"I take back what I said the first time we met. I never could have been more wrong."
"Oh, and what would that be?"
"Every thing about you - every thing you do, or say, or even when you scrunch your nose when you don't really like something - just ma...
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I LET OUT A BIG BREATH, pulling on a linen two piece before braiding the roots of my hair. Leah had texted me earlier in the day, excitement radiating through the phone about the arrival of her cousin. I replied that I would be there without hesitation, happy that Leah was finally beginning to open other people besides her direct family and Sam. So with a peck on my Dad's cheek and a wave to Bella, I was out the door and on my way to the reservation.
As soon as my car kicked up dirt in the Clearwater's driveway, Leah was out the door, smiling happily at me. "Hey there Pale Face," she smirks.
"Good to see you too, Jawline," I retort, going up to her and letting her bring me into a big hug.
"Thanks for coming."
"What are friends for?" I smirk, letting her lead me into the small but happy home. I was taken into countless more hugs, including that of Sue's sister, Julia. Finally, Leah ushered me over to the kitchen where a young woman was bent over a mixing bowl.
"Em!" Leah exclaims. "I want you to meet Jo Swan."
"Ah, the infamous Josephine," the girl giggles, turning around to face me. She was truly beautiful, with long onyx hair, and dainty, pretty features. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Emily."
"And I'm infamous?" I ask, my eyebrows raising expectantly and make the two girls in front of me laugh. Dinner was easy and careless. There was, however, one person missing: Leah's fiance. "Where's Sam?"
"He'll, uh, he'll be here soon... He's been having a tough time the past few weeks," Leah muttered quietly. "He said it had something to do with his dad." I frowned, thinking about Joshua Uley's reputation, so I decided not to push it. Sam was a lot like Leah; he was a private person who liked to work through his shit on his own. Speak of the Devil, I thought as the front door swang open.
"Sorry I'm late," a deep voice grumbled, causing all heads to turn.
"Not a worry, Sam," Sue smiled, gesturing to the seat beside Leah. "Food's still warm." He nodded gratefully, sliding into the seat with ease. I took the time to look him over, noticing how in the almost two weeks that I hadn't seen him, he had filled out even more. His hair wasn't past his shoulders anymore. It was cropped short, but messily, and showcasing his ears. The cutoff shirt he wore exposed a new piece of ink on his left shoulder: a circular design with a wolf howling. I watched as he finally looked up from the plate he was picking at, only to make eye contact with Leah's cousin, Emily. The moment their eyes met, he took in an uneven breath.
Some weird welcome dinner, huh?
<>
I woke up the next morning shockingly happy. The sun was beginning to rise through my window, and my clock reading 5:37 am. There was energy in every step, and I pulled a bright, yellow dress from my closet before jogging down the stairs to start up the black coffee machine. I jogged outside, growing some spinach and bell pepper quickly before rushing back inside to start up some omelets.
Fresh fruit and vegetables were a regular in the house as of late, considering I had the tools to provide the best food for my family for free. Dad's cruiser pulled into the driveway, no doubt coming back from the graveyard shift he had worked the night before. So I quickly pulled out a glass of water and had it waiting by the door for the moment he got into the house. "Still taking some getting used to you being up so early," Dad chuckles as soon as he walks in. I could hear him pick the glass up from the table.
"Get some rest, Dad," I note, kissing his cheek happily and taking his coat to hang up for him. "You deserve it."
"Thanks, Josie," he mutters. "Love you; have a good day at school."
"Love you too Pops," I grin at him before turning around and going back to shuffling about the kitchen. I killed time until Bella woke up by pulling myself together for school, and by fixing up my bedroom. I pursed my lips, looking around. The room was missing something, but for the life of me, I couldn't put a finger on it. A part of me missed the cozy feel of the cabin and its undoubted connection to the forest outside of it. My eyes widened as I looked to the barren white wall behind my bed. "Looks like I'm buying paint today after school," I decided on a whim, imagining all of the beautiful things I could do with it.
"Jo," Bella's voice called out, startled. I turned to her, a smile on my face.
"Morning Bella," I said quietly.
"Why are you being so quiet?" She giggles, about to step into the bathroom.
"Dad just got back from his shift," I answer simply. "You get ready, I'll start up an omelet for you." She smiles gratefully before disappearing behind the door. Things had been calm recently, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The hate I usually harbored had settled so deep into me that it hardly ever came up to play. I felt serenity--peace. I sent one last glance to the empty wall in front of me before grinning and making my way back down the stairs as quietly as I could.
Just as I was sliding Bella's food onto a plate, she came trotting back down the stairs. "Food's up," I giggled, placing it in front of her before turning around and refilling my mug.
"Jo, can I ask you a question?" she asked nervously as I settled into my chair opposite her.
"Shoot," I respond nonchalantly, bringing the hot coffee up to my lips and taking a long gulp.
"Why have you been so nice to me these last two months?" I sighed and put my mug down, noticing the flinch she makes when she fears for the worst.
"Cause I was being an ass before, and I'm sorry," I respond. "I wasn't being fair to you, and that just wasn't right of me. I regret the way I treated you when you first got to town, and I wanted to show you that by giving you more than an apology. But I am really sorry." Bella's face stretched into a wide grin.
"Apology entirely accepted. I'm sorry too." I snort.
"For what?"
"For the shit I said that night. When I woke up in the hospital, it was all I could think about." I winced, thinking back to that night.
"You have nothing to apologize to me for. I deserved everything you said to me," I shrugged. "Dad though, Dad definitely deserved an apology."
"And I've only told him every day since," she mutters, losing eye contact with me and looking down to her plate.
"Hey, said and done, right?"
"Right," she grins. A car horn beeps, and I can see her boyfriend's shiny Volvo pull into the driveway.
"That's for you," I tease, watching as she scarfs down the rest of her food. "Hey Bella?" I ask, collecting everything I would need for the day as she begins to swing the door open.
"Yeah?"
"Come to my game on Friday night? It's my first game as captain."
"Absolutely," she grins. "See you at school," she notes before the door shut.
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*cue me posting the update wicked late at night again because a bitch can't remember to save her life*
I don't want to break Leah's little heart :(
Bella and Jo being friends? Yay or nay? Idk bruh tbh I guess.
