Few notes before this chapter starts: 1. It is short. That's why there is going to be an immediate chapter after it. This was just used to tie up the loose ends from the last chapter. 2. Thank you everyone for the reviews! They make me smile and I get excited to write! 3. Hope you enjoy
I didn't really have anything to worry about, I was sure that Jake would help me avoid anything potentially embarrassing. Still, it was an awkward conversation to have with Jake's friends. I shifted next to Jake before I answered Quil's question and I then said,
"Well, we met back in August, but my dad and Billy are great friends, so me and Jake just…bonded." Quil stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I see…and how often do you hang out?"
"Um, almost every day?" I said hesitantly. Why did it matter how much we hung out?
"What's his middle name?" Quil shot at me
"Ephraim." It was his grandfather's name.
"Favorite color?" I noticed that Quil was enjoying himself a bit too much. I rolled my eyes and answered.
"Hunter green." Jake loved anything that reminded him of the forest he lived in. Then, Quil decided to amp up the questions to a potentially embarrassing level.
"Your feelings about him?" I stammered for a couple of seconds, blushing a shade of red that is not normally seen unless you happen to be a piece of ripe watermelon. Jake interrupted, embarrassed and semi-angry.
"Quil! This is not a pop quiz on me. Can we talk for a second?" his tone was getting angrier by each word he spoke. Quil and Jake got up, and went outside quickly, without a backward glance, leaving me and Embry in the living room. Embry sighed gently.
"This is so not the way we had planned for this to go." I shot him a confused look, and he rested his head on his hands. "You see, we were supposed to subtly question you about how you knew Jake, how you felt about him, etc. Quil got ahead of himself." He rolled his eyes. I looked down at my hands uncomfortably. Suddenly, Embry got a slightly gentler tone of voice. "We're not trying to be annoying pains, we're just trying to…well, see how Jake feels about you, and Quil is trying to see if you're a 'good enough' friend or whatever you are for Jake. Although," he continued, "we are naturally annoying pains. Just so you know." I laughed slightly and responded.
"It's fine, I'm just not used to getting questioned." Embry smiled and shook his head.
"Like I said, Quil got ahead of himself. But he'll be on his best behavior now, especially because of the way Jake reacted. I've never seen him get so easily irritated or defensive because of Quil." I looked back down at my hands again. Jake couldn't be getting so…defensive because of me, could he? Jake chose that moment to remerge with Quil. Quil shuffled forward and said,
"I'm sorry for exaggerating and making you uncomfortable, Bella." He looked at me straight in the eyes, and I saw sincere regret there for making me uncomfortable. Jake stood behind Quil with his arms crossed and a set expression on his face. It was a mix of anger, pride, and concern. However, I hadn't really minded Quil questioning me, now that I knew his motives behind it, thanks to Embry.
"It's fine. You were concerned about your best friend. If I were in your position, I probably would have done the same thing. No hard feelings?" He nodded his head eagerly and Jake rolled his eyes, a smile finally coming back on his face. Quil walked forward to take his previous place next to Embry, and Jake took his seat by me. Jake easily put his arm around my shoulders, and ruffled my hair, before letting his hand rest atop my shoulder. After that awkward piece of conversation was out of the way, I was able to converse freely with Embry and Quil. I could see exactly why they were Jake's best friends; they were almost exactly like him, and they were the perfect balance of friends. Embry was the most serious, and Quil was the least, with Jake as the happy medium, and they got along like clockwork.
Before I knew it, the hours flew by and it was time for me to get back home to Charlie. As I quickly said goodbye to Embry and Quil, I got my keys, and Jake walked me out to the truck.
"Bells?" Jake said, "I'm sorry that we didn't really get to talk about your first day at Forks High. I'm sure you figured out what a bunch of loudmouths I'm friends with." He smiled, and I couldn't help but smile in return. His happiness was contagious, and it brought me light and sunshine, even when it might be the dead of night.
"It was fine Jake. I was actually really happy to meet them both." I lowered my voice, aware that they might be listening. "I hope that I passed the test? Whatever test it was?" Jake tilted his head backward and laughed.
"Yes, you passed with flying colors, Bells. And even if you hadn't, then they'd have to deal with you and me anyway." He ended that sentence by gently poking me on the nose. I smiled yet again, and chuckled.
"Well, that's a relief. But I've got to go now, Jake. Chief Swan will have your head if I'm not back soon." I held my arms out for a hug, and Jake lifted me up, swung me around, and with one final squeeze, put me gently on the ground again. Then, he bent down and lightly kissed my forehead, like I had done not too long ago. Upon doing this, we heard wolf whistles presumably from Quil and Embry. While I blushed, Jake growled slightly, and once he did that, I just burst out laughing. "It's fine Jake," after saying that, I added in a louder tone, "they're just jealous that they can't get a girl to go within a 5 foot radius of them, never mind a hug or a kiss on the forehead without being slapped." The wolf whistles quickly turned to boos and I smiled and shook my head. "I'll see you later, Jake. Have fun with those two." I got in the truck as Jake waved goodbye to me.
On the way back to Forks, I reflected on what Embry had said about him and Quil trying to figure out how Jake 'felt about me' and how I felt about Jake. The very thought sent butterflies hurtling through my stomach at a million miles an hour. I had never had a boyfriend, let alone anyone close to that. So, did I 'like' Jake in that sense? I battled with the idea the entire way home. I had certainly met no one like him, and he always seemed to make me smile and…I felt more than comfortable with him.
By the time I arrived home, I was very confused, very happy, and very tired. I took my nightly shower, and went to bed almost immediately after. The next few days were sure to be interesting.