A/N Through taking writing classes I have found writing in scenes works better for me. the next chapter is more than one scene. Do you want me to post the names of the scenes at the top of the page or just name it as a chapter?Therapy talk Jake and Leah
Jacob stretched out across the couch, his head resting comfortably on Bella's leg, while Leah lounged in the old recliner, lazily flipping through channels.
Outside, the storm had settled into a steady rhythm, rain pelting against the windows, wind hammering against the walls of the old house. The living room lights flickered once, briefly dimming before steadying again.
"Pick something already," Jacob muttered, shifting slightly. "You're worse than Billy."
Leah snorted. "It's called weighing my options, dumbass."
Jacob rolled his eyes and turned to Bella. "What about you? Got a preference?"
Bella hesitated, her fingers idly combing through his hair. The question was simple enough, but her mind was miles away. She exhaled, then said, "Charlie thinks I should see a psychiatrist."
They knew that of course they were both within hearing distance. Bella wasn't sure why she even said anything, maybe she was just looking for someone to agree with her to tell her Charlie was being ridiculous, or that it was just stupid… but they didn't.
Leah paused mid-click, eyebrows raising slightly. "Yeah, it's the smartest thing he's ever said."
Jacob didn't laugh. He tilted his head just enough to glance at Bella properly. "I think it's a good idea, Bells."
The rain lashed harder against the windows. She frowned. "You do?"
He nodded. "You've been through a lot. Talking to someone might help."
Bella let out a humorless laugh. "And say what? 'Hey, Doc, the supernatural is real, and I spend all my time with vampires and werewolves, but don't worry, I'm totally sane'?"
Leah smirked. "Yeah, that'd get you locked up for sure." She plopped the remote onto the armrest. "But you don't have to tell them everything. Just tell them you're a regular idiot with regular people problems."
Bella gave her a flat look. "Gee, thanks."
Leah shrugged. "What? You're stressed, you need to be supervised during mealtime, and you've got attachment issues; seems human enough to me."
"I don't need to be supervised," Bella complained.
"You don't eat if you're not," Leah countered bluntly. "Too busy practicing to be a leech."
The words stung more than they should have. Bella knew Leah was sharp-tongued, but it still caught her off guard. Their friendship had grown past hostility, past the biting remarks that once defined their interactions.
For a moment, something defensive flared inside her. Her fingers twitched in Jacob's hair, but she swallowed it down. Leah wasn't just being cruel. Bella knew her insistence on becoming a vampire hurt her. Leah lashed out when she was hurt. She always had.
Jacob shot Leah a warning glance before looking back at Bella. "She's not wrong, though… about the psychiatrist," he admitted, voice softer. "You don't have to spill everything, just… talk. Maybe it'll help."
Bella's fingers stilled. She glanced between them, expecting more teasing, but Jacob's expression was steady, concerned. Even Leah; who usually treated everything like a joke, was watching her like she actually cared.
That was somehow worse.
Bella sighed, glancing toward the window, watching the rain streak against the glass. "I'll think about it."
Jacob squeezed her arm lightly, not pushing. "That's all we're asking, Bells."
Leah, however, just smirked. "Good. 'Cause if you don't, I'm gonna start charging you for all this emotional labor."
Bella rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched despite herself. "Put it on my tab."
In the back of her mind, she thought, If they thought therapy would be good for her, maybe they all needed it just as much.
Leah picked the remote back up. "Oh, The Bachelor." She grinned.
"No," Jacob groaned.
"Oh, come on. Bella, help me out," Leah whined.
Jacob looked up at her with pleading eyes.
"Maybe… action?" Bella suggested.
"Ugh, I should have known you'd choose his side," Leah complained, but she didn't actually sound mad. She huffed dramatically and flicked through the channels until she landed on an old action movie. "Fine. But if I see one overused explosion, I'm switching back."
Jacob smirked. "You know every explosion in an action movie is overused, right?"
Leah scowled, but Bella caught the way her lips twitched, like she was fighting a smile.
Jacob relaxed back against Bella's leg, sighing contentedly. "You're gonna love it. Lots of unnecessary car chases, ridiculous stunts,"
"Men overcompensating with big guns," Leah added dryly.
Bella let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as the opening credits rolled. The earlier tension still sat heavy in her chest, but for now, she let herself sink into the moment, the warmth of Jacob against her, Leah's snarky commentary, the familiar hum of the TV.