AN: Thank you to my loyal readers, especially my reviewers; natashar, April-Showers82, Anony, SleepiPanda, and Shadow. I really appreciate all of those keeping with this story, I know how irritating it is with inconsistent updates-It irritates me too, because I wish I could upload weekly, but unfortunately my life is hectic, so both me as the writer and you as readers are left unsatisfied. Also, I know my chapter are quite short. I aim for about 1,000 words or more, so I'm sorry it's not always great and my chapters are sometimes fillers. I had thought this story would be quicker, but when I start writing, the story comes to life and writes itself, so I occasionally do write fillers, but they do matter to the overall storyline, so please stick with this. Thank you again for making it this far!
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Chapter Forty One: Awkward Wakeup Calls.
The first thing I was aware of when I awoke was the birds outside the window; their cheerful chirping breaking the peace of the morning. I could sense the sun peering through the curtains lightening my inner eyelids, which was surprising, yet it was a welcoming accompaniment to my current pleasant mood. It had been far too long since I woke up feeling so relaxed and well rested. Revelling in the calm of the morning, I realised how uncomfortable I actually was. My jeans cut painfully into my hips and my back and neck felt curiously warm, whereas I usually felt so cold all of the time.
Easing my eyes open to greet the day, I realised I had been sleeping in the living room. Last night's drinks and snacks were strewn across the coffee table and my arm hung outward, suspended perpendicular to the couch. Around my waist I could feel a long, warm arm keeping me from rolling off the edge, the fingers curled in the fabric of my t-shirt. I glanced carefully over my shoulder to see Jacob still sleeping behind me. His face was smooth of all cares and his long hair tickled my neck with every breath he took.
I was trying to shift away, relieving the pain of my jeans digging into my flesh and removing myself from this potentially awkward situation, when Jake suddenly moaned and his arm tugged me closer. My breath froze and so did my body. I needed to move; get breakfast; to tidy; to move out of another man's arms. My face flushed at the thought of spending the night with Jake, when I had never done so with Edward. The implications felt guilty in my stomach and I attempted to loosen his grip on my waist gently, so as not to disturb him, but he would not easily be dismissed from the situation.
"Bells…" He groaned in complaint and nuzzled his face into my shoulder, "It's not noon yet, go back to sleep."
"Jake, I want to get up." I told him, my cheeks pink and warm, embarrassment at finding myself in this situation causing my predictable reaction.
"Five more minutes." Jacob mumbled.
"Please, Jake." I nudged him and his eyes opened reluctantly. Our eyes met over my shoulder and he smiled lazily at me.
"What's the rush, Bella, it's the weekend?" Being in close proximity to me didn't seem to bother him. In fact, he looked quite content and pleased at our current position.
"It doesn't mean we have to laze around all morning." I reasoned and turned to face him, the crick in my neck irritating me, "Some people actually get up before lunch, you know."
"Yeah." He shrugged, "But I'm not one of them."
"I am, so let me get up." Pushing my hips back, I tried to break his grip, but he only tightened his hold and grinned at me.
"Nope." He popped the 'p' in his charmingly childish way and I had to fight an amused smile.
"You're such a child, Jake." I sent him a stern look, which only seemed to encourage him, as he pulled me closer.
"You love me really." His predictable response made me roll my eyes and sigh.
"You'll love me more if I make breakfast." Using his weak point, his fingers slowly unknotted themselves from my t-shirt.
"You drive a hard bargain." He pouted playfully and I flicked his jutted bottom lip teasingly.
Pushing back against his arm, I reached my arm back to catch my fall, only for him to suddenly release me from his hold. I fell unceremoniously onto the floor and huffed as the wind was knocked unexpectedly from my lungs. Propping myself up on my hands, I glared at him. Jacob shot me a cheeky grin, before rolling onto his back.
"Comfy?" I groused, picking myself up.
"Very." Jake smiled up at me, "Ah, the whole couch to myself. You know, for one tiny human, you take up a lot of space."
"I do not." Offended, I sat heavily on his stomach, like I would to punish him as a child, "You just starfish."
I remember the sleepovers we used to have when we were young, where the obligatory bed space arguments would breakout every morning. Jake had a habit of spreading his limbs across the bed and moving throughout the night, while I fought for what space I could gain. Billy used to tease us, saying we would have to sleep in separate beds if we couldn't get along, until we both conceded to give the other half of the space next time – only for the next time to be a repeat. It felt so ordinary to settle into our usual routine; wake up, argue, eat breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, my stomach growled quietly, and so did Jake's below me, and we laughed at our similarities.
"What we having?" He lounged back against the couch's arm, his hands cushioning his head.
"Who says I'm making any?" I teased, but got up and began searching the kitchen for ingredients, "Why can't you make breakfast?"
"I'm a guest. I don't make breakfast."
"That's because you're incapable of making any." I replied tartly and a couch cushion flew across the kitchen and landed where I had just been stood, "Jake!"
"I can make breakfast!" He responded indignantly, narrowing his eyes playfully at me.
"Cereal doesn't count!" I called as he launched another cushion at me, causing me to duck again.
Laughter bubbled past my lips and I glanced cautiously over the counter, looking for my assailant. Jacob was nowhere in sight, having moved from his reclined position on the couch, and I began to release my crouch. Hands grabbed my waist and I squealed in surprise. Jake swept me off my feet and spun me around until I yelled at him to stop.
"Say 'sorry'!" He taunted and spun me again.
"S-sorry!" I cried, dizziness stammering my words.
"Say 'Jake you are more mature'!" A snort of disbelief interrupted my giggles and he swung me around again, "Say it!"
"Jake, y-you're more m-m-mature!" Suddenly, he stopped and set me down, as we both breathlessly laughed.
"I win!" He announced victoriously and pumped his fist in the air.
"Ha!" I scoffed.
"Ha?" Jake echoed in teasing outrage. Our eyes met and I darted out of the way of his outstretched arms, eager to spin me again until I admitted defeat. Hurrying around the other side of the counter, our fun was cut short by the front door opening. A large silhouette darkened the doorway and I stepped forward to take a closer look at the haggard looking male in my house.
"Sam?" I gasped and he looked at me like a haunted man.