9. Designated Drivers
Jacob's P.O.V.
"Midol? Okay I'll see if they have it. If not I could always pick Advil or Motrin" Leah was currently in possession of my phone. She was taking the lead in this task, while I was the chauffeur.
"Did you hear that?" She twisted her body to look back at me.
"Yeah. I'm off to look for pain relievers" I said, and then wandered off to the medicine aisle as Leah continued discussing which brand and type of pads were best for Nessie.
I scanned the rows for pain relievers beginning with M. I found Motrin and grabbed a couple boxes of those. I couldn't really estimate how much was needed. I figured it would be better to have a surplus of pills than a deficit.
Leah was already in line at cashier when I reunited with her.
"Did you clean them out of the Motrin?" She asked rhetorically.
"No. I left one more box on the shelf for other PMSing girls to fight over"
"Very funny." She rolled her eyes at my joke. "I'll tip those girls off that you're the one responsible, then we'll see if you still got that same humor when they come for you."
Whispering I said, " I'm an Alpha, they got nothing on me"
"You'd be surprised at how pain and hormones can transform a person…"She paused. "into a…" She paused again. I wasn't sure where she was going with this conversation. "were-PMS-wolf." She comically lunged at me.
She and I were cracking up, when the cashier called. "Next in line"
Back at the cottage, Edward greeted us outside. He looked like he had been standing there a while.
Did little Nessie kick her daddy out of the house? Edward acted like he didn't hear me. I must have been right. He usually liked to ignore me every time I could read his mind. Ha!
"Thanks for helping Leah, I really appreciate it. We both, Bella and I, appreciate it." Edward said still ignoring me.
"It's really no problem. I remember being her age not too long ago." Leah responded.
Then Bella appeared. She thanked Leah and also hugged her. I was surprised; never did I think Leah would let a vampire hug her, especially Bella. Last I remember she still hated her for injuring Seth. However, recently, I was getting used to the unexpected occurring.
New Leah was drama-free, smiled and didn't seem to resent herself and her shape-shifting abilities anymore. It was like she was a whole new person, being introduced to everyone for the first time. It was hard not to be welcoming to new Leah. She had all the charm and comforting qualities she had since before she was a wolf.
"I guess I'll be leaving now." She stated as Bella retreated inside with all of the girl products.
"Uh, I should probably give you a ride back"
"No, that's not necessary. I think I know my way back from here. Besides I could definitely go for a run right now. Burn off all that wedding cake I ate."
Edward interjected "I would drive you back, but I'm afraid I was only allowed on the res for the duration of the wedding. Jake should drive you back home, since there's nothing else to do here."
I stared down at Edward for speaking on my behalf. He read my anger.
He shrugged. "Those are the orders of Renesmee. She doesn't want you or I or anyone else stepping inside. Just her mom."
"Oh, so you have been kicked out. I knew it." I smiled at the know-it-all leech.
"Aw, don't be such a jerk." Leah said nudging me with her elbow. "And you're kicked out too dummy." She said shaking her head at me, then she turned to Edward." I honestly don't know how you've tolerated him for so long without any 'accidents' occurring" She made parenthetical gestures with her hands when she said accidents.
"I'm very self-controlled." He cracked a smile breaking his blank facial expression.
You're not funny, bro. I cringed after referring to Edward as a 'bro'. He let out a laugh. It was meant to be sarcastic since he had been calling me this the past couple of days, but it was just so unfitting.
"Well, Leah I guess we should head back to res, it's pretty late."
"Yeah, I think Seth wanted to take me somewhere tonight, but I don't exactly have a phone to communicate with him."
"You can use mine." I dug into the pocket of my sweats and tossed her my phone that she had used earlier in the store.
Edward said goodnight and we sped away in my red Corvette.
Leah called Seth. He was surprised to hear Leah when he answered the call. He sounded excited in their short phone call.
When Leah ended the call she turned to me and said, "Well it looks like you're going to be able to show your car off again."
I looked at her curiously, "Why's that?" I loved to show off my car, but I couldn't help but feel there was a catch.
She started. "Seth wanted to take me to a kick-back with him and his girlfriend, but his ride was waiting for them. They didn't want to leave me alone, so they were just gunna wait." She paused.
"Uh-huh, continue" Here came the catch.
"So they were just gunna stay and chill at home and hangout with me when I got home, until they heard you were driving me…"Leah knew she didn't have to explain anymore. I was involuntarily volunteered to be the chauffeur of the day. If Seth wasn't so likeable, I would have punched him in his smiley face.
"So I'm the designated driver, awesome." I didn't really go to parties much, especially ones with the younger pack members.
"Woo hoo!" She said mirroring my exact sarcasms.
"I'm so excited to drive you around all night and party with a bunch of under 21 dudes" I continued in my sarcasm.
"Well, I can drive stick, too, like a pro." She bragged, trying to change the subject. "Also, I don't want to feel like the only old person at party." She admitted.
That's exactly why I never hung out with the younger guys. But I wasn't doing anything else tonight, so I might as well get a good drive out of my car tonight. Also, maybe being a better Alpha meant hanging out with my pack.
We drove out to the beach. I was not looking forward to the party socialization but I was looking forward to showing off my baby.
The Corvette was definitely the nicest car on the res. I didn't drive it everyday, since I could usually just run everywhere I needed. It wasn't necessary unless I needed to run errands around the res. The car definitely still impressed the younger kids, and the younger wolves got a kick when I told them the story of how I got it from a vampire.
At the party, Seth greeted me with his girlfriend. I'd met her before, but I always forgot her name. She was at the wedding earlier today.
"Hi, again Sara" Leah said with a smile.
"I'm so glad you guys could make it" Sarah squeaked.
"Hey Jake, car looks good under the moon tonight." Seth was giving me compliments to thank me for bringing his sister.
It was a pretty bright night. There weren't any clouds in the sky so the full moon and sea illuminated the scenery. "Figured it would be a good night to take a drive."
"Why'd you hijack my sister anyways? Didn't you have enough time to catch up with her in Canada. I haven't even had a day alone with her yet." Seth feigned humor, but we all knew how much he missed his sister.
"Confidential business. I'm here now though, little brother. And maybe now I can actually manage to have conversation with you, without someone interrupting."
"They just flocked to you Leah. You were the most popular person at the wedding." Sara added.
"Oh…yeah" She looked a little regretful. "Sorry we barely had any time to talk then, but now it's just us." Leah patted her brother on the shoulder reassuringly.
"And Jake." Seth chimed.
"I'm actually gunna head home." I liked Seth, but didn't l like him enough to endure some social interactions with people I barely knew. I didn't have any catching up to do with Seth.
As I said this Brady and Collin, popped up. "I told you he was coming." Brady said ecstatically to Collin. "Jake, what's up?" He greeted me with a one-arm hug. He was slightly buzzed. Collin followed and greeted me with a one-arm hug as well. He greeted me with a quieter "Hey, man"
Brady was the extrovert of the duo, while Collin was the introvert. They were Like the yin and yang.
"I'm just here to show off this baby." I gestured my left arm to reveal my car.
"Oh my Godddd. Jake you need to give me a ride!" Brady exclaimed as he realized the car I was leaning on was the Corvette.
"Me too!" Collin echoed.
"Sorry boys, but I only got room for one at a time"
They boys looked at each other and both started stating reasons why they should go first, each other dismissing the other. "Punctual? I'm the one always covering for you!" Then they proceeded to wrestle on the sand. Everyone else watching just laughed.
"This is why I gotta get out of here." I huffed under my breath.
They stopped wrestling. "What? You're already leaving" Collin said as he dusted the sand off of his head. Brady stood up. "You just got here, you gotta come over to say hi to the rest of the guys."
They began to pull and push me off the car and toward the bonfire.
They were weaker than me, but together they managed to get me standing up off the car. Even though I was the Alpha I rarely went to social events with the boys. I felt like I knew them enough through hearing their thoughts when phased. However, I was trying to be a better Alpha, and maybe that meant sacrificing my Friday nights to hang out with the young wolves. They probably needed a chaperon anyways.
"I guess I can grace everyone with a short appearance"
"Thank you, your majesty" Brady stood on one knee and bowed his head. Then he jumped up and shouted, "The chief king has blessed us with an appearance."
"Thank you your highness" Collin curtsied in an imaginary dress.
We all walked toward the bonfire in the distance.
"You never hang out with us!" Someone yelled in disbelief when they saw me.
"Jakey's here" The kids erupted into loud drunken greetings. "The ancestors have blessed us with his presence" They were joking I hoped. It definitely wasn't my intention to appear unreachable or so superior.
They young guys JonJon, RJ, Levi, and Daniel were here with some their girl friends and girls from the Makah reservation. There some guys missing though. "Where's the other guys?"
"You know how they're always getting grounded from breaking their curfews." One of the boys with longer hair said.
"I think Topher is on a date." Said RJ.
"Yeah with my ex. Screw him!" Levi said with his hands raised. I was too old to care to listen to this drama, but nodded my head as they continued with the latest drama in their friend group. These four guys were best bros while Topher, Shawn, and Mike were best friends. I knew who the different friend groups in the pack were, but now I knew the reasons why. Some of the guys left the bonfire to talk to the girls by the shoreline.
"Do you want a beer?" Some girl I didn't recognize offered me a can of beer.
"Thanks" I said as I took the beer from her hand and popped it open
"I'm Michelle. Sara's cousin" She said as she stood next to me. "Should we sit?"
She was pretty. We sat in the sand next to the fire.
"Of course Jake gets all the attention from the ladies. He's the Alpha" Someone whined in the distance.
"Shhhh RJ. She wasn't interested in you anyways" I couldn't help but smile.
I began small talk with Michelle and learned that she was from the Makah reservation. She started flirting, so I flirted back. I finished my first beer. By this time some of the guys returned to sit around the bonfire. Even Seth, Sara and Leah who had been sitting near the tree line had come closer to the fire. Of course none of the pack members got cold. The other girls however were getting cold. I had changed out of my designer suit earlier and now only wore a tee shirt and sweats. Michelle couldn't fathom how I wasn't cold.
More beer appeared. I grabbed two and I offered one to her. She declined saying she was the designated driver. I told her the story of how I had been a designated chauffeur all day. Somehow I ended up drinking both the beers.
I told her the story of how I got my car out of a bet making sure to exclude all the superhuman parts.
Levi brought up funny stories that we told around the fire and then the Quileute legends were recited with the upmost theatricality by the JonJon and David. They had mastered adding mystery and suspense into the legends.
David and Levi left with their girl friends leaving Seth, Sara, Leah, RJ, JonJon, Michelle and another girl behind. RJ and JonJon were already drunk, but they were gunna drink more, so I finished both of their beers. Now I was gunna be drunk, but better me than them.
Michelle asked to take a walk to the tree line, so we left the smaller group for further up the beach. I grabbed the remaining bag of chips and chugged another beer when Michelle headed to the tree line.
The culmination of flirting and numerous beers had led to this. I knew what was coming next
"So you're tall, dark and handsome, drive a nice car and have a bunch of fans. Why is someone like you single."
"You just said it, babe. Im dark. I'm dark and dangerous, better watch out."
"Oh, I think I can definitely handle you." She inched closer to my face and we shared a kiss. "Those guys haven't said anything even slightly negative against you. I don't think you're dangerous. Seems like you're their role model."
"I'm not a role model and I'm definitely no saint. Sorry to disappoint." I pressed my lips against hers again.
"I'm. not. disappointed." She whispered in shallow breaths between kisses.
"Don't say I didn't warn you" I playfully warned her.
"Wow you're really warm" She managed to say after catching her breathe and then we continued to hook up.
Every now and again, I would meet girls just like Michelle and we get along for the night, but the relationship would rarely last into the next day. Even when it did last it was never a serious relationship. I met a pretty girl every once in awhile and all it took was a little beer for me to become a smooth talker. Michelle seemed like a nice girl, but I doubted that I would ever be taking her out. We continued making out for a while until we were interrupted.
"So I see you and my cousin are getting along." Sara said as she walked over to us. "The guys have sobered up a bit, so Seth says it's a good time to head home."
The party was over. I was relieved.
Michelle put her number in my phone. "Until next time." She kissed me goodbye and I watched her walk off with everyone else toward the van.
It was dark now; only dimly lit embers remained covered in sand. The moon and stars were now behind the clouds and ocean just looked like a black abyss. Time to go home.
I tried to stand and realized that I it was hard to keep my balance. I stood up and managed to stumble to my car. It had been awhile since I had been this drunk. I must have lost track of how many beers I drank. I reached for the keys in my front pocket. I opened my car, but couldn't figure out which way to get into it. Little sports cars weren't made for tall people like me. I usually had a specific way that I got into the car, but I could not solve the puzzle right now. I dropped my keys and hit my head on the side mirrors trying to get my keys. "Shit" I rubbed the back of my head. I couldn't see where my keys had landed in this dark.
I heard the swish of my keys from behind. Turning around, I was surprised to see Leah holding my keys.
"How's it going Jake?"
"I've been better." I said still holding the back of my skull with one hand and reaching out for my keys with the other.
"I think it's better if I hold onto these."
"Are you joking? Give me my keys" I tried to stand up straight to tower over Leah as an intimidation tactic but failed. I definitely had ten beers too many, but I knew my metabolism would sober me up quickly.
"We can make room for him" Michelle called from the driver's seat window of the white van.
"He can sit up front and Sara can sit on my lap in the back." Seth reassured.
Everyone was beckoning me into the carpool van, but there was no way I would ever leave my car here overnight.
"There's no chance in Hell I'm leaving my car here." I was going to take this car back to my garage one way or another. I would wait 'til I sobered up a little bit, then drive home.
"You don't have to leave your car here. I can drive it back to your place. I didn't drink." Leah stated.
I don't think I had let anyone else ever drive my car before. I didn't want to start tonight, but I was way too drunk to even reason right now. "Remember I'm a pro at stick shift"
"That doesn't help your case"
"Well, you don't have any say because I have the keys. So Jacob Black come and sit in the passenger seat. She gestured with her hand in the direction of the passenger side. I didn't feel like arguing, so I walked over to the side of the car.
"Do you need help Leah?" Seth asked walking towards us. "He's kind of stumbling"
"No, I think I got it from here" She looked at me expecting me to say something.
I beamed. "Seth give me a hug." I pulled him into an embrace "It's so precious how you look out for sister. That's why you're my favorite" I caught him off guard. He hugged back though.
"Thanks, buddy. I love you man, just want you to get home safe" Seth could always brighten my mood and ease tension.
"I love you too, buddy" I never really used the l-word but it seemed totally necessary in this exact moment.
He broke the hug and walked back to the van and gave me a weird look before he got into the van. I waved as they left.
"I'm in a good mood"
Leah laughed, "Get in the car Jake."
"I don't know how. I don't fit" I said as I opened the door and tried to squat inside. "I need help"
"Oh, boy. I'll come over and help you."
Leah came over and adjusted the seat in the car. I tried to get in, but I was too tall, my head couldn't fit.
"How do you normally sit in your car" She huffed while lifting my arm.
"Hmm…good question."
"Okay, let's try this again. Let's duck your head down this time." She placed her hands on my head and shoulder and slowly stuffed me into the car. How the Hell did I manage to fit in the car when I was driving all day. She shut the door and returned to the driver's side of the car.
"Put your seatbelt on." I reached for my belt but I couldn't find it. She saw me struggle and leaned across me and reached for my seatbelt. She found it easily and buckled me. She then buckled herself.
"I didn't know you were so nice. You and your brother are so nice. You guys are the best brother and sister. Your parents raised you right."
"Yes they did and Seth is definitely the best brother."
"He's a pretty good beta, too. I love that guy." The l-word had managed to slip out again.
"I love that guy too." Leah then started the car.
Author's note: I found the unfinished rough draft for this story and this is one chapter from it. I hope you enjoy. Let me know if I should continue with this story. Comment what you thought. PM me with any other questions. I know it's been a long time. Thanks for reading.
