Mystery Box

Chapter 7: The Bonfire

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight. I just use my imagination.

***Warning: lemon-y. M rating starts now.***

Thanks to Project Team Beta, my hand holders Hot n Cold and Tears of Mercury and character beta Aelyaniara.

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Can you feel the love tonight?

The peace the evening brings

The world, for once, in perfect harmony

With all its living things

From The Lion King, lyrics by Tim Rice

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Everyone on the Rez was excited about the bonfire that night. Molly was excited as well; she had never been to one and was looking forward to it. She wasn't sure why exactly, but if everyone else was excited, there must be a reason.

Sue advised her to dress warmly, and Molly was glad she did. The weather was warm when the sun was out, but as soon as the sun set, the wind started and Molly had to borrow some gloves, a hat and a scarf.

"Girl, you look like you're ready for the Winter Olympics! It's not that cold!" Leah burst into the house, followed closely by Luke.

"Leah, can you not be rude for once?" Seth responded for Molly. Leah responded by punching Seth in the arm.

"Honey, can you not hit your brother each time we see him? Hi Seth! Hey Molly! Great to see you, Sue" Luke stooped down to give Sue a kiss on the cheek. At 6'1", he was just slightly taller than Leah, but much taller than Sue.

"Luke, I was hoping some of your good manners would rub off on my daughter. I was wrong," Sue smiled in response.

"I think one of our wedding vows was that we wouldn't try to change each other, Mother," Leah replied sternly.

"We can still wish, Big Sister," laughed Seth.

Seth got another whack in the arm.

"Enough of dysfunctional family drama, let's get going. Billy and Jacob should already be there," Leah said.

Sue walked along-side side Molly. "So this is your first bonfire! This is a great opportunity to hear Billy tell the legends. It's one thing to read them in a book, or see them in our art, but Billy is a born storyteller. The stories come alive when he speaks."

"I am really looking forward to this. Thanks so much for inviting me," Molly responded.

Sue held Molly's hands, as if to warm them; her words were determined: "You know you'll always be like family to us. I know this project won't last forever, but you cannot be a stranger. You've done so much! We're getting a sense of pride in our simple arts and crafts" -- when Molly started to protest that they weren't simple, Sue held up a hand to stop her "--and you're doing what we should have done years ago: cataloging our work, and setting the foundation for a museum or information center we'll have one day. Plus the work you've been doing with the businesses, this is really special. You're doing this on top of the important work you're doing for . I don't think we have thanked you enough."

Molly gave Sue a tight squeeze back. "You don't need to thank me! I really enjoy doing this, and if I didn't like it, I certainly wouldn't be doing it. You don't see me volunteering to fix cars or paint houses!" Sue laughed along with Molly.

It looked like the entire population of La Push was at the bonfire. The atmosphere was like a festival or fair. Molly would not have been surprised if people were selling commemorative t-shirts or hot dogs on a stick. Jacob and Billy waved to them when they arrived, but they looked busy, so Molly sat with Seth, Leah and Luke, and the rest of the pack soon joined them.

Molly looked at Rachel. She was Jacob's sister, and looked like her brother but the resemblance ended there. She seemed more serious, more reserved. Paul was extroverted, always ready with an opinion, but Rachel was quiet. For some reason, Molly wanted to get to know Rachel, maybe to hear stories of when Jacob was a baby, but Rachel seemed to keep her distance from Molly. Not as if she disliked Molly, but more like she just did not want to get to know her. Rachel never spoke to Molly unless spoken to; she simply acted as if Molly didn't exist unless confronted with evidence to the contrary.

Sue sat with the Elders, and Kim and Rachel shared blankets. Molly rubbed shoulders with Seth and Luke to stay warm. The bonfire was huge, and there was a large crowd around. People seemed to naturally make sure the older people and ill ones were closer to the bonfire to stay warm, and they looked after each other's children. There was an air of community Molly appreciated, especially when being raised in an urban environment.

Jacob was the M.C. He thanked everyone, gave a couple quick announcements about a bake sale to benefit the school, and mentioned that Molly was available to not only look at artifacts, but also provide help with business ideas and high tech solutions. The group started clapping and Seth whooped. Molly smiled and shyly looked down. Seth gave her a squeeze. Molly felt Jacob's eyes on her, and looked up and smiled at him. Jacob went onto other events, but Molly kept the warm flush from his smile.

Billy then was wheeled to the front and began to talk. He spoke of the origins of the tribe, how the Transformer, Q'Wati, walked the land and created humans from the dry skin of his hands, gave animals their characteristics, and created the Quileute from the wolves.

He spoke of the Raven, the trickster, the Thunderbird who fed the Quileute the killer whale when they were starving, and the monster Dask'Iya. As Billy spoke, Molly sat enthralled. His words, his tone, his pacing, his body movements to emphasize a point; Molly was transfixed. The stories that she had read did not come alive until Billy spoke.

Then there were tales of shape shifters and cold ones; Molly did not recognize those legends, but the boys seemed to really enjoy them. Active imaginations, Molly thought.

After Billy spoke, most people left, but the pack stayed behind while the wives and girlfriends (and Molly) walked towards the house.

"You girls want some hot chocolate?" Sue asked. They all agreed.

They sat in Sue's kitchen and chatted about La Push gossip. Molly was quiet; she wanted to keep the feeling she had at the bonfire. When Billy spoke, she was transported to a mystical world and she did not want to let that go.

"Molly, you're quiet," Kim noted. Molly gave a small smile.

"Those stories were great. I just want to live in them a little longer," Molly responded.

Sue smiled appreciatively. "I told you Billy is the best storyteller."

Kim took Molly's hand. "Let's walk on the beach until our men are ready." Molly wasn't sure what Kim meant by 'our men', but she nodded and followed.

The two women walked in silence for a while, they noticed the men were still talking by the dwindling bonfire.

"Is there often a division of the sexes in Quileute life?" Molly asked, only half in jest.

Kim smiled. "In some things maybe, but really, the guys are great. I don't think of it as a sexist culture. Sue's an Elder, the guys, they're kind of like a men's club. And we like hanging out with just the women sometimes. It works out. Jared helps around the house, too. It's all good."

Molly just nodded. "It doesn't feel sexist. Sometimes I may be in a situation where I feel like I'm supposed to act or be a certain way just because I'm female, but I don't feel that here. I feel like I can be myself; I like that.

"My grandparents on my mom's side are a bit more conservative. When I visit them in Chinatown each summer, I'm very aware that I'm a girl and that I need to behave a certain way when I'm with them. Like, I need to learn how to make all the traditional dishes. I don't mind that, I appreciate continuing the customs of our ancestors, but the things they ask me to do, they don't ask my brother! No one asked, 'Molly, or Mei-Mei-- that's my Chinese name-- do you like to cook? Do you want to learn? The same thing happened to my mother. That's one of the reasons why my parents moved across the country, I think. It's easier to start fresh. Of course, we still went to Chinese school, but I think my mother wanted us to have a choice. We learned the traditional ways, and then we could choose. Then we would know what exactly we were choosing for or against."

Molly took a breath. "I'm talking way too much!"

Kim shook her head. "No, it's interesting." The Quileute woman then gave Molly's hand a squeeze. "I'm glad we're spending time together. We're usually in a big group; it's hard to get to know someone in those circumstances."

It was Molly's turn to nod. "I hope we stay in touch when all this is over."

"Of course! Give me your cellphone!" They exchanged numbers as Molly took Kim's picture for her iPhone contact page.

"Do you all ever come to Seattle?" Molly asked.

"Rarely, but now we have more reason to, don't we?" Kim smiled.

"You must come out! My friends would love to meet you. I feel like I live in two worlds now, with two sets of friends. I'd like them to all meet one day," Molly sighed. She had not realized how true that was until she said it at that moment. She wanted her two worlds to merge.

The women suddenly heard footsteps fast approaching behind them, and before they could turn, run and/or scream, Jacob and Jared appeared, racing down the beach towards them. Jared grabbed Kim and whirled her in the air. The look they shared spoke volumes of their love for each other. Molly watched them together and sighed, knowing that she never gave that look to anyone, nor had she ever received it.

Jacob gave her a half hug, as Jared and Kim waved goodbye and raced back towards their home. "We're done with our meeting. Are you warm enough? Do you want to go in?" Jacob asked.

Molly leaned into Jacob's warm chest. "I'm good now. I'd like to walk some more. Do you mind? Or I should be safe on my own. I just love it here. I love the sounds of the ocean. It's so soothing."

"I'd like nothing better than to walk along the beach with you, Molly Martin," Jacob replied and kept his arm around her shoulder.

They did not speak for a while, each comfortable in the silence. Jacob did not think about past walks on the beach, he was happy in the present moment. And Molly tried not to think of all the responsibilities waiting for her when she woke up the next morning. She was the sort of person who pushed and pushed herself, adding commitments until she was on the verge of collapse, and only then did she back down. She tried to focus on the present moment: the wind, the sand, and the sound of the waves, and the gorgeous man pressing her against his warm chest.

She breathed in deep. He smelled musky, woodsy; like the outdoors. And he felt oh, so solid. No soft tissue, but all lean hard muscle. Once again she wondered how these Quileute boys kept so fit with no gyms. She was feeling positively flabby by comparison. Need to do more workouts, she thought. Need to go running with Seth tomorrow.

Jacob's words entered her thoughts. "What are you thinking?"

"How wonderfully warm and hard you are," she said without thinking. Jacob chuckled as Molly realized what she said. "I mean, damn! You're just really … fit! I'll just shut up now." She started leaning away from Jacob, but he pulled her in closer.

"I'll keep you warm."

She buried her head into his side. "Thanks Jake. Thanks for everything." She liked his nickname for her. Then she felt him brush his lips against the top of her head.

Jake absentmindedly ran his fingers through Molly's long dark auburn curls. So silky, so smooth, he thought. Her hair smelled like lavender. He found himself continuing to run his fingers through her soft curly hair. He wanted to feel her hair not only with his fingers and hands but his lips as well.

Molly paused and looked up with half hidden eyes. Jacob's fingers moved from her hair to her face, alternating between the stroking of her jaw and her hair, then brushing her hair away from her face (which was a fruitless effort in that wind). Then, instead of just his fingers, the palm of his hands started rubbing against her exposed skin, against her cheeks, her jaw, her neck. Molly's lips half-parted, her eyes looked expectantly, her breath deepening, becoming more ragged.

Jacob had not noticed that his breath was jagged too. He just kept stroking her bare skin. His fingers found her lips. He lightly pressed his fingers along them, memorizing every curve, feeling their softness. Her lips parted and he could feel a slight wetness of her mouth and tongue. He was incredibly aroused and they had not even kissed. He looked into her eyes and saw the same yearning he felt. Her tongue slipped out to lightly touch his digits.

Slowly, their eyes meeting, Jacob lowered his lips to press against hers. Her lips yielded immediately. It was soft, gentle. His hands tenderly cradled her face; her hands gripped the back of his shirt. Their kisses were of longing, of sweetness, of treasuring moments. They were slow and languid, as if they had all the time in the world. No rushing, no deadlines. Just lips pressed together, mouths opened, tongues met, exploring. Molly's eyes were closed and she just opened herself up to the moment. All that she needed, all that she wanted was right there, right now. She was warm; she was safe, she was happy.

Jacob was trying to inhale all of Molly: her hair, her lips, her eyes, and her cheeks. His kisses grew more ardent. His lips left her mouth to her eyes, her cheeks, her chin, and her neck. In the background, he could hear a low moan escape from Molly, and feel her back arching into his chest, her arms moving up his sides. He had one hand at her back, helping her arch into him, and the other in the back of her head. He wanted her so badly, but knew he had to stop soon. It was going too far, too fast too soon, and he was surprised she was not stopping him.

"Jacob!" she moaned, pressing her body completely against his. She was standing on tiptoe, trying to press their bodies together, and then she tried to pull him onto the sand below them. They fell onto the beach with Molly on her back and Jacob above her, staying on his forearms so his weight would not punish her. Inhibitions were gone as Molly wrapped a leg around his waist, rubbing against him, her hands roving his body madly, her lips covering him with kisses. Her hands flew up his shirt and rubbed his chest, grazing his nipples and making him moan. They cupped his groin and felt its hardness and length. Her lips were covering his face, his neck with kisses and licks and nibbles. And Jacob, released from sexual tension, rubbed himself into her, his erection obvious. His tongue was answering hers and his hands were equally feverish. Yet when her hands started to dip inside his waistband, he stopped. "Molly!" He did not want her to do anything she would regret later.

Molly opened her eyes and realized she was lying on the beach with Jacob on top of her. She had one leg wrapped around him. His shirt was half-off and her clothes were jumbled. She was mortified. "Holy fuck!" she said, and put her butt back on the ground (it was pressing into his crotch at that moment). She felt totally ashamed. Hot and ashamed. Omigod, I was just acting out my fantasies, she thought. Fuck.

Jacob rolled off her and propped himself up on one elbow. He looked at her, trying to guess her reaction. Molly tried to cover her face with her long hair; afraid to look him in the eye.

"Jacob, I am so sorry! I had no idea what I was thinking! I wasn't thinking! I am so embarrassed!" She moved to get up, but Jacob held her back down.

"Should we talk about this?" he asked.

Molly shook her head, still hiding behind the veil of her long dark hair. "Can we just not mention this? I am so sorry!"

Jacob smiled, "I don't mind at all." Molly grimaced and tried half-heartedly to throw some sand in his face, but he easily ducked out of the way.

Molly was still mortified. "You're probably sick of girls throwing themselves at you, and now I'm one of them. I am so embarrassed! Ugh! Just shoot me now!" She was desperate for a hole to fall into until this project was over, or until Jake left the beach, whichever happened first.

Jacob leaned into Molly, close enough so that Molly had to see his eyes and know that he was sincere. "You're not just any girl," he said softly, fighting the urge to brush her hair away from her face so he could see her more clearly. "If things were different….maybe when this is all over…."

Molly shook her head, "When this is all over I'm still in Seattle and you're still here. And I like you too much to have a fling. Ugh!" She forgot something rather important: "Not to mention I have a boyfriend waiting for me." Molly punched the sand in frustration.

Jacob traced her jaw line with his finger and responded in a deep voice, "You'd be more than a fling, Molly. And we could always meet half way. It's not like it's across the country." He tried to make light of the distance.

Molly frowned. "Jacob, we're not having this discussion. I can only handle so many things right now. This is not one of them. If you were living in Seattle, or I was living here, or if I didn't have this project, and if I dumped Spencer, maybe this could work but that's not reality. It's not, and I'm not going to do should-a, would-a, could-a. Argh!" Molly grabbed her hair in frustration.

Jacob frowned. He was crazy about her, but Molly did overreact and over think sometimes. He pressed a finger to her mouth, as Molly tried hard not to put in into her mouth and suckle it. "Molly, stop thinking. Let's just enjoy the time we have together. We can be friends if that's what you want. It could be more, but I understand the situation you're in right now, so I won't push. I really like you, Molly Martin. But I know things are complicated right now, but I really like you..." Jacob couldn't believe he was saying this, but he felt strongly in his gut that this is what he needed to say for now, that things may change in the future if he was patient now.

Molly looked up into Jacob's eyes with a smile of gratitude. "Really?" He nodded. "Thank you, Jacob Black," she said. She really wanted to give him a hug, but was afraid that she would be unable to control herself. She resisted.

They stayed on the beach, lying on their backs, Molly leaning into Jacob to stay warm. They held hands and looked at the stars. Molly spoke of how there was too much light pollution where she lived so she couldn't see the stars at night. She spoke of how looking at the stars grounded her, and kept her life in perspective when she thought she was losing control (Like now, she thought).

Jacob talked about how the stars grounded him as well. "You know in the movie, The Lion King, when the cub and his dad look at the stars to see their ancestors?" Molly's eyebrows rose and Jacob laughed, "No, really, wait, hear me out! There can be profound moments in a Disney movie!

"Well, the father, Mufasa, tells his son how all their ancestors are looking down on them." Jake paused. "That's how I feel. That my grandfather, and great-grandfather, great-great grandfather, and all the chiefs are looking down, making sure we're keeping the traditions and the Quileute way of life."

"Do you feel a lot of pressure, being descended from chiefs? That you'll one day be a chief or an elder?"

Jacob laughed. "No, I mean, yes, when I was younger. I was really hot headed. Sam handed me the Alpha position and I refused to take it. I wasn't ready. I was sixteen, I grew at least a foot that a year, I was madly in love with a girl who loved someone else, I had raging hormones, and I couldn't handle the responsibility. Sam was older and could handle it better. So he was Alpha for a few years until I was ready."

"And how did you know you were ready? And was Sam ready to hand it all back to you? He didn't want to keep it?"

Jacob grabbed her hand to give it a quick squeeze. It wasn't a lusty move; it signaled he was about to say something personal and needed some reassurance from her as well.

"These things make me realize that my life isn't exactly normal. I'm 16 and am thrown into a leadership position that I'm obviously not ready for. I'm ready for hormones, for girls, but not for that. So I take off for a couple years to clear my head. I guess some people would study abroad, do an in between year and volunteer in Namibia? Not me, I go on a spirit quest.

"I can't describe what it's like; it's different for everyone because everyone's spirit quest has a different purpose. For me, it helped me point to my direction, my purpose in life."

"Did you see visions? See a guardian animal spirit or anything like they mention in the books?"

Jacob paused. "I feel one with the wolf."

"Of course, The Quileute's are descended from wolves. That's what you saw on your spirit quest?"

"Yes." Jacob did not elaborate.

"And when you came back?" Molly queried.

"I knew my place. It's like my Dad, the Elders, and Sam could tell as well. They knew that I came back to take my place in the tribe."

"Kind of like The Lion King, but without the evil uncle."

Jacob laughed. "Yeah, kind of like The Lion King." Their hands squeezed again. Thanks for making me laugh, Molly Martin."

"Thanks for sharing that, Jacob Black." They were looking warmly into each other's eyes and smiling softly, both fighting urges to kiss the other.

"I haven't told anyone outside the tribe about it, and I've only told a few people in the tribe."

"I won't share. I really appreciate you telling me."

They lay on their backs and were quiet for a few moments.

"Does this mean, if you become a chief, do you need to marry a Quileute girl?" Molly asked suddenly while gazing at the stars.

Jacob coughed in surprise and sat up. "Where did that come from?"

"I'm just wondering. I don't see that many mixed marriages here."

Jacob rolled onto his side so he could look at Molly. She was focused keenly on looking at the stars and not looking at him. He could see the little crease between her brows, her concentration look. He knew that look. He wished that he could read her mind at that moment.

Jacob responded carefully, "My first love was White. Her dad and my dad are best friends. They really wanted us to end up together. Race was never an issue."

"Oh."

Jacob rolled onto his back again and looked at the stars.

"I'm sorry," Molly replied quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I ask all these weird questions because I'm mixed race myself. I'm always wondering if I meet the parents if would mind their son dating someone who's half Asian or half White. And you're neither."

Jacob rolled back onto his side and looked at Molly again, one eyebrow raised. "Are we dating?"

Molly looked at him and tried to punch him in the side, but he rolled out of the way. "No!" she laughed, "I just wonder. There aren't a lot of non-Native marriages here."

"We probably just need to get off the Rez more often," he smiled and Molly returned the smile. They could talk so easily about awkward subjects. It was nice.

They lay on their backs in silence a bit longer. Molly started to get up, brushing the sand off her clothes. She didn't want to leave, but knew she should.

"I need to go. I've got a busy day tomorrow. My scheduler booked me solid. He's a taskmaster!" she joked.

Jacob helped her up. "No problem, . He's crackin' the whip at me too."

They walked arm in arm in silence, Molly breathing in the fresh air, Jacob breathing in the lavender scent of her hair. They arrived at the Clearwater house sooner than either had expected.

They stopped at the bottom step and faced each other. "Good night, Molly Martin."

"Good night, Jacob Black."

The kiss was short. It was sweet. They looked into each other's eyes and giggled, like they both knew they wanted to do more, but they were good little boys and girls. Also because they both knew that Sue's bedroom faced the front of the house, as did their neighbors, the Elliott's and the Monroe's. They didn't want Mrs. Elliott to look out of her window and wonder why Jacob Black and Molly Martin were holding hands and kissing in the moonlight (Mrs. Elliott was a bit of a gossip.)

"Sweet dreams," he whispered.

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When Molly returned to Seattle that Sunday night, she knew what she needed to do. She did not want to tell Jake, she did not want to tell anyone in La Push, because she did not want them to think that anything had happened, or that anything might have happened, or that anything almost happened that night on the beach with Jake. No, she decided (incorrectly) that nothing had happened that night that made her conclusion easier for her. But once she decided, she felt as if everything was aligned. She knew deep down it was the right decision. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew how she wanted to live in the present.

She recalled a conversation she had with Karen, her often oh-so-wise roommate who kept her stable and sane and genuine. After one of her many fights with Spencer, Karen had asked her a simple question:

"Are you a better person when you're with Spencer?"

Molly was stunned. She had not thought about it, but as soon as Karen had spoken those words, Molly knew the answer. And it wasn't pretty.

"No. I'm not. I think I'm more superficial and less genuine with him. I don't listen to my gut and I'm just acting the way I think I'm supposed to act."

"You're acting like a high school kid trying to fit in with the in crowd?'

Molly was slightly irritated that her roommate was so astute. "Yes, Dr Phil," she had replied snarkily.

Karen's words had then moved in for the kill. "And are you a better person when you're with Jacob?"

The hole that Molly had felt in her gut when she thought about her behavior around Spencer changed dramatically when she considered her actions when she was with Jacob. She then felt a warm flush over her body. Not just sexual, but contentment and happiness, a wholeness, a rightness.

"Yes," Molly answered simply. Jacob brought out the best in her. She was a better student, a better person, a more giving, and generous and genuine person around him. Not just him, but whenever she was at La Push.

Karen poured Molly another glass of white wine. They were sitting on their couch, chatting, staying inside under blankets as the cold rain poured outside.

Molly kept that memory as she dialed Spencer's number.

"Hey, Spencer, I'm back in Seattle. Can I see you? We should chat."

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A/N: here is a link to some Quileute legends (they're not all about wolves):

http: // www (dot) native-languages (dot) org/Quileute-legends (dot) htm

Please review!! Reviewers get a teaser of the next chapter (and if I forgot to send one, just PM me). I was a reader before a writer, and I had always thought these begging pleads for reviews were slightly pathetic, but it's true. Reading reviews helps me get through the long solitary hours of writing.

Also, keep an eye out for a couple of contests where I've submitted one-shots. Love for the Unloved contest has Smart Girl: the Rachel Black Autobiography, and the DILF contest has The Best Worst First Date Ever. Very different styles but worth a read. Voting should be the first week of October.