I'm going to write more of the wolves in as I go, I think they are interesting and unexplored characters. Leah kind of reminds me of the wolf version of Rosalie.
Thank you to those of you who are reviewing, please continue!! I'd like to know how you see Jacob. I'm hoping that I'm capturing him well. Thank you to Kate Pedroso for the beta.
Since my old Rabbit wasn't big enough for both Billy's chair and the amount of groceries we normally had to buy, we usually borrowed the black Ford from the Clearwater's. I almost berated myself for offering to take Billy grocery shopping for the fear that I was going to come across Leah. "Are the Clearwater's going to let us borrow the car?"
"Yes, I called Sue while you were changing and she was fine with it." When Billy said this I sighed with relief. Hopefully that meant that I could get the keys from Sue and bypass any chance of seeing Leah all together. Like usual, I wasn't that lucky.
Their one story house was as small as ours. It was white with soft blue shutters that Harry had repainted only a few months before he died. The house was at the end of a cul-de-sac and was surrounded on three sides by the forest. That was good, especially with two new werewolves in the house. It was easy access for an escape.
Leah was sitting on the porch swing as we pulled to the curb, her body very relaxed but a mocking grin spread across her face. "Well, well, look who has come back. Just couldn't stay away, eh?" She had no idea how badly I wanted to wipe that smile off her face in a very violent manner. Or maybe she did. I wouldn't put it past her to egg me on.
"We're here to borrow the car," I said, as if she didn't already know. Please, please let her just drop it and let us be on our way, I hoped. I unfolded myself from the driver's seat and pulled Billy's chair out. Billy was already trying to get out and I hoped that Leah would at least respect Billy enough, as our unofficial tribe leader, to stay away from any topic that would cause a fight.
"Oh, I know. I figured I would stick around to give you the keys. Going into town?" Again, with asking questions she already knew the answer to.
This time it was Billy who replied. "We're going grocery shopping. I can barely keep the fridge stocked with food as it is but if I'm going to throw that barbeque this weekend I need to get a head start. Can you all make it?" Don't encourage her, the voice inside me pleaded.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it." A smile, if that was what you could call it, crossed her face. These days when she was smiling it looked more like she was grimacing. It is too bad she let her jealousy turn her into such a bitter harpy.
The thought made me feel a twinge of guilt because I was now in a situation that was very similar to hers. Maybe I could be more understanding; but then again, maybe so could she. I might have to sit down with her someday; maybe we can come to a truce…at least for our own sanity and that of the pack. Just looking at her cocky demeanor was telling me that that truce might not happen for awhile. Peace with her seemed an easy place to start considering what else lay in front of me.
She came down the walk and handed me the keys. "Thank you, Leah," I said sincerely. She looked up at me with a guarded expression as if trying to figure out of there was some sarcasm behind that comment. She must have seen otherwise because her face softened and she gruffly said, "You're welcome" and then turned and walked into the house.
We got into the car and drove towards Forks. If we just wanted to pick up an item or two we could use the very small store on the reservation, but it would be more expensive if we shopped there for everything. I was worried about running into the Cullen's in town, but then checked myself. They don't eat, what would be the chances of it? So the only real concern was running into Bella. I might be able to handle that. I could feel it, something like hope welling up inside. I squashed that quickly. It wasn't something to hope for.
I turned the stereo to a local rock station. No sappy love or country songs for me. I wasn't listening much, just trying to keep away any conversation and Billy didn't protest. I must not have been concentrating much on the drive itself because before I knew it we were in front of the store and I had no recollection of getting there. Everything in between was just full of wondering. What would I do if I was to ever run into Bella? Would I acknowledge her? Would I walk in the opposite direction? Would I ignore her all together? I never did come up with an answer. I figured all the what-ifs would drive me insane.
I got out of the car and looked up at the sky. Another overcast day in Forks. Not much seemed to change here. If you weren't living in a world of magic and legend. A 'normal' task like grocery shopping just felt odd.
I opened the door to the store, letting Billy enter before me. The second I passed the threshold I smelled one of them. The hairs on the back of my neck and arms stood up. To be honest, since the newborn attack I wasn't afraid of the Cullen's, and I knew they were no direct threat to anyone in town. That didn't change the fact that my body naturally reacted to them and that I was still uncomfortable. I almost asked Billy if we could come back another time, but I knew that they would be in Forks at least until the wedding. I swallowed compulsively as a wave of nausea hit me and I fought the taste of bile in my mouth.
We got a cart and started down one of the isles. Twenty minutes later we were standing in front of the deli and meat department. I could smell the stench become stronger and hear Bella's almost musical voice before they reached us. She was speaking in such a low whisper that I had to strain to hear her. I purposefully kept my back turned as they approached, pretending to concentrate on the different meats in the cases but ignoring what Billy was asking the attendant.
"Alice, you've got to help me here. What should I make for dinner? Charlie insists on this dinner because we'll all be family soon but…what the heck am I supposed to feed seven vam-…seven of you? Where are you all going to hide it? I don't want you to have to actually eat anything and just have to wretch it up later." Oh what I wouldn't give to be there to see that. I thought with a snicker. I'd gladly heap the food on their plates myself. Bella sounded anxious. But then again she worried about everything so this wasn't anything new. "Alice? Alice?"
Even without turning around I knew Alice was aware of me. I am so big I was seriously surprised Bella hadn't noticed me herself. She was so close that I could smell her as well. I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent and cherishing it. It was so much more potent than the ghost of it that lingered in my dreams.
Bella's voice woke me out of my daze. "Jake?" I could sense the emotion in her voice and that made me afraid to turn around. I did anyway. She was as beautiful as ever. So much so that it almost took my breath away. She wasn't wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt combo so I figured that Alice had dressed her. She was wearing a sapphire blue sundress that dipped in the front and gathered under her bust line before flowing softly to her knees. She was wearing a matching short sweater over the top and brown, flat, strappy sandals that showed off her tiny feet. Her hair was pulled back revealing the creamy skin of her neck. Her dark eyelashes highlighted her gorgeous chocolate eyes. She wore some kind of lip gloss that enhanced their sensual curve. Now that I knew how they tasted and felt beneath my own I had to hold myself back from taking seconds…and thirds. I had such a strong urge to bend her over in one of those Hollywood style kisses. Of course, that would never happen now.
"Hi Bella. Alice." The situation was uncomfortable and the tension was palpable. I stood with my hands tucked into my jeans pockets, feeling like an awkward teenager who had just broke up with his girlfriend and was seeing her again for the first time. Of course she had never been mine.
"What are you guys doing here?" She looked curiously at me.
"The fridge was practically empty and Dad plans on barbequing this weekend so we needed to stock up." It was such a simple answer that Bella visibly relaxed and a blush spread over her face. "You didn't think I was stalking you, did you?"
She didn't answer but her red hot face told me that she thought I had ulterior motives for coming into town. Yeah, like I just waited around to find out when she was coming to the store so I could just 'happen' to run into her. This irritated me a little and I rolled my eyes. "Relax Bella, I made a promise and I keep my promises. I'll stay out of the way…as long as you want me to." I didn't bother looking at her as I said this. Instead I kept a cool mask of composure on my face, the one that I knew annoyed her to no end. I wouldn't feel guilty about it either. She wanted me to comply with her wishes, that's what she was going to get.
"Errrm…How are you doing?" I knew she was just being polite. She was just as uncomfortable as I was. Alice just stood there silently taking it all in. There was no emotion on her face, still as stone.
"Do you really want to know, Bella?" I asked curiously. I really did want to tell her what her choice was doing to me, but I knew it wouldn't do me any good.
She hesitated in answering that and I could tell she didn't really want to hear it, so I told her what she needed to hear instead. "I'm fine." My jaw unconsciously clenched at the lie.
She reached out to touch my arm. "Jake…." I could hear the sadness in her voice and I couldn't take it.
I took a step back and turned around to Billy. "Ready to check out, Dad?" Billy had been quietly observing the whole interchange after getting what he needed. He nodded his head.
"You have a good day, Bella. Alice." Billy was nothing if not polite. They both nodded in reply and I could tell Bella was going to start tearing up. I needed to get out fast. Luckily, the deli had been our last stop and we were able to check out quickly.
I pushed the cart out to the lot as fast as I possibly could and let Billy catch up at his own pace. Instead of loading the groceries into the car I put my elbows on the roof of the car and buried my face in my hands. I had to breathe deeply to keep the tears from spilling over but I managed. After a minute I took a step back from the car and pushed the cart to the trunk. I loaded the car with the groceries and Billy's chair and got in.
As I drove towards home I replayed the meeting in my mind. The short encounter was as difficult as I imagined it would be, but I was proud of myself; I had survived it.
A/N: I'm sorry that their first meeting was so short but I've been in the position Jacob and Bella are in, it isn't a comfortable first meeting. They'll have more interaction in later stories. Please keep reviewing!! The next chapter is one of my favorites.