I dedicate this chapter to my ankle. What is described is more or less what happened and yes it sucked. Anyway, enjoy this chapter. I turned my pain into Jacob and Bella goodness so yay!

Story is mine, characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Song of the Chapter:

Falling for Ya by Grace Phipps (lol)

Enjoy!

"Ankle"

"Bella! The pizza is here!" Charlie shouted from the kitchen.

My eyes slowly cracked open. It had to be 3 PM by the bizarre lighting in my room. Waking up at an odd hour was really disorienting.

I stretched my limbs and the smell of greasy pepperoni drifted up to my room. Finally. I was starving.

I got home around 11 AM from an early morning beach trip with Jake and I went right back to bed. He wanted to watch the sunrise and boy was it something. He was usually a late riser, but this morning was a rare occurrence as it was reported that it would be all clear skies. It took a lot of convincing for me to get up that early and hike all the way out to La Push, but he was right. It was beautiful. Of course he made it a million times better. And he was so cute with his tired eyes and sleepy voice. His skin turned a deep rich brown as I, sneakily, watched him from the corner of my eye. As groggy as I felt, it was one of the best mornings I've had in a while. We cuddled up under a warm blanket (he conveniently happened to only bring one) and drank the hot chocolate I supplied. It was the best. He was the best. Jacob.

I stretched with a smile on my lips. Best morning ever.

I slid out of bed and out into the hallway. My stomach growled angrily at me as the pizza scent grew stronger. I should have eaten something when I got back, but I could hardly keep my eyes open once I made it in the house. I started to hurry down the steps, as fast as my groggy sock feet could carry me, and sprung down the last few steps. I rounded the turn to the kitchen.

Here's where shit hits the fan.

My left sock caught on a rough edge of the hard wood floor and my ankle shot out sharply with my momentum coming down the stairs. I sucked in a sharp breath and with a sickening crunch my ankle folded in half. My entire body weight fell onto the side of my foot. "AGhhh!" I screeched as I desperately reached out to try and regain my footing but my ankle would not cooperate. I collapsed in a heap on the floor with a horrible thud. I rolled onto my back grasping my ankle that slowly started to radiate a deep ache up my leg. I sat up with another sharp intake of breath and yanked off the sock of death. "Ow ow ow ow," I scream-grunted as I clutched my ankle and foot. The pain started to creep deeper and deeper as the adrenaline leaked out of my system. I felt tears prick my eyes. That hurt like a motherfucker.

"Oh my god, Bella!" My dad came running out of the kitchen as I was rocking back and forth from the pain. "What the hell happened?" He squatted down and took a closer look at my foot that was swelling.

"I fell," I grunted, barely having any air in my lungs. My throat constricted as the pain increased. I clenched my eyes tight. "My fucking sock," I gasped through my teeth.

He's never heard me swear before but I couldn't think of any proper vocabulary at the moment. Sue me.

"God, Bella," he shook his head, his voice laced with concern. "Can you stand? Or-uh wiggle your toes?" He said as he tried to reach for my foot.

I carefully checked and although there was a dull ache on the side of my foot, my toes were fully functioning.

"Any pain?" He asked.

"Not the toes," I breathed and pointed at the growing lump on the side.

"Another trip to the doctor?" He asked.

My face that was contorted in pain quickly changed to horror. "No no. I'm fine see?" I said as I wiggled my toes again. "I think it's just bruised," I breathed.

"Alright," he eyed the lump. "Let's see if you can stand. If you can't walk we're going, you hear?" He said and stood up. He leaned down and reached for my hands.

I nodded and grasped his hands. He pulled me up slowly as I carefully put weight on my left foot. It hurt but it was bearable. Not a break thank god.

"Can you walk?" He asked as he slowly released my hands and watched me as I tried to find my balance.

I took a tentative step. I winced. My ankle was sore and my foot felt bruised but I could limp. "Yeah, I think I need ice," I grunted as I tested out my foot. A little ice and some pain killers should do it.

I slowly limped over to the living room. He put his arm around me and led me to the cushions. I settled on the couch and he pushed the coffee table closer to me.

"You need to elevate it," He said in a tone that was all business. His early days of baseball injuries were coming in handy. He grabbed a pillow and placed it on the table and I placed my aching foot on it with another grunt and wince. "I'll get you some ice and some pain meds. Don't move," He demanded and hurried out of the room.

I nodded limply and let my head fall back on the cushion. Well isn't this just swell. Get it? Swell.

I'm a mess.

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the pain that was now coming in full force. All the adrenaline has evaporated.

I tested out my toes again. Still fully functional. However, the bump wasn't getting any prettier.

I heard Charlie scuffle back in the room. He placed a plate of pizza and a glass of water on the coffee table. Bless him. For a moment I forgot about my hunger, but I'm sure my lack of sustenance wasn't helping the situation. He grabbed the bottle of pain killers from the crook of his arm and a crinkling bag wrapped in a towel. The frozen peas he claimed we didn't need. Guess we can't eat them now.

"Here," He said and handed me the plate with two slices of greasy heaven. "Eat first and then take the pain meds," he told me in that business voice.

"Thanks, Dad," I said and eagerly took a monster bite of a slice. Oh yes.

He carefully placed the frozen peas on my foot. I winced as I chewed. "Sorry," he grumbled.

I shook my head and shoved more in my mouth.

"Slow down there," he eyed me with concern.

"Swowwy" I mumbled through the cheese and crust.

He breathed a laugh and shook his head. "We're gonna have to wrap you in bubble wrap if you keep hurting yourself."

I swallowed. "I'll look like the Michelin Man," I grumbled and took a more reasonable bite.

He chuckled. "Yeah, well that's what happens when you fling yourself off the stairs for pizza."

I rolled my eyes and he laughed again as he headed back to the kitchen.

I felt the chill seep into my skin and sighed. Maybe I would survive after all.

The phone rang.

I heard him pick it up. "Hello," he said. I could tell he was getting impatient for his pizza. How do you like them apples, Dad?

I grinned to myself and shoved half the crust in my mouth.

"Oh hey, Jake."

I almost choked. I hacked on a bit of dough.

"You alright? I told you to slow down!" He shouted to me from the kitchen.

"I'm fwine!" I yelled back.

"Yeah, she's awake. She took a bit of a spill," he murmured, trying to lower his voice and failing terribly.

He laughed. "I know. I swear that kid is a walking medical bill."

"I can hear you!"

He cleared his throat. "Anyway, yeah come on down. We're having pizza. I'm sure you could cheer her up. She's a bit cranky," he said as he leaned around the corner to make sure I heard him. I wonder why that is?

My cheeks burned. Jake didn't need the hear that. We all know what happened the last time I was cranky.

I angrily took a bite of my second slice.

"Alright, see you soon," he hung up.

Great. I couldn't be a mess in peace. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to seeing Jacob. Maybe I'll get some sympathy hugs and maybe a cheek kiss if I was lucky. We pumped the breaks on those when it was slowly starting to get a little to intimate. Not that I totally minded, but I wasn't entirely ready for that leap. But my stomach did little flips at the thought.

/

I polished off my pizza plus the crust. I usually left that for the garbage or for Jacob, if he was eating with me, but I was too hungry to let any scrap go to waste.

I popped a pain med along with the entire glass of water and settled in too get comfortable. It's not like I could go far by myself anyway.

I closed my eyes and waited.

/

The knock on my door caused my eyelids to shoot open. Jacob was here.

My heart launched into overdrive. I couldn't wait to see him. To smell him. He could always make me feel better.

I quickly fluffed the nest that was my hair to make it somewhat presentable and swatted at my face to make sure no pizza crumbs were left behind. Pitiful. I'm aware.

Charlie pulled open the door. "Hey, Jake." He said.

"Hey, Charlie." Jacob said in his usual chipper tone. That voice. It's only been a few hours but I missed it. I also missed his sleepy voice too but that would be a rare experience.

"Come grab a slice," Charlie said and shut the door.

For a few minutes I heard some male banter and shuffling in the kitchen until, finally, I heard footsteps making their way to the living room.

I kept my eyes closed until I heard him come around the couch. "Hey, Klutz," he chuckled.

I popped one eye open. "Ass," I grumbled and snapped it shut.

He laughed that amazing Jacob laugh and settled in next me. A little close, I might add. I could smell his scent. Clean laundry and Jacob. He smelled so good.

I heard him put his plate on the table.

"C'mon, Bells," he said with a smile in his voice and I felt him gently circle his arms around my waist. "I want to see that smile," he lightly pinched my cheek.

The butterflies in my stomach went insane.

I snapped my eyes open and glared at him with a mock anger. I fought my smile threatening to make an appearance.

"I'm sorry," he said in that same voice and lightly tickled my ribs.

Dammit. My smile won the battle and a laughed escaped my lips as tried to push his hands away.

"There it is," he chuckled and quickly kissed my pink cheek.

I rolled my eyes at him with a big ass smile on my face. He always knew how to make me feel better. He really was the best.

He leaned away and grabbed his plate from the table while I rubbed my face with my sleeves to try and disperse the blood.

"So what happened?" he asked as he took a bite of his slice.

I dropped my hands with a sigh. "I ate shit."

He snorted as he chewed. "So what else is new?"

I swatted his arm. "It hurts like hell. Now I have a gross bump," I whined as I pointed at my foot resting on the table.

"Aww, poor baby," he teased and placed his plate back on the table. He dusted his hands on his jeans and scooted down to the floor. Before I could react, and it's not like I could have gone anywhere, he leaned forward and pressed his warm lips onto my big toe.

I scrunched up my face. "Gross, Jake," I laughed and wiggled my toes.

He barked out a laugh and pulled his plate toward him to start eating again. "I couldn't resist that cute little foot. Even if it has a bump," he grinned up at me and took another bite.

Damn. He even makes my toes tingle.

/

After he finished his fifth slice of pizza, we settled in and watched episodes of Hoarders which effectively cheered me up in a weird, morbid way. Something about watching people clean out houses filled with junk and vermin puts things into perspective. And of course the presence of Jake draped around my shoulders helped a ton.

He broke out the Oreos and milk a few episodes in and basically put a perfect end to a nearly perfect day.

And then came the challenge of getting to bed. As much as I wished I could stay on the couch, I was exhausted and yearned for my bed. And I also needed to use the bathroom and, of course, it was upstairs.

"What do you think, Bells? Think you can make it upstairs?" Charlie asked as Jacob helped me up from the couch.

I carefully put pressure on my left foot. It was sore a hell and a little painful but luckily the pain meds helped with that. I winced and took a step. At this rate I would get to my room at sun up. Jacob held his hands out in case my ankle failed on me. "Uh, maybe?" I winced again as I took another micro step.

"Maybe I should carry you," Jacob offered as he eyed my wobbling figure with concern.

I shrugged and looked at my dad. He was sitting on his recliner. He joined us a few episodes into Hoarders and pretended to watch the show as he snuck glances at us out of the corner of his eye. He noticed how close Jacob sat next to me, casually brushing my arm with his fingers, twisting pieces of my hair, and whispering things in my ear that would make me giggle. I guess from the outside looking in, we were basically a couple. But it wasn't like that. We both knew it. But, it was our natural state of being with each other. I guess you could say our love language, friendship wise, was physical touch. It probably looked a little strange but it worked for us. Us.

His eyes darted between us. "If I tried, I would throw my back out so be my guest," he waved his hand at us. "But make it quick, boy," he said sternly at Jacob.

He saluted my dad with two fingers and stepped up next to me. "Alright, Honey. I'll try and be gentle," he wiggled his eyebrows at me and stooped down to hook his arm under my legs and pulled me easily into his arms. He was so warm.

I giggled and hooked an arm around his neck as he started toward the stairs. He made sure to navigate carefully around furniture and doorways so as to not whack my foot.

He trudged up the stairs and easily navigated me through the narrow hallway to my room. My stomach plummeted as I saw what a mess it was. Messy bed, clothes strewn everywhere. Dirty socks and a bra haphazardly tossed in the corner. Oh god.

"Nice," he smirked at me. He definitely saw the bra.

My cheeks burned with humiliation as he carefully set me down on my bed. He grabbed my extra pillows and stacked them to give me a place to elevate my foot. I grunted as I lifted my foot and rested in on the fluffy pile.

"Thanks, Jake," I sighed as I rested back on my mattress.

"Anytime, Bells," he grinned and quickly scanned my room. "Well, guess we can't go bungie jumping tomorrow," he joked as he squatted down next to me.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Darn."

He smiled that wonderful smile and leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Sweet dreams, Bells," he whispered into my skin.

"Night, Jake," I whispered back and took one last whiff of that warm scent.

And then he was gone.

Best day ever.

I closed my eyes and settled in for the night. I slowly started to doze off.

And then my eyes snapped open.

I had to pee.

Dammit.

"Dad!"

I hope you enjoyed! I'll be back when my foot is better lol.

Adios for now, Friends!