"Family business?"
"You could say that but it would fall more in the planing side Peter."
"So you need an entire afternoon to plan an outing or a trip somewhere?"
She kissed my cheek as she started walking backwards to Emmett's Jeep, "you'll see. It's just a plan I got cooking rabbit. "
I squinted my eyes trying to discern her words. Edward was leaving with Bella how come I couldn't spend some more time with Alice? Reluctantly I climbed into the old truck and drove home. I was debating whether to send a message to Alice or would that come across as clingy when I spotted Billy Black's truck in our driveway.
I parked on the crib and got out praying Billy didn't bring any fish for dinner. Before I could open the door Jacob appeared with Bella with a grin as bright as the sun. "Peterrr! About time you arrived. Dad's gonna hangout with Charlie for a bit. I invited Bella here to a party at the rez. Wanna come?"
"Party? Wasn't it just a family reunion Jacob?"
He scratched the back of his neck, "ya, sure, but the boys will definitely turn it into one Bells. We don't have to stay the whole time, we could take a walk or something."
His voice grew quiet at the end, seeing Jacob shy was equivalent of seeing a lost puppy.
"Will Sam be there?"
Gaining back his spark Jacob signaled for us to get into his dad's truck, "ya basically it's just a little hangout for the big kids of the rez, come I'll tell you on the way."
"I'll drive though Jacob. We can't look like a bad influence to the little kids of the rez can we Peter?"
"I bet I know more about cars then you know about makeup Bella", he said while handing over the keys.
"I bet you know more then either of us about makeup with your luscious long hair prince charming."
We continued bantering on our way to the rez but I could tell Jacob was more interested in conversing with Bella then me. While they spoke about all the mud pies they use to make while I was off attempting to beat Sam in the daily challenge of the day, Jacob finally spoke about the reason for our hangout.
"You two remember Leah right?"
"Vaguely, she's with Sam. That tells me all I need to know."
He laughed at my remark, "ya a match made in hell, especially when they double team you in an argument. Well a while back before any of us touched the earth her aunt left the rez for the city. Long story short she found love, had a kid, and came back home."
"So is this a big deal she's back or what exactly?"
He shrugged, "they apparently haven't spoke in years. Her dad and her aunt I mean. The kid she said is a total stranger and all I know about the husband is he's European."
"Don't you think an entire meeting for her cousin could be, I don't know, um, a bit overwhelming?" Said Bella.
"Well ya but it's just the teenagers and old guys like Sam and Leah. I mean how else do people make friends Bella you Loca."
I chuckled at his statement and before I knew it we made it to our destination. "Wow. Nice house who's is it?"
"Oh its Emily Young's, Leah's other cousin. She wanted to meet the new kid and besides her food is top notch. Come Bella I'll introduce you..."
Incredible they left me behind before I could get out of the truck. It's like I'm third wheeling all over again. A part of me theorized Jacob wished to show how "close" he was to Bella but surely he wouldn't try something with someone taken, right?
I rubbed my shoes on the rug outside before entering and got inside to be greeted with a joyful Sam.
"Hey man, been a while." He gave me a handshake that turned into a shoulder hug. I was about to remove my shoes when a girl came, "oh please its fine no need to remove them. These lot didn't and I guarantee yours are cleaner then theirs. Names Emily, you must be Peter right?"
"Ya, lovely place you got here. Sorry to ask so quickly got any water to drink."
"Don't worry. We have water in the fridge help yourself, Sam and I are going to get some more food, the boys are a lot more hungry then what I prepared for."
I greeted the rest of the Quileutes before I got a cup of water when I realized Bella was missing. Scanning across the room I saw a boy getting ready to go outside.
"Oi Seth you've seen my sister anywhere?"
The boy was the youngest here and I hadn't seen him since he was probably two or three years old but he still had his childish face. "Is that you Peter? I heard a lot about you, Sam says to treat you like family but my sis says to treat you how I would Sam."
I raised an eyebrow "Like Sam?"
He smiled "kick him the balls if he acts all high and mighty." We both laughed at his joke, "mind if I ask something Peter?"
"No we're family afterall."
"Is it true your with a Cullen?" I tensed up at the question remembering the family grudge between them. Seth sensing hesitation raised his hands, "relax I'm just curious. About, you know, like what's the big deal? I mean they can't be that bad if your with one."
"I ain't the only one with a Cullen but so far I know Alice best, the rest I have converse with. Although I try to keep my distance."
"Distance?"
"You know, leave them in their own lane and I'll stay in mine."
"Do they not enjoy the idea of you and Alice? Or is it you who prefers not to know."
I sighed noticing the child like curiosity he still has and how he missed the adult ques of wanting to drop the topic. "Their weird, no odd. Well not odd just different characters. Listen its hard to explain unless you attempted to talk with one. Their all different just how all Quileutes are unique. As for Alice, others would tell you she"s a fairy in manner of insult. To me she's...everything I need to be a better man. And I don't know if that makes her crazy cause I don't really offer anything in exchange. All I know is she's a creative and wonderful person who's been nothing sort of caring or kind."
"Thats sweet. So you love her?"
"yes." I answered immediately as if were set in stone.
Sadly his questions didn't end, "Well what about Edward I asked Bella but she stared off into the distance as if she were in a novel and said 'Edward is Edward'."
"Oh thats an easy answer, he's a prick. On the topic of Bella could you tell me where she is?"
He giggled, "glad I'm not the only tired of their sister's boyfriend. Come I'll show you. Jacob wanted to introduce her to Talia and Leah again. Their riding the dirt bikes out back I'll show you, brought my own too. Wanna learn how to ride one?"
"Sure." I said as he guided me outside into the greenery of the forest next to Emily's home. When I got there I saw Jacob giving a woman with a motorcyle helment instructions on how to ride the bike she was about to get on. "Jacob! That isn't my sister right?"
He turned towards Seth and I, waving us forth. "No wouldn't dream of it. She's helping Leah with something. Between you and me I think she was to scared to deny helping." He chuckled, "this brave young Quileute here is Talia Clearwater, Talia this is Peter Swan."
"Clearwater?-" Before I could polity ask why Talia spoke the first thing that came to mind, "Yes I have my mom's last name these are progress times jackass."
"Ya she has her ways of speaking, one could call it an accent at this point but she means well unless she doesn't. Which is hard to tell cause Talia lacks manners around strangers although she's not that different towards family either, wanna go for a race Peter? Talia here is new too so it can be a race for the newbies."
I was staring at Talia who I could tell was sizing me up, "sure, Seth here was gonna show me anyway, right Seth."
"Ya I'll get my bike and tell you the ropes better then Jacob would."
"Oh will you now, lets see if the student surpasses the master, little jedi." They contuined conversing as they went off to get his bike. I imagine Jacob will get it down from a truck I hadn't seen leaving me with the masked Talia.
We remained in an uncomfortable silence staring of in the distance till she spoke, "your from Arizona same as Bella right?"
"Ah ya, you?"
"Detroit." she answered and we returned back to our awkward silence. I'm not sure if she tried to break the ice with her question but I decided against my better judgement to contuine the conversation even if it meant getting an insult. "Why did you, well your family move back?"
"Why do you care?" She said as if we were in a standoff.
"I don't."
"Then why bother asking?" She said in an annoyed tone.
Getting tired from her antics I raised my voice a little, "to make conversation dumbass."
Talia turned her head and looked me up and down. She got off the bike and threw the gloves Jacob gave her on the ground raising her hands in the process. With a distance of a couple feet I saw the calluses on her knuckles were thickened, with hardened layers of skin which told me Talia knew what she was about to do.
Just before she took the first step I heard jacob boisterous voice, "hey now! Keep that energy for the race! Talia get on your bike." Talia kneeled down and grabbed the gloves she threw but muttered a pharse just enough for the two of us to hear, "pussy."
What the fuck is her problem?
By the time she made it to her bike, Jacob was next to me and placed his hand on my shoulder, "oh come on Peter. I leave you alone for one second and your about to get into a fight, with lady at that."
From my anger I spoke loud enough for anyone who heard to know my irriation,"you tell me when she gets here." And walked towards Seth who gave me the run down on his bike.
By the time he finished, Jacob drew a line on the dirt to indicate the start and Bella arrived with Leah. "Remember enter the corners wide, then drive close to the inside of the corner and exit wide." Said Seth as his final piece of advise.
I drove next to Talia at the staring line and waited for Jacob to stop flirting for Bella to get the race started. While we waited Talia spoke to me, "ten bucks I win, or will you chicken out of making a bet with a lady?"
"Twenty, can your broke ass even afford it."
"Deal chicken."
With our bets in place we waited for Jacob. After a minute, Leah bored from their talking went and brought the rest of the crew to watch the race. Once their chants or bets were loud enough Jacob finally got the message and went to the line in front of us, "alright I want a clean race, three laps. Should take around ten minutes and then we'll go eat. Ok on go. 1...2...3..GO!"
Both me and Talia started at the same second but already half-way through the first lap the difference in bikes was clear. No doubt Jacob had modded his bike giving Talia the advantage in speed and stability while Seth's was still the same one from the store. The first lap Talia won with me a meter behind.
Knowing the layout for the second lap, I positioned myself wide for the corners which by the third and last corner I manged to cut in front of Talia, who had no choice but to let me through unless she wanted to get in an accident. With the end of the second lap I barley had a wheel of length in difference with Talia tailing me.
With each cornner we passed in the last lap, Talia copyied and adapted my strategy perfectly if not better then me. Still I managed to keep the distance intact until the upcoming final corner. I entered wide but my eyes widened when I saw Talia going short. The seconds grew long as we drove around the corner. When we were about to exit it I realized too late Talia's hidden intention. She wanted to push me of the track as she beelined for me head on. A game of chicken. With each inch she gained I grew in panic unsure if I could pass her before the impact or if I would be able to keep the bike stable enough while braking. Our wheels might've been an inch apart when, against my pride, I breaked and felt the death wobble of the bike causing me to fall with my left leg gaining the blunt of the impact. But during my fall, just for a blurry second I thought I saw Talia use her leg to stop her bike before crashing into me and somehow drive of as if nothing.
Once on the ground I got up and checked the bike quickly, thankfully it was alright thanks to my leg and I wouldn't have to pay Seth. I drove towards the crowd. As I grew closer, I saw Bella walk towards me with a worried expression with Jacob and Seth behind her. I hopped of the bike in front of her leaving it with Seth and ignored Bella's words with my objective being the group huddled around the 'winner'.
"Hey what the fuck is your problem!?" I was about to entire the group to 'talk' to Talia when Sam intervened, pushing me back trying to sperate us, "calm down Peter-"
"My problem? I believe I just made you my bitch, chicken."
"Chicken? Why don't you leave your cousins behind and settle this pussy."
"Enough! Leah take your cousin inside." Said Sam which surprisingly Leah listened. Then Sam turned to me, "and you follow me I can't have my guests causing problems." I was about to speak up again and insult Talia until Sam spoke in a gentler tone, "Peter please, just drop it, I know what happened, I saw it. Just as a bitrhday gift from all the times you missed it, I don't wanna cause Leah more problems."
I simply nodded feeling the adrenaline wear off while the growing pain in my leg grew. The blood from the scrapes began to drip down my leg and Sam noticed were my attention went to, "follow me, I got bandages in the house. Here, put your arm around my neck."
We walked the first steps with Bella walking ahead with Jacob and the others after I told her I was fine. After it was just us, Sam spoke in a humorous tone to ease the tension, "damn your a fatass, the fuck they feeding you back home?"
I laughed remembering memoires of old summers passed, "same shit you eat, your just fucken weak Sam."
"You still wouldn't hear me crying over losing." He shot back.
I sighed knowing how absurd it was on paper, "she just got under my skin and I let her, Talia the bitch I'll call her. Just between us."
He snorted, "I can get behind that. When Leah introduced me to her, she said this was the first time she felt bad for a woman."
We laughed out loud and we contuined to talk about anything we didn't dare say infront of others, having made a couple inside jokes on our way to the house. Just like old times.