Thank you all so much for your reviews, they are what encourage me to keep writing. Here is another chapter. As always the characters belong to Stephanie Meyer I just enjoy playing around with them. Enjoy..
What's the point?" I murmured into the phone.
Frowning, I stood in front of the mirror as my eyes flickered from my multicoloured painted toenails to my frizzy, out of control hair. Every poster in my room seemed to be watching my every movement, it was unnerving. Quil often commented on how he couldn't cope with so many eyes watching him, I was beginning to understand what he meant.
"The point? The freaking point?" Wincing I held the phone a little way from my ear as I fell back onto my unmade bed, "I bet you look gorgeous right now. And besides the fact it is insanely sunny and.."
I rolled my eyes as I listened to the constant ramblings of one of my best friends. Ness was like a constant bubble of energy, despite the hundreds of miles between us I could almost see her bouncing on the balls of her feet, never pausing for breath as she spoke into the cordless phone. God, I missed her so much.
Nessie was my first ever friend. Quil had kept me away from her at first which of course had only heightened my desire to interact with the insanely pale girl who never spoke to anyone but Jacob. In those days I was all about disobeying Quil in order to get a reaction out of him other than ultimate devotion. It took me approximately four bonfires to get her to converse with me and then other two to get her to 'show' me things and ever since that I couldn't get her to shut up. We giggled over Jacob and Quil together. We practiced cursing like Paul in my bedroom. And she constantly criticised my so called 'lousy' outfit choices. It was like a stab in the back when she was wrenched away from me. I had become too dependent.
But even from Italy she could be annoying with her constant phone calls and packages donning labels such as 'Dior.' I was only just beginning to catch up with her in physical appearance but our thoughts often seemed knotted together, our problems intertwined. So of course I had phoned her to dish the dirt on my pathetic attempt at a first kiss with fish boy but I was still lying on my bed just over two hours later.
"Are you even listening to me?" Ness's sing song voice snapped me back to reality. Sighing I traced the tiny cracks on the white washed ceiling over and over again with my tired eyes.
"Sure," I murmured. My heart stuttered in my chest as the front door banged shut. They were home from patrol. I uncurled and curled my clothes in a desperate attempt to stay in my room and not go rushing out to greet them. I could never get used to the overwhelming relief that overcame me every time the guys returned home unharmed, complaining of a boring patrol.
"No you're not," Nessie's voice was all knowing, "but I'll let it slide this time. But you have to promise me you'll wear it. I want photographic evidence.""That's a little weird you know," I told her as I pushed myself back onto my feet again. I let out a hiss as I stubbed my toe off the side of my bed. Stupid wood.
"Claire," she moaned, drawing my name out for what almost seemed like an eternity until it almost sounded like a curse. Glancing in the mirror again I held back a groan. The tiny white bikini seemed too skimpy and showed curves which I had been hiding for years. It was so not me. I was more of a converse and shorts kind of girl.
"What's the point? When the guys see it they will get all macho and protective of their 'little claire bear'. I wont be allowed out of their sight for even a moment so how the hell am I supposed to flirt with anyone?"
"Just don't let them see it until the last possible moment." I could almost see the slight shrug of her shoulders that accompanied her words. She was so damn frustrating at times. On her side of the line I could hear the distinctively familiar sound of Jake's low voice. I wasn't surprised, he was almost permanently attached to Nessie's side. It would have been sweet if it wasn't slightly nauseating.
"It's not that simple-" I let out a high pitched scream as my room door burst open. Jenna stood in the doorway, her mouth hanging open.
"Crap," I hissed as I grabbed one of Quil's large sweaters to pull over my head, "Do you ever knock?" Jenna just continued to gape at me. Nessie giggled slightly on the other end of the line.
"Damn girl," Jenna smirked as she slammed the door and flopped down onto my bed, "You look hot. Is that Ness on the line?"
"Is that Jen?" Nessie said simultaneously. Groaning I slid to the floor and squeezed my phone to my ear as I wriggled into my favourite pair of tiny shorts.
"No way," I snapped before either of them even asked, "You are not talking to each other so you can concoct some evil plan which will probably leave me soaking wet and covered with spaghetti."
"Come on," they both cried. "that was one time!"
I let out a stream of curses as Jenna pounced for the phone. Stumbling to my feet I moved backwards hiding the phone behind my back. She smirked triumphantly as she backed me into the wall.
"Give me it," she threatened, "or I will tickle you." I didn't have a moment to breath before her hands were attacking my sides. Crying out I pushed the phone at her in an attempt to escape. She had no idea how much those claws she called nails hurt. Bitch. Hunting the room for my converse I rolled my eyes as Jen screamed into the phone. Stupid, over excited bimbos.
I had known Jen for years, almost as long as I had known Nessie. We were both thrown together as her mother and Em had swapped recipes and giggled about their men. It had gotten worse as we had grown up. We had went through school together. Jen copying my homework at the last minute and dragging me along to dances which bored me to tears, literally. But it was in high school when we were studying for English Lit (well I had been studying while Jen was just around for Em's cooking) that Brady had first set eyes on Jenna. It had been such a relief to divulge all the secrets that I had kept for years. Of course, Jen didn't speak to me for a whole week which in out world is the equivalent to ten years. She got over it quickly enough though. That was Jenna.
But Jen didn't do relationships. She didn't want lingering kisses on the porch step or deep conversations in the middle of the night like I did. No, she wanted to dance on tables at parties and kiss single guys without feeling guilty. Brady was there for her, always. He was the only guy that I had ever seen her reject. Don't get me wrong, they laughed for hours on end and he was obviously completely and utterly in love with her. Jen didn't love him back. Sometimes I wished my feelings for Quil were that black and white. Life would have been a hell of a lot easier. Friendship would have been a hell of a lot easier.
"Don't worry I'll make sure she wears it," Jen was practically screaming her words, I got her point across loud in clear. I pulled my hair back into an elastic and glanced in the mirror one last time I almost looked like myself again. No white bikini visible. My boring, wide face accompanied by no make up seemed to glare back at me. My scuffed converse reminded me of countless treks through the woods hand in hand with Quil and I could still smell the masculine, muddy scent that clung to his sweater. It smelled like home. Just plain Claire.
"Claire," a deep voice called through the door. My heart clenched. There had been days where he would have just barged through but ever since the embarrassing incident where I was only been wearing a towel he had become more cautious. Flinging open the door I fell into his waiting embrace and hid my face in the crook of his neck.
"Save me," I whispered dramatically, "Ness and Jen are trying to abduct me and take me back to their home planet where I would have to endure hours of shopping and spas."
"Sounds like torture," Quil's body shook with laughter as he reached back to pull the elastic out of my hair. I scowled into his chest.
"You have no idea."
Escaping from his tight clutches I slunk into the kitchen and stole a pancake off Uncle Sam's plate. I was the only one who could ever get away with it. Jen made a face as she skipped into the room to see me cram every last piece into my mouth. In my defence, I was starving.
"Can we just go already?" I whined. The sun was blazing through the window, stroking the skin which I had on display. I sighed with contentment. Quil grinned at me from across the kitchen as he leant against the counter. It was unusual for the house to be so quiet, I was eager to get out before Harry or Billy discovered I had vacated my bedroom and decided to cling to my legs for hours.
"Where are you off too?" Em rolled her eyes at Sam's question while Jen tapped her foot impatiently on the table. Although she would deny it I knew she was eager to see Brady. I smiled.
"Cliff diving. Is there anything else to do when the sun is shining in La Push?" I smirked as I sidled up beside Quil and dug my hand into his pocket to look for his keys. Jenna raised her eyebrows at me but I ignored her as Quil ginned at my antics. He knew how much I hated being stuck inside on an unusually sunny day.
"Well…" Sam began.
"Be careful. Don't jump from the highest point without the guys. Wear sun block. No drinking, smoking or flirting with random strangers. And do not under any circumstances break curfew. I know the drill Uncle Sam," I rolled my eyes as I hugged him tightly from behind before dragging Quil from the kitchen. Jen followed close behind us muttering under her breath as always.
Fifteen minutes later I launched myself into Embry's arms as he lounged around in the sun. Jen headed straight for Brady her eyes narrowed. I felt a little sorry for him.
"Ouch Claire bear," Embry laughed, "warn a guy before you tackle him to the ground."
"Embry you're like a tank," I punched his hard stomach to emphasise my point. Closing my eyes I leant back into his arms.
"I love the sun," I said aloud stretching my legs out. Quil sat on the ground with a thud beside us, "if only it was like this all the time."
I had been going to the cliffs since I turned three. In some ways it seemed more like home than Em and Sam's little house. I had my first fight with Quil on the cliffs when he refused to let me jump. Every year my birthday had been celebrated on the cliffs. Ness and I had boy watched on the cliffs. I had cried, laughed, screamed on the cliffs. All of my best and worse memories seemed to takes place on the cliffs.
"You going to jump Claire?" Jen shouted interrupting my thoughts. Opening my eyes I took in the sight of Jen standing in the centre of everyone clad in only a tiny black bikini, no one ever blinked. Although if I looked closely I could see the slight flush under Brady's russet coloured skin. Hugging my stomach tightly I remained where I was in Embry's arms.
"Maybe later," I answered. Or never. Stupid Nessie and her stupid packages from Italy. She was going to be the death of me.
"Are you okay?" Quil frowned at me in concern, "You always jump."
He was right. I heard Collin's yell of delight as he launched himself off the cliff. I loved the rush, the tight feeling that gripped my heart as I found myself suspended in mid air clinging tightly on to Quil for dear life. I lived for sunny days.
"She's fine," Jen snapped, "Come on. I want to jump."
Groaning I pushed myself to my feet and shimmied out of my shorts self consciously. Jen looked at me expectantly and I pulled Quil's sweater over my head quickly hoping I could just launch myself off the cliff without anyone seeing my attire. Jen whistled appreciatively while everyone else was silent. Deadly silent.
"Doesn't she look hot?" Jen's voice was loud. Way too loud. I heard a choked noise beside me. Turning I felt suddenly self conscious as Quil's eyes burned my skin.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Of course I could count on Embry for the big brother response, "Did Sam see what you were wearing before you left the house?"
I was suddenly glad Quil had pulled my hair down, it covered my flushed cheeks. Quil lowered his eyes and I fought the urge to sigh. Of course he didn't find me desirable, of course I didn't look 'hot' to him. In his eyes I was just a friend. My stomach twisted unpleasantly.
"Nessie," I blurted, "it was Nessie and her stupid ideas."
"That is so not appropriate. Guys are going to think you only want one thing when they see you wearing that." That stung a little. He was basically calling me a slut.
"Tell her Quil?" Embry's voice was unusually hard. Tears stung at the corner of my eyes but I blinked them away. Jenna narrowed her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips. I swallowed loudly desperate to jump in the water and cover myself up.
"She looks fine," Quil mumbled still looking at the floor. Fine? Just fine? I was going to kill Nessie. I was going to throw her into a raging bonfire.
"Damn," a low voice called. Turning I watched as Collin jogged back up the cliff. I let out a gasp of air as he swooped me up into his arms unexpectedly.
"When did Claire get hot?" he took a step back as if to observe me, "God. You're all grown up and curvy and-"
"Collin!" Embry hissed cutting him off. I smiled weakly as Jen came up and held onto my hand tightly. She squeezed it tightly.
"Thank you Collin. She does look hot," Jen agreed strongly, "The rest of you are either blind or gay. Idiots."
I didn't protest as she dragged me towards the cliff edge. Curling my toes over the edge I felt the familiar jolt of fear as I regarded the large drop. Brady moved carefully behind Jenna and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Quil tried to do the same but I brushed him off and resorted to holding his hand instead. The wind slapped me reputedly in my face. I couldn't wait to get in the water and hide the stupid bikini that was causing so much controversy. Stupid, macho wolfs. And meddling Nessie.
"You ready?" Quil whispered lowly. A shiver crept up the length of my spine as he turned to look at me. Gripping his hand tightly the familiar scream got caught in my throat as he pulled us over the age. Jen and I locked eyes. It felt like I was flying.
Thoughts?