[YouTube Video]
Swan Survives the Drive, But Not the Embarrassment
ClarityIsClear
4k Views / Posted 2 hours ago
(The opening camera work is a little shaky, characterized by a grunt, the hush of a zipper closing, the distinct slam of a car trunk, and the fumbling view as the camera is swiftly, if not haphazardly, adjusted.
When the camera view clears, it is Leah Clearwater's face that greets the audience. Her dark eyes are bright with mirth, vibrant dyed purple hair curling around her ear. To the camera, she says, "This video is being recorded for posterity. If I die, I want everyone to know why."
Over her shoulder, a slender boy with an artful undercut to his jet locks narrows his eyes. He has an attractive face, almost pretty, with smooth russet skin, a sharp jaw, and almond-shaped eyes. "You aren't going to die," he tells Leah, swinging his keys around his finger.
Beside him, the familiar visage of Bella Swan passes into view as she slips into the yellow Volkswagen bug, a vintage little thing that has been obviously restored with a lot of love. She is, inexplicably, carrying a tiny, round cactus in a white ceramic pot. "Don't be dramatic, sis," Bella says, right before she closes the door.
Leah ignores them both. "If I die, I want everyone to know why," she repeats, right before she swivels the camera around to zoom in on the guy standing on the other side of the car. "People, this is Jacob Black. He thinks he can drive, but he is woefully incorrect. For some reason, our parents have elected him as our taxi home. This may be the last video I ever make-"
"I could just leave you here," Jacob says flatly.
"You leave me here, then all my blackmail on you is going right onto your Tindr account," Leah threatens off-camera.
Jacob rolls his eyes. "Just get in the car."
Leah huffs, but still climbs into the back seat. There is some shuffling about, the camera view rattling while she buckles her seatbelt. Soon enough, the camera is picked up again, with Leah leaning between the two seats in the front, giving the camera a view of both the driver and passenger profiles, as well as the parking lot stretched before the car. The car is silent for all of the three minutes it takes to navigate out of the SeaTac airport - Leah zooms in on the signs as they pass - and onto the highway.
"So," Jacob says as the long drive begins. "Let's talk about boys."
Bella turns and frowns at him. "Can't this wait? We literally just got here."
"Exactly my point! I need to know before anyone else," Jacob declares.
Bella twists in the passenger seat, lifting her legs into a cross, her back braced halfway against the door. She holds the cactus between her hands and shoots Jacob a skeptical look. "Do you have a bet going?"
"Yes!" Jacob says empathically.
Behind the camera, Leah says, "Wow, Jake n' Bake, that's aggressively straight of you."
Jacob rolls his eyes, the motion captured in the rear-view mirror. "Please," he says with a lift of a fine-threaded brow. "Do you even understand my struggle? Not gay enough, not straight enough. Can't a bi man live in peace? Isn't bisexual erasure so last decade?"
"Don't preach to me about it," Leah shoots back. "My people are still being denied, too."
"You're right," Bella says soothingly. "You're both right. The internal prejudice of the LGBT community is problematic. We don't need to talk about it right now."
Leah falls silent and Jacob raps his fingers along the narrow curve of the wheel. Bella sighs, looks down at her cactus.
"So…" Leah says after a moment, breaking the silence. "You're betting with Paul again, huh?"
A glint enters Jacob's eye and he looks at the camera through the rear-view, a bright white smile stretching across his face. It is a look of unholy pleasure. "Do you want to know what we're betting on?"
"Gross, no!" Leah nearly shouts. "Spare my asexual ears! Seriously, don't overshare. I might vom."
Jacob pouts. "You're a buzzkill, Lee Lee." Jacob then shifts his focus to Bella, lifting his brows as he spares a glance from the road. "Now, back to you. There's a boy, right? Please tell me there's a boy. I need to beat Paul."
The road ahead of them stretches, low traffic, no rain but scattered clouds. Trees line both sides of the highway, lush evergreens stretching to the sky. In the car, the dash is cluttered with Funyuns and wadded up fast food wrappers. A dreamcatcher hangs from the rearview window.
Bella makes a face at the inquiry.
"There is a boy," Leah confirms off-camera.
"Leah!" Bella exclaims. She twists around just enough to shoot her sister a look of deep betrayal.
Leah, evidently ignoring this, continues lightly. "She's married, actually."
The car swerves - just a little - in response to Jacob's full-body shock. "Bitch, what?" he gasps.
"I'm not married!" Bella denies quickly.
"She is married," Leah disagrees. "In her game."
"Is that even legal?" Jacob cries, looking very concerned.
"Oh my, God," Bella moans, dipping her head forward to curl over her cactus in mortification.
Meanwhile, Jacob's shock seems to have simmered. He's looking at the road, but his expression in the rear-view is very curious. "Is he cute? He's cute, right?"
"I don't know," Bella mumbles. "Does it matter?"
Behind the camera, Leah heaves a great put-upon sigh. "You know our Bella," she says, reaching her arm between the seats to pat Bella's back consolingly. "She's turned on by a sparkling personality."
"That's true," Jacob agrees.
"She does gush about this guy, though," Leah adds.
"I do not!" Bella denies, sitting up straight with a would-be fearsome look, if not for the deep blush eating away her freckles.
"No, you don't," Leah agrees, too easily. "You just grin stupidly at your computer for hours"
"Leah!" Bella whines, this time turning away from the camera completely.
"What, am I supposed to lie?" Leah asks behind the camera. Her hand comes into view, pointing at Jacob as if in explanation. "The man has a bet he needs to win. Help a brother out."
"Thank you!" Jacob says happily, back to driving without issue.
Bella leans her head against the window. "Would I die if I threw myself out of this car?" she wonders.
Jacob snorts. "Wow, you really don't want to talk about this. Alright, fine. We can gossip later," he says. "You get all loose-lipped after Emily's brownies, anyway."
"That was one time, and it was an accident," Bella retorts.
Leah laughs behind the camera. "Say it louder, just in case our parents watch this."
Bella huffs. "It's not like it's illegal," she admits mulishly. "Not in Washington, at least. But that time really was an accident!"
Jacob switches to the faster lane, speeding along the open road. "An accident I can guarantee will be happening again this summer," he tells them. "Emily has been experimenting with her edibles. She's looking for guinea pigs."
"Cousin Emily's dispensary is doing good then?" Leah asks curiously.
"Sure, sure," Jacob says. "People come all the way from the Port just for her. Uh…by the way, she and Sam are still a thing."
Leah snorts. "Good for them. Those saps deserve each other."
Bella and Jacob exchange an obvious look.
"Hey!" Leah says loudly off-camera. "I really mean it! I want my cousin to be happy with my ex-boyfriend!"
Jacob shakes his head. "You know, the scary part about that is it really does sound like she means it."
Bella giggles.
Leah kicks the back of his seat, and the entire car jostles to the left and back.
"Hey, hey!" Jacob shouts. "I'm driving! Don't kick the driver!"
"I wouldn't," Leah sneers behind the camera. "If the driver wasn't a dick!"
Jacob laughs. "I'll have you know that Paul appreciates my di-"
"Ugh! Shut up!" Leah gags.
Bella's continued giggles and the view of the road are the last things captured before the camera cuts out.)
Comments
HeartsAPlenty
This jake guy is my spirit animal istg
twiiilit
Too bad he's taken, sis
Yaheard
Lets focus on the real issue, which is the thriving cannabis shop they all have free access to right now - so lucky
Rissy-One
Idk, I'm lost. How is bella married in a game? Is that a thing?
ZomZomZombies
Yeah sometimes. Depends on the game. Though I didn't think Swanning was married? Idk
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A/N: Don't mind me, I'm just sowing some seeds for upcoming chapters. Although, to be clear, yes, Jacob is sort-of-dating Paul, yes, Jacob is bisexual, and yes, bisexual erasure is a huge issue. Leah is asexual and probably aromantic, something to be explored a little later on. Bella, as hinted before, is probably demisexual or otherwise on the middling area of the spectrum - basically, demisexuals have trouble feeling sexual attraction to people who they don't have emotional attachments to, hence why Bella pays more attention to personality and doesn't care how hot Masen Cullen is (she likes his brains!).
Why include any LGBT representation in this story? Mostly because Millennial and Gen Z kids really care about being open with these issues. They talk about it. They explore it. They find themselves and find acceptance with it. It matters and is a big part of social culture, just like race and gun violence issues.
As to Emily running a marijuana dispensary - well, it is Washington, where recreational and medical marijuana has been legal since 2012. Dispensaries are a thing and they are going to be normalized in this story.
I think that's everything. Wash your hands, stay safe, be smart, and follow social distancing because what the fuck.
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~Rae
