Chapter Seven

A Smoldering Ember

It was hard to make it through the next day, knowing I wouldn't be seeing Jake that afternoon. It wasn't like I had become dependant upon him or anything to keep my mind occupied. I really and truly liked being with him. He made me feel good, he was funny, he was so very nice to look at, and I was at ease when I was with him. We just worked well together and I was going to miss that.

I sat through my last two classes, trying to think of an excuse to go back to La Push. But he probably would be off with his friends, after all my truck was finished and his self-proclaimed obligation to keep it up and running had been met, so..... That's it! I needed to thank him for working on my truck.

He had told me he wouldn't accept payment for his work, but I could make him something as a way of saying thanks, and I would have to take it to him. That's it. I would make him a big batch of cookies and take them to him after school, so I could thank him for all he had done. I'm sure he would like cookies. I mean, after all he was a red-blooded male and they all like cookies?

So with my plan laid out in my mind, I waited and when the final bell rang, I was out of the school like a flash of lightening, and on my way home. I tried to reason with myself, as I drove a little too fast, that I was just being nice. That I had to repay him in some way. And that it wasn't like I had any sort of, you know, feelings for him. After all, we were just really, really good friends.

But as soon as I got home, all of my reasoning went out the window and all I could think about was making the best cookies I'd ever made, so that Jake would know how much I..... I appreciated him. That's right. How very much I appreciated him.

I flung my backpack in the kitchen chair, washed up, pulled out my recipe book, and the ingredients I would need to make two types of cookies. I decided on chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. I figured he would like one or the other and what he didn't eat, Billy probably would.

I had both batches whipped up in no time, and filled two cookie sheets full, popped them into the oven, and pulled out my homework. I needed to get it finished, so I could stay longer in La Push.

The bell rang on my timer, and I pulled the first batch out of the oven to cool. After waiting a few minutes, I placed them on the baker's rack, then replenished the pans, putting more in the oven to bake. I did this a couple of times, and soon all four dozen cookies were ready. I put almost all of them in a plastic container, then made a few sandwiches, and left them on the counter with a few of the cookies for Charlie's dinner.

I wrote a quick note, and told him I would eat when I got home, I had finished my homework and needed to take the cookies I had baked to Jake as payment for him working on my truck. I knew he probably wouldn't mind, but I wanted to let him know anyway.

So, I was once again on my way down that familiar road, one that I was really starting to enjoy traveling. I sang along with the tune that was playing softly on the radio, and couldn't help but think about the day Jake and I were at the drive-in, when he told me I could take down his hair. The memory had me smiling the rest of the trip.

When I pulled up in front of Jake's house, I was a little disappointed that he didn't come out to meet me, but then again, he wasn't expecting me. So I just climbed out, got the container of cookies and walked up to the front porch.

I knocked and in a few minutes I heard Billy call that it was open for me to come on in. I pushed the door open and peered inside, only to see him sitting in the living room, watching the nightly news.

"Bella, what a surprise. Come in," he said politely.

"I hope I'm not intruding, but I brought Jake something. I wanted to give him a little something to say thanks for helping with my truck. It's not much, but he wouldn't let me pay him," I said, feeling embarrassed that I was there, knowing that I had an ulterior motive.

"What do you have there? It sure smells good," Billy asked, with a big smile spreading across his face.

"I made cookies," I said, opening the container, "would you like one? I thought what Jake didn't eat you might like to have."

"Bella, that is so sweet of you. I better get one now though, because if I know Jake, he'll have them almost eaten before he goes to bed tonight."

He reached in and took an oatmeal raisin cookie, and looked very pleased that they were still warm. I watched happily as he ate every last bite.

"Bella, that was delicious. Thank you for thinking of me too," he said with a wink.

"Um, is Jake here?" I asked, not being able to stand it any longer.

"No, he went to the general store a few blocks down to get some milk and bread. He was mad at me because I wouldn't let him drive his car. But, he has to have an adult with him and I didn't want to go such a short distance, so I made him walk," he said laughing.

"Well. I could drive down and pick him up. Do you mind if I leave the cookies here and go get him?"

"No, not at all. Why don't you set them in the kitchen? I'm sure he'll be more than happy to see you again. And I know he'll be surprised when you are there to pick him up."

So I told him thanks, set the cookies in the kitchen, and left quietly, telling him I would see him later. I got into my truck and pulled out of the drive, heading toward the store. I had only gone a short distance, when I saw three young men coming out of the woods not far from Jake's house.

I looked closely and realized they were Sam, Paul, and Jared. My heart sped up a bit, and I thought back to our encounter yesterday with Paul and Jared, and I remembered all of what Jake had told me about Sam over the last few days. But I was here and so were they, so I didn't stop to think, I just pulled over and got out. I really wanted to thank Sam and get that off my chest.

Besides, maybe I could tell what was going on that had Jake so worried. I slowly walked around my truck as they followed me with their sharp gazes. I was nervous, but I hadn't done anything wrong, so I walked right up to them and waited a minute before speaking.

"Hey," I said, giving Sam a small waive.

"Hello," he said in a deep and unreadable tone.

His eyes followed me with curiosity and I could see a flicker of the same feelings in his eyes for a moment that I saw the night he found me, but then they were gone, and replaced with something else, something that looked like authority.

"I just saw you and wanted to stop and say thanks for what you did for me. You're Sam. Right? I'm Bella Swan. Remember? And I wanted to thank you for that, um, that night in the forest," I said, extending my hand to him in a friendly gesture.

He looked at my hand, but never moved his arms from across his broad chest. He did, however, turn and give the other two a nod, and they responded by saying no, but he quickly ordered them to leave, so they did. They both looked at me and almost snarled, then turned and faded back into the woods, just like yesterday.

Sam slowly removed one arm and finally took my hand in his as he gave me a firm hand shake. He was hot to the touch and after I pulled my hand away, I slipped it behind my back and rubbed it with my other hand, thinking my hands must have been very cold.

"It was nothing. I see you're doing better," he said, but still didn't seem to be very friendly.

I felt hurt that he no longer showed the same compassion I thought I had seen that night only a few months ago. Maybe Jake was right. Maybe he had changed and maybe he wasn't such a good person after all.

"Well. I just wanted to stop and tell you how I felt..."

"You won't find what you're looking for here. It's best if you look somewhere else. Are you dating someone now? Maybe someone from your school? Someone from Forks?"

He had not only cut me off rather rudely, he had also caught me off guard with unusual line of questioning and it not only stung, it made me very upset. I didn't know what to say, but finally, after I thought for a moment, I simply asked what I needed to, to clear my mind.

"You're so different from the person I met that night. I...I...thought you seemed concerned, but I guess I was wrong. I'm sorry to have bothered you. And no, I'm not dating anyone, not that it's any of your concern," I said curtly as I turned and walked back to my truck.

"Bella. Just remember what I said. It's best if you look somewhere else," he called to me as I slammed the door on my truck, cranked it and pulled away.

Jake was right. He was so right and I should have listened to him. I should never have stopped. By the time I reached the store, my hands were shaking and I thought I might start crying. But I didn't want to ruin the time I had with Jake, so I was going to try to act like nothing had happened.

I climbed out of my truck and stood there, leaning against it for a few minutes. I was trying to pull myself together, when the old wooden door of the general store slammed closed, and I heard the cow bell ringing in the distance. I looked up to see Jake coming out of the store carrying a brown paper bag. He smiled his smile when he saw me standing there, but as he got closer his smile turned into a look of concern as it withered away. I guess I wasn't as pulled together as I thought.

"Bella. What are you doing here? Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked, as he came immediately to stand in front of me.

"Hi. I, um, I was coming to give you a lift. I had....." I had to stop and take a deep breath, before I started crying. I just couldn't shake the way Sam had made me feel. I took a few breaths, began rubbing my hands together in front me, and looked down at the ground.

I jumped as Jake opened the truck door, placing his bag inside. He left the door open and came back to me and I could feel his gaze on me, but I just couldn't look up yet. Then I felt the hot salty tears trickling down my cheeks. I hadn't wanted him to see me cry, but it was no use.

"Bella, are you, are you crying?" he asked, as his voice began to rise by the end of the question.

That's when I lost it and started all out crying. I tried to tell him what the whole trip had been about, and what had happened, but it all came out slurred.

"Jake....I....." and my crying lead to soft sobs.

He pulled me into his arms and hugged me close to his chest, rubbing my back with one hand and stroking my hair with the other. He was whispering shhh's into my hair.

"Now. Tell me what's wrong. Let's start at the beginning."

I relaxed into his embrace and felt much more comfortable now, so I tried to form words that were coherent.

"I came to see you. I made you cookies to thank you for helping me with my truck. I brought two kinds," I said, as I tried to quiet my crying by focusing on my reason for coming to La Push in the first place, well one of the reasons.

"You did all that for me? Bella, I told you I didn't want anything, but that is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Where are the cookies?" he asked, pulling my face up to look at him, trying to make me smile.

"I left them with your dad. He told me where you were and I was coming to surprise you and give you a ride home....when....I...."

"When what?"

"I saw him. I saw them. And I just wanted to thank him. I thought it might help for me to...."

I felt him stiffen all around me and I knew he knew immediately what I was talking about.

"Bella, you didn't talk to Sam? Did you?"

I just nodded and looked down again.

"What did he say? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Jake asked, now with anger in his voice.

"It's okay Jake. I was just upset."

"Upset nothing. He said something to you that had you shaking just now. I want to know what he said?"

He pushed me out at arms length and looked down at me, with a pleading and concerned look in his eyes.

"He just talked to me like I didn't belong here. He said something about me not finding what I was looking for here. I don't know what he meant, Jake. But he...he...asked me if I was dating someone from my own highschool. He said I should date someone from Forks or from my school. I just didn't like the way he was talking to me and I don't understand. He was so nice the night, that night. And I felt so close to him. He reminded me of....he reminded me of you, Jake. I couldn't let him go that night, and he leaned down and whispered into my ear, 'I know things seem dark for you right now, but in time you will find light again. And this time it will be right for you.'"

Now I was crying again. I just couldn't help it. Sam had made me remember that night, he had made me feel like he had only been doing his job, when I thought he had shown true compassion for me. But now I was hurt and confused.

Jake pulled me in for another hug, and kissed my forehead, whispering that everything would be okay, as he helped me into the truck. He took the keys, and pulled me over to sit beside him, while he started the truck, pulled out onto the road, then placed his arm around my shoulder.

We were almost back to Jake's when, low and behold, there Sam was again, just coming out of the woods near Jake's house. Before I knew what was happening, Jake had slammed my truck into park, killed the engine, and was climbing out, leaving the door open behind him.

"Jake, no!" I called out trying to grab his arm.

But I didn't even have time to try and stop him and my heart was pounding in my chest as I thought about Jake getting hurt because of me. I didn't want any trouble. I just wanted to go home. But Jake wasn't afraid, he walked right up to Sam, who glanced at me shooting me a stern look through the windshield, then turned to look at Jake, who was now almost in his face.

I heard bits and pieces of the heated words Jake was throwing at Sam. As he demanded to know what he meant by talking to me like that. Sam just stood there, until Jake reached a certain point, then Sam held up his hand.

"Jake, you need to calm down," Sam said, in a soothing tone.

"You have no right talking to here like that. She can come to La Push if she wants to. This place isn't governed by Marshall law. And it's none of your business who she dates, so if she wants to date me, you stay out of it," Jake shouted at Sam.

I was so afraid something bad was going to happen and then when I heard what Jake said, it dawned on me that Sam had actually been giving me a warning to stay away from Jake. My hands began to shake again and I was angry that he would tell me something like that. And all I could ask myself was why?

"Jake, you'll understand soon enough why I said those things. I'm just trying to protect you, protect her, that's what I do. I protect those around me. That's what we do," Sam said, looking as though he had been washed with defeat, only to shake it off, and come back stronger than ever.

"Protect? All I see you doing is causing trouble," Jake countered.

"That. Is. What. I. Do. What we do. We are protectors!" Sam finally concluded with a shout.

"I don't care what you are, or what you think you are. You're not going to talk to her that way," Jake spat out, and stepped even closer to Sam and I noticed that Jake was shaking now, from his balled up fists at either side of his body, all the way up his arms.

Sam seemed to be surveying the situation then turned and walked over to the truck. He ducked and peered in at me placing his hands on the side of the door frame, and I immediately shrunk back deeper into the cab.

"I'm sorry if you took what I said wrong Bella. I just want you to be careful. That's all. I know I can't stop you from coming to La Push, but just be careful. Okay?"

"Okay," was the only word that would form and it came out in barely a whisper.

Then Sam turned and looked back at Jake, who had followed and was right beside him.

"I'm sorry Jake, but I'm only trying to help," he said, then he was walking back toward the woods and disappeared.

Jake climbed back into the truck and looked at me.

"Bella. I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry you had to face this today, especially since you came here on such giving terms."

I breathed out a heavy sigh, and for Jake's sake, tried to brush it off. I wished like everything that I hadn't started crying and had not let him see how upset I was.

"I'm fine, but thanks for standing up for me," I said, rubbing my hand against his arm.

He cranked back up and drove back to his house. When we got there, he slid out and took my hand, pulling me out the driver's side door with him. Then we started walking toward his house, but I pulled against his hand and made him stop.

"Jake. I better go home. I....."

"No way. I'm going to go try my cookies, and I want you to come in with me. I want to see what kind of cook you really are," he said, smiling just slightly at me.

So with that statement, we both tried to put on our best face and went inside. Billy was still watching the news when we came in. He looked up and must have been able to sense something immediately, because his smile faded when he saw my face. My eyes, I'm sure were red from crying.

"What's up guys? Jake, where are the milk and bread? Is everything okay?"

"Oh, he left the bag in my truck. I'll get it," I said and sprinted back toward the door, not wanting to hear what Jake had to say to Billy.

When I came back in, Jake was to the part where he confronted Sam, and I saw a worried look cross Billy's face. I walked through the room and went into the kitchen, putting the milk in the refrigerator, and placing the bread on the counter.

As I walked back in, Jake was raising his voice, as he expressed how disappointed he was with Sam's behavior.

"It is none of his business dad. Besides, Charlie and Bella are welcome here anytime they want to come. Don't you agree?"

Jake had said his dad seemed to be leaning more toward Sam's side on this strange turn of events that had been happening, so I was curious to see what his reply would be. I mean, after all, he and my dad had been long time friends, and I was his daughter, if that counted for anything.

"Jake, you are exactly right. They are more than welcome here anytime, not only at our home, but in La Push too. I think Sam used a poor choice of words and maybe conveyed himself inappropriately to Bella. I'll have a talk with him about his behavior tomorrow. Now Bella, don't you worry a thing about what Sam said, he was out of line. Are you okay?"

I felt so bad being the center of this discussion and I wanted nothing more than to leave and get back home, where I could worry in private, but I was still here, so I had to at least say something.

"It's okay Billy. I'm fine," I whispered, looking down at the floor.

Billy rolled over to where I was standing, and took my hand in his, looking up at my tear stained face. Hey you have to cheer up and remembered why you came. Don't you have something to give Jake?"

I smiled a bit at him and said yes, then took Jake by the hand as we went into the kitchen. Jake and I sat down at the table, and I opened the container. He smiled when he saw the large amount of cookies waiting for him, then reached in and took out a chocolate chip one.

He first smelled of it, then closed his eyes, as he took his first bite. I held my breath hoping he liked them, and waited, but he never said a word. After he had eaten the entire cookie, and opened his eyes again, I looked at him for some sign that he at least liked it.

"Well?" I asked impatiently.

"It was, what's the word I'm looking for?" he said, rubbing his chin, "sinful. Yeah that's it. That one was sinful. Now, I need to try the other kind. You did say you made two kinds, right?"

I nodded and moved the container closer to him, as he took out a second cookie, this time an oatmeal raisin one. He went through the same dramatic process and by now I was laughing and shaking my head. I could tell he was trying to make me feel better after everything that had happened, and I thought he was such a hero, trying to save the day.

"Okay. It's official. You're a great cook," he said, smiling at me with his bright reassuring smile.

"So which one do you like best?"

He reached over and took my hand in his, rubbing it with his large thumb, "you should know which one I like the best by now," he said, while broadening his smile.

I tilted my head to the side and looked at him thoughtfully trying to decipher what he had said, but he just winked at me, and said he liked them both, but that chocolate chip had always been his favorite.

He ate a couple more of each type, then rubbed his stomach, "I won't need anything else until I have my midnight snack," he said and we both laughed. Billy was right. There may not be any left by tomorrow.

I pushed my chair back and suddenly felt sad because I hadn't been able to spend time with Jake enjoying his company due to the strange happenings of the afternoon, but I knew I needed to get back home because it would be dark soon.

Jake stood up and pushed his chair up to the table, and took my hand.

"Come on then. I'm driving you home," he said, as we started walking toward the living room.

"Jake, but I need my truck for school. I can't....you can't...."

He held his hand up as he reached for the phone, gently letting my hand slide from his.

"I'm not letting you drive home alone after all that happened today. I'm calling Embry and Quil to come over, and they can bring your truck to Forks. Embry has his regular driver's license," he said, as he finished dialing the last number.

I just looked over at Billy and he smiled, giving me a firm nod. My guess was that I was out voted, so I let Jake finish his call. He told Embry to grab Quil and come over and that he needed them to drive my truck to Forks and that he would explain later. There wasn't any argument from the other end of the conversation, none that I could detect anyway, and I thought that Jake's friends must be very close to him if he could ask such a favor and they would comply like that.

Jake hung up the phone, turned to me and held out his hand, "the keys Miss Swan," he said, and I pulled them out of my pocket, laying them in his palm.

"Dad, here are the keys, will you tell Embry to be careful with it, just as if it were my own, when he gets here? And tell him I'll break a bone or something if he messes up," he said, giving his dad a playful wink.

Billy assured him he would and told us goodbye. Jake ran back to the kitchen and grabbed two more cookies before I could reach the front door, and I smiled at him pleased that he liked my thank you offering.

We climbed into Jake's Rabbit and he pulled out, turning toward Forks. It was quiet for a few minutes and I was wondering what Jake was thinking. I had too much to process to be thinking any one thing in particular, so my thoughts were just bouncing around from one to the other. I was surprised when something random slipped out.

"So, did you have a good day at school?" I asked, wanting to break the ice.

"It was okay. I made a hundred on my algebra test, so I guess it was good," he said, with a confident smile.

"Wow. That's great. So, are you and Billy still coming over on Saturday?"

"Sure, sure, we wouldn't miss it. Dad's been talking ever since you called about how he's going to win the bet and he can't wait to have a batch of fish made with Harry's secret fish fry," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Um, thanks for bringing me home, Jake. But you didn't have to," I said quietly.

"I know, but I wanted to. Besides, we didn't get to talk much, so this makes up for some of the lost time."

"Jake?"

"Yes, Bella."

"What did you mean by what you said to Sam?" I whispered, and closed my eyes. I was afraid of what he might say, but more afraid of not knowing what exactly he had meant.

"Oh, um that. I guess you could hear everything. Nothing really. Don't worry about it. He just had no right...."

"Maybe I want to worry about it," I said, interrupting him taking in a deep breath and feeling my chest throb as I opened my eyes.

"No, Bella. You don't need to worry about it right now. We're good and that's all that matters for now," he said, reaching over and pulling my hand onto his thigh.

I felt a shudder run through me, and my breath got caught up in my throat. I wanted to know what he meant. I needed to know, but he was right. Things were good right now, and I suppose that if anything in particular was meant by what Jake had said, time would let us both know.

But honestly, secretly inside my heart, I was cherishing every word he spoke, "if she wants to date me, you stay out of it," and I replayed them over and over in my mind. There was something there, I knew that now and it was growing like a smoldering ember in the bed of dying coals, but it was warm and comforting and I would let it be nurtured until it was ready to burst into a flame.