Golden Hour: A Team Jacob Twilight FanFic

Gesture

"Hey, Bella, everything's going to be okay. We'll take you somewhere so you can calm down and be safe," Seth said as I shook in Quil's arms. I glanced up at him and nodded in response; it was the best I could do. It's rare to see Seth not smiling ear to ear, so his worried visage surprised me. Shame flooded through me when I saw his brown suede suit jacket and cream button-up, remembering he was a guest at the wedding.

"Where are we bringing her, Quil?" Seth asked.

"I guess my place. Just to get her over the treaty line. Emily's might be too much right now with the reorganizing she's been doing."

"Okay, yeah! I would say our house has room, but-"

"No," Leah hissed.

Seth sucked in a breath.

"My house will work, my mom is home, she can help out. Where did Sue park, Seth?"

"I'll know when we get to the street."

I wish I could say something to them. Tell them they can just leave me here, but I know they would never. At least this was better than having to face the Cullens.

I was tired of being a burden to the pack. Time and time again, they're pulled into danger, all because of me. And now they're stuck helping me again. Leah's hatred for me was completely valid. I'm not sure how Quil felt about me at this point, though if I had to guess, I'm probably just the nuisance vampire girl in his eyes. Still, I felt safe in his arms.

Despite their general apathy towards me, there has always been something uniquely comforting about the Packs' presence. They were loyal, warm, and brutally honest. And I knew they'd be there if I needed them; they'd welcome me on the rez even when I didn't deserve it.

I stared up at the lush tree canopies, their light sway grounding me in my body. The hyperventilating slowed the more I focused on the woodland around me. Quil's bare chest on my face kept me heated against the crisp, misty air. My nervous system was starting to compose itself.

I peered before us at the thinning trees, knowing it would have taken me ages to reach the forest's edge where the street was now in view. It was impressive how agile and swift Quil was; I remember when he was clumsy like me before he had phased. I hated being so far behind everyone else in my ability. I wished to be strong and graceful, too. But my stupid human nerves today just prolonged the process.

"It's over there, on the corner!" Seth said as he led the way out of the thick vegetation.

"You can put me d-down, Quil. I think I'll be okay."

"No, your feet are all messed up." He leaped on through the remainder of the forest and jumped down onto the road.

When we got to the car, Seth opened the door for Quil to slide me into the backseat.

"All good?" Quil asked me. I nodded my head yes.

Quil climbed into the driver's seat as Seth settled in next to me. Leah was in the passenger seat, silently staring out the window.

"How's your mom and Billy gonna get back? Charlie?"

"Yep," Seth said, buckling his seatbelt in.

The wave of dread ebbed and flowed on the car ride back to La Push. I stayed quiet because I knew that if I tried to speak, it could unleash the sobs again. I remained very still, dissociated. The pain in my feet and knees stayed merely in the background.

Quil parked the car once we pulled up to his home. It was a charmingly old, navy blue multistory with a small front porch. The silver Honda Accord parked in the driveway reminded me that someone was home, unleashing the dread inside me again.