Disclaimer: I've taken down the old stories and we're going to try this rodeo again. I'm a mom now, so I'm a little busy, but I'll try to consistently publish once a week. I could use a beta, if people still do that? I own nothing but my ideas. Enjoy! I also made a mistake at the end of the last chapter – Bella is still eighteen, not nineteen. She won't be nineteen until September.
Ch. 2 – One for The Money
Bella POV
I felt a pillow smack the side of my face and jolt me out of a dead slumber. I immediately sat up and tried to roll around, only to roll onto the floor. I heard a snort from above me.
"Graceful as always, Swan." Leah was much too chipper for my liking.
"What the fuck." I mumbled from the ground.
"What do you want?" I grouched.
"Time go get up and run. Chop chop! I have class today, so get your ass off the floor." She grabbed something from one of the bags and threw it at me; tags landed in my line of vision.
I sluffed myself off of my floor and went to my bathroom to do my short morning routine and put-on whatever apparel Leah had thrown on my head. I surveyed the tight crop top and biker shorts. I felt like I belonged in a Richard Simmons video.
"Remind me to never let you pick out clothing for me, ever again." I put my hands on my hips to gesture my ridiculous ensemble.
"You look hot. Your stomach is showing, and you have a decent ass." She assessed as she drug her gaze up and down. I rolled my eyes at her.
"What am I supposed to do with my hair? There are so many damn layers It keeps falling out of my ponytail." I almost stomped my foot. It was childish, but it was too early, and I looked like Cyndi Lauper.
"Here, we can braid it." She braided it into two braids that rested on my shoulders
"Wow, now I really don't look twelve." I glared at her.
"And? Who are you trying to impress? It's five-thirty in the morning Swan." My eyes almost bulged out of my head at that one. No wonder I was in a shit ass mood, I'd only slept for three hours.
I grabbed my water bottle and we headed downstairs. We went out the back door and into the forest again.
"So, when do I get to meet Brady?" I asked her as we started down the trail.
"I'm sure we'll have a bonfire by next weekend, why don't you come down to celebrate your newfound freedom?" She asked. I wanted to, but I was nervous. I hadn't spoken to anyone besides Leah or Sue and Sam in months. Jacob had stopped calling months ago. I rolled my eyes at that. I guess I couldn't hold it against him though, I was catatonic.
"Who knows – you might even have some fun. At the very least, you can drool over Sam some more." She threw her head back and laughed outright. I glowered at her. If I kept this up, Leah was right, my face really was going to get stuck. I huffed out a sigh.
"It's not my fault every man you know is freakishly good looking. It's going to give me a complex." I mumbled.
"Well, you've met Collin, that's Brady's identical twin." She smiled. I groaned.
"Of course, he's hot too. Everyone in La Push drank some fucking magical water or something." My face pinched in a frown.
"You're beautiful Bella. Quit whining. Being healthier, going out, making friends – it'll all add to your confidence factor." She told me.
"I guess I let the Cullens control so much of life, I don't really know what I like. I try to the same music I've listened to before, and it doesn't interest me. I don't even want to read the musings of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth." I let my gaze fall to the forest floor.
"That's because Debussy's music makes me want to claw my fucking eyes out and Mr. Darcy is a pretentious douche." She smiled at me. I managed to chuckle at that.
"Bella, we all change. When you were little you went from liking Elmo to Barbies. Then from Barbies to boy bands, etc. We grow up. Just because you don't like the same shit you did before doucheward, doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I happen to think it's refreshing. I'm excited to help you 'find' yourself. Hopefully we can also help you find someone to take off your pants – because I can straight smell the virgin from here." She laughed as I tried to reach out and punch her.
"Shut your whore mouth. I do not smell like a virgin!" I hissed at her. She gave me a look.
"I don't think you understand how well wolves can smell. But it's not something someone would notice unless they were outright looking for it." She told me.
"Now I'm definitely not going to the bonfire. I'm not going to be around group of people who can literally smell my lack of a sexual life just by standing next to me." I frowned. Leah laughed outright.
"Well let's get you laid then, Swan!"
"I'm positive that's the last thing I need to do right now. I'm getting over a breakup, finding a new dude is a terrible idea." I told her.
"Haven't you heard the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?" She smiled wolfishly at me. I laughed outright at that and shook my head.
"You're a terrible influence." I smiled at her.
"Only the best for you." She smiled back.
We headed to the coffee shop again and drank our delicacies on the way back. I headed inside and Leah got into her Jeep, rolled down the window and yelled, "Good luck! Call me after your first day!"
I waved my hand and headed upstairs to get ready. I scrubbed myself down and looked down at my legs. I was impressed, I didn't have any lingering welts from the 'sugaring'. I scrubbed my skin and let the light citrus scent fill my nostrils. The strawberry scented products had to go. I liked the tinge of lemon. It smelled clean and fresh.
"I may not look the part all the way, but I can smell it!" I smiled at my inner monologue.
I climbed out of the shower and proceeded to put in the hair products Leah had gotten me. I didn't know what I needed with 'blow-out' spray, but I guess I'd find out. I moisturized and put on some basic face products Leah had showed me last night. It was comical that she had to leave them out in the order that they needed to be used. I dabbed on the concealer and face powder to try and hide the bags under my eyes. I bronzed my face and added a tinge of blush to my cheeks, not that I need any extra help in that department. I brushed through my brows, added some mascara, and called it good. I wasn't an expert my any means, but I looked a little more alive at least. I tried to round-brush my hair as I used the blow dryer and that proved to be way more difficult than it looked. I checked the time and realized I had thirty minutes before I was supposed to meet Sam, it would take at least that to drive to La Push.
"Fuck!" I shouted.
I scrambled out of the bathroom, rushed to find the interview clothes in the sea of bags on my floor.
"I knew I should've put this shit away yesterday." I muttered to myself.
I shoved my feet in the first pair of shoes I saw, grabbed my keys, wallet, coffee, phone, and ran out the door. It took a few tries, but Old Bessy came to life. As I pulled onto the highway down to La Push though, I could hear a high-pitched whining sound.
"Well, that's fantastic, I'll have to get that checked out too." I thought to myself.
I pulled up outside of 'Pack Industries' and chuckled at the name.
"That's original." I slammed the truck into park and rushed inside. Everyone stopped to stare at me as soon as I was in the door.
"Nice outfit, Swan. Leah mentioned she took you shopping yesterday. I like your…eclectic style." Paul smirked at me while leaning against a wall eating a donut. Confused, I looked down at what I was wearing and nearly choked.
"Awesome…" I muttered.
The white silk shirt I had worn underneath the cream blazer, had a coffee stain right down the middle. How had I not noticed that I spilt coffee on myself? The shirt wasn't tucked into the knee-high pencil skirt, which was also sideways. To top the entire ensemble off, I was wearing Doc Martens. Fan-fucking-tastic.
I looked up to see a smile tugging on the corner of Sam's lips. Of course, he looked perfect in plain, long sleeved top, faded jeans with a tool belt around his waist, and the same Timberland's from yesterday. The man could rock a burlap sack. The door jingled and caught my attention.
"Was that noise coming from the truck you needed me to look at Sam? I could hear it all the down the –" Jake cut off.
"Oh, Bella…uh, what are you doing here?" His gaze dropped down to peruse me.
"Uhm, nice outfit?" It came out sounding like a question.
At that Paul let out a laugh so loud, I jumped. He gripped his knees and he wheezed.
"Fucking Black, perfect timing." He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Swan here is our new office wench." He stopped to stare at me again.
"Assuming she's better at office work than she is dressing herself." I cut a glare to Paul.
"Bite me Cujo! Your sycophant of a friend dragged me outside at five-thirty this morning to frolic in the fucking woods like getting smacked in the face by branches and tripping over tree roots is a great idea of a fun time!" I snapped back at him. I turned to Sam.
"My rooms a disaster from yesterday. I threw on the first thing I grabbed out of my bags. I'm so sorry, it won't happen again." I was fifteen shades of pink by now, but whatever. My dignity was left at home with my flats.
"It's fine Bella. I should be the one to apologize, we all should. This office is a wreck. If all you did was take the incoming phone calls so I wouldn't have to stop on the job, I'd be eternally grateful." He looked sheepish and moved out of the way.
"Good God." I murmured. You couldn't even see the surface of the desk or the phone that I was supposed to answer, for that matter. There was no order, whatsoever. Papers were on the floor, stuffed into drawers, anywhere the eye could see.
"We have QuickBooks and some other programs that we're supposed to use to send estimates, invoices, and the like, but we've gotten so busy – I've fallen behind." He scrubbed a hand on the back of his head; his beautiful, Grecian God like head. He turned to Jake.
"No Jake, the truck I need you to take a look at is in the back." He chuckled. I groaned for the fifth time today.
"That was my truck. I haven't driven her in a while." I spoke.
"Bring her by the shop later, she sounds like a dying ostrich." Jake winked and walked out the door, presumably to look at the other vehicle.
Sam and Paul threw some of the papers in a box on the floor and actually apologized again for the mess and gave me the logins for the calendar, computer, and some of the other apps.
"There's no real rhyme or reason for any of the filing…" Sam trailed off. I looked up at him.
"That's because you have nothing to file these papers in." I deadpanned. Paul barked out a laugh at that. He threw a credit card down on the counter.
"Since you're in such a shopping mood, order some office shit online and whatever else you need to make this place functional. We actually have a small conference room and some other offices past the restroom, but we'll worry about that after you tackle this mess." Paul laughed. I stared dumbfounded.
"I got the job?" I looked around. I hadn't even done anything yet besides make a fool of myself.
"Sure, Swan. Having you here is going to prove to be more entertaining than not." Paul smirked at looked over at Sam who scowled at Paul.
It was at that moment my ovaries fell in love with Sam Uley. I wasn't sure what I liked more – his dimples or that sexy as sin frown marring his features.
"How is a frown even attractive?" I shook my head to clear my inner musings. I didn't need to find anyone attractive at the moment. Though it was nice to know I wasn't 'broken' after Edward. At least I now knew I could be attracted to more than a perpetually sparkly teenage boy. I actually snorted at that.
"Ignore Paul, Bella. You're not here for entertainment. But please don't hesitate to call if you have questions. I'll try to have one of us come in for an hour at the end of each day to answer any questions you might have." He smiled and they headed for the door.
"We'll see you later, killer. Try not to burn the place down!" Paul said as they left out of the door.
"Eat my ass, Lassie!" I scowled after him. I probably shouldn't yell that at my 'boss', but whatever. I could contemplate my mistakes once I was home.
"Tempting killer." I heard Paul laugh and what sounded like Sam slapping him upside the head.
I was surprised at how fast the day went. I spent the day familiarizing myself with the software and making notes for other programs to research that could be of use. I started to sort all of the papers into piles to see what needed to be input into the system and could just be straight filed. I made a list and started ordering products online. They had no client files or anything. The employees didn't even have files or any paperwork they signed. I wasn't an expert, but pretty sure having the necessary W2/4 information was pertinent. By the time I knew it, it was the end of the day and both boys came in to check my progress, presumably.
"Wow killer, I can actually see where the mouse is, this is an improvement." Paul snickered. I gave him a deadpan look.
I ran over everything I'd done for the day and went over the calls that had come in and questions that were asked that I didn't have the answer to. I made a list of who to call back tomorrow and took any paperwork they had for me.
"I need help tomorrow. I ordered stuff for in here and I can't lift the filing cabinets coming in from Office Max." I said to them both.
"Don't worry killer, one of us big, strong men will be here to help do what your puny little arms can't." Paul full blown smiled at that.
"Tell Ang I'm going to call her and apologize that she has to live with you." I said with a straight face. The smile that stretched across Sam's face at that statement, was totally worth it. Paul's nose twitched and his grin turned downright evil. I chose to ignore him.
"Like I said killer, entertaining." He slapped my shoulder and got up to leave.
"I'll tell Ang to stop by sometime soon and see you, she'll be thrilled to see you're not lost in the corpse anymore." He spoke. I almost smiled, but typical Paul had to ruin it. He and Leah should go to a support group for the emotionally impaired. It might help them.
"Paul…" Sam started to growl. Oooh, another ovary quiver. Adding growling to the list, check. I need to get a fucking vibrator or something. All of this testosterone must be clouding my judgement.
"No men Bella. You can't even use a round brush. One step at a time." I gave myself a pep talk. The worst one in history, but beggars can't be choosers.
I got up and grabbed my stuff. I remembered that I needed to drop my truck off to Jake. I needed to call Charlie to see if he could pick me up and take me home. Leah was in class for another hour. I texted her and asked her to take me by the store later if she wasn't busy.
"Ofc bitch!" She immediately responded. I really needed to figure out something to do for her, she was my lifesaver in the tumultuous sea that was my life at the moment. I dialed Charlie and pressed the phone to my ear.
"Hey Bells, how was your first day?" He immediately asked.
"Good." I smiled a little.
"My truck is making a strange noise though and Jake told me to drop it off." I told him.
"I don't get off for another hour, but I can pick you up after Bells?" He asked.
"I can give you a ride home Bella, I don't have anything else left to do today." Sam smiled lightly. I blushed. Jesus. The guy already gave me a job, I didn't need rides too.
"You don't need to do that Sam." I told him softly.
"I don't mind, I could ask Jake if he figured out what's wrong with the work truck, anyway." He put his arm out to escort me out the door.
"Never mind dad, Sam can drop me off." I said.
"Even better, tell him I want to ask him for an estimate on some updates on the house. Your shopping made me realize I need some things done on the house I can't do myself." Dad said.
Sam heard him, shook his head yes, and smiled.
"Alright, we'll see you at home." I hung up the phone. Sam locked the door and gave me a spare key.
"In case we're not here when you get here in the mornings." I took it and blushed. Why couldn't I stop blushing around him? It was a key for fucks sake, not a damn ring. I climbed into my truck, took off my blazer and headed down to the address Jake gave me. I hopped down once we arrived and waited for Sam as we headed inside. I saw Embry look up and smile as we came in the door.
"Hey Bella, it's good to…" He trailed off as he looked me over.
"It's ah, good to see you. I like your new…style?" He chuckled. I rolled my eyes. Oh well, at least everyone was friendly and didn't seem to hold my absence over my head. Better to be teased than face anger, I suppose. I leveled him with a look.
"Thanks, it's grunge meets coffee chic." I gave him a sarcastic smile. He smiled wide at that. I stared. Jesus Christ, everyone down here is attractive. What the fuck is in the water?
"I'm ordering a fucking vibrator when I get home." I thought to myself. Oh well, sexual urges were normal. I'm an adult. Better have them than not? Whatever…
"Hey Bells, Sam." Jake smiled as he came in from the garage, presumably. I handed him my keys.
"We're pretty swamped by I'll try to get it fixed as soon as possible." He stated. I groaned. Now how was I going to get to work?
"You can catch a lift with me Bella, you're up early anyway." He smiled.
"I'll pay for your gas or make you food or something, I'm sorry Sam." I wriggled my hands. I hadn't baked in months, but it was like riding a bike, you didn't forget…I think.
"You're doing us a favor, no worries." He turned to Jacob.
"The truck needs a new timing belt and some spark plugs." I zoned out after that. I waited for Sam to finish with Jacob and we walked out the door.
"Come by the house sometime Bells, dad misses you guys!" Jacob yelled after us. I raised my hand in salute. I walked up to Sam's truck and realized the door was taller than I was.
"Men and their stupid trucks." I muttered. There was that age old rumor that ridiculous vehicles meant guys were compensating for something else. I told Sam as much and he smiled at me from his seat.
"Having trouble?" He grinned.
"I wouldn't if you left the step rail on your truck." I glared.
"You know what they say. Are you sure you aren't overcompensating for something?" I pursed my lips. Sam came around and I went stiff when I felt his hands clamp around my waist.
"I assure you Bella, I'm not. But you can check if you'd like." He murmured in my ear. Every nonexistent hair on my body stood on end. I coughed and Sam laughed as he lifted me into his vehicle. I'm sure I was the color of a tomato and he climbed in with no effort on his part and proceeded to pull out of the space. He set his phone in a holder and it connected automatically to his truck as soft country tunes filled the cab. I barked out a laugh. He raised a brow as he looked at me.
"Really Sam? Country? New age country at that?" I side eyed him.
"Styled hair, truck with tools, and country? You're a boy scout." I deadpanned. He smiled at me viciously then. And that did it, that was my new favorite look of Sam. The ovaries agreed, too. It was a unanimous vote. I turned away and cleared my throat.
"Need me to help you across the street Bella?" My eye twitched. Smartass. I just needed to shut my mouth. The smirk remained on his face the entire ride home.
He pulled up in front of my house and I grunted as I hopped down. I opened the door for Sam and offered him something to drink.
"I'm going upstairs to change really quick. Charlie should be home in just a second. Would you like some water?" I asked. He shook his head.
"I'll start look around and taking some measurements." I nodded my head and headed upstairs to change out of my clothing wreck. I slipped on a pair of comfy sweats, a tank, and threw my hair up in a bun. As I started down the stairs, Sam turned around a leveled me with a dark look as his gaze swept up my body. My skin pebbled again. I was going to have to get waxed once a fucking week at this rate. I heard each time you got goosebumps; a little hair grew back. I needed to see a shrink; I really did get lost in my mind too much. Sam was startled out of his reverie as Charlie came through the door. I went to the kitchen and got myself a drink to cool my skin down as Charlie started to tell Sam what he wanted done to the house.
"I haven't had any work done on it, and I need to." He stated gruffly. They started with painting inside and out, redoing the shutters, refinishing the floors and baseboards.
"I want to update the kitchen and bathrooms as well." He trailed off. Damn, I didn't realize he wanted to overhaul the whole house. I was teasing him about the chair and tv last night.
"Bring anything up to code that isn't." I heard him say.
"Up to code?" I asked as I looked at him. He started to blush, and he swiped his hand through his facial hair.
"Sue and I are thinking of moving in together, so I'm considering selling this place." He gruffed out. Moving in together? I didn't realize they were that serious.
"Good for you Charlie." Sam smiled. I just stared. Charlie looked over at me.
"But uh, not necessarily right away. I just, figure I need to get this place in shape before…" He trailed off. I shook myself out of my reverie.
"I'm happy for you dad, you deserve it, and Sue is an angel." I patted his arm.
"She actually watches baseball with you, you can't beat that." I smiled at him. Charlie's mustache twitched and Sam chuckled.
"I guess I better go to the college and figure out what I want to do then. I don't need to cramp you and Sue's style." I ambled over to my laptop on the couch.
"You're always welcome in our home Bells, it's yours too." He mumbled. This was getting a little too serious with Sam around to listen. I started to search what I needed to do and let Charlie take Sam around the house and to start making a list on supplies and what needs to be done. Sam took measurements all over.
"I'll give this to Bella to formally type up for you tomorrow Charlie. I'll give you an employee discount too." I looked up and raised an eyebrow at that.
"That's not necessary Sam, but I appreciate it. You're getting Bella out of the house. That's plenty." I sputtered at that.
"Out of the house! I am fully capable of leaving the house. I work for Sam. You should see his office." I muttered. They both laughed at me as Leah came through the door.
"Heya Sam, Charlie." She nodded to them both.
"Watcha doin?" She asked.
"Sam's gonna get the house in good enough condition to sell." Dad said.
"That's right, you and mom are shackin up in a new house down on the rez. Seth thanks you Charlie. He's going to get my one-bedroom cabin while I get mom's old house. Brady and I can't wait to have it all to ourselves." She stated. She might as well have rubbed her hands together deviously while saying it, that's how it sounded.
"At least you'll be closer Bella, I won't have to lug my ass all the way down here every morning to get you." She smiled.
"But I'm not sure listening to the rents getting it on will be worth it. Be sure to get a room on the opposite side of the house." She whispered in my ear. I choked on my water as I took a sip. Sam stuttered as well and stopped to look at us. Leah laughed as Charlie looked at us confused. She patted my knee.
"Come on Swan, go put some tight clothes on, we have boxing to attend." She got up.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?" I murmured as I looked down at my outfit.
"I like to watch your ass shake when you move – now come on!" She hauled me off the couch as I rolled my eyes in an effort to hide my embarrassment. That dark look came over Sam's face again at whatever was going through his mind at the moment. Leah just smirked. I decided that I didn't even want to know and headed upstairs to put on some yoga pants and my Nikes. I grabbed my things and waved to them both as I headed out with Leah.
"Bye dad, I'll pick up some groceries and make some salmon on the way home." I turned to look at him as I opened the door.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven am, Bella." Sam said. I'd nearly forgotten.
"See you then." I turned and walked along with Leah.
"Damn, he got you to agree to a date already. Not that surprising though, considering how hard you were trying to incinerate his clothes with your gaze yesterday." She said. I flicked her.
"If you hadn't noticed, I asked you for a ride to the store, I don't have Bessy. I dropped her off with Jake this afternoon. She sounds like she's going to die." I pulled my Ray Bans down over my eyes.
"That's because she needs to." Leah muttered.
"Take that back! She's a classic!" I huffed. She might not be new, but she was my first vehicle. I knew I'd have to get a new one soon, there was only so many times Jake could rebuild her before she'd have to be restored as a classic and driven sparingly.
"You have a job now; we need to get you a new car. Something that screams, 'I'm having my midlife crisis early, fuck me in the front seat'." She spread her arms wide as if she could see the title now.
"Uh huh. And per say, what kind of vehicle is in my price range that screams, 'please deface me in the front seat? Hmmm? I can't image a Camry would fit that image." I gave her a pointed look.
"Oh, yee of little faith Swan. Camry's now have red leather interior. Nothing screams 'fuck me sensibly' like red leather and good gas mileage." She threw her head back and cackled. I couldn't help but smile.
"So why didn't you and the disco stick do the nasty?" She asked.
"They're like apex predators, I figured that'd be the first thing he'd jump on with you being an innocent little virgin." I knew she was partially joking, but I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I cleared my throat.
"He uh, wanted to get married first. He was over 100 years old and old fashioned." I started. She raised her eyebrow.
"Vampires have cantante, or singers. People whose blood especially calls to them. Most vampires drain their singers, and I was Edward's…so we didn't…we couldn't, go that far. Edward could lose control." I trailed off. She gave me a sharp look.
"Next time you want to live on the wild side Swan, we'll go cliff diving. No need to literally dangle yourself in front of a great white like you're fucking chum." She glared slightly at me.
"Edward was a virgin, too. So, we just didn't…" God this was so embarrassing. Leah started dying laughing at that.
"No wonder he had such a stick up his ass. He's over one hundred years old and he's never gotten his dick wet." She had tears trailing down her cheeks. I didn't see what was so amusing, but I'd never had an orgasm before. You can't really miss out on what you don't know, can you?
"It doesn't matter anymore anyways." I looked out the window.
"You know that he wasn't your mate then Bella…" She started softly.
"If you were, he wouldn't have left you. To mate someone is to choose them, and only them, for life. But I can't say I'm sorry he didn't choose you – he doesn't deserve someone as great as you." She spoke.
"Now who's being corny?" I smiled at her. She pulled into a parking space and I pulled down the visor and tried to redo my bun and put up as much of my hair as possible. I wasn't looking like a twelve-year-old with braids for boxing, I'd rather die.
We walked inside and I went through the steps of paying for a few classes, getting some wraps for my hands, and signing the appropriate waivers. She led me into a room with about ten other people lightly stretching.
"The instructor's name is Dylan. This is his beginner class." She wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I soon found out why. As I turned around, I was faced with a guy who looked like he used to be a Navy seal. Tattoos worked their way up both arms and under a sleeveless tight work out shirt. He had a sculpted face, pouty lips, cerulean eyes, and blonde hair that seemed to be longer on top than the sides.
"I swear to God…" I turned to Leah.
"Every single fucking guy you know, is like out of this world attractive. This is ridiculous." It truly was. I'd never been this damn flustered in my life, and I had been in a house full of vampires, often.
I turned to face him and listened as he started beginning introductions and went through what we'd be doing during the hour-long class. I'd decided that Leah was a succubus of some kind and I just needed to invest in some personal pleasure toys. I felt like a teenage boy who'd just discovered his boner for the first time. I shook out my arms and started to follow along with his direction. We stretched, ran a few laps around the room and he set us up into pairs. As he came over to greet Leah, his gaze slid to me.
"Who is this? Who have actual friends?" He smiled at Leah.
"Our parents are screwing, so that basically makes us siblings." She replied easily. I just looked at her with wide eyes. I don't know why I was still surprised by the shit that came out of her mouth anymore, we'd been around each other for months now. Dylan extended his hand.
"I'm Dylan, it's nice to meet you. Pair up together and we can talk more after class." His gaze ran down me and back up. With a smirk he walked to the next pair.
"Do I have something on my face still?" I asked Leah.
"He and Sam have looked me up and down today, like I'm some kind of fucking anomaly." It made me uncomfortable. I'd changed again before we left, I didn't think I had anything weird on me.
"You're hot Swan. Just because you can't see it, doesn't make it true." We got into position and started going through the sparing motions.
"You have a zero-fucks-given air about you. You've been working on yourself for months now. You're not skeletor anymore. You have a haircut and clothing that now flatters your figure. You have life back in your cheeks. You're also naturally beautiful. You have flawless skin and I'm jealous of your damn eyelashes. A little pasty for my taste, but like I said earlier, you have a great ass." She winked at me. I blushed crimson at that.
"I ah, thanks?" She laughed.
"Don't question it Swan. Your vagina is full of cobwebs, it needs attention." And there was the insult I was waiting for. I smiled and lost myself in the exercises. For the next hour we traded punching and low kick techniques. The last ten minutes of class we switched to punching bags. By the end of it I'd found that I had a great time.
"Good work today everyone – I'll see you all Wednesday." Ryan said from the front. He nodded at a few people and made his way over to where Leah and I had set our bags by the side of the classroom.
"I hope we'll see you Wednesday Bella?" He asked.
"No one else wants to spar with Leah, so she'll be lonely without you." He looked over at her and smirked.
"She'll be here alright G.I. Joe, now quit flirting, we have shit to do. See you soon." She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the studio. I turned to wave as Dylan smiled and ran his tongue over his lower lip.
"See Swan? The corpse leaving was a good thing. There's dick everywhere you look." I laughed and opened my door. Leah took me to the store and stayed over for dinner. The conversation was full of laughter and it was the perfect end to an imperfect day.
"Sam will be here this weekend to start on your room Bella. He'll build your new furniture too. He even found someone to give your old stuff to in La Push." Dad told me as I was drying dishes. Leah started her stupid eyebrow wiggle again and I ignored her.
"Sounds good dad." I walked Leah out and took a shower and headed to bed. I also ordered myself a damn vibrator. I was going to need it.
The rest of the week went much of the same way. Leah and I ran to the coffee shop every morning and went to boxing a couple more times. Boy scout Sam picked me up in the mornings and drove us to the office. He gave me any work from the previous day and by the end of the week I had the guys outfitted with apps on their phones to keep track of their work hours instead of handwritten sheets. Employee and customer files were made. The cabinets were built, calendar was full, and I could better answer the questions from customers on the phone. It was Friday and Leah was picking me up and taking me to Bessy, she was finally going to be ready. Jake told me what Leah and I had already suspected; she was going to need another overhaul soon. He suggested fixing the bare minimum and restoring the outside if I wanted to keep her. Keep her as a show or classic vehicle. That meant car shopping was in my near future. I looked up from my desk as I heard the bell above the door jingle.
"Damn Swan –" Leah started as she looked around.
"This place looks great. Sam should pay me a fee for bringing you to him." I rolled my eyes and smiled at her antics.
"What? I'm awesome. You ready for the club tonight bitch? You packed your bag, right? We're staying at my house." She said. Leah had demanded we go out this Friday night. Since Sam was working at my house this weekend as a favor to Charlie, there wasn't a bonfire happening and she wanted me to meet Brady. He was moonlighting as a bouncer on the weekends to save up extra cash for their wedding. Leah was just over the moon about it.
"Oh, and did you order this bullet from my account on Amazon? You sent it to my house on accident." She started. And of course, the guys chose that moment to come inside.
"But seriously, is this all you'll think you'll need? This teeny, little rabbit? We should get you a dildo that vibrates, maybe even a glow in the dark one! Something to blow the dust off that virgin pussy. I'll show you my collection later and tell you the benefits of each. Brady goes wild when we're having anal and I have my vibe in me. I cum so hard I see fucking stars and it drives him wild." She was gesturing wildly. I really should be used to Leah's compete and total lack of boundaries, but I was too far gone at this point. Paul's raucous laughter damn near shook the building.
"I knew you smelled a little sweet Swan, I just thought it was your body wash." His hand flew to his heart as his whole body shook. I immediately got up.
"Fantastic. On that note, I'm fucking leaving. Big mouth – let's go." I glared daggers at Leah who was snorting she was laughing so hard with Paul. The only one who was dead silent was Sam. His nostrils flared and his eyes turned midnight. I could've sworn I saw gold flash in them.
"Have a great weekend asshole. See you tomorrow Sam." I immediately ran out and plopped into Leah's passenger seat. I rubbed my temples.
"Satan, just take me now. Your spawn is my best friend." I muttered to myself. Leah was still laughing as I picked up my truck and drove to her house and slammed my door shut.
"Shut your mouth Clearwater, before I do it for you." I snapped. She just laughed harder as she opened the door.
"Come on Swan, let's get ready. The pheromones that were in that office got me all wild. I wanna see if I can have a quicky with Brady in the alley during his break." She smiled deviously. I shook my head. Of course, she did.
AN: What do you guys think? Any comments/suggestions are welcome Have a good holiday!