AN: Thank you to all my readers and reviewers for making it this far. I understand all of your confusion, disappointment, and anger after that last chapter. Trust me when I say THIS IS A BELLA/JACOB FANFIC! I know this story is quite slow and Jacob has become a little bit background while I've been building the story up, but I promise you he will return and Bella and Jacob will be together eventually, but certain events have to happen to follow the storyline in my head. Please hold on in there, I promise I have not deceived you about this pairing!
As usual, thank you to my reviewers; serenity1006, teacupdestiny, EpiphanyFire, and I'm-an-angry-baby; your reviews really brighten my day and your thoughts are always valid and taken into consideration. Please enjoy this next instalment and let me know what you think.
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Chapter Thirty Six: Catching Up with Old Friends.
As I drew up to the house, I sighed. Mike had let me leave early, due to the torrential rain battering Forks and La Push with the potential of flooding, but I couldn't feel grateful for it. Edward had gone with his family to hunt and wouldn't return until Saturday, leaving me with more available time then I ever wanted. My routine was normally so busy; I detested the idea of wandering the empty house waiting for Sam to come home. But I cut off the roaring truck engine and slouched through the rain to the door anyway.
Twisting the key in the lock, I glanced behind me at the sound of running footsteps. A smile lit up my expression, as Jacob jogged to join me on the porch. His long, black hair hung heavily around his face and his clothes were soaked, but a predictable grin stretched across his mouth. Automatically, my arms stretched out and he swept me up into a hug. He felt so warm, but not burning like Sam, and his lanky frame dwarfed mine. It had been too long since I was wrapped up in one of his comforting hugs, it was like coming home. Breathing in his sunny aura, my greeting was muffled into his shoulder.
Eventually, he placed me down and smiled down at me.
"Hey Bells." He slung an arm carelessly over my shoulders, as I pushed the door open, "I've not seen you in ages."
"Yeah, sorry, I've just been working." I half shrugged as Jake strode in and I closed the door behind us both.
"You work too hard, you need a day off." Jake rolled his eyes, before flopping onto the couch. As always, Jake made himself at home.
"Jake! You're going to get the furniture wet!" I complained, stripping off my raincoat and boots.
"Oops." Shaking his long tendrils of hair like a dog, he laughed at my faux-stern expression.
"You're such a child." Pulling two sodas from the fridge, I threw one at him. It landed short, bouncing off the couch's arm and clanging to the floor, only to roll back at me.
"And you are a terrible thrower." He stretched himself out, yawning, before settling more comfortably, "That's got to cost you five years."
"Two, because I actually thought to get you a drink." I argued back. For years now, Jake and I had been arguing our 'technical age'. We lost years for bad skills and gained years for positive attributes. I was currently twenty-eight and he was thirty-two.
"Fine." Cracking the lid, he gulped a few mouthfuls.
"So, what's going on with you?" Sitting with my knees crunched up on the couch, I opened my soda and took a sip, "Any news?"
"Nope." He shook his head, "Nothing at my end. Though, I swear Dad is going crazier every day. He keeps going on about our stupid myths. Ever since the Cullens moved here, he's been going mad!" Copying my position, he leaned forward into his knees, "He keeps saying about letting him know if I feel hot? Like I've got a fever? I never get sick! But when his diabetes was a little haywire last weekend, he refused to go to the hospital. Just because Dr Cullen works there!"
"Was he okay?" I asked in concern.
"Yeah, he's fine. He's more worried about me running a fever." He rolled his eyes dramatically, "As if I'd ever get sick."
"Ha, you're sick in the head." I teased him easily.
"Very funny." He nudged my foot, "Enough about my crazy father, how are you?"
"I'm fine." A smile slipped onto my lips and I could feel my cheeks warming. Ducking my head, I tried to appear nonchalant.
"Bella?" Jake inched forward to look at me properly, "You okay?" His gaze was too inquisitive and I tried to hurry to cover my reaction.
"Yeah." Searching for a quick lie, I stammered, "The house just feels really humid with the storm."
"You're such a bad liar." He scoffed. Sending him a teasing glare, he raised his hands with a chuckle, "Okay, don't tell me then. You'll tell me eventually; you always do."
"Sure, sure." I mimicked his expression and he nudged my foot, "Are you staying for dinner?"
"Yeah. Rach is cooking dinner at ours tonight and I want to be spared that disaster." Shaking my head at him, we laughed together.
"You're too cruel to your sisters."
"They're cruel to me, making me eat that poison."
"Jake…" Standing up, I shoved his feet off the couch. I gathered both empty soda cans and threw them in the recycling, considering what I'd do for dinner. It had to be big; both Sam and Jake could eat twice their weight in food.
"What's for dinner, Bells?" He asked as I browsed the fridge thoughtfully.
"I'm thinking…food." Grinning at him, I pulled out the ingredients for lasagne.
"Damn, I thought we were going to eat damp sand and mud." Coming to lean against the kitchen counter, he watched me preparing the ground beef and onions.
"Sorry to disappoint." Slicing the onion, I raised a brow at him, "You could always go home?"
"No, food sounds good, I like food." He replied hastily.
"Good." Warming a pan, I glanced at the clock and the door unconsciously.
"When does Sam get home?" Jake asked, catching on easily.
"Not for a while." Shrugging, I threw the meat in the pan.
"How are things with him?"
"Okay." Jake frowned inquiringly at my vague reply, "We're okay…he's just so different now. He won't tell me anything anymore. He's keeping these secrets from me…and he keeps disappearing at night. He's just…he's been different since he disappeared. And he keeps disappearing."
"Oh, Bells." He wrapped his arms around me.
"He's home though, I'm happy he's home." I leaned my head against him and sighed. It felt too comfortable to stand like this with Jacob. He's whole aura soothed and relaxed me. It was like breathing; simply easy. He felt warm as I wrapped my arms around his waist. It was like standing in a shaft of sunlight; burning off the bad days of tears raining down and lonely, grey skies. I could have stood there, letting him reassure me with just his presence, all day. But the meat was sizzling and I had to pull away to stir it to prevent it burning. Jake was silent for a second, before he leaned back on the counter.
"Did you hear about Jared?" He asked, changing the subject. I was grateful for the diversion, I couldn't let myself get hung up on Sam's situation too long; it only depressed me.
"What about him?" I furrowed my brows, adding the onions.
"He's been missing for two days." Jake informed me and my expression stretched to surprised, "No one's seen him. His parents are worried."
"I know how they feel." Sighing, I began chopping more vegetables, "It must be a Quileute boy thing, disappearing like that. Is it some coming of age rite?" Raising a brow at him, I shook my head.
"No." But he seemed to drift off in thought. Jake cared so much for everyone, just like Billy; he'd make a great Chief after Billy.
"He'll turn up eventually, just like Sam did." I tried to reassure him.
"I hope so." Nodding, Jake frowned for a second longer, before smiling at me, "Need any help?" He swiped a cube of carrot from my pile and popped it in his mouth.
"No." I smacked his arm playfully, "Now stop stealing the ingredients."
"Sure, sure." He chuckled and took another piece. I tried to glare sternly at him, but he only grinned wider, and we both ended up laughing. It felt so good to laugh with Jacob, it felt like old times; good times with no worries. It felt too long since we'd just hung out, Jake and Bells. He was my best friend and he was the only one who could lift the weight of the world from my shoulders, that fact would never change.