Back to the Start
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
The Final Gift
The afternoon passed quickly after that. School ended, and Bella walked out to find Jacob waiting by her truck. She smiled happily as she ran over to him, only tripping twice, she was soon in his arms, enjoying another birthday kiss.
"You are spoiling me." She declared breathlessly when the kiss was over.
Jacob laughed as he held open the passenger door for her.
"You're driving?" Bella asked. She folded her arms and made no move to get out of the rain. "Its my birthday, don't I get to drive?"
Jacob rolled his eyes. "Okay, if that's what you want."
Bella looked at him curiously. "You're up to something, Jacob Black."
Jacob just smiled as he shut the passenger door and walked past Bella to open the driver's side instead. "Happy birthday."
"Ssh." Bella shushed him halfheartedly as she saw Mike and Eric walking by. She climbed in the opened door and he shut it behind her.
Jacob fiddled with the radio while Bella drove, shaking his head in disapproval. "I forgot this radio had such bad reception." He complained.
Bella frowned in annoyance. She didn't like it when anyone dissed her truck. It surprised her that he would say something so negative, knowing how protective she was of the old Chevy. It was very unlike him.
"You want a nice stereo? Fit one in your own car." She snapped in a fit of pique.
Her words came out much sharper than she intended. She was hardly bad tempered around Jacob these days, and her tone made him press his lips together to keep from smiling.
Oh, yes, he was up to something. She could tell.
When she parked her truck in front of her house, Jacob reached over to take her face in his hands. The warmth from his touch made her immediately relax. "You should be in a good mood today, today of all days? He said huskily. "Did something happen at school?"
"Oh, it was just Jessica and Lauren being their usual bitchy selves. I normally ignore them, its just for some reason today, it got to me." Bella admitted. "I'm sorry I took it out on you."
"Its okay." Jacob soothed, pressing a light kiss onto her forehead. His warm breath fanned across her face as he drew back, his dark eyes smoldering as he gazed into hers. "Feel better now?"
Bella's breathing was already uneven, just from the way he was looking at her. Her heart did a little flip flop in her chest, her head starting to spin, as Jacob leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. As he intended, no doubt, Bella forgot all her worries, and concentrated on remembering on how to inhale and exhale.
His mouth lingered on hers: warm, caressing, gentle. A promise of more to come later. He was about to pull away again when Bella drew him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and threw herself into the kiss with a little too much enthusiasm. She could feel Jacob's lips curve upward as he let go of her face and reached back to unlock her grip on him.
"As much as I'd love to have a make out session right now, Bella, honey." He chuckled. "I'd rather not do it in full view of Charlie."
"What?" Bella mumbled, confused. She followed the direction of his gaze and immediately flushed a bright red when she saw Charlie standing on the front porch, glaring at them in disapproval, before turning and disappearing inside the house.
Bella's pulse was thudding in her ears. She put a hand over her heart. It drummed hyperactively under her palm. "That was so embarrassing! Jacob, why didn't you warn me?"
"I was a bit preoccupied." Jacob laughed. "Don't worry, honey. Charlie will get over it."
"But I might not." Bella said gloomily.
"Don't be so negative." Jacob laughed again, clearly enjoying her discomfiture.
"This is so not funny, Jacob." Bella continued to whine as she climbed out of the truck. "I doubt I'll ever be able to look my father in the eyes ever again."
"Its no big deal, honey. It won't be the last time Charlie will see us kissing. He'll get used to it." Jacob didn't see what the big deal was. He thought Bella was overreacting just a little. Of course, Charlie was a little more conservative than Billy was, but he knew they were dating, he had to expect they were going to indulge in a little PDA now and again.
Bella sighed. "I suppose." She conceded doubtfully.
Jacob sprawled across the couch while Bella started the movie, fast forwarding it to the opening credits. When she perched on the edge of the sofa in front of him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. His body was more comfortable than a sofa cushion would be, the warmth exuding from his hot skin better than any space heater.
"You know I must really love you to sit through this." Jacob teased lightly as Romeo made his first appearance on screen.
Bella poked him in the ribs playfully. "Its not my choice for an afternoon's entertainment, either. Blame my English teacher."
Jacob studied the screen, trying to make sense of all the romantic entanglements. "This Romeo guy is an idiot." He remarked halfway through.
"What's wrong with Romeo?" Bella asked, a little offended. Romeo was one of her favorite fictional characters.
"Well, first of all, he's in love with this Rosaline – don't you think that makes him a bit fickle?"
"I suppose it does." Bella agreed after giving it a little thought.
"And then, a few minutes after their wedding, he kills Juliet's cousin. That's not very bright. He makes one stupid mistake after another. He destroys his own happiness. Like I said, the guy is an idiot."
Bella sighed, finding herself agreeing with his point of view. Jacob was right, Romeo was an idiot. She immediately scrubbed him off her checklist of romantic heroes. "Shall I turn this off?"
"Nah." Jacob grinned. "I'll be mostly watching you anyway." His fingers traced patterns across the skin of her arm, making her tingle all over. "Will you cry?"
"Possibly." Bella admitted. "If I'm paying attention."
"I won't distract you, then." Jacob said, immediately doing just that as he pressed his lips into her hair.
Charlie appeared then, causing Bella to abruptly sit up in a more formal posture, shifting to the side a little to put some room between her and Jacob. She still hadn't gotten over her earlier embarrassment from when Charlie caught them kissing.
Jacob laughed again, clearly amused by the whole thing. He reached out and took hold of her hand firmly. "I'm sure holding hands isn't breaking any rules of etiquette." He whispered.
"Hey, kids." Charlie was holding a pizza box in his hands. He avoided Bella's eyes as she avoided his. "I thought you'd like a break from cooking and washing dishes on your birthday. Hungry?"
"Sure. Thanks, Dad."
Charlie nodded at Jacob, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Um… is tonight still on?" He asked.
Jacob glanced down at Bella, looking suddenly sheepish. "Yes."
"What's going on?" Bella demanded suspiciously.
Jacob sighed heavily and shook his head. "It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Bells doesn't like surprises." Charlie cut in.
Jacob glanced up at the older man, realizing that Charlie had dropped him in it intentionally, maybe in revenge for the whole making out in the truck thing. Who knew the police chief could be so petty?
"Jacob?" Bella questioned, her eyes narrowing. "What have you done?"
Jacob gave Charlie a sour look. "It's nothing big. I just invited a few friends over for the evening, you know, to help celebrate your special day. You're only eighteen once, Bella. Don't be mad!" He pleaded.
"What do you mean by a few?"
"You know the guys- Embry, Sam, Jared and Paul. Sam is bringing Leah. The olds will be there -like my dad, Harry and his wife Sue, and Seth of course. That's it, honey, I swear."
"And me." Charlie added with a grin.
Jacob smiled, triumphant, and took Bella's hand to pull her from the kitchen. "No washing up on your birthday." He chided her.
Bella glanced behind her as he towed her out of the house. She hated the thought of leaving dirty dishes in the sink. Charlie tagged along behind, locking up as they headed to the truck. He was going to follow them to La Push in the cruiser.
When they got to the truck, Jacob opened the passenger door for Bella again, and this time she didn't argue. Jacob drove through Forks, keeping rigidly to the speed limit with the cruiser following on his tail. The engine groaned in protest as he pushed it over fifty.
"Take it easy." Bella warned him.
"Sorry." Jacob apologized, doing little to hide his frustration at the truck's slowness.
It turned out to be a bonfire party. All the guys that made up the pack were there, including the newest addition, Quil Ateara. Quil had phased a week earlier. Unlike the other members of the pack, he was happy about becoming a wolf, and finally having his friends back and understanding what was going on. It made his transition much smoother than the others.
As soon as Quil spotted Bella he jumped to his feet, giving her a high five as he wished her a happy birthday, and kissing her on the cheek. He laughed as Jacob glared at him in annoyance. Quil was soon replaced with Embry, who caught her hand in a gentle squeeze.
"Happy birthday, Bella."
"Thanks, Em." Bella smiled.
One by one the others came to greet her- Leah and Sam were the last-the latter pressed a small package in Bella's hands.
"That's from all of us. Its only something small." Sam said with a small smile. "Jake told us that you don't like receiving gifts. But we had to mark the occasion somehow."
"We all clubbed together to buy you this." Jared added, coming up to stand beside them.
"Some gave more than others." Leah remarked, her gaze narrowing in Paul's direction.
Paul just shrugged, biting off a chunk of hotdog he had skewered on a wire hanger. Leah scowled at him irritably.
Bella felt her cheeks turn pink with pleasure. She knew money was pretty tight for some of the guys, so the fact that they had donated what little they had for her birthday just made the gesture all the more touching.
"Thank you so much!"
Bella took the little package, sticking her finger under the edge of the paper and jerking it under the tape. It came apart easily. She handed the silver wrapping paper to Jacob, holding the little square box in her hands reverently. She could already feel the tears welling up.
"Well open it, girl." Leah said impatiently.
Bella blinked back her tears, smiling ruefully. Then lifting off the lid, she gazed down at the fine silver chain encased in purple velvet inside. Attached to the chain was a small pendant, with the words 'wolf girl' engraved in italic text.
"We thought it would match the silver bracelet Jake gave you." Leah explained. "Although why they wanted wolf girl inscribed on it, I don't know." She rolled her eyes.
"Hush, Lee, you'll find out its meaning soon enough." Sam said cryptically.
"So, you keep saying." Leah muttered as he caught her hand and towed her away.
"Happy birthday, Bella." Jared said again as he followed them.
Bella glanced up at Jacob, her curious brown eyes full of questions. "What did Sam mean when he said Leah would know its meaning soon enough?" She whispered.
The fire crackled behind them, settling lower to the ground. Sparks blew up in a brilliant puff of orange against the black sky. The sun was already beginning to set.
"Okay, you know when I asked you what you'd really love for your birthday?" Jacob began.
Bella's eyes widened in remembrance. "I said that I would love not to have to lie to Charlie anymore, that he could be let in on all the secrets."
"Yeah." Jacob smiled down at Bella lovingly. "Well, honey, your wish is going to come true. This bonfire isn't only a celebration of your birthday, it's also a council meeting."
"You mean…? "Bella couldn't even finish the thought.
"Yes. It took a bit of persuasion, but the elders finally agreed it was time. So, tonight is the night, honey. Charlie and the other family members are going to finally be told the truth."
A/N-thanks for reading!