The next day, I found myself driving through a familiar street.
Apparently, Jacob and his family had moved down here too.
While I did know this and would visit often, it had been a while since the last visit.
The house looked exactly like the one they had back in Washington, except for the color. And the fact that it was just a little bigger.
I wiped my clammy hands on my pants as I parked in the driveway.
Taking a moment to breathe before slowly making my way up to the house.
There were banners in Jacob's honor hanging. His family must be proud of him.
"Hello? Jake?" I called as I knocked on the door, smiling.
As the door opened slowly, the smile dropped from my face.
"Oh. Hello, you're not Jacob." I said.
He smiled before crossing his arms over his chest. "So, what happens to men in the future? Is it a plague? Robot wars?" He asked sarcastically.
I smiled, cynically at him. "Do you really wanna know? It doesn't end well for the bros." I replied.
His eyes flickered to the driveway, and a shocked expression grazed his face. "Is that your car?" He asked.
I turned to look, before smiling angelically at him. "My Lexus? Yeah." I replied sarcastically before pushing past him.
Jacob was standing behind him, listening to our interaction.
"Hi. Dude, the banners." I told him.
"Come on in." He said smiling, before pulling me into a hug.
"Your parents are so proud." I said, hugging him back.
"Oh, you know my mom." He told me, as he stepped back.
I heard the door close, and I rubbed my neck to try to ease away the ball of tension I felt from there from all the stress, as I followed him towards the kitchen.
Behind us, Edward sighed, and began to follow us, until I turned to look at him."Would you mind giving us a minute?" I asked, politely.
His eyes flickered towards Jacob's, before sighing, "Of course." He mumbled before turning away.
"Thanks." I heard Jacob's say before turning towards me.
As he did, I looked up and saw another banner pinned to the doorway, "Aww."
Jacob turned back giving me an embarrassed look, and reaching up to smack it lightly. "Hey. Yeah, uh, my mom's going a little crazy with the goodbyes." He mumbled as he led me towards the kitchen table.
I raised a brow, as I followed him.
"Leave's over. We're heading back to base camp today." He explained, as he moved around and made his way towards the fridge. "Hey, you hungry? Want something?" He asked as he raised the fridge and pulled some stuff out. Sliding a can of pop towards me.
"No, I'm good." I replied.
He came back with a bag of chips and another can. "So, what's the big question, girl?" He asked me as he plopped down into the chair.
I smiled tightly, before leaning forward. "It's, uh…. It's going to sound a little crazy." I told him.
He raised a brow, but nodded, as he served himself some chips on a styrofoam plate. "I'm ready." He said.
I nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I was wondering…" I began before sighing and gathering my nerves. "I was hoping that you might marry me." I finally said.
He began laughing, "What?" He asked, through his chuckles.
"I'm serious." I told him.
He looked at me before we both started laughing.
"Are you okay?" He asked through his laughter.
The smile dropped from my face, "Not exactly. Um… I found out six months ago that I have diabetes. Type 1. And, uh… Get this. Oh, the insurance I have…doesn't actually cover the insulin that I need to like… live." I laugh, "So, I can either pay off my debt or pay my rent, but I just… I can't do both." I told him.
The smile he held on his face dropped as he stared at me in concern. "I'm so sorry." He whispered.
"But wait, that's not all. I'm like there's got to be another way, right?" I tell him, before removing my bag and pulling out my phone. "Turns out there is." I told him, as I moved my fingers across the screen.
He leaned over in his seat to look at what I was doing.
"Your friend, the one from the other night, gave me the idea when you guys came to the bar. Marine spouses get full health benefits. And we get extra pay just for being married. Like basic housing allowance and separation pay, which adds up to be pretty decent, and we could split it, and everybody would win. What do you think?" I asked, he gave me a thoughtful expression. "Take your time." I told him, smiling hopefully.
A second later the back door burst open and Edward walked in.
"I'm sorry. My dad's a retired MP." He told us.
I turned to look at him, "Excuse me. Private discussion." I retorted, turning away.
"MP is the Military Police." Jake told me.
"Jacob, this is a common scam. They kick the tires on these things, and if they find out it's not real, it's fraud. Come on, man. I mean, you're better than this." Edward said.
I narrowed my eyes, "Okay, no one asked you, so could you not? And why wouldn't this be a real marriage?" I asked, looking at Jake.
"I don't know, maybe because you're not in love?" Edward asked sarcastically.
"Uhh-- But we respect each other. We're not in love, but we love each other." I told him.
Jacob sighs and smiles, shaking his head at me.
"We'd be able to sleep with other people, which sounds like the healthiest marriage ever." I added, smirking.
"You'd be ripping off the government." Edward pointed out.
I sighed, "I'd be ripping off the government?" I repeated, dryly.
"Yeah." Edward replied.
I stood upright, moving towards him, "You mean the government that made my mom pay taxes for ten years before giving her the right to vote? That government?" I asked.
"So your mom was living here illegally then?" He asked, in surprise.
I scoffed, "Don't tell em you're a resident of Southern California that does not see how this state was built off the backs of illegal immigrants. Like my mom, who crossed that border, lived here for ten years, worked their asses off for ten years, paying taxes for your government, and were treated like less than citizens. Yeah, I will proudly rip off the government." I say, poking his chest with my finger, angrily. "You got anything else to say, Commando?" I snipped.
"Dude, this is a trap." Jake says, chuckling at his expression, "This will not end well for you." He warned.
Edward gave him a side eye glance, "I was just trying to help." He said, before turning back around and heading into the backyard again.
"Mmm." I replied. "Thanks for your help." I told him as he left, moving to close the door.
"Why is he even here?" I asked Jake as I turned around.
"He's my bunkmate." He told me. "He's got nowhere else to stay while we are on leave. Please play nice." He added, giving me pleading look.
I sighed, hitting my chin once before looking at him, hopeful. "So?" I asked.
He sighed, before giving me an apologetic look, "Bells, I can't. Okay? I'm —I'm sorry." He said. "Besides, I don't think my girlfriend's gonna understand me having a wife." He adds amused.
I gasped, in surprised excitement. "Wait. What? You got back together with Tanya?" I asked.
He smiles, "Yeah. Yeah. And I'm— I'm all in." He replies.
I smile, "I remember when you met her, like, in fifth grade." I say, smiling at him. "That's great." I added.
He sighs, giving me an apologetic look.
"That's crazy." I laugh, before turning to grab my bag, looking at the time. " Well, I should go. There are tourists to be shuttled and food to be delivered." I told him as I pulled my bag's strap onto my shoulder.
"Bells, you know if I had the money —" he began.
"No, Jake, please stop. I'll figure it out." I told him, as I moved to leave.
"Stay safe, okay?" I whispered as he got up and hugged me.
"Yeah, you too." He replied, looking at me concerned.
"Bye." I told him, as I left.
As I exited the house, I felt someone looking at me. I didn't think much of it, because Jake's family arrived.
Billy and Sarah exited the car with a bag full of groceries, followed by his little brother Seth.
"Bella, long time no see. Too long." Billy said, smiling as he pulled me into a hug, followed by Sarah and Seth.
My mind briefly went to the past, remembering all those times I spent with the Black's while my mother was working late. The brief nostalgia hit me as I remembered and yearned to go back to those days.
"It has. It's nice to see you guys but I really have to get to work." I told them before heading to my car.
Seth smiled and waved before rushing inside trying to be secretive.
A moment later I heard them enter the house as I slowly pulled out of the driveway and headed in the direction of the bar.
"Well, so much for hope." I mumbled as I drove back.