Bella
…
I cleaned the house Sunday morning – waiting for Naomi to call and trying to shake off the latest nightmare. Seth finally came downstairs after disappearing for a week, he looked exhausted and stressed, I hadn't told Charlie anything if what I saw before I closed the door which was Seth crying or what I heard a half an hour after. I didn't want to know what happened and it wasn't my business but I was sure to try to help get the situation worked out. He had been hurt. Well maybe now I wanted to know what happened between them, and Seth was my business the more I thought on it trying to ignore the creeping nightmare, unsuccessfully. Last night I'd wandered through wide ferns interspersed with huge hemlock trees, the scenery had changed. I was lost in the nothing of the ferns, trees and moss, wandering aimlessly, searching for nothing.
I wanted to kick myself for my stupid field trip last week when I dropped Seth back home after school. I shoved the dream out of my mind, hoping it would stay locked up somewhere and not escape again, I initiated conversation with Seth as I cleaned the kitchen. He did the dishes as I bustled around, he was in a lighter mood today not as mummified, I tried not to think of similarities of our predicaments. He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, he was fidgety, avoiding close proximity.
I made some breakfast and then rewashed dishes and went upstairs to clean the upstairs. Charlie was outside washing his cruiser and Seth was downstairs watching TV. So when the phone rang, I dropped the toilet brush and ran downstairs to answer it. Only to have Seth beat me there.
"Hello?... Hey, Mi… Yeah… She's right here, you want to talk to her?" Seth asks and then he was listening, "Yeah, that's fine… Yeah," And then he hands me the phone and walks back to the couch.
"Hello," I said into the phone curious and anxious.
"Bells," Naomi says in a southern accent.
I smiled, "Hey, Nao."
"I believe that… we have a date," she continues the southern accent with thick implication.
I took me a second before I got it. "They're done?"
"Yes ma'am. They run and everything."
"Ah, you're wonderful, Naomi, without a doubt. I'm on my way up!"
I threw the cleaning supplies under the bathroom sink and grabbed my jacket with Seth behind me.
"Headed to see Naomi," Charlie said when we ran past him, it wasn't really a question.
"Yep!" Seth and I chorused.
Charlie said something else, I didn't hear what he said over the road of the engine but it sounded something like, "Where's the fire?"
I parked the truck off to the side of the Blacks' house, close to the trees, to make it easier for us to sneak the bikes out. When I got out, a splash of color caught my eye – two shiny motorcycles, one red, one black, they were hidden under a spruce tree. Invisible to the house, perfect. Naomi was always prepared. Pieces of light blue and purple ribbons tied in tiny bows on the handlebars. I was laughing at that when Naomi ran out of the house.
"Ready for the motorcycle derby?" Naomi asks as she approaches.
I smiled, "As ready as I'll ever be."
After loading the bikes into the bed of truck, Naomi braided her hair as we gathered into the truck.
"I know the perfect spot. No one will catch us there," Naomi says with that signature delighted mischief tone and glint in her dark irises. Then she looked at Seth and I, "A reverse Oreo."
Seth deadpanned when he got it her joke, "And it starts."
"Hehehe."
Seth chuckled first before I did at Naomi. We drove south out of town, the dirt road wove in and out of the forest – sometimes there was nothing but trees, and then there would suddenly be a breathtaking glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. It reached the horizon, dark grey under the cloud cover. We were above the shore, on top of the cliffs that boarded the beach here, and the view stretched on forever. I drove slowly, so I could stare out across the ocean safely here and there, as the road wound closed to the sea cliffs. Naomi and Seth were talking about finishing the bikes, but her descriptions were getting technical, so I kind of really wasn't paying close attention.
Then I noticed five figures standing on a rocky ledge, much too close to the precipice. I couldn't tell from the distance how old they were, but by their body builds I assumed they were men. Despite the chill in the air today, they seemed to be only wearing shorts. As I watched, the tallest person stepped closer to the brink. I slowed automatically, my foot hesitating over the brake pedal. And then he threw himself off the edge of the cliff.
"No!" I shouted, slamming on the brake.
"What happened?" Naomi shouted her voice higher than before, alarmed.
"That guy – he just jumped off the cliff! Why didn't they stop him? We've got to call an ambulance!" I threw open my door and started to get out of the cab, which made no sense at all.
The fastest way to a phone was to drive back to Billy's. But I couldn't believe what I'd just seen. Maybe, subconsciously, I hoped I would see something different without the glass of the windshield. Naomi laughed, I spun to stare at her wildly. How could she be so calloused?
"Bells, they're just cliff diving. Recreation, La Push doesn't have a mall, you know," She was teasing me, but there was a note of irritation in her voice.
I stared in disbelief as a second figure stepped to the edge, paused, and then very gracefully leaped into space. He fell for what seemed like an eternity to me, cutting smoothly into the dark waters below.
"Cliff diving?" I asked, dazed. "Wow, it's so high." I slid back into my seat, staring wide eyes at the two remaining divers, "It must be a hundred feet."
"Yeah, most of us jump from lower down, that rock that just out from the cliff about halfway." Naomi pointed out the window, the place she indicated did seem much more reasonable. "Those guys are insane. Probably showing off how tough they are. It's fucking freezing out here, there's no way the water feels good." Naomi made a disgruntled face that Seth and I both caught, as if the stunt offended her in some way.
This surprised me actually, Naomi was always cool and collected, and very much to no good that I couldn't help but realize I wanted her in my life no matter what.
"You jump off the cliff?" Seth beat me to it.
Naomi shrugged and grinned, "Sure, sure, it's fun. A bit scary but a total rush."
I looked back at the cliffs, where the third figure was pacing the edge. I'd never witnessed something so reckless in my life before. My eye widened and I smiled, glancing back at Naomi, "Nao, you have to take me cliff diving."
"Bells, I love your wavelength right now but," Naomi frowned, her face expression disapproving, "Bells, you just wanted to call an ambulance for Sam." She remined me, I am surprised she could tell who it was from this distance.
I sighed in protest, "I want to try," I insisted.
Naomi grabbed my arm swiftly when I went to hop out of the truck, I felt this wave wash over me I couldn't understand, "Not today, all right? Can we at least wait for a warmer day?" She asks without looking at me but out the windshield to the cliffs.
"Okay, fine," I relented, she let go of my arm and that wave lifted. With the open door, the glacial breeze blew into the truck and raised goosebumps on my arms. "But I want to go soon."
"Soon," Naomi rolled her eyes, "You're strange sometimes, Bells." Naomis head tilted as she scrutinized me.
"I know," I replied with a sigh.
"And we're not jumping off the top."
I watched the third boy in fascination as he made a running start and flung himself further into the empty air than the other two. He twisted and cartwheeled through space as he fell, like he was skydiving. He looked free, unthinkingly and absolutely irresponsible.
"Fine," I agreed, "Not the first time anyway."
Naomi sighed, Seth put his hands up in surrender when she glanced at him, "She's your sister… Are we going to ride bikes or do you want to continue talking about permanent hypothermia?"
"Okay, okay," I say tearing my eyes away from the last person waiting on the cliff. I put my seatbelt back on and closed the door. The engine was still running, roaring as it idled, I started driving down the road again.
"So who are those guys – the crazy ones?" I wondered.
Naomi made a noise from the back of her throat, "The 'La Push Gang'."
"You have a gang?" I asked, impressed more than shocked.
Naomi chuckled once at me reaction, her eyes piercing mine when I glanced at her, "Not like that. I swear, like hall monitors on steroids. They don't start fights, they keep the peace." She snorted. "There was this guy from up somewhere by the Makah rez, big guy too, scary looking. Well, word got around that he was selling meth to kids, and Sam Uley and his disciples ran him off our land. They're all about our land and tribe pride… it's ridiculous really. The worst part is that the council actually meets with Sam." She shook her head, her hair falling all around her, face full of resentment. "Embry also heard from Leah Clearwater that they call themselves 'protectors' or something like that."
Seth unraveled Naomi's clenched fists and wove his fingers with hers. Naomi still looked like she wanted to hit something. I've never seen this side of her. I was also surprised to hear Sam Uley's name.
"You don't like them very much." I said.
Naomi scoffed, "Is it obvious?" she asked sarcastically, she looked down at her hand grasped in Seth's.
"Well… It doesn't sound like they're doing anything bad." I said soothingly, "Just sort of annoyingly goody-two-shoes for a gang."
"Annoying is a good word but they're always showing off – like the cliff diving. They act like… tough guys. I was hanging out at the store with Jake, Embry and Quil once, last semester, and Sam came by with his followers, Jared and Paul. Around that time I was kind of messing around with Paul but that ended as quickly as it started, Quil said something, with his big ass mouth, and it pissed Paul off. A true hothead at heart, his eyes got all dark and he sort of smiled – no, he bared his teeth. It was like he was so mad he was trembling or something. Paul calmed down after a minute of Sam's intervention.
Like Sam was holding him back the whole time," She sighed heavily, "Like a bad western. Sam's a pretty big guy, he's twenty. But Paul's sixteen, but not as beefy as Quil. I think any one of us could take him."
"Isn't Sam a little too old for this kind of thing?" Seth asked deterring me out of memories of Sam on that night.
"Yeah. He was supposed to go to college but he stayed. And no one gave him any crap about it, either. The whole council pitched a fit when my brother turned down a partial scholarship and got married. But, no, Sam Uley can do no wrong."
Her face was set in an unfamiliar line of outrage – outrage and something else I didn't recognize at first. Seth rubbed her arm in a calming manner.
"It all sounds really annoying and … strange. But I don't get why you're taking it so personally." I peeled over at her face, hoping I didn't offend her.
She was suddenly calm and staring out the side window.
"You just missed the turn," she said in an even tone.
I executed a very wide u-turn, nearly hitting a tree as my circle ran the truck halfway off the road.
"Thanks for the heads up," I muttered as I started down the side road.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
It was quiet for a brief moment.
"You can stop anywhere along here," she said softly.
I pulled over and cut the engine. My ears rang in the silence that followed, the three of us got out and Naomi headed around the back to get the bikes. I tried to read her expression, something else was bothering her. I think we hit a nerve.
She smiled halfheartedly as she pushed the red bike to my side, "Happy Belated Birthday. Are ready for this?"
"I think so." The bike was suddenly intimidating, frightening, as I realized I would soon be astride it.
"We'll take it slow," she promised.
I gingerly leaned the motorcycle against the trucks fender while she went to get hers, Seth and I sharing a look.
"Nao…" I hesitated as she came back around the truck.
"Yeah?"
"What's really bothering you? About the Sam thing, I mean? Is there something else?" I watched her face. She grimaced but she didn't look angry, she looked at the dirt and kicked her shoe against the front tire of her bike again and again, like she was keeping time.
She sighs and runs her hand through her hair unweaving her braid and hooking the band around her wrist, going with it before she spoke, "It's just… the way they treat me. It creeps me out." She started to word vomit, "You know the council is supposed to be made up of equals, but if there was a leader, it would be my Dad. I've never been able to figure out why people treat him the way they do. Why his opinion counts the most. It's got something to do with his father and his father's father. My great-grandfather, Ephraim Black, was sort of the last chief we had, and they still listen to Billy because of it.
"But I'm just like everyone else. Nobody treats me special … until now."
That caught me off guard. "Sam treats you special?"
"Yeah," she looks up at me with troubled eyes, "He looks at me like he's waiting for something… like I'm going to join his stupid gang. He pays more attention to me than any of the other guys. It's weird." She shivers.
"What the hell? He's five years older than you. Fucking creep." Seth muttered, that was the first time I heard use profanity.
"You don't have to join anything," I was angry now.
This was upsetting Naomi, and Sam watches her, she's a fifteen year old girl. That infuriated me. Who did these 'protectors' think they were?
"Yeah," she says distantly, her foot keeping rhythm against the tire.
"Nao," Seth says and I knew he sensed there was more to this too.
She frowned, the expression doesn't look right on her face, her eyebrows pulling up in a way that looked sad and worried than the anger she had been feeling.
"It's the Twins. Jake and Embry, they've been avoiding me lately."
I wondered if it was my fault for taking all of her time, "You've been hanging out a lot with me."
"No, no Bells, it's not your fault. It's not just me, it's Quil, too, and everyone. They missed a week of school, but they were never home when we tried to see them. And when they came back, they looked… freaked out. Quil and I both tried to get Jake or Bry to tell us what was wrong but they wouldn't talk to either one of us."
Her tempo increased, "Then this week, out of nowhere, Jake and Bry are hanging out with Sam and the rest of them. They were were on the cliffs today," her voice was low and tense.
She finally looked up at us, "They bugged them even more than they bother me. They didn't want anything to do with them. And now their following Sam around like he's joined a cult.
"And that's the way it was with Paul. Just exactly the same. He wasn't friends with Sam at all. Then he stopped coming to school for a few weeks, and, when he came back. Sam suddenly owned him. I don't know, Paul is… I can't figure it out, and I feel like I have to, because Embry and Jake are my boys and… Sam's looking at me funny…" she trailed off.
"Have you talked to Billy about this?" I asked, her horror was spreading to me, sending shivers down the back of my neck.
She scowled, "Yes," she snorted, "that was helpful."
"What did he say?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about now, Naomi. In a few years, if you don't… well, I'll explain later," she said in an mock tome of her fathers voice. "What am I supposed to get from that?... Like something's coming. Something wrong."
She looked like she was going to cry.
I threw my arms around her instinctively, wrapping them around her back and resting my chin on her shoulder. She smelt so pretty.
"Oh, Nao, it'll be okay," I promised. "If it gets worse, you can come live with us and Charlie. Don't be scared, we'll think of something!"
She was frozen for a second and then she hugged me back hesitantly, "Thanks Bells, you're the best friend a girl could ask for."
We stood like that for a moment, and it didn't upset me; in fact, I felt comforted by the contact. This wasn't like how someone else embraced me, nothing like it. This was friendship and Naomi was very warm.
It was strange for me, being this close emotionally, but the physical was strange for me too. To another human being. I don't normally relate to people so easily, on such a basic level. Not human beings at least.
We broke away and she smirked at me with her hands on her hips, "So are we going to ride or what?"
"Let's do it," I agreed enthusiastically.
...
Seth
…
"Okay, where's your clutch?" Naomi asked Bella.
Bella pointed to the lever on her left handlebar, letting go of the motorcycle. It wobbled underneath her, she grabbed the handle again, struggling to hold it straight.
"Naomi, it won't stay up," Bella complained.
"It will when you're moving," Naomi promised, "Now where's your brake?"
"Behind my right foot."
"Wrong."
"Huh?" I asked as Naomi grabbed Bella's right hand and curled her fingers around the lever over the throttle.
"But you said—"
"This is the brake you want. Don't use the back brake now, that's for later, when you know what you're doing."
"That doesn't sound right," Bella says suspiciously, it didn't to be honest, "Aren't both brakes kind of important?"
"Forgeg the back brake, okay? Here—" Naomi wrapped her hand around Bella's, "That is how your brake. Don't forget." Naomi squeezed her hand again.
"Fine," Bella agreed.
"Throttle."
Bella twisted her right hand.
"Gearshift?"
Bella nudged it with her left calf.
"Awesome. I think you've got all the parts down. Now you just have to get it moving."
"Uh-huh," Bella muttered, she looked a bit scared now.
She stared down at the long stretch of the dirt road, boarded by thick misty green on each side. The road was sandy and damp. Better than mud, more stable.
"I want you to hold down the clutch," Naomi instructed.
Bella wrapped her fingers around the clutch.
"Nownthis is crucial, Bella," Naomi stressed, "Don't let go of that, okay? I want you to pretend that I've handed you a love grenade. The pin is out and you are holding the spoon."
"Good," Naomi says when Bella adjusted her grip, "Do you think you can kick-start it?"
"If I move my foot, I'll fall over," Bella said through her gritted teeth.
"Okay, I'll do it. Don't let go of the clutch."
Naomi took a step back and slammed her foot down on the pedal. There was a short ripping sound, and the force of her thrust rocked the bike. Bella started to fall but Naomi caught the bike before it knocked Bella over to the ground.
"My bad, steady there," Naomi encouraged, "Do you still have the clutch?"
"Yes," Bella gasped.
"Plant your feet – I'm going to try starting it again," Naomi out her hand on the back of the seat.
It took four more kicks before the ignition caught and the engine was rumbling to life like an angry animal.
"Try the throttle," Naomi suggested, "Very lightly, and don't let go of the clutch."
Bella twisted the throttle hesitantly, the bike snarled underneath her. Naomi smiled with deep satisfaction.
"Do you remember how to put it into first gear?" Naomi asked.
"Yes."
"Go ahead and do it."
"Okay."
She waited for a few seconds.
"Left foot," Naomi prompted.
"I know," Bella's said inhaling deeply.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Bells? You look scared."
"I'm fine," Bella snapped, and kicked the gearshift down one notch.
"Awesome!" Naomi praised her, "Now, very gently, ease up the clutch, Bells."
Naomi took a step away from the bike.
"You want me to let go of the grenade?" Bella asked in disbelief, realizing why Naomi stepped away.
"That's how you move. Just do it little by little, Bells."
Bella looked like she was seeing a ghost when she went to loosen her grip, she gasped and her hand fell off the clutch. The bike bucked underneath Bella, yanking her forward and then collapsing on top of her on the ground. The engine choked to a stop.
"Bells!" Naomi jerked the bike off Bella with ease.
Oh, this girl is freaking awesome. My mind purred.
"Are you okay?" Naomi asked but Bella was dazed, "Bella," Naomi shook her shoulder.
"I'm fine," She mumbled, dazed.
Naomi started pulling her to her feet, "Did you hit your head?"
Bella shook her head back and forth, "I don't think so. Did I hurt the hurt the bike?"
Naomi chuckles, "No, you just stalled the engine. You let go of the clutch too fast."
Bella nodded, "Lets try again."
"Are you sure?" Naomi asked glancing at me swiftly.
"Positive."
Bella wanted to kick-start it this time, she had to jump little to slam down on the pedal with enough force, but every time she did that, the bike threatened to knock her over again. Naomi hands hovered over the handlebars, ready to catch it if she needed too. I watched patiently as Bella took several more good tries and even more poor ones, before the ignition caught. The bike roared to life under Bella, she revved the engine experimentally. The bike snarled and Bella's smile mirrored Naomi's.
"Easy on the clutch," Naomi reminded Bella, "Easy off slowly."
"I will," Bella says.
And then suddenly, Bella was flying down the stretch of the dirt road. My brows pulling together as Bella's head turned to different sides of the road as she drove, Naomi glanced over at me and then she started towards her bike. Bella seemed to start to freak out by the bend all the way down the road.
"Front brake, front brake, front brake," Naomi mumbled just before Bella did the opposite, crashing into a tree with the bike on top of her.
"Bella!" Naomi took off on the black bike and I ran after her. Naomi got to her first, jumping off the bike and letting to fall to the side, as it stalled and she sliding next to Bella.
Naomi pulled the bike off Bella and skidded on the sand which made me fall right on my behind with a pained grunt.
"Bella, you're bleeding," Naomi says and then I see the blood streaming down Bella's face from her hairline. Naomi pulled off her T-shirt and my eyes bugged out of my eye sockets, Bella touched her forehead and looked at the blood on her fingertips.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Bella apologized and looked up at Naomi in nothing but a bra and her jeans.
Naomi balled up her shirt and dabbed at her forehead, "You're apologizing for bleeding."
I was apologizing mentally for staring at her, I have never a female body like Naomi's, granted I hadn't paid too much attention before but seeing it was a whole different ballpark. I prayed for alone time with her sometime today, I wanted to know what her boobs looked like. I really wanted to finish what I started in my room.
"You're sort of beautiful," Bella says with her eyes flickering over Naomi's torso.
"How hard did you hit your head?" Naomi asks smirking, she glanced over at me and I squeaked looking away from her chest. "I caught you, Seth."
I scrambled to my feet pulling my coat off, "Shut up."
"I want to go again." Bella says preparing to stand up.
Naomi and I both looked at her crazy, Naomi shook her head, "No, no more bikes for a while. Let's get you checked out."
Naomi got Bella to her feet, Bella held onto her rest unsteady for a second and then she was stable, my face was hot as I handed Naomi my coat. Bella walked ahead, Naomi looked up at me smirking, I heard my heartbeat in my ears when Naomi teased me shaking her boobs lightly. I watched the soft flesh jiggle before I squeaked again feeling blood rushing to my groin.
"Boobs are every guys weakness," Naomi took my jacket and pulled it in, she zipped it up.
I helped reclaim the motorcycles and get Bella to the hospital. Naomi checked Bella's head as I drove us to the hospital. Seven stitches later and a long hospital wait, I was taking Bella back home and then driving Naomi back home.
The rain came down lightly as I drove back to the Blacks house, I focused on the road with a blank mind until halfway to her house. I thought about the conversation we agreed to have, I glanced over at Naomi looking out the passenger window with a worried expression.
"You okay?" I asked looking back at the road.
"Bella is worrying me," Naomi says softly, "I feel like everyday is getting closer to her… snapping. I don't know… girl thing I guess."
I understand what she meant, Bella isn't herself but she hasn't been for awhile. But I know my older sister, she may be concerning right now but I know she was going to bounce back from Edward. Eventually. I know that because I already have, and I know she will, its just different for everyone on how they deal with certain things. Bella always dealt alone and she always came back stronger, she was just in a stage right now and I didn't know what stage it was honestly.
"She's going to be okay," I reassured her, "She's eating again… her nightmares aren't as frequent… she just needs some more time."
"That's what worries me."
"I promise she's going to be okay." I glanced over at her again and she was still looking out the window. I looked back forward, sighing at her silence, "I'm sorry about what happened… between us… I shouldn't have done that."
She was quiet for a moment, "It's okay," her voice was even but there was an edge.
"Its not… it's not at all. Especially since it was your first time."
"The first times aren't as special as they make you hope to be."
"I wanted it to be… if I'd known, it would've been." I drove slowly knowing I didn't have much time left with her for the rest of the day.
"How could you have known?"
"If I had asked before doing anything. If I asked in general."
It was silent for a brief moment.
"You think I'm mad you didn't ask?"
"Now that I'm thinking on that, yes."
"Im not mad… I like boldness. I-I… I liked it."
I glanced over at her surprise, she smiled bashfully before shrugging and looking out the window. Well, then… but I still feel guilty and shameful.
"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you afterwards."
"You were going through the stages… I understand."
"You're very accepting to things you should be wanting to hit me for."
She shrugged again, "I can't be mad at you, Seth. No matter what it is."
I didn't know what to say to that. But I was disappointed that her road was coming up soon.
"Go straight." She instructed.
I glanced over at her in confusion, "Huh?"
She met my gaze, "Do you… want to finish what you started? Or… no?"
I stopped in the middle of the lane, and glanced over at her, "You… want to?"
This was shocking more than it thrilled me, it thrilled me but then I seen my father's face in my minds eye. Yelling at me about condoms and how girls have cooties and I should run away. I would love to be infected by Naomi's cooties after all.
I wanted to, I wanted to do bad but I don't have any protection on me.
"It's kind of the only thing I've been thinking of lately."
I felt my mini me jump in my pants, oh this is bad, I covered my erection and looked in the rearview mirror to cars approaching from the short bend. I looked down to Naomi tucking herself into my side and her hand slipping under mine.
"And you can't say you don't want to, either," she says applying pressure with her hand.
I groaned in defeat, "I don't have condoms."
"What's life without risks?"
"You're going to get me slaughtered, Black." I continued forward passing her road and followed her directions to a dead end road and then I cut the engine.
Just as quickly as it happened before, it happened again just as quickly this time. Only this time I had her fully naked and finally got to see her boobies, deep russet with rosy nipples and I wanted to taste them. She moaned and gasped under me as I drew her nipples into my mouth at different intervals, kissing and licking the swells of her breasts. Her nipples hardened under my tongue, I didn't want to leave her breasts but I really wanted to taste her again. I licked at the moisture between her legs, between her lower lips, she responded to my tongue, I felt the pulse from one of her veins. She wanted this badly, so I gave it to her.
Her fingers gripped at my hair as her hips lightly moved against my mouth, I could tell she was close to the edge by the erection of her clitoris and the high pitched whimpers and gasps from her. I sucked the nub into my mouth, sucking on it and making her writhe beneath me, placing my hands on her breasts and pushing her back into the seat. Her hands come over mine and gripped them as her hips bucked into my face, I dipped my tongue into her pussy, licking up the clear delicious juices that escaped her.
I rode her through her high making her begin to moan again, my hands slid down from her breasts, over her ribcage and over the narrow curve of her waist to the side span of her hips. I wanted to continue this but it was only a matter of time, if Billy hasn't already, called the house looking for his daughter.
"You ready?" I asked quietly hovering over her as she ran her hands over my torso and my back, buttering me up.
Her hooded eyes found mine as she bit her lower lip and nodded, she let go her lip and I caught her lip. Suckling on it before kissing her, when I broke from her. She looked flushed, her lips were swollen from my kisses and I disregarded it.
"Tell me if it hurts," I advised quietly and she nodded again, I positioned myself and pushed myself into her pussy.
She gasped a moan as I sank into her, she was pulsing around me, her back arching and I pushed her back down again. Her eyes brimmed with tears and I stopped, she blinked them away pulling me closer with her arms around my back.
"I love you," She murmured, her eyes boring into my soul and I was met by her own, my hold her turned tender as the rain beating down against the truck faded away. "I love you. I will never hurt you. You're safe with me," she murmurs holding onto me lovingly.
I rested my forehead against hers, closing my eyes, love wasn't really on my mind right now but the lust for her was real. But her words sunk into my brain, shaking my heart. I pulled her closer, sinking further into her, weighing down flush against her and she held onto me. I registered the pace of my heartbeat, the steadiness and match of our breathing, the longer we laid there. The more I began to feel myself interconnect with her without moving, she was branding herself all over me as I was branding myself into her, our breathing fully matched and then as if I heard and feel her heartbeat in my own chest. I felt our hearts beginning to beat on the same wavelength, fully interconnected in ways that I've never experienced.
"I love you," I murmured into her ear before making love to her.
And no… no, I didn't pull out in time.
...
Bella had managed to give Dad a story about tripping in the garage and falling to cause her latest injury. On Wednesday the doctor called to give Dad news that Bella was concussed and to wake her up every two hours, Dad yelled at me for not making sure there was nothing Bella could get harmed from by her own two left feet. Dad didn't buy the story of falling in garage when he asked her about it again.
After that Dad threatened to personally castrate me if anything happened between Naomi and I, he went on a rant about his phone call with Billy after I guess catching the swelling of Naomi's lips after she hid in the shed until the latest hour she could manage. Dad asked me what happened, "We talked, that was it."
He gave up after a while and grumbled something a long the lines of, "Talking my ass."
Bella demanded to know what was going on between us on Friday after school as soon as we stepped foot in the shed.
"What is up with you two?" Bella demanded looking between us from her place sitting on a crate as Naomi worked on her Camaro.
I glanced over at Bella after looking at Naomi work, "Huh?"
Bella tossed a stray bolt at me only for it to go in a completely opposite direction, "Don't 'huh' me. Ever since Sunday the two of you have been different."
"Don't worry, Bells. It's nothing to worry about," Naomi says switching out her wrench for a different wrench that clicked when she was using it and then she let it go and we all left to the truck.
Bella sighs looking at Naomi as we walked to the truck and then she went pensive, "Charlie's getting nosy," Bella complains to Naomi once we were in the truck.
"Maybe we should cool it with the bikes," I replied.
Bella made an objecting expression, "At least for a week or so. You could stay out of the hospital for a week, right?"
"What are we going to do?" Bella griped.
Naomi smiled, "anything other bikes. You want to try hiking again?"
Bella didn't answer but fell into a trance as she drove back to Forks. Bella came to a stop at a red light and Naomi glanced at me before looking out the window to my right. I jumped startled at something smacking onto the glass and looked out the window to a trio of teenage boys laughing and high-fiving each other at the rain washing away chocolate milk from the window. I looked back at Naomi clenching her jaw, outraged and sad, that infuriated me. They making my girlfriend cry for an unknown reason, I glared back out the window at the boys were yelling things I couldn't hear over the roar of the engine, as she leaned back in the seat.
And then I realized it, one of the boys had a confederate bandana wrapped around his wrist as he yelled at the truck, for the first time in my life I have witnessed racism right before my eyes. Before I could do anything, with an ugly monster twisting in my stomach and chest at what I made out from reading their lips, Bella began driving again with the green light.
Naomi sniffled, wiping tears that fell from her eyes and she inhaled deeply, cutting me off from speaking as she looked at Bella next to her still lost in her thoughts. Thinking hard about something.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" Naomi asks, wiping stray tears before Bella turned to her.
"Well…" Bella started slowly, "I found this place once in the forest, hiking. A little meadow, the most beautiful place.. It would definitely take a few tries…"
"We could use a compass and a grid pattern," Naomi suggest with confident helpfulness. "Do you remember where you started from?"
"Yes, just below the trailhead where the one-ten ends. I was going mostly south, I think."
"Awesome. We'll find it," Naomi says and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders pulling her into my side, kissing the crown of her head.
"I'm sorry you deal with that, babes," I murmured as she leaned into me wrapping her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest and shoulder.
…
On this glorious Saturday afternoon after Bella finished her morning shift at Newton's we picked up Naomi who had been talking with Quil, he turned down going hiking with us after my offer. He left without a second look back and Naomi had followed him for a bit before sprinting back to the house and hopping inside happily.
Billy chuckled at her as she swung her legs under her and landed on the floor without a sound and snatching a folded map from the couch. Naomi looked taller today, I sat with Billy for a little while with Bella who tied up her new boots.
"Nao, did you grow again?" Bells asks straightening up in her chair at the table.
Naomi looked up from the map and her marker she claimed was the prettiest blue color she's seen and it was destined for this moment.
"Let's see shall we?" Billy asked and we all followed him to the tiny laundry closet with markings on the doorframe.
I examined it and there were Naomi's twin brothers names there with ages, by the time they were eighteen both boys were the height of 6'7, Billy handed me a sharpie as Naomi leaned her back against the doorframe. I marked a line a hairline above her head and she stepped away, I put her age down again above a solid clean three inches from when she turned fifteen.
"5'10," I announced looking down at Bella with a smirk capping the sharpie, "A clean three inches."
"Whoa, I'm not sure I like that," Naomi remarked looking at Bella who grinned.
"It's awesome! You're healthy and growing. That's a great thing! And beautiful as ever," Bella giggled softly and the girls walked away snickering.
I looked back at the doorframe and my eyebrows pulled together… I don't know why but her growth spurt, concerned me. I glanced down at Billy who seemed just as worried before he masked his expression, he shifted his arms and smiled at me knowingly.
"So, a little birdie told me that you and Naomi are a thing…" He trailed off and I seen my life flash before my eyes.
I scratched the back of my head nervously stepping aside as Billy closed the door of the laundry closet.
"Yeah, I wanted to tell you properly soon."
"Tell me properly? Seth, I am not a celebrity father."
"It's Mom's fault. She raised me to be a gentleman."
A gentleman? Says the one that has sex with his daughter in his old truck. My mind retorted.
Billy smiled in appreciation, "Well… I'll pretend I don't know then."
Naomi sprawled across the living room floor, I sat next to her on the floor helping her for a full twenty minutes drawing a grid across the key section of the grid map. Bella talked to Billy at the table as I helped Naomi or more lie watched when she swatted my hand away, Billy didn't seem opposed to our hiking trip. I was surprised that Naomi told Billy of our trip, given the latest fuss in the towns about the bear sightings.
"Maybe we'll see that super bear everyone's talking about," Naomi joked eyes on the map.
Billy just laughed, "Maybe you should bring a jar of honey, just in case."
Naomi cackles, "I hope you guys can run fast, guys. One little jar won't keep Winnie the Pooh occupied for long."
I snickered at her, "I thought Winnie the Pooh was supposed to be friendly?"
Naomi glanced up at my quickly, grinning and shaking her head, "Not this one."
"I only have to be faster than you two," Bella retorted.
Naomi chortled, "Good luck with that!" Naomi rolled her eyes playfully, refolded the map and sat up. "Okay, let's roll out, Autobots."
Billy cackled, "Have fun," he wheeled himself toward the refrigerator.
Dad wasn't a hard person to live with, like Mom was always demanding for absolute perfection while she slacked and flaked, but it looked like Naomi had it easier than Bella and I with Dad and Mom combined.
Bella drove to the very end of the dirt road south of Forks, stopping near a sign that marked the beginning of the trailhead. We got out and Bella pointed straight ahead at the sense wall of green.
"I went this way," she murmured.
"Hmm," Naomi hummed thoughtfully.
"What?" Bella and I chorused.
Naomi looked at the direction Bella pointed, then at the marked trail, and back.
"I figured you as a trail kind of girl."
"Not me," Bella smiled bleakly. My eyebrows pulled together, "I'm a rebel."
Naomi and I laughed and then she pulled out our map.
"One second," Naomi held the compass in a skilled manner, twisting the map around till it angled the way she wanted it.
"Okay, first line on the grid. Let's roll out."
…
Bella
…
I could tell that Seth and I were slightly slowly Naomi down, but she didn't complain. I tried not to dwell on my last trip here with different companions. Normal memories were still dangerous to the hole in my chest. If I let myself slip, I'd end up with my arms clutching my chest to hold it together, gasping for air, and would I be able to explain that to Naomi and Seth? It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to keep focus on the present.
The forest looked a lot like any other part of the peninsula, and Naomi and Seth both set a vastly different mood. Seth got ahead and was making up an adventure story of the three of us going to find an imaginary something in the meadow, and we didn't argue with him. Naomi and I just shared a look and continued walking through the thick brush as Seth shouted to imaginary characters, Naomi snorted laughing as I grinned and cackled. Naomi whistled a cheerful unfamiliar tune when Seth was done sword fighting with sticks against ferns and forestry, he walked ahead and turned to look back at us here and there. Naomi checked the compass every few minutes, keeping us in a straight line with one of those radiating spokes of his grid. She looked like she knew what she was doing, I was going to compliment her, but I caught myself. No doubt she'd add another few years to her inflated age.
My mind wandered as I walked, and I grew curious. I haven't forgotten about the conversation on the sea cliffs. I've been waiting for her to bring it up again but that didn't seem likely. I… I wanted to know and I hesitated but spoke up.
"Hey… Nao?" I asked, hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"How are things… with the Twins? Are they back to normal yet?"
She was silent for a minute, she was still walking ahead when she was ten feet ahead, she stopped to wait for me as Seth was fighting the ferns again with his trusty wooden sword.
"No. He's not back to normal," She says as I reached out to her, she frowned.
She didn't start walking again and I regretted bringing it up.
"Still with Sam."
"Yup."
We hooked our arms and she looked so troubled that I didn't playfully shrug it off, I might as well have.
"Are they still looking at you funny?" I half-whispered.
Naomi stared off after Seth, she smirked for a second when Seth let out a battle cry before his tall frame disappeared behind some forestry before she frowned again, "Sometimes."
"And Billy?"
"As helpful as ever," she says sourly angry that disturbed me.
"Our couch is always open," I offered.
She laughed, resting her head on top of mine lightly, I dismissed this but I felt her body heat through her hoodie. Breaking out her unusual gloom. "Think of the position that would put Charlie in – when Dad calls the police to report my kidnapping."
I laughed too, and then Seth popped up out of nowhere startling us and making my two leg feet activate even though I was standing still, and then Naomi and I were tumbling to the forest floor. We stopped when Naomi said we'd gone six miles, cut west for an abbreviated time, and then headed back along another line on her grid. Everything looked exactly the same as the way we came, and I knew that my silly quest was pretty much doomed for today. I admitted it to myself when it started to get darker, the sunless sky fading towards a starless night. But that didn't shake Naomi's confidence, it made her more confident.
"We'll find it as long as you're sure we're starting from the right place," She glanced down at me with her eyes as Seth reluctantly tossed his branch aside.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"We'll find it," Naomi promised and hooked her arm with mine as she playfully kicked Seth's leg. We walked through the mass of ferns and then there was the truck on the other side. She gestured to it proudly, "Trust me."
"You're good," I admitted, "Next time, we'll bring flashlights."
"We'll save hiking for Sundays then. I didn't know you were that slow."
I yanked my arm away from hers and stomped around to the driver's side while she chuckled at me.
"So, you up for another try tomorrow?" Seth asked closing the passenger door behind Naomi and himself.
"Sure. Unless you two want to go along without me so I don't tie you down to my gimpy pace."
Naomi hugged my head, snickering, "Oh you're adorable when you're mad. I'm sure we'll survive. If we're hiking again, though, you might want to pick up some moleskin. I bet you're feeling those new boots now."
"A little," I confessed as she leaned back in her usual place in the middle.
It felt like I had more blisters than I had room for them in these boots.
"I hope we see the bear tomorrow. I'm actually kind of disappointed about that now," Seth piped in crossing his arms over his chest, pouting.
"Yes, me, too," I agreed sarcastically, "Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow and something will eat us!"
"Bear don't eat people, Bells," Naomi snickered, "We don't taste good."
Seth grinned at her in the darkness of the cab, "Of course, you might be an expectation. I bet you'd taste good."
I glanced over at the shared laugh between them as Naomi playfully shoved his head away. I narrowed my eyes at them for a moment, trying to figure out what was their deal. I couldn't help but think about what Seth said.
I bet you'd taste good. I tried not to think of the irony of that comment.
…
Time began to trip a long more quickly than before. School, work, and Naomi – not exactly in that particular order - created a knee and effortless pattern to follow. And Charlie got his wish; I was so miserable anymore, and Seth was coping well with his break up with Christine. Of course I couldn't find myself completely. When I stopped to take a look at my life, which I tried not to do often I couldn't ignore the implications of my behavior.
I was a lost moon - destroyed in some kind of catalysmic, mayhem-movie scenario of desolation. That spun in a, nonetheless, circle and in a little orbit of empty space that was behind, ignoring the laws of gravity. I was getting better with my bike which meant fewer bandages to worry Charlie, but I also meant the voice in my head began to fade. Until I heard it no more, silently, I panicked. I threw myself into a search for the meadow with frenzied intensity. I weighed options for other adrenaline producing activities.
I didn't keep track of the days that passed – there was no reason to at least, as I tried to live as much in the present as possible, no past fading, no future impending. Even though I felt like the latter was wrong significantly. So I was surprised by the date when Naomi brought it up and one of our homework days with Seth, Naomi was waiting for use when we pulled up in front of her house.
"Happy Valentine's Day," Naomi greeted us, smiling.
She held out two small, pink boxes, balancing them on her palm. Conversation hearts.
"Well, I feel like a schmuck," I mumbled, "Todays really Valentines Day?"
Naomi grinned, "Yes, it is the 14th day of February. It's okay, it's nothing too special."
Seth snorted, "Mm-hmm," he hummed and then pulled out two chocolate bars from his jacket pocket, and held something in his right hand. "Happy Valentine's Day," Seth handed us each a chocolate bar, and I smiled up at him.
"Aw, Seth. Happy Valentine's Day," I gave him a one arm hug.
"You didn't have too," Naomi says with slight objection but her face had darkened.
"Oh course I had to. Anything for my girls."
"So, what are we going tomorrow? Hiking, or the ER?" Naomi asked.
"Hiking," I decided, "You're not the only one who can be excessive. I'm starting to think I imagined that place…" I frowned.
"I have a track practice tomorrow," Seth says.
"Okay…" Naomi got sad for a few seconds before she lit up again, "Bikes Friday? All three of us?"
I saw a chance and took it without taking time to think about it thoroughly.
"I'm going to see a movie Friday. I've been promising my cafeteria crowd that I would go out forever."
Seth face lit up, "Ooh."
"You two will come right?" I asked quickly, "Or will it be a drag?"
"I thought you didn't like your cafeteria crowd?" Naomi asks with a head tilt.
"I like Ang. She's the only reason I stick around."
"Then bring Ang, and come to my lunch table." Seth offered as we piled into the truck.
"Ew," I mocked playfully, laughing at Seth reaction. "No, honestly, you guess want to come with? Please don't let leave alone with Mike. We can bring Quil, we'll make it a party."
"Quill will bust a nut. Senior girls," Naomi chortled and rolled her eyes.
I laughed, "I'll try to get him a good selection."
"And, I'll bring Katelynn to get Mike off your back."
"Katelynn?" I repeated in confusion until it hit me, Naomi's only other girl friend, she doesn't talk about her much. More of a school friend then outside in the world friend, but still the more the merrier.
Then Naomi laughed, "Then again, Mike might be the fifth wheel."
If only that had been the case.