Told you I'd have it up at some point tonight! This might be my favorite chapter so far…I'm really excited to get the next chapter out {You guys will most likely get it at some point next week; not sure what day just yet though} Once again, love you guys, and hope you enjoy!
"Bella!" Seth said, waving excitedly. "It's good to see you." Leah nodded in agreement.
"It's been much too long Bells, don't you like us?" she said, a smile on her face, showing that she was obviously teasing. Jake sat down, and held me in his arms while I rested in his lap.
"Of course I do you guys! I just haven't been able to be around as much. Sorry; with Charlie outta town, I was living with the Cullens." Leah's eyes widened.
"Bella, you know you'd be welcome at any of our homes. It's not like the commute is that long." She said, with honest concern. I smiled.
"Thanks Leah. It was fine though. Besides, I didn't want you guys to have to get involved in some vampire stuff." Quil's eyebrows went up.
"What vampire stuff?" he asked suspiciously.
"Bella, what's going on?" Embry said, joining in. All eyes were suddenly on me. I sighed. Things were never simple with mythical creatures. It just wasn't humanly possible.
"It's nothing big," I said, squirming slightly. Jake put a stray piece of hair behind my ear and rubbed my back comfortingly. "This…new vampire just came to Forks. And she knows about the Cullens, and she knows that I have something to do with them. She doesn't know about you guys yet, which I suppose is a really good thing…otherwise, you guys'd be in danger too." Quil snorted.
"Bella, the last people you have to worry about is us. We can take care of ourselves. We're built to do it. You on the other hand…" his voice trailed off as he looked at me. He didn't mean it in an arrogant way; it was simple logic. Jake chose this moment to speak up.
"It's fine, Quil. Believe me, I've already talked to the bloodsuckers about it, and we're keeping a close eye on the situation. If something happens, we'll be taking immediate action." His voice was smooth, with no inflection of fear whatsoever. "For now though, let's not worry about that kind of stuff. Bella's got to deal with it everyday as it is. Whattaya say we get her mind off of it and give her a real good Quileute time?" The boys whooped and hollered, and Leah and I just shook our heads at them. Boys. I don't think we would ever fully understand them.
It was exceptionally warm for a late November night, or maybe it was the fact that I was in Jake's arms and in front of a bonfire. Whatever the case, I was comfortable, and watched the flickering tangles lick the salted wood and reach towards the bejeweled sky. The night was full of idiotic pranks between the boys, roasted marshmallows, comforting laughs, and small, sweet kisses between Jake and I. When the night eventually met its end, I was almost falling asleep. My eyes shut, and the last thing I remembered was the serenity around me; everyone laughing and joking.
I woke up in my bed, as Jake was laying me down in it and tucking me in. My eyes opened wide in confusion.
"What's going on?" I asked softly. I fluttered my lashes, trying desperately to stay awake so Jake could give an explanation. He shushed me with a finger to his lips; a smile on his face.
"You fell asleep, so I drove us back, and when I got here, Charlie and Billy were passed out in front of the TV. I think they fell asleep too." He chuckled. "I guess we'll be staying the night." I smiled, and moved over in my bed.
"If that's the case," I said, "Get in. You'll need someplace to sleep." One of his eyebrows rose.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea…if they wake up and see…" His voice trailed off. I knew where he was going with this.
"Them? Wake up? After I stuffed them full of dinner and they watched football all night? Please; they're good until at least noon tomorrow. We'll be fine. And since you've got exceptional wolf hearing, if they wake up, you just get up and go to Charlie's room real quick before they come up. No big." For someone who was ridiculously tired, I was making an awful lot of sense. A smile slowly crept on Jake's face.
"You do have a point." He said hesitantly. I smiled, and lifted the covers so he could climb in.
"Don't I always? Now come on; you've got to be tired yourself." His smile widened, and he got in. He pulled the covers over us, and he put his arm under my head for a pillow for me, and I turned towards him and his other arm went around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I fell asleep instantly, lost in his arms, caught in a perfect dream. I awoke the next morning; still in his arms, still in perfection. I glanced at the clock just over his shoulder, and saw it was 9:32. Perfect. We still had a few hours before Billy and Charlie were even close to waking up. Jake's eyes slowly opened as I rested my head back on his arm.
"That was a nice sleep," he said huskily, his voice just waking up. I smiled, and his arm around my waist pulled him a bit closer to him.
"I would definitely have to agree," I said, smiling against his chest. "I think we need to incorporate this into our daily hanging out." He looked down at me, a little bit of surprise on his face.
"Daily?" he asked, making sure he'd heard me right.
"Well of course," I said, "Now that I'm not living at the Cullens, I think you and I need a bit more catching up time. Unless that is, you don't want me to…" He snickered.
"Me? Not wanting to spend time with the most amazing girl on the planet? Yeah right." He nuzzled his face into my hair. "I'll take whatever you'll give me." I reached up and kissed him lazily. He kissed me back; gently, tenderly, waking both me and him up. Slowly, it became more and more intense, getting a bit faster and faster, but still wonderful and ecstasy-filled. Then, Jake's stomach growled. Loudly. I laughed and broke away laughing, and he did too.
"Well, I think we need to get you some food," I said, still giggling slightly. He just shook his head, and ran a hand through his bed head.
"That sounds like a good idea. Sorry I had to ruin the moment," he said apologetically. I kissed him on the nose.
"Don't be." We got out of bed, and I had him muss up Charlie's bed while I changed, so it looked like we hadn't slept in the same bed. I made my own bed, and when I came out of my room, I was instantly swept off my feet by Jake. I just shook my head.
"You're ridiculous," I reminded him, and he paid me no mind. We went down quietly to the kitchen, and I began making French toast, hoping the smell would awaken Billy and Charlie. It worked. In fifteen minutes, they woke up, and took their food quietly and drowsily while Jake and I stood together at the stove, just cooking a huge batch of food together; doing what we did best. We just were ourselves, together.