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A Simple Plan
Billy silently handed Bella the glass of water. She took it from him gratefully, sipping it slowly, enjoying the feel of the cool liquid as it moistened her throat, chasing away the dryness.
"Thank you." She said, passing the glass back to Billy when it was empty.
"You're welcome, Bella." Billy smiled. He pulled out a seat at the kitchen table and motioned for her to sit down. "Now tell me what's got you so upset?" He asked, sitting down himself.
Bella sat across from him; her hands folded in her lap. This was really a conversation she should be having with Jacob, not his father, but Billy's understanding smile encouraged her to talk, and soon she found herself opening up to him about everything that had happened at school.
"Ah, Bella, high school can be rough." Billy sympathized when she came to the end of her tale. "It was bad enough in my day, but with the rise in social media, it has made it a whole lot tougher."
"I know I should just rise above it." Bella said wearily. "And I have been, but today, when I found out from Karen Newton that the Cullens were now hosting the dance, it just sent me spiraling. I know its ridiculous. I was just so looking forward to the dance, you know, a chance for me and Jake to put our worries aside for one evening and have fun like normal teenagers."
"I'm sorry, Bella." Billy said, his husky tones soothing. "I know Jake was looking forward to it as well. The Cullens are clearly trying to ingratiate themselves with the local community. It makes my blood boil, but money talks. I wish there was something I could do about it."
"I know." Bella agreed resignedly.
Billy reached out to her, patting her shoulder in empathy. "You should talk to Jake about how you're feeling, Bella. Please don't think you're adding to his burdens. He'd rather you be honest with him, then hide how much you're suffering. Its what couples do, they share they're problems."
Bella caught the wistful look in his dark eyes. She wondered if he was thinking of Sarah. He must miss his wife very much. Sarah had been gone for a long time now, but like Charlie, Billy had never moved on from the memory of his first love.
"Thanks for listening, Billy. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, Bella." Billy said with another warm smile. "I'm always here if you need me."
Jacob arrived home a little while later. As soon as he saw Bella, a wide smile stretched across his face, like the sun breaking free of the clouds. His teeth gleamed bright against his russet skin. "You're here early. I can't believe it!"
He ran over to her, picking her and swinging her around joyfully, before laughing and putting her down again. Then they were both jumping up and down like little kids.
Billy laughed to himself at all the commotion, reveling in their happiness at being reunited. "Ah, young love." He mused to himself. "There's nothing quite like it."
Bella and Jacob started walking, too keyed up to sit still in the house. Jacob was practically bouncing as he moved, and Bella had to remind him a few times that her legs weren't ten feet long.
As they walked, Bella felt her tension begin to fade away. Just being with Jacob made her feel a whole lot better. His warm, sunny presence was the perfect antidote to soothe her troubled heart. Their exuberance lasted through the first few topics of conversation: how much they missed each other, what was going on with the pack, how long they had before Jacob had to leave on another patrol.
But as they ambled to the back of the store and shoved through the thick scrub that ringed the far edge of First Beach, they got to the hard parts. All too soon Bella found herself taking Billy's advice and confiding in Jacob about how much she was struggling.
Jacob comforted her as only he knew how. He put his arms around her, holding her close, and rubbing soothing circles on her lower back. Bella rested her head against his chest, listening to the sound of his steady heartbeat, it was like a tranquilizer, making her feel relaxed and calm.
Afterwards they sat on the beach, holding hands, and looking out toward the ocean. Bella loved it here, her eyes moved from sand to stone, from rock pools to breaking waves. The sun had broken through the clouds, its gentle rays warming her face. She inhaled the briny aroma coming off the water, smiling to herself as she rested her head on Jacob's shoulder. The gulls sailed in the sky, their feathered wings ruffling in the light breeze, their harsh cries mere background noise. Bella felt peaceful, now that she was with Jacob again, like nothing could touch her.
Unfortunately, they couldn't stay there forever, however much they wanted to. As the sun drifted back behind the ever-moving clouds, Jacob reluctantly pulled Bella back to her feet.
"Is it that time already?" She sighed.
"I'm afraid so." Jacob put his arm around her shoulder, sighing, too. As they walked along the shoreline, he kicked a piece of driftwood out of his way with too much force. It sailed over the sand and clattered against the rocks.
Bella glanced up at him, sensing his anger. "I get it, Jake." She whispered.
"Its not fair, Bella. The Cullens destroy everything. That dance was our one chance to relax and have some fun- and now the leeches have ruined it."
"I know." Bella took a deep breath, the reality of her disappointment sinking in. "Sometimes I feel like they changed the venue on purpose just to get at me…or us. I know I'm being ridiculous."
Jacob's face puckered up like he had just licked a lemon. "Maybe not. It would just be the kind of petty thing they would do. Edward must have told them about our confrontation. It seems too coincidental that they stepped in so soon afterwards and offered to host the dance at their place." He fumed.
Bella was surprised by this take on things. What he said had a ring of truth about it. Edward had made it well known how opposed he was to their being together. Perhaps, as Jacob said, he had been influential in persuading the coven leader to intervene, thus preventing them from spending quality time together.
"You know I have a good mind just to go anyway, just to piss the vamps off, and prove that nothing they do can get to us." Jacob declared suddenly.
Bella did a double take. She was left scrambling for a minute, trying to catch up on his thought process, wondering whether he was just sounding off, or was being serious.
"Do you mean that?" She asked curiously.
Jacob stared down at Bella for a moment, assessing her reaction carefully. "Yes, I mean it."
"You'd actually attend this thing? Even after everything?"
Jacob's face relaxed, and his voice was calmer when he spoke, now that he saw Bella wasn't intimidated by the whole idea.
"Why not? I'm a protector. I can't just let the whole town walk into the leeches' crypt without following through on my duty."
Bella's chocolate brown eyes opened wide at this statement. She hadn't taken that into account before. None of the good citizens of Forks knew just what risks they were undertaking, attending the dance, with no knowledge just how dangerous their hosts could be under their civilized veneer. They did need protecting, even from their own ignorant stupidity.
Jacob smiled, arrogant, knowing exactly what was going through Bella's mind. "We'll take the whole pack with us. They wanted chaperones-well they're about to get the werewolf kind."
Bella couldn't help but smile at his wicked planning. "Well, I didn't want to have to disappoint Angela." She mused. "This way we can still double date, while you and Embry carry out your duty."
Jacob walked over to a huge, familiar piece of driftwood-an entire tree, roots and all, bleached white and beached deep in the sand, it was their tree, in a way.
Jacob sat down on the natural bench, and patted the space next to him. "Yes." He agreed with a smug smile. "It will show the Cullens that we can play games just as well as they can, and also having the advantage of showing us presenting a united front. Just imagine how pissed off Edward Cullen will be when he's forced to see us together for the whole evening."
Bella laughed at the self-satisfied smile on his face. "And Alice won't see us coming." She reminded him gleefully.
"I forgot the fortune telling bloodsucker can't see us." Jacob leaned forward, instantly animated. "That's excellent. It will give us the element of surprise. I love it when a plan comes together." He leaned down to scoop up a rock. He turned it over and over in his fingers, his eyes turning thoughtful. "You know this will give us a good chance to snoop around. To see what the leeches might be hiding."
Bella's eyes flashed up to his, worry taking over her face. "You have to be careful, Jake. The Cullens are cunning. Don't forget, when you're inside the house, Edward will be able to read your mind. So, if you are going to snoop, you'll need to conceal your thoughts."
Jacob grimaced. "I haven't forgotten. I'll order the guys to keep their thoughts hidden."
He looked toward the shore. An eagle was in the act of plummeting down toward the ocean from an incredible height. It checked itself at the last minute, only its talons breaking the surface of the waves, just for an instant. Then it flapped away, its wings straining against the load of the huge fish it had snagged.
"You see it everywhere." Jacob mused; his voice suddenly distant. "Nature taking its course-hunter and prey, the endless cycle of life and death."
It worried Bella, the way he said that, like he was expecting trouble. But then he gazed at her with dark humor in his eyes.
"And yet, you don't see the fish trying to plant a kiss on the eagle. You never see that." He said mockingly.
"No, you don't, thankfully." Bella responded with a tight smile. "It goes against everything that's natural."
"Like vampires." Jacob muttered.
"Yes, just like vampires." Bella repeated worriedly.
Jacob shook himself, throwing off his melancholy mood, he smiled warmly. Picking up Bella's hand, he pressed it to his fever-warm chest. Through his t-shirt, she could feel the steady beating of his heart under her palm.
"I love you, Bella, honey."
"Oh, Jake, I love you, too." Bella whispered, reaching for his hand.
She would do anything for him. Anything. Even walking into a den of gifted, bloodthirsty vampires. It was a risk they were taking, but a necessary one. And really, what trouble could they get into, with the whole town of Forks there to act as witnesses? No, this was an opportunity that couldn't be missed. An opportunity to see the Cullens in their natural habitat. A chance to take the coven off guard, and like Jacob said, show them that the La Push pack would not be intimidated by any action of theirs and were a forced to be reckoned with.
A/N-thanks for reading!