn't follow, but he smiled brilliantly at me. "Go, have fun. I'll see you before you go to bed tonight."
"Won't you be lonely?" I expected that he would protest me hanging out with the wolves, mumbling something about danger and me disappearing from Alice's visions, but to my surprise, he readily agreed with me going.
"I'm positive that Esme would be thrilled to have some help with her house painting today. I'll miss you every second, but I know you'll have a good time." he kissed me quickly. "I love you."
"I love you too." I answered as Leah jokingly made gagging noises behind me. "Alright, let's go get into trouble." I said, smiling at her. She put an arm around me and led me to my truck.
Sam was waiting in Billy's driveway when we arrived and greeted us warmly when we stepped outside the truck.
"You aren't going to alpha order me to behave, are you?" Leah asked. "Because I can assure you that won't work."
"Never." he answered. I knew that their relationship was complicated but was glad to see them at least making an effort to be friends after everything that had happened.
"We try." she said, answering a thought I never spoke aloud. "We have to work together, so we do our best to get along, though he knows he isn't my favorite."
"I never was." he joked. "I'm just eavesdropping a little like you two. You haven't missed much. Jacob beat Charlie here but stormed off after I talked to him. Charlie yelled at Billy a little bit about him being superstitious and then told him the same thing he told Jacob at your house. He doesn't care what Edward is. He's decided to trust him and to trust you."
I smiled, glad about my father's change of heart. "Thank you, Sam. Jacob is being unfair to me and Edward both, but I hate that Billy is drug into this. I do understand the superstitions about the Cullens. I just wish everyone could realize what great people they are."
"People?" Leah asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Vampires." I corrected. She smiled in return. "But not as far as Charlie is concerned."
"Charlie might as well be a Quileute as much time as he spends around us." she said.
"I know. But it's for his own safety that he doesn't know."
"Well, he does know. He just doesn't believe." she corrected. "It sounds like Billy tried to tell him."
"He did." Sam answered, "but thankfully Charlie didn't believe him, or we might have had trouble. I don't want to break our treaty."
"It was Jacob that first helped me realize Edward was a vampire."
Sam shook his head. "Of course, it was."
"The Cullens know about that. They aren't upset." I added.
"I'm glad." he said, his expression changing quickly as the front door of the Black's house opened.
"Oh, good! Bella's here!" Charlie shouted, standing on the doorstep, and looking back inside towards Billy. He walked outside with Billy close behind him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were with Edward."
"I wanted to come make sure you didn't shoot anyone." I joked, my face blushing as soon as I told a lie, but Charlie laughed.
"Well, I didn't."
"Not yet." Billy added. It sounded like a joke, but his expression said otherwise. "I'm sorry, Bella. I hate that you are wrapped up in all of this."
"What do you mean, Billy?"
"This whole Quileutes versus Cullens nonsense." he answered with a tired expression that looked like he really didn't want to talk about this anymore, especially not with Charlie present.
"Last I checked, you and Jacob were the only Quileutes who still has a problem with the Cullens."
"You don't know anything about them." he said sternly.
"I know everything about them." I replied, insisting that he back off from his hatred towards them and his assumptions that they were tricking me or coercing me somehow.
"Their pasts?" he asked.
"Yes. Every bit of their family history. Carlisle even showed me some of their family heirlooms and paintings that are way older than he is." I said, knowing he would read between the lines. "I know all of the legends and what's true and what isn't."
"Uh huh. Well, nevertheless, I hate that you have to be involved."
"I don't. I love them. Edward and I are engaged." I said, showing off my ring that I normally kept hidden in my pocket.
"You don't know what you're asking for." he said, his eyes huge and his expression uncomfortable as he looked at the ring on my finger.
"I do." I answered, looking in his eyes. "I know exactly what kind of family I'm marrying in to. They aren't the monsters you think they are."
"Bella-"
"Listen, I know your legends. I know what they are, no, who they are. They are good people. I really wish that you would give them a chance. They don't have any ill will towards you all or anyone really. That's what Seth and everyone has been trying to tell you. Edward loves me exactly as I am. They all do. No one is trying to change me or push me into any decisions that I don't want on my own."
Charlie looked a little confused at the details in my statement, but shook his head, not wanting to know it seemed. Everyone was quiet until Billy finally answered. "Alright, I'll give them a chance. I hope that things are as you say they are. I'm sorry, Bella. And I'll try to talk some sense into Jacob. I know you all were good friends."
"Thank you, Billy." I said and Charlie clapped him on the shoulder.
"So, does this mean we get to watch the game?"
"Come on in." Billy said with a small smile at Charlie. I hadn't intended to speak with him when I came to the reservation, but it had gone better than expected. I was sure that the Cullens would be relieved. I was. I didn't like fighting or having a disagreement with anyone, especially those who had always been considered my family.
"Sorry Bella, that leaves you on your own for dinner." Charlie said with a laugh.
"No, it doesn't." Leah answered for me. "She's my hostage for the day."
"Hostage?" Charlie asked.
"Yep. Is that illegal, Chief?"
"I don't see anything." he said, smiling and going inside with Billy. He seemed happy to see me spending time with other friends and I was glad. I didn't know Leah extremely well, but if she was anything like her brother Seth, I knew that I would quickly love her like a sister. Plus, she had Charlie's approval. That was always a good thing.
"Well, since you're here…" Sam said.
"Nope." Leah answered. "If you want to talk to the Cullens from now on, just call them directly. You sent your apology through Seth, which they accepted, and now it's time you work on the friends part. What do you say Bella?"
"I have questions about this hostage situation." I said, changing the subject to a lighter topic. "Is this the part where we spell out our demands and make them bring us pizza?"
She laughed. "There definitely needs to be some snacks." We climbed back in the truck together and rode to Sue's house as she caught me up on all of the latest wolf pack drama.
"I'm thankful, Leah, but I always thought you were one of the wolves most against the Cullens. What changed your mind?"
"My adorably bratty little brother. He insisted that they weren't all evil. And of course, we share thoughts in our wolf form. It becomes infectious after a while."
"I'm glad." I smiled, honestly enjoying spending time with her.
"What are they like really?"
"The Cullens as a whole, or certain ones?"
"I guess as a whole. We don't really associate with bloodsuckers much." she said. I chose to ignore her choice of term for now. We couldn't expect everything to change overnight.
"They are all different, really. As a family, they are loving and fiercely loyal. They have each other's backs no matter what, even when it's a dumb decision. They could be mad at each other and still be willing to fight for them. Carlisle and Esme are the head of the family. They are both really kind and loving and parental to everyone. Emmett and Jasper are goofy and love to joke around. Rosalie is kind of reserved and cares a lot about appearances. Alice is a great friend, but she can be a little…much."
Leah laughed and seemed to understand what I meant. "And your Edward?"
"Stubborn. Too stubborn and protective sometimes, but he's great. We have a lot in common and he makes me happy."
"Good, enough mushy stuff. Have you ever watched him hunt?"
"No." I laughed. "He won't let me. I think he's still afraid I'll run screaming or something."
"You should have run screaming."
"Probably." I answered. It was easy to joke with Leah. I found her just as easy to get along with as Seth. I didn't have to worry that she might react negatively to something or take offence easily.
"Is he really as strong as they say they are? He can uproot trees with his bare hands?"
"He can. Emmett is the strongest though."
"And they can run like super speed?"
"Yes. Edward is the fastest."
"And Edward wants to keep you human? Even though you could have all of their cool superpowers?"
"If he had his way, yes." I laughed. "I'd much prefer to be superwoman."
"He's OK knowing that you'll die in sixty or seventy years? Keeping you human, I mean?"
"I wouldn't say OK, but he doesn't want to change me. He believes they don't have souls." There was no point in telling her the change had already been agreed upon, especially not when it could risk their treaty. It wasn't my place to tell.
"You don't believe that." she stated. It wasn't a question.
"No. I want him to change me. I want nothing more than to be with him forever. If they didn't have souls, they would be so good."
"It's an interesting theory, either way." she said.
"What's it like being a wolf?" I asked, curious about them as well and wanting to change the subject again.
"I resented it at first, especially because of what the change did to Sam, but honestly, I like it. There's a lot of freedom and it's cool to be a protector."
"I think so."
"Are you jealous?" she asked, kidding.
"That I can't be a wolf? Very. Although, I don't think I would want to share thoughts." I joked. "Especially not with some of the guys."
"Trust me, it's way worse than you think it is."
"I don't doubt it." I could only imagine what a whole pack of mostly teenage guys would be thinking about.
"Jacob thought about you the entire summer. He was driving us nuts. He loved you, so we loved you." she rolled her eyes.
"That must have been exhausting."
"Very. What happened with you two, anyhow?"
"He tried to keep Edward from me."
"He's jealous. He wants what he can't have. Not that I don't sympathize."
"I'm sorry to hear about what happened with Sam."
"It sucked, but thankfully that's old news. As mad as I was about it, it really wasn't a situation he had any control over."
"The whole imprinting thing?"
"Yeah. Plus, now that I've heard his every thought for a few months…I'd much prefer a non-wolf boyfriend."
"As much as I love Edward, I don't think I could live in his head either." I said, remembering some of his more dramatic thoughts and how much he worried about every little detail of my safety. "I don't think I even think about me that much." I laughed.
"Exactly. What do you do for fun, well, besides ride bikes?" she smirked, and I laughed again.
"That was more of a temporary thing. I like reading and listening to music. Cooking. I'm not too interesting, I'm afraid."
"We can always fix that!" she said, and I knew that I was in for a fun evening, some of which I was positive Edward likely wouldn't approve of if he had known in advance.
Leah and I went our separate ways just after dark and I drove home in my truck, smiling the whole way. We had spent the evening snacking and talking, and then throwing rocks in the water at the beach. Charlie was still spending time with Billy now that they had made up.
I was surprised to find Edward waiting for me when I parked the truck. He scared me by opening my door for me.
"I didn't even see you!" I said, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Because I just got here." he said calmly, smiling my favorite grin at me.
"What, did Alice tell you the exact second of my arrival?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath.
"Something like that." he answered with a laugh, pulling me into his arms when I stepped out of the truck. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too."
"You smell like dog."
"Leah, thank you very much."
"Fine, you smell like Leah." he said, smiling at me as he brushed my hair out of my face with his hands. "Did you have fun?"
"I did, actually. I really like her."
"Me too. She doesn't really like us, but she's trying."
"It will just take time."
"It's going better than we ever expected." he agreed. "I hear Billy apologized to you."
"I thought Alice couldn't see the wolves." I said, wondering how he knew what had happened on the reservation already.
"Sam called us."
"Oh, yeah." I laughed. "He was going to ask me to bring you all another message or something, but Leah snapped at him and told him to just call you all himself."
"Sam and Carlisle spoke for a long time. Carlisle and Esme have invited all of the wolves over for dinner next weekend. Esme is thrilled about the excuse to cook a big meal."
"The wolves do love to eat. A lot."
"And she loves to cook. A lot." he said, laughing and copying my tone. "Let's get you inside and ready for bed."
"It's weekend. I don't want to sleep." I said, but I yawned immediately after. "You sure you can't read my mind?"
"No, but I can see how tired you are. Come on, my adorable fiancée. In the house."
"I don't wanna."
"Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me. He knew that he had won and I followed him inside.
Author's Note: I was really stuck on this chapter for a while, but a few reviewers on other stories asked about it and I felt bad being so slow, so I told myself that I would sit down and puzzle it out today. I knew that I wanted the Cullens and the Quileutes to get along better, but I didn't want it to be just Seth making all of the effort. That's when it occurred to me to give Leah a bigger role to play. I hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter will be much longer, including the dinner, and should tie up most of the loose ends so we can start to wrap up. Thanks for reading!
