Jacob couldn't help but feel his heart clench slightly as he took in the disappointment in his imprints bright silver eyes, her perfectly groomed brows pulled together into a tight frown as she straddled his thighs but no longer seemed to be in the mood for a morning delight. He didn't blame her, he sounded like a jerk.
"You said you would take me shopping" Brooke frowned, remembering when Jacob had offered and she had excitedly accepted. Why was he suddenly changing his plans? Had he grown annoyed with her already?
"I know, but Bella's coming round and-" he started before cutting himself off when he saw his imprint making a move to get off him, his lustful mood already having drained away as he took note of her grabbing her clothes before throwing a dressing gown around her petite form. "Brooke," he tried again only to have a door slammed shut in his face.
Shit.
Rubbing his face with his hands he slumped back against the bed, his head hitting the pillow as he sighed out loudly. Fuck, he was in deep shit. Just the thought of his imprint not being happy with him was something he didn't want to even think about, let long have to suffer through it. Brooke had a way of making you feel guilty without even saying a word; you just feltit.
Not knowing what else to do he threw his legs over the side of his unmade bed before rising to his feet, quickly tugging on a pair of loose shorts before pulling at his hair in frustration.
Heading into the kitchen he took note of his father sitting at the kitchen table in his wheel chair, a newspaper spread out on the table with a cup of coffee already brewed and in his hand.
"Morning," Billy greeted when he took note of his son by the door.
With a grunt Jacob sloughed opposite him, resting his head in his hands as he listened to Brooke banging around in the bathroom.
"What's up with you?" Billy asked frowned, stunned with his sons strange behaviour.
"Bella," was all he got as a reply.
"What about her?"
At this Jacob sighed, letting his gaze fall onto his fathers pursed lips before confessing. "She's coming round apparently."
"Why? I thought you were spending the day with Brooke?" Billy replied with a raised brow.
"I was, but Bella kind of invited herself over."
"I don't know why you put up with her company Jacob, I really don't. After everything she put you through she doesn't deserve to take advantage of you yet again, especially since the packs already dealing with the Victoria problem at the minute" Billy explained, glancing towards the bathroom when he heard the shower turn on.
They had very loud plumbing.
"I know, I know" Jacob growled out, "it's just….uh!" he snapped when he found himself getting frustrated.
"Well it's your life son, but I don't want you upsetting Brooke since I do actually want grandkids" was all Billy said causing Jacob to stutter with a blush, coughing awkwardly before trying unsuccessfully not to appear affected as much as he was.
"It's a bit early for that isn't it?" he spluttered out, running a hand through his hair due to his nervous habit.
"Maybe so, but if that girl castrates you for hanging out so much with Bella I won't be getting any" Billy muttered before wheeling to the sink to wash up his mug, Jacob not having the time to reply as Brooke came plodding out the bathroom with a blank expression on her pretty face.
Shit.
"Morning Billy," she greeted smiling as she walked over to give him a peck on the cheek.
"Morning dear, sleep well?" Billy grinned, pleased as a punch that his son was actually dating someone that he approved of.
"Yep," she smiled. "You got any plans for the weekend?"
"Charlie will be round in a few minutes, going fishing" Billy smiled at the girl, watching as she was already hunting through the cupboards on her tippy toes.
"You had breakfast then?" she asked curiously as before she hopped up on the counter before she knelt up to reach the top shelf with a effort on her part.
"Not yet, we normally just skip it" Billy admitted, hearing her 'tut' causing him to shake his head in amusement.
"Nonsense, breakfast is the most important meal of the day" she stated before squealing when her knee slipped on the counter. Shutting her eyes as she prepared herself for the impact, only for a pair of warm arms to catch her only moments after she had made a sound of distress.
Opening her eyes she found herself gazing into her mates concerned brown ones, her lips not being able to help but pull into a smile as she patted him on the cheek in thanks.
"Really Brooke, I'm fine-" Billy tried again, watching as his son helped her down from the counter before easily reaching for the things she was after.
"So if I take the time and effort to make breakfast for everyone you won't eat it?" was all Brooke stated as she raised a brow in his direction.
Billy hated to admit it but she had him there, he would never turn down her cooking and he doubted that there were a lot of people who would.
"You've got me" he grinned, seeing her smile smugly before getting out a bowl and instantly cracking some eggs into it.
It was only a few minutes later that Jacob heard Charlie's police cruiser pull up outside his house, his sensitive sense of smell clueing him in to the fact that Bella was also with him.
He sighed; let his personal hell begin.
Hearing the knock at the door he pulled himself out of his seat before going to answer it, smiling when he took note of Charlie as the copper grinned in his direction. Fishing always seemed to bring out the positive emotions in both Charlie and his father he thought; they made sure to never miss a week.
"You alright, Billy?" Charlie grinned as he walked past Jacob, still not quite believing how quickly the boy had grown as the teen literally towered over him.
"Of course," was Billy's reply. "You have any problems with the Forks kids last night, I heard from my son that they were having a bonfire?" he asked curiously.
"Not really, the station only had one phone call when a parents son didn't turn up but it turned out that he was staying with a girl so calling was a waste of time to be honest. Can't really blame them though, the boy was bladed out of his mind," Charle explained, Jacob trying not to throw up as he felt Bella wrap her arms around his waist. It just felt so wrong.
"Well I had the boys keep an eye on them, they reckoned that apart from the fact they couldn't hold their booze they mostly kept to themselves" Billy explained causing Charlie to nod in agreement, jumping slightly when he took note of Brooke standing there.
"Oh, Brooke isn't it?" he asked, hoping he had the name right.
"Yep," she smiled with a wink. "You eaten?"
"I-" was all Charlie got out before Bella cut him off in a sharp tone.
"He hasn't, but I was going to ask if Billy would mind me cooking something like usual" she smirked, watching as Brooke froze in her actions before tensing ever so slightly.
"Like usual-?" was all Billy got out in a confused tone before she cut him off again.
"So, you don't mind do you?" Bella grinned, though Jacob took note that something about it didn't look quite right.
"No, but Brookes-"
"I'm sure Brooke wouldn't mind just cooking what she's already made and I'll do the rest. I mean it would give us time to bond, what with Jacob being my best friend and all," Bella stated smugly, Charlie nodding along approvingly and it was clear he had completely missed how patronising his daughter had sounded. "You don't mind do you Brooke?"
"Of course not," was Brooke's tense reply. "I was making French toast but you are correct since I only got as far as to make several slices, I'm sure you will want to make something else."
"I do, I mean no offence but French toast isn't a well-balanced breakfast now is it?" Bella smirked, quickly getting out the ingredients to make her own meal since she knew that she was much more of a cook than the freak standing next to her.
"If you say so" Brooke stated evenly as she started to pack away the items she had used, afterwards taking her time with putting the homemade French toasts into a tray ready to grill for a few minutes to make them slightly crispy.
The tension in the room after the girls' interaction was suffocating almost, Charlie looking at the two with a smile and it was clear he was oblivious to his daughters' thoughts on the more petite female.
Jacob however found himself confused beyond belief, didn't his girl like Bella? I mean sure it was obvious that she was going through some sort of phase but he was selfish enough to want them to get along. Was that too much to ask? To be friends?
About twenty minute later Brooke placed her French toast in the oven when she took note that Bella was finally finishing up, having no idea why she had taken so long to cook up such a simple breakfast. Surely it would be cold?
"So, you guys think you'll catch anything today?" Brooke asked, trying to break the tension as she leaned against the oven with a pair of oven-gloves waiting beside her. They would only take a few minutes to harden a bit more before she would season them just slightly, not enough to make a large difference but subtle enough to give it that slight kick.
"We're hoping to, the weathers perfect for fishing so I'm thinking we'll catch some big ones" Billy grinned, watching as Bella plated up some scrambled eggs and toast before playing it in front of Jacob and herself. He couldn't help but frown in confusion. What about Charlie? He was her father for goodness sake! Was the girl really that petty?
"How was last week? Did you get a good catch?" Brooke asked as she kept the conversation going, leaning over to switch on the kettle as she waited for her timer to go off.
"Yep, brought home three beauties" Charlie grinned, childishly high-fiving Billy who was smiling just as wide. Charlie had to admit that when Jacobs' new girl was concerned she was definitely hard not to like; as long as you got past the whole strange vibe she to give off she seemed like a lovely girl.
"Three?" Brooke laughed in delight, "what do you do with them? Cook 'em?" she asked curiously, wondering if she would be able to get one off them if they were as lucky as they thought they would be.
"We tend to give them to Sue, she makes the best fish pie" Billy winked, seeing Jacob roll his eyes while keeping his eyes on his laughing imprint. It sucked that he was in her bad books he thought with a wince, using his fork to move around his food as he sent Bella a forced smile. She didn't seem to notice the difference as she smiled smugly back.
"Sue? Was that the nice lady that helped me with my leg?" Brooke asked, getting nods in return before she got a thoughtful look on her features. "I'll have to say thank you to her, does she like cake?"
"Her favourites a good old cream sponge" Billy winked, already following along with her train of thought.
Shooting him a thankful look she quickly slipped on the oven gloves just before the timer went off; quickly shutting it off before taking out the warm plates she had put in only a few minutes before as to prevent them from rapidly cooling the food down when she wanted them as hot as possible.
"Cinnamon?" she asked both Billy and Charlie as she cut the slices into triangles before plating them up, getting curious nods in return causing her to reach for the cinnamon before sprinkling a light dusting.
"So what are your plans for today then, Brooke?" Billy asked, watching as his son winced before looking down at his plate. He couldn't help but think it was incredibly strange that his son wasn't scoffing down his food like usual, rather simply pushing it around his plate to give off the pretence that he was eating when it was clear he wasn't.
"I was thinking about baking that cake before heading over to Sues, the diner isn't far is it?" Brooke asked worriedly, cursing internally at the fact she couldn't drive. It wasn't that she hadn't given it some serious thought, but what happened if she got a forceful flash that she couldn't prevent meaning she actually crashed into something. God forbid she actually killed or injured someone; she just didn't want that on her conscience.
"It's just down the road" Jacob cut in, not being able to help himself since the silent treatment from his mate was making his wolf severely discontent.
"Good," Brooke muttered to herself. "Good."
"Thank you" both Charlie and Billy stated as she placed a plate in front of them, both of their mouths watering as they quickly tucked in with groans of pleasure. It seemed to always surprise Billy how even though he was lucky enough to be fed frequently by Brooke he could never get over how much of a brilliant cook she was. She was simply a natural he thought with another moan.
"You're welcome," Brooke grinned as she settled down next to Billy since her usual seat had been taken by Bella much to her distaste.
Feeling her jealously rise Bella couldn't help but glare as she heard her father compliment Brooke on her cooking. I mean what was so good about French toast? It was basically bread for fucks sake!
Clearing her thought she instantly had everyone's attention, her gaze pointedly ignoring Brooke even though the girl hardly seemed to care. It only seemed to make her feel worse, especially since she was used to being noticed if she wanted to be. If she didn't she could get away with acting invisible, in this case however the girl just didn't seem to care and it ticked her off.
"So Brooke, you haven't been at school" she smirked, already knowing that the girl was an idiot and she planned to use it to her advantage. She vaguely wondered what Jacob would think about it if he knew? Something to ponder later she thought smugly, narrowing her eyes at the freak as she did so.
"Very observant of you Bella, I hear that you are a very bright girl" was Brookes reply, trying to keep the sneer off her features as she did so. She did not sneer, it just wasn't her.
"I am" Bella scowled, hating how easily the girl had seemed to change the subject off her so smoothly. "What about you?"
"Oh, school isn't my best quality by far. I missed a lot when I was younger, catching up was difficult" Brooke stated with a wince. It was only a little white lie since technically she did miss a lot of school; it was just mostly when she was in her own head.
"Well thanks for breakfast," Billy interrupted, finding himself looking at Bella with disapproval at how she was trying to undermine the poor girl. He also wondered why his son wasn't intervening, though promised himself he would try and resist getting involved.
"You're welcome Billy, if you guys catch any fish though do you think I could have one?" she asked hopefully, it having been a while since she had made anything fish related.
"Sure" both Charlie and Billy agreed at the same time, taking a look at each other before laughing.
"I'll do that" she quickly took their plates when she saw them make a move to do so, knowing that they wanted to get going.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes now go get me a fish" she winked, rolling her eyes as they quickly caved and headed out.
Just as Brooke was collecting the plates, making a mental note that Bella practically shoved hers in her direction without so much as a thank you, she felt a warm hand on her wrist.
Instantly knowing who it was she let her eyes connect with her mates honey brown ones, seeing his pleading expression causing her to sigh. "You not hungry?" she asked, taking note of his still partly full plate and knowing that he was normally first to demolish it all.
Not wanting to tell her that he had simply gotten used to her cooking he shrugged, the fact she wasn't happy with him meaning that he simply couldn't find it in himself to be hungry.
"You ok?" he couldn't help but ask, ignoring Bella's glare which seemed to be aimed at him this time.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be ok?" Brooke questioned, lightly pulling out of his grasp before heading over to the sink and starting on the washing up. She couldn't help but make another mental note that it didn't seem like Bella was going to offer to wash up her own stuff. Bitch.
"I don't like you being mad at me" he admitted as he got up, moving over to wrap his arms around her waist and breathe in her scent. He was relived she was letting him hug her, to touch her, even if it was only a hug.
"I'm not mad," she admitted causing his brows to rise.
"You're not?" he asked surprised.
"More like I feel disappointed" she admitted, and Jacob realised that her being disappointed in him felt a whole lot worse than being on the receiving end of her anger.
"Disappointed?" he almost whimpered.
"Not in you, just that I won't be seeing you so much today," she smiled as she took pity on him.
"I'll make it up to you tomorrow, I'll take you out" he promised, kissing her on the cheek causing her to hum with a nod as she continued to clean up.
He had better make it up to her tomorrow she thought, but hopefully he would keep Bella away from her since she really didn't want to be arrested by Billy's best friend for scratching the girls eyes out that was for sure.
It just wasn't her style.