Chapter 7: Phone Home
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
There was barking in the front yard before the knock came at the door. Frank stood there with his head hanging, the two leashes in his hands. Derek, on the other hand, held his little brother under control with a firm grip on his shoulder. Ben and Geri wagged their tails obviously happy, in direct contrast to Frank's glum expression.
Giving him a little nudge with the heel of his hand to encourage him, Derek offered, "Go on." He met Bella's amused eyes. "Frank, here, has something to say to you."
Never looking up at her, he mumbled, "Yeah, sorry . . ."
"For . . .?"
Frank scuffed a shoe on the cement doorstep. "For saying you weren't pretty."
"And . . ."
"And for making you sit on the back seat."
"And . . ."
Glancing at his big brother with obvious resentment, he continued. "And for dumping my soda on you. But that was an accident. I swear I didn't do that on purpose. Honest!"
"And . . ."
Sighing loudly, he said, "And for making you get all scared and stuff when you couldn't find me."
"Now, shake her hand, squirt."
He glared at Derek once again with a grimace on his face. "Do I have to?"
Bella had pity on the poor humiliated boy. "No, you don't have to."
Interrupting, Derek asserted, "Yes, he does have to."
"Can I leave finally if I do?"
Bella bent down to his eye level. "Unless you'd like to come in a minute and have a couple of cookies. I baked them last night."
"That depends," he replied with his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What kind of cookies?"
"Chocolate macaroon."
Frank handed the two leashes to Derek and shook her hand. He followed her into the house, leaving his big brother on the doorstep, with his mouth open, and his hands full of leather strips.
When he returned to pick up the dogs, he turned to Bella and said, "You know, you're not too bad—for a girl."
Derek watched as Frank sauntered off, still nibbling on a cookie, with Ben and Geri leading the way. Laughing, he suggested, "Hey, if I spill a soda on you, do I get a chocolate macaroon too?"
"No, but you might get slapped. Now let's get to running."
On their return to the house, Derek reminded Bells. "Don't forget; I promised to take you out to dinner tonight. It's a fancy place, so you should probably wear a dress.
"Okay, so—I'll see you tonight then. I'll pick you up at six." He backed up slowly, and somehow tripped, sending him sprawling onto the lawn on his rear end.
He looked up at her sheepishly, then grinned. "Yeah, I've definitely been spending too much time with you."
Bella nodded, laughing. "It's contagious."
Renee, still in a bad mood, came to the door to see what all the laughter was about. "What in the world are you doing, sitting on the lawn?"
Derek leaned back on his elbows. "Hey, hi there, Mrs. D." He waved at her from his spot on the ground. "I guess I've gotten a bit clumsy over the past few days."
"My god, it's contagious!" she exclaimed as she hurried back inside.
"D'arvit, she's still mad isn't she?"
Tilting her head to one side, Bella asked, "How did you know?"
"Maybe I shouldn't tell you, but—what the hell— I'm the reason. I told her to mind her own business and stay out of your life. Well, maybe not in those exact words, but you get the idea."
"Holy cow, Derek. I wouldn't have the guts to say that to her."
He stood up, dusting off his pants. "She needed someone to tell her, and now you're off the hook. I did it for you."
"Thanks. You know you really are a good friend."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Do I get a chocolate macaroon, now?"
Renee seemed a little less aggravated when Bella told her she was going out to dinner that night.
"Sweetie," she said, as she led her daughter into the kitchen, "I've seen your clothes. You can't wear that dress tonight. You need something more formal." Something that will catch his eye.
Bella sat down at the table. "Mom, I don't want to buy a dress that I'll be wearing only once. Besides, I can't afford to be wasting money."
Standing with one arm leaning on the back of the chair, Renee wrinkled her brow in concentration. Wait—I've got it. You go ahead and eat some breakfast, I won't be gone long."
The pancakes were slightly overcooked, but at least it wasn't lumpy oatmeal. By the time she finished, Renee was back with two beautiful dresses draped over her arm.
Bella stood up, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Where did you dig those up?"
"These are borrowed from Derek's mother. She's just as thin as you are. You can't believe the amount of gorgeous clothes that woman owns. Anyway, she was more than happy to lend them to you. So, which one?"
Was she crazy? "I can't wear one of those. Isn't Derek going to notice that they belong to his mother?"
"Phht! You must be kidding. No son notices what his mother is wearing. Anyway, he won't even remember who his mother is when he sees you, let alone remember seeing her in these."
Renee held up the two dresses. One was a bright yellow satin with a flared skirt. Bella wouldn't be caught dead in it. She'd look like a canary. The other was a sheath of black lace, reminiscent of the one worn by Julie Roberts in Pretty Woman. It was no contest, and her scheming mother knew it.
The doorbell rang at 6:15 as promised. Derek was there at her doorstep, looking sharp in his black suit and tie. He was holding a box containing an orchid corsage.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw her. He could barely breathe. She didn't want to embarrass him, so she had Renee put her hair up, and even applied a little makeup. It certainly did the trick.
Bella invited him inside and he stood there like an idiot with his mouth open. All he could utter was, "Wow!"
Renee helped Bella with the corsage, and they were off. On the way to the car, Bella couldn't help herself. "I have a confession to make."
Derek scratched the back of his head nervously. "Yeah, I know. Anyone who could look that beautiful should be arrested. I mean it . . . it should be illegal. How am I supposed to drive safely? I won't be able to keep my eyes on the road. I'll be driving under the influence—of you."
A wave of scarlet covered her face. "Seriously—my mom borrowed this dress. It belongs to your mother."
Grinning from ear to ear, he commented, "My mother never looked like that!"
To say the restaurant was a bit fancy would be a gross understatement. Bella felt awkward and was a little intimidated by the prices on the menu. Derek chastised her.
"Don't look at the prices, Swan. You deserve it after what Frank and I put you through. Besides, it's my pleasure." Why, oh why do you have to live on the other side of the country? Jacob, I envy you."
Dinner went well. By that, Bella meant she was grateful that she didn't spill anything on the borrowed garment.
Derek talked about his family and the antics of his little brother. Bella described the state of Washington, and living with a police chief for a father. It was a good night, but Bella was anxious to get home so she could call Jacob. Derek never wanted it to end. He could stare at her all night. Sigh . . .
He was quiet on the drive back to Jacksonville. He promised himself not to entertain thoughts about a relationship with Bella, but it was sooo hard. What was he going to do when she returned to Forks? His heart was already dreading it.
Taking her hand, he kissed it as he dropped her off at her door. With a heaviness in his chest, he turned and walked to his car. Bella waved as he drove away.
Jacob sat on a kitchen chair pushed close to wall, waiting for the phone to ring. Yeah, he was that anxious. It had only been a week. What was he gonna be like five weeks from now? The ringer barely went off, when he grabbed the handle from its cradle and nearly dropped it on the floor in his haste.
"Jacob . . ." Her sweet voice was music to his ears. "I miss you. How's everything in La Push?"
"Jeez, Bells, never mind that. Let's get to the important stuff, like—do you still love me?"
"What a silly question. Of course I still love you. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, I read your letter, and you mentioned this guy you met." Jacob cringed at his admission that he was jealous. That was the one thing he wanted to avoid and here he was sailing right into it, head on. His heart definitely overrode anything his mind had planned, and his mouth joined right in.
There was the sound of laughter coming from the other end. He couldn't believe it; she was laughing at him.
"Jacob Black—you're jealous. I barely know the guy; you don't need to be jealous of him."
"Why the hell not? Is he an ugly toad?"
More laughter. "No, actually he's quite good looking. But he's not you. You have nothing to worry about in that respect. I love you, Jake. I'll always love you."
"Well, that's a relief. But god, Bells, I'm so lonely. My arms are empty and my lips are unoccupied. I'm goin' stir crazy. I can't even stand being in the Taj. It's just not the same without you. Quil and Embry have been here practically every day, and I'm even drivin' them nuts!"
"Speaking of Quil and Embry—and the rest of the pack. Have they uncovered our little secret, yet."
Jacob was silent for a moment. What was he getting so embarrassed for? After all she was there in person when things got outa hand. And he was hoping that things would get outa hand a lot when they got back together.
"Uh, sorry—hell, I couldn't help it. That's all I think about. Damn, girl, when you get back, I'm gonna keep you so busy. And this time I went out and bought a couple packs of . . . well . . . you know."
Bella's next quip made him happy. "Lookin' forward to it, Black."
"Yeah?"
"C'mon, Jake do you suppose you're the only one who thinks about it?"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Geesh, I'm only human. I do have hormones you know."
"You proved that on several occasions, and one in particular, if you get my drift."
She hesitated. She didn't want to say it , but the next words out of her mouth were, "I better go, Jake. It's getting late."
He'd been dreading those very words. It put a pall over the whole conversation. He didn't want her to go, even though it was inevitable.
"Wait, Bells—don't go yet. Tell me that you love me one more time." His lonely heart was aching already.
Oh my gosh. His pain was so palpable. It was all she could do to soothe it from so far away. "Jake, how can I make you understand; I can't live without you. You're the sun on my face and the air that I breathe. I could never love anyone the way I love you. I can't wait to come home, so I can show you how much you mean to me. I love you, Jake—I love you."
A sigh escaped his lips. "Thank you . . . I mean, you know, for choosing me. God, I love you so much it hurts. Please don't break my heart. I'd die without your love."
"I've gotta go," she whispered.
"Bye, Bells," he choked out.
"Bye, Jake."
Jacob put the phone back on its cradle and trudged off to bed. Damn, five more miserable weeks. How would he survive it?