Everything Twilight belong to Stephanie. Including the characters, that I like to play with.
BELLA'S POV
I laid there for a while with my eyes closed, sucking in this new feeling. Elation. For the first time in a long time, I felt complete peace. I had a little bit of a hard time last night. I knew eventually I needed to get over my scars. And with Paul's reassurance, and acceptance of me completely, I felt an all new high. It ended up being the best night of my life so far, and I was looking forward to spending many, many more nights like that. Wrapped in his arms.
He was already gone when I woke this morning, patrolling, and I really was in no hurry whatsoever to climb out of his bed. But I knew I needed a shower, and the smell of coffee from downstairs, was enough to push me a little. Climbing out of bed, I grabbed the discarded shirt and shorts that I borrowed last night, threw them on and went across the hall to jump in the shower.
Washing quickly and wrapping a towel around my waist, I went back into the bedroom, and grabbed another pair of clean shorts and a t-shirt from the basket on the floor, and made my way downstairs.
When I made it to the kitchen, I was hit with the sight of just about everyone, minus Paul, Leah and Sam, sitting around the large table that was in the corner.
"Good morning, not that I'm not happy to see you all here, but why are here so early." I said making my way to the coffee pot. Pouring myself a cup and adding the two sugars and a little milk, I turned and made my way to the bar stool that sat at the island.
"It's almost noon Bells." Jake said.
Spinning quickly on the stool I looked over at the clock on the stove. Sure enough it was five minutes till noon.
"Why the hell did you let me sleep so late?" I demanded.
"We figured you could use the sleep. Long night hey Belly?" Quil said winking.
"Oh. Shut the hell up. Did you find your stick?" I said with a smirk.
"Actually I did." He said, pulling a painted stick out from under the table. Looking at it closely, it was painted black, and written down the side it said 'belongs to Quil'.
"Funny." I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice. Which caused everyone else to chuckle.
"So what's on the agenda today?" I asked after everyone calmed down again.
"We were thinking about going swimming, its going to be getting cold soon. Why don't you come along." Emily said, perking up.
"I don't have a suit."
"I'm sure Kim has one you can use." She replied.
"Yeah… come on Bella." Kim said jumping up from her place in Jared's lap and running to me. She grabbed my hand and started dragging me for the front door. "We'll meet you guys down at the beach." She said as we made our way through the door. Man this girl really had too much energy sometimes.
When we pulled up to Kim's house, she dragged me upstairs and straight into her bedroom. She started ripping through her dresser throwing clothes everywhere.
"Ah-hah… here you go." She said handing me two scraps of material.
"I cant wear this Kim." I may have let Paul see my scars, and I know the other guys will see them in his mind when he phases, that doesn't mean that I'm willing to walk around with them on display. "Do you have a one piece?" I asked.
She ran into her closest and came out a few minutes later. Throwing me another piece of material.
"That's better." I said holding it up to myself. It was a black one piece, that would tie around my neck, and leave my entire back exposed. I wasn't worried about showing off my tattoo anymore.
She handed me a short pair of jean cut offs to wear over the bathing suit and pushed me into the bathroom to get changed. Changing quickly and throwing my hair up into a high messy bun, I chanced a look at myself in the mirror. I looked well…good. I think in all reality the way Paul treated me last night, boosted my confidence. Turning and walking out of the bathroom I was met with an already dressed Kim.
"Oh my god.. I didn't know you had a tattoo." She said, yanking my arm to turn me around.
"Yeah.. I do…but lets get going." I wanted to go before I chickened out.
Walking back down her stairs I noticed a guitar case sitting in the corner by the front door.
"Is that Jared's?" I asked
"Yeah."
"Can we bring it with us, I want to hear him play this one song he wrote. He played it for me a few weeks ago."
"Yeah sure…" She walked over, picked it up, and grabbed my hand, dragging me back through the front door to the car.
When we made it to the beach, I noticed a few of the younger boys were missing.
"Where's, Seth, Collin and Brady?" I asked, walking up to Jake.
"Up there." He said pointing to one of the lower cliffs.
"What the hell are they doing up there?"
"Watch."
So I did. I watched Seth walk back away from the edge, and then sprint right off the side. Collin and Brady followed shortly after. Screaming all the way down.
"What's that like?" I asked, still watching as the boys swam to the shore.
"It's a total rush."
"I want to try it."
"Are you sure." Jake asked, turning to look at me.
"Yeah…I'm sure."
"Well come on then." Jake said, grabbing my hand, pulling me behind him.
When we made it to the cliff, I walked over to the edge and gazed over. The water was a little choppy, the waves were crashing against the rocks.
"Your going to chicken out." I heard Jake say from behind me. "The longer you stand there looking over the edge, the harder it's going to be to leap from it."
I stood there for a few more seconds, then turned around and walked back to where Jake was standing. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. Don't chicken out now Bella, I said to myself over and over again. I opened my eyes again, and turned to Jake.
"Jump with me."
"You sure you want to do this Bells?"
"I'm sure." I said grabbing his hand.
"Okay…. Ready…..set…..go." And we both ran together hand in hand off the edge.
The wind rushing past, made me feel as if I was flying. My heart was racing. I never let go of Jake's hand, and when we hit the icy water, I momentarily lost my lost my breath. Breaking through the surface of the water I felt….liberated.
"That was awesome." I said. "Does it feel like that every time.?"
"Yeah. It gets easier to jump every time, but the feeling of falling never changes. Why…want to do it again?" He asked smiling.
"Maybe later, but right now I'm starving and I know Emily brought something to eat." I said as I began swimming back to shore.
When I finally climbed out of the water, Kim ran to me with a towel in one hand and a plate of food in the other. I found a small piece of driftwood off to the side, sitting down I began to eat the potato salad and cheeseburger that Emily made.
"When did you get the tattoo… its fucking hot."
"Ugh…shouldn't you be off playing with your stick somewhere?" I said to Quil, chuckling.
"I would, but I didn't bring it with me." He said sitting down beside me on the sand. "How are you doing Belly?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" I said noticing that he had a serious expression on his face, which I've only seen maybe three times since I've known him.
"I saw the conversation you had that night with Paul when he phased a few weeks ago. I heard what James did to you. And I just wanted to let you know Bella, that I've always got your back. I'll never let anyone hurt you like that again."
The tears started pooling in my eyes, but I wouldn't allow them to fall this time. I'm done crying about what happened. I left all that on the cliff when I jumped. Standing quickly I moved over to where he was sitting and climbed into his lap.
"You know I love you Quil… right?" I said into his shoulder.
"Yeah… I love you to Belly… Now enough of this mushy shit." He stood up quickly, with me still in his arms.
"What are you doing?" I asked as he started walking to the water. "Quil?" I asked again, and he just laughed.
He started walking further out, and stopped when he was about knee deep, and threw me in.
"Why the hell did you do that?" I asked spitting and sputtering, but laughing all the same.
"To get you laughing." He said, then turned and walked away.
"Ass." I yelled as his retreating form.
"Yeah but you still love me."
I chuckled, then turned and saw Jared sitting on a rock playing with his guitar. Moving towards him, I sat in the sand and listened.
"Jared, do you remember that first song you played for me?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Would you mind playing it again?"
He looked at me for a second, and then started strumming the guitar. A few weeks ago, I started writing something, that would be perfect for this, but I didn't want to tell any of the guys. When I was ready to reveal it, I wanted it to be a surprise. Sitting back I closed my eyes and listened. Humming along with it. It was soft…light…perfect. When I opened my eyes, I looked up at him and smiled.
"That one's my favorite…"
"Well I'm glad you like it." He said with a beaming smile. And he started strumming again. This time something I'd never heard before.
A few minutes later, I felt someone come up and sit behind me. Paul. I leaned back into his hard chest and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Already done?" I asked.
"Yeah. How are you today?"
"Well other than waking up in an empty bed, I'm doing pretty good." I said snuggling deeper into him.
"Hopefully you wont have to do that much longer." He said lightly nipping my ear. Sending chills down my spine. "Are you cold?".
"Yeah a little…maybe we should head back to your place." I said smiling.
"Okay… lets go."
He stood and helped me to my feet, and after a round of goodbyes we started walking back to his place.
When we walked through the door he quickly closed it then spun me around pressing my back against it. He started kissing my neck right under my ear sending flames to my already heated center.
Then I heard my phone ring. Fuck.
"You better get that." He said pulling away from me.
"Yeah." I whispered.
Walking towards the living room, I picked up the phone that I accidentally left on the table when I left earlier. Looking at the display screen, my heart started pounding. Snapping it open i brought it to my ear.
"What's going on Alice." I said looking over to Paul. I knew he could hear what was said.
"I saw him Bella. He's been really sloppy lately."
"How long Alice."
"Two days, in the clearing they found Laurent in. He'll be there with Irina. Just be careful."
"Thanks Alice. For everything."
"Take care Bella. I'll call if anything changes."
The line went dead, and I turned to look at Paul.
Here we go....
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