Chapter 24: Recon Mission
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
First thing in the morning, Bella was on the phone asking Quil to meet her at the High School cafeteria that afternoon.
Quil was a little leary of accepting her request. "Is Jake okay with this?" He wasn't about to horn in on Jacob's property. He liked having teeth too much.
"It's not like that. I want you to help me get Paul back into Rachel's good graces. So, I need you to charm a confession out of that Jennifer Davis. Do you know her?"
"Oh, yeah—you mean Porcupine Davis. I don't know her personally, but I've seen her around."
"They call her Porcupine?"
"Well, she puts so much gel in her hair; it sticks out like a porcupine. Hey, I could easily be one of her Quils."
She was in no mood for jokes this morning, and she scowled as she said, "Ha, ha, very funny—now, will you do it?"
"Sure, just meet me at 2:15, and I'll lead you to her locker."
Bella met him in the cafeteria. They took a few minutes to plan out their attack, then Quil walked her to the aforementioned locker. Jennifer was there, putting her books away. On cue, he accidentally bumped into her, knocking the last two books out of her hands and scattering his books in a circle around her feet.
Standing close enough to hear everything that was spoken, Bella had her full attention trained on Jennifer.
"Hey, doll—sorry, here let me help you with those." Quil stooped down and picking up her books, handed them to her. She slipped the books into the locker, leaving the door open. He gathered up his own belongings and leaned against the adjacent locker, making sure that Jennifer had a clear view of his biceps. He flexed them, flaunting his sinews shamelessly, then put out his hand. "Quil Ateara, you're Jennifer Davis aren't you?"
Jennifer had a hard time looking away from those bulging muscles. Shaking off her stupor, she took his hand and answered, "Yeah, how come we haven't met 'til now?"
"Good question, buttercup." He wiggled his eyebrows. "I'd love to add you to my extra- curricular activities. Too bad you're already taken." He turned and winked at Bella, pretending to leave.
She put her hand on his arm to stop him, gasping at the touch. Man, his biceps were as hard as iron. She wondered what it would feel like to be held in those muscular arms. "Wait, Quil, I'm not really taken, I'm actually free right now."
Quil turned to face her. "That's not what I hear. Rumor has it that you and Paul Etcity are a couple. I wouldn't want to make things awkward for you."
Jennifer smiled coyly, her eyes brightening. "Oh, that—I just made up that story to make my ex jealous. I kissed Paul over at the grocery store right in front of the stupid jerk. Paul made me mad when he pushed me away, so I figured I'd get even, and kill two birds with one stone. There was never anything between me and Paul. Besides, he told me he's in love with Jacob Black's sister." She looked up at Quil from underneath her long, dark, eyelashes. Her hand remained on his bicep while she said, "Now since that's all cleared up, I'd love to join in those extracurricular activities with you."
With her other hand, she pulled a tube of neon pink lipstick from the locker, and wrote her phone number on his palm. "Call me," she cooed.
"You got it, sweetcheeks," Quil retorted.
She backed away from him, muttering, "Well, I gotta get home. Nice meeting you, Quil."
Bella was at his side in an instant. "Real smooth, Ateara. I'm impressed. Now, we just have to visit Rachel and force her to accept the truth.
The wheels on Billy's chair squeaked as he propelled himself toward the door. He was surprised to see Bella and Quil standing there, but he knew the visit was not meant for him. He called to Rachel in the kitchen.
"Rachel, Bella and Quil are here to see you."
Calling back, she exclaimed, "I'm not talking to Quil. Tell Bella to come back when she's alone or leave Quil out in the car."
Billy rolled his eyes. This nonsense had gone on for far too long. He was so tired of being a referee. "Come on in, guys. This is still my house.
"Come tell them yourself."
Bella heard the huff of exasperation, and Rachel entered the room. When she saw Quil sitting on the couch, she nearly bolted, but Bella stopped her with a quick question.
"Are you willing to ruin two lives because of a stupid lie started by a jealous girl?"
Rachel stopped in her tracks. What was Bella saying?
Her brow wrinkled as she thought about that statement. "Are you telling me that this was all made up?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. You better sit down Rachel." She pointed at her partner in crime and continued. "Quil, here charmed the confession out of her, and I witnessed the whole thing.
"We even brought proof." Bella nodded to Quil. "Show Rachel your hand."
Quil extended his palm to Rachel and she quickly read the phone number written in pink neon.
Bella rehearsed the whole scenario to Rachel, while Quil interjected here and there with comments of his own.
After the tale was finished, Rachel lowered her eyes, muttering, "My god, what have I done?"
"The big question is, what are you going to do now? Paul needs you. He's been a basket case since you threw him out. Don't you realize how much he loves you?"
Rachel placed her hand over her mouth, barely holding back her emotions. Finally, she stood up from the chair she was sitting on, and said, "Can you take me to him?"
"That's why we're here," Bella replied.
Looking a little sheepish, Rachel asked, "Could you wait a few minutes, so I can put on a little makeup?"
"Sure, sure, no problem."
"Typical," Quil grumbled.
They pulled up to the Black residence, and Luckily, Paul's pickup was out front. Rachel got out of the car, and called out to him, timidly.
"Paul . . ."
He was out in the garage, when he heard the car pull up. What was that? Could it be? Yes, her scent was unmistakable. Rachel . . . his Rachel was here. He put down the carburetor he was tinkering with, nearly letting it crash to the floor. Paul raced out the door, vaulting over the nearby bushes, and sailing over a fence to get to her.
Rachel caught sight of him as he rushed toward her from around the back corner of the house. She ran to Paul, oblivious to her surroundings.
His keen ears could hear her heart pounding, and her breath coming in short gasps. They collided in the middle, his hands in her hair; her arms around his neck in a crushing chokehold.
They feverishly devoured each other, their mouths traveling over every inch of exposed skin. In between kisses, Rachel breathlessly groaned, "I won't ever doubt you again. I'm sorry, Paul . . . I'm sorry. Take me home," she whimpered, ". . . please."
Paul gazed at his lady love, his eyes bright with hope. "I missed you, baby . . . oh god, how I missed you."
He lifted her up in his strong arms. With long purposeful strides, he traversed the yard at light speed. Opening the door of the pickup, he sat her inside. He started up the engine and as he pulled out onto the road, Bella smiled. She could see Rachel was still glued to his side, one hand on his cheek and the other at the back of his head. No one would probably catch sight of those two lovebirds until tomorrow afternoon. With that thought entrenched in her brain, Bella could hardly wait 'til Jacob came home from work. Love was definitely in the air.
. . .
As Jacob came through the door that evening, Bella catapulted herself into his waiting arms, and smothered him in kisses.
When he could finally extricate his lips, he looked around the room suspiciously. "Where's Paul's pickup? I didn't see it out there. Does that mean . . .?"
"Yes—yes, hallelujah, he's gone. My ruse worked. I'm telling you, Jake, I was totally astounded. Quil was quite the interrogator. That Jennifer was actually more than willing to pour out her confession. She was a lump of play dough in his hands. I think his biceps did most of the talking though."
"Speaking of talking . . . why are we standing here flapping our gums. I'm giving you exactly two minutes to get naked and crawl into my bed. I'm in need of another tune-up."
Bella cocked an eyebrow at him. "Let me get my apron and my wrench first."
His coal black eyes began to smoke as he retorted, "Ooh, Bells—I love it when you talk automotive."
With that, he kicked off his shoes and chased her into the bedroom.
So once again, peace reigned in the Black's household, at least for a while.