Rekindling What's Meant to Be
JacobxBella
Rated T
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers
Rekindling What's Meant to Be
Chapter 12
Bella was freaking out. The weekend had come upon her quickly and today was the day that she and Jacob would be going on their first date, their first date ever. Not only was she freaking out about that, she was also freaking out over the fact that she had absolutely nothing to wear. She was sure Jacob wouldn't care if she wore her usual jeans and t-shirt, but she wanted to look nice for their date. Despite her nerves though, she couldn't help but feel excited somewhat. Sarah was definitely excited and had been ever since it was known her parents would go on a date, and thus she enthusiastically agreed to help Bella find an outfit. Angela, happy that Bella was taking a chance on happiness, also agreed to help her find an outfit as well.
Driving into Forks Sarah asked her mother, "Mom, are you going to wear a dress and have your hair pinned up?"
"Um, I don't know sweetie," Bella replied. "I don't even know what we're going to do. Jacob promised he'd handle everything, so I don't know what to expect."
Sarah nodded and hummed along to the song playing on the radio. Angela smiled and said to Bella, "I'm so happy that you are doing this. I can say Jacob is excited. Embry said he couldn't stop talking about what you two would do tonight."
Bella blushed a bit before saying, "I hope it's nothing too over the top. It will be really overwhelming." It definitely had been when Edward had been romancing her in their marriage after Sarah had been born. Everything date he planned got even more extravagant and over the top than the last. A simple, intimate date was all that she asked for, and she was sure to get that with Jacob.
"Jacob doesn't seem like the kind of man to do something like that, especially for the woman he's been in love with for years."
The blush on Bella's face darkened slightly, but she couldn't help but smile. Yes, she was really looking forward to her first date with Jacob. Before long they were pulling up in front of a boutique that Bella didn't remember being present when she last lived in Forks. Getting out of the car Bella asked, "Is this place new?"
Angela nodded and replied, "Yes, but not really. This boutique opened in Forks about four years ago. They sell really nice clothes and accessories, but…"
"But?"
"It's owned by Jessica and Lauren, and I haven't been on speaking terms with Jessica in about two years."
Bella was surprised to hear that but nodded and braced herself before walking into the boutique with her friend and daughter. Stepping inside she saw that it was indeed a very beautiful shop with many nice clothes and accessories for women; she briefly wondered if she'd be able to afford any of it. However, she was nervous running into either Lauren or Jessica. Lauren had never liked her, even before she got with Edward, and Jessica mostly acted like she liked Bella, but she was sure she didn't like her all that much. As she browsed with Angela and Sarah, she didn't notice the woman walk up behind her until she began speaking.
"Bella Swan, I can't believe you're actually here in my store," the voice spoke with an obvious sneer in her voice.
Turning her head Bella came face to face with Lauren Mallory. The blonde looked even more snootier and bitchier than when they were in high school, and it was obvious she had some plastic surgery done. Her nose was straighter than she remembered, and her bust was definitely bigger than it used to be; it looked like she even had an eyebrow lift and fillers put into her lips. And there was no way that her waistline was real. Tucking her lip in a fake smile Bella said, "Lauren."
Lauren looked down her nose at Bella and asked, "What are you even doing back in Forks? I didn't think you'd show your face back here ever since leaving town and marrying Cullen."
Before Bella could retort Sarah stepped and asked, "Mom, who is this bitch?"
Lauren looked offended at being called such a name by a child, though Bella couldn't help but smirk. She'd reprimand Sarah about using foul language later, but for now she would let her say what she wanted. Looking at her daughter she said, "This is Lauren Mallory, an old classmate of mine."
"Are you sure? She looks old."
"You little brat!" Lauren hissed at Sarah before turning back to Bella. "We all speculated that you married Cullen so quickly because you got yourself pregnant, and looks like the rumors are true. I always knew you were spreading your legs for him; it's the only reason he would have stayed with you so long considering you're pathetic."
Bella fumed before retorting, "You want to know what's pathetic? You getting plastic surgery to make yourself look like something that isn't real. The only reason you couldn't nab Edward was because he didn't want a skank that spread her legs for any guy that asked back in high school. And you trying to take jabs at me now thirteen years later is pathetic. I've moved on with my life and you're still dwelling on petty events that happened back in high school. Grow the hell up, Lauren."
"Yeah, and if it makes you feel better, get more plastic surgery and end up looking like a troll," Sarah said, her expression mirroring Bella's in that moment.
Lauren looked completely affronted and shrieked before yelling, "Get out of my store!"
"Gladly," Angela said glaring at Lauren. "Come on Sarah, Bella. Let's go somewhere else to find a dress for your date tonight."
Angela, Bella, and Sarah quickly left the boutique and climbed back into Angela's car, ignoring Lauren as she glared after them. They went to another nearby boutique with much better customer service and soon Bella was in a dressing room trying on a lavender dress that stopped just above her knees and showed her arms and had an a-line neckline. The dress was simple yet elegant for a night on the town or a date. The skirt of the dress also swayed a bit when she moved and she thought she looked nice. Taking a deep breath Bella stepped out of the dressing room and stood before her daughter and friend. Noticing their smiles she asked, "What do you think?"
Sarah clapped her hands together excitedly and answered, "It's perfect!"
"Ang?"
"You look lovely, and Jacob will think so, too," Angela replied. "But the deciding factor is if you like it and want it."
Bella turned to face the full-length mirror and looked at herself once again. She actually looked really nice in the dress and it complimented her more than she thought it would. She preferred the lavender color as opposed to the blue that Edward and Alice would keep her in. Making a decision, Bella nodded and said, "This is it, this is the dress."
Later that evening, Jacob waited in the living room with Billy as he waited for Bella to exit hers and Sarah's room. It was almost time for his and Bella's date, and he was nervous. He felt like the teenage boy he used to be before phasing again, the one that wanted nothing more than to impress Bella, but still loved her even after the world seemed to set impossible responsibilities on his shoulders. He was seated on the couch wearing a white button up tucked into clean dark blue jeans with black shoes on his feet. He had borrowed some of Embry's cologne—something he needed to invest in—and made sure his hair didn't look scruffy. Billy had told him he looked nice and assured him that Bella would think so as well, something hoped was true.
Billy looked at his son who seemed to be putting on a calm air, but he knew better with the way the boy's leg was bouncing. Shaking his head he said, "Son, it's just Bella. There is no reason to be nervous."
Jacob looked at his father almost incredulously before saying, "Dad, it's because it is Bella. I'm finally getting the chance I didn't have all those years ago, and I'm feeling like a nervous wreck." He looked down at the floor and sighed. "I just want tonight to go well."
The chief said nothing, just nodded and went back to looking at the television that had been playing silently. Five minutes went by before the sound of Sarah and Bella's bedroom door opened, alerting the men to the sound. Jacob stood up and looked down the hall, smiling softly when Sarah came out first with a very proud expression on her face. Not long after, Bella exited the room and Jacob felt his eyes widen in wonder and his mouth drop open slightly.
The brunette looked amazing. The lavender dress she was wearing hugged her frame nicely and complimented her wonderfully. Her brown hair was flowing in voluminous waves and she had the barest hint of makeup on that it didn't seem like she was wearing any at all. She had a beautiful natural blush on her cheeks and her pink lips were cute and pouty. On her feet she wore white sandals securely strapped around her ankles. Her getup was simple, and yet she never looked more beautiful to Jacob.
Bella looked back at Jacob, fiddling with the hem of her dress nervously before willing herself to be calm stepping up towards Jacob she said softly, "Hi."
"Hi," Jacob said almost breathlessly. "You look beautiful, Bells."
Bella blushed and mumbled 'thank you', her hear racing in her chest at the natural compliment from Jacob. She remembered when she used to almost hate that he would call her beautiful, because she believed herself to be anything but beautiful or pretty. And sure, Edward had said it too, but she never believed it. But now, hearing Jacob call her beautiful, she believed for the first time that perhaps she really was to him.
Billy looked between the two, his mind immediately flashing back to them being teenagers and dancing around their obvious feelings for each other, or at least Bella dancing around her feelings for his boy. Shaking his head with a smile he said, "You two best be on. You don't want to be late for your date."
Bella blinked and nodded before turning to Sarah. "Are you sure you'll be alright here with Billy?"
Sarah nodded and answered, "Grandpa and I will be fine, mom."
"Yes, we will," Billy agreed. "Now go on, you two. Go have fun and enjoy your date."
Jacob and Bella bid Sarah and Billy 'goodbye' and left, climbing into Jacob's car and leaving the little red house. The moment the car was out of sight, Sarah clapped her hands and said, "I just know things are going to go well. I have good feeling in my gut."
Billy looked off to the side slightly before saying, "I hope everything goes right tonight as well. Everything between them last time seemed to be doomed from the start because of Cullen, so I hope it works out this time. I won't be able to stand it if your mother breaks my son's heart again."
Sarah frowned before saying, "I'm sure she didn't mean to."
"I know she didn't Sarah, but Cullen and his family made it hard for her to choose Jacob before. With them gone and not instilling their influence on her, hopefully things go the way they were meant to." The distaste in his voice concerning the Cullens was prevalent.
The preteen nodded slowly, still not fully understanding her grandfather's and father's great dislike for the Cullens, but she chopped it up to her mother's husband taking her mother away from her father. As for Billy, the way he spoke made it seem like the Cullens caused him and her dad nothing but trouble before leaving. It made her wonder what their history was, and how her mother fell into it. Biting her lip briefly—the action reminding Billy of Bella—she asked, "Could you tell me the history between you and the Cullens?"
Surprised by the sudden question Billy said, "I suppose I could. But can I ask what brought this on?"
"Well, mom's husband quite frankly doesn't like dad and probably you and whoever your guys are involved with here on the Res, and it's obvious you and dad hold some hostility towards the Cullens in some way. I would like to know why or what caused it. Any history you can tell me, I'd like to know. Would you tell me, please?"
Billy instantly felt conflicted. If he told Sarah the truth, he'd have to tell her about the Cullens being vampires and the existence of vampires, of the Quiluete Shifters, the Treaty that was created, her mother's involvement, everything. It was obvious neither of her parents had told her anything, but Sarah was also a very curious girl. Not only that, but she had already encountered both Jacob and Seth in their wolf forms, and Seth had Imprinted on her the moment he saw her. They were probably not telling her for her safety and innocence, but he had a feeling Sarah would soon figure out that she was having important information withheld from her and would soon start digging for answers. He himself didn't want to dump all of it on her at once, but maybe he could start with the tribal stories he always told at the campfires. That didn't seem like a bad place to start, and he could gradually build up from there over time.
Sighing Billy said, "I will tell you, but only a bit at a time. Is that okay?"
Nodding Sarah said, "Yes, that's fine."
"Good. Now to start off with, I want to tell you some Quileute tribe legends. I can guarantee you that they are interesting, and more than likely, completely true."
Sarah smiled and situated herself on the couch, grabbing the pillow there and settling it in her lap. She loved stories and she loved legends, and if what her grandpa Billy was going to tell her was more than likely true, than she couldn't wait to hear it. As Billy began to tell her the old Quileute tribe stories, Sarah listened intently and her mind supplied images to the stories, her mind alight in wonder.