End of Chapter 9

"Bella, these are going to take some cash to fixed." I said as I noticed the condition of the Harley. "We'll have to save up for a while."

"We nothing." Bella said as she glared at me. "If you are doing this for me, then I will pay for the parts."

"I don't know." I said, as I added up what I thought this would all cost."

"I've got some money saved. College fund..you know." She said as she shrugged.

I knew I should argue, I should tell her that that money should be used for her college and nothing else...but having her in the garage with me, knowing that she was going to be coming back to see me often made me forget everything except for her, me and the two bikes in my garage.

Chapter 10

I went and sat on a low stool, pulling the red bike close to me so I could start taking it apart. I had removed most of the parts and laid them out on a tarp, the pieces looking old and rusted. There were only a few that I thought could be salvaged..and it was then that I realized how much this was going to cost. I looked up to see Bella watching me closely as she leaned uncomfortably against the wall of our make shift garage. I looked around for another stool so she could sit next to me (the idea of her being closer to me made my heart beat harder.) There weren't any other stools in the garage so I went over to the rabbit and opened the door for her, holding it until she was seated more comfortably.

"So how's school?" Bella asked as she tried to see what I was doing.

"Good, boring as always but good. I'm a sophomore this year, I have harder classes but luckily I have most of them with my best friends Quil and Embry..."

"Quil and Embry?" Bella interrupted, a smile pulling on the corners of her lips. "Those are..unusual names."

"Quil's a hand-me down name, named after his grandfather and great grandfather. Embry..I think Embry's mom got the name from a soap opera character." I said as I laughed. "I know better then to make fun of them for their names, though. They fight dirty if you start on their names, they've tag teamed me many times before."

"Good friends you have." Bella said as she raised one eyebrow.

"No." I said, quickly coming to their defense. "They are good friends, just don't mess with their names." I chuckled.

Bella was about to ask me something else when someone yelled my name from outside the garage. Bella moved quickly, rushing to get something to hide the bikes and their parts.

"Is that Billy?" She asked, fear in her eyes.

"No." I said instantly knowing who it was outside, my head hung low in frustration. "Speak of the devil and they shall appear." I mumbled quietly.

"Jake? Are you out here?" Quil's voice called out as he took a few steps closer.

"Yeah." I sighed.

My two best friends walked into the garage, quickly taking in everything going on in the garage. They were both smiling when they saw the bikes, Embry smacked Quil on the arm and made a quick head nod to where Bella was sitting.

"Hey guys." I said, my voice dull and slightly angry.

"Hey, Jake." Quil said as he stepped closer to me. "Hi there." He said as he smiled at Bella, doing his best to sounds smooth..and failing.

"Quil, Embry......this is my friend, Bella." I said as I gave them both a warning look.

Quil couldn't keep his eyes off of Bella, and Embry was watching me until they turned and share a look that only they understood.

"Charlie's kid, right?" Embry said, making his voice sound deeper then it really was as he held his hand out for Bella to shake.

"That's right." she said softly as she shook his hand lightly.

"I'm Quil Ateara." He said as he shook her hand a little harder then he should, the muscles in his arm flexing on purpose.

"Nice to meet you Quil." She said as she took her hand back, blushing slightly.

"Hey, Bella." Embry said, his shyness almost freezing him in his place...he had always had a hard time talking to girls. "I'm Embry, embry call...but I'm sure you've already figured that out."

"Nice to meet you, too." Bella said as she smiled at him.

"So what are you two up to?" Quil asked as he eyed up Bella.

"Bella and I are going to fix up these bikes." I said, accentuating the word I.

"Did you take the clutch out yet?" Embry asked as he came to look at the pile of parts kicking them out of the way until they were spread out a bit.

"Wow..that air intake is ANCIENT!" Quil said, kicking a metal piece, rust chunks falling all over. "Is that a Harley?"

"Yeah." I said, grinning from ear to ear. "Bella's going to let me have that one once I fix them up."

They both groaned loudly in jealousy...which made me grin even harder. Quil went over to check out the Harley while Embry stood next to me, looking parts over and commenting on if he thought they were salvageable. I was listening to Embry talk about the pistons when I heard Bella sigh, my eyes instantly looking up to see her climbing out of the rabbit.

"We're boring you, aren't we?"

"Naw." Bella said as she stretched. "I just have to go cook dinner for Charlie."

"Oh." I said, wishing she would let my father call Charlie and invite him down for dinner so I could spend more time with her. "Well, I'll finish taking these apart tonight and figure out what more we'll need to get started rebuilding them. When do you want to come work on them again?"

"Could I come back tomorrow?" She asked quickly.

I heard Quil move so he was standing next to Embry, smacking him on the arm as they laughed quietly. I wanted to beat them both, but that would have to wait until Bella left...when she was here, SHE was my priority.

"That would be great." I said as I smiled at her.

"If you make a list, we can go shopping for the parts." Bella suggested.

I looked down at the pile of parts from just this bike and realized how much this was going to cost. I couldn't just let her pay for them all, that would be really expensive.

"I'm still not sure I should let you pay for everything." I said, doing my best to put a stern look on my face.

"No way." Bella said as she shook her head. "I'm bankrolling this party. You just have to supply the labor and expertise."

Embry and Quil both laughed at the idea of me having expertise, and when I looked at them Embry rolled his eyes...great I wouldn't hear the end of this one.

"That doesn't seem right."

"Jake," Bella said as she stepped closer to me, the smell of strawberries blowing off of her. "If I took these bikes out to a mechanic, how much would he charge me?"

"Ok, maybe you're getting a deal." I admitted.

"Not to mention the riding lessons." Bella said innocently.

"I bet he'll give her lessons." Quil said so quietly that I almost missed what he said, his eyebrows moving up and down.

"That's it...get out." I said as I reached out and smacked Quill in the back of the head.

"No, really, I have to go." Bella said as she took a step towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow Jake." She called as she walked quickly and climbed into her car, leaving a few seconds later..my eyes watching the taillights until she was gone and I remembered my friends were still waiting in the garage...and needed to be hurt for the way they acted.