Chapter 18: Love Quileute Style

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

Bella ran out into the yard in her bare feet, and stood behind my car, blocking my exit. I stuck my head out the window, craning my neck so I could see her. I yelled, "What do you think you're doing? Go back inside the house, Bella. You don't have any shoes on. You'll catch pneumonia."

In response, she sat—or tried to sit—on the hatchback of the Rabbit. Obviously, she kept sliding off.

"Sh**!" In my frustration, I pounded my fists sharply on the steering wheel several times. I got out of the car, cursing at her. "I'd like to get out of here, if you don't mind. I take that back—I'd like to get out of here even if you do mind. Now, get the hell away from my car."

Bella tossed her head, like a little snot. "Make me," she taunted.

Man, she was pushing my buttons—every last one of them. She was now hanging onto the Rabbit's fender in defiance. She was one stubborn woman, I'll say that for her. I could have easily yanked her away by pulling her by the waist, but then my bumper would be sitting on the ground. "God dammit, Bella, I said—get away from my freakin'car."

"No, not until you come back inside with me."

I strode forward with determination in every step. I lunged at her trying to release her death grip on the stupid bumper. Every time I got a finger pried loose, another one would take its place. It was like she was magnetized or something.

"Let go of me, you big brute. You're not leaving," she screamed at me. Jeez, she squirmed and fought all my attempts to remove her away from the rear of the Rabbit. It was trying my patience, not to mention how tricky it was to avoid hurting her.

I was so exasperated; I let a scream of my own escape. "Aaaaahhhh!" I yelled as I tore at my hair.

With a new resolve, I went to work peeling the persistent barnacle away from the fender. I finally managed to uncurl her fingers from the metal, and slinging her over my shoulder, walked to the house with her kicking and screaming like I was killing her.

Plunking her down on the couch, I turned to leave again. She slipped under my arm and peeled out the door ahead of me. This time, I found her sitting in the front seat of the car, glaring at me. I got in on the driver's side and slammed the door as hard as I could. It was surprising that the hinges didn't fall off.

Looking straight ahead out the windshield, I snarled, "Are you gonna get out of this car, or are you coming home with me?"

"Neither," She huffed.

"What the hell do I have to do to get you out of that seat?"

"I told you. I want you to come back inside the house and talk to me."

My face was a mask of stone. "Right—like that's gonna happen." I could be stubborn too.

"What are you so mad about?" She folded her arms across her chest and huffed again.

Now I was starting to get really pissed. "I'm not mad, Bella, I'm hurt. H.U.R.T.—hurt. Like you give a damn about my feelings . . ." I turned in her direction. "Why don't you just go away and let me lick my wounds by myself?"

Bella leaned over and grabbed the keys from the ignition. She dangled them in front of my face, teasing me.

"Here, Fido. Here, Fido—go fetch," she mocked, as she proceeded to throw them out the window onto the ground.

I let out a loud sigh, and getting out of the car, walked around to the other side to find the keys. While I was crouching down to rake them into my hand, Bella hurriedly locked all the doors. She peered out the window, with a smug expression on her face.

"Real mature, Bella," I spit out. "What are you—three?"

With fire in her eyes, she stuck her tongue out at me. "All at once, it was over. I broke up laughing. Motioning for her to roll down the window, I offered, "Okay, Bells, you win. I'll go inside with you. But here, open the door and let me carry you; your feet must be freezing.

I sat her down on the couch, and went to the linen closet, removing a blanket. With the blanket placed on my lap, I pulled her cold feet onto it and rubbed them with my naturally warm hands. Here I was, comforting the girl who just minutes ago had taken a hammer to my heart. What a sucker I was.

When the blood returned to her toes, she got up on her knees and snaked her little arms around my neck, resting her head next to mine. "I'm so sorry, Jake. I don't know what upset you like that, but I am sorry."

Keeping my voice soft and low, I said, "I just don't understand why you would think I could ever hurt you. Can you at least explain why you would even think that?"

"I can, but you're not going to like what I have to say."

"Well, seeing as I'm your prisoner, and have no chance of escape, go ahead and tell me. I'll have to sit here and listen."

She licked her lips and sighed. "You guys all suppose that girls don't think about sex. Well I have news for you. We do, and so have I. You know, stories get around fast and I've gotten an earful. A girl I know at school lost her virginity one night and wound up in the ER, getting stitched up. There are lots of horror stories floating around, some of them aren't too bad, but they all contain a single theme. The first time is not too much fun.

"Let's face it, you're a big guy, Jake. I'm scared to death. I don't want to wind up like one of those girls."

To say I was disgusted was an understatement. Things like that hardly ever happened on the rez. "Those guys were . . . they were pigs. I hate to say it but it's true. They were impatient and didn't know what the hell they were doing. It shouldn't be that painful. The freakin'pigs were looking for a booty call. They weren't making love; they were just in a hurry to get some. I would never let that happen to my girl.

"It wouldn't be like that for us, Bells; I couldn't be like that.

"You know how I hate the mind meld of the wolf pack, but sometimes it has its advantages. I've learned a lot about women from Sam—and believe it or not—even Paul. Sam took a couple of hours one night to get Emily ready for her first time. Go talk to Emily and see if that doesn't convince you.

"If you're not ready, I understand. If you want to wait till your wedding night, I'll wait with you. I love you, Bella, you know that."

I looked over at the clock on the mantle. "Jeez, it's getting late. I need to get going, but this discussion's not over yet. We'll pick up where left off tomorrow."

Charlie came through the front door, and hung up his jacket and holster. He caught the last phrase of our conversation. "Pick up what?" he asked.

"Didn't Bella tell you?" I said in mock seriousness.

He scratched the back of his head. "Tell me what?"

Bella and I roared with laughter.

He looked between the two of us, and muttered, "Kids . . ."

I left that night happy in the knowledge that we ironed out our differences. And her goodnight kiss was enough to knock my socks off. I whistled my way all the way back to La Push.

Sleep didn't come easily for Bella that night. She thought long and hard about what they discussed. Would she follow the natural course of her life as Jacob suggested so many times before? She had to have him in her life—he was her life. Bella couldn't imagine going on without her air and her sun. It would be a lonely existence without him. She would not be strong enough to bear it. That's all there was to it. She needed him as much as he needed her. They were a matched set.

The next day she did indeed visit with Emily.

Emily poured them both a cup of chamomile tea. "I wasn't as nervous as you are. It's true that Native American men make the best lovers. They're very patient and tender with their new mates."

She winked at Bella. "The whole tribe is aware of how much Jacob loves you. You are in for a real treat, girlfriend."

After the red cleared from her cheeks, Bella gazed at her across the kitchen table. "Are you telling me that there was no pain at all?"

Emily sipped her tea and looked thoughtful for a minute. "I don't remember any pain; I just have this memory of feeling a deep-rooted connection to Sam. It was an overwhelming sense of tenderness and love. I was so thrilled that he chose me to be his wife."

Bella nearly spit out her tea. "I didn't know you and Sam were married."

Well, yeah, it's common knowledge. Old Quil performed the ceremony. He's performed dozens of marriages on the rez. I don't know if the state recognizes it, but in La Push, we're as married as any couple. We have our own government, so as far as the tribe is concerned, it's legal.

"Old Quil is head of the Tribal Council; he has the authority. No one can dispute that. I'm surprised that Jacob hadn't told you any of this. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit shocked to see him drag you over to see Old Quil in the near future.

Bella's eyes were wide as she took in this information. Emily shook her head and smiled.

"So, you want to learn how to lose it, Quileute style?"

Jacob was actually telling her the truth. What Emily told her made so much sense. How come the stupid palefaces didn't know this stuff?

Bella arrived at my door and nearly jumped into my arms. "Hello, you gorgeous hunk, you."

My mouth popped open. "Okay, pod person, what did you do with my Bella?"

I gazed at her with narrowed eyes. "You look like my Bella." I licked her bottom lip with my tongue, and smacked my lips together. "You taste like my Bella." I took a strand of her hair and sniffed at it. "You even smell like my Bella."

She pushed away from me, and spreading out her arms, twirled in a circle. "You are looking at the new and improved Isabella Swan."

Taking her hand in mine, I retorted," C'mon, Bells let's discuss this miraculous transformation out in the Taj."

I leaned my back against the Rabbit while Bella sat on her orange crate as usual. "So, you wanna tell me what this is all about?"

"I went to see Emily, and you were right."

"Told ya so." Hey, when I'm right, I'm right, and I was so right. Right?

Bells looked up at me, those big chocolate eyes boring into mine. Now what? Ricky Ricardo's life was monotonous compared to mine. Stretching my legs out in front, I crossed one foot over the other and leaned back further. "Okay, Bells. Let's have it. There's something dying to get past your lips. Just spit it out."

"Why haven't you told me about Old Quil?"

Huh? "What did you want to know?"

"How about how he's been tying the knot for couples all over La Push."

Where was she going with this train of thought? "Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, how is it that you never mentioned it to me, or suggested that you take me over there?"

"Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. Are you suggesting that you would get married to me in the Quileute style?"

Her head was cocked to the side as she said, "Is this a proposal?"

Now, my mouth fell open—again. She was full of surprises today. "Do you want it to be?"

She licked her lips and hesitated. "Yeah, I think I do."

I drew in my legs and straightened up. "C'mon, Bells, don't mess with me. You'll break my heart."

"No, I'm serious. I really mean it."

I nearly fell on my butt; instead, I fell on my knees. I took her hand in mine and gazed into her warm brown eyes. "Then I really mean this too. I have always loved you. I do today and I will tomorrow and every day after that. I don't think I could honestly live without you. Isabella Marie Swan will you marry me?"

Closing my eyes, I waited for her response, and it didn't take long. She responded with an enthusiastic, "Yes."

I pulled her off the crate and drawing her to me, pressed my lips to hers 'til we were both gasping for air.

"When do you want to tie the knot?"

"What about tomorrow? Is that too soon?"

"Nothing would ever be too soon for me." Damn, one surprise after another. "I'll call Old Quil this afternoon."

I tinkered with the car motor for a while, but my heart wasn't in it. Bella finally had to leave. As I helped her to her truck, I told her, "Don't you dare change your mind. My heart was just recently put back together. You wouldn't want it to break again, now would you?"

She answered by touching her lips to my tee shirt, right where my heart was beating out a joyful rhythm—a rhythm of life and love.