Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter 17: A Night To Remember
Monsters will always exist. There's one inside each of us. But an angel lives there, too. There is no more important agenda than figuring out how to slay one and nurture the other.
Jacqueline Novogratz
"Hello, Bella,"
The glass fell from my hands and shattered on the floor.
I couldn't believe it.
Sam Uley stood on my door step, his face serene and sure. I had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat.
I cast a glance back in the house where Jacob was upstairs.
"What are you doing here?" I hissed.
Sam looked past me towards the stairs. I could hear the shower running. Did he know Jacob was here? Had he followed him?
"May I come in?" he asked, but it didn't sound like he was asking.
I quickly blocked the doorway.
"No," I growled.
Sam looked calm as a cucumber in the face of my anger.
"Is your father here?" he asked, but from the knowing look on his face I knew that he already knew the answer.
"That's none of your business," I said.
He sighed and pushed his way past me into the House.
"We need to talk," he said and I wanted to take a swing at him.
"We have nothing to talk about," I said firmly. "So unless you're here to tell me that you'll stay away from me and Jacob then you can go." I growled.
Sam frowned.
"I'm not the bad guy here, Bella" he said.
I chuckled darkly.
"Yeah, and I'm the tooth fairy." I said, sarcastically.
Did he think I was stupid?
"I don't know how you managed to fool Billy the way you have or how you got Embry but you're not getting Jacob." I said. "I won't let you pull him into your gang,"
Sam glared. "Jacob wouldn't have to be pulled into anything if it wasn't for you," he snapped.
"What do I have to do with your gang?" I asked.
He was trying to trick me. He was trying to confuse me.
"Not you specifically but if you want to blame someone, why don't you point your finger at those bloodsuckers that you once called family?" he said.
My mouth fell open and my breath came out with a whooshing sound. I was frozen in place, stabbed through with his double-edged words. How did he know about that? Had he been spying on us?
I couldn't believe that I'd heard him correctly. There was no trace of indecision in his face. Only smugness.
"I don't understand who you mean," I said, closing down.
"The Cullens," he said slowly, drawing out the word, scrutinizing my face as he spoke it.
I shook my head back and forth in denial, trying to clear it at the same time. How did he know this? And how did it have anything to do with his cult? Was it a gang of vampire-haters? Why did Jacob have to be involved? What was the point of forming such a society when no vampires lived in Forks anymore?
"I don't see what you're accusing the Cullens of. They left more than half a year ago. How can you blame them for what you are doing now?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Sam stepped closer to me, looming over my head.
"I'm not doing anything, Bella. And I know they're gone. But sometimes… things are set in motion, and then it's too late." He paused, looking toward the stairs.
"It's too late for what?" I asked, following his gaze.
"Too late for Jacob," he said and my eyes snapped up to his face.
My mouth still hung wide. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to bury him somewhere as far from Jacob as possible. No, I wanted to do more than that. More than anything, I wanted to be fierce and deadly, someone no one would dare mess with.
Someone who would scare Sam Uley silly.
I wanted to be a vampire.
The violent desire caught me off guard and knocked the wind out of me. It was the most forbidden of all wishes—even when I only wished it for a malicious reason like this, to gain an advantage over an enemy—because it was the impossible. That future was lost to me forever and, if I was honest, had never really been within my grasp.
I shoved Sam angrily.
"You stay the hell away from Jacob!" I exclaimed.
Sam shook his head.
"You should be the one to stay away from Jacob. It's too dangerous for him to be here with you," he said. "You should let me take him home before someone gets hurt,"
His words sent a thrill of fear through me.
Did he know that, too? Nobody knew that besides me. But he was right—it was the middle of the night, the perfect time for hunting. Jacob shouldn't be here in my house. If someone came for me, I had to be alone but…
"You can't have Jacob!" I said.
"I won't argue it with you. It doesn't matter anyway," he said. "Jacob will be coming to me soon….the damage is already done." He said solemnly.
"What damage?" I asked.
Sam looked at me. "Haven't you noticed anything different about Jacob lately?" he asked.
Jacob smirked, eyes darkened with anger, as he stalked deliberately towards us. He walked with a confidence and aggressiveness that he had never showed before. He wrapped his arm around me, his eyes never leaving Laurent.
"Has he displayed unusual strength around you?"
"You're too slow" he said turning around.
I expected him to walk beside me. Instead he picked me up over his shoulder and continued walking like I weighed nothing.
"Put me down!" I yelled beating on his shoulder.
"Nope" he said then he started whistling cheerfully, an unfamiliar tune, swinging his arms and moving easily through the undergrowth.
He lifted me up so my toes were barely touching the ground. All my weight was supported by him. In a flash, he had my back against a tree, taking complete control.
"Have his eyes changed color when he feels an intense emotion?"
I look at him and see his eyes flash black for a second before they turn back to their usual warm brown.
"Has he been growing at an abnormal rate?"
I glanced briefly at Jacob, too, trying to be objective. He really didn't look like a sophomore at all. He was just so big—Mike's head barely cleared Jacob's shoulder; I didn't even want to think where I measured next to him—and then his face was older-looking than it used to be, even a month ago.
"Has he been extremely hungry lately?"
Jacob had double the food on his plate and was already half finished.
"What?" Jacob asked when he noticed my staring.
"How can you eat all that?" I asked.
Jacob shrugged
"For some reason I've been extremely hungry for the last couple of months. Like all the time." He said shoving more food into his mouth.
He let go of me and smirked. "Want to head out and get something to eat?" he asked.
I gave him a look. "We just ate an hour ago. How can you still be hungry?" I asked.
Jacob shrugged. "I'm always hungry," he admitted, sheepishly.
"Has his skin been hot like he has a fever?"
I touched my fingers to his forehead, and gasped. His head was HOT!
"Whoa, Jake—you're burning up!"
"I feel fine." He shrugged. "Fit as a fiddle." He boasted.
I frowned and touched his head again. His skin blazed under my fingers.
"Notice any growling?"
"Then how about you take a hike?" Jacob's voice was nothing more than a growl.
A grizzly snarl rolled out from between his teeth, rumbling through the hall like a prolonged crack of thunder.
I gave an involuntary gasp and jumped back.
My teeth clenched together. I stared back at him, no intention of speaking. He could see that. I wasn't going to reveal anything.
"I can tell that I hit a nerve," he said, looking ashamed, "I'm sorry,"
"Y-you can't have him," I said again, my voice shaking.
Sam gave me a long look.
"I won't have to." He said.
He turned to leave.
"He'll come to me all on his own," he said.
"That'll never happen," I said. "Jacob will never join you," I said.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Embry did," he said.
I flinched.
Sam left and I quickly closed the door behind him. I leaned my back against the door feeling lost and worried. What was going on with Jacob? How did he know about the Cullens?
I heard the shower turn off and a few minutes later Jacob came down stairs, took one look at me and came to stand in front of me with a concerned expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
I looked away.
"Nothing," I lied.
I couldn't tell him about Sam's warning. I didn't know what he would do. I had faith that Jacob wouldn't join Sam's gang but what if I was wrong? Or what if it was a trap and once I told Jacob, then Sam would just sit and wait for Jacob to come confront him.
"You're lying," Jacob stated.
I waited for him to press for the truth but he didn't.
"The showers free," he said, stretching.
That's when I noticed what he was wearing or wasn't wearing.
"Jacob, where are your clothes!" I squealed.
Jacob stood there with his thick, long, shiny black hair still wet, falling across his shoulders and a reckless grin across his lips. Water was still dripping down his glowing russet skin, tracing the curves of well-built muscle down – that I was sure hadn't been that solid before- to the low-slung towel that exposed the attractive 'V' of Jacob's hips, disappearing beneath the white fabric of the towel he wore around his waist. If his towel was just one inch lower there would be nothing left to the imagination.
God, I wished there was a breeze or something.
I realized I was gawking and brought my eyes back up to his face. Jacob grinned and raised an eyebrow. I swallowed thickly, and tried to find words in an attempt to settle the situation.
"Something wrong, Bells?" he asked casually, stretching a little more.
I gulped.
"No, except there's a naked boy in my house." I said, nervously.
Jacob smirked.
"I was coming to ask you for some clothes to sleep in," he said.
I nodded, but wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. A droplet of water was making a trail from his throat down his chest, only to disappear beneath his towel.
"See something you like?" he asked.
If possible my face turned even redder.
"Oh…right…um I think Charlie has something you can wear in his room," I croaked.
I turned towards the stairs.
"Follow me," I said as I headed up the stairs trying to ignore Jacob's amused grin and trying not to glance back at his body.
His very nice body.
Which he wasn't making any effort to cover up.
I glanced back.
Nope, he was still half naked.
Averting my gaze, I led him into Charlie's room. Jacob suddenly looked nervous.
"You sure Charlie won't mind me borrowing his clothes?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Charlie loves you," I explained.
It was true. Charlie asked about Jacob constantly and, when he wasn't asking about him, he was talking about something amazing he'd done. He acted like Jacob was his son most of the time. He trusted Jacob more than any other guy. He never would have asked Edward to stay the night.
But then again Edward would have spent the night anyway.
Without me or my dad's permission.
I shook the thought away.
"As long as you make Charlie breakfast tomorrow I'm sure he won't have a problem with it," I said.
I reached in the drawer searching for something that might fit him.
"Here," I said, handing him a pair of long, plaid, pajama bottoms, a red night shirt, and an unopened pair of boxers.
Jacob took the pants but refused to take the shirt or the boxers.
"I sleep shirtless," he said.
"Okay," I said, waiting for him to take the boxers.
He blushed.
"I don't wear those," he said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Briefs," I asked.
He shook his head.
"Commando," he said.
I blushed, bright red.
"Oh, okay," I said, not meeting his gaze.
"I'll…Um…just put these back then," I said, gesturing to the drawer.
Jacob nodded, cheeks glowing bright like Rudolf's nose.
"That's a good idea," he said.
Neither of us moved and an awkward silence descended. Finally, Jake broke it by laughing. I stared at him shocked by his outburst.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Us! This is a weird situation to be in. I've never had a sleepover at a girl's house before," he joked.
I smiled, secretly glad to hear that. Not that I was jealous. I wasn't the jealous type.
Liar a voice in the back of my head that sounded like Leah said.
"Well, if it's a sleep over then I'll go set up the blankets in the living room, pop in a movie, and we could stay up late braiding each other's hair, talking about our feeling and discussing boys," I joked.
Jacob gave me a look.
"You forgot to mention snacks," he said.
"We just had dinner," I said.
Jacob sighed.
"I know but I'm still hungry," he said and I winced.
"Has he been extremely hungry lately?"Sam asked, looking like he knew something I didn't.
I mentally slapped myself.
There is nothing wrong with Jacob. He's a teenage boy. It's probably a boy thing. All boys are hungry all the time. Boy's temperatures are supposed to be high.
"Bella?" Jacob called breaking me from my panicked thoughts.
"Right…snacks," I said, as I left the room so Jacob could change.
"Come down stairs when you're finished," I suggested.
"Sure, sure," he agreed.
While Jacob was changing I set up the living room trying to keep my mind busy. I found the most girly movies, the ones my mom packed when I came here (that I had never opened, and stacked them next to the TV. I laid down a blanket on the floor, went and got snacks (Mostly chocolate bars), I brought out some board games from the closet, put a brush and some hair accessories Alice had left me, and then went to put a pizza in the oven.
"Wow," Jacob said when he came down stairs.
"You really went all out," he praised.
I looked at him and laughed. He was taller that Charlie so the pants stopped just below his knees, showing off his calves
"We need to find you some better pants," I said.
Jacob looked down and shrugged.
"This is ok," he said.
"No it's not," I protested, still laughing.
He looked like he'd grown even taller than before.
"Has he been growing at an abnormal rate?"
That stopped me from laughing.
"I'm going to go change into my sleeping clothes too," I explained, as I brushed past him, in a hurry to leave the room.
Why was I still thinking about that? Sam was a liar. He was the leader of a gang. Jacob was fine. Nothing was going to happen to him.
I grabbed some clothes and went to take a shower
Sam is Lying
Sam is Lying
Sam is Lying
Then I brushed my teeth. As if Jacob would ever join his gang. Jacob hates Sam.
HE HATES HIM
HE HATES HIM
HE HATES HIM
HE HATES HIM
I changed into my red, sleeping shirt, and some dark blue pajama pants. Then I brushed my hair. I wasn't going to think about it again. When I got down stairs, Jacob was sitting on the comforter with a bowl of popcorn in his lap.
"Hey, Bells," he said, scooting over and patting the spot next to him.
"Hey, Jake," I said, heading over to the DVD player and popping in a movie.
"So, what movie did you put on?" he asked as I sat next to him.
I grinned, letting myself focus on something else.
"Well, I put on Lake House but I also have the Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Perfect Man, and 10 Things I Hate About You," I said, smirking.
Jacob didn't even bat an eye.
"Okay," he said, shrugging.
I pulled out the box of make up from behind my back.
"I also thought we could give each other a makeover," I suggested.
Jake shuddered in fear but tried to play it off.
"S-s-sure," he stuttered then got a mischievous look on his face.
"Like, totally," he said, in his fakest girl voice.
I laughed.
"Most girls don't actually talk like that," I said.
Jacob raised an eyebrow.
"Please, girlfriend," he scoffed, rolling his neck and waving his finger.
"I'm like totally in on the fabulous lady talk," he finished.
I laughed so hard that I was crying.
"Please, stop!" I begged, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Jacob huffed and flipped his hair off his shoulder.
"Like, whatever," he pouted.
I hit play on the DVD player before I could die from laughter. While Jake was watching Lake House, I went in the kitchen to check on the pizza. It was finished, so I went to get a knife and an oven mitt.
"Jake!" I called. "The pizzas ready!"
"I'll be right there! I just want to know what up with that mail box." He said.
I chuckled.
What was I going to do with him?
Jacob walked into the kitchen and he was at my side instantly, grabbing a plate.
"Awesome, honey," he said, grabbing the pan out of the oven without a mitt.
"Wait! Its still-," Jacob pulled the pan out and smiled.
"Hot," I finished, dropping the oven mitt and gripping the knife I still had in my hand, tighter.
Jacob looked at me curiously. I stared at the pan that was still smoking then back to Jacob who was standing there holding it like he couldn't feel a thing.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, when I continued to stare at him.
I shook my head.
"No…Um…could you put the pan on the table," I said, trying to stay calm.
He sat it down, and moved to the side. I started cutting the pizza into slices. Jacob picked up the oven mitt I had dropped. I took it from him with a nod of thanks.
"Thanks, Bells," he said, sincerely.
"You didn't have to go to this much trouble. I would have been happy with a bowl of popcorn." He said, grabbing the pizza.
I forced a smile.
"You are welcome," I said, my voice coming out high pitched.
Jacob snorted, thinking I did my voice like that on purpose.
"Let's go watch the movie, okay?" I said my voice weak.
Jacob smiled and nodded.
"Okay," he said, turning and walking back into the living room.
I stared at his back wondering why Jacob felt so far away all of a sudden.
I went to the fridge and pulled out the big tub of Neapolitan ice cream I had brought a few days ago. I walked into the living room and saw Jacob shoving a whole slice of pizza in his mouth.
"Has he been extremely hungry lately?"
Sam's warning came back and I stumbled and clumsily tripped over nothing.
Jacob burst out into hysterical laughter as the tub of ice cream flew out of my hands and he caught it.
I looked at Jacob with relief. When Jacob was laughing he looked so young and innocent. His laughter alleviated the tension Sam's visit brought.
"Good reflexes," I said, with a giggle, making my way to sit next to Jacob.
Jacob handed me a slice of pizza.
"We have enough food snacks to feed an army," Jacob said.
"You can never have too many snacks," I replied.
Jacob nodded.
"Good point," he said.
"So, what's been happening so far?" I asked, taking a bite of pizza.
Jacob smiled at me and reached over wiping my lip with his thumb. I stared at him, holding my breath, my heart in my throat. He leaned towards me and my eyes fluttered close. I felt his breath on my lips and then just as I puckered my lips to kiss him back I felt him move away.
I waited, but nothing happed. I opened my eyes and found Jacob holding out his thumb.
"Wha-?" I started, confused but Jacob interrupted me.
"You had tomato sauce on your lip," he said.
Jacob smirked and grabbed another slice of pizza. I blushed and looked down noticing Jacob was already on his fourth slice. I tried not to count but I couldn't help it.
Jacob picked up the remote and started the movie over.
"It's better you see it for yourself. I'd probably explain it wrong," he said.
I shrugged and picked at my pizza, not really hungry. I cooked as a distraction; I didn't actually plan to eat everything.
"Thanks," I muttered, setting the slice back down.
Jacob spent the rest of the movie pigging out on the couch. I glance over at him worried. He'd just had dinner.
I reached for a chocolate chip cookie at the same time Jacob did. Our fingers brushed and heat flowed through my hand. His skin was hot! Did he still have a fever?
We looked at each other for a long moment then Jacob raised an eyebrow.
"Thumb wrestle for it?" he suggested.
I nodded, grateful for some normalcy.
"Sure, sure," I agreed.
I tried to ignore the heat scorching my hand as we played. Jacob said he felt fine but if his fever didn't fade by the time Charlie got here I was dragging him to the hospital.
Finally, I managed to pin his thumb.
"Do you give?" I asked.
He gave me a serious look.
"Bella, I'll never give up when it comes to you," he said.
I blushed and while I was distracted, he pinned my thumb.
I glared at him.
"Best two out of three?" I said.
He nodded.
I beat him in less than ten seconds.
"Victory!" I exclaimed.
We cracked open the Neapolitan ice cream in celebration and Jacob went in the kitchen to grab spoons.
"Chocolate or Vanilla?" he asked.
I thought about it for a moment. Usually, it would be vanilla.
Always plain old boring vanilla.
But that was the old Bella.
"Chocolate," I said.
Jacob found sprinkles in the cabinet and poured them in the tub. We decided to meet in the middle and share the strawberry.
"I should invite Angela and Leah next time," I thought aloud.
Jacob nodded.
"It'll be just us girls," he said in a high pitched voice.
I slapped his arm.
"Shut up," I laughed.
Jacob stuck out his tongue. I grabbed some chips and threw them at him. Jacob opened his mouth and caught some of them.
"Thanks," he said.
I huffed, but inside I thought that was pretty cool. We popped in another movie and finished off the rest of the ice cream. I leaned back and relaxed facing the TV but secretly I was watching Jacob from the corner of my eye. He was single handedly finishing off the rest of the snacks and laughing at something on the screen.
He looked different than the boy I'd met on the beach long ago. He was taller, fitter, and there was something else that I couldn't put my finger on. I thought it was because he was maturing, getting older. But what if that wasn't it. What if Sam was doing something to him?
Jacob noticed me staring and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back. I loved Jacob. I could admit that to myself, even if I wasn't ready to say it aloud. Whatever Sam was doing, I couldn't let him drag Jacob into it.
I furrowed my brows.
But how could I stop him? He had already managed to drag Embry into his sick cult.
"Embry?" I asked just to make sure.
He nodded, the solemn expression on his face darkening.
I gasped.
"Oh my god! What happened to you?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"Life happened to me, Bella," he said darkly.
I flinched away from him and he sighed before straightening his shoulders.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Alright Bells, give them here," Jacob said.
I opened my eyes and stared at him confused.
"Your feet," he explained.
I realized that subconsciously I had been rubbing the arches of my feet during my inner monologue.
I shook my head.
"I'm fine," I said.
Jacob smirked.
"Are you sure? I give a mean foot massage, Bells." He said, holding up his thumbs and wiggling them in the air.
"My thumbs are magical," he boasted.
I laughed.
"Thanks but no thanks. My feet are really ticklish," I explained.
Jacob scoffed.
"I'm an expert," he said and circled my left ankle with one of his big, still burning, hands and pulled my foot into his lap.
"Hey!" I yelped.
Jacob laughed.
He started rubbing my foot and…
I'm not going to lie…it felt really good.
I fell back again the couch and closed my eyes. And not in frustration this time.
"Not ticklish?" he asked.
"No," I said.
I was in bliss.
Jacob laughed, the sound was like music to my soul, and I couldn't suppress the smile on my face. He massaged my left foot for 20 minutes then switched to my right. He rubbed the tension from my arches. I don't know how long he rubbed my right foot but I know that I was so relaxed I dozed off.
I was adrift in a peaceful lake. Floating away from all my problems.
There was no Victoria
There was no Laurent
There was no Sam.
It was just me and Jake lying on a raft with our eyes closed.
"Bella," he said softly.
"Hmm," I said, not opening my eyes.
"Bells?" he called again.
I was too tired to answer.
I heard a chuckle and felt someone kiss my forehead. That was odd because Jacob was the only one who was here and he was lying next to me.
"Wake up honey," Jacob said.
I cracked my eyes opened and found him standing over me while I lay on the couch.
"We should get you to bed." Jacob stood up and put his arm around my shoulder.
"I think I'm just going to stay on the couch." I yawned again. "I'm too tired to go upstairs."
My eyelids felt heavy, my body like a dead weight pulling me down. . Exhaustion from stress and over thinking had crept up on me; I sagged against Jacob and I was suddenly swept off of my feet without warning.
I gasped at the suddenness.
"Nope, not on my watch, we're taking you straight to bed young lady." Jacob smiled sweetly.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him carry me up the stairs to my bedroom.
He laid me on the bed and tucked me under the covers.
"Good night, Bella," he said.
I grabbed his arm.
"Don't go," I muttered.
"What?" he asked.
"You can sleep here," I suggested too tired to think straight.
"Are you sure, Bells?" he asked.
I nodded and yawned.
"Come on, lay down," I urged.
"Alright, if that's what you want." He said.
He lay down beside me and put his arms around my shoulders. His warmth surrounded me. And even though there was a chance that Sam had done something to him. There was a chance that he might be joining Sam's cult in the future I couldn't help feeling instantly comforted, like I did whenever Jake simply hugged me.
Better.
Much better.
I sighed and relaxed against him, resting my head on his chest. he snuggled to Jacob's chest and listened to his heart beat.
"Will you sing something for me?" I asked.
Jacob's arms tightened around me for a moment.
"What do you want to hear?" he asked.
I yawned.
"Anything," I said.
Jacob paused and took a deep breath.
"Okay, honey," he said.
"Much as you blame yourself,
You can't be blamed for the way that you feel
Had no example of a love,
That was even remotely real
How can you understand
Something that you never had?
Ooh, baby, if you let me,
I can help you out with all of that"
The song sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn't remember where I had heard it.
"Girl, let me love you,
And I will love you,
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl, let me love you,
I know your trouble
Don't be afraid,
Girl, let me help
Girl, let me love you,
And I will love you,
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl, let me love you,
A heart in numbness
Is brought to life,
I'll take you there"
"I can see the pain behind your eyes,
It's been there for quite a while
I just want to be the one
To remind you what it is to smile,
I would like to show you
What true love can really do
Girl, let me love you,
And I will love you,
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl, let me love you,
I know your trouble
Don't be afraid,
Girl, let me help
Girl, let me love you,
And I will love you,
Until you learn to love yourself
Girl, let me love you,
A heart in numbness
Is brought to life,
I'll take you there"
I fell asleep listening to Jacob sing out his feeling. A single tear fell down my cheek. I don't know why but I had a feeling that this would be the last song I ever heard Jacob sing to me for a long time.
"I love you too," I said, falling asleep before he could say anything.
Author's note: sorry for the long wait. Here the next chapter of let the healing begin. My birthday was last week so it took a little while to update.
Enjoy and don't forget to review. I'll be updating Daybreak soon.