Bella? Is that you?

Chapter 21

BELLA'S POV

I looked at my phone, thinking. It was odd, I hadn't heard from Jake, since he caught Alice and I kissing. I thought I would have at least heard from him, in some way. I heard the door open, and arms wrap around me. I leaned back, smiling.

"What's wrong?"

I frowned, why would Alice think something was wrong? Oh wait, the wolves. She couldn't see anything if they were involved. I shook my head, smiling.

"Nothing's wrong, pixie."

She kissed my cheek, and I smiled. I turned around, and looked at her. I could tell she was worried about something.

"Alice, it's nothing. I was just thinking about how odd it was, that Jake hasn't tried to do anything, especially after what he saw in the woods."

"Before or after I slammed him into that tree?"

That made me laugh, he hadn't been expecting that.

"Both. I was expecting some sort of reaction."

I shook my head, thinking about that day. He had interrupted us, and ..................... Well, he wouldn't do that again. I find her cute when she's angry, seeing as I know she would never actually hurt me, he didn't know that though. One wrong word, and he ..................... Well, he get to see what happens when you really piss her off.

"I'm not that bad."

I looked away, smiling. I knew she would hear that.

"I know that, you heard all of that, which means you know I think you're cute when you're angry. And looking at me like that isn't going to help."

That ............... Oh good God, that pout,. She looks at me like that and I'm mush. And she knew it.

"I am not cute."

I couldn't answer her, no matter how much I wanted to. She smiled, knowing she had me. I blinked, shaking my head,

"Hey, you know what happens when you look at me like that!"

"You know what happens when you call me cute."

OK, no one was going to win this argument.

"Well, looking at me like that only proves my point, and I know everyone agrees with me, pixie."

She shook her head, and suggested going out. I nodded, and we left. She was in a pretty good mood, which I was happy about. But, I had a feeling I was going to pay for that comment in some way. We went downstairs and Bret said she needed to talk to Alice, so I went out and decided to wait for her. I leaned against a tree, thinking about everything.

Alice walked out a few minutes later, smiling. She walked over to me, and I grabbed her hand.

"Did something happen?"

Alice shook her head, and we walked to the meadow.

"No. She just needed to ask me something."

I nodded, and she sat down. I sat next to her, wrapping my arms around her, she leaned back against me, and I kissed her cheek.

We spent the day in the meadow together, talking.

HOPE'S POV

Hayley and I have been getting closer, and I feel OK being close to her now. She told me that she had something that she wanted to talk to me about something, so we went back to her house and ended up in her room.

Hayley seemed nervous, and I wanted to know why.

"Ley, is something wrong?"

I had a nickname for her, but she never said anything about it. She looked away, and I grabbed her hand, squeezing it.

"I just need to talk to you about something. It's about me being a shifter."

That never bothered me. I mean, it's not like she can control of she's a shifter.

"You know that doesn't bother me, Ley."

Hayley took a deep breath, looking at me.

"I know you said that. But, there are a few things about being a shifter and a girl that I haven't told you."

What was she talking about? She told me about the different effects imprinting can have. We didn't have the ability to see each others thoughts, but we could feel each others emotions. She was feeling nervous about something, and I didn't know what.

"Ley, I don't care about you being a shifter. I care about you."

Again, she took a deep breath.

"Hope, being a shifter and a girl means I'm a little.......... Different."

Different? We hadn't gotten that close, but she ............... I didn't get it.

"Hayley, I don't know what you mean, but I care about you. I don't care how different you may be. You're still ................ Well, you."

Hayley shook her head, I clearly wasn't understanding what she was saying.

"You don't get it. I may look like a girl ................. But, I'm a little ................... Different."

What? She looks like a girl, but she's not .................. Wait, I think I know what she's saying, but that can't be right.

She was worried and embarrassed now. She blushed, and thought she looked cute.

"Hayley, I think I get it, but I'm not sure. Are you saying, you're ............... Different?"

I looked down at her lap, and back up at her. She looked away, not answering.

Yeah, I'm right.

I didn't care either way, she's still Hayley. It was a surprise, but I .............. Well, she's still the same person.

"I don't care Hayley."

That made her look at me, surprised.

"W...... What?"

"I don't care, Ley. You're still you."

I moved a little closer, and wanted to prove my point. I leaned forward and kissed her. I leaned my forehead against hers.

"I really don't care, Ley."