CHAPTER FIVE: Part II
'Wash board abs came in handy'
The cab pulled up outside a ranch style house with white concrete walls and burgundy shutters. The garden gate was wide open and Seth could hear the steady stream of music pumping from the backyard. The station switched every fifteen seconds. Jake and Nessie must be fighting over the radio. They did that at home to. It really annoyed him sometimes.
"I am definitely liking Florida," Seth muttered to Leah as a group of girls in super-short shorts walked by, taking their time ogling at his bulging biceps as he pulled Leah's luggage from the trunk. Sometimes he didn't mind being a werewolf. The complimentary wash board abs came in handy. He winked at the girls, putting on a 'gun' show and they giggled.
Leah sighed. "Take a picture, it'll last longer!" she snapped and the girls scattered.
"Really, Seth, we've literally been here all of two minutes and you already have girl's drooling over you?"
Seth scoffed. "I can't help it if I'm beautiful," he smiled. Leah suppressed a groan. Sometimes her brother could be so pigheaded. She wished he would just imprint already so he would stop acting like a fool all the time. At least then he would just be a love sick puppy.
"Finish getting the stuff. I'm going to tip the driver," Leah said, reaching into her pocket for a few dollar bills.
"For what?" Seth muttered. "I'm doing all the work!"
Leah rolled her eyes. "That's why I brought you, pup!"
"Hey, I was invited too!" Seth shot back. "What do you have in here anyway?" he complained, pulling Leah's third and final suitcase from the trunk. He only had one suitcase and it had been a carry-on. Leah had obviously brought her entire closet. Jake had said something about hanging out in Florida for a while, he didn't say how long, but Seth had figured a week's worth of clothes and his tooth brush was sufficient. Leah was obviously planning on moving to Florida permanently.
"Clothes, shoes, hair stuff, makeup. Oh, and some things Renesmee asked me to bring her."
Seth nodded. That explained everything. Renesmee's total closet space was about the same size as Charlie's house. No doubt most of what was in these bags belonged to her.
The cabbie drove away and Leah helped Seth drag their stuff to the backyard. They left their bags beside the porch as the back door opened. Renesmee ran out, squealing like a girl attending her first concert, locking Leah in a hug. It was weird. As much as Leah had hated Bella all those years ago, she now had a great friendship with Renesmee.
Jake followed her out but wasn't really that thrilled to see the other two members of his pack. It was supposed to be just him and Renesmee, and now he would have to deal with the constant bantering and bickering of Leah and Seth, which he got enough of back in Forks. But at least he'd have someone to hang out with when Renee wanted to take Renesmee to do girly things like shop and get manicures and shop some more. At first Jake thought Renesmee had simply inherited the passion from Alice, but he was quickly discovering that buying expensive and often unnecessary things was just a woman's favorite pastime. Except Bella: she was never one for needing expensive and useless things and Jake had to admit that even as an immortal vampire that hadn't changed.
"Remind me to thank the Doc when we get back," Seth said, smiling at Jake. They did some sort of weird-boyish secret handshake. "First-class and everything!"
Jake smirked. "It was Edward actually, not Carlisle, but I'll pass along the message."
"Really? Why would Edward shell out money to have us come down here? I'm not complaining or anything but if I recall correctly he didn't even want to let her come alone with you. Now she's with three—how does Edward always put it?—oh yah, untamed, dangerous wolves who have no control over their phasing."
Jake threw a quick look over his shoulder making sure Renee wasn't standing behind them. "Watch it with the wolf talk," he muttered. "Renee knows even less then Charlie. And by the way that statement just refers to you. Leah and I have total self-control." Seth grimaced but then Jake got this funny look on his face. Renesmee managed to pull Leah out of the way just in time for Jake to bulldoze Seth into the pool.
They climbed out of the water soaking wet but laughing.
"Yah, I'll explain why you're here later, for now you guys are just visiting," Jacob said, putting air quotes around the just visiting part, "so Renee can meet some of Ness' friends" he finished through his teeth as Renee dashed across the patio.
"You must be Nessie's friends! I'm so happy you're all here," Renee said breathlessly, pulling Leah and a dripping Seth into a bone crushing hug. For an old lady she was strong. "It must mean she's staying for a while. I swear I hardly ever get to see her anymore. All I get is pictures and emails. It's like her parents keep her under lock and key. I guess it must be nice to get out of Forks and to a place where the sun shines?"
"Heck yah," Leah said. Renee disappeared inside to make some lemonade. Renesmee cranked the music again as Jake and Seth began a fairly matched game of basketball, shooting at the old net on the side of the house. Leah lounged back in a reclining patio chair beside Renesmee. She slipped a pair of aviator sunglasses on her face and sighed contentedly, "I could definitely get used to this."