Chapter 15: Rainman

S. Meyer owns Twilight.

"Okay, Bells. You win; no more joking around. I believe you. I always knew somewhere from deep inside of me that you had feelings for me. You just didn't recognize them at the time. Finally hearing you say those words to me make me so happy I could sing.

"You know I had a crush on you since we were kids, but it became the real thing when you came to live in Forks a year and a half ago. I can't explain it, but it's gotten stronger with every passing day. You have no idea how hard it was seeing you with Edward. I was your best friend—still am—but I longed for so much more. I needed to hear you say what you just told me. So, yeah, I feel it 'deep in my soul' now, but I hope you feel my love for you in the same way."

I closed my hand over hers, removing it from my chest and kissed her palm. With my other hand, I touched her face gently, gazing lovingly at her features. "You're so beautiful, Isabella. God, I love you so much it hurts. Sometimes I feel like my heart is so full that it's gonna burst right out of my chest. I'm an absolute goner when I'm with you."

I sighed in contentment. "C'mere," I told her. I rested her head on my shoulder. Closing my eyes, I began running my fingers through her soft hair.

After a few minutes, she raised her head to look at me. Smiling sweetly, she asked, "Wanna help me make some lasagna?"

I couldn't help but laugh as another slippery noodle escaped my grasp and landed back in the pot it came from. "This is worse than fishing for eels," I exclaimed. Bella got caught up in the laughter with me.

"They're supposed to make it into the baking dish, Jake."

Defeated, I leaned my back against the counter top. "Got a catcher's mitt?" I quipped.

She tried once more to help me. Looking through a cabinet drawer she pulled out a utensil that appeared to be a torture devise from some spooky laboratory. "Here, use this."

Bella handed me some weird looking large spoon with like these bear claws surrounding it. The stupid contraption didn't help a bit; one more noodle slid out the side and met with the rest of his buddies loitering at the bottom of the pot. The great Jacob Black confounded by a slew of noodles—I would have been humiliated if it wasn't so damn ridiculous.

"Maybe you better grate the mozzarella. If those noodles slip into the pot one more time they're going to get all sticky."

"Speaking of sticky, my lips are getting awfully lonesome all by themselves. Why don't you come closer and stick your lips to mine for a couple of minutes."

Wow—she didn't hesitate a second. Our mouths stuck together quite nicely, but not long enough. Bella was anxious to get the lasagna going.

I picked up the cheese grater and went to work. Turns out that not only was I hell at beating eggs, but I was hell at grating cheese too. Iron chefs, look out!

Bella got a layer of noodles lined up like little soldiers in the dish, and ladled some sauce over them. I added the cheese, and we started the assembly line. Sauce, noodles, cheese. sauce, noodles . . .

After a few minutes in the oven, the house took on a tempting aroma. Mmmn, lasagna. It scored second on my list of favorite flavors, the first being those luscious lips that I had acquired an enormous craving for. I think she liked my lips too. Hey, we could start a lip-liking society. It would be very exclusive, only two members—Bella and me.

We were sitting on the couch in the living room watching reruns of Laverne and Shirley. My left arm was draped around her shoulder and I was enjoying the feel of her soft form so close to me. My right hand was twirling a silky strand of her hair around my index finger. I was fascinated watching the gold and red highlights as the threads wrapped around and around. At the same time I was wolfishly inhaling the heavenly scent of baking lasagna when another not so welcome odor greeted me.

Not again. Why can't he leave us alone? I noted the stench was even worse if that was possible. Being combined with the downpour outside, the odor was intensified. Good thing I had a strong stomach or I'd be puking on Charlie's couch.

I couldn't hide this from Bella. She caught my body suddenly stiffen anyway. So keeping my voice low, I uttered, "He's here, Bells. What do you want me to do?"

"Holy crow! Why can't he take a hint? Geesh . . . Just ignore him."

Easy for her to say—she didn't have a wolf attempting to break free. I was on red alert. Beep, beep, beep—vampire in target range. Oh man, it was hard to hold it together.

I guess Bella could feel the vibrations in my body, because she turned and placed her hand over my heart to calm me down. It helped slightly but there were still some tiny tremors in my arms and hands. Exasperated, she got up and walked over to the front window.

Good grief, there was Edward all right. He was standing in the middle of her yard, dripping wet. The rain was pouring down, running in streams from his bronze hair onto his face, mimicking the tears he would be shedding if he could. He looked absolutely pitiful.

What was he doing? It was freezing out there. Then she remembered it wasn't like he could feel the cold, or catch one either. Darn, persistent vampire. She was sure that he wouldn't dare set foot in the house, but she hadn't thought about him stalking on the outside. So did this mean, he would be staring at her through her windows expecting to get a glimpse of her? That would drive her crazy. Maybe that was his intention—to force her into seeing him and talking to him. Well, he had another thing coming.

He hadn't spotted her yet as she peeked through the curtain. She turned back to the couch and put out her hand to Jacob.

I took her outstretched hand and she led me over to the window. She drew back the curtains, and said, "Now kiss me."

Her wish was my command. She snaked her arms around my neck as I wound mine about her shoulders. As our lips met, I heard a strangled whimper from outside. I turned my head just in time to see Edward streaking across the lawn to the back yard, disappearing into the trees.

Charlie came practically dancing through the door. I don't blame him. He probably smelled the food clear out to the driveway.

"Hey kiddo, smells good in here. Jacob, you help fix the food?"

"Yeah, you surprised?"

"Yes, but good job! Are you going stay and help clean up too?"

"Sure, sure, no problem. As long as I get to fill up my tank, it's the least I can do."

That night, Bella got ready for bed. It was still raining buckets outside. She glanced out the window to check it out and what met her eyes had her stunned. A lone, tall figure was standing, still as a statue in the unmerciful downpour peering up at her, framed as she was in the casement. She had hoped that this afternoon's apparition had been a one time occurrence. It definitely didn't look that way now.

Edward stood there for a second or two and vaporized right in front of her. She wished Jacob could have stayed tonight. It was unnerving having your ex stalking you. She decided then and there to complain to Charlie if it continued, so he could make him stop. Being the police chief's daughter had some advantages after all.

Sleep evaded her most of the night, knowing that he could be out there. She didn't want to, but something drew her to the window every time she woke up. The sight of him, eerie as it was, attracted her like a moth to a flame. And she was rewarded each time. He was steadfast, vigilant in his efforts to catch a glimpse of her every now and then. When she peeked out the window, he would jet away as if he was fooling himself that she hadn't caught sight of him. Or maybe not . . .

This whole situation was nuts. As soon as Charlie came down for breakfast, Bella told him, "Dad, can you come over to the window for a minute? I want you to see something."

Charlie wasn't in the greatest of moods. He hadn't gotten much sleep. He kept hearing Bella getting out of bed during the night. And now he was tired—and hungry, and Bella was delaying his breakfast. What was so important that he had to push away from the table and look out the stupid window?

He got up from his chair begrudgingly and walked toward his daughter. When he reached her, she pulled the curtain aside so he could look out. His eyebrows meshed together into one continuous line as he asked, "What's he doing here? I thought you and he called it quits?"

"We did, but apparently he doesn't like the verdict. Dad, he was out in the yard all night long. He was here yesterday afternoon too. I couldn't sleep last night. Every time I went to the window; there he was staring back at me. Can you do something about it?"

"You're darn right, I can! I'll go talk to Carlisle this morning. I'm sure he's not aware that Edward is making more than a pest of himself. This is against the law. It's trespassing, loitering, voyeurism, and harassment. If Carlisle doesn't put a stop to it, I will. I'll get out a restraining order if I have to. In the meantime, don't go near the windows. I'm going outside right now and speak to that boy."

Charlie put on his jacket and made sure his badge was visible as he stepped out the door. He was only gone a few minutes when he marched back inside the house. "He's gone, Bells. I couldn't find him anywhere on our property. As soon as I finish breakfast, I'll call Trent and let him know I'm on official business at the Cullens."

He had his coat halfway off when he put his arms back in the sleeves. He had that determined, business-like look on his face as he zipped it up again. "You know what? Forget that. I'm going over there right this minute; maybe I should check my gun first and make sure it's loaded." He strapped on his holster after checking the barrel. "I am really pissed. I wouldn't mind putting a couple of bullet holes in that kid. I owe him from the time he left you lying in the forest. Believe me; I would love to shoot him where it counts. Save breakfast for me. I'll be back soon."

Edward didn't stand a chance. Charlie was fiercely protective of his family, and Bella was his family. She was all he had, and by damn, no one was going to sneak onto his property and scare the crap out of her. He was not going to stand for it. He was in Chief of police mode as he strode toward his cruiser, and no one had better get in his way!

A/N: Ooh, I think Charlie means business.