17. Dinner with Jake

BPOV

I puttered anxiously around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on everything. The table was set and had a vase of wildflowers in the center. The kitchen was sparkling clean; all the dishes were washed and put away. I peeked in the oven needlessly once again. I wanted everything to be perfect for tonight. The delicious aroma of lasagna permeated the air throughout the entire house. I was serving garlic bread and salad along with it. I had the glasses already filled with ice, and I had made iced tea.

I heard the front door open.

"Bella?" Charlie called out, shutting the front door. "It smells wonderful!"

I meandered out of the kitchen to watch him hang up his jacket and gun belt. I smiled at him.

"How was your day?" I asked pleasantly.

"Not bad. A few minor issues, no major ones. I do like living in a small town," he returned easily. "Looks like we have about ten minutes until Billy and Jacob get here, so I'm going to go get freshened up, okay?"

"Sounds good, Dad. I've got everything under control down here."

He dashed upstairs to his room, and I resumed my nervous pacing around the living room this time. I had already been through here twice making sure everything was cleaned and dusted. I tweaked the pillows on the couch, though of course they didn't really need it. I spent a few minutes gazing at all my old pictures Charlie had displayed prominently around the room. I wondered if I shouldn't hide a few of them when he wasn't looking. I wasn't sure I wanted Edward seeing those unflattering pictures of me.

Just when I thought I would go insane, I heard a knock on the front door. I actually jumped a bit at the noise, my heart rate accelerating. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and answered the door. I saw Billy in his wheelchair and, as I expected, the sight of his kind old face immediately brought back childhood memories. I didn't really recognize Jacob as well as I did Billy. I could only see a hint of the boy he used to be. I wasn't sure I would have known him under different circumstances. I stood back so they could enter, Jacob pushing Billy's chair.

Once they were inside, I shut the door and gave Billy a hug.

"It's so good to see you again, Billy," I enthused gently. "How are your daughters?"

"They've upped and moved away. It's just Jacob and me at home now," he chuckled. "But they're happy, and they come back to visit now and again."

"Hi, Jacob. I'm glad your dad has you, at least for a few more years. It can't be easy for either of you though."

He ducked his head shyly. "We manage. Dinner smells really good though. Neither of us are particularly talented in the kitchen."

"Well, I made plenty, so no one will go hungry tonight," I teased. "I'm pretty sure there's enough even for a growing teenage boy."

Charlie had made his way downstairs, and all three males laughed appreciatively at my attempt to break the ice. Just then, the oven timer buzzed, so I excused myself and rushed to take the food out of the oven. Jacob strolled in behind me.

"Anything I can do to help?" he offered, leaning against the counter.

"Umm, sure. Do you want to get the drinks ready, at least for you and Billy? There's tea, beer, and water."

"Does Charlie know you're offering me beer?" he joked easily. I rolled my eyes.

"Have you ever tasted beer?"

"No," he admitted sheepishly.

"Well, I have. Believe me; you're not missing out on anything."

He grinned. "So did you get rip-roaring drunk?"

I shook my head and gave him a disgusted look. "Of course not. My stepfather, Phil, let me taste his one time. I haven't desired a repeat of the experience."

Jacob laughed. "Right, so stick with the tea then, that's your recommendation?"

I grinned. "Absolutely."

We worked together quickly and had everything set up and ready in record time. I peeked into the living room to see how Billy and Charlie were getting along. I didn't want to interrupt if they were in the middle of something serious. Jacob came to peer over my shoulder. Billy and Charlie were sitting comfortably in the living room getting caught up on all the news about each other's lives since the last time they had spoken.

"They gossip as bad as little old ladies," Jacob whispered in my ear. I chuckled.

"Maybe it's because neither of them has a wife to do it for them," I suggested. Jacob grinned at me with a sense of camaraderie.

"Dinner's ready, guys!" I announced. Charlie sprang up from his seat and pushed Billy into the kitchen. I had removed a chair to make room for the wheelchair so Billy could join us comfortably at the table.

Conversation at the dinner table was limited, as the guys couldn't seem to shovel the lasagna into their mouths fast enough. I ate mine at a reasonable pace, but even I had to admit it was one of the best ones I had made thus far. The males all had seconds, and Jake even helped himself to thirds. They had all grimaced at the salad, but they all took a little to appease me. The garlic bread was a big hit as well. There was hardly any left. Finally, all three of them sat back satisfied.

"Wow, Bells!" Charlie exclaimed proudly. "You really outdid yourself tonight. That was better than any restaurant food I've ever eaten."

"Yeah!" Jacob agreed. "I'd like to get the recipe, if you don't mind. Not that I could make it as good as you did, but even if it was half as good, it'd be better than what we usually eat."

"I think we're going to have to come visit you regularly, Charlie. But, uh, only when Bella's cooking,"

Billy joked. "Seriously, this was absolutely delectable, Bella."

I blushed, letting my hair fall like a curtain around my face.

"Thanks," I mumbled self-consciously. I looked up with a smile. "Isn't your game about to start?"

Charlie grinned. "I think that's our cue, Billy. How about we go and enjoy a little TV while the young'uns clean off the table."

"Sound good to me," Billy approved. "Make yourself useful, Jake."

Jacob scoffed. "Don't I always?"

Billy chuckled and shrugged. The men settled down in front of the TV, their attention focused on the game. Jacob cheerfully started gathering the plates and taking them to the sink, while I focused on wrapping up the leftovers.

"How about you wash and I dry?" Jacob suggested. I smiled and nodded, pulling a fresh dish towel out of the drawer and handing it to him. We worked together in companionable silence, not trying to talk over the sound of the running water combined with the noise of the TV in the background. It didn't take long for us to finish.

"Thanks, Jake, for helping."

"No problem. I've got the same chore at home, so I'm used to it."

I smiled. "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to take a little walk while we talk?"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"Okay, we'll just let our dads know, so they won't worry."

I stuck my head into the living room. "Dad? Jake and I are going to take a little walk. We won't go far."

"Okay, Bells, but stay out of the woods."

I laughed. "Trust me, Dad, I have no desire to get lost in the woods tonight. Knowing me, I'd be lost before we even got twenty feet past the tree line, and you'd have to call out a search party."

They all chuckled. I headed out the back door, wanting to get out of hearing range. With the TV on, I knew I wouldn't have to go far. Jake followed me passively, waiting for me to speak.

"Hey, Jake, what is your dad's problem with the Cullens, anyway?"

He ducked his head and looked away. I had a feeling he was blushing.

"It's just some silly superstitions based on our tribal legends. They're pretty ridiculous if you ask me."

"Well, I hate that my dad and yours have allowed it to come between them and a friendship that has lasted so many years. That's why I tried to get them back together, and so far it seems to be working."

"This was your idea?" he asked, looking impressed.

"Yeah."

"Thanks! Dad's been really depressed about losing Charlie's friendship. This is the happiest I've seen him for quite some time."

I smiled. "My pleasure. Anyway, I was thinking maybe we should take things one step further."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know grudges and feuds can last generations, hundreds of years even. They never stop until finally one generation chooses to ignore the grievances of the past and become friends with their enemies. Only then is the cycle of hatred and fear broken."

"Um, okay. So what does that mean in plain English?"

"Well, Alice Cullen is my best friend. I thought maybe you and your friends could hang out with me and my friends. Maybe if we of the younger generation can learn to live together peacefully, then we could put an end to the animosity between the Quileutes and the Cullens. What do you think?"

"Hmmm, that sounds like a good idea, but my dad would be really mad if he found out I was hanging out with the Cullens."

"Well, I wasn't planning on telling him, of course. You certainly don't have to—I'm not trying to push you into anything. I was just thinking about Billy and Charlie. Charlie's mad because your dad has been convincing people not to go to the hospital now that Dr. Cullen works there. Charlie's afraid someone is going to get hurt or die because of this. I just thought it was time to maybe show everyone that we can all live together in peace."

"Wow! I didn't realize my dad had gone so far off the deep end. Yeah, I think you're right. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, people tend to fear what they don't understand. If you and your friends take the time to get to know the Cullens, then they won't be 'other' anymore. They'll be people, just like you and me. You guys can show that there's no reason to go to such extremes to avoid the whole family. Even if we never convince the older generation, we can stop the cycle from progressing to the next generation."

He nodded, understandingly. "Okay, I'm with you so far."

"So we'll all hang out on weekends. We'll talk, play games, go places. All the things normal friends do together. We'll just have to do it all off the reservation. I'll pick you and your friends up and we'll all meet at the designated locations. How does that sound?"

"Sounds like a plan, but I'll have to check it out with Quil and Embry, my pals. I'm willing, but I can't speak for them."

"Great, just call me tomorrow and let me know. That'll give me plenty of time to work out the details."

He grinned conspiratorially at me. "So you think your friends are willing to hang out with a bunch of sophomores?"

I scoffed. "Why not?"

He looked me over seriously. "I've heard they keep to themselves. They don't really seem to like anybody. Except you, apparently."

"Well, they are all rich, smart, and gorgeous. Other people tend to be intimidated by that, so they make rude and hurtful remarks. The Cullens also get a lot of kids trying to be friends with them for all the wrong reasons, interested more in what they have instead of who they are. Plus, they're all adopted. Most of them had hard lives before they were adopted by Carlisle and Esme, so they have difficulty trusting others. They have good reasons to keep to themselves, Jacob."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that makes sense."

I smiled again. "Thanks, Jake. We'd better get back inside before our dads come looking for us."

We headed back, just as Charlie opened the back door.

"Oh, there you are, kids. Jake, Billy's ready to go. We haven't forgotten it's a school night."

I walked them to the door, waving goodbye from the front porch as they drove away. My heart was singing with hope. I couldn't wait for Edward to get there so I could tell him all about my conversation with Jacob.

Charlie looked more lighthearted than he had since I arrived. He gave me a hug and a kiss on my forehead. "Thanks for your encouragement, Bells. I'm really happy to have my friend back. Who knows how long it would have taken for us to get back together without your help?"

I grinned as I hugged him back. It was nice to be appreciated.

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Hello again! I hope you like.............  Oh btw the song on the side ----> Has been stuck in my head for THREE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGAIN! (Yeah i had an obssesion with this song before, yes i do have obsesions frequently and no they do not last long!) I love it..... Do give it a listen if you have never heard it before...!!

Btw read my other stories.... Pweety pweese? If you want funny go to the crossover! HP fic is Starting Over and obvio this is my Twi fic... The other two are my own stories which i am feeling too lazy to update! But i will... Soon...

Do tell!!!

Spongebob- You loveeeee it!

Mr Krab- Eh.... It was ok...

Squidward (LOL!!!! EDWARD! XD)- How could you write something like that!! I hate Jacob! I hate you! (To which i would promtly reply THEN GO EAT FIGS!)

Pecan Pie- Randomly saw this and decided to comment....

Yeah i know i'm wierd.... BTW!!! DarkRoseIsDying, I was wondering where my best reader went... ;) This is turnong out to be too long don't you think? OH WELL!!!!!

 BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Editor speaks- Sorry for her... She's on crack cuz of Emmet's cookies.... If you wanna know, tune into the next chapter of An HP and Twilight Crossover!!!!! Wow we need to learn how to shut up... Bye!!!

Me again- I dont think anyone reads this.....