Bella cried the rest of the way to Quil's, and it took him and Joy a solid fifteen minutes to calm her down. She sat on the familiar old couch with her head on Quil's shoulder, letting his warmth comfort her until her breathing slowed and the sniffing stopped. She giggled with him after accidentally hiccuping in his ear, and he didn't even complain.
"Little Bird…"
Old Quil stood in the arched doorway between the living room and what was considered Old Quil's personal den. The small table where they had tea was within sight, and she looked past her great-uncle to watch Joy place a steaming kettle in the center.
Solemnly, he said, "Come drink some tea. Let's have a chat."
"You don't have to, Bells," Quil said as he leaned away to gauge her expression.
She forced a smile for them both and stood. Old Quil only wanted to comfort her, and she could rarely tell him no. Who knew how many opportunities she had left? Her Old Bird was getting… well, old.
Quil remained slouching on the sofa as she stood and walked into the next room. Old Quil leaned on his cane for balance as he reached to embrace her, affectionately rubbing one hand over her back. Suddenly, Bella realized why she made the same gesture for everyone else. She'd learned it from her Uncle, who had always made her feel safe and comforted. It warmed her heart, helping to knit her chest back together somewhat as she took a deep breath for the first time all morning.
Again, the warm tea helped calm her as they sat for a few minutes, letting it work. Old Quil observed carefully, glancing between her and his grandson almost suspiciously. Quil seemed bored as he turned his eyes on her, then rolled them dramatically, twiddling his thumbs in his lap.
Bella snorted and said, "Come sit with us, Quil."
He shook his head at her but slowly stood and walked toward them anyway. As he sat down, Old Quil asked, "What has our little Bella in such distress this morning? Hmm?"
Bella stared into her teacup as she slowly placed it back on its matching saucer. The white and pink china gleamed against the dark wooden table in the soft morning light. It reminded her of bright white cotton contrasting with warm, reddish-brown flesh. She blushed at the thought, refusing to examine just who the flesh in her mind belonged to.
One crisis at a time, Bella.
"She got in a fight with Jake, Pop," Quil said as he stretched his long legs out under the table, practically encompassing Bella's.
Old Quil squinted at her hard. "Jacob is having a difficult week, I hear… But he cares for you, Bella."
"I just don't understand it. What could I have possibly done to Jacob or Sam, you know? Or Quil? Embry isn't allowed to be around us, either."
"The universe is simply doing its job. Give it some time. It will work out in the end," Old Quil said sagely.
Bella harrumphed. "Not if Sam Uley has any say about it."
Old Quil reached for her hand with one hand, then patted it with the other. "Samuel's problem is that he cares far too much. He seems rough on the exterior, but his life has been difficult. He means well. You will be friends with Jacob again. Don't worry."
Unable to ignore the suspicious glare from Quil, she sighed and gently squeezed Old Quil's thin, knobby fingers. The last time she'd spoken with Old Quil, he'd seemed clueless about what Sam and his gang were up to. Now, it seemed he knew much more than he could convey. Bella was grateful he wasn't treating her as coldly as Billy, but Old Quil was withholding something.
I'm absolutely sick of this situation. Everyone is being so secretive. It doesn't make any goddammed sense, and no one seems to care how much it hurts.
One thing was definite in Bella's mind - Embry asked her to tell Quil the truth, and she intended to do it. Bella reached for her teacup and drained it. She and Quil needed to leave soon. She couldn't talk to him about Embry here.
Old Quil reached for her cup, letting the china only graze the saucer as he took hold of it. He stared down at it in utter silence, barely breathing. Quil leaned toward him and looked down into the cup.
"Weird," Quil said and laughed.
"Hush, boy," Old Quil hissed, concentrating.
Bella looked over at Quil and mouthed, "What?"
He glanced back toward his grandfather and whispered, "It's a wolf."
Bella stood to lean over her great-granduncle to peer at the leaves. All she saw was black mush at first. As if seeing the shape forming from the nothingness of the leaves, the wide wolf's muzzle began to form before her eyes. Bella recalled her dreams of being surrounded by wolves, with a solid black one front and center. The resemblance between the two was uncanny, making her breath catch as she stepped away.
Bella pushed in her chair and apologized to Old Quil for having to run. Quil stood and followed without a word, leaving his elderly grandfather staring silently into the teacup.
Bella and Quil dropped Joy off at her store and raided the snack aisles before heading to Forks. Joy allowed Bella to pay for Quil's armload of items after a short yet quickly won argument. In truth, Bella was oblivious to the stern, 'just let her do it' look Quil gave Joy over her shoulder.
She was quiet on the drive, unsure how to tell him about seeing Embry. After ten minutes, the silence seemed to make Quil nervous, and he began fiddling with the radio.
He caught her glancing toward him and asked, "Penny, for your thoughts? I think I started seeing smoke come out your ears a mile back or so…"
Bella snorted. "Just trying to stay focused on the road. Wouldn't want you to drive and get us lost."
Quil laughed and mocked, "Oh, ha, fucking ha! I think I can find my way to Forks."
She chuckled, shaking her head. Quil began nodding to a song, giving her enough time to gather her thoughts. Turning the radio down, she took a deep breath before admitting, "I need to have a serious discussion with you about something. It's something I promised I would do."
Worried, he turned toward her, frowning. "You finally gonna tell me what all was said with you and Jacob this morning?"
"That's part of it. It's about Embry, too."
Quil's eyes widened as he took a deep breath. He looked out the windshield and straightened his posture as though bracing himself for a blow. "Alright. What's up?"
Bella started with Embry showing up at her house the previous weekend. Quil became angry at first but understood as she told him Embry asked her to keep it a secret, and she had not wanted him to face repercussions with Sam.
He sorrowfully shook his head and said, "I'd never have sent him away. He's always been safe with me. Why would he think he couldn't come to me?"
"There's a lot more," she warned. Bella nearly got through telling him about her phone call with Jacob that morning without crying, and by the time she'd finished, they were parking in her driveway. After they went inside and sat at the kitchen table, Bella told Quil what Embry had explained to her that morning, including Embry's outburst about missing and protecting Quil.
Quil remained silent for a long time, appearing bewildered and absorbing all she had to say. Eventually, he asked, "I'm guessing this is why you were crying so hard when you got to the house, then?" The redness slowly faded from his face as he calmed, and he anxiously ran his hand through his shaggy curls. "So he doesn't hate me, huh? He thinks he's putting me first by staying away. Is that what you're telling me?"
"Yeah, Quil. That's what I'm saying, precisely, okay? And, I swear, Sam's got his wires crossed. I look at Embry like a brother…"
Quil laughed, interrupting her. "I know, Bells. I know. I would never assume otherwise."
Relieved by his laughter, Bella took a deep breath, finally allowing some tension to seep from her limbs. She yawned. It had been an exhausting morning.
Quil said, "You know what's great for bad days, Bells?"
"Food?"
He nodded. "Yes, food, movies, and naps."
She laughed. "So let's do that, then. I'll make something for lunch while you sort out the movie selection."
"Lunch?" Quil huffed, reigning insult. "Second breakfast, Madam!" He shook his head as she laughed at the reference.
"We're not watching that. Or Avatar. Forget it!"
"Underworld?"
"No," she said with a snort. "I swear if I have to look at Michael Sheen one more fucking time…"
Quil cackled, and she could only grin back. Now that he knew Embry didn't hate him, it seemed he'd become replenished somehow, as though his whole body was overflowing with hope. It made her blink back tears.
He really, truly loves him. Bella hoped Embry would come by and talk to Quil himself.
Flipping through selections, Quil asked, "Kill Bill?"
"The second one," she said. "It's better."
"Party pooper. I like the anime portion."
"I hate the anime portion," she said, chuckling.
"Anywho… we can watch a movie and eat. Then we can both take naps," Quil teased. "So we'll be raring to go later tonight for that party."
"Are you sure you still want to go?" Bella wasn't sure she still did, but she wouldn't refuse the opportunity to get her mind off everything for a while. Plus, Leah was coming along. She grinned, wondering if Quil had seen Leah's new haircut yet.
"Yeah, I think we need this," he said, standing. "So does Leah. You know, she's dealing with all the same shit that we are, but worse. Sam's her ex, and with Harry…"
"I was just thinking the same thing," Bella admitted. She got up to rifle through the refrigerator. Bella squeaked as Quil startled her, hugging her from behind. She hadn't even heard him walk back into the kitchen.
Quil laughed and said, "Thanks for telling me everything. Don't ever be afraid to tell me shit, okay? I just want you to know that I don't blame you for any of it."
Bella draped her arms over his and hugged him back. "Thanks, Quil."
"That's what family is for, Bells." Quil pulled away and returned to the living room as Bella grabbed everything she needed from the refrigerator.
Four sandwiches, an entire bag of Doritos, and one revenge plot later, Quil was snoring on the couch with his enormous feet in Bella's lap. His napping plan sounded better by the minute. She tried to lift his legs to no avail as he nudged her hands away, nearly kicking her in the chin. Using the back of the couch for support, Bella pulled herself out from underneath his legs until she stood over him. She nearly toppled as she stepped over him to the floor and headed upstairs.
Despite not having much eyeliner left to smudge, she carefully rubbed her tired, bloodshot eyes before flopping onto her bed. She huffed, tossing around as she wiggled her bra out from under her shirt and threw it into the rocking chair. She was nearly asleep when she heard footsteps on the stairs and assumed Quil was heading for the bathroom. Instead, her bedroom door slowly opened.
Bella looked up as Leah poked her head into the room with a quiet, "Hey!"
Bella grinned and rolled to her side as she patted the bed for Leah to sit. Equally happy yet confused by her presence, Bella asked, "Don't you have to work?"
Instead of sitting as Bella expected, Leah kicked off her sneakers and lay beside her before snuggling in closer. Glancing at the lack of space between them, Leah asked, "Do you mind?"
"Not at all." Bella definitely didn't mind. Friends snuggle, right? I mean, I snuggle Jake all the time. She frowned at the thought of Jake. "Hmph."
"I have to leave in about forty-five minutes," Leah said, ignoring the noise. "I left early to check on you. Quil's just snoring away downstairs."
Bella snickered. "Yeah, he is. He almost trapped me on the couch when he fell asleep. I had to climb over him. He didn't even wake up."
Leah grumbled, "I swear, he's like a big puppy sometimes. It reminds me of Seth."
'Well, you are cousins. I see similarities between me and Quil, too.``
"It's so weird to be related to everyone, I swear," Leah said. "I'm pretty sure you're my only friend that isn't a distant cousin."
Bella's cheeks tingled as she immediately thought, Thank the universe for that! Not being able to keep her eyes off Leah when she was near would be incredibly awkward if they were.
"Not cousins, but we have a mutual cousin." A slightly hysterical giggle slipped from her, making Leah grin.
"Yeah, but you're a second. I'm a third, once removed. We are not the same," Leah said and laughed.
Bella shook her head. "Does that make our mutual cousin less mutual in cousin-land?"
Leah snorted. "Gods, yes, please. I have enough family. I need a fucking friend ."
It took a minute for each to calm their laughter as they drifted into a comfortable silence.
Suddenly, Leah leaned on one elbow, looking down at Bella as she reached to tussle Bella's hair. Despite the playfulness in her eyes, Bella could hear hesitation in Leah's voice as she asked, "Bella?"
Bella closed her eyes as Leah's hand repeatedly traveled through her hair, absently separating strands of natural curls. She nearly hummed as the sensation both titillated and relaxed her simultaneously.
Articulate as ever, Bella asked, "What's up?"
Leah snorted. "I think… we should all find someone to fool around with tonight."
Bella's eyes fluttered open, and she stared up at Leah suspiciously. What about Jake? What about Embry saying Jacob was trying to protect me? Did that mean Jacob's words that morning were all for show? What if…
"Fuck Jacob," Leah grumbled, cutting off Bella's mental tirade as she stared down into Bella's face. When she frowned in response, Leah said, "I know what you're thinking, but you and Jake aren't a couple. He's got no fucking claim on you. Especially now ." Leah turned her head to glare out the window. "Fucking traitor ."
Of course, Leah didn't know anything about Bella's conversation with Embry that morning. He'd only asked her to tell Quil, but the urge to tell Leah everything burned in her throat like acid. Besides that, the thought of some random hookup made Bella feel incredibly nervous.
As if I needed the help, she thought.
Bella said, "I don't want my first time to be with a stranger at some party."
"Jeez, I'm not saying you should sleep with anybody," Leah said. "But, hell. Flirt. Talk. Suck someone's face off for twenty minutes. But, Bella… Don't let Jake turn you into a zombie again. It's not fucking worth it, okay?"
"I didn't plan on it," Bella grumbled as she glared at the ceiling. "But, I'm not sure making out with some rando will do me any favors."
Leah said, "I don't know. You've only ever made out with Jake, right? I think it might do you wonders, Swan. There are plenty more fish in the sea besides Jacob. It's okay to have a little fun. There's no shame in putting yourself out there. You never know…" Leah laid back down and returned to fiddling with Bella's hair. "The one you want might be right under your nose."
Bella couldn't help the flush of heat to her face or the fact that her nipples were now hard as rocks. Every delicate stroke of Leah's long fingers sent tiny waves of pleasure across her pale skin. Clearly, the topic of conversation wasn't helping. The second Leah suggested "sucking someone's face off," Bella was instantly reminded of Leah's teasing threat in the car and the visualization of their lips pressed together.
It took a moment for Bella to find her voice before asking, "Leah? Will you be doing the same thing? Making out with someone you barely know?"
"Gods willing!" Leah's exuberance made Bella giggle. "I guess that depends on how cute some of those guys you go to school with are."
Bella groaned, making Leah cackle before asking, "The prospects are that good, huh?"
"I don't know." Bella shook her head. "I think I just… have a type."
Leah teased, "So you're saying I should steer you in the right direction then? Pick someone out for you that you wouldn't normally choose for yourself?"
It was Bella's turn to cackle as she blushed furiously. "I'm not sure about all that!"
"So," Leah asked as she tugged on Bella, guiding Bella to wrap her arm around Leah's waist. "Aren't you supposed to be napping ?"
There was a loud bang against the door, and it swung open to reveal a very cranky-looking Quil. He complained, "Yeah, we are. But, how's a guy supposed to nap with all the giggling going on in h-"
Quil stopped talking as he realized the girls snuggled together, facing each other with Leah's hand still toying with Bella's messy hair. He groaned and leaned against the doorframe with an exasperated sigh. "Now, that's just not fucking fair."
Cheeks ablaze, Bella huffed, "What?"
"You have no idea how long I've waited to walk in on a situation like this, and I can't do a damn thing about it because you're both my cousins. That's fucking stupid. I-"
Quil's rant got abruptly cut off as Leah and Bella each flung a pillow at him.
Laughing, Leah climbed out of the bed, and Bella tried her best to hide her disappointment. "I should get going," she said. "I'll see you both later."
Quil poked her in the side as she slid past him. Leah squealed and slapped his hand away as he laughed. They listened to her footsteps pound down the stairs and out the front door as Quil stared at Bella, shaking his head.
Again, she huffed, "What?"
Quil smirked. "I've never seen Leah that comfortable with anyone ."
Sharper than intended, Bella asked, " And? "
His smirk stretched into a broad, teasing grin. "Don't get so defensive. It's just an observation, that's all." He picked her pillows off the floor and tossed them at her face. She let out an oomph as one hit her, and Quil laughed as he left the room.
Bella situated her pillows and turned onto her stomach to bury her face into her folded arms as she closed her eyes and tried not to think about Leah's suggestion.