(Tuesday June 12th 5 p.m.)
Jake was sitting with Bella on a bench in the park. They had a wonderful impromptu picnic while listening to local artists play. Jake was glad he had a blanket in the trunk of his car. He preferred to eat outside near nature. It just felt right. With Bella next to him it felt perfect. They had walked around the local shops and bought a few clothes for him since she remembered how many times he has ripped them apart when shifting. He didn't like her sending money on him but he liked being cared for.
They spent half an hour there more at the park and then packed up their belongings and headed home for more shopping in Forks. They didn't know Port Angeles very well but Bella knew local shops she could buy more things at. The ride back was spent laughing and talking about everything else besides vampires and pack business. They spoke more about what they envision for themselves in the next few years. It was tricky for both of them to answer since Bella had a foot in three worlds at the same time and managing to balance them together would be tricky.
Once they made it back to town they decided to raid local second hand stores to get some extra shirts and pants to turn into cut offs. There was no point in buying new ones since they would be either ripped apart or used as extras.
After another hour or so of shopping with a few distractions of trying on ridiculous clothes later they arrived back at the res. They dropped off the clothes in the living room when they heard laughter coming from the kitchen.
Bella was the first to walk into a delightful scene. Charlie and Billy were laughing hard while trying to regain their composure at the same time. She could see a disaster on the counter and table and what looked like a charred smoking mess in the sink and the heavy smell of burnt cooking in the air.
Jake walked in covering his nose with a towel scowling. His senses were in overdrive and trying to figure out what the smell was. The sight of his disgusted face made Billy go into hysterics and Charlie was simply trying to breathe.
"Whoever regains the ability to speak first please explain what is going on here." Bella said with her hands on her hips. She hated a mess in the kitchen period. This is why Charlie was banished from it at home.
After a few deep breaths Charlie spoke first.
"We may have forgotten about the steaks on the skillet when we were watching the game." Charlie said while trying so hard not to laugh again.
"Dad really?" Jake admonished his father. "You two know better than to leave the stove unattended."
"Sorry son we got carried away." Billy said smirking.
"That doesn't explain why you two are laughing like this." Bella said.
At this statement they broke out into fits of laughter again causing Bella and Jake to scowl.
"I'm sorry Bells but we just thought that it was so funny that we ruined the food since we both said it was easy and there was no need for take away." Charlie said and Billy laughed more. "Then we heard the car and just starting laughing since we both knew you two would think your dads don't know how to even feed themselves."
They laughed again when they looked at each other. Bella and Jake didn't get it. It wasn't even really funny to them but these two seem to have heard the funniest thing in the world.
"Do you get it?" Bella asked.
"No. Just let them have their inside joke." Jake said as he smiled at her and walked outside. He really needed fresh air.
Bella grabbed to phone and placed an order from a local place on the res and told the two giggling hens to clean the kitchen. She was not going to clean their mess.
(Almost 9 p.m.)
Charlie and Billy were still inside laughing and reminiscing about their good old days with Harry while drinking way too much beer. Bella and Jake had moved outside to the garage where Seth and Embry had joined them.
"It's nice to hear them laugh again." Bella mused out loud.
"Yeah. Mom has brightened up a bit but she still hasn't laughed." Seth said with a wistful sigh.
Bella moved to Seth's side and hugged him. "This takes time. She lost her husband of over 20 years. It will take her time to move on from the pain to be able to remember the happy memories they created together."
Seth smiled and hugged her back. "You're right bells. Thanks" He kissed her temple in gratitude.
"So how are things going on with you princess?" Embry asked with a smirk in an effort to steer the conversation to a more cheery subject.
"Ugh." Bella said rolling her eyes. "I hate my new nickname."
The guys chuckled.
"It's not a nickname Princess. It's your title and we just happen to be taking advantage of it." Embry replied failing to hold back a condescending smirk. He loved to rile her up.
Bella half heartedly scowled at him before sighing and answering. "Well I want to get my life on some sort of track but its proving to be more difficult than I thought. I mean, I have my parents on one side who don't know anything about wolves and vampires. Then there's my education and I have no clue where I would go to college let alone what to study. Then there's the problem of going to Volterra to meet my new family and that in itself will have its own problems. Not to mention that I don't want to be away from Jake or the pack." Bella rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palms. "I just don't know what to do."
Jake moved closer to her and held her. He knew she had a lot to deal with but when you sack it all up at once it becomes daunting. He knows his faith is sealed here to their land but hers wasn't. She had a new family who live on the other side of the world. He hated how life wanted them apart.
"I know bells. But we will find a way to make it all work. Don't worry." He said.
"Yeah. Just take it one task at a time. You are already taking a year off anyway." Seth said.
"Seeing your mom will be the easiest. She misses you and hasn't seen you in a long time. I'm sure you can use the time to relieve some stress and let things fall into place naturally. I mean there isn't a timeline for you to go to Volterra right?" Embry asked. He wanted her to stay here where she was safe but he understood the bonds through the pack and with Bella having one with the Marcus guy then she really didn't have a choice. He didn't want her to suffer.
"No. But I don't want to cause Marcus pain from being away from me too long. I get that it will calm down with time but there is still the whole dying on him thing." The guys tensed. No one liked the possibility of Bella turning in order to not harm the vamp. Bella was too kind and changing just to keep him happy would be something she would do.
"He said he wouldn't pressure you bells. Besides you don't have to choose now. You need to take your time and weigh all of your options since there are a lot of people to consider." Jake said trying to keep his composure. He didn't want to one day not feel the warmth on her skin.
"I know. I don't want to rush into anything anyways." The guys relaxed with that statement. "I just wish I knew what to do. I want to go to Volterra since I actually want to see the castle but being surrounded by a bunch of vampires with super senses makes me feel like I will never have any privacy. I won't want to leave the room." Bella shuddered at the thought of no privacy.
"I hadn't thought of that. I mean I am used to it by now but I not to that extreme." Seth mused out loud. He hadn't thought of how her privacy would fly out the window there. Then another thought hit him. He turned bright scarlet that even with his deep brown skin you could still make out his blush.
Jake and Embry where curious as to why Seth suddenly clamed up and heart beat race. Bella noticed his blush and wondered what she said wrong.
"Seth, why are you blushing?" Bella asked.
"Yeah Seth you look flushed." Embry said.
"I….I don't….I don't want to say." Seth stuttered out.
"Okay now we have to know." Embry said smiling. Whatever Seth was thinking had to be good.
Seth shook his head adamantly. He really dint want to voice out his thoughts. It was embarrassing. He didn't even think it on purpose but it would be a huge factor for Bella's safety. He had to bring it up.
"I …. I-Please don't think wrong." Seth finally said looking at Bella who was now a bit worried.
"Bells….um….you are going to time your trip over there properly, right?" Seth asked not sure if he make his point across.
"Huh?" Bella asked tilting her head to the side trying to figure out what he meant by that. She didn't have a timeline set for her trip. Her calendar was wide open.
"Umm…..I mean...You…ugh screw it. Bella when's your period?" Seth gave up and just blurted it out.
(Gasp) (Chocking sounds)
Bella gasped and blushed deep scarlet. She was not expecting that. Then the words sunk in. Her eyes went wide at what he was commenting on. She could not go to the castle while menstruating. Edward never said a thing but she always cut back on time with him during that time of the month. She was lucky to only have it last for 3 days but still.
Jake and Embry where blushing as well never expecting that. Embry was refusing to look anywhere but his shoes. It was not where he thought this conversation would go. Jake was simply trying to calm down. He wanted to pound Seth's face in for that. Bella looked panicked. He didn't understand until the facts of life sunk in. He groaned in understanding. Now he didn't want to kill Seth so much.
"I…..I …..Umm…..I forgot about that. Thanks Seth. I'll umm keep that in mind." Bella managed to say as she tried to will the blush away.
"Please don't mention it." He looked into her eyes. "Ever."
Bella and the guys simply nodded.
"Well. That aside, I still have no clue how to go about this. I mean would it be rude to suggest we go somewhere else?" She asked.
"I don't think so." Jake answered still only half listening. He was trying to push other things out of his mind.
"Maybe just spend a few days at the castle glued to Marcus side and the rest of the kings with select guards. You know those in control. Then you and Marcus can go explore other places and say it's to get to know each other better." Embry suggested. He knew none of the pack could go with her but it was the best he could come up with. They would have to make her bathe with heavy oils to get rid of the leech stench but it would keep her safe. He knew no one with a bond would let their bonded come to harm.
Jake was thinking along the same lines.
"It could work. The queens could meet you and Marcus could then take you and a select group to guard you both somewhere else with less vamps around. It would hide you from others and give you two time to bond." Jake said begrudgingly. He really was trying to be okay with this.
"That actually is a good plan. We could visit other cities in Italy or if it would be safer we could go to other countries." Bella said thinking of how to sell this idea to Marcus.
She wanted to be able to stay with him in the castle but the guard and the visitors to the castle would always be the biggest obstacle. Not to mention just the thought of their diet would give her nightmares.
"See, all you need is a bit of time to get all the kinks out." Embry said finally coming back to topic. "Besides you have us and we will always be right here to help you sort everything out."
"Thanks guy. It means a lot to me to have you all trying to accept this. It's easy for me too you know." Bella said rather shyly. This was new to all of them.
"No problem Bell." Jake said wrapping his arm around her.
"Don't mention it Princess." Embry said with a smirk.
"Don't mention it." Seth said. Although she wasn't sure if it was for the thanks or the revelation earlier.
They spent another hour together out in the garage. Seth finally managed to be able to look Bella in the eye after his little outburst and Jake felt a little better about having Bella spend less time in the leech castle.
Hey guys, I know I haven't written in a long time. I'm sorry. I will be trying to commit more time to writing now. As always hope you all like the chapter and let me know what you all thought.