Changing Tides
by Momma2fan
Chapter 7
Dinner went fine with Charlie announcing how proud he was of his daughter and her early graduation. They laughed, while Billy and Charlie talked about fishing trips they wanted to take, Jake and Bella looking on in horror.
“Dad, you know I’m not going fishing with you guys, right?” Jake told Billy.
“Yeah, me either.”
“We figured as much, kids. Jacob, have you shown Bella the completed Rabbit?”
“You finished it?” Bella was shocked, she didn’t think he had all the parts he needed.
“Yeah, come check it out, Bells.”
Bella followed Jake to his garage, a place she knew she’d spent a lot of time the last time she lived this life. Now things were different, she just hoped he wasn’t still harboring a crush on her.
Paul stood with Sam and Embry in the tree line, listening as Jacob talked to Bella about his car. They could also hear Billy in the house telling Charlie the legends.
“Jesus, Sam, this is crazy. Are we even sure he’s gonna phase?”
Sam put his hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Billy said he’s showing all the signs.”
“Stop worrying, Paul. Jake would never hurt her, she’s all he talked about when she first moved back.”
Paul growled, “So my girl is in the garage with a potential new wolf harboring a crush. Great.”
“Relax.” Sam ordered.
Bella smiled at Jacob as she once again moved out from under his arm. Finally, he wanted to know what was going on. He’d always been affectionate with her.
“Okay, Bells,” Jake started. “You’ve never pushed me away this much when we’ve hung out before. I’ve always put my arm around you or held your hand. What’s up?”
Bella sighed, it was now or never. “Jake, lets get some fresh air.” She walked out of the garage, Jacob hot on her heels.
“Dammit, Bella, wait!” He ran up to her and grabbed her arm, yanking her around to face him.
“Ow, Jake. Let me go.” Bella tried to shake him off.
“No, Bella. Tell me what is going on with you.”
Bella managed to get her arm free and rubbed the sore spot while she answered him. “I just think it means something different to you than it does to me. Besides, it’s not appropriate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have a boyfriend, Jake. So you holding my hand or putting your arm around me is not a good idea.”
Jake looked at her as if she had slapped him. “Who?”
Bella noticed he was shaking and took a step back, looking in the direction where she could feel Paul. “Jake, I don’t think—”
“WHO?” Jacob yelled with a growl.
“Bella!” Paul shouted as he and the others ran toward her.
“Isabella Marie Swan!” Charlie hollered at the same time.
Bella looked in her father’s direction just as Jacob phased, his large paw catching her arm as his claw ran down her flesh, right through the scar James left when he bit her.
“Fuck!” Bella cried, cradling her injured arm as Sam and Embry phased to help with Jacob. Paul reached her at the same time as Charlie.
“Let me see?” Paul gently took her arm, inspecting the wound. “We need to get it cleaned up and call Sue. I think you need stitches. Does it hurt?”
Bella nodded and looked up at him, “My arm feels like it’s on fire.”
“You dated a vampire, Bells?” Charlie asked, not taking his eyes off the three wolves before him.
Bella rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad, and my boyfriend is a shape-shifting werewolf. Can we discuss this while Paul fixes my arm?” She turned her head when Jake whined at her. “”I’m sorry, Jake. If you’ll listen to Sam he’ll explain.” He whined again moving toward her, but stopping at a barking sound from Sam. “I’ll be fine, Paul will take care of me.”
***CT***
I can’t believe I hurt her. -JB
She’s fine, Jake. -E
Jacob, I need you to pay attention. -S
Jacob lay down and listened as Sam explained everything about them being protectors, even about imprinting. He felt his heart break when he learned Paul had imprinted on Bella. He knew he had no chance, especially after watching all of Sam and Embry’s memories of the two of them together.
I’m sorry, Jake. Embry nudged his nose into his friend's side in a show of support and affection.
So, how do I phase back? -JB
Think human. It’s easier if you think about something that makes you happy. -S
Ha! Bella made me happy. -JB
Think about your dad or something. -S
Take your time, Jake. We’re here for you. -E
The three of them lay there until Jake was suddenly flesh and bone, not fur. “Whoa, that felt weird.”
Sam and Embry phased back, quickly pulling on the shorts they had around their ankles. Embry ran into the Black’s house to get Jake some clothes, quickly running back out.
“Sue is stitching up Bella’s arm. You okay, Jake?”
“I’m good.” Jacob pulled the shorts on his body and walked toward his house.
“Where are you going?” Sam questioned.
“In my house.”
“Let him in, Sam!” Paul bellowed from inside.
The three of them walked in and stood in the kitchen as Sue finished stitching up Bella’s arm. She had three long gashes running from her elbow to the top of her right hand.
“We need to talk to Old Quil about this mark, Bella. It’s oozing something that looks silver.” Sue clipped the last stitch and ran some antibiotic ointment down the wound.
“Could there still be venom in it?”
“Maybe.” Sue wrapped gauze around her arm, securing it with tape. “Okay, now what hand do you write with?”
“This one,” Bella told her. “Is that gonna be a problem?”
“Shouldn’t be. Try wiggling your fingers.”
Bella wiggled and flexed her fingers, feeling a slight tugging sensation from the stitches. “It pulls a bit, but I should be fine. I just have to take a test in a couple weeks. I should be fine by then.”
“I’m so sorry, Bella.” Jacob looked at her with sadness plain on his face.
“Jake, you didn’t mean to. If Dad hadn’t yelled my name, I would have been looking at you and I would have moved. It was an accident.” She got up and hugged her best friend, Paul growling behind her. “Shut it, I’m gonna hug my friend.” Turning to look at him, “Besides, I think his wolf needed my forgiveness too.”
Paul nodded, “I’m sure he did, baby, but my wolf doesn’t like you being so close to a new pup.”
“If anyone cares, I have questions for my daughter and all you...boys.” Charlie broke in.
“I’ll put on some coffee,” Sue offered as everyone moved into the living room.
Sam stood by the window, while Paul and Bella settled on the couch, his arm wrapped around her. Jake and Embry sprawled on the floor, with Charlie taking up the armchair across from his daughter.
“You dated a vampire?” Bella nodded and Charlie took a deep breath. “Did you know he was one?”
“Yes, Dad.” Bella held up her hand when he would have interrupted. “Just let me explain, okay?” He nodded and she began her tale of how she met the Cullens and everything that happened since. She even explained Phoenix and the fact a vampire was now hunting her for revenge.
“Is this why you want to graduate early?”
She nodded, “It’s part of it.” Looking at Paul he smiled and pressed his lips to her temple. “Did Billy explain everything?”
“You mean that you’re Paul’s imprint?”
“Yeah.” She looked at her dad straight on. “When we’re apart, the pull is almost...well it takes my breath away so I can only imagine what it's like for him. I need to be on the res as much as possible. Now, I know I’m eighteen and can make my own choices, but I want to talk to you about moving down here.”
Dinner went fine with Charlie announcing how proud he was of his daughter and her early graduation. They laughed, while Billy and Charlie talked about fishing trips they wanted to take, Jake and Bella looking on in horror.
“Dad, you know I’m not going fishing with you guys, right?” Jake told Billy.
“Yeah, me either.”
“We figured as much, kids. Jacob, have you shown Bella the completed Rabbit?”
“You finished it?” Bella was shocked, she didn’t think he had all the parts he needed.
“Yeah, come check it out, Bells.”
Bella followed Jake to his garage, a place she knew she’d spent a lot of time the last time she lived this life. Now things were different, she just hoped he wasn’t still harboring a crush on her.
Paul stood with Sam and Embry in the tree line, listening as Jacob talked to Bella about his car. They could also hear Billy in the house telling Charlie the legends.
“Jesus, Sam, this is crazy. Are we even sure he’s gonna phase?”
Sam put his hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Billy said he’s showing all the signs.”
“Stop worrying, Paul. Jake would never hurt her, she’s all he talked about when she first moved back.”
Paul growled, “So my girl is in the garage with a potential new wolf harboring a crush. Great.”
“Relax.” Sam ordered.
Bella smiled at Jacob as she once again moved out from under his arm. Finally, he wanted to know what was going on. He’d always been affectionate with her.
“Okay, Bells,” Jake started. “You’ve never pushed me away this much when we’ve hung out before. I’ve always put my arm around you or held your hand. What’s up?”
Bella sighed, it was now or never. “Jake, lets get some fresh air.” She walked out of the garage, Jacob hot on her heels.
“Dammit, Bella, wait!” He ran up to her and grabbed her arm, yanking her around to face him.
“Ow, Jake. Let me go.” Bella tried to shake him off.
“No, Bella. Tell me what is going on with you.”
Bella managed to get her arm free and rubbed the sore spot while she answered him. “I just think it means something different to you than it does to me. Besides, it’s not appropriate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have a boyfriend, Jake. So you holding my hand or putting your arm around me is not a good idea.”
Jake looked at her as if she had slapped him. “Who?”
Bella noticed he was shaking and took a step back, looking in the direction where she could feel Paul. “Jake, I don’t think—”
“WHO?” Jacob yelled with a growl.
“Bella!” Paul shouted as he and the others ran toward her.
“Isabella Marie Swan!” Charlie hollered at the same time.
Bella looked in her father’s direction just as Jacob phased, his large paw catching her arm as his claw ran down her flesh, right through the scar James left when he bit her.
“Fuck!” Bella cried, cradling her injured arm as Sam and Embry phased to help with Jacob. Paul reached her at the same time as Charlie.
“Let me see?” Paul gently took her arm, inspecting the wound. “We need to get it cleaned up and call Sue. I think you need stitches. Does it hurt?”
Bella nodded and looked up at him, “My arm feels like it’s on fire.”
“You dated a vampire, Bells?” Charlie asked, not taking his eyes off the three wolves before him.
Bella rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad, and my boyfriend is a shape-shifting werewolf. Can we discuss this while Paul fixes my arm?” She turned her head when Jake whined at her. “”I’m sorry, Jake. If you’ll listen to Sam he’ll explain.” He whined again moving toward her, but stopping at a barking sound from Sam. “I’ll be fine, Paul will take care of me.”
***CT***
I can’t believe I hurt her. -JB
She’s fine, Jake. -E
Jacob, I need you to pay attention. -S
Jacob lay down and listened as Sam explained everything about them being protectors, even about imprinting. He felt his heart break when he learned Paul had imprinted on Bella. He knew he had no chance, especially after watching all of Sam and Embry’s memories of the two of them together.
I’m sorry, Jake. Embry nudged his nose into his friend's side in a show of support and affection.
So, how do I phase back? -JB
Think human. It’s easier if you think about something that makes you happy. -S
Ha! Bella made me happy. -JB
Think about your dad or something. -S
Take your time, Jake. We’re here for you. -E
The three of them lay there until Jake was suddenly flesh and bone, not fur. “Whoa, that felt weird.”
Sam and Embry phased back, quickly pulling on the shorts they had around their ankles. Embry ran into the Black’s house to get Jake some clothes, quickly running back out.
“Sue is stitching up Bella’s arm. You okay, Jake?”
“I’m good.” Jacob pulled the shorts on his body and walked toward his house.
“Where are you going?” Sam questioned.
“In my house.”
“Let him in, Sam!” Paul bellowed from inside.
The three of them walked in and stood in the kitchen as Sue finished stitching up Bella’s arm. She had three long gashes running from her elbow to the top of her right hand.
“We need to talk to Old Quil about this mark, Bella. It’s oozing something that looks silver.” Sue clipped the last stitch and ran some antibiotic ointment down the wound.
“Could there still be venom in it?”
“Maybe.” Sue wrapped gauze around her arm, securing it with tape. “Okay, now what hand do you write with?”
“This one,” Bella told her. “Is that gonna be a problem?”
“Shouldn’t be. Try wiggling your fingers.”
Bella wiggled and flexed her fingers, feeling a slight tugging sensation from the stitches. “It pulls a bit, but I should be fine. I just have to take a test in a couple weeks. I should be fine by then.”
“I’m so sorry, Bella.” Jacob looked at her with sadness plain on his face.
“Jake, you didn’t mean to. If Dad hadn’t yelled my name, I would have been looking at you and I would have moved. It was an accident.” She got up and hugged her best friend, Paul growling behind her. “Shut it, I’m gonna hug my friend.” Turning to look at him, “Besides, I think his wolf needed my forgiveness too.”
Paul nodded, “I’m sure he did, baby, but my wolf doesn’t like you being so close to a new pup.”
“If anyone cares, I have questions for my daughter and all you...boys.” Charlie broke in.
“I’ll put on some coffee,” Sue offered as everyone moved into the living room.
Sam stood by the window, while Paul and Bella settled on the couch, his arm wrapped around her. Jake and Embry sprawled on the floor, with Charlie taking up the armchair across from his daughter.
“You dated a vampire?” Bella nodded and Charlie took a deep breath. “Did you know he was one?”
“Yes, Dad.” Bella held up her hand when he would have interrupted. “Just let me explain, okay?” He nodded and she began her tale of how she met the Cullens and everything that happened since. She even explained Phoenix and the fact a vampire was now hunting her for revenge.
“Is this why you want to graduate early?”
She nodded, “It’s part of it.” Looking at Paul he smiled and pressed his lips to her temple. “Did Billy explain everything?”
“You mean that you’re Paul’s imprint?”
“Yeah.” She looked at her dad straight on. “When we’re apart, the pull is almost...well it takes my breath away so I can only imagine what it's like for him. I need to be on the res as much as possible. Now, I know I’m eighteen and can make my own choices, but I want to talk to you about moving down here.”