The front door slamming shut woke Bella from a dead sleep. She looked around bleary-eyed and rubbed her eyes. Black streaks on her fingers made her groan. Probably looking like a raccoon right now. Ugh.
Bella carefully opened Jacob's bedroom door and peeked out to see if Billy was home. She tiptoed to the kitchen to look around the corner, expecting to find Billy or Jacob. Instead, she discovered Quil rummaging through the fridge with a leftover slice of pizza dangling from his teeth as he sought a specific soda can in the back.
"Hey," she whispered, unsure if Jacob was awake. "Where were you last night? Are you okay?"
Quil bonked the back of his head on the freezer door and rubbed it as he stood up straight. He tore the pizza slice away and chewed as he nodded. After swallowing, he said, "I'm fine. I just needed some time to myself yesterday. Sorry."
"That's okay," Bella said as she walked over and hugged him. Quil's massive arm slung around her narrow shoulders and gave her a slight squeeze. His hand slid down her back to her hip in a side hug as he took another bite and suddenly coughed in surprise. His eyes widened as he looked down and laughed.
Smirking as he moved to lean against the kitchen counter, Quil asked, "What the hell did you two get up to last night?" He glanced down and nodded toward her legs.
Bella looked down at her bare legs under her t-shirt and blushed scarlet as Quil laughed again. She always slept with her jeans on if she unexpectedly spent the night with her boys. Bella was so used to sleeping in shorts at home that she hadn't noticed her pantslessness.
"Ugh, of all things…" She silently thanked the universe that they covered her ass, at least. She turned to stomp back to Jacob's room to retrieve her jeans.
His mouth full, Quil mumbled, "Nice undies, Bells."
"Don't look, you sicko," She yelled back at him and shut Jacob's bedroom door. Quil's roar of laughter would wake Jacob, she knew.
Bella slid into her jeans and stomped to the bathroom to pee and freshen up. She gasped at her reflection, noting her smudged eyeliner and kiss-swollen lips. Her cheeks were still pink when she reentered the kitchen afterward, finding Jacob and Quil teasing one another at the table with the leftover pizza between them. Bella reached over Jacob's shoulder to grab a slice, glaring into Quil's amused face.
"Awe, Bells. Don't get your panties in a wad," Quil teased, making her cough as she tried to take a bite. A black olive flew off the slice at her lips and struck her cousin in the forehead, leaving a perfect ring of marinara sauce in its wake. It took a while for the three to stop laughing before Bella began eating.
Quil sighed as he wiped the ring from his forehead. "I needed that laugh, Bells. Thanks."
"Anytime," she muttered around her mouth full of food.
He grinned at her mischievously, glancing toward Jacob and back. "So, you never answered my question earlier."
Before shoving another slice between his lips, Jacob asked, "What question?"
Bella reached for a second slice of pizza to set aside before they devoured it all, leaned down by Jacob's ear, and whispered, "Quil wants to know what we were up to last night." She couldn't help but laugh as she sat in the chair at his opposite side, watching him grin as his ears turned red.
Jacob leaned toward her and asked, "You just couldn't stand being the only one embarrassed, could you?"
"If I go down, I'm taking you with me," Bella teased, playfully nudging his shin with cold, bare toes.
Quil sighed, gaining their attention as he grumbled, "So, I saw Embry yesterday morning."
Bella nearly dropped her pizza crust as she turned toward him. "Yeah? W-what happened? I mean… Did you talk at all?"
"No." Quil scowled, absently staring out the kitchen window. "It was entirely by accident. I was walking to school, looked up from the road, and suddenly there he was!" Quil held up his hand as if gesturing toward the Embry in his memory. "Our eyes locked, and we both just… fucking stood there for a second. It was like… like everything just froze for a second. As soon as I opened my mouth to say his name, there was this loud fucking howl… and he just… turned around and ran into the fucking woods."
Quil seemed to come back to himself as he slowly turned to look at them. "I tried to follow him, but he was just… gone. Like a fucking ghost, you guys."
Bella leaned over to rub Quil's arm, attempting to comfort him. The Cullen's had taught her how abandonment felt, but she didn't have to risk running into them and getting blatantly ignored. Sympathy turned to anger as Quil blinked back tears and looked away.
His temper rising, Jacob griped, "I don't know what the hell is going on with him and Sam's little… gang they have going on. But I'm going to find out. I will make him talk to me."
Sarcastically, Quil asked, "And do what, Jake? Fight with your dad some more? According to him, Sam's the bees fucking knees."
Quil's feverish arm trembled, and Bella instinctively pulled her hand back as she lamented, "Sam's a jerk. When I saw Embry, it was rather obvious Sam wouldn't allow Embry to tell me anything about what they were doing together. Like Sam gets to call the shots for Embry now."
"I can't take it," Quil said, the far-off look returning to his face. "My best friend will not fucking talk to me at all. I feel like I've lost my right arm or something. Nothing feels right…"
"Speaking of…" Bella asked, "How's the fever?"
Quil scoffed. "Still hanging around. I don't get that either. Mom made me go to the clinic on Thursday after school, too. That was not a fun experience. Super fucking awkward."
Clearly already knowing the story, Jacob chuckled and nodded.
Bella asked, "Why? What happened?"
Quil's trembling calmed somewhat as he grinned, turning toward her. As he gestured between himself and Jacob, he said, "She insists there must be something wrong with us since we both feel like shit lately. The doctor said it's just stress mixed with growth spurts. I guess being really stressed can mess with your immune system?"
Bella huffed, wondering why that was such a big deal. It made sense to her. Shortly after Edward left, Bella suffered one of the worst head colds of her life despite no one around her being sick. It was another blow to her self-esteem, a painful reminder that she was a defective human and, therefore, unwanted.
Shutting thoughts of Edward away, she said, "Well, that's not so bad. What did your mom say?"
"She made them test me for STDs. You know, because I'm a flirt, so obviously I'm getting around."
Quil cackled as Bella blushed and shook her head. She couldn't blame Joy for being concerned. Quil was flirtatious, sure. Just because he always tried didn't mean he always succeeded. He wasn't unattractive - quite the opposite, where many were concerned. His size and loud personality, however, were slightly intimidating. He attracted specific types and was often not interested in the girls who chased him back.
He should have been a linebacker or something. Bella didn't know shit about football, but considering Quil's size, it seemed appropriate.
The front door opened, and the friends turned to peek toward the living room. Billy wheeled himself into the house and swung the door shut behind him. Jacob sprinted across the room to help Billy remove his jacket and shoes.
"Morning, Billy," Bella said as she stood and leaned in the archway separating the kitchen and living room. "Can I make you some breakfast?"
"No, dear. Thank you." Billy sounded exhausted as he continued, "I need to take my medicine and get some sleep. I'll be going back up to the hospital in a few hours. Harry's… unconscious, and Sue refuses to leave his side. As of now, it seems he'll need long-term care… if he survives. The heart attack triggered multiple strokes, and Harry is in a medically induced coma, on a ventilator. He might have open-heart surgery soon if his vitals improve enough to do so. As of right now… All we can do is wait."
Bella sighed. She'd hoped for better news and wondered how Leah was fairing through this ordeal. "Is there something I can do? Should I check on Leah and Seth later?"
"I'm sure Sue would appreciate that, Bella. I'll need Jacob to drive me to town later."
"I should get home soon," Bella said to Jacob. "I think I'll make something to take Leah and Seth for dinner, so they don't need to worry about that."
Quil asked, "Mind giving me a lift home? You can come inside and rile up the old man for a minute."
Bella nodded, figuring it was as good of a time as any.
While Jacob helped Billy get to bed, Bella cleaned up their mess from the night before. As they prepared to leave, Jacob hollered for Bella to wait a second. Quil stepped outside as Jacob hurried over to hug her goodbye. He tugged her behind the door and out of Quil's sight.
"What are y…"
Jacob cut off her words as he leaned down and kissed her. She instantly responded and kissed him back before pulling away, confused. His eyes shone with the same bold, challenging mischief as the day before.
Bella giggled at his returned confidence and asked, "What was that for?"
After their conversation the night before, Bella assumed their following little make-out session was the end of things between them. Afterward, both giggling through their awkward 'goodnight,' Jacob had eventually left her the bed and slept elsewhere.
Jacob laughed, his sunshine smile putting an instant gin on her face. Almost bashfully, he mumbled, "Uh… I don't know, really. Thanks, I guess?"
"For what?"
He reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Just for being you, Bells."
"Smooth, Casanova," Quil yelled from outside.
"Mutant hearing," Bella grumbled, shaking her head as Jacob laughed. He leaned in for another hug and kissed her forehead.
"Call me when you check on Seth and Leah later," Jacob said. "If you have time to hang out, maybe come over for a while?"
"Sounds good." Bella gave his hand an affectionate squeeze before stepping outside and following Quil to her truck.