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6
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It's man to man
Toe to toe
You know we need to go
We're all here for a good time
But don't start no trouble
'Cause it won't be the first time
I put a scar on my knuckles
-Brantley Gilbert, Take It Outside
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Bella grumbled and reached for her phone. The ringing brought thoughts to the forefront of her brain about ways the shrill contraption would meet its demise. With another huff, the alarm was shut off and her eyes closed before she was once again cocooned in the warmth of her covers.
The next time she woke up, it was to the snickers and whispers of whoever was brave enough to invade her personal space. She cracked an eye open to glare, only to sit up in shock. It wasn't just one or two people like she thought originally. That she could have handled. Instead, there were six guys in her room- three of which happened to be her best friends.
"Here." Embry said shoving a cup of coffee into her hands as he sat next to her by the head of her bed.
Bella inhaled and sighed in delight. "French vanilla with hazelnut creamer… mmm." An appreciative groan left her lips after she took a sip, causing one of the occupants in the room to shift his stance. "God… you're so amazing!"
"It's just coffee, Bells." Quil teased.
Bella glared. "You do want kids right?"
"Damn woman! What's got you so cranky?" Jacob wondered.
She only rolled her eyes and cuddled up to Embry. "Shut it." Jared's eyebrows furrowed in confusion before he saw Quil and Jacob roll their eyes.
"Fluff bunny." Quil teased. Embry glared.
Bella shook her head. "Do you want me to take your collar and leash out, little puppy?" She cooed.
"You didn't destroy it like I asked you?!" He whined, his face paling. Jacob only chuckled.
Paul huffed. "Can the rest of the room play catch up please?"
"No!" Quil snapped.
Bella merely smirked. "An ex of Quil's tried to get him into bondage. Apparently she liked that kind of thing. I spared the leash and collar she gave him from the incinerator. The funny thing is, she was sweet and quiet during school… wore her skirts the proper length... always had her shirts all the way buttoned up… always had her hair, nails and makeup neat... just overall put together. Outside of school she was a completely different person."
Sam grinned. "It's always the quiet ones…" He mused, finally speaking.
"Is that right?" Bella mused with an arched eyebrow before finally climbing from underneath the covers.
Sam gulped when he saw what she had worn to sleep. He wondered if she could even consider her outfit suitable pajamas. Her sleep shorts stopped just below the curve of her rounded bubble butt. Her sleep top showed off an inch of light tanned skin along her waist and was cut low enough that he had to advert his eyes lest he see something to make him embarrass himself.
Satisfied with his reaction, Bella gathered her clothes and flounced out of the room. Jacob, Quil and Embry let out barks of laughter after she left while Sam stood speechless. Jared and Paul only shook their heads. There was no sexual tension between the two. None at all.
"Damn she's grown." Sam whined.
Jacob snorted. "That was done on purpose, my friends."
Jared was floored. "She didn't learn that in Florida did she?"
"From her mom?" Quil checked.
"Isn't that where she lives now?" Paul asked.
"Who.. Renee? Hell no! Her mom spent her time on the beach when Bella went to visit during summer breaks. It's one of the reasons Bella doesn't like it so much anymore." Jacob shrugged.
"Too much sand." Embry and Quil intoned together.
Paul only shook his head. "Someone taught her that. There's no way Charlie would teach his daughter how to flirt like that. He'd rather be cleanin' a gun first." He mused.
Embry shrugged. "Jessica or Angela maybe… possibly Kim." He said.
Jared forgot sometimes that Kim and Bella talked every once in a while. They had been good friends before she was placed into private school- at the expense of her step father's paychecks. He shook his head. "Still not fair, huh Sam?"
"Sam?" Embry rolled his eyes. His cousin stood staring at the door way lost inside his head.
"Sam!" Paul smirked when he jumped.
"What?" Sam huffed, annoyance dancing in his eyes.
Bella chose that moment to come back into her room. Sam's jaw closed with an audible snap. Her jeans clung to her every curve and enhanced the perfect bubble butt she once again decided to show off to everyone. Her shirt clung like a second skin and was low cut but still somehow tasteful. Sam only shook his head and released a quiet groan of frustration. It would be a long day.
"So should we do today?" Bella wondered as she brushed her hair.
Embry arched an eyebrow. "Did you forget it's Saturday?"
"Huh?"
Jacob grinned. "Bonfire, Bells. Bonfire night."
"Oh… yeah… I guess I did kind of forget!" She grinned.
"We thought you were gonna sleep right through till tomorrow morning." Quil teased.
She rolled her eyes. "I was just tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. The whole Edward thing had my mind working overtime."
"You gonna break up with him?" Jacob asked with a hopeful tone.
Bella sighed. "Not sure."
"Bells!" Embry whined.
Sam had to agree with his cousin. Edward didn't deserve her.
"Lets just see what happens? Ok? I still love him you guys… even if he is an asshat sometimes." Bella sighed. "Now can we not talk about him anymore. I wanna go out for a while and have fun!"
"You're the boss, boss." Quil grinned.
"Ok puppy." She smirked.
Quil only sighed. "You'll never let me live that one down, will you?" He huffed.
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Bella couldn't believe it. The nerve of him. She only shook her head and sighed. As long as he stayed where he was, she'd have no reason to talk to him. None of her friends had seen Edward yet. He had technically crashed the party- something none of her friends would be happy about if they saw him there. Bella only shook her head again as Edward kissed the girls sitting in his lap, alternating from one to the other.
She knew now, judging by the way he kept looking her way that Edward did it on purpose. He had been trying to get a rise out of her. This would end one of two ways: she'd get up and leave, or she'd go confront him and end things. Leaving looked like the better option. She was a relatively private person and hated people knowing her business. She'd opt to leave and hash it out with a smaller audience in the morning. After she'd gotten her revenge anyways. She knew he was out to prove some kind of point- even if there was no point to prove.
"Sam, what's wrong?" Paul asked.
Sam shook his head. "Hold my beer." He asked.
Paul nodded and watched him walk over to sit next to Bella on the log she'd been using as a seat. He only smirked. "Some things never change." He muttered.
"What's up with Sam?" Jared asked.
"He's chasing after Bella." Paul shrugged.
Jared snorted. "You gave him vodka didn't you?"
"He needed a tiny bit of courage, that's all." Paul defended himself. "Besides, can you give me one good reason why they're not good together?"
Jared shrugged. "I didn't say a word." He mused.
Sam sighed and sat down beside Bella. "Hey loca. What's got you sitting all alone?"
"Hey Sam. I'm just thinking." She lied.
"Don't bullshit the bullshitter babe." He teased. "I've watched him since he got here. I hate seeing you like this too. And that's on him by the way." He added.
Bella smiled and wiped her eyes. "I'm just so frustrated. I mean… I love him... at least I think I still love him. Ugh... look at me... I'm crying like some sappy little girl…kind of pathetic huh?"
Sam hugged her to him. "He's an ass Bella. Plain and simple. He doesn't deserve you at all."
"Don't say that Sam. He has his good moments." She tried to tell him.
Sam didn't believe her. "Every man does. Does that mean he should get away with what he's doing to you now? No. I mean, you're still dating- technically. It says a lot for his character if he's gonna do this after just one little fight.. Besides, you can't tell me you're not plotting something for revenge. You're patient… but you're not THAT patient. I know one of your best friends, remember?" He teased.
Bella rested her head on his shoulder, secretly loving the way his shirt clung to his every muscle on his torso. She inhaled his old spice cologne and fought to keep herself from drooling. She didn't know where the feelings had come from, but she found herself wanting to explore them and even being alright with said developing feelings. "I guess you might have a point." She conceded.
Sam put his arm around her and let her scoot closer. "Might?"
Bella's next words were cut off as Sam's face whipped to the side and they were both knocked off the log they'd been using as a bench. Sam was quick to get up and help Bella to her feet, checking her over for injuries before turning to see James standing in front of him with a smirk on his lips. Edward stood smirking behind him as well. So that's how he wanted to play.
"Boy, you're fucking stupid if you didn't learn your lesson last time." Sam spat.
"Last time I didn't know how you fought. This time I know better than to let you get warmed up first. A cheap shot is still a shot. And your ass still fell." James reasoned.
Sam shook his head. "You ok Bella?" He asked running his hand down her arm.
"I'm alright. It's just a few scratches. Don't fight Sam.. y'all have drinking and I'm sure this is just what they want… it's not worth it." She tried to coax him away knowing that's what would happen anyways.
Paul and Jared pulled her away, careful of the scrapes down her arm. Sam handed her his hat. "Hold this for me?" He loved her patience- she could rival a saint- but some things just needed to be handled the old fashioned way.
Bella bit her lip and nodded. She spotted Jacob, Quil and Embry behind Paul and Jared and moved to stand next to them. She wasn't going to say anything else.
James got two more hits in before Sam landed a solid punch to his solar plexus, knocking the air from his lungs. Another punch to his jaw had him falling to the ground. Sam fought back the laughter when Edward threw a flimsy punch to his stomach. It hurt some- he wasn't a complete girl-, Edward had some muscle to him, but he lacked control. They made it too easy.
"I told you to stay. away. From my. Girlfriend!" Edward growled. "I warned you that you would regret hanging around her all the time. Bella isn't yours!"
Jared leaned over to Paul. "Is he serious right now?"
"Maybe. He acts like Sam is trying to steal Bella." Paul shrugged.
Jared snorted. "He doesn't need to steal her away. Bella started hanging out with us willingly." He mused. Paul only smirked.
Sam threw a punch to Edward's stomach, catching him in his belly. Edward gasped in pain before falling. He rose to his knees and coughed, trying to catch his breath. Sam smirked and knelt beside him close enough that he could talk without being overheard. "And I told you, fucker. Don't mess with my family. I should have included friends in that too. Fuck with Bella's emotions again and I'll end you. I swear."
Sam walked over to Bella and placed his hat on her head before taking her hand. "Come sit with us?"
Bella smiled and nodded. "Alright."
Embry shook his head and looked at Edward and James laying on the ground. He shook his head and left them where they were. After all, trash would get picked up before they left.
He watched his cousin and his best friend for the better part of an hour after the 'fight' if it could even be called one. He couldn't even call it fair- James had to get a cheap shot in just to knock Sam down and Sam took Edward out in two hits. He shook his head and sighed. Sam and Bella were in a world of their own. Where she moved, he followed. He could only hope they'd get closer. They were good together. He just had to make them see that too.