Moonrise | Paul Lahote

8

"I think we need to do this every week."

"I totally agree."

It was Saturday morning. The two girls had had a blast last night watching movies, making s'mores, building a pillow fort and then knocking it over in the following pillow fight. Jacob had come home at some point during the fight and promptly joined in. Now all three of them were in the kitchen having made a loaded breakfast of eggs, bacon, waffles, and beans.

Well, Jessica made it, Jacob helped her, and Jenna stood there and watched.

It all reminded Jenna of their childhood when they'd have sleepovers similar to this one. Back then, her mother would be the one cooking breakfast for the girls. She probably would have joined in the pillow fight, too.

Rather than make her feel sad, the thought settled Jenna's heart, making her feel warm. She glanced over to Jessica, noting that the girl looked lighter, the brightness back in her eyes as she chatted animatedly with Jacob. The sight made Jenna smile. Hopefully whatever had been plaguing the girl was over.

The three of them were startled as a knock sounded on the door. "I'll get it," Jacob said, swallowing a mouthful of food and sliding off his chair.

A few seconds later Quil and Embry were walking into the kitchen, holding bags of chips and fizzy drinks.

Quil's eyes landed on the girls and he grinned. "Well well well, if it isn't my favorite Black sibling!" His eyes shifted to Jessica. "Oh, and her hot best friend!"

The two girls giggled, Jessica at the compliment and Jenna at the offended noise that came from Jacob's mouth. Jacob kicked Quil and Quil kicked back, which made Jacob grab his shirt and pull him down to wrestle.

While those two tussled Embry came over to the girls, setting his stuff on the table before sitting down, smiling at them. "Hey."

"Have you eaten yet?" Jenna asked, pushing a plate towards him. "We have extra of, well, everything."

"Don't mind if I do," Embry grinned. He piled eggs and waffles onto his plate, scarfing them down quickly.

"Woah, dude. Didn't you have breakfast like thirty minutes ago?" Quil asked as he wrapped his legs around Jacob's torso, pinning him to the ground.

Embry shrugged, swallowing quickly and saying, "I'm still hungry."

Jenna watched in amusement as he kept shoveling things into his face. He ate like he was starving. Like he'd been starving for weeks. Like a ravenous bear waking up from hibernation.

Like Sam, Paul, and Jared that day at Emily's house.

Well, shit, Jenna thought, alarmed. Can it be...?

Jessica tapped her arm, snapping her out of her thoughts. "You know we're running late, right? We should go get ready."

There was a thump as Jacob flipped Quil over, digging his knee into his chest. "Where are you going?" He asked, glancing up casually as if Quil wasn't writhing for control underneath him.

"Beach," Jenna answered. "Some friends of ours are coming. They might already be there, actually."

"We're gonna have a barbecue," Jessica added.

"A barbecue?" The three boys exclaimed simultaneously.

Jenna chuckkled at them. "You guys can come if you want."

"Hell yeah!" Jacob jumped off Quil, staggering and crashing into Embry who fell off his chair with a yelp and accidentally elbowed Quil in the face. The three went down together, collapsing into a pile of gangly limbs on the floor.