Twilight Fan Fiction ❯ So Long As You're With Me ❯ Worst Storm on Record ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all characters of her Twilight series used in this fanfiction. However, I thank her for allowing me to warp them as I see fit for others' entertainment.

A/N:Well, this is a pretty big deal for me. Although I've read the books so much I've pretty much memorized Twilight, this is my first tribute to my fave couple in the book. I must say I'm fairly excited. You know what, scratch that. I'M FREAKING THRILLED MAN! There's a rather long A/N at the end so I'll shut up and let you guys get reading now…

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How did I decide this was a good idea again?

Bella you are a glutton for punishment…

I thought for about the umpteenth time in the past hour. But really, for once, I had to agree with my conscience. Truly this was not one of my brighter ideas and I tried to remember exactly what had shaken my sanity into doing this.

Really, I could blame Edward. I could blame the luscious vampire that I missed like water, could blame him for leaving me to protect me; I could blame his entire being for making the mistake of thinking I would, or could, live without him.

But I couldn't do that. Technically it was all his fault that I was in the pouring rain, driving my run down old truck from the beginning of time, unable to see an inch of the road in front of me even though it was no later than 2 in the afternoon. How was it his fault you ask? The reason I was driving in the most dangerous storm of the year was because I desperately needed to see my best friend Jacob Black, without whom all of my sanity would have disappeared a long time ago.

Had it not been for Jacob I was certain that I would be the same husk I'd been just after Edward left me. Jake was, almost literally, my knight in shining armor. Or, rather, fur. Anyway, if I blamed Edward for his mistake, it would be like saying that Jacob and I becoming friends had been a mistake, something I refused to believe.

Lately Jake and I had become two peas in the same pod, peanut butter and jelly, some other cutesy metaphor that Charlie loved to use when he referred to me and Jacob. In his eyes we were inevitable, the perfect pair. Hell, if my dad found out my best friend were a werewolf he would probably be shocked for all of two seconds before shaking his hand and exclaiming, “That's great Jake! I'm glad I won't have to worry about you taking care of my daughter at least.”

However, all of this aside, the real reason that I was making my way to La Push in the aforementioned storm was really for a partly ridiculous reason: I had been lonely. Somehow while I lay in the couch watching an old movie from the 50's I'd gotten the strangest urge to grasp Jacob's hand, only to find that said Jacob was missing. Then came the stranger part; for an eerily perilous moment I'd felt like I was losing him, allowing him to slip out of my grasp as easily as I had let Edward go.

It was right about then I decided, `To hell with the rain! I, Bella Swan, am a force to be reckoned with when lonely!'

I'm pretty sure it was here I began to lose my mind.

Luckily I can just barely make out the blurred boundary lines of La Push and I almost sigh in relief. However, with my previous luck, something has to happen to ruin my good fortune. One minute I'm just fine on the road, almost in the center of the lane. The next, I'm slamming on the brakes and skidding, sliding hazardously and spinning across the road, only to be stopped by a rather solid object I can only assume is a tree.

So much for luck.

Shock, at this point, is what is keeping me from either slipping into unconsciousness or having an absolute freak-out. Of course, it could be something completely different from my shock. It could be the stabbing pain in my now throbbing back, or the fact that the thunder rumbling above me drowned out my own thoughts, let alone allowing me to sleep. Or, it could have been the insistent voice that just wouldn't stop calling my name…

“Bella! BELLA! Bella where are you? Bella! BELLA!”

It takes my mind a moment to process who it is, exactly, that is shouting my name so loudly I can hear it over the din of the storm, and try to smile. I say try because my face is contorted into a grimace half-way between pain and exasperation.

“Jake? Jake I'm over here!” I try to shout, but I can hardly hear myself so there's absolutely no way Jacob will be able to hear me.

Silence reigns for a moment before the injuring sound of the scrape of metal reaches my ears. Just after this Jacob Black's face appears in the driver's side window and had there not been a rumble above us at that exact moment he would have heard an interesting choice of words on my part.

Instead, he merely looks overly concerned before he practically tears the door off, consequently flinging rain water in every direction and scaring the Jesus out of me.

“Jacob what the hell is your probl-!”

“Bella!”

Before I can even get the rest of my reprimand out he has me crushed against him, nearly breaking every bone in my back if the unsafe popping noises are any indication. Startled for a moment into stillness I relax and reach around him to hug him back.

It's at this second I realize he's very much so bare chested, bare backed and just…bare.

Scrambling for a foothold in my mind I wheeze out, “Uh…Jake? You can let me go now.”

A second later he releases me and sets me on my feet, still looking concerned but more relieved than even that. He's looking me over and I can't stop the blush that shoots to the fore as I shield myself from his gaze with my crossed arms.

Without looking away he moves them aside and growls, “Cut it out Bella I need to check you for injuries.”

Replacing my arms I ignore his exasperated look and exclaim, “I'm fine Jake. Could we possibly go somewhere, I don't know, dry?”

As soon I mention it he seems to notice I look like a drowned rat with no jacket and a tank top and he looks angry for the first time. “Bella, what the hell? Didn't Charlie ever teach you that you should wear a jacket or something when it rains?”

I roll my eyes. “I skipped that lesson considering it seems pointless at the time. Now can we go, please?”

His eyes instantly soften and he sighs playfully before scooping me up into his arms and holding me possibly a little closer than necessary. Though who could complain? He felt like a furnace. A very chiseled, extra comfortable, warm…

I shake my head and try my best not to continue that line of thought. I love Edward and that's all there is to it. I shouldn't be ogling Jacob like some sort of-of…Ken doll!

“Hang on!”

Its Jacob's only warning before we're soaring through the trees, moving so fast everything around us is one big green blur and it's almost like running with Edward. Almost. At least I'm not getting sick, or dizzy, or even remotely faint. It's a much more human, err,werewolf, pace.

It's only been what seems like seconds and we're at Billy's door, Jacob only setting me on my feet once we're completely inside and out of the terrible weather. Even still he grasps me firmly around the waist as he calls out into the house, “Dad?”

When no one answers he doesn't look remotely concerned but orders me to sit in the nearest chair in the kitchen, then sets to pacing up the length of the kitchen. I let him have a minute, allow him to cool down since I can feel his irritation from here. Finally, as suspected, he turns to me.

“Bella what the hell are you doing out here in this? Leave it to you to get in an accident the same day as the worst storm ever recorded…” He gripes and I roll my eyes once more.

“I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't…I wasn't thinking and I just-!”

“Not thinking? That's for damn sure…”

That's it; I've had enough. I stand to my feet, practically throwing the chair I'm sitting in backward before I protest, “Okay, fine! Yeah, you're right, I wasn't thinking. I was obviously too stupid to realize that wanting to come and see you was a bad idea! I never would have left if I'd known you'd only yell at me!”

I turn towards the door, my destination obviously being nowhere, when Jacob's firm hand grasps my wrist. Silently grateful that he just stopped me from going back out into the freezing rain I refuse to turn and look at him.

After a second he says softly, “No Bella…stay.”

Another second of rather tense silence later I pull out of his grip and turn to face him, crossing my previously secured arms to glower at him. Without missing a beat he continues in a soft voice meant to soothe, “I just…when I heard your truck all I could think was, `That's not Bella, she's not stupid enough to come out here in this.' Low and behold, here you are! When I saw the accident I just…what were you thinking?”

His concern would have sent ripples through me had it not been masked by his incredulous expression that said he really was as astonished as I was at my irrational behavior. I blush, hard, and indignantly explain, “I was-I was just…I just wanted to see you. Charlie's still down at the police station and I was watching the movie and I just got-lonely!”

I blurt everything, much to my chagrin, and suddenly find the floor incredibly interesting. It's in the moments that I'm staring at my Adidas, wondering when I'll get down to Port Angeles to get a new pair, that I realize Jacob is laughing at me. At first I can't quite place the sound, the rumbling noise that makes me want to grit my teeth and laugh at the same time, but as soon as I look up Jacob's amused face stares back at me.

Really, now I can blame the entire situation on Jacob.

His smile, always so carefree and light, is surely what makes me come back to La Push whenever I can. At this moment, the idea seems entirely plausible. Dark eyes lit in wonder his smile takes over his entire face until it looks as though it will crack in two. His laugh bubbles up and erupts from him, his entire body shaking with the effort to stay quiet.

For a second I think about protesting, but it's soon clear his laughter is contagious. Without thinking I suddenly start laughing too, almost as hard, if not harder, than Jake. Soon we're clutching onto each other to stay upright, breathing labored until there are tears streaming down our faces.

Jacob looks up at me and suddenly stops laughing altogether, instead watching me with a weird expression on his face. It can only be described as bewilderment, though I have absolutely no idea why that would be so.

I shake my head and finally calm enough to meet his amazed eyes and exclaim breathlessly, “What is it?”

He shakes his head and murmurs, “Your laugh. It's…I don't know, perfect.”

I stare back at him for a second but he straightens up, still smiling, and says, “Well, now that you're here you might as well watch some TV. Want something to eat?”

I vaguely realize I'm nodding before I stammer, “Y-yeah! TV…yeah, that sounds…that sounds great.”

While Jake bustles around for something in the fridge I slink into the living room trying desperately to calm my raging heart. It's only after I sink down onto the couch and turn on the TV can my brain respond to Jacob's absolute, unabashed flirting.

Sure, I know the guy likes me. In fact, who doesn't? He practically tells me with his eyes everyday, or through voice, whichever is more comfortable to him at the time…

“So I'm thinking we're gonna have to eat some frozen pizza since Dad's gone. That alright with you?”

Jakes voice permeates my thought wall and I turn to respond with a smile when my answer dies on my lips. I have no clue whether it's the fact that I wasn't paying attention after my near-death experience or whether I was too blind to see it before.

He leans against the couch, still bare chested, only now I can make out every line, every muscle on his abdomen. Sculpted love handles lead up to a six pack the size of Montana, which then connect to bulging arm muscles…

“Earth to Bella!”

My eyes snap to his face and I realize a second too late that this was the wrong thing to do. His eyes sparkle beneath his mop of dark shaggy hair, high cheekbones accented in the light, lips perfectly pink and absolutely soft looking…

“Eh-hem!”

His throat clearing snaps me out of my reverie and he laughs at my startled gaze. Chuckling darkly he murmurs, “Like what you see? Much better than that blood sucker no doubt…”

And leave it to Jacob to absolutely kill the mood.

I sigh and paste a smile on for his sake. “Pizza sounds great Jake,” I reply to his earlier inquiry and his face falls in an almost comical vision of disappointment.

He disappears back into the kitchen for a second and yells from there, “Considering you can't go home in this weather, what do you want to do today?

The question is so familiar and comfortable I automatically smile, happy despite his earlier comment. “Some TV sounds just fine. What do you wanna do today?”

He reappears in the living room, but this time plops down next to me on the couch where I instinctively scoot closer. Throwing an arm around the back of the couch so that it's right above my shoulders he shrugs. “Doesn't really matter. Not as long as you stick around.”

Once again his commentary floors me. He hardly seems to notice as he picks up the remote and changes the channel to wrestling, not even batting an eyelash. Turning to face him I practically hiss, “You do know right?”

This time he looks confused. “Know what?”

I grit my teeth and exclaim, “That I'm still in love with Edward?”

His eyes and face go hard and he turns back to the TV without missing a single beat. “Oh, that…”

Somehow his answer infuriates me. How dare he make me think I'm being childish and silly when all I want is to make sure I don't get too close to him? The nerve of some people…

“Well then why do you keep saying stuff like that?”

Half exasperated and half amused he sighs and turns away from the TV to stare me directly in the eyes. “Stuff like what, Bella?”

For a second I forget my rebuttal. Jacob's kind of hot…

“Like…As long as I'm around it won't matter what we do?”

He shrugs, looking confused but also slightly irritated. “Because it's the truth. You have to admit, nothing is ever truly boring when you're around…”

I reel back, trying to ignore the way his eyes are searing a hole in my skull while forming an appropriate response. “W-well…what about my laugh? You say it like I'm some kind of princess or something!”

“To me you are.”

I nearly tug my hair out as I stand to my feet and yell, “You see? You see that? Stop it!”

“Stop what?”

“STOP MAKING ME LOVE YOU!”

The room goes instantly quiet and it's after a second I realize exactly what I've just said. Breathing hard all the fight leaves my body and I sink back onto the couch in a heap. “It's bad enough that you…you make me feel good on days when I don't want to, but you walk around with me like I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you and…and…”

Jacob slowly pulls me across the couch to him so that I'm lying in his lap and brushes my hair back from my face. Smiling softly he whispers, “I'm sorry Bella but I can't control how we both feel. I understand that you still love the blo- I mean Edward,” he spits it like a curse word and I nearly laugh, “but Bella he's gone. I'm here now…”

At this I shoot to my feet again and shake my head at him. “Jacob please don't…”

He stands to his feet and continues, “Bella he's gone. He left you here like this! If he was stupid enough to leave you he doesn't deserve you-!”

“Jake it's not like that…”

Suddenly his temper snaps. “Not like that? Bella when you first came here you were practically dead! And who's fault is that?”

“Jake don't blame him-!”

“Then who is to blame?”

“No one!”

“Damn it Bella just listen to me! I'm all you have now-!”

“SHUT UP!”

“NO! Bella, damn it, I love you!”

My stare turns icy and I growl, “I already know that.”

Jake, completely unperturbed, pushes hair back out of his face and murmurs, “Then you know that I would never do what he did. I would never leave you whether I had to or not; I'd die first.”

And after just a heartbeat, I recognize his statement to be completely true. Jacob would never lie to me, and yet somehow this makes things even scarier. Jacob sighs and sits back down on the couch, motions for me to sit down with him. I brush away the angry tears on my face and reluctantly have a seat, becoming completely lifeless in his arms when he pulls me into a hug.

“Bells I'm…I'm sorry, but not about what I said,” he murmurs in that soothing voice again, “I don't want to hurt you but…Edward he, he doesn't deserve you. And even if he did, I'm here now. He gave you up and I rescued you, isn't that how it's supposed to work? Save the damsel in distress, get the girl?”

My smile is watery at best but this time I relax in his grip and sigh gently. “Jake, I'm really sorry…”

He snorts and waves a hand to signify it was nothing. “Hey don't sweat it. Hanging around werewolves is really giving you a temper.”

This time my smile feels almost natural and I look up into his face only to be penetrated with those eyes again. “Maybe I'll have to just stop hanging around with you guys then…”

I make a move to get up when his grip tightens quite drastically around my middle and I laugh. Looks like my temper's not enough of a problem…

I settle back into his warmth and sigh contentedly when he shifts so that we're lying long ways on the couch. Within minutes I feel myself start to drift and I vaguely hear Jacob's voice teasing me before everything goes quietly dark…

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There is a constant ringing in my head and it will just not go away.

The ringing is loud enough that it could probably wake the dead but I stubbornly refuse to give in and open my eyes to it. Somehow the stupid ringing will win and I refuse to allow that to happen…

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the ringing halts and I can just make out Jacob's voice from pretty far away. I can only catch bits and pieces of what he's saying but it sounds like my dad is on the other end. I sigh and give in. Maybe I'll just crack a peek…

Upon looking down I make the decision to kill Jacob as soon as I see him next.

Note to self: never fall asleep in your best friend's house, who's in love with you, for hours at a time when you don't know what he could have done to you while you're asleep.

“JACOB!”

I screech as loud as I can and within seconds Jacob is in the doorway looking completely on alert. He's already half transformed, his skin taking on a reddish hue while his teeth are bared and he's started shaking. Upon his arrival he notes only that I'm alone in his room, buried up to my chin in blankets on his bed and glaring straight across the room at him. Without another word he straightens up and smiles, obviously placated in the fact that I'm in no kind of immediate danger.

“Bells, what the hell are you doing?” He asks as though I'm a child waiting to be reprimanded.

“I could ask you the same thing you pervert!” I huff back at him and he frowns slightly. He raises an eyebrow for good measure to make sure I understand his confusion and I growl, “Where the hell are my clothes?”

He rolls his eyes but has the decency to blush slightly as he grumbles, “Relax Bella they were soaking wet-,”

“You could have woken me up or something and I could have done it for you!”

“Bella you were dead asleep. Besides, I didn't take anything off of you…”

I grit my teeth and wish for just a moment that I was a werewolf so I could tear him apart. “Oh you didn't? Did the Undress Fairy come and pay me a visit while I was sleeping? Because if so I'd like to thank you for being such a great security system…”

Jacob rolls his eyes again and explains, “You really need to chill. Sam and Emily came by to make sure we were OK and Emily said you'd catch a cold if you kept your wet clothes on so she, err, undressed you, and put you in my clothes. Which, by the way, don't look too bad on you…”

Only partially consoled that it was a woman who saw me half naked I lower the blankets some and glower at him. Suddenly, movement in the window startles me back into reality and I gape outside. “The rain…it stopped,” I half murmur to myself and Jacob sighs before giving me that smile again.

“Yeah, stopped about half an hour ago…”

Something about the way he said it set me on edge and I gave a half grimace at what he was going to say next. I raise an eyebrow at him and ask, “What's with that face? Did something happen while I was out?”

He shrugs and I know from experience that is not a good sign. “Sort of.”

I drop the blanket completely and crawl out of bed slowly, walking so that I stand just a few feet away from Jake. “What do you mean `sort of'?”

He turns and leans against the doorway before he explains, “That was Charlie on the phone. He says the weather's fine but the roads are blocked off with all sorts of debris.”

“Meaning…?” I cannot to believe what he's going to say next but I know it's coming all the same.

“Meaning we're stuck here until they get the roadways clear. And there's supposed to be another storm tonight…”

I gasp and sink slowly back down onto the bed, refusing to consider what I know is true. I indistinctly feel Jake sit on the bed next to me and he murmurs, “You okay?”

I try to nod but instead I ask, “Where's Billy? Is he alright?”

Jacob nods and explains, “Yeah. He went out to a friend of his' down the street and now that the roads are blocked off he can't get back home either. Charlie's already back at the house and he's trying to find a way to get the roads cleared but he said the earliest he can get to us is probably tomorrow night.”

This time I do nod and the phone rings. “That's probably one of the guys,” Jake murmurs and gets up to go and get it, leaving me to sit on the bed and wonder just how bad it really is.

Okay, so I'm stuck in a house with my best friend. At least that's somewhat good. However, we've also pronounced our love for each other in his living room. Not good. He's also a slightly temperamental werewolf determined to change my mind about the fact that I'm still in love with my ex-boyfriend vampire and will probably try to make a move on me in the two days that we're trapped, alone, in his house together.

Did I do something in a past life to deserve this?

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A/N: So, how was it? This is only the first chapter in what I'm hoping is a 3 chapter fic so I'm hoping to get some good reviews on it. I hope you guys liked reading it as much as I liked writing it! lol Nothing against Edward, but Jacob is definitely my favorite I must say. Reviews make me happy people!

Until next time,

Stay Beautiful