#ephraim bellows
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So I’m rewatching the wax cylinder scene from the movie and it just got 10 times sadder for me, because I just noticed that right before Ephraim shocks her for the first time she really quietly begs him and says his name and that just makes the whole thing so much worse, because not only is she pleading her innocence, she’s also just a scared girl begging her brother not to hurt her 💔😢
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watch scary stories to tell in the dark again and remembering how much of a shitbag (derogatory, affectionate) ephraim is
#ephraim bellows#scary stories to tell in the dark#howdy yall remember me#i'm going to be insufferable again in about twenty minutes lmao#i say affectionate bc let's be real i have some love for the man in my heart
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Bitch
hey you sho Hru, sry i meant to write Tumblr tells me to 'Go ahead, put anything.' so i wil i will do tht
Thomas Wake : Yer fond of me lobster aint' ye? I seen it - yer fond of me lobster! Say it! Say it. Say it!Ephraim Winslow : I don't have to say nothin'.Thomas Wake : Damn ye! Let Neptune strike ye dead Winslow! HAAARK!Thomas Wake : Hark Triton, hark! Bellow, bid our father the Sea King rise from the depths full foul in his fury! Black waves teeming with salt foam to smother this young mouth with pungent slime, to choke ye, engorging your organs til' ye turn blue and bloated with bilge and brine and can scream no more - only when he, crowned in cockle shells with slitherin' tentacle tail and steaming beard take up his fell be-finned arm, his coral-tine trident screeches banshee-like in the tempest and plunges right through yer gullet, bursting ye - a bulging bladder no more, but a blasted bloody film now and nothing for the harpies and the souls of dead sailors to peck and claw and feed upon only to be lapped up and swallowed by the infinite waters of the Dread Emperor himself - forgotten to any man, to any time, forgotten to any god or devil, forgotten even to the sea, for any stuff for part of Winslow, even any scantling of your soul is Winslow no more, but is now itself the sea!Ephraim Winslow : Alright, have it your way. I like your cookin'.
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𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍.
circling clouds of overhead sea vultures had been the first ill omen, they said. ephraim’s brow had darkened with a frown, but as the sailors took action to investigate, he remained without any clue of what should be done. only twice in his life had he stood upon an open sea vessel, and of those only once had proven dangerous.
fortunately, there isn’t much time to wonder.
an eruption of sea spray and thick foam too close off to the right is the waking call, throwing the rocking deck into sudden chaos. ❝ crest beast! ❞ someone shouts as balance tips and tilts. ❝ off the starboard side! four o’clock! ❞ it’s echoed quickly by others amid the stampede of boots — ❝ pull the lines! ❞ — the g r o a n of the straining vessel. ephraim takes one step,
and is sent nearly sprawling as the world is bucked viciously to the side. more shouts; the earth spins s l o w, then a massive splash somewhere as the ship rights itself again and brine rolls across the wood boards under his hands and knees. now he scrambles upright again at an unsteady run, cursing leaving his weapon in the cabins — but would spears even be useful against a submerged enemy?
❝ innes! ❞ he calls out before he can wonder why, searching eyes pinpointing the much more seaworthy figure near the bow. how does one watch the fall of a man who’d already fallen? tumbling headfirst over the railing, aegean green disappearing beyond reach, swallowed by a colossal beast — gone again? he blinks hard.
... an illusion. he’s still there.
a bellow from far below is nothing like an eagle’s screams, and he can see the rays of the clouded sun, and another sobering spray of ocean salt is the o n l y reason he comprehends the bedlam of voices echoing out to load up the harpoons! the harpoons! ( to return a life is a gossamer thread, the thinnest blade’s edge. it’s not difficult to understand. but how is it thus — to live again? )
❝ the harpoon. ❞ his voice doesn’t feel like his own upon finally reaching the other man; his legs burn from climbing steps two at a time they shouldn’t burn from. and his lungs, and the fire of lasers, hooks, talons on his chest— another fountain of water shatters the roiling waves, and he can make out the fractured outline of the dark shape beneath. it’s like something from a distant dream. he forces himself to focus. ❝ innes, do you know how to arm a harpoon cannon? i need you to show me. ❞
☀ // @freliaes
#freliaes#▬▬ ` ☀ ☇ 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 ⁝ thread.#▬▬ ` ☀ ☇ 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 ⁝ innes.#▬▬ ` ☀ ☇ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 ⁝ lance.#tfw u realize eph isn't doin too hot rn in life-or-death situations w innes only when it happens again SOFSHG#no buildup just yote them into action
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Chrom Maria Eir Iuchar
Innes Deirdre Ephraim Niles
Julius Gerik Hapi
FINAL BATTLE August 26th - 31st
…Kass curses as the large crystal shocks him yet again. It’s only after a handful of times he realizes he has an audience. “...Ah.”
He turns to face the crowd. “So, you all made it! I hope you won’t forget who helped ya through! Hehe.” He glances away. Makes another grab for the crystal. Curses in some foreign language when, once more, it zaps him good. He turns to Cube. “Can’t you do somethin’ ya bucket o’ bolts?”
Cube 2.0 chuckles. “ You took until now to Ask, Master Kassian. Beep boop. ”
With a spin, a link of energy crackles toward the machine holding the crystal and with a sudden loud hum, it falls quiet the the thing near falls to the ground before Kass dives to grab it, shielding it from hitting the ground. Scrabbling to his feet, he dusts himself off. “Whew! Look at this baby!”
You’re fairly certain it’s what you’re here for. Like. What else could it be?
He turns to you all, casually tucking the vibrating orb of energy under his arm. He half turns to leave, though there’s no door in the direction he’s facing. “Well, s’been a slice folks! Don’t forget to lock the door on your way out, yeah?”
There’s at least one in your number that draws a weapon on him. Oh. So much for that, huh. “Hey hey heeyyyy,” he cajoles, brows upturning, his axe hand waving innocently. “We’re pals now ain’t we? Been through thick and thin back there... And I did help you out, lest you forget. And your church pals back in Ailell too.” Never mind that he probably woulda died on his own here. Shhhh. “... Put that thing away yeah? Pretty please?” Oh no, not the puppydog eyes... ! It’s... not very effective.
“I can... help you guys get out of here, yeah? And... you were here after some information, yeah? I could--”
The ground shakes and yet doesn’t. It’s that same disorienting feeling from earlier, when the world was pulled from beneath your feet. A circle of light surges to life at your feet and you all start to float, even Kass and Cube -- but as you near the circle overhead, you make it out, and they don’t. Level Five fades away, and in its place, darkness. You can see your comrades. You can somehow see Garreg Mach from an impossible distance, that same all-encompassing thing from before looming overhead.
Setting: ???
What you know:
Rion told you to prepare.
Rion told you he’d be back for one last game.
This is it.
What to do:
Check out your team’s combat doc to see what you’re up against
Fight.
. . .
. . .
Once upon a time,
Gofannon, the Eagle of the North, screamed ancient curses through a bird’s tongue. To its creators... that they be eaten alive, picked over like carrion by every beast in Sreng, aware of every dying breath they take. To humanity... that they all answer for their sinful greed, that they all stand helplessly as everything they hold dear is torn from their arms. And to you, the ones that. . .
. . .
Once upon a time,
Sophrosyne, the Chelonian of the West, accepted its defeat, parting with a swan song, a low bellow thanking you for ending its suffering. . . The waves crashed onto its lifeless body, cracking the shell easily as if it were made from glass. One by one its offspring did the very same, letting out a loud cry before the waves tore them apart.
. . .
And today, they rise anew in this strange other world, in a different life. Perhaps you have forgotten them. Perhaps you have remembered them. They do not remember you.
Perhaps they are toys. Perhaps they are willing.
Regardless, they bar your way forward.
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I don't know if you're still doing these, but if you are: 🐮Ephraim, transformation courtesy of Lyon? Pretty please?
It wasn’t unusual for Lyon to ask for the Renais twins help with something. They’d all been friends since they were quite young, and though neither of them were as well versed in the sciences and magics that Lyon was, they would offer whatever assistance they could give their friend. As it so happened, Eirika was away – off visiting Tana – so when Lyon came asking for help with an experiment, Ephraim was the only one available to head over to Grado.
Ephraim wasn’t any good with magic, and science was similarly not a strong point of his. However, when given the general gist of whatever his friend was attempting to accomplish, he was always eager to give his opinion and help out – often by gathering ingredients and other things that Lyon needed.
When arriving, Ephraim was quick to ask what this new focus was – Lyon explaining in his soft manner about how he wanted to help the farmlands of Grado. The year had been particularly dry so far, and as such, some areas were struggling to maintain their livestock. Less food to go around meant that cattle were taking longer and were more expensive to raise, and dairy cows weren’t producing as much milk either. He didn’t want any of his people to suffer on account of the bad rash of weather, so Lyon was devising a spell that he could use to infuse the livestock with heartier stature. If they could just put on weight easier with less food, it would go a long way to helping the Grado farmlands.
“So, this will make it easier to raise cows?” Ephraim asks, looking intently at the tome Lyon was skimming through.
“More or less…I haven’t tried something like this before, so it’s going to be a bit of trial and error. I’m hoping to get through it all quickly, however…People are really starting to feel the pinch,” Lyon spoke, excitement and worry mingling in his voice as he flips through aged pages. “You have the pitcher of milk ready?”
Grinning, Ephraim hefts up the jug, the cool liquid sloshing inside as he does so. “Right here!”
Taking a steadying breath, Lyon nods. “Okay…here we go.”
Index finger hovering underneath the text, the Grado prince begins to speak the incantation written within the tome, his other hand outstretched toward the pitcher that Ephraim was holding. Magical energy builds up in his outstretched palm, a familiar tingle, and a soft, lavender light beams from the built up magic out toward the pitcher of milk. Ephraim has to squint his eyes a bit against the light, watching curiously as the milk within the pitcher seems to sparkle and shimmer, before it suddenly vanishes.
“Uh…huh?”
The two young men blink, baffled at what had just happened.
“Was that…supposed to evaporate into nothing?” Ephraim laughs, holding the now empty pitcher upside down in good natured amusement.
Lyon shakes his head, humming softly in confusion as he brings his attention back to the text in the book. “I don’t understand…It was supposed to bolster the milk – which, when given to the cows, would make the healthier and sturdier. It wasn’t a teleportation spell…” Now focused on puzzling out what went wrong – had he misspoken a line of the enchantment? – Lyon is oblivious to the speedy changes that are starting to effect his friend.
“Well, we can always try again, right?” Ephraim encourages, setting the pitcher down and shrugging. He feels a little funny all of a sudden, a strange tingle along his skin that immediately puts him in mind of the way the spell had caused the milk to sparkle. A faint sense of worry of struck him at the thought, wondering if he should have been so close when Lyon used the spell. Of course, this worry is punted to the back of his brain when he starts to feel flushed and feverish, the tingle in his skin only seeming to sink in deeper to permeate the entirety of his body.
He shifts his weight from foot to foot, face red as he feels his chest buzz with that odd tingling sensation, trying to ignore it for a moment, but the feeling only increasing as the seconds tick by. With Lyon buried in his tome, muttering to himself, Ephraim seizes the chance to – with some embarrassment, mind you – paw at his chest, stifling a moan when his hand presses against his almost painfully stiff nipples. He’s glad that he’d not donned his armor, as it would have been hellish to deal with this tingling feeling and not be able to touch where it was. However, on the flip side of that boon, it was easier to tell that something wasn’t quite right.
Fingers pressed against his nipple, Ephraim bit down on a gasp when he felt his chest…well, grow. Turning around quickly, just in case his friend decided to get his nose out of that old book, Ephraim brought both hands up to cup at his chest, flabbergasted when he felt his pecs swell out against his palms. He whimpered at the way his already form fitting shirt chafed against his hard nipples as his chest puffed out – toned pecs blooming into perky man boobs.
A quick look over his shoulder reassures him that Lyon is still lost in his own world, trying to puzzle everything out about what went wrong.
Maybe it would stop – maybe it wouldn’t be too noticeable?
Those optimistic thoughts are quickly squashed when Ephraim feels the tingle increase in other areas of his body, too. His abdomen goes uncomfortably warm, and it doesn’t take long for him to see it begin to bulk up against his shirt just the same as his chest had. His lean and well maintained abs bloat out into a hard, round gut, straining his shirt so terribly that it gives up without much fight at all, hitching up to rest under his breasts; his newly formed belly is now fully on display, and the tightness of his shirt against his now plush chest makes it embarrassingly easy to see his nipples under the material. His thighs and ass are quick to follow the rest of him, plumping up to fill out his pants and then begin to strain them – they hold up better than his shirt, for the moment, at least.
Ephraim squirms and groans, slapping a hand to his mouth just a little too late, whipping his head around to look over his shoulder again. Lyon is still engrossed with his book, taking a moment only to murmur something that could have been, “Ephraim, please, I’ve almost figured it out.”
Breathing a short sigh of relief, Ephraim’s attention is brought back to his bloating body. The bigger he gets, the worse it seems to become – his weight increasing faster and faster. He feels so heavy and so warm, it’s getting difficult to stay standing. Glancing around for a moment, fingers idly playing with his enlarged tits, Ephraim spots a chair set up near the long table he’d put the pitcher down on and makes a waddling beeline towards it. He plops down onto it weightily, breasts and belly jiggling with the movement, a grunt escaping him as he settles into the chair. It creaks as he adjusts himself on it, the Renais royal resting his hands on his stomach as he tries to catch his breath.
Ugh, why did this feel so weirdly good to him? He should be utterly appalled, watching himself blow up like a pig, but he’s never felt more aroused than right now. It was getting harder and harder to keep his mouth shut, keep his hands from exploring and groping his expanding form. He was so damn hot! It was getting unbearable! Weight climbing higher, chair complaining underneath him as it bore the brunt of his fat backside, Ephraim shuddered as he felt his thighs grow fat enough to split his pants’ seams down the legs, varying sizes of holes springing up and oozing chubby flesh. The sleeves of his shirt weren’t faring any better, struggling to contain the fleshy rolls of his arms until they simply couldn’t stretch any further, rips tearing free and easing up some of the stress on his fat arms.
He muffled a groan with his hand, round cheeks scarlet as he felt his ass begin to overtake the chair, bulbous cheeks and thighs flowing over the sides of the seat. Of course, this wasn’t helped any by the fact that his expanding gut was getting so large and cumbersome that it was forcing his blubbery legs apart. Thick love handles protruded from his sides, creating a crease as they fought for space with his ballooning stomach. Ephraim felt so amazingly bloated, his fattening belly lacking the rolls he had seen on some of the older, fat nobles of the court, but making up for it in sheer, weighty roundness. His belly was no longer hard, as it had been at the beginning; the fat having turned soft and squishy as it became more abundant on his frame. His breasts were so large and heavy, they now rested atop the curve of his gut, even spilling over the sides and forcing his fat arms to hang awkwardly at his sides.
A sudden cracking sound rent the air, and all Ephraim had time to do was yelp as his round body came crashing down to the floor. His fat body wobbles furiously as he lands hard on his plush ass, the force of it all finally causing his horribly tight shirt to split right down the middle, his soft moobs bouncing out free – the sudden movement causing something to leak from his puffy nipples. Ephraim can’t take it anymore, a loud, moaning moo bellowing out from his mouth as he lays there on his back.
All this racket finally breaks Lyon away from his tome, a surprised squeak escaping his lips as he clutches the book to his chest, eyes wide as he takes in the enormously fattened form of his friend. “…E…Ephraim?”
The Renais prince, however, is too far gone now to even hear his friend. He’s so enraptured with his own body, with the way he continues to get bigger, and how damned fucking hot it all makes him, that he can do little more than grope at his fat belly and lactating teats and moan. He can feel how hard he is, but his erection is fully outside of the reach of his sausage-like fingers, buried under the incredible weight of his gut, the weeping tip of it pressing and throbbing uselessly into his own softness. Instead, fat fingers are tugging jerkily at his tits, prompting generous rivulets of milk to erupt from the engorged nipples as he moans and moos wildly.
Lyon is bewildered – first of all, at how this all happened so quickly without him noticing, and second…at how he finds himself reacting to this transformation of his close friend. It had always been Ephraim to protect him, look after him, and something in his chest fluttered at being able to take care of the other young man for a change. It was obvious that Ephraim wouldn’t be able to move from Lyon’s chambers here, he could barely do much more than use his arms stuntedly and shimmy back and forth in a movement that was easy to guess at – he was too massive and fat to get at his own dick, so Ephraim was trying to create as much delicious friction for himself as possible.
Still a bit shy, at first, Lyon sets his book down and approaches Ephraim in halting steps. He sees cute, nubby little horns pop up out of his friend’s teal hair, and swears he’s starting to see faint spots like that of a cow’s coming in on the other’s skin. Milk is dribbling down Ephraim’s chest, full and overflowing, like two small, white waterfalls trickling down the crest of his globular belly; some of the liquid getting caught in his cavernous belly button as it makes its descent. Getting closer now, close enough to reach out a nervous but excited hand to his friend’s heaving gut – heavens above, he can even feel the way he’s expanding, getting fatter and fatter as he lays there – Lyon can see the silvery sheen of stretch marks all over Ephraim’s soft body. They’re almost pearlescent, and Lyon can’t help but find them beautiful as he traces slim, pianist fingers along their growing paths.
And to his eyes, they are like paths – a map of stars to the wondrous, ever expanding galaxy that was his best friend.
Ephraim is lowing at him desperately, eyes far away and feverish, begging to be touched…to be loved and cared for, and worshiped.
“…Oh, Ephraim…You will take care of my people in their time of need, and I…? I will take care of you,” Lyon whispers reverently, his slim form pressing daintily into Ephraim’s giving bulk, lips touching ever so gently against the swelling curve of the prince-turned-cow’s belly as the other bellows in climax, inflated breasts becoming heavier with rich milk.
#peonyturtle#male weight gain#male wg#chubby!ephraim#cow transformation#cow tf#lyon/ephraim#cause we love some good ss boys#THIS TURNED OUT WAY MORE SHIPPY THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD SO I HOPE THATS OKAY#cute chubby cow ephraim being a needy boy to a loving & adoring lyon???#hell yes#also me trying to remember details about sacred stones because its been forever since i replayed it dont look at me
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More SSTTITD Valentine Cards
Sarah Bellows because you asked nicely 💕
and because I'm a crusty gremlin encouraged by Amelia... I offer you Ephraim and the rest of the stinky Bellows 😌
SSTTITD Valentine Cards
#reposted cause of wacky site quality#where's gertie's card you may ask? she doesn't believe in romance#scary stories to tell in the dark#ssttitd#the bellows family#mine#valentine cards
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"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚"
☆Rp account for Ephraim, based on spn and biblical lore.
☆Ms/Mv
☆Nsfw and dark topics
☆Ships with chemistry
☆Info bellow
☆Written by Gabby (sxcrificx)
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Castiel addresses his grief
This is chapter two of a new fic I have up based on 15X3 after Castiel leaves the bunker. Lots of raw angst and emotion and a step towards healing. Warning, this contains mentions of some domestic abuse and mention of a miscarriage.
You can find Chapter one on my ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21426580/chapters/51052330
Pairing: Castiel and Hannah
"Castiel…" Hannah murmured as she sat huddled on the end of the bed, draped in a blanket while Castiel finished bandaging the last of her wounds. She cradled her cup of hot chocolate while her bare, swollen red feet soaked in a hot pail of water. She felt warm, the memory of the long walk she had just endured beginning to fade.
"That's the basic summary of the last five years," Castiel explained as he put the bandages on the table and sat down beside her. "Lucifer had a son who became my son. I… loved him, Hannah. Like he was my own. He had nothing but good in him; there was no trace of Lucifer in him. He destroyed his soul, helping people, and then God… Chuck- our father- took him from me."
Hannah gazed at Castiel's face. The pain was so clearly etched in his eyes. Her initial reaction to all of this news was to be wary of this Nephilim, and it confused her why Castiel would ever allow such a thing to live, but as Castiel continued his story, she found herself feeling sad that she had never known him. It was evident to her what a profound impact the boy had had on the other angel, and the grief of his loss was still so raw.
"He was my son," Castiel murmured, dropping his gaze as his voice cracked ever so slightly. He said nothing for a moment, seemed to have to compose himself. When he did speak again, his voice was soft, heavy with emotion. "I know… I'm not supposed to feel this. I'm an angel… but I can't help it."
Hannah sighed and set the mug on the table and turned to him. She reached out and gently laid a hand on the top of his hand. He paused a moment before turning his hand over and gripping hers. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet hers, the two pairs of deep blue eyes met, and for a moment, a brief moment, Hannah felt as though they had both become entranced in each other's gaze. The depth of feelings and emotions she saw in his, and the reassurance and sympathy she hoped she conveyed in hers seemed to bind them both somehow together.
"You told me once how emotions can be a dangerous temptation," Hannah said slowly. "How it's easy to get caught up in your feelings. I remember. I remember how it felt working with you; the emotions slowly seeping their way into my being." She thought about the past and how it was emotions that led to her wanting to give Caroline up, letting her return to her husband. She thought she was doing the right thing, but as it turned out…
It was Hannah's turn to drop her gaze, to feel her own emotions. The hurt and pain Caroline was feeling were still writhing around inside of her, and she hadn't quite sorted it out yet. She felt Castiel squeeze her hand, and she glanced up. "Emotions can cause so much pain," she told him. "It would be easier to simply turn them off and not have to worry about them. But… after having felt them so profoundly, I don't think I can go back to the way I once was. Can you?"
"No, I can't," he admitted sincerely. Hannah could sense the emotions he was barely keeping contained. Not just for the loss of the Nephilim, but for everything. The past decade of hurt and trauma was suddenly too much for him to keep away, and it all came up.
"I only wanted to make things better," he said as tears began to trickle out of his eyes. "But no matter what I do, I always mess up, and everyone close to me gets hurt. I've done so many terrible things, I can't possibly make up for it but Jack… he was better than me. I wanted to make sure he was better than me."
His sad lament moved Hannah deeply. The pain and sorrow he had been through wasn't something she could easily make go away, but she needed to find a way to comfort him. To let him know he could confide in her.
Hannah glanced around the motel room. It was a small room with two beds, and warm air bellowed out from the wall heater under the window. It was late, and all that could be heard was the hum of the heater and Castiel's distraught breathing. Slowly, she took the blanket that he had draped around her off and set it aside. He watched her with interest as she stood up, got her feet out of the pail, and dried off before returning to him.
"Let me help you," she urged as she came to stand beside him. Watching her for a moment, realization dawned on his face, and he stood up, taking off his trench coat and black suit coat and hung them up. Then he took off his own shoes and crawled up further onto the bed, slipping under the blankets. She took the blanket she had and draped it over him, and then she crawled into bed with him and pulled him over, letting him rest his head on her chest. She held him tight in her arms.
"Now," she instructed. "Give me all your pain and your grief." Castiel lifted his head to look at her. There was surprise in his eyes as if he'd never considered anyone would ever permit him something he so obviously needed, a literal shoulder for him to cry on.
"It's so much," he admitted. "Everything. The leviathans, all the death, and destruction I've caused in heaven and on Earth, you…"
"Me?" she raised a brow, confused.
"You… how you died." He glanced away for a moment. "It was my fault." Hannah sighed as she remembered. Ephraim and Jonah, what had happened to Castiel. She felt the guilt inside of her over the situation.
"That wasn't your fault," she said slowly as she pulled him back to her, clutching his head to her chest like he was more precious to her than treasure. "It… it was Ephraim and Jonah's plan. I was against it, but they talked me into it… I should have been stronger. What they did to you… that was my fault."
Castiel said nothing, just lay his head on her chest, indulging in the intimacy between them. After a while, he murmured, his voice heavy again. "I have no one anymore, Hannah," he whispered. "My actions have left me alone. The Winchesters don't trust me, and everything I did was for them. Maybe I never truly belonged with them. I have been caught between them and heaven for so long, always walking the thin line between my friends and my own kind. I thought I could have both; now I don't have anything."
With that, Castiel couldn't hold back the emotions anymore. He buried his face in her chest, and Hannah responded by holding him tight. And he wept. He wept hard, everything he had endured, everything he'd been through, it all came out right there as his body trembled in her arms. His pain affected her so profoundly she felt tears slowly creeping into her own eyes as she let him cry on her. "Shh…" she cooed softly into his hair.
The hours passed as Hannah held the weeping angel, saying nothing, just holding him, rubbing his back, smoothing his hair, letting him get everything out. After a time, it began to rain again outside. The soft tapping of the rain falling on the window and roof added to the sounds of sorrow.
After many hours, Castiel finally lifted his head to look down into her face. His eyes were swollen and red as he squinted down at her. "Thank you," he offered. "No one's ever…"
"They should have," she responded. There was a pause between them before he took a deep sigh.
"You… should sleep," he told her. "If you only have half your grace, you need rest." She shook her head and looked away. She began to think about Caroline about her vessel's pain and how she had been avoiding it.
"Hannah," he murmured as he reached over and brushed a strand from her hair. "What is it, what's wrong?"
Now it was her turn to feel emotion. She tried to sort out her thoughts and feelings. "If I sleep, she'll find me," she began. "Caroline…"
"Wait, I thought you said she was willing," he responded as he shifted in bed so that his head was propped up on his elbow as he lay on his side to face her.
"She did," Hannah began, laying flat on her back beside him and squeezing her eyes shut. "But only because she had no other choice."
"Hannah, tell me," Castiel urged. "Tell me what you are feeling."
Hannah pursed her lips and sorted out her thoughts before returning his gaze. "Caroline has not had the best life," she began. "And it's all my fault. What happened to her, it was all because of me." She paused a moment before continuing. "I thought I was returning her to her husband out of compassion. I felt sorry for what I'd put her through over the year, and I wanted to give her her life back."
"Go on," Castiel encouraged as he reached over and lay a hand on her hands, which rested on her torso. He waited patiently for her to continue.
"It wasn't bad at first," Hannah began. "He was just happy to have her home. But as time went on, the trauma she suffered while she was with me began to cause trouble. Remember when we first met?"
Castiel nodded. "In the warehouse with all the angels Gadreel murdered," he answered. Hannah shuddered as she remembered it.
"He… hurt me, he tortured me, and he killed everyone else right in front of me," she began. "Caroline had never been through something like that before, and over the year, she endured so much more when we were together, and when she was finally allowed to return, she found she couldn't adjust. She had nightmares, flashbacks, a lot of trouble."
"I'm sorry," Castiel replied. "I know full well how traumatizing it can be. My own vessel, Jimmy Novak, I don't think I can ever forgive myself for what he went through."
"Well, Joe was even worse," Hannah began. "He was patient at first, but then things changed. He was paranoid she'd leave him again. He'd spend late nights out getting drunk and then coming home and taking things out on her. He blamed her for every little minor thing, and she felt she had to endure it because she felt guilty and responsible. She tried to tell him the truth about angels and possession, but of course, he didn't believe her. He claimed she was making it up to avoid facing the fact that she'd left him for another- for you."
Hannah swallowed when she saw the flash of guilt in Castiel's eyes and the look of sympathy as he realized where this story was heading. And Hannah felt overwhelmed with emotion. She sucked in a breath as the lump in her throat got bigger, and tears moistened her eyes. She had to pause to compose herself, not sure she could continue, but somehow she found the voice too.
"It wasn't terrible at first," she gasped out. "When she'd go out, he'd ask her where he'd been. He started checking her phone, her credit card. He was convinced that she'd leave him again, so he began to restrict how long she could be out, she controlled who she was with. Before I met her, she worked at a local library, and eventually, she was forced to quit because he couldn't even stand her to be away from the house for more than a few hours.
"Then, about two years after… me… she found out she was pregnant. She thought he'd be happy, but all he did was accuse her of sleeping with another. He was convinced you were still around…"
Castiel scoffed as he thought about that. "I had no idea," he said. Hannah nodded. She knew the truth, after all.
"She lost the child, the stress and the misery she was under was too much," she continued. "And that's when he really began to make her suffer. She quickly became a prisoner in her own home. He'd keep her inside; he put cameras all over, he'd even gone so far as to put bars on the windows and doors. She was locked up all day when he went to work. And when he came home, he'd beat her. For the smallest infraction, for not cooking dinner correctly, for having watched television for too long while he watched her on the camera from work. Sometimes he would beat her simply because he had a bad day at work.
"Whenever she tried to protest, he'd tell her she brought it all on herself for what she'd done." By now, Hannah couldn't contain her own emotions. She let out a sob, tears streaming down her face as she gathered everything she had left to finish the story. "When I found her, she was in the kitchen bleeding to death," she said. "He'd finally decided to be rid of her, and he'd stabbed her. I… I managed to heal her despite my diminished grace, and I managed to get us away, but now her pain, her misery, its all part of me. And whenever I close my eyes, her pain is there. The pain I caused…"
Now it was Castiel's turn to care for Hannah. Saying nothing, he simply reached out for her, and she gratefully moved into his arms, burying her face in his arms and crying.
Nothing else was said that night. Nothing needed to be said. Castiel had let out all the hurt and pain he'd felt and so desperately needed to release, and now Hannah was doing the same. There was an unspoken bond between them now — a bond based on mutual emotional hurt. Castiel was the only one who could understand her pain, other angels cared very little for their vessels, but she could never erase the pain and the torment she'd caused to Caroline, and she knew he felt the same way.
Hannah knew that neither of them was finished feeling pain. They both had a long way to go before they could feel the healing they both so desperately needed. But they knew they could do it together. She needed him, and he needed her, they were each other's rocks, the shoulder each of them needed.
What Hannah didn't realize was that, as she finally drifted off to sleep in Castiel's arms, he stayed awake. He lay in bed beside her, watching her, guarding her. He was afraid she'd disappear, that she was still one of Chuck's cruel tricks and that she'd be gone any minute and he'd be alone again. He'd watch over her tonight, tomorrow, and every night from here on out just to be sure she wasn't just an illusion.
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after mill valley
A little snippet of Ephraim and Ethel post Mill Valley. Ethel works as the head nurse in a small children's ward, and Ephraim has positioned himself as a psychiatrist in the same institution. Slice of life with a reference to Emma Fultz my beloved.
Author's note: Yes, I finally figured out how to save Emma from a life of perpetual torture and loneliness in Pennhurst. This plot hole has been bugging me for over a year, so I'm happy to finally begin to wrap it up.
Ephraim and Ethel might adopt her, honestly.
- Boston, MA, mid 1899 -
“Ephraim, have you seen my hairbrush?”
Ephraim pokes his head out of the bathroom door and peers across the hallway at Ethel. She’s still wearing her dressing gown, and she frantically searches through the clutter on her vanity in search of the hairbrush. He smiles to himself and sets down his comb, placing his hands on her shoulders as he peers down at the vanity.
Ethel huffs in frustration, having found nothing in the drawers. Ephraim gazes at her in the mirror, smiling as he watches her.
“You know, I could just buy a new one.”
Ethel turns around to look at him, her hair falling into her face. “No,” she says, brushing the stray hair aside. “I’ll find it, eventually. It’s alright.”
She smirks, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. “But I might borrow your comb in the meantime.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Ephraim’s voice is serious, but Ethel knows he’s joking. She smiles, raising an eyebrow as she looks at him. “Oh yes I would, Dr. Bellows. I might even steal your pomade too.”
“And what are you going to do with that?”
She shrugs. “I’ll hold it hostage, naturally.”
Ephraim rolls his eyes lovingly, turning towards the bed to grab his vest and jacket. “What do you think we’ll have to deal with today?”
Ethel arranges her hair into a bun, pinning it into place as she speaks. “I don’t know. Maybe a stubbed toe or spilled juice?” She smiles, happy to finally be dealing with simple problems, for once. Working in a children’s ward had its challenges, of course, but most days were simple and quiet, due in no small part to the fact that the ward currently held only 3 inhabitants, a fact that she was endlessly grateful for.
She had seen enough children suffering to last a lifetime. Spilled juice and stubbed toes were a happy respite.
“What about you?” She asks, standing from the vanity to put on her corset. “How has it been? I haven’t had a chance to ask.”
Ephraim adjusts his collar, staring at his reflection in the dresser mirror. “It’s been usual. I sent a letter to Alan three weeks ago, so hopefully he can send the transfer papers soon.”
“Oh, I hope so!” Ethel smiles, her eyes gleaming with hope. “After everything she’s been through…..”
Ephraim nods, thinking of the poor girl left to rot in Pennhurst.
This is your fault! You did this to her! You did this-
SHUT UP!
He shakes his head, willing the thoughts away. They’ve lessened considerably since he left Mill Valley, but occasionally they still cling to him, refusing to leave.
“I just hope that she’s alright. Well….as well as she can be, considering.”
Ethel nods. “I hope so too. She took it so hard, after Sarah-”
She stops herself nearly instantly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”
Ephraim shakes his head, walking closer to Ethel. “No, it’s alright. You shouldn’t have to censor yourself for my sake.”
“I don’t want to upset you.”
“Don’t worry, I manage that just fine on my own.”
The air hangs thick between the two of them, until Ephraim pats his pockets and continues on with his day, as if he hadn’t just been stricken with images of the horrors he had inflicted, the nightmares that he had only just escaped.
Ethel swallows, watching him closely. She steps forward, taking his hand into her own, mirroring the night Sarah had been found. “I’m always here.” She says gently.
Ephraim nods, his eyes closed, his mind whirring. “I know.” He opens his eyes, smiling stiffly, forcing his demons away. “You’re too kind to me, you know?”
Ethel shakes her head, smiling fondly. “I’m not kind enough.” She counters, breathing deeply.
“You aren’t a bad man, Ephraim. You have a good heart. Don’t forget that.”
Ephraim would beg to differ, considering everything that he had done, but she seemed so sincere, so certain, that he didn’t dare defy her.
After a moment of silence, he settles for a simple “If you say so.”
She squeezes his hand before releasing it. “I do.”
#ephraim bellows#ethel moore#ssttitd#the bellows book#emma fultz#emma is my own character#ethel is my own character#my babiesssss
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okay so we've all seen this image right?
the portrait of the bellows family?
i woke up this morning with a...theory...about this painting:
it was done without sarah.
if you look close at the bottom of her dress, it looks like the bottom of the curtain is underneath her dress, and that dress looks a lot like the one we saw her in at the end of the movie, the one she'd presumably worn while she was at the asylum.
harold and ephraim are nice and centered behind their parents and gertude, and it wouldn't have taken much for them to just scooch over a little bit to make room for sarah, so they were all in the gray field together. but sarah is on the edge of the painting like...maybe she wasn't supposed to be there.
my thought is this: this painting was done without sarah and she only appeared in it after she died. one of the bellows noticed this, freaked out, and painted over her with that green paint so they wouldn't have to look at her
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four-foot-eleven replied to your post “four-foot-eleven replied to your post: Scary...”
But like my thing is how is Lulu still alive in 1968? She would have had to be really really old like over 100 then. I guess they really didn’t get into detail about the Baptiste family..like were they employed or were the Bellows slave owners? Because they lived during the Civil War era, but slavery was abolished in 1865. Also, how did Sarah die? I’ve seen everything from she was electrocuted by her no good brother but I’ve gathered she killed her family before killing herself I guess.
Okay so lemme clear up some things
Sarah, even though her ghost looks like an adult I guess ghosts can age was supposed to be it’s heaVILY implied like the protagonists’ age when she died
The Bellows are/were a long family line who were very rich for a very long time but when Sarah died, it was definitely post-slavery and The Bellows had The Baptistes on as domestic servants which often happened after the abolition of slavery. I’d guess it was sometime around the turn of the century when Sarah died, and Lulu in the flashback looked about...8-10? Maybe younger. So she’d be...80-90, i’d guess? The movie’s not GREAT with the exact timeline but i’m pretty sure that’s the intent
Sarah’s brother Ephraim was her doctor in the-okay wait i’m getting ahead of myself ahem so basically mercury run-off from their paper mill (aka their bread and butter) was poisoning the water and several kids had drank it and died. Sarah found out about this and tried to tell the townspeople, telling kids through the wall of the room she was locked in and shit. After that, and repeated attempts on her end to escape the basement, they sent her to an asylum
At the asylum, her doctor was her brother Ephraim, who in a fUCKING HARROWING ABSOLUTE WORST PART OF THE MOVIE I HATED IT wax cylinder, you hear him torturing her with electroshock and trying to gaslight her into admitting she killed the kids while she cries and begs for mercy
Lulu and her mom, they also found out were aiding and abetting Sarah, as evidenced when Lulu lies about not having seen her, and needed to get rid of them as well. Some people think they blinded Lulu as punishment, but it’s not clear
Either way, The Bellows official story was that the Baptistes, who fled to avoid The Bellows Family wrath, taught Sarah black magic and SHE was making the kids get sick and die via witchcraft
After enough abuse in the asylum and the whole town hating her as a murderer of children and calling for her blood, she committed suicide by hanging. Allegedly with her own hair, though that’s from an unreliable source (i.e. one of the kids) and might be an embellishment.
AFTER her death, one by one, her family members mysteriously disappeared without a trace. They find stories already written in the book, one corresponding to each family member, depicting their gruesome deaths at the hands of....whatever. The only one we know for sure was that The Wendigo got her father on a hunting trip. The rest are left up to us, but the stories seen as being already written are The Attic, The Cat’s Paw, Somebody Fell From A Loft, The Hook, May I Carry Your Basket?, Strangers, and The Ghost with Bloody Fingers.
After taking her revenge, Sarah Bellows’ spirit rests (relatively speaking, she still seems to haunt the house, but doesn’t appear to go after anyone via snuff story) UNTIL SOME STUPID LITTLE DUMB ASSHOLE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED disturbs her by fucking with her book, prompting her to go apeshit.
Hope this helps!!
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October 23: Jeremiah 6–7; 1 Peter 5; Psalm 105:26–45; Proverbs 26:17
New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/october-23-jeremiah-6-7-1-peter-5-psalm-10526-45-proverbs-2617/
October 23: Jeremiah 6–7; 1 Peter 5; Psalm 105:26–45; Proverbs 26:17
Old Testament:
Jeremiah 6–7
Jeremiah 6–7 (Listen)
Impending Disaster for Jerusalem
6 Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin,
from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem,
for disaster looms out of the north,
and great destruction.
2 The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy,
the daughter of Zion.Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture‘>1
3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her;
they shall pitch their tents around her;
they shall pasture, each in his place.
4 “Prepare war against her;
arise, and let us attack at noon!
Woe to us, for the day declines,
for the shadows of evening lengthen!
5 Arise, and let us attack by night
and destroy her palaces!”
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts:
“Cut down her trees;
cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished;
there is nothing but oppression within her.
7 As a well keeps its water fresh,
so she keeps fresh her evil;
violence and destruction are heard within her;
sickness and wounds are ever before me.
8 Be warned, O Jerusalem,
lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you a desolation,
an uninhabited land.”
9 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“They shall glean thoroughly as a vine
the remnant of Israel;
like a grape gatherer pass your hand again
over its branches.”
10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD;
I am weary of holding it in.
“Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
12 Their houses shall be turned over to others,
their fields and wives together,
for I will stretch out my hand
against the inhabitants of the land,”
declares the LORD.
13 “For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the LORD.
16 Thus says the LORD:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’
18 Therefore hear, O nations,
and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
and as for my law, they have rejected it.
20 What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba,
or sweet cane from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
21 Therefore thus says the LORD:
‘Behold, I will lay before this people
stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;
fathers and sons together,
neighbor and friend shall perish.’”
22 Thus says the LORD:
“Behold, a people is coming from the north country,
a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They lay hold on bow and javelin;
they are cruel and have no mercy;
the sound of them is like the roaring sea;
they ride on horses,
set in array as a man for battle,
against you, O daughter of Zion!”
24 We have heard the report of it;
our hands fall helpless;
anguish has taken hold of us,
pain as of a woman in labor.
25 Go not out into the field,
nor walk on the road,
for the enemy has a sword;
terror is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth,
and roll in ashes;
make mourning as for an only son,
most bitter lamentation,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.
27 “I have made you a tester of metals among my people,
that you may know and test their ways.
28 They are all stubbornly rebellious,
going about with slanders;
they are bronze and iron;
all of them act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely;
the lead is consumed by the fire;
in vain the refining goes on,
for the wicked are not removed.
30 Rejected silver they are called,
for the LORD has rejected them.”
Evil in the Land
7 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD. 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, 6 if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
8 “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD. 12 Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. 13 And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer, 14 therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim.
16 “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 19 Is it I whom they provoke? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves, to their own shame? 20 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.”
21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. 22 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. 26 Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.
27 “So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
29 “‘Cut off your hair and cast it away;
raise a lamentation on the bare heights,
for the LORD has rejected and forsaken
the generation of his wrath.’
The Valley of Slaughter
30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the LORD. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away. 34 And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.
Footnotes
[1] 6:2 Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture
(ESV)
New Testament:
1 Peter 5
1 Peter 5 (Listen)
Shepherd the Flock of God
5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,Some manuscripts omit exercising oversight‘>1 not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;Some manuscripts omit as God would have you‘>2 not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Footnotes
[1] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit exercising oversight
[2] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit as God would have you
(ESV)
Psalm:
Psalm 105:26–45
Psalm 105:26–45 (Listen)
26 He sent Moses, his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them
and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
they did not rebelSeptuagint, Syriac omit not‘>1 against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.
43 So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
Footnotes
[1] 105:28 Septuagint, Syriac omit not
(ESV)
Proverb:
Proverbs 26:17
Proverbs 26:17 (Listen)
17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
(ESV)
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Into Their Good Graces – With Jacob Black and Bella Swan - Part 1
“It's not about making the right choice. It's about making a choice and making it right.” ― J.R. Rim
※ Bella ※
‘The Newtons seem to be impressed by you.’ #Charlie spoke from behind the sports section of his newspaper.
“Are they?” I shrugged my shoulders hunched over the tattered copy of To Kill a mocking bird. I had read this book a million times, and today I awoke feeling Scout vibes and needed to be in her head. "When did you see them?” I tried to keep my voice natural and stop my face from giving me away. Had #Charlie been checking up on me?
He changed the page of the newspaper, the crackling sounds of it irritating my ears. ‘I saw them in the diner yesterday lunchtime. They were saying that if you keep it up, you’ll surpass Mike’s sales for the quarter. Which they joked he wasn’t happy about.’
“Oh…” My eyebrow popped at hearing this. Taking another spoonful from the porridge in my bowl as I mulled the words over. This had come as new news to me, they hadn’t told me I’d been doing that well. I knew I’d been stepping up and out from behind the counter more. Where as in the past I’d left it to the others and #Mike to make the sales. Now I was making a point to do my 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉. “Mr Newton said I would be very happy with my paycheque this time around. But he didn’t mention the rest.”
He sighed, letting his paper drop to glance over the table. ‘It’s good Bella, you are doing good.’ His eyes moved to my hands which were all but healed now.
The few passing weeks had given the two of us a chance to look past the mishap, which had been what we could only explain as sleepwalking. It had taken #Charlie and me a few conversations to piece together what could have happened. I had to agree to a full check-up with #DrGerandy, and the doctor had come to the same conclusion and offered some medication to help me to sleep again. But I was glad that both #Charlie and I were on the same page not wanting me to take any sleeping aids.
However, there were changes made. #Charlie had stopped working nights, but he was always on call. For the first week he’d taken it upon himself to sleep downstairs on the couch, 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝒸𝒶𝓈𝑒 something like that happened again. And to both our relief it had not.
‘So…’ He leant over the table a little. ‘What do you have planned for the day?’ He half smiled as he asked. And I knew why. I had heard the phone ring this morning, and I knew from the one-sided conversation that #Harry wanted to go out fishing for part of the day.
“Me? Oh, you know…” Closing the book I made eye contact. “I need to go down to the Newtons to pick up my paycheque, and then you know... Someone’s birthday is coming up soon, so I was going to head out to see what I could find for his gift.”
This made #Charlie laughed waving his hand in the air. ‘No Gifts. I’m too old for that now.’ I shook my head; however, the sound of his laughter was welcomed. It was a sign that I was slowly making it back into his good graces.
“Oh, I see, I say no birthday and no gifts, and you don’t listen, now I am meant to let your day go by uneventfully. Not happening dad.” I managed to say it and keep my mask in place, not thinking about my last birthday and all that had conspired from it. How my life had been turned upside down by it. “It’s happening Charlie Swan, and you will enjoy it.”
※ Jacob ※
“Jacob Ephraim Black!!!” I heard the bellowing from the bathroom… I had barely towelled off from my shower and my father’s voice had me stuffing my feet into my jeans. Zipping up, I staggered still shirtless to the front door.
“What’s with the…” I stopped dead. The front wheel of Dad’s wheelchair was wedged into the loose board of the ramp, at the front of the house. “Shi—“ I didn’t get to finish the word before he whacked me with the newspaper.
“I’ve been telling you to fix this for weeks.” He glared.
“Sorry I’ve been… distracted… I’ll do it.” He glared again and that vein on his temple bulged. “Today. I swear.” I moved behind the wheelchair and tugged on the armrest to unwedge the wheel… the boards on either side of it splintered and cracked too. “Dammit!!” He whacked my forearm with the paper. “Language!”
I pushed Dad inside and promised him I would do the job today. He grumbled into his coffee and aggressively leafed through the paper as I picked up the phone and dialled #Embry’s number. I asked him to come over and help; he was good at this stuff too. He was here the day #HarryClearwater put the ramp in and showed us how… at the same time. He huffed a little down the phone but agreed to come over and help.
I went to finish getting dressed and brushed my teeth before I headed out to the ramp to start lifting the broken boards and check to see if the wood was rotting. It had splintered so easily when I pulled the wheel out. But it all seemed fine.
I tugged on one of the cracked boards just to see if it was sturdy but… one hard tug and it pulled clean from the supports beneath it. But again, the wood didn’t seem to be rotten. Normally I’d need a crowbar or at least a claw hammer, to pull up the boards that needed replacing but, not this time.
By the time #Embry showed up in his jeep with #Quil as back up. I had pulled all the broken ones up. “Dude… how the hell did you do all this since you called me?”
“The boards just came up.” I shrugged.
“Shit… is the whole thing rotten?” #Quil asked.
“I don’t think so, take a look and see what you think… maybe I should have #Harry take a look? It all looks good to me, but I don’t want to patch it if the whole thing needs replacing.” I scratched the back of my head.
“You know Harry hasn’t been feeling well lately… we shouldn’t call him unless we have to…” #Embry stated looking at the pried-up boards and the ones still nailed down. #Quil and I looked at him; curiously… #HarryClearwater never gets sick. “What? #Sue is friends with my Mom…. You think that man would ever admit weakness?” ‘Bry clarified with a laugh. He wasn’t wrong!
※ Bella ※
I followed #Charlie out into the back yard. My eyes not moving toward the opening into the forest on the far side. It was the only way into the woods, and it would have been the place I would have gone threw when I was unaware of my own actions. It was scary to say the least, knowing that you could leave the safety of your own house, stepping into a forest where wolves and bears lay waiting for a feast. And you have no recollection of it.
Shaking myself out of my own mind, hearing #Charlie’s voice. ‘Bella, are you listening?’
“Uhm, yeah. Hmm...” I really wasn’t, when I moved to glance up at him, my foot caught on my shoelace and I half tripped over my own feet. “Damn…” Biting my lip “I’m okay, I’m okay.” I held my hands up to stop him.
#Charlie’s brows pulled together, but he stayed put. ‘I said, I won’t be late, and I’ll grab a pizza on the way back if you are up for it?’ He opened the door to his tattered old shed where he kept all his fishing gear since I moved in.
“Dad, I’m happy to cook—” But he cut me off saying that even I deserved a night off from cooking, so I gave in. Really pizza and a movie sounded like a good night for the two of us. It was one way to stop him from bugging me about being out with my friends, instead of staying in with the ‘𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓃’, as he called himself when it suited him.
“Dad, you need a new shed!” Glancing in I didn’t dare step foot inside. Staying at the door. “It’s an eyesore after all the work I did to clean the yard up. We really should look at bringing in a guy to build you a new one.”
#Charlie waved a hand in the air as he gathered what he needed. ‘I’ll do it in the summer, it doesn’t take much time to put up a new one. It’s an easy job.’
“Is it now?” An idea started to form in my head, but I hid it away and made a non-committal expression when he turned to look back at me.
‘Whatever it is you are thinking, don’t.’ I gave him the most innocent smile I could muster.
“I haven’t got a clue what you mean.” Oh, this was going to be the next project that would keep me in #Charlies good graces and out of trouble in his eyes.
#Charlie’s birthday was around the corner, and if he believed that it wouldn’t take long to build a new shed why wouldn’t I give him this? I could put up a few boards to stop him from looking out, and then on the weekends, or after school, when I wasn’t working, I would have a reason for staying home. This was the perfect gift that just kept giving.
※ Jacob ※
We took my Dad’s truck into Forks; my car wasn’t nearly ready and #Embry’s jeep wasn’t going to be big enough. The guys insisted on stopping for food before we hit up the lumber yard. So, we sat in the car park of Subway while #Embry dug into his second foot-long sub with meatballs… I wrinkled my nose as, yet another dollop of sauce landed on the tailgate, where we sat in the back of the truck.
Not letting him eat it in my Dad’s truck had been a good call. “You’re an animal, you know that, right?” I feigned just little more disgust than I was actually feeling.
‘I’m a growing boy.’ He said with a shrug. He wasn’t wrong. He had one hell of a growth spurt recently; he was taller than me now. #Quil just laughed and shook his head, muttering ‘Savage.’ Under his breath. Which prompted ‘Bry to ball up a napkin and peg it right at #Quil’s head.
When we were all finished eating; we jumped down and piled into the truck again. We drove to the lumber yard just outside town and parked up. It wasn’t going to take us long to find what we needed; we were used to these trips by now. #HarryClearwater had made it his business to make sure we knew how to do basic maintenance. It was all stuff my Dad knew but, by the time I was old enough, he was already in the chair and supervising just annoyed him… Not because I didn’t listen, just because he’d rather have been doing the job with me.
Before I knew it #Quil was sat on one of the long flatbed carts, with #Embry racing up and down the ‘aisles’ of ten-foot-high walls of lumber.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and hoped no one assumed I was with them, as I approached a guy in overalls to tell him what we needed.
※ Bella ※
By the time #Charlie had left to pick up #Harry I was ready to go too. My jacket pulled on, hat on my head and my wallet in my back pocket. The idea had formed to a point that I’d even logged onto the internet to look up some easy How to ideas.
The best one by far with the highest star rating had been something called flatpack plastic sheds. They were the best on the market and could withstand extreme temperatures and weathers. Okay fine I knew we didn’t have the temperatures they spoke of; however, it did get really wet and cold here in Forks. The down side had been the $800.00 plus starting price for these ‘Systems’, as they called them. Add to that the eight weeks waiting time to have the system delivered out to Forks. Not that I could get away with spending that much money in the first place.
So, good old trip to the hardware store it was to be. I hadn’t had time to look into how to put up a new wooden shed, But I could do this. #Charlie said it was easy!
As I climbed into the Beast, I ready myself for a productive day. This was going to be a turning point for #Charlie and me, he would see that I was actively seeking out ways to keep busy. ( All be it ways to work alone and not mix with too many people. ) However, it still counted! ( At least that was my story, and I was going to stick to it. )
My first stop was the Newtons for my paycheque. When I pushed the door open #Mike was busy serving a customer, his dad called out from behind the counter. ‘Hey Bella, you aren’t working, today, are you?’ Mr Newton smiled over his glasses at me. The man was an older version of his son, but with dark hair. #Mike had gotten his blonde hair from his mom.
“Not today, but I needed to pick up my paycheque.” I half smiled with an awkward shrug of my shoulders.
‘Of course, of course. And Congratulations too. You beat Mike for first place on sales.’ I shifted on my feet awkwardly, as I felt #Mikes eyes on me.
‘I’ll be back next quarter.’ He called out, but there was no sign of malice in his tone.
“Sure, you will Mike, if I let you.” I said without turning back to him and taking my cheque.
‘Now don’t go spending it all, put some of it away for college.’ #MrNewton said as I half rushed out of the store. College? I shook my head as I tripped on the sidewalk, and again somehow stopped from toppling over myself.
Frowning as I glanced at the ground. ‘Be careful there, young lady.’ Someone called out as I made it back to my truck slower this time. Climbing in to check what I’d made, and half smiling when I realised, I could do something nice for #Charlie this year.
Pulling out from in front of the Newton’s I made my way to the hardware store.
※ Jacob ※
I was relieved to get the wood loaded into the truck and get out of there; with the guys still acting the fool. But I couldn't completely hide the grin when they were acting like idiot kids. I considered myself mature for my age... but I could goof off and have a good time too. Just.... lumber yards weren't really the place for it.
"Okay, guys! Hardware store next and can we please try and not get kicked out?" I flashed the guys a grin and they just looked at each other and burst out laughing. I reversed out of the space and headed into the centre of town. Traffic was never a problem in Forks, there was more than La Push for sure, but never anything that delayed your drive.
I turned into the lot and tried to find a space where the long boards sticking out of the back of the truck weren't going to impede other cars coming and going. Then we all piled out and headed inside, going over the list I had compiled in my head. I grabbed a cart because I was going to need the paint the new boards, with weather seal paint too.
I headed straight to the back of the store to get nails for the nail gun first, then started making my way around the store looking for the paint and anything we might need at home. The guys were messing around behind me the whole way.
※ Bella ※
Parking up in front of the hardware store, I pulled out the rushed list I managed to create from the videos and the blogs I had viewed. I had a rough idea of the things I needed, and the rest… I mean how hard could it be?
#Charlies words looping in my mind saying it was an easy enough job, gave me some encouragement. I pocket my paycheque, I opened the door, jumping down from the #Beast. My hand caught on the crook of the door by edge of my jacket pulling me back down into the truck. Hitting my head on the edge I curse under my breath. Keeling over myself I rubbed the back of my head.
“That proves I’ve lost my mind.” Protective energies, Auras, all paranormal beings, and sensations I had been making up. I had to have been insane. I was positive now that it all lived in my mind. “If it were true, I wouldn’t have a bump growing in the back of my head right now.” I told myself, as the stars in front of my eyes started to dissipate. I unhooked my coat from the door, this time making sure that there was nothing keeping me tethered to my truck before I closed it.
Pushing open the door to the store I rubbed the back of my head and came to a stop. The store was full of tools. Full of the scent of wood, plastic, metals, and glue all combined hitting you at once as you stepped inside. ‘Excuse me, move… move let us past people…’ And it hit me, my feet moved me back, knock on the door as I pushed it open. The rusted smell of iron hit me hard before I saw the older man, holding a towel wrapped around the hand of a young guy in his twenties. Seeing the towel turning red I closed my eyes and jerked my head out towards the cold air outside. “Please, please, Please… do not faint here” I muttered to myself.
‘Are you okay there, Miss?’ I didn’t hear him the first time, so he asked me again. I opened one eye to glance around. I wasn’t sure I knew this boy; he was older than me. Tall, grey eyes, a nice and welcoming smile. ‘Don’t like blood huh? It’s okay they are gone. I did tell Roger that he needed to keep his fingers to himself. Some guys just don’t listen.’ He was talking away as if he had known me all my life. And I wasn’t really listening. ‘But really, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’ He placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Hmm...” My head was still spilling; however, my legs didn’t feel like jelly any more. “Yeah, I’m cool. Just not great around blood.” I told him, shifting my shoulder out from under his hand.
The boy noticed the way I moved out from under him and smiled. ‘Yeah, I’d guessed that. Are you looking for your dad? Or maybe your boyfriend?’ He nodded his head into the store. Making me frown and cross my arms.
“Why because a girl couldn’t want anything in a hardware store?” I huffed at him, and then my body betrayed me, and I bite my lips uncertain of my plan to go in.
‘Not at all.’ His hand flew up in defence. ‘There’s nothing sexier than a beautiful girl who knows her way around this place.’ He grins and winks, causing me to frown. ‘Is there anything I can help you with?’ He was so full of himself, and I could tell he was certain that I couldn’t work my way around the store without his helps.
I had to think fast, were there anywhere easy I could go? Anywhere else at all? And the answer was no. “Nope, don’t need any help. I can do this myself thanks.” I told him, pushing myself off the door. Testing my feet before walking past him with my shoulders square. Without knowing it I had just talked myself into really doing this alone. “This is going to be so much harder!” Muttering as I looked back over my shoulder at him smirking and then winking at me.
※ Jacob ※
I hefted a large bucket of paint and sealant onto the flat cart. #Embry and #Quil were fighting with yard brushes like they were quarterstaffs. I dropped my head and sighed but I was partly laughing too.
‘Hey!’ #Embry said too loudly, his attention moving across the store. #Quil raised his hands in victory.
‘And Call forfeits! I win by default.’ #Quil held up the yard brush like it was a trophy.
‘Isn’t that Bella Swan?’ #Embry nodded in the direction he was staring. My eyes immediately darted to the area just in front of the door. It was definitely Bella… in a place where there were power tools? This could end badly…. Not Because Bella was a girl, just because she was… well, Bella . She had trouble staying upright on a good day.
‘Wow… She looks good!’ #Quil’s obnoxious tone was not appreciated. ‘A little skinny… that must have been a hell of a breakup.’
“Knock it off!” I hissed between my teeth, jabbing him in the arm. “And don’t say anything like that to her.”
‘So defensive!!’ #Embry teased. ‘So….’ An eyebrow quirked and he looked at me urgingly. ‘Dude! If you aren’t gonna talk to her I will!’ I laughed at the same time #Quil snorted a laugh of his own.
‘Please!!’ #Quil patted his chest like he was struggling to breathe from laughing. ‘What are you gonna do? Stand there and stammer at her until it gets so weird, she just leaves? I’ll go talk to her.’ #Quil set off in her direction. I stopped him by shooting out my arm to block him from passing me.
“No!” I stared them both down and continued. “You two stay here. I’m just gonna say hi.” I took a few steps in that direction when ‘Bry called in a hushed voice. ‘Hey! Bite your lip… chicks dig that!’
I rolled my eyes. “Is that why you’re turning down dates left right and centre?” It was a rhetorical question... Because he most certainly was not, and not for lack of trying. “I’m not going to flirt! I just want to say Hi!”
Also… I didn’t know the first thing about flirting, even if I wanted to. Maybe I did want to… but today wasn’t really the time or place.
By the time I got closer; I noticed that some dude was talking to her… and I really didn’t like his body language and how uncomfortable he seemed to be making her. Maybe I should get her away from him…
“Bella!” I said animatedly, making sure to flash the townie a look. “Fancy meeting you here. Great timing too.” I smiled. “I could use a hand with something. If you’re not in a rush?” I gave her a quick wink when the guy wasn’t looking.
※ Bella ※
I moved down the store, trying to look busy but everything on the shelves looked the same. Nails… There were like ten million of the same kind. Brackets, I’d say there were at least fourteen different kinds of those too. Then there were screws? What was the difference between nails and screws? Didn’t they both do the same job?
I slowly turned my head back over my shoulder, looking through the curtain of my hair. The guy had moved back a little, however he still stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, a cocky smile playing on his face. Like he knew that any moment now, I would have no choice but to ask for his help. And I wasn’t sure I could live with myself if I went to ask him.
His brow popped and his smile grew at catching me looking at him, and he moved to take a few steps towards me. My heart was pounding in my chest as dread consumed me from the inside out. I jumped out of my skin at the sound of my name being called, and the guy narrowed his eyes looking past me. I spun around dropping the box of nails in my hands, clambering to catch them before they hit the ground.
“Jacob?” His name was the sound of uncertainty and shock from my lips. There were sounds of laughter coming from behind him, however, I didn’t dare to look to see if it was due to what I had been doing.
“Jacob!” This time relief flooded my voice, it was a little louder and I half smiled holding on to the box of nails in my hands for dare life. The last thing I needed to do now was to drop them again. “You want help ….” My eyes followed his and I saw the look he was giving the store assistant. “Oh… Uhm… Yeah... Sure… What can I help you with?” Jacob must know that there was nothing at all in this store that I could help him with. So, this had to mean he was trying to help me.
My feet slowly started towards him and I lowered my voice. “Remind me to buy you a hot chocolate. You are a life saver.” I whispered, trying not to glance back again. “What are you doing here?” I asked him.
※ Jacob ※
I quirked a brow in surprise when she caught the box she dropped. Catching was never her strong suit, but dropping on the other hand… I grinned to myself.
I could see the moment of realisation dawn on Bella, and I smiled, kind of smugly at the guy behind her. I turned and started walking with her. But not towards #Quil and #Embry. “No problem… I could see that he was bugging you. Some guys can’t take a hint.” My brows pinched together. “I think the better question is what are 𝕪𝕠𝕦 doing here?”
She looked even paler than normal. “Are you okay? You look like you’re about to be sick?”
Dammit!! Why the hell did I say it like that? That was definitely not a compliment! Idiot!
“I’m just picking up a few things to mend the ramp… Dad is currently housebound. So –“ And right as I was about to say; ‘I came to town with the guys.’ the cart came careening towards us, with #Quil and all the supplies I picked up, sitting on it. Far too fast… I could see the '𝕆𝕙 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕥!' look on #Embry’s face. I stepped between Bella and the cart and put out a foot to stop it.
Hell!! #Embry really didn’t know his own strength. That hurt… But I managed to keep it from showing on my face. On the plus side, #Quil jolted at the abrupt stop and looked like an idiot. “Are we done acting like ten-year-olds now?” I raised my brows at him.
But he was only interested in Bella. ‘Hey, Bella.’ He flashed the crooked smile he thought girls melted for and winked.
※ Bella ※
I glanced up at Jacob now, had the boy grown again? When was it going to stop? That a little too smug grin on his face had me rolling my eyes, however I wasn’t going to correct him right now after all he had just read the moment in the store and acted to help me with it.
“Me? Uhm….” I knew he was going to have a laugh at my expense now. “Please don’t laugh, and I don’t know why I said that, because when you tell people not to do something… they do it.” I rubbed the back of my hand over my cheek. “It was dad’s birthday, and I wanted to do something nice for him. I’m building him a new shed for all his fishing things, the old one is falling apart.” I spoke as the two of us started to walk again. I came to a stop and frowned a little.
“Thanks Jake, next time why don’t you just tell me that I need a face lift?” Did I really look that bad? Even thinking about the blood now I could smell it in the air, making my head a little light on my shoulders. I rubbed my nose trying to stop my mind from homing in on it again.
“You still haven’t fixed that ramp? Billy is going to kill you soon if you don’t get a move on. Even I went flying over it the last time I was around.” I told him, but my words were cut short as he grabbed me and moved me out of the way. I wasn’t sure what was happening until I saw the two faces looking at me, and Jacob’s foot stopping the trolley. “How….” I frowned looking between the three faces again.
“Hey there.” I half smiled straightening up. “Trying to kill me now are you guys?”
※ Jacob ※
Right after I put my foot in my mouth it was as though she’d turned a pale shade of green. “Not at all… I just mean… you look pale…er… than normal. You know?” I took a relieved breath when she changed the subject.
“I know, I know. But it’ll get done today. I swear.” I smiled at her.
I didn’t have the chance to say anything about her building a shed before I had to stop the cart. My foot was still throbbing a little, but it was already fading. ‘Now why would I ever do a thing like that, Bella?’ #Quil still had that smile on his face and I kind of wanted to slap it off, of him… well not really. But… you know? Maybe?
‘Never to a pretty thing like you.’ He added… Yup! I wanted to slap him. I wouldn’t… but boy did I want to!
“So… um… Building a shed? On your own? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked her with pinched brows.
#Embry and #Quil burst out laughing. Tact was never their thing… but then again, I wasn’t doing so good myself. ‘That’s a good one Bella… I thought you were serious there for a minute.’ #Embry added insult to injury.
But it was #Charlie’s birthday soon… and I knew he had been through hell lately with Bella being in that dark place. I remembered overhearing him telling Dad about her waking up screaming most nights. “That’s at least a two ma—“ I stopped short. “Person job. If you need a hand…” I shrugged and raised my hands in an offering.
※ Bella ※
“Maybe you will live to see your next birthday in that case, and Billy will be able to access his home and the outside too.” I shifted to face the other two.
“So, if I wasn’t pretty in your eyes, you would go ahead and run me over?” I teased #Quil and saw his cheeks redden. ‘No, that’s. Not what I meant.’ #Embry was laughing now a little harder.
If I was not aware of the madness in my plan, I sure was fully aware of it now. Before Jake, #Quil and #Embry laughing, I had been a little unsure. But now, seeing that they didn’t believe me. Boy was I in too deep?
I bite the edge of my lips, my fingers tightening around the box in my hand as I felt a little foolish now for thinking it was something I could do. And I noticed the close call save Jake made with saying it was a two 𝑀𝒶𝓃 job. However, then I heard the whispering voice in my mind.
“Actually guys, it’s not a joke. I want to do something nice for Charlie, and the shed is something he wants, but just doesn’t have the time.” I so couldn’t do it. But I was going to give it a good try. “Thanks Jake, but I can’t ask that of you. You have school and things to do at home.” I pointed to the supplies for #Billy’s ramp.
‘You’re right Bella, he does have a lot on. But I don’t. I could come and help you. You need a strong set of arms.’ #Quil winked at me, making me raise my eyebrows.
“Sure… maybe… if you see anyone with strong arms Quil, please could you send them my way?”
‘Are these boys troubling you?’ The store assistant called out from behind us. I turned my head to glare at him. “Do I look like I am being troubled by my friends?” He shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave.
“Really, some people are a little too heavy handed.” I was frowning now.
‘Right. He can’t even tell when Friends are bantering.’ #Embry added moving to place a hand over my shoulder.
I stiffened to the touch. Not because of who it was, just because I didn’t do well with people holding me anymore.
※ Jacob ※
I noticed her chewing on her lip and I stopped myself from laughing. “I think that he would love that… But even #Charlie wouldn’t tackle a job like that alone, Bella… And it wouldn’t take too long. We could get it done in a few days; if it was after school. Or over a weekend.” I followed her gesture to the cart.
“Oh… the ramp won’t even take an hour. We already have the lumber in the truck.” I added. I glared at #Quil… but it was quickly replaced by a big smile when Bella made her comment about strong arms.
Then I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud when she roasted the store clerk again and made an agreeable sound. I noticed the way Bella tensed when #Embry put his arm around her shoulder. But he seemed to be oblivious… So I jabbed a finger into his ribs and he barely flinched, but he did turn to me and say. ‘Hey!!’ Though, he did move his arm from around her.
“But seriously… Bella. I would love to help. I mean, I’m good at it. And #Charlie has always been so good to us, I’d like him to have a great birthday. So please let me help?” I smiled at her and then #Quil and Embry piped up all at once about how; if we all pitched in it could be done in no time at all.
I really hated these guys…. I mean, they were brothers to me… but right now I kinda hated them.
※ Bella ※
My eyes were darting around the three of them. Anyone who stood and took the time to witness the carefreeness between these boys would notice what it was I was witnessing for myself. They had an ease about them. A friendship that went deeper, they knew one another and still. They teased each other ruthlessly.
#Embry called out; however, he didn’t move when Jacob poked him. Making me frown just a little unsure why Jacob had done that in the first place.
“Guys…” I was speechless, and a little overwhelmed. I hadn’t the courage to face Jacob after all the time I had been in my 𝒵𝑜𝓂𝒷𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹 times. And now, whenever I crossed paths with this boy, he pushed me to shame.
I moved out of reach from the three of them, as their eyes were on me. Waiting for an answer to their offer.
“If you three are really sure, and this is something you want to do. And it doesn’t interfere with your other work and school. I would be extremely grateful for the help and support.” Placing my hands crossed over my chest.
#Quil made a cheering sound, and #Embry clapped and rubbed his hands. And I. I shrugged my shoulders at Jacob Black. “You really are a good friend Jacob. I am so lucky to have someone like you in my life.”
The guilt of how much of a terrible friend I had been was drowning me with shame. However, standing here and now. I knew, I would try to be a good friend to him… to them all. If they would still have me.
※ Jacob ※
I smiled at Bella and tried not to glare at the guys. I could talk to them later and ask them to back out so I could spend time with her alone. "Of course, we're sure. Besides, we enjoy this kind of thing... not as fun as rebuilding engines... but way more fun than fixing a wheelchair ramp." I laughed.
My cheeks are heated when she singled out my name from the three of us. But that made sense, right? I mean she'd known me since we were kids. I could tell that she was still having some kind of internal struggle. "Don't worry about it... that's what friends are for, right?"
I didn't move closer to her; she clearly needed a little space. I wasn't going to step into the space she had made between us... but I watched the other two in case they did... picking up on social cues wasn't their strong suit.
"So, have you been to the lumber yard yet? Do you have any measurements or anything like that? Oh, and there's a guy on the Rez that would give us some good deals on glass if you wanted any windows." I rambled off the questions.
'Oh yeah, great idea.' #Embry added and then #Quils started rambling off a list of tools that he had in his shed, that he could bring along if we needed. "Okay, okay... hold up guys. Let's just see what Bella's ideas were before we start making plans." Then all eyes turned back to her again and I was sure she hated the idea of that. She hadn’t been the type that like being the centre of attention.
※ Bella ※
This was a lot, and I mean 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓉. The three of them were on board without even asking for anything in return. How was I meant to pay them back? And then came the inundation of questions. Size, wood, glass, tools… The list was never ending. However, it was when they all stopped and turned back to me. My feet shifted, and I somehow caught my shoelace under myself and stumbled.
‘Slow down there Bella.’ #Embry darted out and took a hold of my arm before I went far, bringing me back forward. ‘You need to tie those things before you kill yourself.’ Letting me go once he knew I was safe. How had he managed to reach me so fast? I shook my head and died a little inside. I was mortified.
“Tha…thank you Embry.” Giving him a small smile, before he held the trolley for me to lean on. And thankfully this gave me a moment to gather myself.
“Lumber yard? Can I not get that from here? This is the hardware store, right? they should have everything I need?” #Quil and #Embry looked to each other and then to Jacob. And I knew I’d said something wrong. My cheeks were blushing hot, and once again I hated all the eyes on me.
Hunching my shoulders, a little in the hope to hide myself, I moved on to the next questions.
“I was thinking, that with the new one replacing the old one, we could make it say… eight to ten feet? No more than twelve I would guess, otherwise it will over take the yard? And three or four feet wide maximum. Bigger than what Charlie has now so that we can put up some shelving for him to pack his things away?”
I was glad that I had done some homework before coming out today. “I have an idea for these two styles, I wasn’t sure which could be done by myself… So, I was going to ask the guy here…” Looking over to the front. “But… Yeah…” I wasn’t going to ask him for help. As I spoke, I took out my phone and flicked to the pictures I had saved. Holding it out for them to see.
“Is this something we could do?” I asked unsure of my choices now. One was a Dutch/ barn style wooden shed with double doors and four side windows. ( Two on each side. ), with a curved roof. This one I knew would be harder of the two. And the other option was a simpler shed with double doors again, with a flat roof and only two small windows in the front.
“The double doors are a must; it is really hard to watch Charlie trying to take his poles out and his bait boxes. He is always banging into the one small door he has.”
※ Jacob ※
#Embry really was laying it on thick today… I almost growled at him. Bella seemed to be clearly uncomfortable with his closeness.
“Um…” I wanted to explain this without sounding like a mansplaining jerk. “Well, there are a lot of things you’d need from here; like the roofing felt, nails, hinges and locks and so on. For the wood, the lumber yard will be best.” I hoped I wasn’t condescending saying all of this. “And then stain or paint… you’ll need to protect it from the elements.
I looked at Bella’s phone and swiped through the pictures; just the four she had already shown me. “Both of those look good… but you have a lot of open space in the yard. So, the first one would probably be best, it will let in more light, and it has a good slope on the roof for heavy rainfall.” I chuckled about her dad struggling in and out of the door. “Double doors it is.” I smiled at her and started looking around.
“How about we start with the hinges and fittings. Then we can do the math on how much lumber we’ll need?” I looked over my shoulder again at the guy that Bella seemed to be keeping tabs on. That guy must be a creep… girls always had a better sense of these things. She seemed to want to know where he was at all times. I noticed #Embry was doing the same thing… watching the guy when she did.
※ Bella ※
#Embry and #Quil both moved in closer to look at the photos I was showing them until Jacob took the phone from my hands. I smiled noticing how #Quil walked around to Jacob to get a better look at the images, but #Embry. He stayed close beside me, and his eyes were on the sales guy. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought that he could feel the unease I felt from that man.
“Oh… Uhm… That would explain a lot.” I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of these facts. “Paint… Does the wood not come treated?” I asked, not even sure where the lumber yard around Forks was. I’d never needed to go there, and I’d never seen #Charlie going there since I came to town.
‘Some of them do, but you want to put a few more coats on it. You know how bad the weather is here, best to be safe and give the wood that extra protection.’ #Quil rubbed his chin as he spoke, and then started to look around.
“I like the first one more, so I’m glad we can make it. The roof is higher on it too…But… Jacob, are you sure you have time for this? Aren’t you meant to be fixing Billy’s ramp?” I was grateful, and I was starting to realise I couldn’t do this alone. However, I didn’t want to be the reason for #Billy’s ramp not being fixed.
#Embry pushed the trolley they had, and I rushed over to walk next to Jacob again. “Hey, thanks for this… really... you are a life saver.” Turning my attention to the other two. “All three of you are.” I said a little louder.
※ Jacob ※
I looked up from her phone to find #Embry hovering. He was such a player!
“Don’t worry about it, Bella. We’ll make the time. Anything for #Charlie.” I smiled at her. Bella was the silently selfless type; if I made it about helping #Charlie then she was more likely to accept it. “The ramp will only take an hour. And we’ll need to wait for the wood to be delivered anyway.” There was no way even with both trucks that we could get what we need from the lumber yard to Bella’s house.
When ‘Bry move to push the trolley and Bella moved next to me… I hadn’t meant to give him a smug look… it just sort of… happened. “No thanks are necessary, Bells. We’re happy to help.” Even though I was planning on talking the guys into being 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 busy when the time came.
We moved around the store and picked up the paint, hinges, window fitting and I filled Bella in briefly on what each part was for. She might not be a carpenter, but she was smart as a whip.
There was no need to dumb things down for her.
When it came time to circle back to the registers, I noticed that guy still there, speaking to another woman now, closer to his age and clearly being the same condescending asshat that he had been to Bella earlier.
※ Bella ※
“Charlie really won’t know what to say when he sees what the four of us have done. And I do mean four… I’m not going to sit on the side lines. I promise I will dig right in there with you boys.” It was going to be a new project for me to lose myself in.
Following the three boys around the store, I took note of everything they were saying and everything they were picking up. It was crazy how they were younger than me and knew so much about all these things.
“I feel like I’ve been living under a rock.” I finally said to Jacob as it looked like we had all that he thought we needed.
‘It’s allowed Bella, you have been missing in action for a while.’ #Quil said and I stopped in my tracks. The smile on my lips faded a little for a second before I pulled it back in place. Witnessing #Embry nudging his friend I waved my hand in the air.
“Yeah, uhm… You aren’t wrong there Quil.” Trying to laugh and shrug the comment off. I knew that he didn’t mean anything by it. It wasn’t the same as when #Jessica made these kinds of comments. When #Quil said it, it seemed to come from an innocent place.
Tugging on the sleeves of my shirt I followed along behind Jacob, until I noticed we were walking towards the front of the store now. “We have everything we need from here?” I glanced over the cart and then came to a stop seeing the store clerk in the middle of talking to another girl, someone older than me this time.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed at the mention of #Charlie showing up and finding us all in his backyard. “Don’t worry. Charlie loves me! He’ll be glad to see you recruit extra hands.” I rolled my eyes at her. “You really need to spend more time on the Rez Bella. If you think Quileute girls get away with playing it all sweet and dainty, you are sorely mistaken! Whatever you can’t do…” I looked at the guys. “We’ll teach you how to do it. It’s not like you’ve built anything like this before, so just ask and we’ll show you.” I smiled sincerely at her.
“This will be great Bella… there’s nothing like manual labour, out in the fresh air to get you feeling like you’ve accomplished something. And with us lot involved it will definitely be fun!” I smiled again and wondered if I was being selfish wanting to talk the guys out of helping.
I’ve known for a long time that #Charlie was worried about Bella being alone all the time, not seeing her friends outside of school… if she wanted to be around us then… My eyes stayed trained on the arsehole as my inner monologue played. Yeah, it would be good for her… to be around people and even if I wanted to punch these two right now… they were the best people I knew; even if they were idiots sometimes.
‘Yeah, we can head to the lumber yard next and figure out how much wood we’ll need.’ #Embry grinned at her when he realised the dirty double meaning in his words. Yep…. Definitely wanted to punch him. ‘I can ride there with you if you don’t know the way, Bella.’ He added with that same grin. And I choked… covering it with a cough. Really!? How did he always get there first!?
※ Bella ※
“Sweet and dainty?” The image of #LaurenMallory with her blonde hair and green eyes flashed into my mind, followed by #KatieMarshall, who even with red fiery hair and blue eyes had that sweet and gentle aura about her. They were the kind of girls who did the hair flips, flurrying of their eyelashes and asking guys to pick up their book bags. Girls like #Angela, #Leah and me, we did things for ourselves. There was nothing wrong in the way we all moved through life, however what worked for one person, did not have to work for another.
“Of course, Charlie loves you, you are starting to sound like him.” Smiling a little, I pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear, before nudging his shoulder with my own. “Ouch.” Rubbing my shoulder. “When did you become this strong?” I teased him chuckling. However, it had hurt me.
“If you guys are going to help and teach me all you know, them… I need to find things to teach you. Is there anything you three need help with?” I genuinely asked.
‘You could teach Jake how to talk to girls?’ #Quil laughed and nudged his friend.
“And what about you Quil? Are you able to talk to girls?” tilting my head to the side I gave him a look. I was sure none of them could. ( Well maybe Embry )
As we came to the front of the store, I took a deep breath before answering #EmbryCall’s question. “Sure, I have room and I really don’t know where I am going. But…” I looked to Jake and #Quil. “Only if it’s okay with you all? I wouldn’t want to break up the merry band or anything?”
Before they could answer the store clerk was back. ‘Get everything you needed beautiful girl?’ I glanced over my shoulder to see who he was speaking with. And then my face flushed with embarrassment seeing the way #Embry glared at him.
“Oh...” He was speaking to me! “Ye…Yes. We have it all, could you ring it up. We are in a little rush here.” I told him. only because I wanted to get out of here.
‘No worries, and even if you have missed anything. I’ll be happy to help you if you come without the entourage.’ He gave me that smirk and wink, licking his bottom lip. Which had me cringing.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed a little when Bella repeated my words. Sweet and dainty weren’t the words that came to mind when I thought about her. Kind, generous… beautiful… maybe even a little fragile, (but there was something strong and solid inside; that I could see she was fighting to rebuild)… definitely clumsy… all came to mind.
I shrugged and smiled far too big when she called me strong. “I’m just filling out Bella. Maybe it wouldn’t seem so drastic if you came around more?” I teased her.
I shot #Quil a glare and he just smirked and burst out laughing at Bella’s telling question. “Oh yeah… like you have girls lining up to get your number.” I scoffed at him. Embry was laughing now too and as if on cue his phone beeped in his pocket. He flashed his screen at us quickly. Just long enough to see a string of shorthand texts with far too many X’s at the end of the ones he received. ‘Looks like I’m the only one that doesn’t need that kind of help.’ He bragged. He thought he’d won… But I knew he liked Bella and though I couldn’t say what her type was; I was pretty sure it wasn’t the kind of guy that led on multiple girls at a time like he made it sound. But I knew it was one girl From the Neah Bay Rez.
I leaned in and whispered to Bella. “Looks like ‘Bry could use a few spelling lessons.” I laughed. I shrugged at her while #Embry glared at me. The was no way to get around this without sounding desperate… plus, it seemed like a good idea to let #Embry dig that hole he had started a little deeper. “Sure… If you’re okay with being alone with this creep.” I nudged Embry this time, but I laughed so Bella knew he wasn’t really a creep.
Though… the way he seemed to square up to the cashier guy was out of character for him. But that last comment about her entourage gets my back up too. “Dude… be creepier. It really goes with your signature look.” The guy tilted his head at me like he wanted to ask but stopped himself. After we paid for everything, I clarified. “You know… the grown-ass-man-flirting-with-high-school-students vibe you have going on.”
Okay so maybe #Embry wasn’t the only one acting out of character today.
※ Bella ※
#Quil’s feet shifted, and his almond cheeks took on a blush. Rubbing his neck, he began to laugh when Jake turned his attention to #Embry.
This wasn’t the first time I was witnessing the three friends speak, laugh, and joke with one another. Each time I had seen them in the past, it was the same as it was now. I smiled partly because it was kind of them to allow a girl like me into their circle like this, and partly because it was indeed entertaining to watch.
I lent in a little at the phone #Embry turned towards us. He was being pursued by some girls, and from the few words I made out. He was into her too. However, was he really into her?
“Please tell me The Player type isn’t the look you are going for at your age Embry.” He seemed like a good boy, but I wasn’t the best judge of characters anymore.
‘You really have a thing about age Bella. It’s only a number. I’m so much more mature than these two.’ He gestured to the other two.’
This of course I was sure would come back to bite his arse at some point. “It looks like I will have time to get to you better, to see if it’s true or not.”
My mood dropped when my attention moved back to the store clerk. However, if I were to place my finger on the pulse over the reason, it had been due to the way #Embry and Jacob had reacted.
Was I really that weak, that these boys felt I was a damsel in distress? Did they feel I needed saving? And if so, I knew my reactions had to be the reason for it.
“Step away boys. All of you... two steps back.” Clearing my throat because my heart had its bags packed and was ready to jump and run. “We have what we need, and we have a lot more to do.”
I pulled at Jacob’s and Embry’s arms. Turning my glance to the fooling store clerk and the smug grin he gave the boys.
“You need to do better.” I told him.
Using #Charlies name here would have done the trick. But then I would just be passing the buck to another man ( all be it my dad ), to save me. And I was done with that.
“I’m going, if you all are done with your pissing contest.” Why was I so angry? I knew it wasn’t towards the boys. It was at myself.
Pushing the cart out of the store I didn’t look back.
※ Jacob ※
#Embry did that thing where he chewed on his lip and I knew my theory was right. Bella wasn’t into the womaniser act… even if it was clear she knew it was just an act. This was exactly why I preferred to just play things straight and try to live up to some kind of imagined reputation.
My eyes narrowed on #Embry… Did he really think he was the most mature out of us? The guy makes some questionable judgements… More and more lately. My Dad had put him in a place more than once recently. Or was that a subtle hint that he was only one of not still a virgin?
I let Bella drag me away and I could see that #Embry was doing the same. #Quil followed quickly behind us not knowing where to look after my outburst and #Embry’s silent threat of violence. I heard #Embry mutter a curse under his breath.
“Sorry Bells.” I pressed my lips into a tight line. I rubbed at the back of my neck. “That was over the line…” The guy was being a creep… But that was an excuse. My Mom always said an apology didn’t count if it came with a caveat, so I wasn’t going to make excuses with her.
I gave her the sincerest smile I could muster. “I’m really sorry. Let’s go get what you need for this birthday gift for #Charlie… No more…” I glanced over my shoulder. I couldn’t say pissing contest to her. I sped up to keep pace with her.
※ Bella ※
Keeping my eyes forward I open the back of the truck. The flat bed was empty, and I started to fill it up with the things we had purchased. I could sense the boys behind me, and then it was #Quil who came around taking a hold of the side of the truck, and jumping up into the bed.
‘Why don’t you pass the things to me, and I’ll set them up in the back. That way we have all the room you need for the timber?’ He was leaning down so that I had to look at him.
Nodding my head once in agreement I started to hand him the things.
It took me a few deep breaths to find my words again. The path my memories had taken me down hurt in the depths of my soul. Bringing back a time when I let another do everything for me. And where had that gotten me? ‘I really am Sorry’ #Embry reached into the cart to help. And of course, I heard Jacob’s apologies too.
“No… I am sorry. I didn’t mean to go off on all of you.” Chewing on my bottom lip, I stood brushing the back of my hand over my face to move my flyaway hairs out of my eyes.
“I just don’t like guys like him.” I pointed behind us. “And you are all much better than that. You are still young, and that macho act... you are better than that.”
I nudged Jacob in his side. “You are too kind, too sweet… don’t end up becoming like that guy.” I turned to look at the other two. “You too… all you boys are so much better.”
※ Jacob ※
I started to pass things up to #Quil too... hearing Bella use the word macho act stung. Was that what that was? I glanced back at the door of the hardware store. Of course, I couldn't see the guy... but is that what I had done?
Acted exactly like that jerk and thought I was better than him because I was defending her?
Damn!
The nudge of her elbow into my side brought my focus back. I flushed when she called me sweet and kind. I had no idea why... because she was definitely friend-zoning me. I smiled but it faltered...
What the hell was wrong with me? She was just starting to come back into herself after a traumatic breakup. There were worse things than being friend-zoned… and that was having the Bella I knew almost completely erased. I tamped down any selfish thoughts and touched her arm, giving her a real smile. "We might even stand a chance with someone like you on our side to call us on it." I laughed and took the empty cart from her to return it to the bay next to the door.
By the time I turned back #Embry was pulling open the driver’s door for Bella and talking about riding with her to the lumber yard. I took a long breath... No... I wasn't going to be the jealous guy... I wasn't going to be the guy that swoops in on a girl because she's single now.
I was better than that. Wasn't I?
But Bella... Bella was... everything.
I crossed the parking lot again forcing that smile back to my face... just be her friend... and then see what happens. She wasn't going to fall for either of these idiots... even if they were the best idiots I knew. I reached into the glove box and called to Embry that we should work out what we needed before heading to the lumber yard. I grabbed a pencil and notebook and gathered the others around... and drew out a rough outline that we could add measurements to, based on what Bella wanted. We tended to trust #Quil's math... because... well he was never wrong.
※ Bella ※
“I will always be here to straighten you boys out, and keep you on the right path… Well, that’s until I go away for College, then I’m sure I could enrol the help of Seth to look out for you three menaces.” The sound of Jakes laughter was so soothing, I wasn’t sure what it was about him, however the boy made anyone who came close feel better.
The boys all worked so well together, at one stage I felt like I was in the way, then when #Embry reached over my head to hand #Quil a box, I knew for certain I was most definitely in the way. The three of them were like a well-oiled machine, and some part of me was in ore while watching them.
‘Here let me take this last one.’ #Quil said jumping down from the truck bed and taking the box of screws from my hands. ‘It’s best we keep this one up front, it’s small and we don’t want to lose it on the way.’ Okay that was something I should have known too.
Turning a full circle when I thought we’d lost Jake, I watched him rolling the cart back to the bays. ‘You okay there?’ #Embry stood beside me opening the door to the cab for me to climb in.
“I am, I think I upset Jake. I’m just not sure how.” Maybe the macho comment had gone too far? I knew Jake was nothing like that idiot in the store, he was a polar opposite.
‘It’s Jake, he will get over it. and look...’ Embry pointed over to Jake as he returned, the smile on his sweet face back in place. ‘See, he is fine. Now come on, let me help you up. And I’m just helping you up. No Machoness at all. I promise.’ He laughed a full-on laugh, and for the first time I noticed that when he did so, it made it all the way to his eyes.
I had climbed in when Jake mentioned doing some work on understanding the supplies we would need to purchase, I was about to climb down but then they all came to stand around the open door, so I turned my body letting my legs swing out. Watching them, I help #Quil with the numbers. However, he was fast and really good with his head. “Where are you planning on going to school Quil, you have to put that mind of yours to good use.”
※ Jacob ※
I smiled at her; I knew she meant it. "#Seth will just sic his big sister on us." I tried to sound teasing, but Leah didn't pull any punches, she could be scary when she wanted to be. I hadn't thought about Bella and college. I had started to take it for granted that Bella was always going to be here... which made no sense at all. She hadn't even been here that long.
If I was ever going to have a chance, I would have to make a move sooner rather than later... but that was pretty much the opposite of my previous thoughts. This was complicated!
#Embry was still making more moves on her. I heard her talking to #Quil about colleges and he looked from me to Embry, he was the only one of us that planned on going to university. But it made him a little self-conscious when he talked about it. 'Um... Hopefully Seattle, maybe Math and Physics, if my grades are good enough... or Engineering.' he shrugged; acting like it wasn't a big deal.
I slapped him on the back lightly. "Whatever #Quil does… he'll do brilliantly." I grinned. We all knew that academically speaking he was destined for more than the rest of us. But I felt like he held himself back because he didn't like the idea of leaving home.
I gave #Embry a look before we all pulled out of the parking lot... but I knew that he was going to be flirting the entire time. #Quil turned to me and gave me a knowing look. "Shut up." I muttered, shifting gear, even though he hadn't said anything.
※ Bella ※
“Leah? Now why in the world didn’t I think of her, she will surely keep all of you in line.” I was making a mental note of stopping by the Clearwater home with some pizza over this weekend. It had been a few days since I’d seen her now.
“Seattle for engineering?” I could see the uncertainty in #Quil, the slight movement in his posture, the way he glanced at the others as he spoke, and I wondered if he was shy in speaking about his future endeavours? However, when Jacob stepped up with an encouraging smile, a pat on his friend’s back. I knew that he would stand by #Quil no matter what.
“Quil I would have to agree with Jake, you really will flourish in whichever path you choose in the end.” His cheeks turned a shade of red, that you could miss if you weren’t watching him closely.
We all dispersed, splitting up into two teams. #Embry climbed into the beast beside me, with #Quil and #Jacob making their way over to their vehicle.
‘What about you Bella?’ #Embry asked as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot and were on our way. ‘Where are you thinking of going to school?’ I kept my eyes on the road because the hole in my chest was threatening to open, as the thoughts of going to college came to mind.
It had been an ongoing conversation in my past with him. However now it was a different conversation all together.
“Well, it’s an open-ended choice at this time really. I know what I want to study, however where is a question mark. I have Arizona, Georgia, and Miami on the shortlist. It will all depend on my grades.”
‘Really, so far away?’ He asked, when I let my eyes glance over to him, I saw how long his legs were, and how he shifted to get himself comfortable. Embry really had grown since I saw him last too.
“I am from Arizona Embry, so it would be going back to home. And then with Georgia and Miami I would be closer to my mom in Jacksonville. On top of which, the University of Miami is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in English language and literature.” I had read the brochures from cover to cover. At first it was just to keep #Charlie happy, if he thought I was making plans he would think I was getting better.
‘I guess, I’m just not sure I could go that far from my mom and home. It’s a big decision.’ His voice trailed off. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that he was regarding the hole in my dash where once there lived a radio.
※ Jacob ※
"I will give you anything you want... if you promise not to set Leah Clearwater on us." I laughed. But I knew that she really wasn't all that bad. She just had a certain way about her... like she was always expecting the worst to happen. So, she was always too fast to defend and protect. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing... but I think it hurt her more than it hurt anyone else.
I pressed my lips into a tight line, thinking about when she was going to off to college. Of course, I wanted all of that for Bella... but if she left... I knew that she would never come back here. The worst part about that... was that I wanted that for her too... there was nothing here for a girl like Bella. I had nothing to offer her but me, and I hated that that could never be enough. Not even if she felt the same way.
Embry never seemed to want anything he couldn't do without a guitar in his hand and yet he never even talked about trying to make that a job. It was different for #Quil and me... it was what was holding back. I mean, sure there were tons of Quileute kids that wanted to get away from the Rez and that was fine... I mean there was nothing here but fishing and woodworking. Ikea was quickly killing these dreams too. But for #Quil and I? For #Seth, #Leah and so many others this was the land the Spirits of our ancestors walked, while their bodies lay guarded by their keepers. Lands they protected with their magic and then bled for from their earthly bodies... I got it... they were stories. Legends. But the last part; that was a fact. It was different.
I made sure to stay close to #Embry and Bella on the drive to the lumberyard. I tried not to obsess about what he might be saying to her.
※ Bella ※
‘Take the left and then it’s another left, and we will be there.’ #Embry sat back, his hands tapping on his thighs as we drove talking about his mom, school and what was happening on the Rez. It was like a small telenovela that was for sure. I didn’t really buy into knowing other people’s business and by the sounds of it nor did Embry which I had to admit I liked about him.
“What are you tapping out there?” nodding my chin to his hands making him stop right away.
‘Sorry, It’s nothing.’ But it was something.
“Embry, do you… uhm… you know…. play?” I asked. “An instrument… I mean... Do you play an instrument?” Rolling my eyes at myself and my inability to speak on the best of times, however right now there was no reason for me to be succinct.
‘Uhm. Yeah. I play the guitar.’ He seemed to blow out his chest as he spoke. And I was sure I should have reacted in another way, but I just chewed on my lips and kept looking ahead at the road.
‘Okay…’ He muttered. ‘You know what, we should go out sometime. Pizza, a movie. Port is playing some good retro movies right now.’ he said off the cuff.
“Hmm…” I took the left he had mentioned. “Sure, my friends from school and I were there a few weeks back.” Taking the next turning, thinking I needed a reason to ask #Leah out, maybe even #Seth? “We should do it. Get the others in. It would be a good night, and hey my treat for all of this.” I pointed to the back of my truck and then towards the lumber yard. “Maybe depending on what we go to watch we could ask Seth to come? He always gets left behind.” I knew it was because he was so young. “I know the kid would like to come to Port too.”
Pulling up into a free spot I parked the beast up before looking over to him. “Ready?” he looked a little abashed but smiled and nodded.
‘Let’s see what you need.’ He pulled the handle and stopped as if he was going to say something, however thought differently, stepping down and out of the cab. ‘The guys are right behind us.’ Leaning on the side of the beast he waited for me to walk around and join him.
※ Jacob ※
'Hey...' #Quil nudged me lightly with his elbow. 'How much would you bet that #Embry already asked her out?' My eyes widened and I glanced at him... "What?" I fixed my gaze back onto the road. "No!... I mean... He wouldn't..." He so would, I heaved a sigh. "I hope he didn't... Bella is just out of a really dark place..."
#Quil scoffed. ‘Puh-lease!! Like you don’t want to ask her out!’ He barked a laugh.
“I can want to.. and know that it’s not the right time, too.” I shot back. “Bella getting better is more important than me shooting my shot.” I turned into the lumberyard for the second time today. #Embry was climbing out of the car with a bemused expression. It gave me more joy than I would care to admit.
We stepped out too and joined them. Before we had a chance to say more than hello; one of the lumber yard workers appeared, pulling heavy gloves off his hands. ‘Back again, lads?’ He said in a thick Irish accent.
I nodded to him. “Hey, Paddy… Yeah, we picked up another project and we need a lot more this time.” #Quil handed over the piece of paper with the measurements and the list of what we thought we’d need. ‘It’s a biggun for sure.’ The man nodded.
“And it’s for the Chief of Police so I’m sure we can talk about some kind of public service discount, right?” I gave my best charming smile. Paddy just raised a bushy brow but cracked a smile, shaking his head and laughing. “Okay, how about you throw in the roofing felt for free?” I kept smiling, knowing it wasn’t a completely unreasonable request.
‘You drive a hard bargain for a young chap. Roofing felt at half price.’ He stuck a hand out to me, and I gave it a firm shake.
“Deal.”
‘Yer auld man will be chuffed with you.’ He headed toward the forklifts, tugging his gloves back on.
“I learnt from the best!” I called after him.
※ Bella ※
It was like watching a master at work. Jacob did not miss a beat, once his feet hit the ground, he was straight to work. I stood back, watching the man with an accent talking with him and I was about to speak up at the mention of a discount. I knew that #Charlie wouldn’t accept any kind of special treatment from the local businesses. However, #Quil stopped me with a tug to my sleeve.
Uttering softly. ‘Just watch him at work, this is something Jake is really good at.’
‘Yeah, sometimes I even forget how good the boy is.’ #Embry articulated. I turned to glance at him.
“Isn’t Jacob the same age as you?” Even if to anyone observing these two boys would be forgiven if they thought they were a lot older by the way they were filling out.
#Quil sniggered, then tried to hide it when the man called #Paddy walked away.
“I can’t believe you all were happy to come back here after you have already been once.” Rubbing the back of my neck I shifted from foot to foot. The guilt of asking for their help started to weigh on me once again.
‘Hey, I’m happy to help for a Pizza and Movie date.’ #Embry winked at me. Was he trying to act up for the others, or was it just a slip of his mind that I had said we could have a group fun night?
#Quils mouth dropped open and his eyes flew to Jacob.
“Yeah, of course.” I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to clarify once again. “I will call Leah when I get home too. See if she is up to joining all of us.” I saw #Quil breathing a sigh of relief at this.
“Now, what do we do? Go and pick the timber we think we need or something?” Attempting to move on, also I had never before in my life come to a lumber yard, and I couldn’t point out what I should or shouldn’t buy.
“I don’t know why I thought I could have done this alone, however, I’m taking notes now.” Stepping out to the side, my eyes were taking in the vast amount of cut wood before me.
※ Jacob ※
As I walked back, I heard Bella talking about this being our second trip here today. But before I had a chance to tell her it was perfectly fine... #Embry opened his mouth and my heart dropped like a stone into the pit of my stomach. I fixed my eyes on the paper in my hand; with #Quil’s impeccably neat handwriting and the roughly sketched dimensions. Hoping none of them would know that I had overheard.
The tension in my chest eased when Bella clarified that it wasn't actually a date... though I was one hundred percent positive that was what #Embry had intended it to be. So much for bro' code. But I was still in control of how I reacted to this... I could double up my attempts to charm Bella or... do right by her and give her the time she needed. Why did I have to be the good guy all the time? Why couldn't I selfishly go after what I wanted for once?
Even #Quil was stunned into silence. I looked back up to Bella with a smile. "Now we wait, they'll bring around whatever we can take in the trucks and deliver the rest this afternoon." I moved back to stand next to Bella... I was feeling oddly protective of her.... even with #Embry. He had a bad habit of saying every little thing that popped into his head and I hoped he hadn't said anything... inappropriate to her.
"We'll drop everything off, then I'll have to go back to the Rez to fix the ramp... but we can get started right after that if you want to?" This time my smile was less forced. I focused on Bella and helping her out with this project. It would be good for her. My Dad always said there was nothing better to lift one's spirits than hard work and a job well done.
※ Bella ※
A little oblivious to all that had taken place behind me, I stood listening to the voices however not quite hearing them now. For a moment I could feel something in my chest tugging me forwards, but to where I didn’t know. It was like something was calling, trying to take me out of myself and then, with a blink of an eye I was back when Jake spoke.
“We wait… Okay…” I shook my head. “First you need to make sure Billy’s ramp is done. Don’t feel like you have to rush over to Forks.” I’d taken so much of their time today. “I am happy to get things started, and then went ever you have time…”
Before I could finish #Quil snorted. “Don’t take this the wrong way Bella, but if you start without us, the likely thing is we will have to take it all down and start again.” He bumped my shoulder and laughed at my expression if I were to guess.
“Hey…” however, could I really fault him for this. “Okay… fine… But… I was thinking more the case of breaking the old one down and clearing the space wise arse.” The smile I shared, I hoped told him I wasn’t offended by the comment.
Shaking my head slightly, I turned to face the others, and no one was speaking. This had to be a first with these boys? Whenever I’d seen them all together, they were always laughing, joking, playing, and goofing off. So, I replayed the conversations being had before I zoned out. Had I caused this? I hoped I hadn’t.
I couldn’t help but make the observation. How Jake had come to stand beside me, his body in place as if he were protecting me. But from what or who? Then I found myself glancing at Embry.
“Embry and I were talking on the way here.” I started without really knowing where this would end up. “As a thank you, we thought it would be nice to have some time in Port and do something fun, right Embry?” I didn’t give him time to reply, but he was smiling big again.
“Yeah… so, we thought Pizza and maybe a movie on me…” And idea popping into my mind as I spoke. “Wait.” I turned to them one by one. “Have you heard about the new rock-climbing wall they are opening up in Port? It’s in this big warehouse, and they have an arcade, food etc. Erik was talking about it at school.”
The plan was coming together. “We could do it in the day, not too late so that Seth could come too?” I knew I would have to talk #Sue into letting him out. However, he always said he missed all the fun.
※ Jacob ※
I chuckled when Bella confirmed that we needed to fix my father's ramp first. "Don't worry Bells... Your project will be far more fun than fixing a creaky old ramp. But..." My voice was mockingly dire. "I won’t risk another whack of a rolled-up newspaper from Dad!" I chuckled. Though #BillyBlack was far from anything resembling a disciplinarian to be dreaded. "But that will take an hour at the very most." Realistically it would be a lot less than that... but an hour gave us time to drive back to the Rez too.
#Quil was either brave or stupid... or both. If there was one thing my sisters had taught me growing up it was that you should never suggest that a woman couldn't do something without the aid of a man.
But #Quil was the type that said what he thought assuming that people would perceive it as innocently as he meant it. He wasn't suggesting that her gender was the reason she shouldn't start alone... only that Bella shouldn't. It wasn't like she had experience with these kinds of builds. But there I was underestimating Bella's kindness. She had heard exactly what #Quil intended to say other than his misguided words.
I raised a brow, and a grin spread across my face. "Wait... you climb? Really?" I was amused and the thought of the klutzy girl I knew scaling a rock wall. "Now, that I have to see!" I chuckled. "You can count me in for sure." #Embry and #Quil quickly joined in with their agreement.
※ Bella ※
‘If we don’t get this ramp done today, we might find more than the paper rolled up.’ #Quil shared with a playful punch into the side of #Embry. And whatever tension had been in play, dissipated.
“Okay.” I resigned myself to the momentum of what had been started. “I am taking your word for it.” I half smiled hoping they weren’t taking on too much.
My body stiffened a little and I tugged the sleeves of my jacket over my cold fisted hands. My face reddened as the blush of embarrassment creeped it’s way up. “I… I mean…” I cleared my throat before starting again, and this time with a little more confidence. ( Or at least I hoped I was portraying confidence ).
“I’ve never climbed before.” Making myself stand upright, pushing my shoulders back. “But Erik was saying they teach you, and it’s all hooks and ropes so you cannot fall and kill yourself.” Shifting a little my eyes started to drift to my feet before I made myself look up. Some part of this plan had started to thrill me as it came together. “How hard can it be?”
The two boys shared a look, and it made me cross my arms over my chest. ( However, even that move had a lack of certainty in it. ) “I saw that.” Biting on my lips. “It’s meant to be fun. I’m sure…” I would fall and break my neck? “It will be fine. Right? Totally fine.”
Thankful when the man Jake had been speaking with came back. ( Even if he made me jump out of my skin. ) ‘Where ya want it all lads?’
※ Jacob ※
I laughed at #Embry and #Quil. They both knew all too well that my dad had no second thoughts about turning that paper on them, if they deserved it. I could say the same for #Quil and #Embry's Mom's, they were all like parents to the three of us.
The red flush in Bella's cheeks made me smile and before I could say anything #Embry spoke... That boy could never keep a thought inside his head. 'In that case, we have got to see this. If she can climb a rock wall, we could take her cliff diving in the summer.' He was grinning.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." I shot him a wary look... Bella was far too clumsy to put that idea in her head. Knowing her she'd try it alone and get herself into all kinds of trouble. "And I'm sure you wouldn't fall..." I was trying to be nice... but it sounded unconvincing.
At least it was kind of impossible to get hurt doing it in a gym. But when #Quil and #Embry share their little eye roll; I stepped closer to Bella and squeezed her forearm gently. "Ignore those two chuckleheads... Everything takes practice. It sounds like a good time to me."
When Paddy came back, I turned to him and asked him to split it between the two trucks and we all set to the task of loading them. "Do you want one of us the drive back with you? You can just leave everything in the truck until we get back and we can unload everything together."
※ Bella ※
My ears perked up for a moment. “Cliff diving? What’s that?” But before #Embry could answer me Jacob had shot him down. Once again it felt like these boys spoke with a squint of the eye rather than words from their lips.
Jacob’s words had a lack of certainty in them, however, I still made myself smile at his attempt to help me in the moment. When he squeezed my arm, I did feel a little bit of warmth in his eyes and this time the smile I shared with him was real. “It’s okay Jake, I know they mean well.” These boys were all kind hearted, them being here had to be proof of the fact.
#Paddy and the boys set to work, #Quil handed me the paperwork and a pencil. ‘You stand here and mark off all the things we call out. So, that we are sure it’s all here. It will help Paddy out.’ The man gave me a crooked smile and they set to work.
“Sorry? Oh. Uhm…” I wasn’t sure; however, I knew one thing. “No, you guys head back to the Rez, Billy’s work first and if you still have time then come on over.” If one of them came with me, it would mean they were one hand short.
As they all got to work, I tugged on #Quil’s sleeve and whispered. “What’s this cliff diving thing?”
#Quil straightened up and gazed over to Jacob who was busy with Paddy. ‘He will kill me… But… It’s…’ His eyes were back on the others as he told me of the cliffs out on the first beach in La Push, and how there are different levels you could climb up and then go diving.
“And you guys do this for fun?” There was more astonishment in my voice than I’d intended, with a combination of enthusiasm.
‘Bella, I’m only telling you this because you asked, but you have to promise not to go anywhere near it without us.’ Saved by the bell, #Embry called #Quil over to help, so I hadn’t needed to make any promises.
‘All Done Miss Swan.’ The man told me as the boys finished off loading.
I followed #Paddy into the office to pay for the supplies. “Thank you for everything Paddy, you’ve been a real help.” I told him before returning to the others by the trucks. “Thanks guys, really I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”
※ Jacob ※
That smile... It was different from the others, it reminded me of the first time I'd seen her after she moved here. The day we gave her the truck Charlie bought from my dad. Genuine... and one hundred percent Bella Swan.
I nodded to Bella. We would be a lot faster if all three of us went home to finish this job... and I could try and talk the guys out of the shameless flirting. Not just because I liked Bella more than I should, considering that I knew she was still in pain... but because that pain meant that it really wasn't the time for any of us to fawn over her.
She wasn't wrong though; they did mean well... they just didn't know when to think and when to talk. I smiled at #Quil, trying to find a way to keep Bella in the loop while we got to the task that we were used to doing together. Whether we came here with Dad or #Harry... even #Sam. The three of us had a rhythm that even they would keep out of the way of. We just worked together, we always had.
"You're welcome, Bella." I smiled, genuinely. "Anything for you." I cleared my throat… then added quickly. "A-and Charlie. He's always helped out Dad and me."
※ Bella ※
“Sure, you know Charlie would do anything for you and Billy.” I glanced up to the sky and the greying clouds coming in. “Now head off before the rain comes down again and stops all the work you guys have planned out.”
The smile was back once again on my lips, for some reason when Jacob Black spoke, anyone could see the boy meant every word he said from the bottom of his heart. I nudged my shoulder into his side and then bounced back at the brick wall that welcomed me. Rubbing the side of my arm I half laughed. “What are they feeding you boys at the Rez?”
‘Bacon… Lots of Bacon!’ #Quil pulled the sleeve of his shirt up to squeeze his biceps tight. They didn’t quite make the shape he was hoping for by the look on his face.
‘Come on bacon boy.’ #Embry yanked his friend away as I opened the door to my truck and climbed in.
Half shaking my head, I watched them fool around for a few moments before closing the door and rolling the window down. “Drive safely Jake, I’ll see you soon.” Turning the key, the Beast came to life and as I put him into gear, I could feel the heaviness on the wheels.
“I’m going to need to get your air pressure checked.” I whispered to myself as I reversed out of the parking spot waving to the three guys as I headed home.
※ Jacob ※
I knew what #Bella said was true, #Charlie had always been there for us. I never hesitated to call him if we needed a helping hand. No ask was too big or too small when it came to Bella’s Dad. Seeing her smile put something at ease inside me. It seemed like it had been forever since I'd seen her smile for real.
I laughed when she rubbed her arm. "We all know that everything is bigger and better on the Rez Bella." I grinned. "You should spend more time there... It might catch on."
I stepped back towards my dad’s truck as Bella climbed into hers.
"We'll see you soon, Bells." I pointed to the load in the back of her truck. "Do not unload that by yourself. It’s not a one-person job."
I climbed into the driver seat and waited until she pulled out. As soon as she did, I slapped #Embry, hard, on the shoulder. It hurt!
But I tried not to let on.... was that what Bella meant when she'd bumped me with her shoulder? Was #Embry secretly hitting the gym?
'What was that for?' He protested, but he hadn't so much as flinched.
"Multiple bro' code violations!?" I scoffed like it was obvious.
'You were the one that said it was too early to make a move, not me.' He said with that annoying little smirk of his.
"C'mon 'Bry... Bella is the only girl I ever liked like that." I sighed and gripped the wheel a little tighter.
#Embry huffed. 'Don't be an asshole; Call... you hit on girls all the time.' #Quil chimed in from the back seat.
'Fine... I'll keep it low key. But if she comes onto me the deal is off.' He scoffed.
I tried not to laugh at the idea of Bella flirting with #Embry. The rest of the drive home consisted of a long, inane conversation about what was and wasn't flirting.
※ Bella ※
On my way home I made a point to stop off at the diner to pick up sandwiches. Then it had been a drive past the station, to make sure #Charlie was still there before I pulled up and went in.
I stayed out of the way of the people who were working inside. Making my way to his desk to set the box of sandwiches on it for him to eat, when I saw my dad leaning over a table with dread on his face.
‘Hey Bells.’ He tried and failed to smile.
“Hey dad… I bought you some lunch.” I told him.
‘Thanks kid, we’ve not had time to eat today.’ He opened the box taking out one half, however he didn’t eat it.
“What’s going on?” I asked, all the time my eyes followed the people in here, noting that some of them worked for the forest rangers.
‘Nothing…’ he started and then somewhat, came to. ‘Listen, that promise you made to stay outta the woods. It still stands. Do me a favour and spread the news to your friends too.’
Okay now I frowned a little worried. “Okay… but why?” I knew why he wanted me to stay away. But the others?
He set the sandwich down on a napkin, rubbing his forehead. ‘There have been some animal attacks. People are—‘ he cut off as someone called his name. ‘Give me a sec.’ And he was gone.
I didn’t want to eve’s drop however; it was hard not to overhear. Someone on the radio was saying that a body had been found five miles out. It was a hiker who had been lost for over a week.
I felt bile grow and bubble in my throat, at the images my mind conjured. And it was the guiding hand on my shoulder who bought me out of my lost state.
‘Are you okay Bells? Maybe you should go home? Remember. No going into the woods. Not until we find this animal okay.’
With that said, #Charlie walked me part way out. “I’ll be okay dad.” I stopped him remembering my truck was full of supplies for his surprise. “You go bad to work. And please eat something.”
Saying my good bye to him, I rushed to my truck and climbed back in. Leaning forward I rested my forehead to the wheel breathing in deeply for a few moments. There was an electric charge, it felt like I was surrounded by some energy that was invisible to the naked eye. It felt like safety. Like I was going to be fine. However, I wasn’t the one whom I worried for. The loss of any life, even one you didn’t know was hard to come to terms with. My dad... #Charlie took the safety of everyone in town on his own shoulders. I knew this day would be hard for him. I pulled out of the parking lot and for once listening to him I drove straight home.
※ Jacob ※
By the time we got to the Rez #Embry was criticising my taste in music. I rolled my eyes… like he could talk. He was the one flipping through my Dad’s CDs and looking impressed as he selected a Def Leppard best-of album and cranked up the volume.
When we pulled up outside the house, Dad was sitting out on the front porch… well not really a porch… just the top of the ramp where we had set out a small table and a single chair so Dad could take a spot on the other side and sit with whoever was coming to him with any tribal issues. So… seeing him there wasn’t unusual. But what was unusual, was who was sat in the seat across from him; #SamUley.
But right there, leaning against the end of the ramp, like it wasn’t completely abnormal for them to just be hanging out in front of my house with a grown-ass man; was #JaredCameron and #PaulLahote. Wearing wife-beaters and cut off shorts… who were they fooling? This was La Push…
#Sam stood up when he saw us getting out of the car, stepping over the hole we’d made in the ramp with ease. All three of them locked their eyes on #Embry as they walked off, heading away from the road and towards the tree line. I walked to the back of the truck and grabbed what we needed, #Quil followed, but he stopped and nudged me with his elbow. My gaze followed his to where #Embry was frozen… The boy never stood still; it was unnerving. He watched them disappear. I walked around the truck and took him by the elbow. “C’mon ‘Bry… Don’t pay any attention to them. Let’s get to work.”
He seemed to shake himself, chewing his lip raw. ‘Hmm… Oh… yeah.’ He forced a laugh. ‘Hall monitors on steroids.’
#Quil and I exchanged looks… we knew he was freaked... this wasn’t the first time he’d been the centre of their focus.
※ Bella ※
Once home I planned on emptying out the old shed, I needed to stop thinking about the poor hiker in the woods, and the animal attacks. It wasn’t easy so I knew I had to keep moving and doing something for my mind to remain distracted.
I when up to my room, to set my wallet and things down, and then to the bathroom to freshen up. Pulling my hair up into a ponytail so that it did not distract me from the work. However, as I came out of the bathroom, I stopped at the threshold of my bedroom door looking in. Something felt out of place. But everything was still there. I shook my head. It was my mind playing tricks on me, it was the same as Edw—.
I stopped those thoughts of Him coming to the forefront of my mind. The times when I found him sat in the chair or listening to my Walkman. The times when I would wake to find him sat on my bed watching me, when I knew there had been no way for him to get into my room.
“Stop it!” I chastised myself. Hitting the palm of my hand to my forehead. “That was the past.” And still at times, no matter how much I tried not to think of him, his memory would come rushing out.
“Dad. Birthday. Work.” Starting to think of the things in my life that had to be more important than the past. No matter how much at times I wanted to wallow in my self-pity. I had given #Charlie my word, and each day his fear of losing me subsided so, I couldn’t fall into the depths of my sadness again. ( Not visibly anyway. )
I plastered on that smile I had in my arsenal, even with no one around to see me, it was good practice to do it. I made my way down the stairs and out the back door.
※ Jacob ※
It didn't take us long to fix the ramp. The support beams were still solid. The miserable Olympic weather hadn't taken its toll on them yet. When we were done, I had wanted to rush right off to Forks but Dad insisted that we eat something.
'What's the hurry?' #Billy asked. 'Why are you so eager to head back to town so soon?'
'We're helping Bella build a new shed for #Charlie.' #Embry blurted out and promptly started shovelling Dad's favourite pasta dish down his throat. I kicked him under the table. Did he really need to say every little thing out loud? He kicked me back and DAMN!!! Someone has been eating his spinach because that hurt!! 'Was it meant to be a secret?' he asked.
Dad and #Quil just laughed.
'So, Bella is still doing better then? Socializing? Leaving the house for more than school and work?'
"Yeah. She seems good... you know, happier." And apparently, my smile gave away too much.
'Just... remember that heartache never fully goes away. Give the girl room to breathe.' Dad's eyes moved from me to #Quil.
'Hey! Why isn't Embry getting the evil eye? He flirts as much as I do.' #Quil protested.
"Yes... But he's bad at it." Dad teased and 'Bry just glared at him.
'You are so lucky you’re in that chair or I'd kick you under the table too.' He teased Dad right back. And if anyone else had said that; they'd be answering to all three of us... but Dad just laughed and nodded towards the door, giving us permission to leave the table.
"Bye Dad!!" I called back as the three of us got jammed in the doorway while the other two called back 'Thank you, Uncle.' It was the Chief thing... and a tribal thing considering how close our parents had been as we grew up.
※ Bella ※
Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes is all it took for me to get three splinters, fall over twice and bang my head on the broken shelves once. I was stood outside rubbing a bump which had started to grow just higher than my hair line. Looking over the progress I had made despite my incoordination.
“This is why Charlie doesn’t like me going into this place.” I told myself. “It’s a death trap.” We all knew true blame lay in the person, and not the inanimate objects. However, it felt good to share the blame now and then.
I stepped back into the shed to see if I could find some gloves, something to protect my hands from getting any more splinters stuck into my skin. The ones I had already taken care of had gone in deep, I wasn’t sure I could take any more without needing a tetanus jab or something stronger.
Just as I set back to work, removing buckets, rods, tins of fish line, and hooks, my phone started to ring in my back pocket. Stepping back outside I answered it seeing that it was #Charlie calling.
“Hey dad, is everything okay?” I could still see the concern on his face from before and hear it in his voice now.
‘Sure, everything is okay. I wanted to make sure you made it home. That’s all.’ On any other day, my hackles would be raised. But today… I understood.
“I did thanks. Came straight home, didn’t stop on the way. I’m here safe and sound.” Putting a little pep in my voice. Trying to tell him not to worry about me, even if I knew that would be hard for him to do after everything, I put him through last year.
‘Good. Good. I maybe home late tonight. So, don’t wait up. And don’t worry about dinner for me.’ I had guessed this would be the case.
“No worries. Jake and his friends #Quil and #Embry are coming by, and I promised to get in some pizza for us.” This must have been unexpected, because for a moment #Charlie didn’t say anything.
‘They are? Okay. They’re good boys. Have fun.’ He said before he had to go again, and I returned to my work at hand.
※ Jacob ※
We loaded up the truck with a ton of tools that we would definitely need, few things we might need… and some that I honestly thought were unnecessary. But #HarryClearwater had suggested them when we asked to raid his tool shed… and he always knew what he was talking about when it came to this stuff.
#Embry took control of the radio on the way back to Forks too… we just let it slide. Music was a bigger deal to him than it was to any of the rest of us. Plus, most of the time, the stuff he played was decent.
When we got there, we pulled up behind Bella’s truck. #Charlie’s cruiser still wasn’t there… Good. He wasn’t home yet. Once we got the old shed torn down #Charlie couldn’t tell us he didn’t need a new one. It was easy to guess why Bella wanted to give her dad an extra special gift this year. I flashed back to a shirtless #SamUley carrying Bella out of the woods. She knew she had worried #Charlie… then when she was in that dark place… he’d seen it all.
When we came around the side of the house, we saw that she had been busy. Each of us carried some of the tools that we’d need to tear down the old one. “Looks like someone’s been busy.” I called across the yard to her.
“You could have waited you know? Until we got here to help.” I looked her over to make sure she hadn’t hurt herself, but she seemed fine. And she’d worn gloves… so at least that was something.
‘Let's get this old thing emptied so the fun can begin!’ #Embry rubbed his hands together with excitement and I rolled my eyes.
“He likes to demolish things way too much.” I explained to Bella with a chuckle.
※ Bella ※
As I worked, there was an internal monolog taking place. Words and sounds, sharing of quotes, I was paraphrasing from books and plays. There was an opening in the school play this year that Ang had been asking me to help with. I told her I wasn’t going up on stage, and I was thankful that her offer was for me to help her back stage. I hadn’t agreed to it, and really with everything going on, I had forgotten about her request. However, now with me trying to keep my mind distracted. It was the first thing to pop into my mind.
“Holy Cow!” I jumped out of my skin, dropping the tool box in my hands down to the ground.
I had readied myself; I saw it heading for my foot but at the last moment it toppled forward and missed me by a couple of inches.
“Make some noise Jake.” The guy was so big, and yet I hadn’t heard him or the others coming. I cupped my mouth to hold my stomach in that was threatening to leap out of me. “Sorry.” I said holding a finger up asking for a minute to gather myself. “I was miles away.”
Jake was in front with his hands full, and both #Quil and #Embry stopped where they were with hands full of tools too. “What’s all that? You know there are tools here too.” But when I looked towards the sorry collection #Charlie had, I added. “Actually, maybe it was a good idea to come prepared.” Who knew that teenage boys could think ahead like this?
“Cleaning this mess isn’t as much as it looks. There is no way I wouldn’t try to help Jake.” I told him half smiling. Because I knew I hadn’t managed to do half of what I’d planned to before they arrived. “You guys made good time? Everything sorted with Billy’s ramp?”
The guys started to walk towards me, setting the things down and look over the old shed. The glint in #Embry’s eyes told me that Jake wasn’t lying. “Easy there Embry, we don’t want to kill ourselves bringing this old thing down.”
‘I should be offended with the fact that you have so little faith in me Bella, I’m a demolitions expert.’ He told me.
And I went to stand beside Jacob now. “At sixteen? Who gave him a licence?” I teased shaking my head. “Have you guys had something to eat? Need a drink or anything before we get to work?” Before I could finish off my sentence, Embry was inside of the old shed with Quil on his tail, checking to see what needed to be taken out.
“Are you guys always so gung-ho?” I asked Jacob with a nudge in his side.
※ Jacob ※
I cringed when I saw the toolbox drop… but somehow, completely inexplicably it missed her toes by a hairs-breath. I shrugged it off let out a relieved sigh. “You really shouldn’t have started without us.” I chuckled.
#Quil sauntered up and plopped a bright yellow hard hat onto Bella’s head and spoke saying. ‘I knew this would come in handy. You should have told us it was your feet at risk, we could have found a pair of steel-toed boots for you.’ He teased.
“We weren’t sure what Charlie had here.” I explained to her. “Plus, we’ve used all of this stuff before so…” I nodded towards the other two, though… I was mainly talking about #Embry. “Less room for error.” And I mouthed the word idiots to her silently, but with a grin.
Then I scoffed at her. “Please! Like we’d let you get away with not helping.” We totally would; but Bella wasn’t a side-lines kinda girl. “Although… waiting for us all to start together would have been perfectly acceptable.” Then I answered her question. “Yeah, all fixed, we just needed to replace a few boards.” I stood as tall as I could next to her.
I managed to cover my mouth but not my snort at #Embry’s declaration. “Let’s get the rest of Charlie’s stuff out before we start tearing anything down.”
Instinctively the three of us fell into a line, #Embry inside the shed… because he never thought things through, and he was already in the doorway. Then #Quil and then me… because I had the foresight to take shorter strides and I led Bella over with an extended hand, not actually touching her because of her reluctance to be touched in the hardware store. “You know #Charlie best so you should sort the stuff that comes out. There’s probably a lot in there he might want to throw away… you know how Dads are about keeping old stuff.” I chuckled.
That was when #Quil noticed I had placed myself between him and Bella and gave me am ‘I-see-what-you-did-there-grin’ but said nothing as we started to pass things down the line to Bella.
※ Bella ※
I was smiling once again, without thinking, without needing that mask I wore around this world and its people. These three boys brought a pure joy with them whenever they were around me. Their friendship. Their thoughtlessness towards how they spoke within their group. What you saw was what you got with them all.
I tapped the hardhat with my knuckles, and then pushed it up a little so that I could have some visibility before me. “Thanks, Quil. I’m surprised you didn’t bring me some sort of metal suit.” He winked and clicked his tongue telling me the day was still young. Which earned him an eyeroll of course.
Jacob made me tilt my head to the side, it was so easy to forget he was so young when he spoke sometimes. I knew boys two years older than him who wouldn’t have thought ahead like he did. My eyes drifted to the shed and #Embry as Jake spoke, and I rained in the laughter bubbling up within me, as he mouthed the word ‘idiots’. Biting my lip to stop myself from reacting was the only thing I could do.
“I know, and I thank you for not being one of those guys who think girls can’t help.” Because I knew those boys too. The ones who didn’t think it was possible for a girl to think for herself or know what was good for her. I took a step back as that rift in my chest threaten to blink open at the spiral of thoughts I internally began falling down. However, I knew the signs, and I knew too well by now how to counter act them.
‘Bella, you really did make a dent in here.’ #Embry was the one to call out and bring me back this time, and then Jacob too.
Clearing my throat as Jake motioned towards where he wanted me, and I noticed how he didn’t attempt to touch me. Making me so grateful, if in this moment he had reached out I knew that I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself together.
“I tried.” I called out to #Embry, taking my place at the end of the chain where Jacob started to place things on the ground before me. “That’s a good idea.” I told Jake. “Even if I have no idea what holds sentimental value, you know?”
I started with looking for things that were broken or looked like they couldn’t be fixed. Making three stacks behind myself. Keep, Throw and I’m not sure.
As we worked making progress with the piles growing behind me, I began to feel an ease around the boys, listening to them banter and work. It was something I used to have with my friends, well before I checked out for so long.
‘If you throw that rod away, Charlie will come after all of us.’ #Quil pointed to the old, battered rod I was about to place on the throw stacks. ‘Billy carved it, and Harry lined and painted it for Charlie for one of his birthdays.’ I stopped to look the rod up and down. It was well used, the carvings on the handle were still visible in the light.
“Thanks, you just saved me from being disowned by my dad.” I told him; my eyes were on Jake now. “I knew Billy carved, but this.” Holding the rod up to the grey light of the day. “This is amazing.”
※ Jacob ※
I laughed at Bella and #Quil, my eyes staying on her. Seeing her laugh and enjoying herself... even when it was a little work too, it was good to see her getting back some happiness in her life.
I just smiled at her. "You know I was practically raised by #Rachel and #Rebecca, right?" I chuckled.
'And Momma T.' #Quil added, and we all laughed.
"Oh yeah... #Embry's mom doesn't tolerate that kinda thinking in herboys." That was what we all were to, Ms Call. I winked at Bella now. "Besides we agreed to a four-person job, not three. So, it's too late to back out now."
I smiled when she said I had a good idea. "Yeah, you never know what kinda things people get attached to." I nudged her with my elbow and pointed to #Embry. "Like him, he never gets rid of anything." I laughed.
#Embry rolled his eyes. 'Because I don't own anything that isn't worth keeping.' Then I just rolled my eyes because this wasn't the first time that I heard it. I had to laugh when Embry passed out the fishing rod and #Quil passed it to us.
"Oh wow!" I laughed. "Yeah... Dad worked on this for days!" I leaned in and examined it as Bella did. "Right there... that was me." I pointed out a slightly wobbly fish carved just in front of the reel. "#Charlie really loved this old thing." I grinned when Bella praised Dad's work... "Yeah, Dad was always great with his hands."
After a while #Embry called out that were done and the two of them ran to grab the sledgehammer we'd brought. "Wait, Guys! I think #Bella should have the first swing."
※ Bella ※
“All of you boys need someone to show you the way.” I said.
However, Momma T? my brow raised in interest until Jacob clarified and the image of the beautiful woman on the beach speaking with #Leah came into focus. I recalled concern on her face, witnessing part of her conversation with #HarryClearwater’s daughter, and then the way she smiled as she passed me by. I could see that woman taking the time it took to teach these boys how to respect girls and be respected by the world too. It also didn’t go a stray on me how these boys all called her Momma T. She really had to be a caring woman who must be well respected within their tribe of people.
My thumb stroked the disjointed fish, and I was smiling again, thinking of an even younger Jacob Black helping his dad to do this. “It’s so sweet.” I said as I carefully this time set the rod to the far side, where there would be no confusion when filling my truck up later.
When I heard what Jake wanted me to do, I called back. “I’m sorry What?” I abruptly rotated to face the boys, falling about on my feet, tripping over some boxes, landing in the heap with a soft thud.
‘Oh sure, let’s give the girl who can’t turn around without falling, a sledge?’ I wasn’t sure which one said it because I was looking up at the sky.
“Hey—” I started but gave up because… you know… But then something inside of me twisted. “You know what.” Shuffling myself out from inside and under the boxes, pulling myself up onto my wobbly feet once again. “I can so do this.” With a new found determination, I stomped over to #Embry holding my hand out.
‘Bella, it’s okay. I can—’ I shook my head cutting him off.
“I can do this. I mean just how hard can the first hit be?” The moment he placed the hammer in my hands, it fell to the ground and tugged my arm with it. “This thing is heavy.” However, I was still determined. Slowly lifting the hammer, I dropped it again. “Third time lucky.” I told myself this time lifting it with all my will, aiming to hit the side panel beside the door of the shed.
‘Yeah! Here we go… This is going to be fun.’ #Quill called out.
※ Jacob ※
"There’s no shortage of that on the rez." I chuckled. #TiffanyCall had always been a big part of our lives... even before we were old enough to understand the rumours. But those never stopped any of us from loving her like family or speaking up when people voiced all those nasty thoughts about her or #Embry. But I smiled at the thought that #Bella would just know her the way we did.
I flushed a little at Bella's comment... I'd not stopped to think before I pointed out my addition to the project about how she would react. I would have to find a way to show her I had gotten a lot better over the years. Let her see some of the nicer, more skilful things I had made.
I reached out for Bella when she stumbled, but the girl had a talent for falling over. I gave her my hand to help her up and looked to #Embry... who had gotten closer to her then the rest of us than I thought possible in the few short seconds, but Bella was already upright again.
But even her clutzy moment didn't stop her... just like I knew it wouldn't. I smiled to myself, biting the inside of my cheek, trying not to let it show. "She can do it." I nudged #Embry with my elbow. "C'mon Bells!" I cheered. "You got this!"
I caught #Quil's attention and motioned for him to take out his phone, he did and started recording the moment. Bella swung and made contact... considering the size of her target; it would have been hard to miss. But it did punch a decent-sized hole in the wood. I cheered and clapped for her, then went to help her yank the hammer free from the structure. "See! you totally got this!" I laughed. "But that was purely symbolic... now we take the rest of it apart panel by panel." I was smiling brightly but as the heavy hammer thunked to the ground next to my feet and I looked up to see her eyes so close to mine I realised...
Maybe I was too close, close enough that her chocolate brown eyes were level with mine and made my mouth go dry. I cleared my throat and stepped back. "Ready to play with some power tools?" I tried to cover my awkward shift.
※ Bella ※
The vibrations rushed up my arms into my shoulders and body. If I had made the hit any harder, I was certain that the shed would remain in place, and I would have been the one to go toppling over. The clapping and the cheering from the three boys had my cheeks rush with heat and colour.
“It wasn’t that good of a hit.” I told them, as I decided reading books and writing were going to remain my top-level past times if I survived these tasks.
When I glanced over to Jake, he was right there beside me, making sure like a good friend that I didn’t hurt myself, and #Embry stood close by too. However, something in Jakes brown eyes seemed to be off, like something was wrong?
‘I’m going to send this video to the station, it’s got to get a few hundred for the comedy aspects if nothing else.’ #Quil was re-watching whatever he had managed to film.
“Don’t you dare.” Both #Embry and I said at the same time. And then #Embry added.
‘You didn’t get my good side.’ Following up with a flexing of his biceps. Biting on my bottom lip I turned my eyes away, something felt wrong with watching #Embry while he did that. And that was when I saw Jake shift and move away.
‘Jake, maybe power tools are a step too far, I mean I’m up for making the videos, but don’t we like Bella and want her to live?’ #Quil was joking again, his big brown eyes twinkling with mischief.
I took a step back away from the three boys’. “You know what, I am happy to start filling the truck.”
But #Embry took a hold of my arm gently and smiled. ‘Jake has this in control, none of us are going to let you hurt. Give it a go, it’s a rush.’
That word Rush had my undivided attention. As I let the words sink in to my psyche, the intelligent side of me told me to run. And there was another side that had started to flicker to life more often.
“Okay… fine.” I slowly freed my arm from his hold. It still didn’t feel right to be touched by anyone, not after everything…
Then I felt this vibration of energy wanting to heave me away from the danger.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed. "Hey, it's not the hit that matters. You celebrate... It's the end of one age and the beginning of the next. This shed did its job for years and years. So, we show gratitude." I leaned in a little not getting too close this time and whispered. "Plus, it was a pretty good hit."
Damn!! Did that mean the #Quil had gotten the awkward moment with Bella and I on video too? Of course, #Embry used it as an excuse to flex... I really needed to start eating more of #MommaT's cooking.
Wait... I watched Bella pull her eyes away, was she... did I... just catch Bella checking out #EmbryCall?
No... I had to be wrong.
I turned my attention to #Quil and my brows pinched together. "We aren't in a rush... we have time to show her... I mean we had no idea the first time either, right?" I knew that #Quil was just being protective... but I guess his idea of protection and mine had always been different. Even with Dad... instead of doing things for him, I tried to make it so he could do it for himself. Keeping the house, a certain way, making sure he could reach and use what he needed from his chair and so on. I guess it was the same with Bella... When things got hard having a project helped me... so hopefully this one would help Bella.
#Embry was right there again... but Bella eased out of his hold on her arm. Maybe I had imagined things earlier. #Embry seemed to get the message taking a step back… maybe too fast because he staggered over his own feet a little but caught himself.
"We can start with the electric screwdriver and work our way up... you won't get hurt, I promise. At least... not by the tools." I smiled. I grabbed one of the toolboxes and motioned for her to follow me into the shed. "Why don't you guys work on the windows and try not to smash the glass?"
I talked her through how to back out a screw and take down the internal shelving. It was all a little mismatched and clearly added to over the years... not unlike our barn at all. I removed a few to show her how it was done. "See..." I let a screw drop into my palm. "Easy peasy... We take down the shelf first and then the bracket." I handed her the screwdriver. "Ready to give it a try?"
※ Bella ※
“You are always too nice to me Jacob Black.” It wasn’t a lie, and I knew that I could have been worthier of his friendship. And I planned on making up for lost time now until I left for college.
Every now and then the boys would pop their hands and heads in through the holes they had made, trying to distract us, while they were removing the glass from the walls and being careful not to let any of it break. I wasn’t sure what they planned on doing with it, but I knew they knew what they were doing.
“Easy peasy….” I repeated Jakes words with less than the same amount of excitement he shared. Asking myself just how hard could it be? It’s a screwdriver… ( Even if Electric was the key word. ) Then there was the voice telling me, ‘It’s also pointy and could take someone’s eye out’. Those thoughts didn’t help matters. “Easy when you know what you are doing.” However, like #Embry said… They were going to be looking out for me.
I could hear the muttering coming from the outside of the shed with both myself and Jake inside, I kept turning for reassurance by watching him before I continued trying to do as he did.
“I got this. Right?” Not sure if it was him, I asked or if it was myself. I wasn’t going to wait and see. The tool in my hands felt weighty, however it was finding the screws that was the real challenge. #Charlie had been placing new shelves up as an when he needed them, so there was no organisation or uniformities in here.
“This could take the rest of the day the way I am going.” I huffed, sweeping a strand of hair out of the way from my face. The first one I kept missing, the next one the driver kept slipping until #Quil shouted helpfully to try a smaller head. The third one I tightened deeper into the wall, before I got a hang of what it was really, I should have been doing.
“Why is this kind of pleasurable task to complete?” I asked Jake as I removed the last of the shelves, handing it back to him, before starting on the brackets.
※ Jacob ※
I just laughed. "I'm nice to everybody," I replied without thinking. It was the truth, but would it have been so bad to let her think she wasn't just everyone? I really was an idiot and the sideways glance that #Quil gave me he thought the same thing.
I was glad to have the distraction of something to do with my hands while I showed her how to dismantle the shelves. "Of course, you do." I encouraged her before she attempted her first one. "See?" I beamed at her.
"I told you."
I moved to the other side of the shed and started on the shelves at the back of the small structure planning on working my way around to meet her. "It won't take all day." I gave her an encouraging smile. "It's your first time... once you get a feel for it you'll get a rhythm going and get a little faster each time."
'Yeah, Bells!!' #Embry popped his head through a now glassless and frameless window. 'We'll turn you into a pro in no time!' If I had had anything in my hands other than rusty old screws, I would have thrown one at him... as it was, an epic eye roll had to suffice. We both had to change the driver heads once or twice... I grumbled about this being a problem with Dad's not thinking ahead when they set these storage systems up... everything was mismatched.
I smiled broadly. Bella confirmed what I had thought earlier. Completing a tangible task like this was cathartic. There were a lot of tasks you could complete and have proof of... but something about manual labour that worked your body, and your mind was different. It worked out tension and anything pent up inside. "There's nothing like a hard day's labour to cleanse the soul." I grinned, and we carried the last on the shelves out of the shed.
'You sound like #Harry.' #Quils teased... but that wasn't a bad thing in anyone's opinion. We took in the shed. All three of us assessed the next step.
"Roof?" We all asked, in near-perfect unison and laughed at the absurdity and frequency of it.
'Gimme a boost. I'll do it." Embry walked over and proceeded to try and climb onto the roof using the empty window frame as handholds. #Quil and I lurched forward at once, shouting
“No!!!”
※ Bella ※
My shoulders were a little stiffer, my hands a little bit sore. My fingers bore a tautness, telling me they couldn’t hold a pen right now. However, Jake was right, it did feel good to have this part of the job done.
I made my way around the small empty shed collecting the last of the screws and nails we had dropped as we were working. Gathering then releasing them into the bucket we had set aside just for this. When I heard the boys shouting outside, I leaped up from my knees and darted out of the door of my old shed.
Grimacing, unsure what I would see. My brown eyes taking notes so fast that things were not registering with me until, I turned my attention to my side, catching why the other two boys were rushing towards the shed.
#Embry had attempted to climb up the side of the structure.
It all happened in slow motion. I saw #Embry set is foot down on the old window frame they had removed the glass from. Then as his hands reached to pull his body up, his foot went down into the fractured old, damaged wood.
“EMBRY!” I cried out his name at the same time as he came toppling down.
I turned my body out of the door, right underneath where he was climbing, my hands were reached out and up to stop him from falling back, but I should have known better.
#Quil’s voice was the one to reach my ears first. ‘Bella move!’ However, it was too late.
I saw #Embrys dark brown eyes, and in the moment, I didn’t realise it meant he was coming down on top of me. His lips parted and I just heard my name on them, asking me to move, but I was frozen in place still attempting to... well ‘save’ him?
I closed my eyes; I knew what was coming. I could feel the rush of air in my face, the firmness of his body knocking mine back towards the ground, a rush of energy, heat, and something else like an elastic recoil trying to push free, and not all at the same time. It took a hold of the two of us. I collapsed back into something that reminded me of a cloud of softness, stopping my body and head from banging into the ground. I could detect #Embry was with me, then I sensed a short burst of something pushing him off. ( It was a blink, and you would miss it kind of a feeling. ) But enough to push #Embry off. Making him roll onto his side like a cat landing from a first-floor window to the ground.
Winded I let my head fall back into the grassy earth, blinking up to the grey sky above. And then it hit me. A smell I couldn’t dismiss. It was on my breath, in my nose, and it was all I could think off. That metallic scent that coated the inside of my mouth without being here. Nervousness kicked in because I knew what was about to happen.
“Embry is hurt.” I just managed to say as the nauseousness made my stomach turn, my head span and everything went black for a few moments before I was back again.
※ Jacob ※
The wood under #Embry's foot fractured... it was so fast. In a blink of an eye, Bella was there, and it was too late, she was right under him the moment she stepped out of the door of the shed. I threw my arm out to block #Quil, though we had both rushed forward in the hopes of stopping #Embry from acting the fool. I knew if we get any closer it could potentially end up with all of us landing on Bella and probably #Embry too.
Before I could really register what had happened, I was on my knees next to Bella watching her turn even pale than I knew was possible. #Quil stooped next to #Embry who swore he was fine, and that his ankle just hurt a little.
"Bella?" I pinched my eyebrows together and slipped my hand under her, raising her up off the ground a little. Completely forgetting her reluctance to be touched in the rush of concern. I was instantly worried she'd hit her head when she seemed to... pass out? But not.
'Okay his ankle is bleeding... but the idiot will live.' #Quil was slapping #Embry's hand away as he pulled off his boot, showing where the splintered wood had cut his ankle when it cracked.
'Damn... is she okay. She looks like she's going to hurl.' #Embry wrinkled his nose and hissed as #Quil turned his foot to get a good look.
It hit then... a memory from when I was little. Bella fainted at the sight of blood. My sister #Rebecca was the same way. The last time it happened to #Becca was ironically when #Embry fell off another shed and broke his leg so bad the bone came through his skin.
"You sure you’re, okay?" I said over my shoulder to him; to which he replied that it was barely bleeding, and he just needed a band-aid. I mean it didn't look too bad, but it would need to be one hell of a band-aid. Bella seemed to be coming out of it but was clearly still woozy.
"Sorry about this Bells." I had one hand under her already, so I slipped the other under her knees and lifted her up... I knew she wasn't going to be happy about it. "Take him upstairs to clean that." I carried Bella to the back door of the house, pressing the handle down awkwardly with my elbow to get inside. I tried my best not to jostle her too much.
I set her on the couch and let go of her quickly. "Don't hate me for that... I just wanted to get you away from the blood as fast as I could." I dragged over a footstool so she could put her feet up.
"I'll go get you some water." As I went back into the kitchen #Embry was hobbling in the back door with one shoe off. "You, okay?" I asked... I still wanted to call him an idiot, but he was hurt so I would save that until tomorrow. Okay... the ride home maybe.
'I'm more worried about her... I'm pretty sure I landed on her... I mean... it didn't feel like it... but I had to.' He sounded confused and really guilty.
"She'll be okay." I didn't want to tell them what I thought it was, that was Bella's business. I filled the glass and told them where to find the bathroom.
Then I came back into the living room, pulling the door closed behind me. "Here you go." I handed her the glass and perched on the edge of the coffee table across from the couch. "Are you okay? That was one hell of a slam you got."
※ Bella ※
Head ringing, eyes closed, the noise coming from the boys and their talking had felt muffled, to the point that they all sounded the same as time went on ( Or was time standing still? ). Inaudibly I tried to tell them I was fine, that I needed to lay here on the cool ground for a few moments longer. However, the conversation only took place in my mind.
The pulsing of something I couldn’t place my finger on, slowed, calmed, and then dissipated. Leaving me a little flabbergasted and breathless, and enervated. This is when I heard the voice again.
‘Sorry about this Bells.’ Who was sorry? Was that Jake? Why did the voice sound like another I knew, however hadn’t heard in a while? I wasn’t sure if I was losing time, or if time was losing me?
The proof of it being that as I felt myself drift off with the copper like scent coming closer. These strong arms overwhelmed me to the point that I was attempting to push away unsuccessfully. The night when my life was turned upside down came tumbling all around me.
The sound of #SamUley’s voice vibrating in my chest as he told #Charlie and #Harry that I was going to be okay. ‘She’s just a little cold.’ The tears I had been holding in had come out like a waterfall when I heard #Charlies voice telling me that I was safe, that it would all be okay. However, he didn’t know. He didn’t know if it would be okay.
I opened my eyes on the same couch I had been placed on that night. And with the trauma coming in to focus for some reason now, I tried to hurtle myself up and off the couch. The room spun and my legs went off like jelly, making my body claps back down.
‘I’ll get you some water.’ This time there was no mistaking the voice. Jacob… Jake had been the one to carry me in here? I closed my eyes, my head dwindling into the back of the couch as I covered my face in the crook of my elbow. I was mortified. Once again, I had been a burden on my friends.
There were awkward sounds coming from the other side of the door. The living room was never closed off, so I knew for it to be done I must look a right state. I couldn’t move my hand when I felt Jacob come to sit close.
“Yeah, I am fine.” I finally found my voice and will to speak. “Is Embry, okay? Does he need to go to hospital?” I could swear the scent of the blood had felt all consuming. It must have been bad.
Moving my hand from over my face. I still felt the world spinning all around me. “I’m so sorry Jacob, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m sorry Embry is hurt because of me.” I couldn’t stop feeling devastated knowing that someone was harmed while helping me.
I arms were still trembling as I took the water, and my feet now on the foot stool still felt out of place.
"Don't look at me like that please. Embry is the one we need to be worried about." I turned my head toward the closed door and regretted the movement instantaneously.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed softly. Of course, her first clear-headed thought was about somebody else. "He's going to be fine. He might limp for a day or two. But he's survived worse." Her eyes glazed over a little and I eased off the edge of the table and sat next to her, careful not to jostle the couch and her with it. "Okay, sit up a little and take a drink." I took a cushion from the other end, propping it behind her to straighten her up a little more. "You have nothing to be sorry for.
If anything, I should be apologising to you for not warning you about #Embry's..." Was stupidity too harsh considering he was hurt? "Impulsiveness... and his history with sheds." I laughed. Hoping she would too, then remembered that there was no way she could get the joke.
"He is in good hands. #Quil may goof around a lot but he's actually the most responsible of us all." I wasn't sure if that was entirely true... but he was certainly the cleverest and most rational. "If #Embry needs a hospital #Quil will drag him there if he has to."
She was taking this hard... maybe harder than I could make better. There was no way she could realise that this was a regular occurrence... All three of us had our brushes with stupid accidents. #Embry more than most and maybe the most serious consequences because of his utter lack of self-preservation instincts and fear, he didn't stop to think. "He doesn't think things through. Believe me when I tell you... this is just another Saturday in the life of Embry Call."
'My ears are burning.' I heard through the living room door, then they walked in. #Embry with one shoe off and a bandage on one foot and ankle that would make #SueClearwater proud. I looked for traces of blood. There was nothing on the bandage, but he still had the shoe in his hand. I stood up still careful not to make the couch bounce.
I took the shoe and whispered before he could make it past the door. "You'll make her sick again. I'll leave this on the porch for now." The front door was only a few strides away, then stepped out onto the front porch. Curiosity hit me at Bella's words... she had thought he'd been hurt bad enough to need a trip to the hospital. I tugged the opening of his shoe open wider. tilting it to the light. "What the..." I trailed off.
Almost the entire inside of the well-worn white trainer was stained red. it wasn't like something from a movie with blood pouring out of it or anything. The lining had been soaked through but, #Embry had been standing on the foot... limping, sure but still holding some weight on it. I set the shoe down and went back inside finding #Embry had usurped my place next to Bella.
※ Bella ※
He moved cushions around me, gave me water, he hovered above me and examined me as though I could break any minute now. However, wasn’t I already broken?
“Thank you.” I sipped on the water, letting myself sit back a little when Jacob told me that his friend would be okay. I didn’t fully believe him. “It’s not the point Jake, I don’t care if the three of you dangle from the trees off the side of the cliffs. This was on my watch. I’m the oldest here…”
I bit down on my lip thinking about my dad. “Charlie will be disappointed that I didn’t protect the three of you better. He doesn’t even know that we are doing this.” I pointed sheepishly towards the back window. “It would upset him to know that Embry is hurt because of it.”
My father wasn’t a man of gifts. When he did buy… I cut that thought off, because the last gift he gave me was one he bought with my mom, and I hadn’t picked that camara up in over a year now.
The sound of voices came close from behind me, but I didn’t turn to look. “I hope you are right. I am sure I can climb into the beast if I need to take him in.” However, some part of me was so thankful that #Quil would be able to help. Sitting in the tight space of the cab of my truck could make me faint like a fool again. So, for now I had to take Jacob’s word for it, at least until I could see #Embry for myself.
Jacob jostled the couch, making the queasiness return. #Quil was around the couch holding on to the water in my hand. ‘Easy there, Bells, you going to be alright there?’ I gave him a half-hearted smile.
“I’m so sorry Quil.” I told him the same as I had Jacob, and in return he had repeated his friends sentiments.
‘Don’t worry about me Bella, see. Nothing will keep me down.’ #Embry jumped into the spot on the couch beside me.
“I’m—” He cut me off with half a hug, his arm over the back of the couch.
‘Don’t say you are sorry. You’ve said it like five times since we came inside.’ I pulled my brows together.
“How would you know? You weren’t in here with me.” I poked his side, making some room between the two of us, with #Quill sitting on the edge of the coffee table.
‘The walls are thin in this place.’ He told me.
‘I didn’t hear her.’ #Quil jumped to my defence.
‘You never hear what your mom shouts right next to you.’ Embry poked him with is injured foot.
“That looks like it need to be seen.” I told them as I heard the front door closing.
‘It looks worst than it is. The bandage should do the trick.’ #Quil told me looking up and over my head, I assumed towards Jacob.
“Maybe it’s a good time to order in some pizza I asked? “The menu’s are in the kitchen on the pinboard by the phone.”
※ Jacob ※
I shook my head; I could have laughed... but she was one hundred percent serious. "Bella... we aren't kids. You don't need to be responsible for everyone all the time. It will age you ten years. #Charlie has witnessed or heard about his fair share of our shenanigans. He'll be glad he wasn't trespassing or that none of us didn't fall through his roof."
I was still trying to figure out how he had bled so much and was able to stand on that leg, the cut had to be deep. But there he was the moment I came back inside; his arm was around her shoulder. The guy had no idea how to read a room! My head tilted at the conversation, and I couldn't help but glance up the stairs before stepping back into the living room. I suppose it wasn't impossible for him to have heard if they left the bathroom door open.
"I'll get them," I said and walked past the back of the couch. Crouching over it against the back of it next to Embry. "Does that hurt?" I asked, knowing that if I asked him if he was okay again, he would give me a dead arm.
'Barely.' He shrugged. 'I mostly feel for landing on Bella...' He turned to her. 'I'm really sorry Bell's. Most people know better than to try and catch me at this stage.' he chuckled and shook her a little with the arm of her shoulder. I cringed internally.
"Dude... easy. She’s not feeling well." I messed up his hair.
'Hey! not the hair!' He laughed and I headed to the kitchen to grab the menus.
Then, I unpinned the stacked and my eyes caught on the corner of a photo. I lifted a notice for a charity event that was at least a year out of date and under it was a young, so young that she was missing two front teeth and still smile big Bella. Judging by how sunny it was I was guessing her mother took this in Phoenix. My curiosity piqued and I scanned the board, there were more... a few that looked like school portraits and one of her and the twins that made my heart twinge for my sisters.
I cleared my throat and headed back to the living room. "Alright, guys... what are you all in the mood for?" I asked and listed off the take-out places as I flipped through them one at a time.
※ Bella ※
“Ouch! Don’t make age jokes.” Muttering to Jacob, “Not when you are still a baby.”
‘We are not babies Bells.’ #Embry piped up to defend his friend and himself.
‘That’s so wrong. We are young adults.’ #Quil added.
‘Not sure your mom would agree with us.’ #Embry reached over me to punch his friend. And I ducked out of the way to the far side of the couch. It wasn’t so big that I could get completely out of the way. But something was better than nothing, right?
Watching the interaction between these was a whole lot of entertainment in itself. The way the spoke to each other, the way they joked, laughed, and looked after the others. I was something I had read about in my books, but never had myself. The closes I came to something this good, was with Al…. I shopped that thought.
Angela… She was a kind soul, someone who had stood by me even in my ‘zoop’ phase as #Leah had called it. But even what I had with her wasn’t this.
#Embry and #Quil were joking back and forth. ‘We need to get back out there soon.’ #Quil had been saying when Jacob came back in.
“I think you guys need something to eat and call it a night. I can clean up a little and maybe do some more another day. #Charlie is going to work out something is up the moment he is home.”
We all turned to glance back at Jake. ‘Pizza.’ One side and the other agreed too.
“I’m good with Pizza too.” I told him with a half-smile. Something had diminished in his eyes. I was uncertain what it was.
‘Here let’s take a look at the menus, there are more options here then in La push.’ #Quil stood to reach for the papers in Jacobs hands. While I watched him.
※ Jacob ※
I shook my head... she was seriously obsessed with age. I watched them rough house across her. None of us was raised to think of girls as the weaker sex... but she had just taken a major spill. And manners were a thing too.
"C'mon guys! You told her we aren't babies... let's try to prove it shall we." I gave them both a look. I held out the menus to #Quil and #Embry grabbed them before he could reach for them.
'The Lady said pizza, so pizza it is.' #Embry started flipping through the stack.
'Pretty sure we all said pizza... but sure.' Sarcasm dripped off every syllable of #Quil's words and I gave him an agreeable smirk.
'Whoa! Three pizza places?' Embry scoffed... exaggerated. 'Townies have it good! Which one is your favourite Bella? I've ever had the slices from the diner.'
"Home Slice is the best if you ask me... but Pacific deliver. I don't mind running out to pick it up. It's not far." I said, the guys looking at me like I was a stranger to them. "What?" I shrugged. "Dad and I ate here a lot with #Charlie."
'And you never brought us back a slice?' #Quil looked horrified! and I laughed.
"Hell no!! It was way too good to share... there was never any left to bring back." I said unashamedly rubbing their faces in it.
※ Bella ※
My eyes stayed on Jacob for the longest time as he spoke. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And I was sure it had everything to do with the spinning head thing that I had been going though. However I wasn’t so slow that I didn’t see the look both #Embry and #Quil exchanged. Some sort of warning sign and alarm began to ring internally and I darted out the way just in time.
Both the boys went jumping up and over the couch, theirs arms out stretched to the point that they crossed over. The biceps hit Jacob’s chest and they both took him down flat on his back.
“Guys!” I covered my mouth and closed my eyes, to stop the wave of fear of hearing all three heads crack on the floor. But as laughter erupted, I slowly allowed myself to open one eye. Climbing onto the couch with my knees on it, and my arms over the back. My eyes couldn’t believe the sight before me.
“Do you have a death wish? What if you both hurt him or yourselves? Jeez.” My heart was going a mile a minute, I could feel it trying to except that they were all still alive. By some miracle.
‘Nah. We’ve been clothes lining one another since we’re were five..’ #Embry was the first to sit up and face me.
‘We know how to wrestle like the pros Bella. And he deserved that. He knows better than to keep food from us.’ #Quil rubbed his shoulders a little. Frowning. ‘And Pizza is on him for this too.’ He added. I shook my head, still in a little shock. Resting my forehead of the back of the couch.
“I told you, pizza is on me. And I can go pick it up. I don’t mind the fresh air.”
And out of the danger zone for a hour.
※ Jacob ※
"Oh hell!!" I saw it in their eyes before they even moved. "Guys wai--" And then I was flat on my back trying to push both the fools off me. #Embry held me down like he meant business, but he was laughing and smiling like we always did when we wrestled and joked around.
I finally sat up when they let me. "Seriously!?" I huffed at them, trying to sound annoyed but I was smirking. I looked up at Bella leaning over the couch. "Do you see what I have to deal with every day?" I laughed.
I was starting to think it was a bad idea to have these guys around her, she was still easing herself back into the social thing... and these guys were a lot for anyone to deal with.
"You shouldn't go on your own if you still feel dizzy. I'll go with you. If you want me to." I looked at the other two idiots. "And if you trust these two fools alone in your house.
'Or I could go with her and you and can babysit Call?' #Quil interjected which started a back and forward between the two about who really needed a babysitter.
I slipped away from between them both on the floor and moved around the cough. "This could on for an hour. Wanna escape now? I know their orders."
※ Bella ※
“I’ll be fine, it will do me some good.” I told him, needed out of the house while my head came around.
“They are your friends, you kinda have to deal with it.” What I wouldn’t give some days to have this, but then again, I liked my alone time. It gave me what I needed to think, to read, and to remove the mask I showed the world.
Slowly, really slowly I pulled myself up off the couch and started to make my way around it and as far away from the three boys tumbling around on my living room floor. I had a feeling, that if I remained where I was… And before that thought was finished #Embry and #Quill started to pull one another into head locks.
“Ja… Jake! Make some noise.” I had been trying to sneak out without pulling their attention. Not that it would have been heard over the madness that the other two had brought down. “You read my mind.” I told him. Jacob was stood right there before me. So, pinching the sleeve of his shirt, I tugged him towards the door. Only stopping when the guys moved across and then back again.
My chocolate brown eyes moved over the length of #EmbyCall’s body. Not because I was checking him out, but more the fact that someone who had so much blood loss was moving about so easily, and had no issues playing around? “Maybe I’ve become overly sensitive?” I wondered to myself as I reached for my jacket from the hook, and wallet from the small table beside the door.
“If the place is ripped down, they will have to answer to Charlie.” I told Jacob as I opened the door and stepped outside. The cold fresh air blowing my hair out of my face. I closed my eyes and thanked the wind gods for the relief this gave my senses.
“Crap.” Before I forgot, I reached back inside to the bowl sat on the side table for the keys to my beast. “Got them.” Throwing the keys in the air, I missed catching them and had to bend down to pick them up. The scent of blood hit me when I saw #Embry’s shoes beside the front door.
“Wow.” Standing up slowly, I felt light headed again.
※ Jacob ※
"I'm sure you will." I told her with a smile. "I just want to look out for the truck. In case you start to feel poorly again. Can't have you scratching that bad boy." I laughed. we both knew that the paint job was beyond saving already.
I shrugged at her next comment giving an apologetic smile when startled her. "True... but sometimes I need a little sane company... to stop me losing my mind like them."
I smiled a little too wide when she tugged me out towards the day. The other two had devolved into a verbal back and forth to was barely English anymore. All three of us were closer than brothers but there was a bond between the two of them that defied even that. It never bugged me... Neither of them grew up with siblings at home so they found a little of that bond together, it was a good thing for both of them.
"They'll be okay." I chuckled... "They're idiots but they are respectful idiots."
I reached out for her when she leaned down to examine the shoe on the porch but kept my hand a distance, so she could take it if she wanted to, or not. "Whoa, whoa... don't make yourself sick again." Her colour had drained when she stood. "You, okay?"
※ Bella ※
“Okay?” It was a question rather than an answer to his question. I could feel that he stood close by, however I lost myself in trying to stay upright and not allow myself to buckle under the sensations flooding me.
“Fine. It. I. I’m fine.” All the conversations form before we’re forgotten as I set my shaky hand on the wall and then slowly backed away from the trainers at my doorstep.
“I shouldn’t be this sensitive towards the smell of blood. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I told him when I turned to find his eyes on me. Embracement taking a strong hold of me now that I had place some distance before the offending object and myself.
“Hey. Jake! This fast!” I throw the keys in the air for him to catch. “Maybe it’s not the best idea for me to drive right now. I’ll add brownies to the Order if you don’t mind driving us down there?” My hands touched together like a small plead for him to do me this favour.
I tried to smile, tried to push that mask into play. But the rawness of this sickening feeling had make it impossible at this exact time. “I’ll even owe you… a favour…? Please?“ My mind wasn’t working completely.
Some part of me thought I needed to give him for, him to do something for me. Otherwise I would once again be some hopeless girl who need saving. And there. That feeling! I didn’t want to live ever again!
※ Jacob ※
I raised a brow at her while she tried to make up her mind about how she felt. I laughed when she apologised. "You didn't... worried. Of course, but I've seen this before and trust me when I say I've seen way worse." I smiled, remembering Rebecca fainting when Embry had broken his leg... "Let's just say... 'Bry has that effect on a lot of women. And not in the way he would like you to believe." I caught the keys with ease. "Nice throw for someone that can hardly see straight." I laughed.
"I'll never turn down a brownie... but... You never need to bribe me to drive this beast." I grinned wide. "Man, I miss this truck!"
I had loved driving this thing, but we needed something newer just to make it easier on dad. Plus, once I had finished rebuilding the engine I was dying for a new project, and I knew Dad had a point when he told me I couldn't keep this and find myself a new fixer-upper in the salvage yard. It was an easy choice... I loved having something to work on. "Did you know I learned how to drive in this?" I beamed at her and pulled open her door.
"I'm not being all guyish..." I said with a goofy smile. "You're not feeling well... I'm just being polite." I raised a brow, chuffed that I got there before she could tell me she was perfectly well able. Plus, it was kind of a habit for me... I was so used to driving dad around and helping him in and out of the truck. I walked around to the driver's side to climb in.
※ Bella ※
“Wooha!” I really had to do a double take thing you only see in cartoons. “I cannot believe you actually so casually caught those keys.”
It was not a clean throw ( I couldn’t throw straight to save my life ), however the way he reached out. “You need to play ball. Any ball games. Anything where you can do that.”
I was rambling to take my mind of the nauseous still playing havoc with my stomach.
I stopped, however did not have the will power to act on the door opening thing he did.
“I’m sorry… excuse me Jacob Black, how do you know I am not a girl who likes her door opened?”
My voice and face cracked at the same time. I really was a bad actor. ( which is why I didn’t audition for school plays! )
I was in The Beast half smile when I saw #Embry doing some kind of a dance in our window, knowing we could see him.
“I mean, he has his moments. I am sure?” The last work turned the statement into a question.
I covered my face, waving from him to go away as Jake climbed in too. “I didn’t know you learnt to drive in the Beast. I’m still thankful to you dad and you for all your hard work on him. He still runs so well for me.”
Resting my head back I closed my eye feeling the truck pulling out of the drive and onto the road.
“What are you working on now? Billy mentioned you are trying to work off a new part?”
I was trying hard and failing as the memory of him flashed into my mind arriving at my prom to give me #Billy’s warning.
My hand slowly slipped up to my chest as that hole started to push its way open and I pushed down hard.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed and jangled the keys. "Like I said... it was a good throw." I grinned. I wasn't really sure if it was or not... I always had pretty good reflexes and I had been too busy watching for signs that she was about to keel over again.
"Oh, I tried... but all the coaches told me I was just so damn good that it wouldn't be fair to all the other average human boys out there and cut me." I boasted with a goofy smile. I rolled my eyes at her suggestion that she like having doors opened for her as I walked around to the driver's side. "Because I didn't meet you yesterday." I answered. "Don't worry, you can pay me back and open doors for me when you're feeling bet-- Oh jeez!" I cut off when I saw #Embry in the window.
I smiled at her question about what I was working on. That was a good sign, right? When girls asked you about the stuff you were interested in? I started the engine as #Embry was snatched from view... by #Quil I would imagine, as soon his dance moves turned from comical to... well... pelvic thrusts. "Oh, right now I'm rebuilding a Volkswagen Rabbit. But when this one is done it's gonna be my main set of wheels."
I back out onto the road and rolled down the window when I noticed Bella start to clutch at her chest. "A little fresh air is all you need Bells." I gave her a warm smile and set my gaze back on the road, heading into town. "You're gonna be just fine. Promise."
※ Bella ※
“The coaches did what?” The hole in my chest prevalent, however the thought of someone telling Jacob he couldn’t take part in sports. It jolted me out of my self-pity.
That was until I saw the smile and cheekiness on his features. “Jacob Black! One of these days I Will believe you, and go to war, and make a fool of myself.”
Uncertain why out of nowhere had this protection over him come to land? I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him. “Sure, sure. You may know me. However…” I laughed at how long it took for him to find out what his friend had been doing.
When we were on our way, the cold air from the rolled down window had been a welcome reprieve. It had some how make things In my chest calm.
“A Volkswagen Rabbit? Not sure I’ve seen one of those. Is it a truck too?” I asked training my eyes on the tree foliage as we drove past.
My mind wondering about his size. Seeing that the kid had such a growth spurt over the months, I could only imagine where he would end up in his height and build.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed hard and shook my head. "Hey if you really want t go to bat for me, you can have words with my English teacher... She's a hard ass" I laughed. I was a good student but literature just wasn't really my thing... and poetry... I mean, what was I ever gonna use that for? I knew I needed to put in a little more effort but I really wasn't interested, so it was hard to motivate myself.
"It's a very old truck. My Uncle Kevin had it lying around, so he said if I can babysit and help out Aunt Connie I could have and fix it up. It's a work in progress... but I only need a few more parts to get it road worthy."
I drove threw town and pulled in along the curb outside the pizza place. "Are you feeling any better? A little fresh air, peace and quiet... and a lot less crazy. It is good for the soul." I laughed and pulled the keys from the ignition.
※ Bella ※
Moments such as these were the ones to remind me why I seemed to enjoy Jacob’s company.
He maybe younger, however sometimes his ability to change your mood and take your mind off into a new direction. The thing that makes it ever so endearing, had to be the fact I didn’t believe it was planned by him.
“English? That has to be the best subject in school, the only one I look so forward to. I’m sure you are exaggerating, all English teachers are always so nice and full of the best quotes.”
When the truck stopped, I half smiled looking out at the full day. And yet it still felt light somehow.
“Working hard for what you want? That’s very grown up of you.” Opening the door, a little. “Whenever you are done with your new ride, I’m sure you will be that much prouder of it.”
I didn’t push the door completely open at first, testing the air, my breathing and more so my legs where I sat. His laughter was contagious again, making me join in.
“I am feeling a little better. I need to get a handle on myself. Poor Embry is the one hurt, and I am the one running away from him.”
Now I pushed the door wider before jumping down from the beast. The wet road did not take me down this time and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Do you think we should have called ahead with the order?” The thought occurred a little too late now. Closing the door, I make myself to the curb and then towards the store front.
“Come on, let’s get some food in before Embry decides to take another running late from somewhere.”
※ Jacob ※
There was a strange sense of pride that I was able to amuse Bella and make her smile... after everything she'd been through I knew that sometimes, moments like these could make all the difference. Even if they were fleeting. And even better... I was to do it by being completely myself.
"You did always have a thing for books." I smiled. "And it's not that I don't like books or anything... but Lord of the Rings isn't exactly on the syllabus." I laughed. "And it's not I prefer practical stuff, I'm great at history... decent at math and everything. It's just that the material in English isn't my thing."
I smiled. "Exactly! See the girls at school don't get that." I climbed out of the truck and watch her carefully as so did the same. "But it's not all that hard really... They always tell me they make me babysit the kids and stuff. But, they never really go anywhere, my cousin is always sick and Aunt Connie is overprotective."
I shook my head and locked the truck, spinning the keys on my finger. "Stop worrying about him." I laughed. "#Embry hurts himself on a daily basis... we're probably lucky it was while we were all here and he didn't get into a fight instead." I nodded to the door of the pizza place that was propped open, heat from the ovens wafting out. I heaved a dramatic sigh. "And I was about to tell you it was your turn to open a door for me!"
※ Bella ※
I shrugged my shoulders, “Sometimes the world in books helps to relieve you from the Reality we live. Words written by people you know of, and yet have never met could make the difference in someone’s life.”
There was a truth so deep, however I hoped I skated it, and didn’t allow him to see the depths of how I hid in the books I read all my life.
“I can see how you are more hands on. Some of us are made for books, and others are made to use their skills and intelligence to survive.”
Stopping I frowned a little. “Aunt Connie? I don’t believe I know her. Is your cousin going to be okay?”
I held my hands up in defence. “I will stop thinking of the walking, talking hazard who is trying to steal my crown.” Laughing I chewed on my lower lip. This laughing thing, and smiling thing is something new around Jake and his boys, they had this energy about them that was contagious.
“Would you prefer me to close the door, and then maybe opening it again for you? I wouldn’t wish for your hopes to be dashed at all. Not after all you are doing for me.” There may have been a touch of sarcasm, however it wasn’t with malice. More a dark humour I had found in myself.
There were a few customers stood before us waiting to order, I reached the counters and picked up a menu opening it for the two of us to see. “What do you and the guys like eating on your pizza?” My dark brown eyes looked around before settling on Jake stood beside me.
※ Jacob ※
I walked with her, taking in each word. "I know... it's not that I don't like reading. I don't hki read a lot or anything either... but just the trading list for school isn't exactly my genre."
I flushed a little... did Bella Swan, of all people... call me... Jacob Black,... intelligent? The cleverest and most articulate person I had ever met? I must have misheard her.
"My Dad's sister, she's one of the twins. And he will be fine... that boy has Guardian Spirit's... he's a sick kid but... he'll be fine." I had always tried to help him be normal... but my aunt was overprotective. I got why... but I always just knew he was going to be okay, I didn't know why... but I was always certain that he would pull through stronger every time.
"Oh, walking-talking-hazard is SOOO going to be his new nickname!" I grinned, I had made her laugh again. I tilted my head like I was thinking about her offer, furrowing my brow in concentration. "That sounds great... But I wouldn't want to come across as a diva. So I guess you'll just have to owe me one." I flashed her a bright smile.
"We'll need to get #Embry his own unless we want to lose fingers trying to make him share." I chuckled, he had been eating like crazy lately. "He likes sausage, extra pepperoni and All-the-cheese…" I air quoted the last part, #Bry's exact words. "#Quil's favourite is chicken and mushroom... And I'll have what you're having. I like it all and I suck at deciding... we could be here for hours."
※ Bella ※
Nodding my head, I actually understood what he meant. “See, that’s where you are missing a trick. Find something you like to read about.” I thought for a moment.
“Cars… You like cars right? Making them, building them? Driving them?” I asked setting my eyes on him, not really waiting for a reply because anything who knew Jacob Black, knew this of him.
“That’s where you should start. Go to the library, the book store, browse the shelves, read a chapter, until you find something you want to read.”
I straightened my shoulders a little, that really had been some good advice to give a kid who didn’t like reading, right?
Tugging on the cuffs of my coat I listened trying to place this aunty. “I may have met her once, at Harry’s and Sue’s?“ there were a few times when #Charlie had dragged me out in my ‘Zoop’ days as #Leah called them. My walking, talking zombie days….
“I’m sorry, to hear he is sick.” I nudged him with my shoulder. “I’m sure your aunty knows that you are only trying to be there for the youngster.” I half smiled. Liking the sound of having a Guardian spirit to look over him.
I rolled my eyes at him unexpectedly. “Jacob! Stop that. You cannot name one of your best friends a ‘Walking-Talking-Hazard’! Even if the boy had proven himself to be one so far. “Also it’s a little too late Master, Black. Your are known in town as a diva queen. All the boys are saying it.”
Running my eyes with the back of my hand. He was making me take my mind off all that had been happening to me of late.
The teen behind the register went to my school, the pizza place belonged to his dad and mom. ‘Hey Bella, what can I get you?’
He smiled looking between Jacob and me. I placed the orders for the two boys at home first. And then an order for two Pepperoni pizzas, one deep and the other thin. Once I paid. I turned to Jacob.
“You may regret going for my choice, Charlie and I tend to like our pizza simple with just pepperoni on it. We do drift between thin and deep pan.” I added shifting a little. Now it was a waiting game.
※ Jacob ※
I nodded, tilting my head in thought. "You know what..." I smiled. "That actually makes sense... I never really thought about doing anything like that before."
I nodded, "You probably did, they are all quite close." I shook my head and laughed at the change of subject. My cousin wasn't fond of being the centre of attention, whether he was there to see it or not. "Oh c'mon!! It suits him so well!! Especially lately... he's been so clumsy the last few weeks."
I narrowed my eyes at her... "Master Black?" I laughed. "I guess that's better than Cheif... I think."
She ordered the pizza and as I stood there surrounded by all the scents of cooking food I suddenly realised I was starving. "That sounds great." I wondered how many fingers #Embry would break if I stole a slice. Then I turned to the guy at the counter. "Could we get some garlic bread with that too?"
※ Bella ※
“Actually… could you make that two garlic breads, and two portions of your hot wings too?” The kid smiles nodding his head before I set the money down and he went off to update the order.
Turning to Jake I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ve a feeling the pizza’s won’t do the trick tonight.”
And then I went back to his comment. “Master is the title of young man, before he becomes a man. And then it is changed to Mister.” What exactly did he think I was speaking of.
“It is the same as a girl being Miss, until marriage, and then is changes depending of if she is married, divorced or widowed.” A little lesson in history, felt nice. I Chester over to the stalls and started to walk towards myself, glancing back ver my shoulder.
“What do you mean by that? Embry becoming clumsy in the last few weeks?” Sitting down, I combed my hair behind my ear. “I mean I understand I should stand up for him, you know. The clumsy’s United club and all.”
Without thinking, my fingers slipped under the cuff of my coat, and I caressed the Crescent Moon shaped scar. It had been a lie, however when my father saw it, it remained him of just how clumsy his daughter could be.
※ Jacob ※
I smiled at her "You'll have to let me pay you back somehow... next time the truck needs work you know who to call, right?"
I tilted my head at her explanation. "Wow... you really do read a lot." I was half teasing and half impressed. Shrugging when she asked about #Embry... there had been a lot about him that was changing lately, he was angry a lot, which was out of character for him, and we (#Quil and I) had had to stop him from starting fights in school twice in the last few weeks. But I wasn't going to worry Bella with that, he wouldn't ever hurt someone... Not on purpose at least; given that he had just fallen on top of Bella.
"His Mom says that he needs to grow into his limbs.” I chuckled.
"He's grown like four inches in the last month." Of course, that was an exaggeration, it was impossible. It was just that these went unnoticed when you saw someone every single day. Then you suddenly realised they'd gotten taller. Right?
I followed Bella and slid into a seat too. "And don't tell him I said... He's like a brother to me. But he kinda turns into an idiot when he's trying to impress a girl." I gave her a look that I hoped she'd read as a Yes, you’re that girl. She'd seemed completely obliviously to the flirting from him and #Quil today.
I glanced at her hands... that was the second time she'd tugged on her sleeves. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and asked quietly. "Is that from your accident?" I knew there was a scar there, #Charlie had mentioned it though I had never gotten more than a glimpse of it.
※ Bella ※
I stiffen a little and felt my cheeks reddening with the heat creeping up on them. Maybe I had let out a little too much of my inner geek? Then again, this is me, and I wasn’t going to hide myself to make others feel comfortable around me. Those days were gone.
“Jake…this is pay back for everything you are helping me with today. So, it’s counterintuitive to set a new payback.” Biting on my lower lip.
“However, you know if I need help with the beast. I am calling you first.”
I gave him a nod, and a small nudge of my elbow.
I listened to Jacob intently, not wanting to miss anything as he spoke. I could see that this was about growth when it came to Embry. The boy had been clearly going through a spurt, and how his mom had described it.
“I guess you will all be going through these changes soon enough. Growing pains and all.”
#Renee had tried having this talk with me, until I turned the tables on her. She soon saw the errors of her ways when I started quoting my biological reproductive system to her in their Latin terms.
“Your secret is safe with me.” I told him.
Looking confused at what he said and then that look he gave me. “I mean anyone can tell that… Embry would love to be a ladies man….” But again, why was Jacob giving me that look?
I stiffen at the next question. Tugging down on my sleeve to hide the scar away from him and anyone who would pay it too close attention. “Uhm… yeah—“
My words cut out when arms came around me from behind and I was lifted up off the stool and spun around mid-air. I let out a high-pitched squeal.
‘Hey Arizona! Why are you having pizza without me?’ #MikeNewton kept spinning me.
“MIKE! Put me down!” I exclaimed.
He laughed while #Ben and #Erik told him to let me be. He finally set me on the ground, and I had to hold on to him tightly with my head still spinning.
※ Jacob ※
I nodded and laughed. "Okay, okay you have a point. But this is the kind of thing we live for. Plus, I bet you ten dollars that Embry will try to use photos of this build as his assignment in wood shop." I laughed because honestly... they would probably accept it too. They liked it when used the skills from class in the real world.
"Sad thing is... if he dropped the act, girls would probably give him a chance." I had been so distracted watching Bella fidget with her sleeve again that I didn't even notice the townie guy coming up behind her until he lifted her clear out of her seat.
I stood up, not sure what was happening until Bella said his name. Then it made sense... he was her age... a guy from her school? An idiot from her school.
I stepped around the table and stood next to her after he put her down. I eyed him warily, my hand coming up to sable her by her elbow. That couldn't have helped her feel any better after her spell earlier.
"You, okay?" I asked her, not bothering to fill in any blanks for the guys.
※ Bella ※
‘She’s fine!’ #Mike places one arm around my shoulder, tugging my hair and making my chin jerk up.
“I am fine! I don’t need you to answer for me Mike.” I batted Mike away freeing myself from him and tugged my elbow away from Jacob too. Why did everyone always think it was okay to touch me? “Mike here can be a jackass, at times.” I frowned at the boy who tried to give me big puppy eyes.
‘Come on Arizona, I was just playing.’ He brought his face close to mine, and I jerked away. Placing my hand flat on his chest and pushing him back. ‘Anyway, are you going to introduce your friend to us?’ His eyes were looking past me to the boy stood behind me.
I sighed, chewing on my lips realising what I had done to Jacob. Giving him an apologetic glance. “Jacob, this is Mike, Erik, and Ben. And Guy’s this is my friend Jacob.” I told them.
‘Ah… I thought maybe you were babysitting.’ Mike said, then #Ben slapped him over his head.
‘Hey Jacob, don’t mind Mike, he is a prick at times, but he has a good heart ish.’ He reached out to shake Jakes hand before going to the counter to place an order.
‘Yeah, we still aren’t sure if he could live in the wild without us babysitting his ass.’ #Erik winked at Jake and again reached out his hand to shake it, before pulling #Mike away with him. ‘We will leave you guys to it. Have a good evening, Bella, see you in school.’
Rubbing my forehead, Still frowning after #Mike, I turned to face Jacob. “Jake, I’m sorry. Mike really isn’t a bad guy, just a little bit of a ….” I didn’t finish the sentence. “And…” I shifted on my feet. How did I explain it to him? How would I tell him that when someone steps up to catch me, I feel like I am drowning in my own worthlessness? Before I could, I heard my name being called to collect our order.
※ Jacob ※
I cringed again, watching this #Mike guy. He was careless... rough... Was I like that? The way Bella tugged her arm away suggested that maybe I was. Was it a guy thing? Hell! Was I one of those guys? I examine the three of the... were these what the guys and I acted like when we were out together?
I rolled my eyes at his babysitting joke. "Nope... I learned to tuck myself in a few months before I learned that grabbing a girl from behind was kind of a dick move." That is what I would have said if his other friend hadn't reached out to take my hand. The impulse to snap, thankfully, passed quickly.
"Hey if he needs some survival lessons, I'd be happy to show him a few secluded camping spots." I quirked a brow at Mike as I spoke to the other guy with him, who laughed. I shook his hand and smiled at him.
"Jerk?" I offered with a laugh. It was the most polite word I could think of that also wasn't a lie.
I waited while she collected the food and I took the stack of pizzas off the countertop, pausing to thank the guy behind it again before heading out with her.
"You don't need to apologise for other people Bells." I smiled. "Guys do stupid things when they're trying to impress a girl. Do you feel well enough to drive, or would you like me to?" I asked, stopping next to her truck.
※ Bella ※
‘See you at school Arizona.’ #Mike called out as I walked step in step with Jacob out of the store. I wished in that moment that I was one of those girls, who were crude with the confidence to flip people off over their head without feeling any guilt. However, I wasn’t that girl.
“I will see you are work first Mike.” We had a shift together tomorrow, and his laughter had me rolling my eyes. #Mike really was a nice guy, however at times he just knew how to push buttons that shouldn’t be touched.
“Stupid things.” Repeating the words. Didn’t I know it. “However, when your friends speak like that to another friend. It needs to be apologised for.” I told him.
Patting my pockets for the keys of the beast. Frowning when I couldn’t find them.
“Hmm? Sorry.” Replaying what Jacob had asked I shook my head. “Oh, Uhm. Thanks however I am think I can manage.” My mind had been so preoccupied that I’d forgotten that Jacob drove us here. Half smiling, I walked around to the driver side, pulling the heavy door open and climbing in. Once Jacob was inside, I turned to look at him.
“Jacob. I am truly sorry about Mike. He… well… I don’t want to make excuses for him, so I won’t. However, I will address this with him tomorrow. I promise.” Holding my hand out for the keys.
※ Jacob ※
I laughed softly when she corrected the guy... It was a petty kind of joy, but it was only for a second.
"Well, in that case, your apology is accepted." I smiled at her. It was hardly her fault, but when I thought about it; I understood the impulse. We climbed into the truck and I rummaged in my pocket for the keys and dropped them gently into her open palm.
I pressed my lips together and looked over at her... She was serious. "It's not the worst thing I've had said to me by a townie Bella... It's best to leave it be, the more attention you pay to these things the more you give them what they want." I started to pull on my seat belt.
"What he needs to hear about is grabbing you like that... he's lucky..." I stopped myself from saying that I didn’t punch him in the face, because I wasn't that guy. "You didn't tear him a new one for that. Are you okay? I mean I know he's your friend...ish. But still..."
※ Bella ※
The key in the ignition, I put the beast into gear and pulled out of the parking lot. Even over the roar of my truck, I could hear Jake asking me why I hadn’t dealt with #Mike’s behaviour. “It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I needed to address his behaviour towards you first. And I failed trying to be… well… friends….”
And it stung. What he said about that not being the worst thing said to him. My brows pulled into a small crease on my forehead. “I can’t pretend to know what you go through, what is said, how people act. However, If you ever want a ear. Someone who doesn’t want that to become a part of your life. Then I’m a phone call away. And I will get into this beast and come to you.”
The story #HarryClearwater shared with us on last Thanksgiving came to my mind, and my eyes pricked with stinging. “And… I’ll be fine Jake, #Mike…” how should I say that Mike hadn’t picked up on the tells that #Charlie and even Jake had. That I didn’t like being touched.
I changed the subject. “Do you think me house is still standing?” I gave him a sideways glance.
※ Jacob ※
I narrowed my eyes a little and thought about what she had just said. I failed trying to be… well... friends…. Did she really believe that? She had said a lot of things but that one stood out to me like a neon sign.
"You can't fail at being someone's friend, Bella. You can mess up, - which you haven't by the way - you can hurt your friends and everything like that. But you can't fail at caring about someone who cares about you." I gave her my brightest smile. "It's not possible. Believe me. I'm wise beyond my years." I gave a small hopeful chuckle and hoped against hope that it was true. The more time I spent with her the more I wonder if I should have tried harder to see her during her dark weeks... Was I wrong? Had I failed to be her friend?
My heart did a weird jittery thing when she said all I had was to call and she would come. "I know Bells... and the same goes for you."
I laughed again. "Unless your house isn’t standing then you might need to accept the charges and speak to me on the prison phone." The guys were idiots... but they were mostly respectful of others' property. So, I wasn't too worried. "There's a good chance your fridge is empty though."
※ Bella ※
I swallowed the lump building in my throat as I drove us back towards home. I had to keep my eyes on the road because this boy was really too good for his age.
My hands tightened to the point that I could see the whites of my knuckles where my hold on the wheel had gone beyond the need when holding it. He had managed to disarm me with those thoughtful and considerate words. “So wise Jacob Black, I’m going to add a year or two, towards your maturity levels this time.”
The stinging behind my eyes dissipated and I laughed a little softly. “Charlie will keep you out from becoming jailbait. I somehow cannot see him allowing you or the other to be carted off to prison. And… If he does, I have money for an okay ish lawyer to help bet the rap.” Pointing to the cheque book I hadn’t taken back into the house after going on my little shopping trip today.
No sooner that we had pulled up, then a roaring thunder came rumbling out of my house. Both the boys were running towards her shouting “FOOD!” making me smirks as the door flew open, and they had the boxes in their hands, and they were gone.
“Hurry Jake, on I have a feeling you will go without.” I jumped down out of the beast and followed up behind them. Giving Jake one last smiled before coming to a stop inside the door. “You guys set the table?” the small round dinner table in the kitchen had plates and napkins. Cans of soda and a jug of water with glasses on it. Before I could do or say anything else, the sound of #Charlies patrol car pulling up had me looking back out the open door.
‘Hey Bells, Jake. I didn’t know you were all getting together here.’ My father gave the two inside a nod of his head and gave me a kiss on the side of my head. ‘Where’s my invite to the party?’ He clapped Jake on his shoulder smiling from ear to ear.
※ Jacob ※
I noticed the tension in her hands, but I didn't say anything, I let her process her thoughts quietly. Because she was on her way back to a mad house, there would be no room to think about it there.
"I told you; age is just a number baby!" I teased with a low chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood and instantly regretting the Baby. But I tried my best to play it cool.
"The best kinda friends are the kind with bail money." I laughed, almost nudging her with my elbow but... She probably had enough of being touched after the douchebag.
"Animals!" I laughed, rolling my eyes at how they pounced on the food. When I saw how the table was set, I knew it was probably #Embry, he hid it well but anyone that paid attention knew he was a mama's boy, and #TiffanyCall was a force to be reckoned with at dinner time... But then my eyes dropped to his ankle. So maybe not. But had he been limping when he charged us for the food?
"Hey, Chief! We got plenty of food, why don't you join us?" I beamed at the hand on my shoulder, I had always looked up to #Charlie before I learned how to use a wrench, I always wanted to be a cop. But the reservation police were very different from what Charlie did. "Stop any bank robberies today?" I teased, crime in Forks was small stuff mostly, shoplifting, fender benders... and occasionally drugs just like the Rez; with the occasional missing tourist or idiot townie teen that left the trails in the woods. They always turned up.
'Always a hoot kid!' #Charlie tried to mess with my hair, but I dodged him.
"Oh!!! Too slow old man!!" I laughed and sat at the table, flipping open the pizza boxes. "C'mon Bella, before these two get their hands on any and every slice."
※ Bella ※
“I’m coming, just one sec.” I told Jake. Seeing him and #Charlie this way reminded me of how my father had known this boy since he was born. All three of them really. The way they were all looking at him, smiling and joking. I could tell they at least respected him.
I went to the fridge to take out a beer for my father, however noticed that he wasn’t taking a seat on the table. Frowning I sent him a questioning look as he grabbed a slice over #Embry’s shoulder and messed with his hair.
‘Oh. Man. Chief!’ But #Embry was laughing as he tried to huff.
“Dad?” I asked and he took a can of soda, saying no to the beer.
‘I’m not staying kiddo. I came to grab my heavy coat; I need to head into Port.’ He saw my frown deepening.
“Again? You were there only a few days ago?” I asked him, hugging myself with my arms, because this meant he would be late home.
“I know, but Mr and Mrs Biers brought in the things we needed, so I’m going to drive them up and check in on the progress of their case. And I also wanted to remind you of your promise. No night time walks in the woods behind the house… Please Bells.’ The look he still gave me in the moment made my heart drop.
I knew I could not and would not stop #Charlie from doing his job, not when it came to missing kids. Mr and Mrs Biers had been in to report their son missing. And Riley Biers was just a few months older than me, which made it even more important for dad.
“I told you I wouldn’t go out there again, and I won’t.” He kissed my temple and gave me a one-armed hug. But it was light, and he barely touched me.
‘That’s my girl.’ He walked off to the closet under the stairs. ‘And you three. Same goes for you. Have the elders told you all to stay out of the woods?’ His head disappeared in and them he came out with his big rain coat. While the slice of pizza hung from his mouth.
※ Jacob ※
I had heard about the Biers boy on the radio, and I had hung posters in the community centre and in the stores and schools on the Rez when he first went missing. "Can we do anything else to help Chief? I'm not sure if putting up any more flyers in the village will help..." The Rez wasn't exactly a tourist spot and his parent ahead already said he was a surfer and that was the only reason townies visited the Rez unless they watched the powwows or went to the markets.
'I don't think so kiddo... But I know who to go to if something comes up.' He winked at me.
When #Charlie mentioned the night Bella went missing. I chill ran through me. I had been terrified, kids from the Rez and Town had both disappeared into those woods and not all of them were found, the ones that were lucky to survive.
I nodded to Charlie. "Dad already made us go to the little kids' classes and talk about all of that and the Rez police came to the high school classes." I told him.
'Yeah, being best friends with the Chiefs kids is kind of a time suck... we get roped into all the civic duty stuff and we can't even use it to get into college.' #Embry griped.
'Speak for yourself, I'm putting all of it on my college applications.' #Quil laughed.
I stopped for a second and watched Bella as she watched her Dad. "He'll be back before you know Bells." I said, hoping not to alert the other two to how clearly worried she was.
※ Bella ※
#Charlie said his good bye, taking another side of pizza with a kiss to my head before he was out the door once again. Out of the kitchen window I kept my eyes on him until his cruiser disappeared. And them my eyes were on the woods. A flash of something came and went so fast, that I was certainly sure I had imagined it.
“I know Jake,” I gave him a small smile before taking a seat beside him on the table. “Thanks.” Nudging him with my elbow before I rejoiced the conversation.
‘Man, I thought the chief would find us out there for a moment.’ #Embry said leaning back so to look out the side door. ‘How didn’t he see what we have been doing in the back?’
“He doesn’t take notice at home as much as he would on the job.” I say biting into a slice. “And he doesn’t really look out back unless he is going to fish.” I added.
‘Do you think…’ #Quil stopped and stook his head.
“Think what Quil?” I ask seeing that there was something.
‘I don’t know.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘I mean. Do you think your dad would write me a recommendation for college?” My eyes widened at the request.
“Quil, I am sure he will. All you have to do is ask.” Feeling a warmth in the thought that he would want #Charlie to write something up for him. “But, I warn you. He may make you do some hours at the station first. He did that to a few of the guys from school who asked.” Then I added. “What about you two?” Looking to Jake and Embry. “It maybe a good idea to ask #Charlie for a letter too. It’s up to you how you use it.”
Continued
#BellaSwan#JacobBlack#Bella#Jake#Jacob#AUWorld#Twlight#TwilightRP#TwiRP#Stories#Solos#IntoTheirGoodGraces
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some hearts are good.
and some are evil. and some evil masquerades as a counterfeit form of light.
but True Light comes from our Creator.
and we are each responsible for the lives we lead that flow from the inside out.
A set of lines from Today’s reading of the Scriptures in the closing chapter of the Letter of Galatians:
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
The Letter of Galatians, Chapter 6:4-5 (The Message)
Each person has his or her own burden to bear and story to write. Remember to share what you have with your mentor in the Word.
The Letter of Galatians, Chapter 6:5-6 (The Voice)
with the whole chapter in The Passion Translation:
My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, the one who is in the Spirit should seek to restore him in the Spirit of gentleness. But keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him. Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles. If you think you are somebody too important to stoop down to help another (when really you are not), you are living in deception.
Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others. Every believer is ultimately responsible for his or her own conscience. And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher.
God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.
And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!
I’ve written this letter to you with my own handwriting—see how large I have to make the letters? All those who insist that you be circumcised are recruiting you so they can boast in their own achievement. They seek to avoid the persecution that comes with preaching the liberating message of the cross of Messiah! Not even those who are circumcised keep every detail of the written law. Yet they push you to be circumcised so that they can boast that you have become like them.
May my only boast be found in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In him I have been crucified to this natural realm; and the natural realm is dead to me and no longer dominates my life.
Whether a man is circumcised or uncircumcised is meaningless to me. What really matters is the transforming power of this new creation life. And all those who live in agreement with this standard will have true peace and God’s delight, for they are the Israel of God.
From now on, let no one cause me to suffer further, for I am carrying the very scars of our Lord Jesus in my body. Finally my beloved ones—may the wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, be flowing in your spirit. So shall it be!
In Messiah’s love,
Paul
The Letter of Galatians, Chapter 6 (The Passion Translation)
to be accompanied by these closing lines in The Message:
Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don’t keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!
For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!
The Letter of Galatians, Chapter 6:11-15 (The Message)
Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 4th chapter of the book of Jeremiah about repentance in Israel and planting seeds:
“If you want to come back, O Israel,
you must really come back to me.
You must get rid of your stinking sin paraphernalia
and not wander away from me anymore.
Then you can say words like, ‘As God lives . . . ’
and have them mean something true and just and right.
And the godless nations will get caught up in the blessing
and find something in Israel to write home about.”
* * *
Here’s another Message from God
to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
“Plow your unplowed fields,
but then don’t plant weeds in the soil!
Yes, circumcise your lives for God’s sake.
Plow your unplowed hearts,
all you people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Prevent fire—the fire of my anger—
for once it starts it can’t be put out.
Your wicked ways
are fuel for the fire.
“Sound the alarm in Judah,
broadcast the news in Jerusalem.
Say, ‘Blow the ram’s horn trumpet through the land!’
Shout out—a bullhorn bellow!—
‘Close ranks!
Run for your lives to the shelters!’
Send up a flare warning Zion:
‘Not a minute to lose! Don’t sit on your hands!’
Disaster’s descending from the north. I set it off!
When it lands, it will shake the foundations.
Invaders have pounced like a lion from its cover,
ready to rip nations to shreds,
Leaving your land in wrack and ruin,
your cities in rubble, abandoned.
Dress in funereal black.
Weep and wail,
For God’s sledgehammer anger
has slammed into us head-on.
“When this happens”
—God’s Decree—
“King and princes will lose heart;
priests will be baffled and prophets stand dumbfounded.”
Then I said, “Alas, Master God!
You’ve fed lies to this people, this Jerusalem.
You assured them, ‘All is well, don’t worry,’
at the very moment when the sword was at their throats.”
* * *
At that time, this people, yes, this very Jerusalem,
will be told in plain words:
“The northern hordes are sweeping in
from the desert steppes—
A wind that’s up to no good, a gale-force wind.
I ordered this wind.
I’m pronouncing
my hurricane judgment on my people.”
Look at them! Like banks of storm clouds,
racing, tumbling, their chariots a tornado,
Their horses faster than eagles!
Woe to us! We’re done for!
Jerusalem! Scrub the evil from your lives
so you’ll be fit for salvation.
How much longer will you harbor
devious and malignant designs within you?
What’s this? A messenger from Dan?
Bad news from Ephraim’s hills!
Make the report public.
Broadcast the news to Jerusalem:
“Invaders from far off are
raising war cries against Judah’s towns.
They’re all over her, like a dog on a bone.
And why? Because she rebelled against me.”
God’s Decree.
“It’s the way you’ve lived
that’s brought all this on you.
The bitter taste is from your evil life.
That’s what’s piercing your heart.”
* * *
I’m doubled up with cramps in my belly—
a poker burns in my gut.
My insides are tearing me up,
never a moment’s peace.
The ram’s horn trumpet blast rings in my ears,
the signal for all-out war.
Disaster hard on the heels of disaster,
the whole country in ruins!
In one stroke my home is destroyed,
the walls flattened in the blink of an eye.
How long do I have to look at the warning flares,
listen to the siren of danger?
“What fools my people are!
They have no idea who I am.
A company of half-wits,
dopes and donkeys all!
Experts at evil
but klutzes at good.”
I looked at the earth—
it was back to pre-Genesis chaos and emptiness.
I looked at the skies,
and not a star to be seen.
I looked at the mountains—
they were trembling like aspen leaves,
And all the hills
rocking back and forth in the wind.
I looked—what’s this! Not a man or woman in sight,
and not a bird to be seen in the skies.
I looked—this can’t be! Every garden and orchard shriveled up.
All the towns were ghost towns.
And all this because of God,
because of the blazing anger of God.
Yes, this is God’s Word on the matter:
“The whole country will be laid waste—
still it won’t be the end of the world.
The earth will mourn
and the skies lament
Because I’ve given my word and won’t take it back.
I’ve decided and won’t change my mind.”
Someone shouts, “Horsemen and archers!”
and everybody runs for cover.
They hide in ditches,
they climb into caves.
The cities are emptied,
not a person left anywhere.
And you, what do you think you’re up to?
Dressing up in party clothes,
Decking yourselves out in jewelry,
putting on lipstick and rouge and mascara!
Your primping goes for nothing.
You’re not going to seduce anyone. They’re out to kill you!
And what’s that I hear? The cry of a woman in labor,
the screams of a mother giving birth to her firstborn.
It’s the cry of Daughter Zion, gasping for breath,
reaching out for help:
“Help, oh help me! I’m dying!
The killers are on me!”
The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 4 (The Message)
A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, August 17 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms
A post by John Parsons about a solid foundation of truth:
When you become alive to the truth that the LORD is your Rock, the very ground upon which you live, move, and have your being, then your steps are made sure, as it says, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast down: for the LORD holds his hand" (Psalm 37:23-24). When you are unsure of your way, when you walk in uncertainty, you are unsteady in your resolve and are tempted to regard your life as being without any solid foundation. As you commit your way to the LORD, your steps are made sure, for you are walking before his Presence, and therefore you are upheld by his power. [Hebrew for Christians]
8.16.21 • Facebook
Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research
August 17, 2021
Long Enough
“And the LORD spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.” (Deuteronomy 2:2-3)
This was the second time God rebuked Israel for staying too long in one place. Here they were camped adjacent to the region controlled by the descendants of Esau and thus kinsmen of the Israelites, but God told them to go on north toward Canaan.
Long before, they had wanted to stay too long at Mount Sinai (same as Horeb) where God had given the law to Moses. Finally, “the LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:...Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers” (Deuteronomy 1:6, 8).
It is possible for a Christian to become too satisfied with his level of attainment, when the Lord may well have something more for him to do. Possibly, like Israel at Sinai, we may be content to stay in a situation where we have seen God work in the past. Or, like Israel at Edom’s Mount Seir, we want to stay in what we think may be friendly surroundings, rather than venture into overtly enemy territory. Perhaps we have stayed long enough at a certain stage in our Christian growth or service, and God wants us to go further.
Paul wanted to continue preaching near his home in Asia, but God said for him to go on into Europe (Acts 16:6-10). Peter asked Jesus what John was going to do, but Jesus said, “What is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:22).
God may, indeed, want us to continue all of our lives right where He has placed us now, as far as location and position are concerned, but He does want us to go on further with Him. The last words written by Peter are profoundly important. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). HMM
A tweet by illumiNations:
@IlluminationsBT: DID YOU KNOW...Papua New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse country in the world with over 800 distinct languages.
Many of those vital languages do not have ANY Scripture available to them, we're working to change that!
8.17.21 • 12:02pm • Twitter
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Jeremiah chapter 50
The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.
All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.
Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.
For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.
Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.
Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.
The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.
Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.
Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.
Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.
And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.
A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.
A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.
At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
#Jeremiah chapter 50#A chapter a day from the Bible#Jesus is Real#Pray WISDOM DISCERNMENT UNDERSTANDING and TRUTH
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