The Passing Years-31Together

Chapter theme: A Fine Frenzy-Come On Come Out

Ray LaMontagne-Truly, Madly, Deeply. 

Jacob untangled himself from Bella at the first sound from Charlie’s room. It took longer than it should have, given his reluctance to leave her. He kept his eyes on her face as he put on his socks and shoes and decided that he should get a medal for leaving the warm bed of the girl he’d been in love with since he was a 16-year-old boy.

It was hero stuff. Epic. There should be songs about it.

He kept his ear on Charlie’s room, smiling at the miserable groan and the sound of popping bones. And for a tempting minute, he wondered what Charlie would do if he found him in Bella’s bed – 

A) Run for his gun and shoot him
B) Listen to his explanation, then shoot him
C) Use his sharply honed observation skills to note that both he and Bella were fully dressed…then shoot him simply on principle.

He figured he still had a couple of minutes before Charlie peeked in to check on his daughter as he did from time to time. He tugged his sweater on and deliberated between waking Bella up or not. Seeing her all warm and cuddly under the blankets, he opted for not.

On the road, he decided to take care of business – Leah, Kim and Rachel needed a stern talking to. He’d deal with Leah and Kim later, after all, there’s a pecking order around here.

When Jacob closed the door to his house and met his father’s eyes, he experienced a slight guilty twinge the way children do when they were either up to no good, thinking about being up to no good or had already done something no good.

Billy eyed him over the rim of his coffee cup, weighing him, needling him with his substantial silence. Years ago, that look would've made him freeze in his tracks, but now he simply strode to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.

“You just came in.” From the tone of Billy’s voice, the sentence wasn’t a question. Jacob knew Billy probably did the same thing Charlie did whenever his children were home – peeked in to make sure they were safe in their beds. Despite the fact Jacob had a successful business, was a werewolf and occasionally handled some tribal problem when Billy couldn't be bothered, his father still treated him like a child sometimes.

Jacob leaned back on the counter and answered with a casual, “Yeah.”

Both of them sipped their coffee, sighed in appreciation at the rich, strong taste, then continued to eye each other.

“You were with Bella.” Again, there was no question.

Jacob answered with the same word and same intonation, “Yeah.”

“Charlie saw you?”

A smile twitched at Jacob’s lips. “No.”

Billy turned the TV on to the news. “He’ll shoot you, you know.”

Now Jacob did chuckle. “I know.”

Billy turned up the volume, and Jacob figured that was all the parental guidance he would deliver…and all that Jacob would be willing to listen to. No one could accuse Billy of not knowing his children.

Jacob paused at the door to Rachel’s room and imagined himself kicking it open with dramatic flair, but that would only piss Rachel off. Rachel really didn’t like to be woken up when she wasn’t ready to wake up. Paul had once commented that the tribe didn’t really need werewolves to protect them from vampires – they only need to carry Rachel from her bed, point her at a vampire, wake her up, then take a huge step back. 

Several miles should do. 

It wasn’t until he got out of the bathroom after a quick shower that he realized something was wrong. He couldn’t hear Rachel’s heartbeat, or her breathing (snoring), and when he pushed open the door to his sister’s room, he saw that it was empty.

Oh, well played, sis. Jacob stifled the irritation that cramped his brain. Rachel knew he would want to interrogate her, so she probably went to Leah’s to avoid him.

No, problem, he decided. He had better things to do anyway. Problems to solve, places to go, vampires to kill.

He padded barefoot to the kitchen and dug through the fridge. He knew why his senses didn’t catch Rachel’s absence as they should have. After the adrenalin-pumping hunt, his senses always went haywire if he didn’t tire himself out enough.

When you can hear people’s heartbeat from outside of their houses you learn to filter the sounds and to focus only on one or two. Either that or get a headache for every day of your life.

Not an option.

He frowned at his shaking hands, not in worry or anticipation, but more in annoyance. The hunt wasn't enough to get rid of the excess energy, and his blood was still hot from last night. He had to do something to get rid of it or he’d be amped up all day.

He glanced at the clock hanging on the living room wall and decided he’d work some of it off fixing up the school. If he were lucky, he’d see Kim there, since she’d been working as a teacher there for about a year.

***

Fate was screwing with him.

Five minutes there, he’d found out that Kim was home with the flu. Right.

He realized that the three girls were going to treat him to a game of runaround, and the only consolation that he had was that their attempt at avoiding him would really chafe on Leah and Rachel’s egos.

No matter. He’d run them aground sooner or later. Right now, he should just concentrate on working his ass off.

It didn’t work. 

He was sweaty, sure, but he was still buzzed. It hiked up his irritation and he knew that this was no good.

“Oh, for God’s sake.” Paul, who’d been working beside him, turned off the table saw, wrenched off his goggles and speared him with a look. “Just go find her and get her into bed.”

Jacob lifted his eyes to Paul and imagined introducing Paul’s head to the business end of his hammer.

Paul probably realized what Jacob was thinking, but he still maintained his scowl. “You’re hyped up, man. I can feel it from here. You’re spouting off so many negative vibes you’re making me antsy.”

Jacob almost felt apologetic. He knew that Paul often felt insecure and nervous about his control. The fact that there were a lot of kids hanging around wasn’t helping, but Paul’s abrupt advice still rankled. 

Sex wasn’t the reason he was squirming in his jeans. Far from it.

Sure, having Bella around, feeling her, smelling her and kissing her was boiling his hormones, and last night—with her gripping him tightly, her face nuzzling his neck and her breath on his skin—didn’t help. And yeah, he hadn’t gotten any since…uh, he couldn’t remember, which was lowering enough, but having sex or not having it wasn't his problem. 

He needed to know what she was thinking, dammit. He didn’t like pushing her, but they needed to set several things straight. 

He swung the hammer with more force than was necessary. When that was done, he punished himself with lugging dense lumber from one end of the school to the other. 

He didn’t even have to strain. He had more of a hard time of acting like it strained him rather than doing the actual deed.

“What are you going to do about the girls?”

Jacob threw an absent glance at Paul, who was almost hanging upside down at a window they were working on. “What?”

“The girls. Kim, Leah, Rachel.”

This time, Jacob focused his eyes away from Paul and carried the sheet of glass to the window where he was. 

“They were only trying to help.”

Jacob leaned the glass against the wall, just in case he gripped too hard and cracked it or something. “You knew what they were up to?”

Jacob’s tone was just a little too flat and hard, so Paul glanced down to see how far he’d fall if Jacob had a sudden urge to push him. Of course, he was wearing a harness, but in a case such as this, the harness would be less of a safety measure and more a convenient way to keep someone still so you can use said person as a punching bag. He really, really didn’t want to be Jacob’s punching bag.

“No, I didn’t. Kim caved and told Jared, and Jared accidentally told me while we were out running.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah.”

“So? What did they tell Bella?”

Paul swung to the window sill, clutched the window frame and released the harness. He landed nimbly on the floor. This was a conversation that he’d rather not have while he was dangling above the ground. “You know what they told her.”

Jacob let loose a string of curses that made Paul wince. It wasn't the words, it was the tone of his voice – it simply crackled with Alpha power. 

Paul shifted on his feet. “Look, I can’t talk about your sister or Kim, but I know Leah. You know Leah. She’s territorial and stupidly loyal. On one hand, she hates Bella’s guts for what she did to you, but she also doesn't want to see Bella deal with…” Paul trailed off, uncomfortable. “…you know, if you imprint. It drives her crazy. Leah might be a grade-A bitch,” Paul shrugged. “but she’s our bitch.”

Jacob stared out the window, trying to deal with his displeasure. “What else?”

Paul’s face twisted in a grimace. “They told her about the vampire. The one that gave you that scar.”

Jacob pressed two fingers against his eyes. He had his suspicions, but it was another thing altogether to have it confirmed. He remembered Bella’s intense brown eyes, remembered the desperate tightness of her fingers, her arms, the frantic touch of her lips on his.

Great, just what he needed – for Bella to think he was suicidal. She must be so layered with guilt right now, he could probably get whatever he wanted out of her.

Which was pretty much everything.

But he also knew if he followed the temptation to use her guilt, he’d hate himself forever.

He was so screwed.

It was ironic how loving her was so easy, and at the same time, so hard. Jacob took off his tool belt and tossed it at Paul, who caught it with ease.

“Where are you going?”

He didn’t bother to turn. “To Bella’s.”

Jacob flipped his cell open and pressed the speed dial for Bella’s number, his sharp ears caught the muttered ‘thank God’ from Paul. He took the stairs two at a time, absently smiling at the kids that waved shyly at him. When he was outside, Bella’s voice came down the line. Even as he was tense all over, he still smiled at the sound of it.

“Bells, when was the last time you rode a bicycle?”

--

Her bemused smile when she opened the door grew into a grin when she saw him pulling a bicycle out of the trunk. 

“A bicycle, Jake? Really?” Her narrow shoulders shook with laughter. 

He stood there in an old, faded T-shirt with the sleeves torn off, cut offs and beat up sneakers. He arched a brow. “Well, if you think you can keep up with me without it…”

She scoffed. “I could drive a car and still not keep up with you.”

“Well, it depends on the car. We’re not as fast as when we go wolf.”

This time, it was she who arched an eyebrow. “When you say ‘not as fast’, you mean…”

Jacob grinned and unashamedly used his eyes on her. “Come on. Be a pal and keep me company.”

Warmth blossomed in his chest when her cheeks tinged with pink that had nothing to do with the weather.

He kept the grin on his face, tilted his head and was rewarded when she gave him a flustered look. “And look, it even has a pretty pink basket and a bell,” He paused and his grin turned sly. “ Bells.”

She rolled her dancing eyes. “A basket and a bell? You got me. Now I simply must have it.”

--

Jacob kept his pace steady, enjoying the steady thud of his feet against the asphalt and the rush of cold air into his lungs. The smell of smoke and burnt leaves was heady in the autumn air as was the subtle scent of sea salt and damp earth.

The sky was a misty blue and sunshine was a filtered beam through grayish clouds. It rippled against the trees with its explosion of different shades of red, gold and brown. Dry leaves lay cracked and trodden on the streets and pavement, they crunched underneath his feet.

The day was gorgeous, but his eyes, as they had many times before, could only see her. Bella felt…at peace, he could see it in the relaxed set of her shoulders, the bright look in her eyes when she looked at him from over her shoulder, her mouth smiling and shouting taunts and encouragements at him.

She rode the bicycle with uncharacteristic skill, weaving in and out, looping, playfully circling him, and ringing her bell once or twice when she thought he was running too slowly. He couldn’t help but smile when she stopped at a stop sign and looked both ways before crossing the road, her expression serious.

He grinned when she stopped right next to Charlie’s cruiser on a red light and rang the bell to get her father’s attention. Charlie had looked at Jacob, then at Bella, then down at the bike and laughed so hard, he almost missed the green light.

She was so cute like this, when she forgot all about what she should do and would just be instead. Her mood was so very different from last night that he almost doubted what Paul had told him.

They stopped at Charlie’s house and Jacob found himself scrutinized by a pair of warm brown eyes. 

“I can’t believe it, you’re not even sweating.” She griped between breaths and wiped the sweat that pooled at the hollow of her throat. He followed the movement of those pink-tipped fingers and swallowed. 

So, okay, Paul wasn’t all wrong, he admitted. He wanted Bella every time he breathed, but he could ignore it when he needed to.

He rolled his shoulders and smirked at her annoyance. “Another round?”

She shook her head. “No way. I’m done. You go, I’ll just be right here.”

He had to touch her, just a little, so he slid the back of his knuckles at her temple to catch a drop of sweat, the subtle flush on her cheeks deepened. His voice was deep and low when he looked into her eyes. “Wait for me?”

Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to look anywhere else, but failed to do so, as her eyes always returned to him. “Sure.”

--

Bella rushed herself out of a shower and caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror and stopped. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright and her lips seemed to curve into a permanent smile.

Last night she had looked pale and ghostly; now she looked…happy. She knew the reason for it, and her reflection only confirmed that what she was about to do was the right thing for her. Probably the wisest thing she had ever decided on.

She had doubts, but the warm feeling in her chest wasn’t a lie.

It was time.

She dressed in her usual style; a long sleeved T and faded jeans and decided to wait for Jake by making sandwiches that she knew he would nag and bat his eyelashes for when he came back. When she was done, she peeked through the window, but she didn't see him yet. Suddenly inspired, she got out a picnic cloth, ran upstairs to get a book, then down again to get a bottle of water, a pitcher of iced tea and lugged everything to the back yard.

She had missed having a yard.

Lying on the checkered cloth, she was well into her book and half a glass of iced tea when Jacob appeared. When she caught sight of him, Bella almost spilled her tea all over herself. He was in his usual get-up too—cut offs and nothing else— and was all sweaty and flushed.

She got a little dizzy just looking at him, and without thinking, she blurted out, “Where’s the rest of your clothes?”

“At home.” Jacob grinned, before throwing his considerable bulk by her side. Suddenly, the picnic cloth that was almost as wide as her bed seemed to shrink before her very eyes. Noticing that he was actually breathing hard, Bella could only imagine how fast he ran from here to La Push and back again in, what? Thirty minutes? Forty?

She tried to calculate the time, but got distracted by the smell of sweat and man and Jacob. Not to mention that he was mostly naked, with his muscles glistening in the sun.

A girl could only try to ignore so much.

Her brain simply raised a white flag and surrendered when Jacob rolled onto his stomach, their shoulders bumping as he smiled at her and out of nowhere—at least that was how it seemed to her—held out a handful of dandelions. “For you.”

She was stuck on the soft look in his dark eyes, but she managed to drag her eyes to the flowers and moved her hand to take them, her throat squeezing with…gratefulness? Appreciation? 

She wasn’t clear about all the emotions that swept through her heart at the sight of the flowers in his hand except for one.

Love.

She loved him. She had always loved him.

But now that love had evened out, matured and layered, and although she was certain it should be impossible, it had grown in depth and intensity.

When Bella lifted her gaze from the dandelions to meet those eyes that had always watched her with care and affection, something inside her shifted and locked into place.

She leaned over and touched her lips to his in a kiss that had all the facets of her love for him; the storms of passion, the subtle dip and sway of affection, and the numerous momentous seconds where loving him was as important as breathing.

She leaned back from him and met his eyes with her usual solemn stare and, with a voice that had no place for uncertainties, gave him the words anyway.

“I love you, Jacob Black. I always have, and I always will.”

The emotion that surfaced in his eyes made her heart ache, but the smile that followed after, the smile that had always won her over time and time again, drowned her heart with a kind of pain that sweetened with the seconds that ticked by.

Then he made her laugh with his sweetly excited, “Yeah? Does that mean you’re gonna share those sandwiches?”

They ate the sandwiches, drank iced tea, then lay back to bask in their togetherness while they blew on dandelions and watched the seeds take flight across the blue of sky and the grey of clouds.