Chapter 5 - Dinner and Discussions
A/N: Thank you for pointing that out to me, lazygirl89! I admit that it's been years since I read the stories but I took a closer look at the timeline and have changed the summary accordingly!
I've made cover photos for each chapter. You can copy the links I put in my bio if you're using the app or search for the tag 'embers of the sun' on my Tumblr (forksofwisdom) to see them!
Thank you for leaving me such kind reviews (I am feeling better, leoslady4ever!), and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Not beta read!
Chapter summary: Momma Renée gives good advice, Charlie might not be that oblivious to the going-ons in Forks, Paul proves himself to be handy in a pinch - featuring Bella; the amazing grocery mountaineer and dinner at Billy's turns into an eye-opening experience.
Paranoia gripped Bella on the way home from school. The looming forest around Forks seemed to mock her with the horrors she knew lay within, and Bella was miserable by the time she pulled into her driveway. She sat inside her truck for a moment, her keys biting into her skin as she deliberated the chances of Edward Cullen coming to exact vengeance for whatever crime he thought Bella had committed against him. The dark woods behind her house gave her the creeps. Anything could be lurking in the undergrowth while she was none the wiser. She was a sitting duck inside her truck, so she threw caution to the wind and ran inside.
Bella hated to admit it, but that boy scared her more than any wolves that might be running around La Push.
It might seem a little excessive, but Bella didn't feel safe until she'd locked the doors that were accessible from outside the house and made sure to fasten all windows shut from the inside. She even went as far as securing the tiny one above the bathroom sink. Her overactive imagination went wild when she discovered that the latch on her bedroom window was faulty and it provided her with the scene of Edward sliding her window open in the dead of night, his eyes black eyes and pale skin gleaming in the moonlight. Bella knew for a fact that he could crush her windpipe easily, and envisioned how he'd render her mute while he tore her flesh to shreds.
She shuddered.
The vision had no basis in reality, but it disturbed Bella so much that she tied a thread between the handle on the bottom of her window and the little cactus Renée had given her so that if anyone were to open her window, it would knock the potted plant off the windowsill.
Hopefully, the noise would warn Bella of her inevitable doom.
She changed into her warmest clothes and made herself a piping cup of tea before planting herself on the living room couch to keep vigil. Now, that she had sat down and taken some time to gather herself, Bella wondered if she wasn't over-reacting. Edward was probably just the typical angry teen who hasn't grown out of his cootie phase yet. Anemia would explain his pasty skin and his black eyes might have been the result of unfortunate genes. If that turned out to be the case, Bella would just have to suck it up and get used to them.
That didn't mean she was about to try and become bosom pals with him anytime soon.
The tea burned her tongue and sitting idly with only her thoughts to keep her company was making her antsy. Bella attempted to reign in her anxiety. She scraped her raw taste buds against her teeth, biting into the place where she'd burned herself. The pain grounded her, and she put her mug down and stood up in search of a better distraction.
Bella had inherited the habit of baking when she felt stressed from Renée — thankfully without the tendency to turn the kitchen into a disaster zone with ill-advised culinary experiments. She found herself in the kitchen gathering ingredients to make some bread. Her dad didn't keep his kitchen stocked for unplanned baking, but Bella managed to scavenge what was needed to make a simple herb bread. Charlie had an odd collection of spices and a packet of dried yeast that was at least a decade old but Bella made due, and soon she was working out her frustration at handsome demon boys by punching the dough.
It was an effective anger release.
Bella was sweating by the time she finished, and the poor dough was bound to be tough after being so abused. She put it away so it could rise and was washing her hands when the phone rang. The jarring noise caught her by surprise, and Bella sprayed water down her front.
"Get a grip!" she chided herself harshly and slammed her hands down on the metal rim of the sink. Her pulse raced with adrenaline, but she quickly grabbed the phone with shaky hands, unsurprised to see the number calling. She cleared her throat and tried to calm her nerves before answering, "Hey, mom."
"How was school, hon?" Renée's asked without preamble.
"Fine," Bella sighed. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about right now, but it was nice to hear her mother's voice. Renée apparently caught her dark tone and tried to lighten the mood.
"Meet any cute boys?" she teased good-naturedly.
She had no idea.
The image of Paul wearing nothing but shorts and wet from the rain elbowed its way into Bella's mind, and she blushed as she tried to clean her dirty mind. Edward would have been a close second if he hadn't terrified the living daylights out of her. She knew her mother was just worried that she would have a hard time fitting in, but Bella knew from experience that if she kept her expectations low, there wouldn't be much disappointment. It had worked in her favor today because she'd been pleasantly surprised when she made a friend. It was a rarity for her to connect so quickly with another person, but Angela was one of the kindest people Bella had ever met. It was hard not to like her.
"Well, there was one, but he turned out to be a complete asshole," she admitted, thinking of Edward. There was no harm in playing along with her mother. Bella wouldn't mention his freaky behavior for now, but all bets were off if he tried anything. Charlie would be the first to know what kind of guy was to be her lab partner. Bella was not the type to go boy-crazy, but she enjoyed the evenings where she and Renée would stay up late and do 'girl stuff' together. Renée called those times her 'Bella-bonding' time. Her liveliness and easygoing nature made it feel like Bella was hanging out with her best friend instead of her mother.
In truth, 'Bella-bonding' had salvaged their relationship, which had been rocky ever since Bella shouldered some of Renée's responsibility after having grown tired of her ditziness. She was ashamed to admit that she'd started to become resentful of their backward mother-daughter dynamic during freshman year in high school and had been tempted to move to Forks then. The stress of keeping up with Renée had taken its toll, and the floodgates had opened when Bella tried to bottle it up. Instead of turning into an argument like Bella had feared it would, her mother had shown herself to be surprisingly sensible and capable of serious discussions. In the end, Bella decided to stay in Phoenix with Renée and Phil, and it was one of the best decisions she'd ever made. Phil helped a lot with taking care of things, and both Renée and Bella had come to rely on him to balance them out. Their bond had strengthened now that Renée was free to chase after whatever caught her fancy and Bella could be herself without drowning in obligations that shouldn't have fallen on her shoulders in the first place.
"Oh?" Renée asked, intrigued.
"I sat next to him in biology, and I swear, no one's ever glared at me like that. He acted as if I'd stabbed him with my pencil," Bella muttered.
"Pay him no mind, Bella. Boys like that aren't worth your time, and he's hardly the only guy in town," Renée reassured her.
"Yeah, you're right," Bella agreed quietly. She rubbed her forehead with a sigh. It was true. Edward wasn't the only guy who'd been on Bella's mind. Paul was still a mystery she was eager to crack.
"I am? Do you have another boy in mind?" Renée asked mischievously.
"What- I," Bella spluttered, too flustered to think of a better answer, "No. Yes. Maybe?"
"Now this I got to hear. Who has my girl so wound up that she can't speak?"
"He's just a guy I met at the beach," Bella admitted, omitting to say Paul's name - there was no need to get ahead of herself, "I thought he was an asshole too at first, but then he smiled at me. I don't know. He's just confusing."
"Have you talked to him?" Renée didn't bother to hide her amusement at Bella's frustration.
"No," Bella admitted grudgingly.
"Well, you better tell me all about him. It's about time you got some romance in your life," Renée said encouragingly. Her mother had never understood why Bella was so disinterested in dating. It was so different from what Renée had been like in her youth. Bella was a bit of a homebody, but it wasn't like she was averse to being in a relationship or falling in love. It was rather that no one in Phoenix had ever shown her any interest.
Maybe Forks could be different?
It occurred to her that she was probably getting her hopes up for nothing. A guy like Paul must have a girlfriend — someone as cool as Leah, or as graceful and beautiful as Alice. How could Bella compare to that? Her mood dampened, and she wanted to crawl underneath her blanket and forget about all the boys she's ever met. Bella tried to find an excuse to hang up on her mother. "Can we talk about it later? I need to get dinner started."
"Sure thing, hon," Renée said quietly, but she knew Bella well enough to recognize the tone in her voice, "I can hear you doubting yourself, Bella. You're a smart and beautiful girl, and I'm not just saying this as your mother. I know you hate it when I say this, but please try to relax and enjoy life, honey. You spend so much time inside your head and sometimes that negative little goblin distracts you from what's right in front of you. Put an old mother's heart at ease and try to make some friends."
"Really, mom - a negative goblin?" Bella scoffed, and Renée made a pleased sound at her own wit. "And you're not old."
"I know, but before you know it I'll be speeding around on a scooter while Phil tries to keep up," she joked and succeeded in drawing another laugh from Bella.
"I love you, mom."
"Love you too, sweetheart!" Renée said as parting words. Bella held onto the receiver for a moment after the call disconnected and listened to the white noise as she mulled over her mother's advice.
Relaxation was the furthest thing from her mind. There were too many secrets in this small town, and she had every intention of solving some of them. She put the phone down gently and went to get dinner ready while her bread was baking.
Being eaten by wolves sounded much more heroic than dying in the middle of a biology class.
"You ready to go, Bella?"
Bella looked up when Charlie called her name from the foyer. She was laying the table, the bread and the lasagna she'd cooked was ready to be eaten.
"Go where?" she called back, and there was a pause before Charlie poked his head inside.
"To Billy's," he said, raising his brow when he saw the food. Bella gasped when she remembered the invite Charlie had told her about yesterday.
"Oh, no! I completely forgot!" she moaned into her hands and Charlie watched her in bemusement.
"Relax, it's not the end of the world," he said. Bella looked at him between her fingers and saw that he was trying not to laugh at her.
"But I made dinner!" She pointed emphatically at the meal she'd prepared, trying to get him to understand how rude and inconsiderate she'd been for having forgotten their plans.
"So? Just leave it there, and we'll put it in the fridge once it's cooled," Charlie said, clearly wondering why Bella was getting so worked up about this. "We'll eat it tomorrow."
"Yeah." Bella rubbed her forehead. "Yeah, you're right. I'm being silly."
"No, you're not. You just had other stuff going on." Charlie clapped her on the back and went to investigate the bread, sniffing the air. "This smells delicious."
"Thanks, we're out of rosemary by the way." Bella stood up and put the jug of water she'd placed on the table back into the fridge. "I'm coming. Let me grab my coat."
"Put on some shoes while you're at it," Charlie called after her.
They took her truck, and Charlie offered to drive. Bella was tempted to argue but thought better of it and tossed him the key.
"I hope you don't mind," Charlie said as Bella was putting on her seatbelt and held up the end he'd sliced off the bread. She shook her head but was surprised when he ripped it into two and handed her the other half.
"Thanks." She took it and bit into it. It was still warm but a bit too salty for her taste. Charlie evidently didn't think so because he stuffed his half into his mouth and made a sound of appreciation at the taste.
"Jesus, this is good! Where did you learn how to bake?" he asked. The truck growled to life, and they pulled out of the dive.
"Just a habit." Bella shrugged, hiding a smile.
"Well, feel free to do it again because this is excellent." Charlie didn't give compliments freely, mainly because it made him feel awkward, but when he did it was more often than not about food. His words still touched Bella.
"I will," she promise.
"We'll need to stop for gas," he remarked after looking at the dashboard and Bella heaved a sigh. Another thing she'd forgotten to do today. Charlie looked over at her. "School go okay? You look tired."
"It was fine." Bella was relieved that she'd already spoken to her mother. The thought of trying to 'Bella-bond' with Charlie was hilarious — he would probably arrest himself before speaking to her about feelings and boys. Bella's answer was half-hearted at best, and Charlie frowned at her, his worry evident in his gaze, so she tried to reassure him. "I made a new friend. Her name is Angela Weber."
"That's great, Bella." His shoulders slumped and the pinch between his brows smoothed out. "Weber - any relation to Pastor Weber?"
"She's his daughter," Bella confirmed.
"He's a good man," Charlie said as they pulled up to the gas station.
He stepped out, and Bella sat back. She examined her fingers and fiddled with them restlessly as she remembered the conversation she'd had with Jake on the beach. It was sad to think that anyone in La Push was struggling with addiction. Everyone she'd spoken to there had been incredibly kind to her.
A sudden thought nagged at Bella. Was she a bad person for harboring the desire to meet Paul and find out with kind of person he was even though she was completely turned off by the thought of him being into drugs? It seemed so shallow to pursue her interest despite the massive issue - it was a terrible idea to enter a relationship with the desire to change one's partner.
Charlie climbed in, and they were back on the road when Bella realized that there wasn't anything to backup Jacob's claim. He'd even told her that he was just repeating rumors. If anyone had answers about any lawbreaking in the area, it would be Charlie. Bella deliberated for a moment about how to bring it up. She settled on the direct approach.
"Hey, dad. Are there any, um, drug-related problems in La Push?"
Her line of question visibly surprised him. "Not that I'm aware of - what's brought this on?"
"Just something Jake said." Bella shrugged, unable to meet his gaze, and Charlie sighed.
"Ah, he's told you about Sam and those boys?"
"So it's true? I thought you said there weren't any drugs there." Disappointment churned in her gut.
"I did. Sam's got a bad rep, Lord knows why, but he's never been in trouble with the law. Don't know much about the other two but I've met Mr. Lahote - what's his boy's name?" Charlie snapped his finger until he found the name. "Paul or something like that - good man; he used to be a deputy in La Push. Retired now, though."
"Really? Isn't he a bit young to be retired? Paul appeared to be around my age." Bella frowned.
"Poor guy got mauled by a bear about a year ago. It's amazing the guy's still breathing, let alone walking. Mind you, he uses a cane to get around these days," Charlie ran a hand over his face, and Bella notices how the headlights of passing cars made her father look decades older than he was.
"That's awful!" The attack must have been gruesome if the trauma still hampered Mr. Lahote's ability to walk. Bella had never seen the aftermath of an animal attack, but it couldn't be pretty. Paul's father must have scars - a constant reminder of the beast that had nearly killed him. Her heart went out to him. It couldn't have been easy.
"Yeah, there seem to be a lot of bear attacks around there," Charlie said with quiet speculation. He let out an explosive sigh, his frustration evident. "Never found the beast though."
Bella didn't miss his use of singular. "Do you think it's the one beast?"
"That's what the expert said," Charlie revealed, "The odd thing was that he couldn't pin down exactly what type of animal was behind the attacks. The prints we found when we searched the woods were unlike any bear tracks he'd ever seen - said they were canine looking."
"Could it be wolves?" Bella asked after a moment of silence. Her pulse had sped up at Charlie's admission. Whatever had attacked those people was likely still roaming free in the wood. How many unsuspecting hikers have wandered inside and come close to meeting it without being aware of its presence? She felt queasy at the thought. "I saw some paw prints outside Billy's during our last visit." Bella couldn't help wondering what would have happened if she hadn't seen them and kept going. Would she still be here today?
"You be careful around those woods, Bells. You hear me? There are plenty of creatures in there that could make a meal out of you," Charlie warned.
"But have there been any wolf attacks?" She needed an answer to the question.
"Naw, with claw marks the size of the ones I saw on Mr. Lahote, it could only be a bear. They were too big to be made by a wolf," he said grimly. "Besides, wolves don't use their claws; they bite their prey."
Bella hunkered down in her seat and wondered if she counted as prey.
Jacob was standing on the porch when they pulled up into their drive. They returned his wave and got out of the truck.
"They're here!" Jacob called inside and turned back to them with a smile. "Dad needs me to grab some, uh-" he apparently forgot what it was because he turned to shout inside again, "what was it you needed again, dad?"
"Salmonberry vinaigrette! And grab some paper towels while you're there, Jacob!" came Billy's voice. "Stop blocking the doorway and let them in!"
"Sure thing, pops!" Jacob laughed and jumped down from the porch. He clapped Charlie on the back in greeting. "Wanna join me, Bella?"
She didn't want to sit idle with her thoughts, so she took him up on his offer. "I think it's safer if I do. You'll probably come home with strawberry jam and toilet paper if we let you go alone," Bella said with wry amusement and Jacob pretended to pout.
"Best not to keep your dad waiting, Jacob," Charlie said before he went inside.
"C'mon, I'll drive." Jacob smiled, and they hopped into Billy's black truck. The car was equipped with manual controls that catered to Billy's needs and the drive to the store was laughably short. Jacob looked over at her and drawled. "How's life?"
"Hectic," Bella answered truthfully. Her mind was still reeling after Charlie's revelation, but she wasn't aware of the pinch forming between her brows that gave away her worry. Jacob raised his eyebrows and evidently thought Bella was in need of a dose of humor. He pulled up in front of the store and turned off the engine.
"Ok, we need a plan of action." He faced her with a grimness that took her by surprise.
"What is this? Mission impossible?" Bella's face twisted with bewildered amusement. "I thought we were going shopping?"
"I take my grocery shopping very seriously, Bella." Jacob's eyes glimmered with mirth, and he flipped his long hair theatrically. "I can't risk you blowing this operation if your mind isn't in the game."
Bella caught on and schooled her face. "I'm sorry. What's the plan, boss?"
"That's the spirit. We'll split up to cover more ground - I'll scout the vinaigrette, and you track down the napkins. Capiche?" He pointed his finger at her.
"Got it. I won't disappoint you." Bella nodded with such a severe expression that Jacob broke character when he couldn't suppress his grin.
They jumped out of the car and walked inside. The bell rang when Jacob pushed the door open, and the girl sitting behind the counter looked up from her book.
"Hey, Jake," she greeted, and Jacob automatically headed towards her.
"Hey, Patricia." They were most likely in the same grade, but Bella was on a mission. She wasn't in the mood to hang around while they exchanged pleasantries. School - and Edward - had exhausted her and her human-interaction meter for the day had reached its limit.
"What kind of napkins, boss?" she asked Jacob quickly.
"One of those white paper towels on a roll." Jacob gave her a thumbs up as she backed away, heading deeper into the store.
It was much smaller than the one in Forks, but they still had a decent variety. Bella walked past a display of a large lawn mower that was sitting on one of the metal shelves. The isles were narrow, and she searched high and low for the frustratingly elusive napkins. She had to circle the paper product section three times before she finally found them. It seemed like fate wasn't on Bella's side today because the paper towels were on the top shelf and this time there was no stepping stool in sight for her to use. Bella tried jumping at first, and her fingers nudged the packet but ultimately pushed it back and out of sight. She landed with a frustrated huff and backed away, going up onto the tips of her toes to see how far back she'd accidentally pushed it. The packet was up against the wall now, and there was no way she could reach it.
Bella could feel it mocking her.
The shelves were sturdy - the lawn mower could attest to that and Bella hardly weighed as much as that monstrosity. To be on the cautious side, she tried to give the structure a little shake and was satisfied when it didn't budge. Bella felt a thrill when she heaved herself up. She took great care of watching where she put her feet, remembering the last time she tried to reach for something inside a grocery store. It was much easier to climb instead of stretching up after an object since her weight was more evenly distributed. Or at least that's what she thought. Bella was almost to the top and rested her right arm on the highest shelf. The paper towels were in sight, and she went on her toes to gain another inch, reaching her left hand toward them.
Almost there.
She started to slip.
Almost-
"Need a hand there, short-stuff?"
Someone grabbed hold of her thighs and lifted her up like they were doing a cheerleader routine. Bella lurched forward with a yelp but caught hold of the paper towels when her face pressed into the plastic wrap. She pulled back, and the hand on her butt steadied her.
"You better get your hands off my ass, Jacob Black," Bella bit out and froze when he let out a bark of laughter. That was not Jake. She peered down and saw that it was Paul. Her eyes widened as her brain short-circuited, and he smirked up at her.
"You got a hold of it?" Paul asked her and Bella nodded mutely. To his credit, his hands didn't linger, and he lowered her effortlessly to the ground. Bella swayed as her feet touched the floor and he steadied her. The heat of his palms melted through the fabric of her shirt and warmed her skin. Bella felt a blush crawl up her cheeks.
He let go of her but didn't seem inclined to move back.
She blinked and gripped the packet of paper towels to her chest as she tried to register the fact that she was standing face to face with Paul Lahote — the same guy she couldn't seem to get off her mind. He was just as attractive as Bella had predicted, even in the unflattering lighting that seemed to be universal to grocery stores around the country. She couldn't help but admire his high cheekbones and the sharp ridge of his nose now that she was up close.
It was his eyes that got her.
They were a rich brown, like tiger's eyes, and it was astonishing to Bella how beautiful they were, having always thought her own brown eyes to be rather dull. His gaze was intense, and she felt a thrill run through her as she bore the entirety of his attention. She noticed that he was wearing a shirt for once, a black t-shirt to be exact. His shoulders were broad, and Bella absently noted how fit he looked.
Paul was unfairly hot for a guy wearing jorts and sandals.
"You're catching flies," he said with a self-satisfied smirk, and Bella snapped her slackened mouth closed.
"Thanks for the help," she said begrudgingly, humiliated at having been caught ogling him.
"You're welcome," he said and extended his hand for her to take. "Paul Lahote, at your service."
"Hi." Bella fumbled with her bounty and took his hand. His palm engulfed her slender hand, and he shook it with exaggerated slowness. Her brows raised at the furnace-like heat Paul radiated and wondered if her chronically chilled hands felt like the ones of a cold corpse to him. He didn't seem to mind and was looking at her expectantly. She realized she hadn't introduced herself and stumbled over her words. "Bella. I'm Bella Swan."
His warmth lingered when they let go, and Bella curled her fist to her chest, trying to savor the heat.
"So, does Jake touch your ass a lot, Bella?" he asked out of nowhere, and Bella wanted to sink through the floor. Her face burned red as her blush increased.
"What? No!" she sputtered.
"Hey, I had to ask." He shrugged, and his raised brow told her he was jesting. "It's not every day a cute girl gets me mixed up with a pipsqueak like Jake."
"Cute?" Bella drew up a blank at how to respond and repeated the word, her mind latching onto it. Paul thought she was cute.
"Hell, yeah." He nodded, eyeing her shamelessly.
Bella stared at him. She'd never met anyone this brazen. "Thanks?" It came out as more of a question and Paul evidently found it amusing because his stupid smirk widened.
"You're welcome."
Bella was woefully inept at flirtation - Paul was undoubtedly hitting on her, even a dense girl like her could see that - and tried to gain some control over the conversation. "Aren't you cold?" she blurted the first thing that popped into her mind.
Real smooth, Bella.
"I'm hot," Paul said, and Bella couldn't help but laugh at how corny the line was. This turn of events was far beyond anything she'd imagined happening for their first conversation. He appeared entirely at ease while she scrambled to find something to say.
"Bella, c'mon we're late!" It was Jacob. Her mind screamed at him to go away and let her have this moment. She widened her eyes at Jacob pointedly. Couldn't he see how important this was? He ignored her look and glared at Paul, looking ready to march over to them.
"Thanks for the help, Paul," Bella said, hoping to prevent the scene Jacob would undoubtedly make if he joined them. Paul didn't seem perturbed. Jacob was a pipsqueak in his eyes, as he'd worded it, and Bella couldn't help but agree. Paul looked like he could take care of himself in any fight, verbal or physical.
"I'll see you around, Bella," Paul told her and Bella liked the way her name sounded on his lips.
"Yeah, see you, Paul." She gave him a little wave before turning around and walked reluctantly over to Jacob in half a daze. Her heart fluttered inside her chest, and she squeezed the paper towels close in an attempt to calm it. Paul Lahote thought Isabella Swan was cute!
"What the hell was that, Bella? 'I'll see you around'?" Jacob asked her in a hushed whisper. "I told you he's trouble. You shouldn't even have spoken to him!"
"Paul helped me reach those napkins, Jacob. He was nothing but polite to me." Bella scoffed, trying to suppress her annoyance.
"I didn't like the way he was looking at you," Jacob grumbled, shooting a dark look over her head. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Paul was still standing in the same spot she'd left him in. His face displayed his annoyance at Jacob's interruption, but he switched gears when he noticed her looking. Paul grinned and returned the sloppy salute she'd given him that day in the rain before he turned on his heel and walking out of the store. He hadn't bought anything.
"You're overreacting," Bella said firmly, but Jacob looked like he was about to argue. She forced the paper towels into his chest. "I'm going to wait in the car."
Paul wasn't anywhere in sight when she made it out onto the parking lot, and Bella climbed up into Billy's truck and folded her arms across her chest. She was tempted to sulk at Jacob for having cut her time with Paul short, but the excitement of having spoken to him was too high. He'd called her cute! He had to be messing with her.
But what if he wasn't?
Jacob joined her before she had time to analyze the exchange any further. He sighed and drove them to his house before speaking. "I just don't want you to get hurt. You're my friend, Bella."
Bella thawed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. "I know, Jake, but I'm a big girl. Try to dictate me again, and you'll regret it."
"Ouch, the girl's got claws," Jacob said, clutching his shoulders and stumbling out of the car. Goofball. Bella laughed, and they went inside to reveal their bounty.
"Hey, dad. We got everything you wanted," Jacob said, waving the grocery bag over his head when they entered the kitchen.
"Good," Billy said. He was sitting at the dining table with Charlie, his trademark hat absent for once. His long hair was tousled, and he bore a slightly frazzled look.
"Mind if I grab a beer, Bella?" Charlie asked. Bella shook her head, and he snagged the six-pack Billy had placed on the counter. "You want one, Billy?
"No, I'm good. I have an early meeting with the Council tomorrow," Billy said with a shake of his head.
"Oh, yeah?" Charlie sat down again and faced him. Jacob and Bella hovered by the kitchen counter, exchanging a glance when Billy exhaled wearily.
"We've been discussing mitigation plans again in case of a hazard." He gave a wan smile.
'Hazard?' Bella mouthed at Jacob, but he shook his head and looked away.
"Oh?" Charlie asked, taking a sip of his beer.
"Congress finally listened to our concerns about the high tides and rising Quileute River. They've set aside land for us on higher grounds, but it'll take us years to scrounge up the money we need to fund the move." Billy rubbed his forehead and Charlie lowered his beer with a nod of understanding. This didn't appear to be news to him.
"How bad are things looking?" he asked Bill quietly, shooting a glance at Bella who was listening with open curiosity.
"Our school is well within the inundation zone, and we're going to start running Tsunami drills. We can't be unprepared if it happens - it could wipe out an entire generation if it should happen during a school day. Two if you count the senior home that's down there as well."
"I didn't know things were this serious," Bella breathed. This was terrible - children were at risk!
"It's the politics that's making things so difficult," Billy agreed.
"I didn't know the tribe was still active," Bella admitted and flushed at how ignorant her statement sounded.
"The Quileute Tribe is a sovereign nation." Billy's tone had taken on an educational note, and Bella listened with rapt attention. "We make decisions on how best to balance community and tradition. We help protect our sacred and ceremonial areas including the preservation of historical artifacts."
"Billy here is the Chief," Charlie said in a small attempt to lighten the mood.
"That's Head Chairman Black to you, sir!" Billy laughed and slapped him on the back.
"I didn't know that," Bella admitted.
"That's enough politics for the day," Billy said, "Jacob, can you lay the table while I get this darned fish ready for eating?"
"I got you, pops."
"Can I help with anything?" Bella asked.
"Can you get me a lemon from the fridge?" Billy asked her as he backed from the table. Bella nodded but felt weird about rummaging through the contents of their fridge. It felt like a violation of their privacy in some way. Billy picked up on her discomfort.
"I trust you more with that fridge than Jacob! Feel free to act like you're at home, Bella. After all, you're family!" Billy laughed like he was enjoying a private joke. Jacob rolled his eyes at Bella.
Dinner was delicious; salmon and roasted potatoes accompanied the vinaigrette her and Jacob had bought. Desert was apple pie and whipped cream, courtesy of the Clearwaters.
"That was one heck of a meal," Charlie said, patting his belly with a sigh. Bella agreed. The shrewd light in Billy's eyes hadn't dimmed throughout the entire evening, and he paid more attention to Bella than she'd expected, asking her all kinds of questions. She did her best to answer them, but she feared that her face was stained a permanent red from all the attention she was receiving today.
"It might be good for you to meet more people your age," Billy said with a nod of encouragement. "There will be a barbecue here next weekend if you're interested in coming. There won't be a lot of people - only a couple of family friends. The Clearwaters will be there."
"Wait, there is?" Jacob asked through a mouthful of pie. His cheeks bulged comically, and Billy sent him a look of despair.
"Chew your food, Jacob. And yes - Sam's organizing it."
"As in Sam Uley?" Bella's interest was piqued. It was very likely that Paul would be there.
Billy nodded. "Of course, you're invited as well, Charlie," he said, and Charlie raised his beer can in salute. They turned their attention back to Bella. "What do you say, Bella? Are you interested in joining us?"
Did she want to spend an evening with Sam and Paul? Bella didn't have to think for long.
"Yes, I would be honored to."
A/N: I do a lot of research for this story, and I want to tell you guys about a project called MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. The catastrophic events Billy describes in this chapter are a very real threat to the Quileute Tribe in La Push. The village is located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, which is in a tsunami zone - an earthquake can demolish their community in less than 10 minutes and wipe out an entire generation of the Quileute people!
The mission is to secure the future of the Quileute tribe by moving the at-risk community to the safe zone as well as transferring the Quileute Tribal School to a safe area beyond tsunami zone and near emergency response center.
There has already been a flooding scare this year!
I urge you to learn more about the situation on mthg dot org!
Next chapter: The gym teacher let Bella loose in class, and now she's sporting a black eye. Bella goes to Sam's barbeque and realizes that it's her birthday.