*Okay I know I'm a terrible person and keep vanishing off of here for extended periods of time and I'm sorry but I cannot promise that I will be able to update as regularly as I would like. There are things that I am dealing with that sometimes squash my ambition to write but I do not want to leave this story hanging. I will continue writing this story because I do love it and I know some of you do too, it just might take a while. I want to thank those of you that have put up with me this long and I hope that you will continue to do so. Thanks for the support and please leave a review or send me a message, I love to hear what you think*
Chapter 28 - To Forks
" I did it! They kissed, I helped, and I didn't even screw it up! That never happens!" I say bursting with glee before running at Jake, throwing my arms around his neck as he easily catches me. "Thanks for helping me." I say quieter "If you weren't here I would have taken it too far as usual and screwed it up." I smile at him his eyes gleaming in the fading light. "We make a good team."
"Yeah, you bet we do." He says with a sassy little smirk before he brings his lips to mine. How is it that a guy like Jake can be so happy with me? I'll never fully understand what brought us together but in moments like this I don't care. I'm just grateful that it did.
I'm regretting convincing Jake to let Juliet travel with us to Washington. If he just let my brothers and I work together to flash us all to Washington he wouldn't have to deal with her for this many hours but the idea of flashing across the county in a matter of seconds freaked him out too much. I so do not have the patience for this many hours on a plane and Jake clearly does not have the patience for this many hours trapped in a plane with a vampire. I've been fidgeting non-stop for hours as he's sat with a clenched jaw.
"Seriously guys. You all need to calm down." Harper say's taking a break from whatever oddball accessory she was constructing out of the wrappers from our snacks. I look over at Jake and see his hands are tightly gripping the armrests. We purposely sat Juliet in the window seat and Jake on the aisle but that wasn't nearly enough space between them for Jake or Juliet to be relaxed. I really wish Jake could move passed all this stuff with Juliet.
"Hey." I say quietly to Jake, placing my hand tenderly on his bicep. He looks at me worried and I smile softly. "It's okay Jake. Nothing is going to happen." He nods but I can tell he's not convinced. He's afraid that Juliet might do something, which is ridiculous, and he's afraid that he'll phase in the plane and kill us all. I think he has way more control than he believes he does. A few surrounding passengers have been staring at us but luckily it simply looks like Jake is afraid of flying, if only that were the truth. I give Jake's arm a squeeze "Just think about the trip. In a few hours you'll be home." He gives me a small smile
"And I'll get to show you off to all my friends." He says with a proud smile that makes me laugh. I give my hair a dramatic flip and bat my eyes at him making him laugh too before he leans over and gives the side of my head a quick affectionate kiss. I flip the armrest up between us so that I can scoot closer to him and he instinctually lifts his arm up and around my shoulders. I rest my head on his shoulder and he rest his head on top of mine. Instantly I can feel him relax a little more. Though I'm excited and fidgety, somehow, Jake's embrace and his warmth lulls me to sleep. Before I know it Jake is gently waking me for landing and my stomach jumps into my throat with nerves.
Not wanting to freak out his friends and family by flashing onto the Rez. Jake insists that we rent a car to drive the last hour from the airport to his home. The ride is just as quiet and tense as the plane ride, which only adds to my nervousness.
We drop Juliet at the edge of town after a quick and tense goodbye. "It'll be great Alex. They'll love you." I give Juliet a small nervous smile and quickly retreat to Jake's side. He's shaking and I let him tuck me into his side under his arm. He still gets very protective when Juliet and I are that close to each other. Juliet and Harper say their goodbyes and Juliet takes off toward the woods so that she can run the rest of the way to the Cullen's. The three of us pile back into the car and head to Jake's house. He says its only ten minutes from here and I'm such a nervous wreck. I cannot stop wringing my hands in my lap. What if they hate me? What if my magic freaks them out? What if they hate me for taking him away from them? Oh god what would that do to Jake? He would be crushed if his family didn't like me.
Jake places his large hand over mine and I jump out of my thoughts, my wringing ceasing. He gives me a warm smile, clearly excited about seeing everyone and much more relaxed now that Juliet is gone.
The reservation that Jake lives on is breathtaking. It's so open and… green. We just don't have this kind of nature in Manhattan. We pull up to a tiny run down house that I assume is Jake's. I'm realizing how little I really know about his life before he found me that day in the woods, and it only adds to my anxiousness. As Jake throws the car in park, at least a dozen boys come out from the woods in nothing but cut off jeans just like Jake wears after he's been running around in wolf form. They are all just as tall, tanned, muscular, and handsome as Jake… it's intimidating.
"Finally!" one of them shouts with a sly smirk as they approach the car. Jake exits the car quickly with a broad smile. I'm not sure I've seen him quite this happy. The boy that shouted at him wraps him in a quick hug before maneuvering him into a headlock. They wrestle there in front of the group as they laugh. "You've gotten weak Jake!" the boy teases. I hear Harper exit the car but I cant move. The tallest and oldest of the group catches my eye through the window and makes his way over to the car. I'm acutely aware of how awkward I'm being just sitting here but I'm at a loss as to what I should do about it. He opens the door and smiles warmly at me.
"You must be Alex. Welcome." He extends his hand to help me out of the car like a gentleman and I take it hesitantly with a weak smile. Jake has broken free from his friend and assesses the two of us standing together briefly before coming to my side, giving my head a quick affectionate kiss.
"Hey Sam… listen I'm sorry, I …" Jake starts.
"I understand." Sam says to him and Jake looks relieved. This must be their leader.
"Guys this is Harper and my imprint Alex." Jakes says pulling me closer as he addresses the group. He smiles warmly at me before one of the boys wolf whistles and Jake fixes them with a deadly glare. I cling to Jake a little tighter, my nerves still bubbling.
"It sucks that you got stuck with such a mutt like Jake. You deserve a pedigree like me." One of them says giving me a cocky smile.
"Shut up Paul, you know I'm the one with the pure lineage." Paul laughs and gives me a wink. Jake just shakes his head at him before a man in a wheelchair appears on the porch of the little house and Jakes smile grows wider. That must be his dad. As they lock eyes Jake's smile fades into one of worry. He glances down at me quickly before pulling me along behind him toward the house. I look behind me to make sure Harper is following but she's laughing with the youngest member of the pack, telling him about the outfit she's wearing and what it's made out of.
Why does Jake's dad look so worried? I grip Jakes hand harder and struggle to keep up with his purposeful strides.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Jake asks as we climb the steps to the porch.
"Let's just go inside first shall we." Billy says calmly before giving me a small smile. "Welcome Alex. It is great to finally meet you." I give him a shaky smile.
"Thanks, you too."
We all head into the tiny house and into the living room the tension thick and suffocating.
"Jake why don't you sit down." His father suggests but jake remains standing with me close to his side and my hand firmly grasped in his.
"Dad what's going o…" he stops himself as he glances toward the kitchen but nobody is in the doorway so I assume that he hears something I cant. "Dad… who's here?" Billy looks nervously at the doorway just as a girl a little older and slightly taller than me emerges from the kitchen carrying a pitcher of ice tea. Jake stares at her in disbelief.
"Hi Jake." She says timidly
"B-bella… what are you…" I gasp quietly and look nervously between them.