A/N – So I have decided that SM is about as scatter brained as it comes to her own damn story. I was trying to figure out ages and what not and the only source I have right now is the Twilight Wiki. It has Jared, Paul, Embry, Jacob, and Quil V all born in 1990. That does not work for me. At all. I am OCD and need to have that straight in my little brain. So I am taking fanfiction creative license and making the birthdays as follows: Bella – 9-13-87 (hers is the same), Jared – 5-23-89, Paul – 7-15-89, Embry – 10-2-89, Jacob – 1-14-1990 (his is the same), and Quil – 4-1-90 (hehe, yes this was intentional). Cookies to the person that spots the Harry Potter reference in the birthdays. Bella is a senior, Jared and Paul are juniors, Jake, Embry, and Quil are sophomores. Oh and I took some liberty with Kim's last name b/c I couldn't find one and it just felt awkward not having one.
Back to Bella POV! A little time jump, but not much. Here we go!
Oh BTW – Don't own it, SM does. I just play around with them and how they should have been.
It's funny how time seemed to slip in spurts. One day I'm gutting and carving pumpkins, the next I am baking gingerbread men and wrapping presents. It has been an amazing two months. I got to meet and get acquainted with Jake's friends Quil and Embry. They were such opposites with Quil the jokester and Embry the quiet, serious one. But they managed to balance out an amazing friendship with Jake as their fulcrum. They were the Three Amigos and a handful to be sure, but a joy to be around.
One this particularly blustery December day, I was on my way to the boys with a fresh batch of gingerbread men and pie. School was finally out for the holidays and we were celebrating. I was about halfway there when I saw the lights of a fire truck in the middle of the road. Apparently there is a rather large tree in the middle of the road and they are diverting traffic through a side road. Well, road was a generous term. It was more like some one's really long circular drive way.
As I made my way carefully down the rutted I noticed a large pile of metal off to one side. Upon further inspection I saw it was two motorcycles with a sign on them saying "Free to good home." I had to laugh a bit at that. Just as I was pulling over to take a closer look at them, a young man comes bounding out the house with a bag of garbage. When I ask about the validity of the sign he just smiles and says "Take 'em!" I grin back at him as he helps me load them into the bed of the truck. It had occurred to me that this would be a great project for Jake and me. Something to pull me out of my norm and challenge me. Exactly what I needed to keep my transformation going.
I continued my trek to La Push thinking over the changes of the past months. Under Charlie's now watchful eye I had eaten more and put back on the bit of weight that I had lost in my short funk. My eyes were brighter, my skin healthier, my hair no longer lank and lifeless. Beyond the physical, my mind had settled too. I laughed with my friends, I hung out with them, I enjoyed just being a teenager.
Sure I had my moments when I missed the Cullens. But they came and went in passing thoughts. The "hole" Edward had created was soothed and filled with friends and Charlie. Work was back to normal as was Mike's persistence in asking me out. I guess (hope, pray) that one day he'll get the hint that I am NOT INTERESTED.
My favorite times were spent in La Push. Jake and I had become a staple in his garage and around the beach. I finally felt like I could be myself around people and the release was AWESOME! Jake and his friends just let me be. I didn't have to worry about if I looked good enough to been seen with them. I could just be Bells. Every once in a while though, I would catch a glimpse of Jake's "more than friends" feelings for me. But I let them go. I had made it perfectly clear that first day on the beach I wasn't ready for anything. May not ever be.
Another bonus of hanging around La Push was getting to see Sam Uley and his friends. I had finally managed to catch Sam at the Ateara's store and thanked him for saving me. He told me it was nothing and he was glad to see me out and doing well. I noticed them frequently hanging out the beach. The usually had the same two girls with them. The guy that was drawing in the sand the first day always remained kind of off to the side, like he was there only because he had to be. I finally learned their names from Quil, who seemed to know EVERYONE. The guy that threw the ball with Sam was Jared Cameron. There girls on the beach were Kim Shaffer, Jared's girlfriend and Emily Young, Sam's fiancée. "Sand Doodler" was Paul Lahote and according to Quil (and Embry and Jake) he was the most temperamental of the bunch.
I couldn't help my fascination whenever I saw them. The men moved so gracefully and with such confidence. It made me incredibly jealous. My clumsy ass would be on the ground quick if I tried some of the moved they made while playing ball. And they seemed to be watching us. Well, mainly Quil and Jacob, like they were expecting something. It creeped them out, but I didn't get a sense of malevolence from the older boys. They just liked to people watch, nothing wrong with that.
And watching Sam and Jared interact with their significant others. It was breathtaking. Even from afar I could see the love and devotion in their eyes. Sometimes the moments were so intimate I felt like a naughty voyeur just looking at them. It was something out of a movie or a book they looked at and touched each other. I can't lie, I was jealous. Just another thing that I added to the list of reason I was better off without Edward. Ninety percent of the time he looked at me, it was with a pained expression. Sure there was love in his eyes, but it was minimal compare to the tension of holding himself in check.
I was pulled from my musings by shouted greetings as I pulled up to Jacob's house. As soon as I was parked, Jake had me out of the car and into a massive bear hug. Man I love these hugs.
"DUDE! There's food in here!"
I spin around quickly reaching for box of treats before Quil can get his hands on them. Jake laughs at Quil's heartbroken expression. "Those are for later Quil, now back off!" I scold him. He smirks at me and slips out of the cab and around the bed of the truck. "Where's Embry?" I ask Jake. He scowls at me before answering. "I wouldn't know. You'd have to ask Sam." I look at him shocked. "What do you mean?"
Quil has made his way around the truck and answers for Jake. "Well Bells, it's like this. Embry disappeared for a week. No note, no sign of him, nothing. His mom didn't have any idea either. Then Monday, the last week of school before the holidays mind you, he just shows up! But he wouldn't talk to us, sit with us, completely ignored us. In fact, he was sitting with Sam's buddies Paul and Jared at lunch all week." Jake is still scowling as I try to absorb this information. "I don't know what Sam has done to him, but by god I am going to find out." Jake practically growls at me.
I gently lay my hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him. It seems to help because he sighs and he turns his million watt smile immediately towards me. "Come on Bells. Let's go eat some cookies!" With a laugh, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I pound his back demanding release as Quil laughs behind us. Jake finally drops me on the couch. I cross my arms and feign indignance as he plops beside me, tin of cookies in his hands.
"So Bells," Quil starts. "Any particular reason you have two beat up scarps of motorcycles in the bed of your truck?" Jake gives me a curious look and I explain how I found them and what I wanted to do with them. I could see the sparkle starting in his eye when I get to the part of he gets to keep one if they get running well. We all agree to keep them quiet for now. Lord knows it would freak Charlie and Billy out. And speak of the devils they chose that moment to come through the door.
They both smile and wave at us as they make their way into the living room. "Jake, I need you assistance this evening." Billy announces. "And maybe you too Quil." The boys exchange glances and Jake asks "Whatcha need pop?" Billy shifts in his chair and says "Well, the Elders are holding a bonfire tonight and I need help getting down there. There will be food and drink. You boys are more than welcome to stay. Bella, you too." Quil looks thoughtful for a moment and asks "Are you guys telling the stories tonight?" Billy glances at the boys before focusing his piercing gaze on me. "Yes." I smile my thanks for his acceptance of me. To let an outsider hear the stories is unheard of. I am grateful and honored to be a part of it.
A/N – Anyone ready for some Paul? I think I am ;) OH! And I need opinions. Who's Embry's daddy? I am going to put it to a vote. It will determine how one of the storylines goes after the next chapter. List your vote below, poll will close Wednesday the 2nd at noon :)