Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I just use my imagination
Thanks to my beta, Feriel_Muriel and Project Team Beta, and my 'hand holders', hotandcold and TearsofMercury
Mystery Box
By addisonJ
CHAPTER 6 : SQUARE DANCING AND KISSES
Will it taste like candy?
Will it be that sweet?
Will our hearts be racing to a heavenly beat?
Will the moment sweep me off my feet, and draw me under - under!
Will I tremble - tremble, when I beg for more?
Will it be like anything I never felt before?
Will we be down for a little more one thing I - I know for sure.
Our first kiss wont be the last
Our loves too deep to end that fast
and good things come to those who have to wait.
-Mandy Moore, First Kiss
"Molly, do you have a skirt?"
Molly stopped in her tracks. She was on her laptop at Sue's house, minding her own business when Sue asked the off-the-wall question.
"Yes, I have a skirt. No, I don't have one here. Were we going out somewhere?"
"You can borrow one of Leah's, or I'm sure Emily has an extra one. Or Kim. We're going square dancing!"
Molly blinked. "Um, okay. I had nothing planned."
"Great! You can meet more people. Jacob said that you are going to the Bradford's tomorrow and then the Coakley's; Bobbie and Ray Bradford, and Tish and Hank Coakley love to square dance. I invited the pack, too. It's about time you young ones learned how."
"Sue, I hope I don't sound rude, just terribly tactless and direct, but I did not realize Native Americans square danced."
Sue laughed. "You really ought to be more open-minded, Miss Berkeley!"
After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door and the pack and their companions all appeared. Emily had a simple denim skirt in her hands and looked rushed. She pushed the skirt into Molly's face.
"I gotta run. Sam is watching the kids and we're short staffed at the diner. Sue mentioned you might need one of these." It was then that Molly noticed that Leah, Kim and Rachel were all wearing skirts.
"Leah!" exclaimed Molly. "I had no idea you even owned a skirt!"
"Well, I did get married in a dress. Now shut your pie hole and change. We're waiting," Leah (a.k.a., Jacob's pit bull) responded.
Molly closed the bedroom door and heard the boys opening cabinets and refrigerator doors.
"Hey Quil, you're not babysitting tonight?" a male voice called out.
Laughter followed, as well as a loud cabinet door slam.
"Quil, if you're going to slam doors, do it at your own house!"
"Sorry, Sue."
"Molly, get out here before Quil destroys the furniture next!"
Molly was lucky that Emily's skirt fit. "Hold your horses, I'm coming. Try not to eat Sue out of house and home in the five minutes you're waiting."
Molly stepped out to a living room full of young Quileutes. Kim looked at Molly, and walked close to her to whisper in her ear.
"Don't you want to put some make up on? Or at least comb your hair?"
Molly frowned and patted the top of her head. "Damn, is it a mess?"
Leah scoffed. "Kim, we don't have time for that nonsense! If Molly doesn't care, we don't care. The boys outnumber the girls anyway, she'll have dancing partners whether she wants them or not, regardless if her hair is moussed. Let's go!"
Molly grabbed her purse, and fell in step with Seth and Embry. She linked arms with Seth; she wanted a private word with the young man she considered her new kid brother.
"Seth, did you ever call that girl you met last weekend? The pretty redhead?"
Even in the twilight, Molly was sure Seth was blushing. "You mean Abby?" he asked. Molly nodded.
"She was totally into you. Did you call her?" Molly guessed that Embry was probably listening as well.
Seth shyly nodded. Molly gave his arm a squeeze.
"Awesome! How's it going? Was she happy to hear from you? How many days did you wait until you called? When are you seeing her next?" Molly asked eagerly.
Near them, Embry laughed. "Molly! You're doing 20 questions! Give the kid a break!"
"Embry! If and when you get yourself a girl, I will be happy to dispense with the advice. In the meanwhile, we're having a conversation here, if you don't mind," Molly scolded him playfully.
Seth and Molly chatted all the way to the Recreation Center as Embry fell back to walk with Jacob and the rest, shaking his head.
"That girl is becoming the big sister whether you wanted one or not," Embry said to Jacob.
"I've got plenty of big sisters; I don't need any more," Jake replied, with a small smirk.
The Recreation Center was almost half full with mostly middle aged or older couples, the ladies all in skirts and the men in jeans and boots. The arrival of the pack and their partners tipped the demographics a bit, but the under 30s were still outnumbered.
The young ones tried not to giggle too much as they managed to bump into, step on, and generally make a nuisance of themselves, enjoying it all the while. Sue and Old Quil showed them how it was done, and the pack showed them how not to do it. Since there were fewer women than men (at least for the young ones), Molly ended up dancing each dance while the men took turns sitting out, or dancing with single older women. She didn't notice that somehow Jacob managed to dance with her more often than the other single women.
Jacob and Sue also made sure the Molly met more people, for which Molly was grateful. It was much easier for her to arrive at someone's house and discuss their artifacts once they met each other socially.
***
Beer always came after the dancing, and after they had all left the bar, Molly's phone started to ring. After noticing that Molly studiously ignored it, Jacob spoke.
"Molly, you're ignoring your cellphone," Jacob said.
Molly glanced at the name on her cellphone and pushed it back in her purse with a determined look.
"Another fight? He's going to be worried."
"How do you know who it is? How do you know if he'd be worried or not? And what do you care?" Molly's tone was sharper than she had expected. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm not mad at you."
Jacob chose his words carefully. "If my girlfriend was not answering her phone on a Saturday night, I'd be worried." Molly nodded. Jacob was right. She answered the phone.
"Hey, Spencer, I'm exhausted. Can we talk tomorrow?" Molly spoke into the cellphone. Jacob could not quite hear the voice on the other side, but the tone was anxious. "I know we need to talk more, but not now. I'm too tired to think. Tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow night." Molly ended the call and leaned back into the car seat. She closed her eyes; she did not want to think about Spencer at all.
Jake's hand left the gearshift and patted her left hand in a friendly way. It was meant to be reassuring, but for Molly it was electric. She was too aware of exactly where Jake's fingers touched her hand; too aware that even after his hand left hers, that there was a burning in its place. She fought the urge to rub her hands together, to attempt to bring them back to a normal temperature, but it would look too odd, so she kept as still as possible, which just increased the tension in the car.
The drive passed in slow motion, and Molly was glad when Jake finally drove up to the Clearwater home. All the lights were out; Molly had to be quiet and not wake up Sue. She was not totally surprised when, after she said a quick "bye" in the car and opened her car door, that she heard Jake open his door, evidently to walk her to the front steps.
Molly tried to ignore him as Jake reached for her wrist. "Molly?"
She stopped. She felt the electricity in the air. She looked down, thinking, how the hell did it get like this? He was standing in front of her, mere inches away. She still would not look up.
"See you at Emily's tomorrow at nine?" Jacob asked.
Molly nodded in response, but she felt Jake's hand graze her jaw line and urge her head upwards so that their eyes could meet, but she was too afraid to have their eyes meet, too afraid he would see the longing in hers.
He kept his hand there on her jaw, and Molly felt obliged to at least try to look up. Her eyes crawled slowly up to his chest, his neck, his jaw line, and his lips. She stopped at his lips. They were full in the soft moonlight.
"Molly?"
She could not believe she was doing it, but she started standing on her tiptoes and moving her lips towards his. She had to feel if they were as lush and as full as they looked. Molly was amazed to see that Jake's lips were doing the same thing, lowering down to meet hers.
Their lips met. It was a light brushing between them, like an initial experiment. Hmm, lips, soft, full. They brushed each other again, this time pressing lightly against each other, like a first kiss. It was a first kiss. Sweet, soft, gentle. Molly felt a glow from within when their lips met. It felt so right. She had not noticed that their hands were holding on to each other as she slightly swayed dreamily on her toes. He was so much taller than her. Suddenly, he released his grip on her arms and their lips separated, too swiftly.
"Sorry, I gotta stop this," Jake said in a deep voice. "I really, really want to stay, but I think I should be leaving." This time, Molly looked up into his eyes and saw lust and…guilt? She suddenly realized what she had done and felt ashamed. She had not kissed another boy since she began dating Spencer, and she had not enjoyed a kiss so much ever. This was so wrong. Her hand went to her face in shock.
"Omigosh, I am so sorry, Jake! That will never happen again!" Her emotions were in turmoil. From sweetness and lust to humiliation and guilt. What the hell just happened? She wondered. And what does Jake think of me now?
Jake laughed and gave her a bear hug. The moment was broken. He was acting as if she had stubbed her toe or lost an earring.
"Don't worry. I don't mind, but I don't think Spencer will approve. No worries. It's my fault, too. Get some rest." Jacob said. He kissed the top of her head lightly. She felt a burning in her core, wishing his lips were elsewhere on her body.
His response seemed casual but a bit forced. Molly was too mortified to think clearly. She knew she had betrayed Spencer and that she enjoyed it too much. How much longer could she hide her face from Jake's gaze? She kissed Jacob and she liked it. Too much. She had to think of an escape route.
She could feel Jacob's hand brushing the top of her head. "Molly?" he asked quizzically.
How could she face him? She wouldn't. She'd flee. The door was just over there…
Molly said "bye" quickly to Jake and ran up the stairs, opened the door, and ran inside before Jacob could utter another syllable.
Once she was safely inside, she looked out the window to see Jake standing by the door looking in her direction. Molly jumped down and hid under the windowsill so he could not see her. How old are we? Ten? She thought to herself. He then got back into his car. Molly's fingers touched her lips and she shivered.
Molly lay in Leah's old bed; she could not sleep without reliving that kiss with Jacob. Jacob! What did she do? She had to focus and not get personally involved. She had a project to do, she had Spencer, and an affair with Jacob Black would just mess everything up!
***
The next morning Molly nearly overslept because she tossed and turned all night dreaming of Jacob. Dreaming that the kiss continued, that he carried her into the bedroom and they made love all night long. Then her eyes popped open and reality appeared. She saw 8:45 on the digital clock and swore a few times as she tore through the room, and grabbed some clothes to walk to the shower. She was stopped when she flew open the bedroom door and saw Sue, who was already up sipping coffee and reading the newspaper.
Sue's face held the thoughtful expression of mothers who see their adult children acting like teenagers.
Her eyes went back to the paper. "Late night?" Sue asked. Molly grimaced in reply. "Seth's still asleep," Sue added.
"I'll be quiet. Sorry. Hope I didn't wake you when I came in last night," Molly said as she was trying to get ready.
"No, not at all." Pause. "Jacob's a good man."
Molly stopped and stared at Sue who did not raise her eyes from the paper. "Um, yeah. He's been incredibly helpful with the project. You all have been."
Sue took another sip of coffee. "He's a good man."
Molly was beginning to tire of these Yoda-like qualities of the Elders. First Billy, now Sue. "Yes, agreed. And I'm about to be late. I'm supposed to meet him in twelve-no, ten minutes! I need a shower."
She ran into the shower and let the water calm her nerves. Just act like nothing happened. He's so gorgeous, he's used to girls swooning over him. Just be calm. Think of England. Think of Queen Victoria on her wedding night—no, too gross. Dead puppies. Think dead puppies. Ugh! Buggers. Used diapers. Anything but…sigh!
Molly rushed through her morning routine: five minutes in the shower, one minute brushing her teeth, three minutes changing her clothes. Molly was out the door at 9:01am. "Tell Jacob hi for me!" Sue called out as Molly dashed outside.
Molly ran up the road to Emily's diner. Jacob was already waiting in their booth. He had his usual smile when he saw her. "Hey Molly!"
Molly scanned Jacob's face to see if there was any sign of his remembering the kiss the night before. None, she sighed happily. "Hey, Jacob. Sorry I'm late. I totally overslept," she said with false cheerfulness. She quickly grabbed a menu and stared at it as if that would cool her nerves; she did not want to meet his eyes.
"Good night's sleep then?" he asked. If Molly looked up, she would have noticed a twinkle in his eye.
"No, actually, I couldn't get to sleep until about 4am." Oops, did I say that out loud? Thought Molly. She could feel Jacob looking at her and smiling. She stayed hidden behind the menu, wishing it would magically expand so she could hide her entire body behind it.
Jake looked at the menu as well, as if he did not eat there every week for years now. "Me neither, I took a long walk along the beach after I dropped you off. Cleared my head. Then I went for a run in the woods."
"You went running in the woods at night? Isn't that dangerous? How can you see?"
Jacob laughed. "I have amazing eyesight. And I grew up here. The woods are like an extension of our house."
The waitress came by to chat (Molly noticed that everyone knew Jake). She took their order and Jacob ordered his usual five items while Molly just ordered a bagel. Afterwards, they talked about the plans for culture classes at the tribal school, the websites Molly's friends were helping develop for Bill Watson's fishing tours and the surfing business.
"It's funny, you come here for artifacts and we end up using your business skills and connections," Jacob said between bites of bacon and eggs.
"I told you I almost went the MBA route. My mom's a natural entrepreneur. She started a dot com from scratch and sold it before the bust. I should have some sort of DNA link to my Mom."
Jacob smiled, "Well, lucky for us. You know, if you didn't do the academic route, you could probably be a consultant to Native American tribes, to get them to think beyond casinos for income."
Molly thought for a moment. "Maybe…"
"I mean, how many American Indian studies majors have a natural business mind? I've heard you talk to Bill Watson about the fishing trips, and Naomi Stubbs about the basket making: find out what your strengths are, what differentiates you from the competition and exploit that. This is what differentiates you, Molly. Do any of those PhDs in your department think about the business implications of their work? Or how to use today's technologies to help the rez?"
"Jacob, you are freakily perceptive. What other skills are lurking in there?"
Jacob got a smoldering look and leaned towards Molly. Molly's eyes grew wide and she leaned as far from him into her side of the booth. Jacob suddenly leaned back and laughed, his hand dismissing her.
"Sheesh, Molly, I'm just messing with you! You're all skittish today! Let's talk about who we're visiting today."
Molly tried to steady her breathing and focus. It was going to be a very, very long project and she needed to keep her cool. And she needed to call Spencer.
***
Scene: Jake's Garage:
"Hey, Embry, what do you think about Molly?"
Jake and Embry were in their repair shop, working on a Ford Taurus. Embry took a swig of some warm soda.
"Nice, pretty, smart. Why?"
"Uh, we kind of kissed. It just kind of happened. I'm feeling out of sorts here. I haven't kissed a girl that I really like in ages," Jacob confessed. He was trying to act nonchalantly, but Embry knew otherwise.
"You kiss girls that you don't like?" Embry grinned.
Jacob scowled. Why did he have to have smartass friends?
"No, I mean, I really like Molly. As a person. Heck, if she was local, and this project was over, I'd totally be into her. I would love to have her as my girlfriend. Girlfriend? Man, I haven't had one of those in forever." Jacob ran his fingers through his hair at the thought of actually having a girlfriend. That would mean having a normal social life, which was not normal for him.
"I think Reagan was president when you last had a girlfriend," Embry joked.
A wrench came close to hitting Embry in the face, but werewolves had great reflexes.
"Reagan? Hell, Abraham Lincoln was president the last time you got laid!" Jacob responded.
"I have standards!" Embry called.
"Miss America could not reach your standards!" Jacob yelled.
"Damn straight. Hell, if you're not interested in Molly, move aside for your brother," Embry placed his hands on his chest, like a white rapper. The young men were doing an imitation of exaggerated trash talk.
"No. Way. And I did not say I wasn't interested. Hell, she has a boyfriend in Seattle. She's off the market."
"And you kissed."
"Mistake."
"Really?"
Jacob paused. Really? If it was a mistake, he would be a very poor student because he wanted to do that same mistake again. And again. And again.
****
Back in Seattle:
"Karen, I kissed him!"
Molly dumped her overnight bag on the couch and plopped down for her weekly counseling session with her roommate, her cool-as-a-cucumber roommate who did not seem surprised at all. Karen barely glanced up from the Sports section of the Sunday paper.
"About bloody time," was Karen's response. Molly looked for a cushion to throw at her.
"I have a boyfriend!" Molly moaned for the umpteenth time. "A boyfriend I need to see in one hour!"
Karen lowered the paper. She looked at Molly like a parent. "Do you realize how often you talk about Jacob? And how often you talk about Spencer? Or how you seem to avoid Spencer's calls? I'm not saying it's good or bad, but something is happening and you should figure it out and stop keeping your head in the sand." Karen was about to return to the paper when she thought of another question. The parenting tone of her voice was over, and the best friend voice returned, "Is he a good kisser? I bet he's a good kisser."
Molly smiled and hugged her knees. "I felt like a school girl all over again. It was soft and sweet. His lips are yummy! I'm used to guys with skinny lips. His are…just right."
Karen smiled, and then frowned. "What are you going to do about Spencer?"
Molly frowned in response. "What do you mean? I like Spencer. We've been together for over a year. I'm sure I just have a crush on Jake. This project will be over and we'll go our separate ways." Molly said the words, but that was her analytical side talking. Her heart didn't want to believe it.
Karen shook her head and responded softly, "That's not like you, babe. You don't do flings, if that's what you're suggesting. No, you two have something happening. If he lived around here, you'd be friends with benefits. No, you'd be a couple. But be realistic. You're on this project and he's geographically undesirable. It seems like the only options are a fling or a long distance thing, but the latter would mean it's serious. And you don't need Dr. Wilson in your face for sleeping with your project liaison." Karen sighed. "It's a sticky situation. Tread carefully."
Molly did not know what to think. She did not know if she wanted to think at all. She didn't think when she kissed Jacob, and she didn't regret it. Well, not fully. She was glad she did it. She knew she liked him, in a whole host of ways. Yet when she stopped to think about it all, she got all crazy confused like Karen. What to do? What to do? She focused on the present moment, and that was seeing Spencer. With Spencer, things were less complicated. Maybe she should focus on her current relationship and not try to create a future one? Besides, she did not know how Jacob felt about her. He apologized for the kiss. So did she. It should be water under the bridge. Time for Spencer now.
***
A/N: Please review! Reviewers get teasers of the next chapter.
*Okay, did not get any smut subcontractors, so you'll have to bear with me in the next couple chapters.
*Also, I found a photo of a woman who looks like Molly! In the September 2009 catalog, pages 58-65, there's a woman with golden skin, almond eyes, dark hair and massive cheekbones. She looks Asian, Native American and Latina all at once. I'll have the link on my profile and here:
http://www (dot) jjill (dot) ?sku=0909-Fa3D1