'Safe' Is Not A Word In My Vocabulary

Edward stepped out so Jacob could come over and I was about to follow him.

“Uh-uh” Bella said, trying to block me “You need to tell Jacob.” I would’ve pushed her out of my way but I knew she was right.

I let out a gusty sigh and went into the living room. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to, but that bonfire tonight will probably be worse if were still keeping secrets.

Charlie was at work so I didn’t have to explain why I was panicking.

I was biting my lip off and I really wanted to go and hide.

Ugh! This is so unfair! The things this boy could do to me…

The doorbell rang and I stretched out on the couch. “Come in Jacob!” Bella called. I heard him come in, and sunk down deeper, my breathing even. “Should you really leave your door unlocked like that?” he asked and Bella jumped, I heard the dish washer splash against the floor and Jacob chuckled.

“Oops sorry here.” He said and I silently got up. I leaned casually against the door way and neither of them noticed.

“Is it so impossible to wear clothes Jacob?” Bella asked scrutinizing him. Jacob shrugged and I rolled my eyes.

“It’s just easier. It sucks to carry jeans in your mouth, let alone a whole outfit. What do I look like a pack mule?” He said and her eyes crunched together. “He rolled his eyes at her obliviousness and Bella looked at him, confused “What are you talking about Jacob.” She asked but I was the one who answered.

“Bells, his clothes don’t just pop in and out of reality when he phases, he has to carry them around with him; he’s just keeping his burden light.”

Jacob and Bella both jumped and Bella laughed to hide her discomfort. “I guess I didn’t think about that.” she said, blushing. Jacob looked at me in shock.

“What do you mean?” he asked and I rolled my eyes. “Nothing, nothing at all, now are you gonna go get the scent or what, Im under the impression this isn’t a social visit for you either.” Jacob stared at me and then suddenly recognition rang in his eyes.

“You knew!” he accused and I shrugged innocently while nodding.

“Yeah, the whole time actually, you guys aren’t very good with secrecy.” My voice was smug from old habit.

He stared me down. “Who told you?” he asked and I snorted, playing with him a little “Great, now you’re mocking my intelligence, like I can’t figure it out on my own.” I said and his eyebrows seemed permanently pinched together.

Jacob’s POV

“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked.

'Why didn’t you tell me?' I added silently. She shrugged again, clearly enjoying my frustration. “You didn’t ask.” She muttered and Bella looked between us while she washed.

“Now, are you going to get the leech’s scent or what?” she asked, her little game finished with. I felt like I’d just been punched in the gut and I had to think for a second before I asked my next question.

“You’re not human, are you?” I muttered and she shook her head, almost sadly.

“Im a werewolf too, just a different species.”

Her words sent off multiple emotions through me, the first was relief.

She knew, she wouldn’t be afraid of me, she wouldn’t try to run.

The second emotion was shock, pure undefined shock.

Im in love with a werewolf. My imprint isn’t human.

Well this was a first.

I bit my tongue to keep from saying something stupid but shook my head to clear it. “Well, that’s going to take some getting used to.” I muttered and shrugged.

“Whatever, where’s the scent worst?” I asked and Centhua and Bella were both viably relieved I was blowing it off.

Centhua pointed upstairs. “Bella’s bedroom.” She said and my eyes narrowed.

“I’ll be back.” I muttered and went up. Centhua moved over a little in the doorway so I could go up and I caught sight of her eyes before I did. They were almost…disapproving.

I didn’t let it get to me as I went up to Bella’s room.

Ugh, reeking vampires.

I turned to start back down the stairs when I heard Bella talking. “Why do you, wear so many clothes then Cent, if it’s easier?” I heard Centhua snort.

“Bella, Im a chick, there’s only so much I can get rid of.” I tried to blink away the images that came from Cent saying that statement in case the bloodsucker was nearby but I couldn’t ease it completely. So instead I tucked those thoughts away for later.

Centhua's POV

Jacob came down with his nose wrinkled. “Well the scent was easy enough to catch,” he said, making Bella splash herself again. “Oops sorry, wow two in one day, Im on a roll.” I ignored that and helped Bella mop up the new spill.

“Here, let me make it up to you, you wash, I’ll rinse and dry.” He already had his hand held out for the dish rag so I gave it to him.

They washed and dried in silence but Jacob kept looking at me from the corner of his eye. I sighed after about five minutes.

“Well this has been fun but I really have to go.” I said and Bella nodded. Jacob’s face slipped into a pout and when I went to leave he grabbed my arm.

“Wait, are you coming to the bonfire tonight?” he asked and I nodded. “Quil invited me.” I said and his mouth twitched. “Of course he did,” he muttered and he dropped me.

Was he jealous?

“Guess, I’ll see you there then?” he said hopefully and Bella smirked at me.

Jacob would probably invite her once I was gone and I smiled at the thought of not having to go through this alone. “Yeah sure,” I said and started walking towards the hallway. “I have to work til four but I’ll be there.” He seemed reassured and I grinned at Bella. “Bye Bells, take care.”

I was outside in seconds.

I ran a little ways away into the forest and suddenly two cold arms grabbed me around the waist. I sighed “What do you want Edward?” I asked and he dropped me. “Jacob is asking Bella to go to the bonfire with him, I’m allowing it but I need you to keep an eye on her for me.” His voice was falsely amused and I snorted.

“Great, now I have to baby sit.” I said sarcastically. He gave me a puppy dog look. “Please? You don’t have to watch her, just make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble, like fall into the ocean, get mauled by a teenage werewolf…or trip over a rock.”

I laughed at him. “Yes, god forbid Bella should not be protected from rocks.” I snickered but nodded. “Sure, I’ll take good care of her.” He took me by surprise and hugged me.

“Thank you.” His voice was fervent in my ear while I grimaced.

Yeah…I'm not a hug person.

He chuckled at the thought and let me go. “You’d better leave or you’ll be late to work.” He said and I grinned. “Later leech.” He rolled his eyes as I ran.

XxX

Work dragged.

It was almost five thirty when my car pulled up outside my house. Normally I loved being in the shop but today it couldn’t go by fast enough. And then of course Macy, (one of my coworkers) had a little too much coffee and started dancing on cars again. I don’t know why my boss keeps her around.

I guess cause’ she’s so pretty to look at.

The guys were in the living room playing the Halo game I got for Ammo when I threw his Game boy out the window. They’re gamers, get over it.

I walked passed then without them even noticing and quickly stripped out of my grease smeared jeans and baggy blue t-shirt. I got in the shower and washed away all the remnants of a day’s hard labor.

I got out and blow dried my hair. Then I put on a black shoulder less top and a pair of faded blue jeans. I slipped on my black flip flops. My new dangle earrings hung from my ears and I was very pleased with the turnout.

It was 5:55 and I went to tell the guys goodbye. I slipped my phone in my pocket and set it to vibrate. Quil honked two minutes later. I grinned at the guys.

“Bye! Don’t destroy my house please!” I said and they all chorused ‘goodbye’ and ‘we won’t’. I rolled my eyes and went out to Quil. He sat in a grey SUV that was very close looking to Emmett’s jeep.

I shut the door behind me and jogged towards the door. I opened it effortlessly and jumped in. I grinned at Quil in the dim light from the setting sun. He returned the smile and we pulled out.

I caught sight of K-9 looking out from behind the curtain with an amused expression. I stuck my tongue out at him.

Quil noticed.

“Who’s he?” he asked curiously and I laughed to hide my discomfort. “K-9, he’s hanging at my place for today.” The lies came more naturally than usual, especially since I was under pressure, so I was surprised.

Quil snorted, “There’s a story you’ve never told us.” He said, but he grinned at me to show he was joking.

I grinned back. “You didn’t ask.” That reminded me…

“Hey have you talked to Jacob today by any chance?” I asked and he shook his head. “No, he went over to Bella’s for something that he said he was going to tell us about tonight…” he looked at the road for a second like he’d said too much and my lips pressed in a hard line. “Hmm….” I muttered and he suddenly raised an eyebrow at me.

“Do you know something I don’t?” he asked and I grimaced “Yes, but I thought Jacob would’ve told you already.” I waved it off and he smirked.

“Are you gonna tell me, or do I have to guess?” he asked and I smiled slightly. “You can try, but you’d never get it right.” He kept his eyes on the road again as we drove past the first houses of La Push.

“You and Jacob are dating.” He said suddenly and I felt my eyes widen. “What! No!” I said and was enveloped into a fit of giggles. “Not even close.” I said blushing like mad.

He shrugged his massive shoulders and he was grinning. “Okay, okay, well I give then, what’s the big secret.”

“There’s a U.V. in the area.” I said with fake seriousness and he gave me an odd look. “U.V.?” he asked and I shrugged one shoulder. “An unidentified vampire.” I clarified and his eyes widened.

“You know about them?” he asked and I snorted.

“Well, duh, my best friend is one and I’m a werewolf.” Quil swerved off the road a little and his eyes looked like they were about to fall out.

“Seriously!” I gasped when the seat belt jerked against my neck. “Why does everyone keep reacting like that!?!” he looked like he didn’t believe me and I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Dude, keep your eyes on the road.” I said and he turned his head away from me. We were at the beach and I could see the fire up on a tall looking cliff. He kept staring out the window with wide eyes and the silence dragged on.

“Dude, say something you’re scaring me.” I said as he parked the car. “What do you expect me to say, I just found out my friend is a werewolf.” I gave him the weirdest look ever.

“You don’t believe me.” I said sadly and he shook his head.

“I do.” He said automatically but then thought again. “Well…I want to it’s just…you’re not really what I’d expect from a werewolf.”

He gave me an apologetic look.

This might take a while.

“Do you need me to prove it?” I asked and he gave me a half smile. “Maybe, I think it’ll help.”

He still didn’t look like he believed me so I picked up a rock from the ground. With a flick of my wrist I threw it, about a hundred yards off shore until it landed in the water out of sight. He looked out in shock and then looked back at me.

No human could’ve done that and he knew it.

I smirked at him. “Do you believe me now or do I need to prove it more.” I picked up a sharper edged rock and held it at an angle against my wrist. His eyes widened when he realized my intentions and his answer was quick. “No! I believe you!” I laughed and started the walk up the cliff.

We beat Bella and Jacob there. The only people here so far were; Kim with Jared, Sam, Emily, a man I didn’t know who was in a wheel chair, a woman and a man in lawn chairs and a teen girl and boy I didn’t know either.

I sat down next to Kim and she was wearing the shirt I picked out for her along with a pair of blue jeans and black flats. We talked for a while and I realized the man in the wheel chair to be Jacob’s father.

The older people were Sue and Old Quil and the boy I didn’t know was Seth. The girl was Leah.

I caught her sending a few glares at Sam when he wasn’t looking and she reminded me of myself. Y’know, back before I went all super nanny and started thawing out.

Jacob finally dragged Bella through the trees and towards the bonfire and I grinned at her.

“Beat ya.” I said and she stuck her tongue out while sitting on a log next to me. “How was work?” she asked and I groaned. “I don’t want to talk about it.” I muttered and she laughed. “Macy dancing on her car again?” she teased and I nodded. “It was terrifying, Im surprised she hasn’t fallen off yet.”

Jacob sat in front of her on the ground so he was next to me and Kim was on the ground on my other side with Jared on a log above her. Emily and Sam were next to Bella on the log and Embry and Paul just showed up. “Hey vampire girl!” Embry called to Bella and she blushed. They sat on the other side of the fire next to Seth and Leah and Sue.

Quil whispered something in Billy’s ear that I didn’t catch and I saw Jacob’s father looking at him curiously. Oh great.

I glared at Quil when he sat above me and he grinned. Bella looked down at me too. “By the way Cent, Edward told me to tell you something.”

I looked at her, waiting. Her face was obviously confused. “He said ‘watch out for rocks, thy're everywhere’ or something.” She said, thinking she got it wrong because she didnt know what it meant.

I snickered before I could help it and received a few odd looks.
“I don’t get it.” Quil muttered and I grinned at him. “Inside joke.” I said.

XxX

We all ate hot dogs and burgers and Bella, Kim and Emily watched with amused expressions at the amount the wolves forced down.

I wasn’t very hungry but still managed to eat about five burgers. I didn’t feel well, not my stomach but my chest.

I felt hot.

Not like sweaty, but like I was burning. I leaned back against Quil’s knees.

He played absentmindedly with my hair as casual conversations went on around us. I saw Jacob glaring at Quil’s hands and I gave him an amused look. He turned red and looked away.

Billy’s eyes didn’t leave his son the whole time but occasionally I sensed them on me, like he was watching me from the corners.

My chest still hurt like I was having heart burn and I tried to ignore it.

Bella teased Jacob about his appetite and then the legends started.

I sat patiently, listening with my lips pressed in a hard line.

When it was over Bella fell asleep and Jacob turned to me. “Whatcha think?” he asked curiously and I grinned. I could feel everyone stop their conversations and wait for my answer.

“Interesting, it’s not the type of history I’m used to hearing but it makes enough sense.” I heard Paul snort from across the flames.

“History?” he asked and I shrugged.

Quil grinned down at me. “Oh yeah, it would be history for you wouldn’t it.” He muttered and Jacob rolled his eyes.

“You told Quil, of course.” He said sarcastically and everyone was watching us with confused faces. “Yup.” I said, popping the p.

His arms tightened around Bella’s sleeping form and I wondered why it bothered me. “Would you three stop talking in riddles and tell us what the hell you’re babbling about.” Paul said.

Quil nudged me with his knee. “Centhua’s a werewolf.” He said with a serious expression. I grimaced and Jacob rolled his eyes. “Blunt.” He muttered and I saw everyone looking at me in shock.

Kim was the one to finally break the silence though, “I knew it!” she shouted stomping her foot a little beside me. “The one human outside all the wolf garbage I can talk to, and she’s not even human.” I rolled my eyes at her theatrics and everyone seemed to thaw out at once. Leah was looking at me curiously.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” I grinned sarcastically and she whacked me. Bella mumbled something incoherent in her sleep. I rolled my eyes, too distracted by the pain in my chest to do anything else.

“You knew what we were.” It was Sam’s voice that made me turn my head and I nodded guiltily. He looked at me with an unreadable expression.

Emily had a thoughtful expression on her face. She finally chuckled. “No wonder Claire likes you so much.” She said leaning around Jake to squeeze my hand. I smile effortlessly and I was relieved to see people went back to their original conversations. They didn’t seem at all surprised, or maybe they were and they were just used to the wolf thing.

Bella muttered another name in her sleep “Damien.” She whimpered and my teeth clenched.

Damien was my brother’s name.