Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 21

After school, Bella and I headed over to Jacob's place.

"Hey, Bella," he greeted when we got there. "Y/n."

"Hey," I greeted back, then waved to Billy, who was looking out the window. We'd never brought up what he'd told me about the Cullens, but I think that was a good thing. That whole day was. . . weird. But I was grateful he told me when he did, otherwise I might not have gone with Bella.

And then she would have been alone with James in the studio. I wouldn't have been there—

I forced myself to stop. Nope. I was not going to spiral here and now, not when Bella was fine. And she was fine, or at least she was getting there.

All thanks to Jacob.

"Let's get to work," Jacob was saying in a low but eager voice.

Bella laughed. "You seriously aren't sick of me yet?"

Jacob led the way around the house to his garage. "Nope. Not yet."

"Please let me know when I start getting on your nerves. I don't want to be a pain."

"Okay." He laughed, a throaty sound. "I wouldn't hold your breath for that, though."

When we walked into the garage, I was shocked to see the red bike standing up, looking like a motorcycle rather than a pile of jagged metal.

"Jake, you're amazing," Bella breathed.

He laughed again. "I get obsessive when I have a project."

"Nice work," I complemented, heading over to look at the bike. "It looks great."

He shrugged. "If I had any brains I'd drag it out a little bit."

"Why?" Bella asked.

He looked down, pausing for so long that I wondered if he hadn't heard the question. Finally, he asked her, "Bella, if I told you that I couldn't fix these bikes, what would you say?"

She didn't answer right away, either, and he glanced up to check her expression.

"I would say...that's too bad, but I'll bet we could figure out something else to do. If we got really desperate, we could even do homework."

Jacob smiled, and his shoulders relaxed. He sat down next to the bike and picked up a wrench. "So you think you'll still come over when I'm done, then?"

"Is that what you meant?" Bella laughed. "I guess I am taking advantage of your very underpriced mechanical skills. But as long as you let me come over, I'll be here."

He chuckled. "You really like spending time with me?" he asked, marveling.

"Very, very much. And I'll prove it. I have to work tomorrow, but Wednesday we'll do something nonmechanical."

"Like what?"

"I have no idea. We can go to my place so you won't be tempted to be obsessive. You could bring your schoolwork—you have to be getting behind, because I know I am."

"Homework might be a good idea." He made a face.

"Yes," Bella agreed. "We'll have to start being responsible occasionally, or Billy and Charlie aren't going to be so easy going about this."

Jacob beamed. "Homework once a week?" he proposed.

"Maybe we'd better go with twice," she suggested.

"Y/n, you in?" Jacob asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, I work a lot more than Bella. I'll try when I can, but it will probably just be you two for most of the time."