How To Live With Werewolves

Rule Number Twenty;

Cuddling is alright. Just, you know, mind the teeth. And revisit Rule Number Eight. So maybe no.

Last Time;

"Oh my God, we look like we've been nose diving in a crack pile," Quil gasps.

"Dude, doesn't flour make your hair die or something?" Seth asks.

~!~

And then the kitchen was flooding.

"Holy sugar cubes!" I crowed.

"Do something!" Quil shouted.

"That's a lot of water," Seth blinked blearily.

~!~

Sam grabbed me by the shoulders.

"Bella, breathe."

I did.

"This may seem like a lot, but it's nothing compared to what you went through when the Cullens were here before. I was the first wolf to phase and I knew, I should have protected you, not just my own people, but I didn't. If I had stepped in, maybe I could have prevented what happened..."

~!~

"Sam," I called when I reached the front door, keys in hand and wearing a favourite hoodie.

"Thanks. For... this, and everything else."

Of course, it took me a few minutes to realise while driving I still had flour in my hair.

Okay, so... I had a couple of hours to kill with flour in my hair. No biggie. I pulled the hoodie up and then thought about what Quil had said—did flour kill hair? I wasn't going to take the risk. It was warm out, for once, and the truck was nice and humid when I got in it and as I pulled out of the driveway, I had few options to consider. It was warm, but I couldn't just go for a dip in the ocean. And I wasn't about to go asking Jake to use his shower. And then I had some really detailed thoughts about said shower. And Jacob.

And then I kind of just smacked my forehead against the steering wheel—not too smart, considering I'd fainted earlier. So, it left me with two choices, really.

I called Angela.

"I know this is going to sound weird and all..." I started, wincing. "But can I borrow your shower? And uh, maybe a shirt?"

There was a long pause. Then she laughed.

"Not the weirdest favour, Jess used to ask all the time. Come on over."

And ten minutes later, my clothes were in her washing machine and I was wearing a pair of her track pants and a rose coloured singlet. After some prompting, I told her the mornings events –minus Seth in my bed—and she outright laughed.

"He broke your tap?"

"With his head," I agreed as she set a mug of warm tea in front of me.

"And they're redoing your kitchen?"

"And laundry."

"Damn. Where do you even find these people?" she giggled into her own cup.

I shrugged.

"I.. I don't know. But I'm glad I have them."

Somehow, oddly enough, we began to talk about relationships. We didn't breach Edward territory, but as she went on about Ben and how they'd been fighting lately, it dawned on me that I wasn't the only person to get hurt by love. I was horrified as Angela swore me to secrecy and told me, in detail, how Ben had kept pressuring her for... sex.

"Holy crow. You're kidding. Ben?" I asked, not quiet believing.

"Well, yeah..." she rubbed her thumb over the warm mug, eyes down and cheeks pink.

"Did you... you know?"

'Nice, Bella. Real smooth...'

She didn't answer, but her eyes gave her away. I sat there, mouth agape, as she went on more quietly how she felt after, and how they were now fighting and that she was worried he'd leave her. They'd already applied for different colleges, but she couldn't get over how final it all was.

"Sometimes," she admitted with a long sigh "I miss him. But then most of the time I'm sitting here thinking 'why did I do it?' I mean, it wasn't bad or anything, but I kind of wished I'd waited."

"Was it that bad?" I winced, afraid of the answer.

"Yes and no." she was blushing more than I was. Before the silence lingered too long, she went to the kitchen and made herself another cup of tea before leaning against the doorway and rubbing her hands together nervously."Well... it's... it's not like in the movies. It's messy. And confusing. And it hurt. And none of my mom's magazines helped me understand any of it, but then.. it felt nice, you know?"

My brain couldn't quiet comprehend it. And we were both in states of embarrassed.

"But then he keeps asking if we can do it again and I just... I don't know. I feel like if he really loved me he wouldn't keep asking."

"Of course he wouldn't," I say, suddenly feeling angry at Ben. I could never, in my mind, ever imagine Jacob pressuring me into anything. And the fact he'd done this to Angela, sweet Angela, just made me more mad.

A tiny part of me remembered a girl pressuring a marble statue into kissing and slight touches. Angela missed the small shudder that passed over me.

I wanted to protect her then, to make up for everything.

"He'd wait for you if he loved you. And if he makes you feel like you have to, you really shouldn't stay with him."

She met my eyes and I noticed, with both horror and sympathy that she was crying. I was never really any good at comfort with anyone besides my mom, but in that moment I was the best friend she needed and I wrapped my arms around her.

It was awkward at first because my hair was obviously getting in her face and hers was in mine, but we ended up laughing about it and it was then I decided I'd be there for Angela, just like she'd been there for me, despite me blatantly ignoring her. I'd cut myself off from everyone and in doing so, I'd lost sight of who was really there.

I felt like I should have apologised, but as we drank tea and spoke a little more about college applications it dawned on me—again-that I hadn't applied anywhere.

When I told Angela this, she went wide eyed and offered to help me look as she dug around for her laptop.

"Where do you want to apply?" she typed quickly, fingers flying across the keys. I shrugged a shoulder lamely. "Close to home?"

"Hmmm... you could apply at U-Dub. Or take a gap year."

As we explored my options, it dawned on me yet again how far I'd fallen... I'd never really dreamt big when I was younger but all the possibilities that had been in my mind were suddenly gone. I was left with a few things, and really, I couldn't blame anyone but myself. But then Angela made a noise of interest and turned.

"You could always speak to Mrs. Kranz. She can help you out, too, if you want to catch up on some stuff. She offered summer lessons, I think..."

From there, a plan formed. When classes returned, I would catch up on most of the work I could, get my grades back up. Meanwhile, apply anywhere and everywhere and hope I heard back. All these doors I'd unknowingly closed on myself started to open.

I changed in her small bathroom as she spoke to me through the door about catching up during the week. My reflection showed the smile on my face. I handed her back her clothes, in the process of thanking her when she shrugged it off. And not so discreetly put a small packet in my hand. It was a condom. I don't know which of us was redder as I shoved it in my pocket.

On the way out Angela hugged me by the door. It was once again awkard, my hair in her face and hers in mine, but we both smiled and said our goodbyes.

"Don't forget the lube!" she called loudly as I got in the truck. I almost fell over and could hear her laughing.

Charlie, when he found out about the house was not impressed but perked marginally when he heard about the repairs. And when he found out that it was all on the house became suspicious.

"Now I know they're good guys, but... free? There's something wrong here."

I stared out the window, parked on the beach under the shade of trees and sighed.

"I know. I offered to pay but Sam wouldn't have any of it. I guess we could do something?"

Charlie made a thoughtful noise on the other end.

"We'll see. Anyway, I gotta go back in, my breaks almost over. See you at Billy's later on, kiddo."

"Bye dad."

I hung up and leaned back against the worn leather and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel.

Being an imprint was still a new feeling, despite everything. It still startled me when I felt pangs, or twinges in my chest, all from missing Jacob. Absent-mindedly I rubbed at a spot along my collarbone and continued to daydream.

Jacob...

As soon as I thought about him, I felt a pulse echo my own and the comfort it gave me was instant.

To think, at one point, I had convinced myself I would never love again, that the gaping hole in my chest would never be filled. I had to laugh. And all of the events in the past couple of days.

Who could say I had a boring life?

As the sun started to rise higher in the sky, I knew then that it would, like Angela said, be alright. Oh, boy, was I having really deep thoughts. Starting up the truck I reversed out and was headed to Jacobs when a flash of something caught my eye. I stopped and checked the rear-view mirror.

Standing in the small car park, ears flickering this way and that, was Leah.

Or, at least I thought it was. All the wolves had varying forms and colours, certain things that made them different. Leah and Seth, though different in shape and colour, had the same dark eyes. Those dark eyes stared for a moment longer.

I turned off the engine, and stepped out the truck. At first, she didn't acknowledge me, just continued to stare and her ears flickered. And then she moved, stepping slowly and surely toward me. She stopped not a foot from where I was.

I had to remind myself, then, that she was a wolf. Inside that jaw of hers were teeth that could pierce immortal flesh and rip into said flesh like butter. Those legs carried her faster than I could blink, and her senses were all heightened to detect a threat. It looked funny, however, to see she had black fabric of some kind attached to her leg with some sort of band.

In that moment, she didn't so much make a sighing noise as a chuff. He tail dipped low and her ears perked up.

"Hey, Leah."

She twitched.

"Is everything alright?"

She chuffed again, but didn't move any closer.

And then, just like that, she phased.

I yelped, turning away as she stood there in the small car park on a deserted beach, naked.

"Oh, please," she chuffed again, human this time. "You saw my brother naked. This isn't a big deal—and I am pretty damn gorgeous."

Nonetheless, I heard the rustle of fabric and then she was standing next to me, staring at the truck. She was wearing a short black dress and it dawned on me what a good idea it was for her. Easy to cover up and all that. Still, she was pretty intimidating and I kept a few feet between us.

"Jacob can't stop thinking about you. It's driving me nuts. And thanks to him having the alpha keys, someone has to keep an eye on you. I voted Seth off the island, for obvious reasons."

She made that sigh/chuff noise again, nose wrinkling.

"You gonna talk or just stand there?" she asked after a moment.

"Uh, sure...?"

"Walk with me."

So I did. As if my week couldn't get any stranger. I had to take two extra steps to her one just to keep up, only she slowed after a while, realising I was lagging behind.

"I don't want you getting any ideas, we're not friends," she started, pulling a rumpled smoke from her dress pocket. She looked to me for a lighter, but I came up empty handed. She sighed, pocketing her smoke again.

"I just need to get this shit off my chest before I go thinking about it. I can only think of Journey lyrics for so long..." I listened, quietly—well, not so quietly, compared to her lithe steps—and she kept going without another glance.

"Emily asked me to be godmother."

I felt my eyes widen and Leah noticed my expression with a snort.

"Yeah. That's what I thought. We've only just started talking again, but, you know, hormones and all that crazy stuff. I guess it makes sense to them—I'll be fucked if I can figure it out. I mean, Jesus, me? Really? Don't get me wrong, so fucking over Sam and all... I don't know. It just feels weird."

I didn't talk while she went on ahead, making sure to keep close. She stopped when we hit the water and stared out to the horizon.

"I don't know. I just don't know. I mean, sure, it's a great thing and my mom's fucking ecstatic we're getting along again and all this other shit. It's fine. And I might be lying if I said I haven't thought about it. I've always wanted kids and... well, I got checked over by a doctor and he said my eggs are pretty fucked now anyway. It could be from the phasing or something but who knows? And it's not like Emily and Sam are gonna end up six feet because you know, werewolf, but I guess hormones over there figured it'd be a good idea. After the fight and him getting hurt, maybe. Fuck me. You sure you don't have a lighter?"

I shook my head.

"Shit. Like I said before though, we're not friends. And if you tell anyone about this I'll cut you."

I waited. And waited some more. Definitely a strange week.

"Thanks. For letting me talk shit. But I've got something to ask and it's gonna sound stupid as fuck but... do you think I'd be a good mom?"

If anyone had said we'd have this conversation, I would have laughed. Or cried. But as I stood, looking at Leah, really looking, I came up with an honest answer.

"Yeah. I mean, you're a bit on the mean side," when she bristled I held up my hands. "but it's a good thing. Parent's have to be tough. Maybe cut back on the swearing though."

She nodded, a quick jerk of her head.

"Alright. Thanks. Seriously, though, mention this to anyone—

"And you'll cut me. I know."

She nodded. That seemed to be the cue for her to leave and I turned just as she stripped off her dress and phased. She followed me to the truck and even chuffed as I waved when I drove away.

This week. My life. Just... what.

Charlie was already at the Blacks house by dinner time. I pulled into the driveway and parked behind the cruiser and cut the engine. When Jacob rushed out front, smiling, I felt my heart skip a beat or two. His eyes, which had always been dark, were focussed solely on me. As if I was the only thing that existed. The feeling was mutual. Everything faded as I took in his features, his skin, even his hair—which had started to grow long again. He wore a black shirt and the usual cut-offs and he was walking toward me, barefoot.

He was perfect.

"Bells." His voice when he said my name just now sent shivers up my spine. I had a moment to think that we were reunited after a long holiday—but it'd only been a day, barely. Even then it felt like it had been too long.

I had barely put my feet on the ground and closed the door before he lifted me into his arms and hugged me tight and the little pangs in my chest had gone. I could feel him breathing me in and I closed my eyes, doing the same to him.

"You smell different," he pulled back and I told him how the day had gone, without the Leah side to it. He laughed, smile reaching his eyes and I couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Only you, Bells," he said softly as we pulled away. He took my hand, leading me inside and I flushed with both pride and little embarrassment when Charlie and Billy smiled at one another across the table.

"Come on, love birds, dig in."

As Charlie recounted his work day, Jacob kept brushing his hand over my thigh under the table. I glared, but he had the ultimate poker face, even nodding along with Billy at my fathers day and smiling. Even though I wanted him to stop it, I kind of didn't. Which made no sense. Or a lot.

I pinched his leg. Hard. He didn't even flinch.

Why, the nerve...

"Cut it out," I hissed.

"What?" he asked innocently.

I flicked a slice of pepperoni at him—Charlie and Billy were watching us now, smiling even wider than before.

"Ah, young love."

"If they kiss I'm going to puke," Billy said and I couldn't tell if he was joking or not.

Face warm, I ducked my head and pretended to exam the slices of pizza as if they held all life's answers.

After dinner we all moved to the living room. I sat on the couch and Jake sat between my knees. Charlie coughed and Billy chuckled, but other than that we just watched a baseball game. I had no idea what the point of the game was and had no real interest in it, but partway through trying I noticed I had my fingers in Jacobs hair, idly playing with the strands and he was asleep. Billy was halfway to napping. Charlie was still watching the game.

And then I was falling asleep, hand still in his hair. It might have been the contact.

It might have been the game.

I woke to a warm hand on my shoulder and a deep voice saying my name.

"Bella. Bells, honey, wake up." I blinked blearily.

"Hm?" I sat up and Jacob smiled, pushing my hair out of my face.

"Come on. We're going to bed."

That woke me up.

"What? But my dad and your dad—

"Are passed out." he nodded to Charlie who'd fallen asleep on the sofa, legs hanging over the edge and snoring.

"Billy's in bed and he said it's fine. No funny stuff, I promised. And if I break that promise he may or may not have threatened me bodily harm... Come on, honey," and it was all too easy for him to pull me to my feet. I stumbled with him to his bedroom and yawned widely as he made the bed. He took his shirt off and sat down, holding out a hand. I was dazed, staring at him and thinking sort of beautiful? He's perfect. How was he ever sort of?

I gave him a look, half-asleep and he grinned.

"No funny stuff. I wont bite. Come on."

I went to him and let him pull me to the bed, and I curled up against his chest. Yawning again, I felt instantly at home, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. His arms were wrapped around me loosely and his chin rested atop my head. Our legs were tangled.

It felt like home.

"Hm?" he asked softly.

Oh. I must have said it out loud...

"Feels like home."

I could hear his smile when he spoke.

"Yeah," he whispered, kissing my hair. "It does."

Within moments, I was asleep again.

A/N: Can I not? I would apologise for this but I'm surprised it even happened.

So. I'm doing a hospitality course. Searching for a job. This town is small and I'm pretty sure if I threw a rock across it, it'd probably hit the other side without a hitch. But I haven't forgotten you all or this story.

Speaking of a story! A couple of weeks ago we went over to the landlords house for a cup of coffee and whatnot, you know, and she offered to give my mum a bag of books she didn't want—she explained them as 'too scary' and 'vampire books'. While sitting in her pristine kitchen and wondering if I could sneak away for a smoke, she goes on to tell me that she got part way through one and had to stop reading because it was really scary and would give her nightmares. My mum, knowing what a bookworm I am and thinking they were new, nudged me.

"Sure," I found myself saying. "I don't mind taking them off you."

I couldn't help but think "Ha! Can't be twilight because it's not that scary." and "maybe she got True Blood or something..."

We got home and I'd forgotten all about the bag. While cleaning for an inspection a couple of days ago, however, I found a little book bag in my cupboard and thought "Oh, dude, sweet, new books."

It was the fucking Twilight saga.

I've tried reading them all, again, but I can't honestly do it.

So it's just sitting there, in a bag, in the corner of my room JUST LIKE IT SHOULD, YOU BAD TERRIBLE BOOKS! Ahem. Anyway. I know I've said it a lot, but I am really sorry this all turned out the way it has. I did have a plan for this! (once!) but I'm wrapping it up soon. Don't fret, my pets, the lemons and happy endings you were all promised is coming!

As for the banner! With all your names. So many names...

I have it mapped out. Now just to fit all the names on it. I may also need to write down a list. I love lists.

Anyway! I hope you liked this, if not, please tell me in great detail through a post-it note and stick that thing on my forehead (if you can find me, muahahaha!)

Love, peace, chicken grease!

[Also, who wants another peek at what the Cullens are doing? I know I put them in a corner like the Twilight saga, but just give me a review and let me know; yay or nay?]