BONFIRE
I stopped by the station on the way home. When I got there I went directly to Charlie's office, "Hey dad." I said as I knocked on the door frame.
"Jen, is something wrong?" He asked looking up concerned
"Oh no I was just stopping by on my way home. Bella and I ran into Jake at the store he invited us to a bonfire down on the reservation tonight." I said as I leaned against the door frame.
"That was nice of him," he said as he placed a file to the side, "I don't get off until 6, I'll head out there as soon as I'm done. I'll see you when I get there?"
"Yeah, we'll see you there," I turned to leave but quickly turned back and added, "I'm cleaning out the cupboards and fridge; I'm getting rid of all that junk."
He laughed, "What did you expect Jen? I'm a cop did you really be expect me to be this amazing cook?"
I laughed to, "Oh god no, I know you could probably burn water. Well I'll see you later."
I said good bye and left as soon as I got home I unloaded my car and put everything away before going to change for the bonfire.
I hadn't gone shopping yet so my choices were limited. I decided to go comfortable; I pulled out my favorite black skinny jeans, a dark yellow cami, and my black zip up hoodie and laid them on my bed and went to take a shower.
I got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around me, I blow dried and brushed my hair, and I chose not to straighten it like I usually do. I went in my room and got dressed; I was pulling on my favorite and only pair of converse when Bella came in.
"You ready to go?" she asked leaning against the door frame
"Yeah, are we taking your truck or my car?" I asked standing up
"Do you mind if we take my truck?"
"No that's fine let me just grab my bag." She went down stairs and I grabbed my bag off the hook where I kept it as I followed her. We drove down to the reservation in silence it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was just how we were if something needed to be said we would say it.
"We're meeting up with Jake at his house then we'll walk down to the beach together." Bella said as we pulled up to hi house.
I nodded and hopped out I left my purse in the truck I figure I wouldn't need it on the beach I made sure I had my phone before walking up to Jake's porch.
He must have heard the truck because he came rushing out before we even got to the porch steps.
"Hey, Bella, Jen," He greeted us excitedly as he gave us each a bone crushing hug.
"Um, Jake can't breathe," I said with a gasp
He put me down, "Oops sorry, well you guys ready? Everyone's already down on the beach. The bonfire won't start for an hour or so but some of the guys are down there playing Frisbee and tossing the football around."
We made our way down to the beach the first thing I noticed was Embry he was down by the water with 3 other guys who oddly enough were just as huge as Jake and Embry. What is in the water down here?
Before I realized I was doing it I found myself walking towards him. It was like there was an invisible rope tied around my waist pulling me in his direction. When I was halfway to him he looked up in my direction like his name had been called.
He grinned and started jogging up the beach to meet me, "Hey Jen, glad you could make it. Come on I want to introduce you to everyone, I think you know most of them but it's been awhile." He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the group of people who had been setting up wood for the bonfire.
"Hey Em, who's this?" the bigger of the guys asked as we approached
"This is Jen Swan she's one of Charlie's daughters," He replied then proceeded to introduce everyone, "Jen this is, Sam," He gestured to the one who asked who I was. "That's Emily she's Sam's fiancee, then there's Jared and Kim, and that's Quil, and that's Paul."
They said high and smiled well except Paul he looked mad for some reason but not at me just in general.
After a while everyone got into a rhythm, Emily and Kim went to set up the food while most of the guys got up to start a game of ultimate Frisbee. I decided to join them it sounded like fun.
"Hey Embry can I join you?" I asked as I joined them.
"Yeah sure you can be on Quil and Paul's team their short a person since Jake bailed."
"Where did he go?" I asked
"He and Bella went up to his house to get his dad, you remember Billy right?"
"Um yeah, how his he last I heard he wasn't doing too good." I asked concerned
"He's better but he needs to be in a wheelchair now though but he doesn't complain. You know how he is." He said grinning
"Yeah I do he's a bit stubborn. Anyways let's play be prepared to lose." I said as I ran backwards towards Paul and Quil.
When I got to them, they high fived me and then the game started.
As the game progressed each throw got harder and harder to catch but at the same time our catches made us look like acrobats we were diving and jumping, at one point Paul had lifted me up to catch one that was really high not even he could have caught it. In the end my team had won, I was in the middle of high fiving Quil and Paul when suddenly two huge arms grabbed me around the middle and picked me up and spun me around.
It took me a second to realize it was Embry, "Embry Call you put me down right now!" I shouted and laughed at the same time.
"Oh, no you need to pay for not letting me win!" he growled with a grin
I suddenly realized he was making his way towards the water, "Don't you dare! I told you that you would lose, it's not my fault you're a sore loser!" I shouted slapping his back, "You better put me down!"
He instantly complied putting me down facing him, we were both breathing fast and our faces were inches apart and his hands were still on my waist. It's like everything fell away we kept staring into each other's eyes when suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throught pulled us out of it. I turned my head away and blushed.
It had been Quil who had interrupted the moment, "Um, Jake says foods ready." He seemed to be sorry that he had interrupted us.
"Um, yeah we're coming." Embry said as he wound his hand with mine, I didn't pull my hand away; our hands seemed to fit, like a puzzle.
We made our way back up to the fire. Embry led me to a spot next to Billy, "I'll be right back I'm just going to get us some food."
When he was gone Billy turned to me, "So how are you, Jen? You know Charlie was very excited when you girls decided to come up here and live with him."
"I'm good Billy, and yeah I know honestly it wasn't a hard decision to make, I've always felt out of place in Phoenix. That and I hated seeing my mom unhappy when Phil went out of town so when Bella suggested it I was all for it. How are you though?" I asked glancing over to his chair he was sitting on a log caved out like a chair, I guess getting his wheelchair out on the sand was a bit hard.
"Oh, I'm fine honey, I'm still dancing." He said as he grinned.
I laughed, "I bet you are, and how are Rachael and Rebecca?" On our summer visits when we were younger Charlie and Billy Always threw the four of us together despite the fact that Billy's girls were 3 years older, I think the main reasons we were girls and also because Racheal and Rebecca were also twins.
He frowned but quickly fixed his face, "Oh their good you know them free spirits and all, Rachael got full scholarship to university of Washington, and Rebecca got married about a year ago and moved to Hawaii." He tried to act proud of them but I could tell he was sad.
I patted him on the shoulder, "Well I'm here for you Billy." I said giving him a grin.
Just then Embry came back with a plate piled high with hot dogs and another with some buns, "Um, Embry I can only maybe eat 2, 3 max, who's going to eat the rest?"
He laughed, "Um, there for me I have a high metabolism. All of us guys do it kind of comes with the growth spurt." He shrugged and sat down. It was then that I noticed the roasting sticks.
"Oh, I love roasting hot dogs over a fire it gives it extra flavor." I gave him a smile as I grabbed the stick he was holding out to me. He just laughed to himself and my smile got wider. This had been the best night so far I felt like I belonged I no longer felt out of place.