Chapter 10: The Pack Mind, Nomads, and Campfire Song's Oh My!

BELLA'S POV

The walk to Jacob's house was hilarious. We were all cracking jokes at Quil's pouty face because he couldn't hang me upside down when we got to Jake's house. I heard them talking about how Quil was trying to get in last pranks to pull on me until Jake was in control. I eventually caught on that that meant he was taking over Alpha from Sam soon.

"So Bella, when are you gonna tell us how you found out about this? I mean come on, even if you were outside the window eavesdropping, you couldn't have found out about imprinting," Embry says after a long moment of silence.

"Embry," Jacob warns.

"No, no. I'll tell you all later. I'm the only one that knows," I say.

"Why not now?" Quil asks.

"Just because..." I drift off. I didn't really want Jacob to know that I cared for him that much. I wanted us to be a little closer first.

"Is it really that bad? I mean, so bad that you can't talk about it?" Embry continues.

"Not necessarily... I'm able to talk about it, but you'll have to wait till later for all of the details. Just let me have time to get it worked out in my head."

"But-" Embry tries to say, but gets cut off by an ear piercing howl. The boys all share a glance, and then look at me.

"Oh just go, I'll be at Jake's when you get back," I answer the unsaid question, and they all take off into the woods on our right, shedding their clothes on their way. I can see that Jake is more hesitant to go, and gives me a backwards glance before phasing, and a few seconds later, I see a red-brown wolf staring at me from in the bushes before running away after hearing another howl.

And I was alone.

JACOB'S POV

Even though I wished not to, my eyes were ordered away from Bella to focus on the woods ahead of me.

Jake, you need to tell her how you feel man, and make a move. You've been in the friend zone all summer. -Jared

Yeah yeah yeah, I know. But I think she already sort of knows. I mean, if she knows about imprinting, she must know about how strong it is. Right? -Me

Dude, I don't know what the hell is going on in her head, so don't ask us. I just can't wait to bug her about what happened last night. -Paul

Don't you dare even mention it. I will skin you someday -Me

Guys, shut up, I don't care what the hell is going on in Jake's love life, and all I want to do here is kill some vamps. So just keep your thoughts to yourself. -Leah

Oh Leah, don't be such a downer. We're just having fun messing with Jalla. And you know we can't hide out thoughts. -Paul

...Jalla? -Embry

Yeah, Jalla. Like Jacob and Bella combined. -Paul

Ya know what Paul? -Me

What? -Paul

You're an ass. -Me

Why thank you. I try ya know. -Paul

QUIET! I've had enough of all of you. Paul, especially. -Sam

Well, I mean- -Paul

I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP! Now, where are the shitheads? -Sam

Over here. Brady and I have been chasing them for a while. -Collin

Alright, everyone move over there now, and I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you. -Sam

Damn, what happened, Sam? -Me

I'm just really stressed out, and I don't want to deal with your nonsense. -Sam

Why? -Quil

I'm just trying to think of theories of how Bella knows. It's impossible. I forced you all not to tell anyone when you phased, and if you did, I would've seen it in your mind. No other tribe members would tell, and nobody else knows. How? -Sam

I dunno, but when we brought it up today, she seemed more in control than yesterday. Maybe she'll tell us soon. -Embry

Well, I think that's just because of Jakes little visit last night. -Paul

Paul, someday you're gonna be in great peril and none of us are going to save you. -Me

Ah, you're just jealous because I'm awesome. And I have a great girl. -Paul

Many things wrong with that statement. You're not awesome, I'm not jealous of you, and I'm especially not jealous of your girl. I don't have any romantic interests with my sister, thank you very much. –Me

Whoa, look at this red haired vamp! Her hair is like on fire! -Seth

So then let's set it on fire! -Quil

We all came to the spot where they were. The vamps knew we were here, but they didn't know how many of us there were. They didn't know what to do, and our teeth slide into them like butter.

The one with dreads tried to surrender, but we didn't care. He didn't really put up a good fight either… The blonde one with the pony tail though, was pretty strategic. But there really aren't any strategies when you're surrounded by wolves. The one with the red hair was pretty dang fast though. But we were faster.

White body parts were everywhere while we all went out to retrieve firewood. Next thing we knew, we were all singing the Campfire Song Song, from SpongeBob, around the fire.

It was Quil that started: Let's gather 'round the campfire to sing a campfire song

Now Embry joined in: A C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G song

Seth and I joined in: And if you don't think that we can sing it faster than you're wrong

Collin and Brady jumped in: But it'll help if you just sing along

Jared's solo: Bum bum bum

All (Except Leah): C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G song the C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G song and if you don't think that we can sing it faster than you're wrong, but it'll help if you just sing along.

And it just kept going and going and going, and when it was Squidward's turn we all turned to Leah. She just rolled her eyes. When it was over we were all mad that we didn't have any drums to smash, and fireworks to set off.

"Hey, somebody should've brought marshmallows! I'm starving!" Seth exclaims, falling back onto the ground.

"You're always starving," Leah mutters.

"Hey, so are you!" Brother and sister fights are always annoying… god I sure am glad that Rachel never phased.

"Yes, but I don't complain all the time like you idiots. I'm leaving," Leah sasses back while getting up and walking away.

"Good riddance…" Quil says under his breath, and we all laugh when she shouts back, "I heard that!"

"Alright, well I'm gonna head home," I say after a while of talking about marshmallows.

"Why, is Bella there?" Paul asks, with a kissy face.

"Oo, oo, oooo! Pick me!" Quil was raising his hand like a giddy school boy.

"Yes, Mr. Ateara?" I say, pointing at him.

"Can me and Embry go with you?" He says, giving me the puppy dog face.

"Yes you may. And it's Embry and I, not me and Embry," I say, giving him a stern look before we all burst out laughing. And we were off to my house, getting closer and closer to my imprint.