Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight
~~~Later that night
Knock Knock Knock
Bella ran to the door whilst clasping the towel to her body, she had almost finished settling in to the new house, but decided to complete it tomorrow.
She hurriedly grabbed the keys on the kitchen table and then opened the door. She leaned against the frame and gave a playful smirk.
"Did somebody forget their keys again?" she asked in a sing song voice however, her face turned into horror when she realised that before her, stood her across the road neighbours and another woman.
The three women gaped at their new neighbour and they were definitely not checking out how the water from her hair dripped onto her collar bone.
"Or not…" Bella said, hoping that the oncoming blush would stay down.
Alice, Rose and who Bella assumed to be Leah was still gawking at her; she tightened her hold on her towel and plead to the higher gods that this be a really bad dream.
Alice was the first to snap out of her reverie.
"Dinner at seven…Ringing any bells?" she asked with mirth in her voice.
"Oh, yes, come in..."
Bella stepped aside so that the visitors could enter and she definitely did not notice their unique perfumes, or that they all seemed to be really good looking.
Once inside, Bella closed the door and took a breath before looking at the women standing in her doorway.
Alice smiled at her and then extended her arm.
"We brought some wine as a peace offering."
Bella looked at the procured gift and studied it before gingerly retrieving it.
"Thanks…" She said and then an awkward silence ensued.
Bella rubbed the back of her neck, "I'm going to put on some clothes now, just, make yourselves at home," she strode towards her room, all the while cursing Jacob and his friendly nature.
The three women didn't have time to respond as they saw the retreating form of their neighbour; they walked into the living room and sat down on the crimson coloured couch, they all noticed Don Mcleans 'American Pie' wafting through the void.
"Hot neighbour chick has got good taste in music," Leah said, trying to start conversation.
Rose refrained from slapping Leah, whilst Alice just stared at her incredulously.
"What? She does," Leah defended.
Rose and Alice decided not to comment.
Fifteen minutes later and Bella still had yet to exit her room; the three women on her couch were having a discussion when it was cut short by a loud bang and heavy footsteps.
"Honey I'm home!" They heard the familiar booming voice.
Jacob Black stood with his arms akimbo and took in the three ladies sitting on his best friends couch.
"Well, this is a nice surprise, I thought I was coming home to one not…Oh my God, Leah? Leah fucking Clearwater, is that you?" He rushed towards her and grabbed her hands.
Leah, who hadn't seen Jacob in years brightened and reciprocated the gesture.
"Jacob Black? What the fuck are you doing in my neighbourhood?"
"Helping Bella move in of course!"
Recognition shone through Leah's eyes and she let go of his hands.
"Bella? that's Bella as in?"
"Yepp."
Bella decided to make her presence known at that moment, clad in a white button up shirt and dark blue jeans she rushed towards the commotion.
"What's with all the screaming?"
Jacob smiled at his friend and silently approved of her attire, it seemed as though she was actually making an effort, if the buttons actually aligned correctly were any indication.
"Bella, this is the Leah Clearwater."
Bella's head snapped towards Leah's form and her eyes widened, "Clearwater? Your Sue's daughter."
Leah nodded in affirmation, "Yeah I am, hey look I…" however, whatever words that she was going to say was cut off by Bella.
"What's everyone drinking? Jake, what do you want?" Bella asked being the ever graceful hostess.
At the mention of alcohol Jake perked up, "Oh oh, I want a cider!"
Bella rolled her eyes at his display, she took everyone's orders and made a quick beeline to her fridge.
Conversation resumed and it was only Rosalie who noticed the abrupt change in conversation but she decided against questioning it. For one, it wasn't her place to meddle in her new neighbours business and secondly, she was certainly digging the rhythm and blues from the songs playing in the house.
After the compulsory introductions and small talk, the group decided to go eat at a restaurant, which was fifteen minutes away by car.
Bella looked at her car with love; Jake rolled his eyes at the adoration his best friend was displaying to her hunk of junk that was just barely hanging by a belt.
"Get in," Bella ordered.
When Bella was assured that all the passengers in her car had fastened their seatbelts, she made a motion as if she were speaking into a pilot intercom and, in her best air-hostess voice she continued.
"Ladies and Gentleman please take warning; any complaints regarding sharp turns, fast driving or bad music will be duly noted and promptly ignored. If the urge to play corners arises, please refrain yourselves, as heavy movement will affect the momentum of the car, however, if you so choose to lose your heart, sing obnoxiously or make general conversation, these acts will be tolerated. Have a nice ride."
Jacob rolled his eyes at his friend's antics, however, on the inside he was beaming with happiness, because it had been so long since he had heard his friend behave so playfully.
Bella placed her key in the ignition and released a sigh of relief when she heard the music and the engine coming alive.
Blink 182's Dammit screeched through the speakers causing an obvious reaction to Bella, which surprised and entertained all the passengers in the car.
As she was taking directions from Alice, Bella was head banging, singing and tapping her fingers against the steering wheel to the rhythm of the song. She was immersed in the song, like a droplet of water coming home to the ocean.
Bella looked in the rear view mirror and caught Alice's eyes that were brimming with amusement. She quickly looked away to make a head check, she wasn't self-conscious, because dammit, this was her car that she had since way back then, this was her mobile home and thus sacred place. She looked in the rear-view mirror once again and locked eyes once more.
"What?"
Alice grinned and then shook her head at her neighbour.
"Nothing, turn left."
Alice sat back in her seat, throughout the ride she had been watching her neighbour with genuine curiosity. She had only known the woman for all of an hour but there was something about her that Alice was very inclined to agree with. Whether it was her awkward interactions with people, her guarded disposition or amusing quirks, Alice knew that this woman was someone different, she could feel it strongly. But, she also felt that this was not someone that she could push, that she needed to let fate takes its course, so that something could happen, what that something is, Alice wouldn't be able to articulate.
They reached the pub without any issues which was lit with dim yellow lights adding to the welcoming atmosphere.
Bella was deep in thought as she opened the door to the pub and then stepped aside to allow her companions to enter first. She was currently blaming Jake for everything that had conspired within the past hour - she had moved to San Fran to get away from people, not make new friends.
"How Gentlemanly of you," Bella heard from next to her.
She snapped out of her musings and for the first time noticed the cold metal of the door handle in her hand.
"What?" She asked the Alice.
Alice smiled and walked past her to enter the pub.
"Nothing."
Bemused, Bella followed behind the group lost in her own musings.
They settled in the restaurant, Jake and Bella sitting on one side of the table, Leah and Rose adjacent and Alice at the head, each ordered a pint of beer and then sat comfortably, like a group of old high school friends catching up.
Everyone was given a menu and Bella became suddenly immersed on what was on display.
Rose observed Bella and Jake's forms and noticed the intimacy between the two, the way they fell into and were comfortable with each other.
"So how long have you two been together for?" she asked curiously.
Jacob was about to answer, however Bella shot through with her own question.
"What year is it?" The abruptness caught everyone off guard.
"2014, but Bella, I don't think that she means …" Jake replied, knowing exactly what his friend was thinking.
"About fifteen years," Bella said nonchalantly, still intent on reading the menu.
"Fifteen years?!"
Bella just put her menu down and looked at her companions, "Yeah?"
Alice looked at her in bewilderment, "I don't think that I've ever had a commitment for that long before."
"Well, ever since the day I made him eat a mud pies, I knew that he'd be in my life forever," Bella stated, she didn't see what all the fuss was about, she and Jake had been best friends for fifteen years; they had even celebrated their friend-aversary just last fall at a winery.
"Bella, I don't think that that's what they meant," Jake intervened, hoping that his friend would understand the predicament she had placed them in.
A silence fell upon the table; seconds seemed to tick by, whilst Jake patiently waited for his friend to click.
Alice looked at Bella for a moment and found her facial expressions amusing. First, indifferent, then irritated, then confusion, and then blank. After a few seconds, comprehension took its turn and it took everything within Alice not to giggle at the 'oh shit' face Bella pulled.
She really was quite endearing Alice surmised.
"Oh shit no, no, I mean, we're not like that, not at all, he's just a friend," Bella stated in a flurry, she could feel the heat in her cheeks at the insinuation of her and Jake together. It had happened before, but it was no less embarrassing, mostly because they were both batting for the other team.
Jake tried to hide his smirk behind his menu, "Don't flatter yourself Bells, I don't settle with just anyone," he said with a wink.
Having realized the jab, Bella ignored her current embarrassment and scowled.
"Fuck you, I'm hot," she proceeded to fold her arms, poking her tongue out for effect; it was only Jake, who could make her revert back to her childish ways.
The table chuckled at the duos banter; the waitress returned with the drinks and received orders from each person.
"So, how long have you and Leah been together?" Bella asked after a few moments, loving the way the beer slid down her throat.
Rose and Leah blushed.
"How did you…" Leah began.
"You've been holding hands under the table ever since we got here," Bella commented.
Jake realizing his friend's lack of tact decided to intercede, "You don't need to be shy about your relationship with us; I've been gay since she's made me eat mud pies," He said pointing a thumb at his companion.
Leah took a sip from her beer, "About two years now."
"How'd you meet?" He asked.
"We used to live near the same area," Leah informed.
Bella blanched whilst Jake's eyebrows rose, "Oh really? I live in the same area that Leah did, what's your last name?"
"Cullen," Rose supplied.
Jake's eyes widened, "Holy shit, you're that Cullen?" He exclaimed and then he looked at Bella nervously, who was busy burning a hole into her drink.
"What do you mean that Cullen?" Rose almost snarled.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the table, Bella punched Jake hard in the thigh before he could clarify.
"Nothing," Bella replied for her friend and she gave him a pointed look.
"He meant nothing by it, right Jake?" She further emphasised.
Jake shook his head animatedly, "Yeah, nah, just that your dad does some pretty good things at Forks hospital that's all."
Rose again noticed the strange exchange and decided against reacting to it, she tucked it in her mind for future reference however.
She smiled at the thought of her father, "He'd be glad to know that, I'll make sure I tell him of your accolades."
"Please don't," Bella requested in all seriousness, however the plea went past the people at the table.
"So, how do you guys know each other?" Jake asked towards Alice and Rose.
Alice perked up, "Rose and I are sisters," she said with unabashed pride.
Bella looked up sharply at this new information and opened her mouth to speak; however Alice cut her off, as years of practised speech had been embedded in her after such a confession.
"No we're not blood related and yes, I was adopted when I was seven when my parents died." There was no spite in her words, it was just informative.
"Oh," was all Bella could reply.
A silence fell and Alice almost smacked her forehead at her lack of tact, she didn't intend to make her neighbour feel guilty for her curiosity. She told herself that if she is to befriend her neighbour she must be considerate about it. So, instead of placating the matter with awkward apologies, she decided to go for a different route.
"Well, that escalated quickly," she said in her most Ron Burgandy impersonation.
The table collectively blew a sigh of relief and Jake guffawed.
Bella nodded her head in appreciation that Alice didn't make it a big thing and in return, Alice just winked.
After the moment passed, the table fell into comfortable conversation; Jake asked questions pertaining to San Francisco's great hang outs, he also caught up with Leah and asked various questions to Rose and Alice to which they were happy to engage.
It turns out Leah and Rose had met one day whilst the blonde was stranded on the side of the road, her car had broken down and Leah picked her up thinking that she was a mirage, the rest was history.
Bella was content in just listening and drinking her beer, it had been a while since she had been in such large company or consumed alcohol, but hearing Jake's incessant chatter and from moving in, she felt that she deserved it. She concentrated on her sweaty palms, if Rose and Alice lived in the same area as Jake and Leah, surely they would know who she was. Either they did and had the courtesy to not discuss it or they didn't and Bella certainly wasn't going to discern it by asking them. She would have to be careful in her interactions with Leah and the Cullen's perhaps she could move again, surely there had to be something wrong with her house so as to warrant an immediate departure.
"Are you ok?" She heard from her right. She looked up and saw the concerned gaze of Alice Cullen The word Cullen Cullen Cullen, repeated itself through Bella's mind as she looked at the green eyes. She felt her heart palpitate and briefly wandered if the entire table could hear her it.
"Fine."
Alice nodded her head, albeit a little confused to the sudden sharpness of her neighbours disposition, but she decided to let it drop.
Bella however sighed; it was a small fucking world indeed.
The food arrived and there was a moments silence as each person enjoyed their meal and the company.
"Hungry?" Bella commented at her friend's lack of table manners.
"Like a wolf," Jake replied with a grin and wink.
Bella just rolled her eyes.
"You're lame."
Jake smirked, "Your mom's lame."
"You mom's second child is lame," Bella struck back, knowing full well that Jake was the middle child of three.
Leah laughed and agreed wholeheartedly.
And that is how dinner preceded, Jake and Bella in a verbal trite.
Thank you for reading.