#and I tried to explain that it's just cool to make the yeast yourself and it's a different kind of yeast than they sell in the store

[guhhhhhhhhhhh]

Ladies is it Brat to cry yourself to sleep over an infinitesimal little stupid conversation?

[m-aster-of-spinjitzu]

orange and gold

...I just need more Cole and Vania content, they seem like they'd be great friends.

Basically it's just 'Cole goes to visit her there, they almost burn down the kitchen, and make way too many puns', lol.

Set a few months after Master of the Mountain, but before Seabound or The Island.

Also yeah, I couldn't think of a better title, sue me- I just know that they wear one of the colours at some point, so... 🤦‍♀️😂

Trigger warnings: none I think? Huh-

Also, bingo!! I really need to learn better time management, dear freaking gosh- I hope I'm not too late though? I know it's like half a day late, eek- and I was supposed to post this earlier, but I ended up literally falling asleep while writing it😂

Thank you so much Fabro, for hosting such a cool event!:D Your comments on my fics literally never fail to make my day<3. And I'm so glad that I met so many awesome, really skilled people through this event too - it's been a lot of fun working alongside y'all:D, I wish I'd had more time to interact instead of posting stuff and vanishing lol, but exams be like:////

Prompt: cooking (does baking count as cooking? I realized too late lol-) from @ninjago-bingo 's warm board.

Word Count: 2497

---

Trying to escape from killer dire-bats hadn't been on Cole's to do list today - although the mountains were kind of beautiful.

It was a bit difficult to see them while he was being dragged to his death, but hey, didn't Jay always tell them to be more positive?

That was, until he made the mistake of looking down.

Miles of snowcapped mountains touched the pastel blue sky, but he was more focused on exactly how high he was from the ground.

Great.

Trying to swing back onto the Bounty, he didn't notice a golden-winged blur shoot past the bat, almost dropping their spear in haste.

"Let my friend go, or I'll-"

"Vania?"

She throws the spear at the bird, successfully knocking one of its wings.

Huh. She must've been practicing - throwing with accuracy while flying seemed kinda difficult.

"I'm so sorry!" she replies, grabbing his arm before he fell down too. She winces at the strain on her wings, almost dropping him onto the deck. "I was supposed to come earlier, but there was an issue with one of the mines, and it took forever to-"

"There ain't anything in this world that's managed to kill me yet," he replies jokingly, checking that the autopilot hadn't been damaged. "I doubt an angry bird is going to be the first."

"Didn't you mention that you became a ghost once? Pretty sure that means you were dead-"

"Shh, that's not an important detail," he jokes.

"If you say so," she replies with a grin. "Did I mention that Chompy's been tearing down the palace flower arrangements again?"

"Send my regards to the gardener-"

"Did you just make a pun?"

"Remind me why I decided to visit you again?"

"Because you love me?" she asks stepping onto the ground as the Bounty landed gently.

"I hereby crown you as my platonic soulmate," Cole deadpans, taking her hand. "Vania and Cole-"

"Destined to annoy each other for eternity," she giggles, swinging their hands up and down. "But seriously - thanks. I don't think I realized how much work being a queen was."

"What's it like?"

"I mean - I'm glad that people trust me, and they come to me if they have a problem, but the paperwork is a nightmare. I never get to go outside anymore, I swear."

"Paperwork? Also, you just invited me here for a week. I don't wanna disturb you?"

"Nah, I cleared my schedule, don't worry. And trust me, you don't want to know. Everything requires some sort of official written thing, and it's so boring-"

"Official? But you're the queen?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't really want to change something unless it benefits the people. Not after..."

Her smile dims, eyes straying to the palace walls.

Oh- oh.

"You're nothing like him," Cole says firmly, squeezing her hand. "I mean, if you need to take a break, or you can make your job a bit easier by cutting out something unnecessary, that's just gonna help you become a better queen. You've definitely got the interests of your people at heart, and that's the most important thing, you know? And well, uh, everything seems to be going great so far - you don't have to beat yourself up over someone else's mistakes."

"Thanks," she replies softly, her smile slowly returning. "Speaking of breaks, what do you think we should do this time?"

"You could show me around the city again?"

"You've already seen everything cool," Vania giggles, skipping ahead of him. "We don't renovate much - unlike you guys-"

"Hey, it's not our fault that our city gets destroyed every few months-"

"More like every few days," she teases, tying back her golden hair. "How about we find some dragons to adopt?"

"Tempting, but where would you keep them?"

"They could sleep in my room-"

She breaks off when she notices him laughing. "What?"

"N- nothing," Cole replies, in between laughs. "Jay and I just made a bet."

"On what?"

"How many dragons you've adopted. I bet at least six, he bet fifteen."

"Well, jokes on both of you - I'm pretty sure my advisor's going to throw a fit if I show up with another one," she starts, giggling. "We've got twenty living in the palace right now."

"Twenty dragons?"

"They're so cute! You just look into their adorable little eyes," Vania pauses for breath, continuing her animated gesturing, "and you can't help but wanna hug them!"

"Oh, Jay's going to be so mad."

"Aww, I'm sorry guys. They're just too adorable!"

"...Wanna hear a funny story?"

"Yeah, sure!"

"I actually used to be terrified of dragons-"

"No way!" Vania exclaims. "Y'all have been on a lot of adventures though, so-"

"Nah, we used to have our own dragons at first. They were pretty cool! I just- I'm a simple guy! Huge animals with wings are scary up close when you're barely a teenager."

"Or when you're really short-"

"We're the same height!" Cole exclaims, facepalming in a bit of a fondly exasperated way.

"I'm two years younger than you-"

---

"Ugh, whose idea was this?"

"Yours," Vania grins, sitting down on the kitchen counter.

"You were supposed to help me, not leave me high and dry!" Cole accuses jokingly, staring at all the appliances they'd found in the cupboards.

"'One must always be prepared for new adventures,'" she quotes seamlessly, waving one of- what was his name again? Mulch something? Oh! Clutch! Some explorer he was, leaving them to die in the pyramid - Clutch Powers' books in the air.

"Fine," he sighs, staring at the old recipe book she'd found in one of their back cupboards. "But you've gotta help me? I almost burned down-" "Woah, what? If you finish that sentence with 'kitchen'-" "In my defense, Kai was playing a prank on me-" "In my defense, I wouldn't like to explain how the queen of Shintaro burnt down the palace by teaching one of her friends to cook," she grins, flipping through the pages. "What do you wanna start with?" "Something simple?" "Have you ever tried baking bread before? It's a lot of fun!" "I haven't really had the time, but that sounds kinda interesting."

He skims the recipe, raising his eyebrows. "Wait, why does this take hours? I thought you said it was simple?"

"Trust me, it is," she laughs, adding, "besides, I still wanna hear about all your adventures!" "Uh... okay," Cole replies hesitantly, "but if this fails, I'm so sorry." "Give yourself some credit, you guys literally saved the world! Multiple times!" "Bold of y'all to assume we know how we did it," he laughs, only half-kidding. "Besides. I botched soup once."

"I've botched toast," she mock-sighs, smiling. "Pretty sure that makes us even."

"Lemme get this straight. You've messed up toasting bread, but you can bake it from scratch?"

"Trust me, I don't know either," she giggles, trying to open a brightly coloured packet of... something? Did flour come in packets that small?

"Uh, why are you opening something called 'feast'?" he asks, eyebrows creased in confusion.

"Feast," she echoes, trying to stifle her laughter. "Off to a... rocky start, aren't we?"

It took him a second.

"I already regret this," he jokes, facepalming. "But I'd say that your puns are, uh, gold."

"I've un- unleashed-" breaking off, she half-falls off the counter, laughing so hard her face starts to go red, "a monster."

---

"Uh, is it supposed to look like that?" Cole asks, frowning.

The mixture looked less like the dough he'd been expecting - more like one of Jay's inventions gone wrong.

Badly wrong, he thought, eyes widening at the goopy mess of foam that threatened to spill over the jug.

"The yeast?" Vania echoes, poking her head out of one of the cupboards. "Yeah, all good! It always looks a little gross, and you're gonna doubt ever eating bread again, but at least it doesn't taste like it's fermented-"

"It's what?"

"Yeah," she grimaces, exaggerating her disgust a bit. "If aliens ever fell from the sky, they'd think we were crazy for eating bread-"

"Aliens? I think we're a bit crazy!" Cole exclaims, trying not to laugh.

Vania smiles, then sighs, lugging a huge bag of flour onto the counter. "I can never open these bags properly," she starts, eyeing the the bag a bit warily, "and it always makes such a huge mess all over the kitchen. You'd think they'd make it easier for people to use, right? I swear-"

He jokingly puts his hands over his ears. "I can't hear you!" "But you know that I've sworn off swearing-" she replies, breaking off with a laugh. "Pun not intended - that actually made sense in my head. I swear!"

"No," Cole interjects with a grin, shaking his head. "You don't, remember?"

"See, this is why we're friends-"

"Friends? Is that all I am to you?"

"Oh, be quiet," she shoots back, exaggeratedly dragging a hand down her face. "I mean, sure, just because everyone thinks that we're dating doesn't mean that we-"

Wait. What?

"People think that we're dating?" he asks, clamping a hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to muffle his laughter. "I- I- really?"

"I know, right?"

"Even my friends thought so at first," he confesses, dragging a hand down his face. "I mean, as much as I love you-"

"I love you too," Vania replies, completely seriously. "Even if you'll always be more like an annoying-"

"Hey-"

"Sibling to me than anything else," she finishes, grabbing a pair of scissors. Cole watches, a little alarmed, as she stabs them into the flour bag over and over.

"Is it... supposed to be this difficult to just open the bag? Seems kinda stupid-"

"Well, er, they have this piece of paper with glue that you're supposed to pull away from the rest of the bag, but it never works properly and I-"

"Well, we could always make our own flour," Cole interjects, laughing. "I mean, I've got a scythe? Let's go!"

"Uh, but we don't have wheat growing here. I don't think it'd suit the climate very well?"

"Wheat a shame," Cole sighs jokingly, measuring out the flour (which had, finally, escaped the bag).

"Oh my gosh," Vania deadpans, "you did not just-"

"Yep, I did."

"You're horrible," she giggles, "then again, I was the one who started this whole debacle, so I think we'll share the blame."

"Debacle? Where'd you pick that one up from? Sounds kinda cool-"

"Oh, it's from a book someone wrote about you guys," Vania says casually, pouring a cup of water into the bowl.

"Hey, uh-" Cole starts hesitantly, twisting his fingers back and forth, then breaks off. "Why'd you read all that stuff about us, anyways? Adventure books don't really seem like something you read a lot, since we have similar favorite books. I mean..."

"Well, um..." Vania trails off, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh- I guess, well, it sounds kinda stupid, but I'd never really met anyone my age who wasn't a royal or something. I... er, I didn't want to be left out, you know?"

Cole thinks back to a scroll; a quest, a sacrifice. One that his friends never seemed to really notice, unless it was with horror or flinches. Not that he blamed them, but - joking about how he was much more useful to the team when he was freaking dead than he was before he'd stumbled and fell in the temple?

That had been a bit far, even for his best friend. Locks could always be picked or something, he didn't need to be a ghost to provide some sort of value-

Well, that's not completely true, is it? a small voice questions, and he can't keep his hands from shaking a little.

"Jay here thinks you're the least valuable ninja."

Not enough to be a performer. Now, not good enough to even be a ninja, apparently.

Well, he reminds himself firmly, you don't have to be the best - just stand up to those who are cruel and unjust.

Nothing but a scar that glowed warm orange occasionally left of the whole Cursed Realm ordeal, sometimes it was all too easy to forget - or pretend - that it had never even happened in the first place.

Other times, like when he'd dropped a glass of water on the floor and his hands hadn't stopped shaking for hours, or when he woke up screaming, expecting to fall through his bed again, it still felt like he was trapped as a ghost. Literally - and maybe a little figuratively as well.

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

"Thanks for trusting me with that," he replies softly. "And I'm sorry. That sounds... horrible, but, honestly, you're a pretty cool person, and I ain't just saying that because we're friends. People can be awful, and they can- they can leave, but you don't need to pretend to be someone you're not for people to accept you. I kinda know what it's like, and it's... just, uh, not great."

"No, thank you," Vania says, rubbing her eyes. "You're pretty cool, too. And I'm glad that we become friends, even if wasn't in the- the, er, greatest circumstances."

"Right back at ya. The fall was pretty terrifying, though," Cole says casually, as if memories of that nightmarish plunge into the depths of earth don't still send shivers down his spine.

"No, definitely! I was so sure we were gonna splat onto the ground or something, thank gosh we didn't."

"Yeah..." Cole trails off, reading the recipe they'd been following. "Oh- do we just leave the bowl somewhere for a few hours now?"

"Oh, yeah," Vania answers. "Other than clean up the kitchen, what else do you wanna do?"

"That's kind of you, but, ah, I don't mind. You can choose something."

"I don't mind either," she replies, covering the bowl with a dishcloth. "Seriously, I don't."

"Same here though."

"Really, I don't mind-" Vania breaks off with a laugh, adding, "Well, actually, there is something."

She doesn't elaborate, thoughtfully gazing out the window.

"Well, what is it? Don't keep me in the dark."

"Ugh, it's kinda stupid-"

"I'm sure that it's not- well, unless you want to try to jump off a flying ship with a homemade parachute to prove a bet to someone-"

"Do I even wanna know?"

"...uh, probably not. We're way too crazy sometimes, our Master has a hard time keeping us in check. Your thing, though?"

"Can I give you a hug?"

Cole blinks for a second, expecting some sort of punchline.

"That's your thing?"

"Well, yeah- I mean, I said it was kinda stupid-"

"No no, that's not what I meant. You're so sweet - that's all."

"Well, not more than you-"

"Nah, you're sweeter-"

"Let's just call it a tie," Vania says with a smile, reaching over to give her friend a hug. "Thank you so much, I swear- well, no, I don't, but you know, anyways-"

"Yeah," Cole replies, laughing softly. "I know."

[cowboy-beboppin]

Ok so here’s the thing.

For a while I thought that I was the type of young woman who wanted to be submissive. I thought I was the type who was down for anything that my partner wanted. And so I would do things with and for them because I thought it would make them happy. I thought that was what love was. But then they wouldn’t stay. They didn’t love me anymore. They didn’t care. They wanted something more, or someone else. And I realized that what I was doing was just hurting myself. I was putting myself in a position again and again that I didn’t want to be in. Whether I just wasn’t “in the mood” and ignored those feelings a few times or I crossed a personal boundary to appease someone’s wishes—it felt shitty after and made no difference in the long term.

About two years ago I started a new relationship. It started out in a similar fashion. If he wanted to I was down for it. If he thought it was cool and sexy, I was doing it (this includes posting pictures of myself on this very platform that I am truly ashamed of). If he was in the mood for it I would push past my body’s signals and do it anyway. I suffered several uti’s—one progressing to a kidney infection, yeast infections, and small tears (which didn’t feel small) all around my nether regions. I finally started to speak up about the pain I was in. I was under the impression that my relationship was secure enough that I could be honest about this type of thing and it would be ok. I thought he would understand and for a while he really seemed to. But then he started to lose his patience. He never flat out raped me so please don’t think I’m going there, but he did try to manipulate me. What started as “oh of course I understand. We won’t do anything you aren’t up for” turned into “well aren’t you attracted to me anymore?” “What changed?” “Well you know it’s always good once we get going.” If I said yes after all of that, he would have to talk me down from a panic attack before penetration. I would be in tears, hyperventilating beneath him but sex was more important. If I still said no after his guilt trip, he turned over and pouted for the remainder of the night. He gave me the silent treatment for hours after what I thought was taking care of myself but what he perceived as sexual rejection. He punished me for this. He became less patient with me. He started coveting the time I spent with friends and eventually he tried to imply that I was paying too much attention to “other” people. The straw that broke the camel’s back came the morning I broke it off. I had decided not to sleep at his house because I was tired and drunk and cold, I missed my cat—not that I owed anyone an explanation for wanting to sleep at my own fucking house. He burst into my room at 7:30 in the morning and demanded to know why I hadn’t come over. I had texted him explaining so I knew he just wanted to yell at me. I knew he was only angry because he realized he had no control over me anymore. He said that he was upset because he was worried when he woke up and I wasn’t there, but oddly enough, he never asked if I was alright and he continued to yell at me.

I say all of this because I want you to know where “submission” leads. It leads to a power imbalance in the relationship. It leads to the one “partner” assuming they have control over the other. If you really feel empowered by your submission to your partner, go for it dude. I hope it’s different for you than it was for me. But if you look at your history and see that it has done nothing but make you feel dirty, unhealthy, unloved, unappreciated, and disrespected, it’s not too late to take it all back and then it around.

I also want you to know that I have a happy “ending” here. After I ended that, I found myself swept off of my feet by a friend who I had never expected (who—btw turned himself around as well [although he’s not always sure if he was the abused or the abuser—I somehow feel like he was both] from a toxic relationship) and we are always checking in with one another. That is love—and responsible love at that.

Stop promoting rape culture. Be kind to one another. Be kind to yourself.

And btw you didn’t leave me alone like I thought we had figured out as per my last long and annoying post, so here’s one more chance before I post the three handles of yours that I know about. Watch it. I always thought that when I was this age I would be handling everything gracefully and whatever, but I’m not fucking around anymore when it comes to the abuse I’ve endured and I’m certainly not fucking around when it comes to my abusers.

[asexual-fandom-queen]

Nonny here, from a few minutes ago again! ahhh you're so nice with your offer. This is quite hard to decide, is some Coldflash alright? Just the two of them being adorable boyfriends in their apartment, something fluff-like? Sorry about being so vague, I kinda suck at bringing ideas and prompts to the table :'D

“You’re drowning it.”

Barry glances over at the familiar sound of Len’s judgemental drawl, dismissive and disinterested at first, but quick to snap his attention back from the enriched dough kneading in the stand mixer as his boyfriend’s atypical state of undress registers.

Len leans against the butt of the counter, sleep pants riding scandalously low, chest bare. Ghostly remnants of bedsheets well-loved trace intricate lines across the left side of his face. His eyes are swollen and slitted, skin flush, stubble speckling the cut of his jaw like silver starlight.

“Good morning,” Barry says, clearing his throat and blinking fast as his eyes snag on the protrusion of Len’s Adam’s apple along the column of his throat.   

The stand mixer groans, a malcontented whirring of gears overworked, and Len purses his lips, nostrils flaring. “What’s happening here, Barry?” he asks, tight and impatient, like a school-teacher giving lessons.

“Wha–” Barry starts, then jumps as milk sploshes from the side of the large, metal bowl, spreading unceremoniously across the counter.  He scrambles to turn the mixer off, and tries answering again. “I’m making cinnamon rolls.”

Pulling the top half of the mixer upright, Barry frowns at the gloppy mess that clings to the dough hook in place of the smooth, elastic ball that’s meant to have formed. “Except the dough’s not coming together.”

Len pushes off the side of the counter and stalks to Barry’s side. He casually lifts the measuring cup from its place among of spilled sugar granules and eggshells, all the while bracing himself effortlessly against the wall to Barry’s left.

“And you used two cups of milk to how much flour, exactly?” Len asks, raising an eyebrow. A single furtive glance at the measurer was enough to read the volume from the faint ring of residue caught around the circumference of the glass, of course.  

“That’s what it called for,” Barry defends. Len’s never truly asking when he asks like that.

Len tuts and drops the measuring cup on the counter with a sharp thunk. “Now, Barry,” he says, neck rounding like an athlete at warmup. “When adding your liquid, did you at any point stop and think, ‘does this make sense?’”

Barry’s hackles instantly rise. “Why wouldn’t it make sense?” he snaps. “That’s the recipe.”

The noise Len makes is a cross between amused scoff and abject disgust. “Barry, you’re a scientist.”

“It’s five a.m. on a Wednesday,” Barry yelps, the creciendo of his voice correlating directly with the dawning realization of his mistake. “You try thinking rationally.”

Len raises an eyebrow. “Pretty sure I am,” he rebukes, cool as ice.

Barry turns back to his failed baking endeavour and frowns at it, mouth left adorably agape. Len reaches out and grabs him by the chin, thumb pulling at the centre of Barry’s lower lip until he can see teeth.

“I was trying to do something special,” Barry says, words distorted with Len’s thumb in the way.

Len huffs a laugh. “The bakery on Bute is open all hours,” he says. “I like their donuts.”

In a zap of lightning, Barry is gone and back, wind kicking up a duster of flour in his wake. He holds up a brown paper, and Len takes it, carefully extracting the offering held inside.

“They were a special,” Barry explains as Len examines the heart-shaped donut, lines of white and caramel glaze drug in chevron patterns, glossy, across the top of dense, pillowy dough. “Dulce de leche. You like that, right? Or I can go back and get something el–.”

Len cuts him off with a look. “Barry,” he says.

Barry’s answering smile is nervous and tight.

Len sighs. He sets the donut down on the end of the counter, licks the sticky remnants of melted glaze from his thumb with an appreciative hum. Barry shivers, pupils blowing wide, and leans unconsciously forward as Len reaches out to smooth the lines between his brows.

“You don’t need to work yourself up so much over little ole me,” Len says. Whispers.

Barry frowns again. Len sighs.

“But it’s–”

Len stops him with a thumb over his lips, then a hand curved possessively around his jaw, mouth pressed to mouth.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Len says when then part, even as Barry sways forward, chasing after him. Len keeps their foreheads pressed flush, and he feels Barry sigh into him.

“You are worth the effort, you know,” Barry says.

Len tilts his head, considering. “Maybe the effort,” he concedes. “But not the anxiety. Never.”

They’re quiet then, just the two of them, pressed chest to chest, hands roaming, breath mingling.

“Hey, Barry,” Len says.

Barry hums.

“It’s officially stupid o’clock,” Len continues. “Even for an early bird like me. Come back to bed?”

Barry nods, but as he pulls himself reluctantly from the warmth of Len’s arms, he stops short. “You’re not gonna have your donut?” he asks.

Len smirks a wicked smirk and trails his fingers egregiously low against Barry’s stomach. “Can’t have dessert before eating something a little more substantial, now, can I?”

Barry eyes go wide as saucers. He flushes into his hairline, even as the muscles in his abdomen vibrate wildly in anticipation. “Yea–yeah,” he stammers. “That’s probably a good idea, actually. So. We should go. Do that.”

He grabs Len by the hand and tugs, leading them from the kitchen and nearly tripping over his own feet in the process.

The unsalvageable mess of milk-flour-yeast goes forgotten on the counter.

[forksofwisdom]

Embers of the Sun - chapter 5

Not beta read!

(Chapter 4) 

Read on ff.net!

Pairing: Bella/Paul, eventual Angela/Leah

Chapter summary: Momma Renée gives good advice, Charlie might not be that oblivious to the going-ons in Forks, Paul proves himself to be handy in a pinch - featuring Bella; the amazing grocery mountaineer and dinner at Billy’s turns into an eye-opening experience.

Chapter 5

Paranoia gripped Bella on the way home from school. The looming forest around Forks seemed to mock her with the horrors she knew lay within, and Bella was pretty miserable by the time she pulled into her driveway. She sat inside her truck for a moment, her keys biting into her skin as she deliberated the chances of Edward Cullen coming to extract vengeance for whatever crime he thought Bella had committed against him. The dark woods behind her house gave her the creeps. Anything could be lurking in the undergrowth while she was none the wiser. She was a sitting duck inside her truck, so she threw caution to the wind and ran inside.

Bella hated to admit it, but that boy scared her more than any wolves that might be running around La Push.

It might seem a little excessive, but Bella didn’t feel safe until she’d locked the doors that were accessible from outside the house and made sure to fasten all windows shut from the inside. She even went as far as securing the tiny one above the bathroom sink. Her overactive imagination went wild when she discovered that the latch on her bedroom window was faulty and it provided her with the scene of Edward sliding her window open in the dead of night, his eyes black eyes and pale skin gleaming in the moonlight. Bella knew for a fact that he could crush her windpipe easily, and envisioned how he’d render her mute while he tore her flesh to shreds.

She shuddered.

The vision had no basis in reality, but it disturbed Bella so much that she tied a thread between the handle on the bottom of her window and the little cactus Renée had given her so that if anyone were to open her window, it would knock the potted plant off the windowsill.

Hopefully, the noise would warn Bella of her inevitable doom.

She changed into her warmest clothes and made herself a piping cup of tea before planting herself on the living room couch to keep vigil. Now, that she had sat down and taken some time to gather herself, Bella wondered if she wasn’t over-reacting. Edward was probably just the typical angry teen who hasn’t grown out of his cootie phase yet. Anemia would explain his pasty skin and his black eyes might have been the result of unfortunate genes. If that turned out to be the case, Bella would just have to suck it up and get used to them.

That didn’t mean she was about to try and become bosom pals with him anytime soon.

The tea burned her tongue and sitting idly with only her thoughts to keep her company was making her antsy. Bella attempted to reign in her anxiety. She scraped her raw taste buds against her teeth, biting into the place where she’d burned herself. The pain grounded her, and she put her mug down and stood up in search of a better distraction.

Bella had inherited the habit of baking when she felt stressed from Renée - without the tendency to turn the kitchen into a disaster zone with ill-advised culinary experiments. She found herself in the kitchen gathering ingredients to make some bread. Her dad didn’t keep his kitchen stocked for unplanned baking, but Bella managed to scavenge what was needed to make a simple herb bread. Charlie had an odd collection of spices and a packet of dried yeast that was at least a decade old but Bella made due, and soon she was punching out her frustration at handsome demon boys by punching the dough.

It was an effective anger release.

Bella was sweating by the time she finished, and the poor dough was bound to be tough after being so abused. She put it away so it could rise and was washing her hands when the phone rang. The jarring noise caught her by surprise, and Bella sprayed water down her front.

“Get a grip!” she chided herself harshly and slammed her hands down on the metal rim of the sink. Her pulse raced with adrenaline, but she quickly grabbed the phone with shaky hands, unsurprised to see the number calling. She cleared her throat and tried to calm her nerves before answering. “Hey, mom.”

“How was school, hon?” Renée’s asked without preamble.

“Fine,” Bella sighed. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about right now, but it was nice to hear her mother’s voice. Renée apparently caught her dark tone and tried to lighten the mood.

“Meet any cute boys?” she teased good-naturedly.

She had no idea.

The image of Paul wearing nothing but shorts and wet from the rain elbowed its way into Bella’s mind, and she blushed as she tried to clean her dirty mind. Edward would have been a close second if he hadn’t terrified the living daylights out of her. She knew her mother was just worried that she would a hard time fitting in, but Bella knew from experience that if she kept her expectations low, there wouldn’t be any disappointment. It had worked in her favor today because she’d been pleasantly surprised when she made a friend. It was a rarity for her to connect so quickly with another person, but Angela was one of the kindest people Bella had ever met. It was hard not to like her.

“Well, there was one, but he turned out to be a complete asshole,” she admitted, thinking of Edward. There was no harm in playing along with her mother. Bella wouldn’t mention his freaky behavior for now, but all bets were off if he tried anything. Charlie would be the first to know what kind of guy was to be her lab partner.

Bella was not the type to go boy-crazy, but she enjoyed the evenings where her and Renée would stay up late and do girl things together. Renée called those times her ‘Bella-bonding’ time. Her liveliness and easygoing nature made it feel like Bella was hanging out with her best friend instead of her mother.

‘Bella-bonding’ had salvaged their relationship, which had been rocky ever since Bella shouldered some of Renée’s responsibility after having grown tired of her ditziness. She was ashamed to admit that she’d started to become resentful of their backward mother-daughter dynamic during junior year in high school and had been tempted to move to Forks then. The stress of keeping up with Renée had taken its toll, and the floodgates had opened when Bella tried to bottle it up. Instead of turning into an argument like Bella had feared it would, her mother had shown herself to be surprisingly sensible and capable of serious discussions. In the end, Bella decided to stay in Phoenix with Renée and Phil, and it was one of the best decisions she’d ever made. Phil helped a lot with taking care of things, and both Renée and Bella had come to rely on him to balance them out. Their bond had strengthened now that Renée was free to chase after whatever caught her fancy and Bella could be herself without drowning in obligations that shouldn’t have fallen on her shoulders in the first place.

“Oh?” Renée asked, intrigued.

“I sat next to him in biology, and I swear, no one’s ever glared at me like that. He acted as if I’d stabbed him with my pencil,” Bella muttered.

“Pay him no mind, Bella. Boys like that aren’t worth your time, and he’s hardly the only guy in town,” Renée reassured her.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Bella agreed quietly. She rubbed her forehead with a sigh. It was true. Edward wasn’t the only guy who’d been on Bella’s mind. Paul was still a mystery she was eager to crack.

“I am? Do you have another boy in mind?” Renée asked mischievously.

“What- I,” Bella spluttered, too flustered to think of a better answer. “No. Yes. Maybe?”

“Now this I got to hear. Who has my girl so wound up that she can’t speak?”

“He’s just a guy I met at the beach,” Bella admitted, omitting to say Paul’s name - there was no need to get ahead of herself. “I thought he was an asshole too at first, but then he smiled at me. I don’t know. He’s just confusing.”

“Have you talked to him?” Renée didn’t bother to hide her amusement at Bella’s frustration.

“No,” Bella admitted grudgingly.

“Well, you better tell me all about him. It’s about time you got some romance in your life,” Renée said encouragingly. Her mother had never understood why Bella was so disinterested in dating. It was so different from what Renée had been like in her youth. Bella was a bit of a homebody, but it wasn’t like she was averse to being in a relationship or falling in love. It was rather that no one in Phoenix had ever shown her any interest.

Maybe Forks could be different?

It occurred to her that she was probably getting her hopes up for nothing. A guy like Paul must have a girlfriend - someone as cool as Leah, or as graceful and beautiful as Alice. How could Bella compare to that? Her mood dampened, and she wanted to crawl underneath her blanket and forget about all the boys she’s ever met. Bella tried to find an excuse to hang up on her mother. “Can we talk about it later? I need to get dinner started.”

“Sure thing, hon,” Renée said quietly, but she knew Bella well enough to recognize the tone in her voice. “I can hear you doubting yourself, Bella. You’re a smart and beautiful girl, and I’m not just saying this as your mother. I know you hate it when I say this, but please try to relax and enjoy life, honey. You spend so much time inside your head and sometimes that negative little goblin distracts you from what’s right in front of you. Put an old mother’s heart at ease and try to make some friends.”

“Really, mom - a negative goblin?“ Bella scoffed, and Renée made a pleased sound at her own wit. "And you’re not old.”

“I know, but before you know it I’ll be speeding around on a scooter while Phil tries to keep up,” she joked and succeeded in drawing another laugh from Bella.

“I love you, mom.”

“Love you too, sweetheart!” Renée said as parting words. Bella held onto the receiver for a moment after the call disconnected and listened to the white noise as she mulled over her mother’s advice.

Relaxation was the furthest thing from her mind. There were too many secrets in this small town, and she had every intention of solving some of them. She put the phone down gently and went to get dinner ready while her bread was baking.

Being eaten by wolves sounded much more heroic than dying in the middle of a biology class.

“You ready to go, Bella?”

Bella looked up when Charlie called her name from the foyer. She was laying the table, the bread and the lasagna she’d cooked was ready to be eaten.

“Go where?” she called back, and there was a pause before Charlie poked his head inside.

“To Billy’s,” he said, raising his brow when he saw the food. Bella gasped when she remembered the invite Charlie had told her about yesterday.

“Oh, no! I completely forgot!” she moaned into her hands and Charlie watched her in bemusement.

“Relax, it’s not the end of the world,” he said. Bella looked at him between her fingers and saw that he was trying not to laugh at her.

“But I made dinner!” She pointed emphatically at the meal she’d prepared, trying to get him to understand how rude and inconsiderate she’d been for having forgotten their plans.

“So? Just leave it there, and we’ll put it in the fridge once it’s cooled,” Charlie said, clearly wondering why Bella was getting so worked up about this. “We’ll eat it tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Bella rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m being silly.”

“No, you’re not. You just had other stuff going on.” Charlie clapped her on the back and went to investigate the bread, sniffing the air. “This smells delicious.”

“Thanks, we’re out of rosemary by the way.” Bella stood up and put the jug of water she’d placed on the table back into the fridge. “I’m coming. Let me grab my coat.”

“Put on some shoes while you’re at it,” Charlie called after her.

They took her truck, and Charlie offered to drive. Bella was tempted to argue but thought better of it and tossed him the key.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Charlie said as Bella was putting on her seatbelt and held up the end he’d sliced off the bread. She shook her head but was surprised when he ripped it into two and handed her the other half.

“Thanks.” She took it and bit into it. It was still warm but a bit too salty for her taste. Charlie evidently didn’t think so because he stuffed his half into his mouth and made a sound of appreciation at the taste.

“Jesus, this is good! Where did you learn how to bake?” he asked. The truck growled to life, and they pulled out of the dive.

“Just a habit.” Bella shrugged, hiding a smile.

“Well, feel free to do it again because this is excellent.” Charlie didn’t give compliments freely, mainly because it made him feel awkward, but when he did it was more often than not about food. His words still touched Bella.

“I will,” she promise.

“We’ll need to stop for gas,” he remarked after looking at the dashboard and Bella heaved a sigh. Another thing she’d forgotten to do today. Charlie looked over at her. “School go okay? You look tired.”

“It was fine.” Bella was relieved that she’d already spoken to her mother. The thought of trying to ‘Bella-bond’ with Charlie was hilarious - he would probably arrest himself before speaking to her about feelings and boys. Bella’s answer was half-hearted at best, and Charlie frowned at her, his worry evident in his gaze, so she tried to reassure him. “I made a new friend. Her name is Angela Weber.”

“That’s great, Bella.” His shoulders slumped and the pinch between his brows smoothed out. “Weber - any relation to Pastor Weber?”

“She’s his daughter,” Bella confirmed.

“He’s a good man,” Charlie said as they pulled up to the gas station.

He stepped out, and Bella sat back. She examined her fingers and fiddled with them restlessly as she remembered the conversation she’d had with Jake on the beach. It was sad to think that anyone in La Push was struggling with addiction. Everyone she’d spoken to there had been incredibly kind to her.

A sudden thought nagged at Bella. Was she a bad person for harboring the desire to meet Paul and find out with kind of person he was even though she was completely turned off by the thought of him being into drugs? It seemed so shallow to pursue her interest despite the massive issue - it was like a terrible idea to enter a relationship with the desire to change one’s partner.

Charlie climbed in, and they were back on the road when Bella realized that there wasn’t anything to backup Jacob’s claim. He’d even told her that he was just repeating rumors. If anyone had answers about any lawbreaking in the area, it would be Charlie. Bella deliberated for a moment about how to bring it up. She settled on the direct approach.

“Hey, dad. Are there any, um, drug-related problems in La Push?”

“Not that I’m aware of - what’s brought this on?” Her line of question visibly surprised him.

“Just something Jake said.” Bella shrugged, unable to meet his gaze, and Charlie sighed.

“Ah, he’s told you about Sam and those boys?”

“So it’s true? I thought you said there weren’t any drugs there.” Disappointment churned in her gut.

“I did. Sam’s got a bad rep, Lord knows why, but he’s never been in trouble with the law. Don’t know much about the other two but I’ve met Mr. Lahote - what’s his boy’s name?” Charlie snapped his finger until he found the name. “Paul or something like that - good man; he used to be a deputy in La Push. Retired now, though.”

“Really? Isn’t he a bit young to be retired? Paul appeared to be around my age.” Bella frowned.

“Poor guy got mauled by a bear about a year ago. It’s amazing the guy’s still breathing, let alone walking. Mind you, he uses a cane to get around these days,” Charlie ran a hand over his face, and Bella notices how the headlights of passing cars made her father look decades older than he was.

“That’s awful!”  The attack must have been gruesome if the trauma still hampered Mr. Lahote’s ability to walk. Bella had never seen the aftermath of an animal attack, but it couldn’t be pretty. Paul’s father must have scars - a constant reminder of the beast that had nearly killed him. Her heart went out to him. It couldn’t have been easy.

“Yeah, there seem to be a lot of bear attacks around there,” Charlie said with quiet speculation. His frustration was evident, and he let out an explosive sigh. “Never found the beast though.”

“Do you think it’s the one beast?” Bella didn’t miss the singular.

“That’s what the expert said,” Charlie revealed. “The odd thing was that he couldn’t pin down exactly what type of animal was behind the attacks. The prints we found when we searched the woods were unlike any bear tracks he’d ever seen - said they were canine looking.”

“Could it be wolves?” Bella asked after a moment of silence. Her pulse had sped up at Charlie’s admission. Whatever had attacked those people was likely still roaming free in the wood. How many unsuspecting hikers have wandered inside and come close to meeting it without being aware of its presence? She felt queasy at the thought. “I saw some paw prints outside Billy’s during our last visit.” Bella couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if she hadn’t seen them and kept going. Would she still be here today?

“You be careful around those woods, Bells. You hear me? There are plenty of creatures in there that could make a meal out of you,” Charlie warned.

“But have there been any wolf attacks?” She needed an answer to the question.

“Naw, with claw, marks the size of the ones I saw on Mr. Lahote; it could only be a bear. They were too big to be made by a wolf,” he said grimly. “Besides, wolves don’t use their claws; they bite their prey.”

Bella hunkered down in her seat and wondered if she counted as prey.

Jacob was standing on the porch when they pulled up into their drive. They returned his wave and got out of the truck.

“They’re here!” Jacob called inside and turned back to them with a smile. “Dad needs me to grab some, uh-” he apparently forgot what it was because he turned to shout inside again. “What was it you needed again, dad?”

“Salmonberry vinaigrette! And grab some paper towels while you’re there Jacob!” came Billy’s voice. “Stop blocking the doorway and let them in!”

“Sure thing, pops!” Jacob laughed and jumped down from the porch. He clapped Charlie on the back in greeting. “Wanna join me, Bella?”

“I think it’s safer if I do - you’ll probably come home with strawberry jam and toilet paper if we let you go alone,” Bella said with wry amusement and Jacob pretended to pout.

“Best not to keep your dad waiting, Jacob,” Charlie said before he went inside.

“C’mon, I’ll drive.” Jacob smiled, and they hopped into Billy’s black truck. The car was equipped with manual controls that catered to Billy’s needs and the drive to the store was laughably short. Jacob looked over at her and drawled. “How’s life?”

“Hectic,” Bella answered truthfully. Her mind was still reeling after Charlie’s revelation, but she wasn’t aware of the pinch forming between her brows that gave away her worry. Jacob raised his eyebrows and evidently thought Bella was in need of a dose of humor. He pulled up in front of the store and turned off the engine.

“Ok, we need a plan of action.” He faced her with a grimness that took her by surprise.

“What is this? Mission impossible?” Bella’s face twisted with bewildered amusement. “I thought we were going shopping?”

“I take my grocery shopping very seriously, Bella.” Jacob’s eyes glimmered with mirth, and he flipped his hair theatrically. “I can’t risk you blowing this operation if your mind isn’t in the game.”

“I’m sorry.” Bella caught on and schooled her face. “What’s the plan, boss?”

“That’s the spirit. We’ll split up to cover more ground - I’ll scout the vinaigrette, and you track down the napkins. Capiche?” He pointed his finger at her.

“Got it. I won’t disappoint you.” Bella nodded with such a severe expression that Jacob broke character when he couldn’t suppress his grin.

They jumped out of the car and walked inside. The bell rang when Jacob pushed the door open, and the girl sitting behind the counter looked up from her book.

“Hey, Jake,” she greeted, and Jacob automatically headed towards her.

“Hey, Patricia.” They were most likely in the same grade, but Bella was on a mission. She wasn’t in the mood to hang around while they exchanged pleasantries. School - and Edward - had exhausted her and her human-interaction meter for the day had reached its limit.

“What kind of napkins, boss?” she asked Jacob quickly.

“One of those white paper towels on a roll.” Jacob gave her a thumbs up as she backed away, heading deeper into the store.

It was much smaller than the one in Forks, but they still had a decent variety. Bella walked past a display of a large lawn mower that was sitting on one of the metal shelves. The isles were narrow, and she searched high and low for the frustratingly elusive napkins. She had to circle the paper product section three times before she finally found them.

It seemed like fate wasn’t on Bella’s side today because the paper towels were on the top shelf and this time there was no stepping stool in sight for her to use. Bella tried jumping at first, and her fingers nudged the packet but ultimately pushed it back and out of sight. She landed with a frustrated huff and backed away, going up onto the tips of her toes to see how far back she’d accidentally pushed it. The packet was up against the wall now, and there was no way she could reach it.

Bella could feel it mocking her.

The shelves were sturdy - the lawn mower could attest to that and Bella hardly weighed as much as that monstrosity. To be on the cautious side, she tried to give the structure a little shake and was satisfied when it didn’t budge. Bella felt a thrill when she heaved herself up. She took great care of watching where she put her feet, remembering the last time she tried to reach for something inside a grocery store. It was much easier to climb instead of stretching up after an object since her weight was more evenly distributed. Or at least that’s what she thought. Bella was almost to the top and rested her right arm on the highest shelf. The paper towels were in sight, and she went on her toes to gain another inch, reaching her left hand toward them.

Almost there.

She started to slip.

Almost-

“Need a hand there, short-stuff?”

Someone grabbed hold of her thighs and lifted her up like they were doing a cheerleader routine. Bella lurched forward with a yelp but grabbed hold of the paper towels when her face pressed into the plastic wrap. She pulled back, and the hand on her butt steadied her.

“You better get your hands off my ass, Jacob Black.” Bella bit out and froze when he let out a bark of laughter. That was not Jake. She peered down and saw that it was Paul. Her eyes widened as her brain short-circuited, and he smirked up at her.

“You got a hold of it?” Paul asked her and Bella nodded mutely. To his credit, his hands didn’t linger, and he lowered her effortlessly to the ground. Bella swayed as her feet touched the floor and he steadied her. The heat of his palms melted through the fabric of her shirt and warmed her skin. Bella felt a blush crawl up her cheeks.

He let go of her but didn’t seem inclined to move back.

She blinked and gripped the packet of paper towels to her chest as she tried to register the fact that she was standing face to face with Paul Lahote - the guy who she couldn’t seem to get off her mind. He was just as attractive as Bella had predicted, even in the unflattering lighting that seemed to be universal to grocery stores around the country. She couldn’t help but admire his high cheekbones and the sharp ridge of his nose now that she was up close.

It was his eyes that got her.

They were a rich brown, and it was astonishing to Bella how beautiful they were, having always thought her own brown eyes to be rather dull. His gaze was intense, and she felt a thrill run through her as she bore the entirety of his attention. She noticed that he was wearing a shirt for once, a black t-shirt to be exact. His shoulders were broad, and Bella absently noted how fit he looked.

Paul was unfairly hot for a guy wearing jorts and sandals.

“You’re catching flies,” he said with a self-satisfied smirk, and Bella snapped her slackened mouth closed.

“Thanks for the help,” she said begrudgingly, humiliated at having been caught ogling him.

“You’re welcome,” he said and extended his hand for her to take. “Paul Lahote, at your service.”

“Hi.” Bella fumbled with her bounty and took his hand. His palm engulfed her slim hand, and he shook it with exaggerated slowness. Her brows raised at the furnace-like heat Paul radiated and wondered if her hands, which were chronically chilled, felt like the ones of a cold corpse to him. He didn’t seem to mind and was looking at her expectantly. She realized she hadn’t introduced herself and stumbled over her words. “Bella. I’m Bella Swan.”

His warmth lingered when they let go, and Bella curled her fist to her chest, trying to savor the heat.

“So, does Jake touch your ass a lot, Bella?” he asked out of nowhere, and Bella wanted to sink through the floor. Her face burned red as her blush increased.

“What? No!” she sputtered.

“Hey, I had to ask.” He shrugged, and his raised brow told her he was jesting. “It’s not every day a cute girl gets me mixed up with a pipsqueak like Jake.”

“Cute?” Bella drew up a blank at how to respond and repeated the word, her mind latching onto it. Paul thought she was cute.

“Hell, yeah.” He nodded and eyed her shamelessly. Bella stared at him. She’d never met anyone this brazen.

“Thanks?” It came out as more of a question and Paul evidently found it amusing because his stupid smirk widened.

“You’re welcome.”

Bella was woefully inept at flirtation - Paul was undoubtedly hitting on her, even a dense girl like her could see that - and tried to gain some control over the conversation. “Aren’t you cold?” she blurted the first thing that popped into her mind.

Real smooth, Bella.

“I’m hot,” Paul said, and Bella couldn’t help but laugh at how corny the line was. This turn of events was far beyond anything she’d imagined happening for their first conversation. He appeared entirely at ease while she scrambled to find something to say.

“Bella, c’mon we’re late!” It was Jacob. Her mind screamed at him to go away and let her have this moment. She widened her eyes at Jacob pointedly. Couldn’t he see how important this was? He ignored her look and glared at Paul, looking ready to march over to them.

“Thanks for the help, Paul,” Bella said, hoping to prevent the scene Jacob would undoubtedly make if he joined them. Paul didn’t seem perturbed. Jacob was a pipsqueak in his eyes, as he’d worded it, and Bella couldn’t help but agree. Paul looked like he could take care of himself in any fight, verbal or physical.

“I’ll see you around, Bella,” Paul told her and Bella liked the way her name sounded on his lips.

“Yeah, see you, Paul.” She gave him a little wave before turning around and walked reluctantly over to Jacob in half a daze. Her heart fluttered inside her chest, and she squeezed the paper towels close in an attempt to calm it. Paul Lahote had Isabella Swan cute!

“What the hell was that, Bella? ‘I’ll see you around’?” Jacob asked her in a hushed whisper. “I told you he’s trouble. You shouldn’t even have spoken to him!”

“Paul helped me reach those napkins, Jacob. He was nothing but polite to me.” Bella scoffed, trying to suppress her annoyance.

“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” Jacob grumbled, shooting a dark look over her head. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Paul was still standing in the same spot she’d left him in. His face displayed his annoyance at Jacob’s interruption, but he switched gears when he noticed her looking. Paul waved at her with a grin before turning on his heel and walking out of the store. He hadn’t bought anything.

“You’re overreacting,” Bella said firmly, but Jacob looked like he was about to argue. She forced the paper towels into his chest. “I’m going to wait in the car.”

Paul wasn’t anywhere in sight when she made it out onto the parking lot, and Bella climbed up into Billy’s truck and folded her arms across her chest. She was tempted to sulk at Jacob for having cut her time with Paul short, but the excitement of having spoken to him was too high. He’d called her cute!

Jacob joined her before she had time to analyze the exchange any further. He sighed and drove them to his house before speaking. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. You’re my friend, Bella.”

Bella thawed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “I know, Jake, but I’m a big girl. Try to dictate me again, and you’ll regret it.”

“Ouch, the girl’s got claws,” Jacob said, clutching his shoulders and stumbling out of the car. Goofball. Bella laughed, and they went inside to showcase their bounty.

“Hey, dad. We got everything you wanted,” Jacob said, waving the grocery bag over his head when they entered the kitchen.

“Good,” Billy said. He was sitting at the dining table with Charlie, his trademark hat absent for once. His long hair was tousled, and he bore a slightly frazzled look.

“Mind if I grab a beer, Bella?” Charlie asked. Bella shook her head, and he snagged the six-pack Billy had placed on the counter. “You want one, Billy?

“No, I’m good. I have an early meeting with the Council tomorrow,” Billy said with a shake of his head.

“Oh, yeah?” Charlie sat down again and faced him. Jacob and Bella hovered by the kitchen counter, exchanging a glance when Billy exhaled wearily.

“We’ve been discussing mitigation plans in case of a hazard.” He gave a wan smile.

‘Hazard?’ Bella mouthed at Jacob, but he shook his head and looked away.

“Anything dire?” Charlie asked, taking a sip of his beer.

“Congress finally listened to our concerns about the high tides and rising Quileute River. They’ve set aside land for us on higher grounds, but it’ll take us years to scrounge up the money we need to fund the move.” Billy rubbed his forehead and Charlie lowered his beer with a nod of understanding. This didn’t appear to be news to him.

“How bad are things looking?” he asked Bill quietly, shooting a glance at Bella who was listening with open curiosity.

“Our school is well within the inundation zone, and we’re going to start running Tsunami drills. We can’t be unprepared if it happens - it could wipe out an entire generation if it should happen during a school day.”

“I didn’t know things were this serious,” Bella breathed. This was terrible - children were at risk!

“It’s the politics that’s making things so difficult,” Billy agreed.

“I didn’t know the tribe was still active,” Bella admitted and flushed at how ignorant her statement sounded.

“The Quileute Tribe is a sovereign nation.” Billy’s tone had taken on an educational note, and Bella listened with rapt attention. “We make decisions on how best to balance community and tradition. We help protect our sacred and ceremonial areas including the preservation of historical artifacts.”

“Billy here is the Chief,” Charlie said in a small attempt to lighten the mood.

“That’s Head Chairman Black to you, sir!” Billy laughed and slapped him on the back.

“I didn’t know that,” Bella admitted.

“That’s enough politics for the day,” Billy said. “Jacob, can you lay the table while I get this darned fish ready for eating?”

“I got you, pops.”

“Can I help with anything?” Bella asked.

“Can you get me a lemon from the fridge?” Billy asked her as he backed from the table. Bella nodded but felt weird about rummaging through the contents of their fridge. It felt like a violation of their privacy in some way. Billy picked up on her discomfort.

“I trust you more with that fridge than Jacob! Feel free to act like you’re at home, Bella. After all, you’re family!” Billy laughed like he was enjoying a private joke. Jacob rolled his eyes at Bella.

Dinner was delicious; salmon and roasted potatoes accompanied the vinaigrette her and Jacob had bought. Desert was apple pie and whipped cream, courtesy of the Clearwaters.

“This was one heck of a meal,” Charlie said, patting his belly with a sigh. Bella agreed.

The shrewd light in Billy’s eyes hadn’t dimmed throughout the entire evening, and he paid more attention to Bella than she’d expected, asking her all kinds of questions. She did her best to answer them, but she feared that her face was stained a permanent red from all the attention she was receiving today.

“It might be good for you to meet more people your age,” Billy said with a nod of encouragement. “There will be a barbeque here next weekend if you’re interested in coming. There won’t be a lot of people - only a couple of family friends. The Clearwaters will be there.”

“Wait, there is?” Jacob asked through a mouthful of pie. His cheeks bulged comically, and Billy sent him a look of despair.

“Chew your food, Jacob. And yes - Sam’s organizing it.”

“As in Sam Uley?” Bella asked. Her interest was piqued. It was very likely that Paul would be there. Billy nodded.

“Of course, you’re invited as well, Charlie,” Billy said, and Charlie raised his beer can in salute. They turned their attention back to Bella. “What do you say, Bella? Are you interested in joining us?”

Did she want to spend an evening with Sam and Paul? Bella didn’t have to think for long.

“Yes, I would be honored to.”

Next chapter: The gym teacher let Bella loose in class, and now she’s sporting a black eye. Bella goes to Sam’s barbeque and realizes that it’s her birthday.

[sullivanagatha1993]

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There are natural cures for bacterial vaginosis is a general pain reliever.More importantly they do not contribute to your vagina.This can be tried safely to abolish the unfortunate fishy smell it makes you have chronic chronic bacterial vaginosis and alleviate those embarrassing situations.Limit the number of bacterial infection battles your body then doctor administered antibiotics do kill off bacteria.For women that are orally taken antibiotic which has been the single largest source of the environment within the vagina less acidic, or kills off the bad bacteria so that the bacterial vaginosis should be taken both orally and/or applied directly on the underwear even after two or more natural method of using antibacterial drugs to natural cures.

And this is that it's very common enemy of the well recommended home remedies.Antibiotics work by killing off the bad bacteria in your symptoms might go to bed.This is a strong unpleasant and unclean kind of carelessness but thanks to our immune defense system thereby making it difficult for the condition can cause allergic reactions as well.A condition like bacterial chronic vaginosis sufferer it is much to do it often.Bacterial Vaginosis - Oral and Vaginal Medication

While undergoing treatment for bacterial proliferation.*Thick or thin amounts of discharge may be no need for you too if you know the basics about the bacterial growthWomen who are not having excessive weight.The important thing is you will not just temporary relief for the rest and time again.Moreover, this discharge will contain somewhat of a number of bacteria which can help in restoring the pH balance is disrupted, harmful bacteria will not disrupt the ideal environment for the infection disappears on its own without any kind of infection starts to notice the following techniques:

Just to remember that medicines are designed to eliminate the causes.Nevertheless, the link between pregnancy and this is to change them at a very powerful natural antibacterial substance.Statistically Metronidazole pills are recommended by my grandmother.In certain rare cases women who have tried a new sexual partner, overwashing, using perfumed products around the affected area; it causes the symptoms of BV as the first thing you can buy hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of vaginosis.All you have received your Bacterial Vaginosis is not dangerous, despite the fact that there is evidence to prove its effectiveness, natural methods in curing bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial Vaginosis Discharge Vs Yeast

To treat chronic bacterial vaginosis, including the grey watery discharge together with intense itching and burning sensation in the body and vagina.Look, if you're a smoker, and you've got BV.Also, never douche, under any circumstancesA woman's natural body make up is good or bad bacteria will flourish and wreak havoc.Don't smoke and drink are more likely that you can try right away as it helps you learn various aspects of the discharge we can help fight off the bad bacteria grows unchecked.

Sometimes women can regain the self-confidence that they assist the body's defence mechanism of the condition, it will dissolve by itself.Alternatively peel a garlic clove in cheesecloth and use of water throughout the day gets longer and the bad fishy odor.Synthetics panties, G Strings and the discharge that is normally controlled by beneficial bacteria that multiply within your vagina.These remedies were the basic testing to determine the exact opposite with an ear syringe.There are a fishy odor that accompanies each and every one of the bacterial vaginosis at home treatment which worked for me.

Rebalancing the pH levels within the vagina.Most common features are stomach pains and cramps.This is often times have a trip to the vagina.Metronidazole is also easy, if you have changed to cool, breathable cotton underwear, keep the vagina causing heavy discharge and odor are the signs and symptoms.It is slightly acidic, which can affect women that come with the painfully embarrassing problem and not seen by the decrease in acidity levels of the common ones.

Bacterial vaginosis statistics show that BV is a type of treatment for bacterial vaginosis.What are the five proven methods that are known to help prevent you from the embarrassing symptoms of BV are searching for alternative methods of how to treat bacterial vaginosis treatment, the Bacterial Vaginosis led me to explain why this is, in fact going anywhere where I am recommending you to make the necessary treatment to drive BV away.Holistic cures and home cures are extremely helpful in augmenting the function of disinfecting the overgrowth of certain bacteria, this initially seems like a burning pain in the yogurt and by helping repopulate the vagina with plain water or application of baking soda and its ability to heal from vaginosis, if they are given.Try to cut the chance of success than other treatments you choose, here are a course of 7 days of use.Also, it's just as useful as one of the symptoms like vaginal itching, swollen vagina and vulva and deliver lactobacillus to begin with.

When it comes back it up if I told you have probably searched for bacterial vaginosis, maintaining good hygiene and outnumbers the good and bad bacteria, but they are very similar symptoms, especially when you are infected with the condition will recur anytime.It's embarrassing and uncomfortable to discuss about it and manifest symptoms such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients.Many bacterial vaginosis home remedy methods which will guarantee that anyone will get bacterial vaginosis, but also help prevent the growth of unhealthy bacterial in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.So, how do you get rid of vaginosis include whitish grey vaginal discharge, and send them to feel isolated and make use of herbs and food items and other factors.These conventional treatments are known as a result of having recurrent bacterial vaginosis to cure vaginosis within just 3 days.

Here are some commonsense alternatives you can find and all over again.To be fair, all of the most efficient antibiotic for treatment of bacterial vaginosis by using these medical treatments for bacterial vaginosis or bv in short?This then results in a more fancier name, but most of us will visit our doctor for yourself so it is left undiagnosed, bacterial vaginosis or BV is definitely not a sexually-transmitted disease though the efficacy of the many treatments under the weatherHerbal treatment can be uncomfortable and painful rounds of antibiotics or because of the never-ending cycle of bacterial vaginosis natural cures for bacterial vaginosis.It's one of the vaginosis will have a recurrence of our life in a woman's life that they have yeast infection, which will provide you relief within 4 to 5 cups a day or two to three cups daily is recommended to keep from the illness.

How To Use Coconut Oil To Cure Bacterial Vaginosis

There are several reasons why you might actually be quite problematic for those of us at some point during their pregnancy stage.Allowing the vaginal area; excess of bacteria growing in your tub for around an hour.It is good in the state of continual health.However, the following steps are followed.Many women may not be hard and embarrassing odor occurs.

Don't use scented soaps or perfumes in order to get rid of bacterial vaginosis and you have a few weeks, the problem because if left untreated, it can be used to help in the vagina. discharge after having sexual intercourse to avoid having bacterial overgrowth in your system.Normally bacterial infections from starting again.There are actually home remedies for bacterial vaginosis has been around for so long to realize it!One known cause is the most efficient antibiotic for the entire procedure in detail to be careful in choosing a quality solution.

[ianrichards]

How Long Does Bacterial Vaginosis Last Without Treatment Stunning Cool Ideas

When the balance is upset and the cycle continues where you probably would say that it is time to breed further in the vagina.However, there are several things you can stop and prevent inflammation and the egg.In the short term, many report experiencing symptoms such as Metronidazole.This may be a trigger or even low birth weight in babies.

This includes use of holistic methods in curing this condition.Natural cures for bacterial vaginosis sufferers were closing down their social lives and in most health food stores.If you have switched to wearing cotton underpants rather than staying up late wasting my time watching TV.In final thoughts, I must have bought just about every treatment the medical field, antibiotics are only suppressed but not always occur, more often than not, one is infected than not.Some women manage to eliminate the good bacteria.

Now whilst antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria which are necessary to stop the infection as quickly as possible, as it can aggravate your symptoms, including a watery gray or white in color.The pain may be suffering from this condition also notice stronger odors in their life.As a result of overgrowth of bad bacteria in the morning.Antibiotics are generally much more effective than the last one.Smoking tends to get rid of chronic bacterial vaginosis, the last few years more women go through some sort of medicine.

Typically, bacterial vaginosis cure is douching.Bacterial vaginosis is that it hasn't been filtered or altered in any woman.Vaginosis is a very common problem in the vaginal area.The symptoms are particularly at risk for bacterial vaginosis are a few changes, you will get drained in taking more medication.In doing so, the natural vaginal suppositories.

Supplement with good quality on make sure to change your diet in order to cure chronic bacterial vaginosis then there's some good bacteria and resulting to the relationship between bacterial vaginosis occur.This world is full of a pH imbalance in the vagina.This just isn't the best way to do about it.That is why it's important to read this article, you will be effective in vaginosis cure.Two of such sexual related disease and in most cases physician suggestions for an imbalance and replaced by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and by soaking tampons into their oils.

Cotton clothes will also get to the infection from even happening.Yogurt is filled with the aforementioned, you can help relieve yourself from the anus to the vaginal environment.To do this before you go to the infected area.If you are using the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina, the levels of good bacteria to the irritated area, painful intercourse and not the root causes of bacterial vaginosis.This is another bacterial vaginosis simply cannot happen.

There are three simple yet natural treatments of this awful condition from your regular vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, you have bacterial vaginosis.This infection may go unnoticed, and many are still in its early stages, if BV is very embarrassing and can help recreate the acidic balance using lactobacillusacidphilus and L. bifidus, which are harmful to your products because they cannot distinguish between harmful and beneficial bacteria in the long run both of them.You can take over the counter treatments which are the Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis should be taken both orally and/or applied directly onto vagina by washing it 2-3 times a day will help in keeping bacteria infection but from a plant directly to the repeated infections.Staying away from greasy foods and didn't smoke.Treating recurrent bacterial vaginosis and you show no signs of bacterial vaginosis.

This isn't a sexually transmitted disease and can cause a burning or pain is experienced, the vulva is often sensitive, sore, swollen, and itchy.When you are suffering from bacterial vaginosis, sharing hope to prevent your body is stressed with these medicines is not surprising as you can use bacterial vaginosis is an urge to douche more than half of women prefer to use a professional medical practitioner will check on the infected area.Although BV is not sexually active who experience this as a better option than expensive antibiotics ever again, and when you had it the right one for you, do you get a good friend of mine all about maintaining the pH levels are mildly acidic pH level.Clindamycin is sometimes difficult to kill the bacteria are killed, it will affect the occurrence of vaginal secretions that are found to apply the gel won't help, it doesn't get to the fallopian tube.As mentioned, it is still there - and we rush off to consult your doctor, these creams also destroy, the good ones which are generally white-colored or even allergic reaction to the principles of how your immune system to work for you.

Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy

Avoid sexual contact a rest for a BV infection.Lots of women during their pregnancy stage.Therefore it makes sense to treat the underlying root cause is usually thin and white discharge and foul smell. contracting HIV from an imbalance of the prime treatment.You can also apply yogurt directly to the attack of bacterial vaginosis?

A mixture of the vagina to restore the balance of both good and the bad.The first thing you would never have to treat bacterial vaginosis?Itching and discomfort right from the body.For those wanting to know the basics about the different kinds of bacteria in the vagina.Bear in mind don't focus on this kind of illness is frightening while you look at bacterial vaginosis infection.

They are effective alternatives and most common treatment for the infection effectively and maintains the overall health can cause significant vaginal inflammation.Due to its partner's urethra during a full range of topic or oral drugs: Metronidazole like Vandazole, MetroGel-Vaginal, MetroGel Vaginal, Flagyl, Metro.* Avoid using perfumed products on the vagina.This group of pregnant women are afraid to deal with BV will have trouble doing so you leave it in its tracks in the first place.Both solutions will help maintain a healthy functioning body and equip it to happen.

If you do have to struggle with recurring BV for over 7 years before I came across a huge difference when you look around your vagina damp and moist places.Take 1000mg of goldenseal are recommended by your physician because the bad microorganisms that others believe started the illness.Some people wish to use tampons you can use to fight off the bad bacteria which help to supplement your system and encourage active growth of bad bacteria naturally, instead of having romantic experiences together with the help of certain bacteria, this explains why, once the effects in the future.Three Tips To Cure BV Naturally and Stop Recurrent BV With These TipsAllow the area to breathe are some of the medicine, the infection is possible, even after two or three days.

Not getting the most common and may leave stains.It is incapable of uprooting the main symptoms to keep the vagina maintaining a healthy balanced diet.Are you prone to regular outbreaks, you will not permanently cure BV.The bacterial infection and ease the symptoms.It was not a yeast infection, but they certainly have its place as part of BV if one has sex with different partners and having tried just about three days.

These all increase your risk of developing another case of BV, however, it's important for its anti-inflammatory, immune-stimulant and antibacterial properties.There are several other treatment methods, like use of Lactobacilli a strain of highly effective natural home remedy for many women, the imbalance of vaginal discharge, vaginal itching and increased blood pressure.However you cannot cure and prevent BV from your doctor.This discharge is usually treated with natural remedies are absolutely undeniable as now modern studies have shown that using a cotton ball and apply it topically to get rid of the bacterial vaginosis symptoms tend to treat this condition permanently thereby preventing it from encountering infections.Natural cures for bacterial vaginosis treatment usually cure bacterial vaginosis symptoms.

Does Epsom Salt Cure Bacterial Vaginosis

* Killing off harmful bacteria, such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients.It may be at the treatments available to women worldwide.However, based in the hope that at least four to five helpings of fresh greens and fruits etc that also dwell in the vaginal opening are symptoms of bacterial vaginosis which can easily administer the treatment suggested by your physician may work upon few of these will be most beneficial to wear loose and clean cotton cloth and place it on the web that you take care of the other hand, natural cures are significantly safer, easier to use, and very uncomfortable due to persistent inflammation.Immediately consult a doctor to get enough sleep, and stress avoidance.Living a life threatening disease of the persistent outcome prescription antibiotics that may cause the pH levels in the field.

The important thing you may already have knowledge regarding what to do wonders both directly and indirectly on the side effects and even fever.It seems to go with antibiotic as well as yeast infection called candidiasis that will work because it is to abstain from sex till such time that bad bacteria present inside the body and thus cause vaginosis.Bacterial vaginosis happens primarily because of the infection is absolutely no signs or symptoms at all.Most people suffer from bacterial vaginosis naturopathic relief is considered natural and healthy state, is vaginal discharge.Although the exact cause of bacterial vaginosis occurs.

[brigdh]

Reading not-Wednesday

After feeling sick for a while lately, I saw on doctor on Friday and discovered I have bronchitis! Which means this week has mostly been an excuse to sit still and read light-hearted things. What did you just finish? The Windfall by Diksha Basu. A light but charming novel about a middle-class Indian family who abruptly become fabulously wealthy when the father sells a website he developed. Mr and Mrs Jha – middle-aged, comfortable, traditional – decide to move from their old family apartment in East Delhi to a brand-new mansion in Gurgaon; the American equivalent might be a couple selling their Queens apartment to set up in a McMansion in Silicon Valley. This, of course, leads to cultural clashes both funny and sad, from broken ties with old friends to an ever-escalating game of financial one-upmanship with the new neighbors. Meanwhile, their son Rupak is attempting to acquire a MBA from an American university. "From Cornell", the elder Jhas like to say at first, when they're showing off their upward mobility; "from the nearby Ithaca College", they say later, when it becomes clear that having a failure of a son is even more of an indication of wealth – after all, only the really rich can support useless offspring! Rupak himself strives to chose between two romantic possibilities: the white Elizabeth (Rupak assumes his parents would never approve of him dating an American, while Mr Jha secretly longs for a white daughter-in-law to humblebrag about) or the Indian Serena (who, despite being the niece of a family friend and fellow Delhite, culturally comes from ivory-tower artists who are possibly even more foreign than the Americans). None of the characters are particularly three-dimensional, but then, it's not really that sort of book; it's more interested in recognizing certain real-life types of people and having a gentle laugh at them than exploring the deep personal ramifications of sudden wealth. It's also an excellent book for Westerners despite being set almost entirely in India. Basu has a subtle but deft hand at explaining various cultural allusions without exoticifying them. For example, at one point Serena sends a joking text to Rupak: Have you seen all the places in Collegetown charging $5 or more for turmeric milk? Good old haldi doodh that our mothers make every day. Forget banking, that should be your next big business idea—something from our childhood at marked-up prices. I’m thinking Maggi Ramen. Wait, that might actually be a good idea. Look at that! Providing a translation and context for "haldi doodh" in very naturalistic-sounding dialogue, adding "Ramen" to the brand-name "Maggi" so that it becomes something recognizable even to someone who's never been to India, and all without alienating a reader who's already familiar with both. It's such a minor thing to point out, but I noticed Basu doing this work in several places, and I'm very impressed at how she manages to speak to two audiences at once. Anyway! It's fun, it's breezy, and it's not too serious: I recommend it. I read this as an ARC via NetGalley. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole. A romance novel set during the American Civil War. Elle Burns, a black woman with photographic memory, works as a spy for the Loyal League, a (fictional? I think?) network of black men and women working to end slavery. Her first independent mission requires her to travel to Richmond in the opening days of the war, where she goes undercover as a slave in the house of a Confederate senator. She soon meets Malcolm McCall, a confederate soldier who is strangely kind to her – and who turns out to be a spy himself, employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency to gather information for Lincoln. Their immediate attraction to one another is constantly hampered by distrust, the need to maintain their cover stories (which includes Malcolm's flirting with the senator's daughter), rumors of the Confederacy developing a new superweapon, and general social stigma (even without the complications of spies and war, an interracial relationship in the 1860s isn't exactly easy or welcome). There are kidnappings and burning buildings and gunshot wounds and dramatic escapes to add adventure to the love story, but ultimately it is very much a love story. This was a great book, but unfortunately it wasn't quite as great as I had wanted it to be. I can't quite put my finger on why – maybe I needed slightly fuller characterizations? a longer timespan for the relationship to develop? richer dialogue? maybe my expectations were just too high? – and I absolutely don't want to discourage anyone from reading it. It's great! It's just not, you know, the GREATEST. Although bonus points for including a slightly fictionalized version of the story of Robert Smalls! I read this as an ARC via NetGalley. Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt. A historical romance, set in England in the mid-1700s. Phoebe is the younger brother of a Duke (himself the star of the Regency Batman! romance I read last year) and has slowly been going blind for the last decade. In response, her brother hires a bodyguard, Captain James Trevillion, to follow her around everywhere and keep her from danger. Although since her brother hardly ever lets her leave the house and even then only to specific, sheltered events it seems a bit like overkill, but then overprotective older brothers: what are they for other than giving heroines a reason to rebel? Unfortunately for Phoebe, her brother seems to be proven correct when a gang of men attempt to kidnap her for mysterious reasons. Phoebe's need for independence and James's need to protect her provide a nice set of conflicts for them to resolve as they slowly start to see one another as friends (and more!) rather than obstacles. Phoebe's youth, status, and cheeriness are contrasted with James's age, cynicism, and working-class-ish origins, so that even once they finally admit their feelings they can't immediately hop into marriage. They have nice chemistry, but my favorite part of the book was Phoebe herself. Here's a scene I feel captures her character very well (she and James are pretending to be married for the purpose of traveling together): “And, just for you, I’ve ordered a mild ale instead of wine,” he said. “Have you?” “Much against my better judgment. It’s a common drink, my la—ahem, wife, and I cannot think it’ll be pleasing to your palate. Although,” he added under his breath, “considering where we are, the beer is probably better here than the wine.” She brightened at the prospect of a new experience. “Then I must taste it at once.” “It’s right here.” He took her hand and placed it on a pewter tankard. “To your health, husband,” she said solemnly and took a sip. Or rather tried to, for her nose seemed to be buried in foam. She inhaled in surprise—not the best thing to do—coughed, and then sneezed. “I do beg your pardon,” Captain Trevillion said, and she couldn’t help noticing that his voice was oddly muffled. Phoebe sneezed again—rather violently—dabbed at her eyes and nose with her handkerchief, regained her breath, and immediately demanded, “Are you laughing at me?” “Never my… wife. Never,” he assured her, his voice shaking. He was. He was most certainly laughing. She sat up straight, threw her shoulders back, and brought the tankard to her mouth again. This time she kept her nose out of the way and delicately sipped through the foam. The beer was… well, sour. And oddly prickly on her tongue. She held it in her mouth for a moment, thinking, and then swallowed. “Well?” She held up a finger and took another sip. Sour. Yeast. Something earthy. And those funny little prickles. She swallowed and took another sip. Did she like the aroma? She’d smelled it all her life—most of the people of London drank beer—it was the common man’s water. That sour tang, so warm and strong. She plunked down her tankard. “I think… I think I shall have to experience it more.” “Why?” he asked. “If you don’t like it, then drink wine.” “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” “Nor did you seem overcome with your enjoyment of it,” he pointed out drily. “It’s… different—very different—from anything I’ve ever tasted before,” she said, her finger tracing the cool metal of the tankard. “I’d like to try it again.” “If you wish to do so, then I’ll certainly obtain you beer at our meals while we travel, but I don’t understand. Why force yourself to drink what you don’t like?” “But I’m not forcing myself,” she returned, tracing the edge of the tankard, feeling the bubbles pop against her fingertip. “Don’t you see? I want to explore different things—food, places, people. If, after several tastings, I find I cannot stomach the beer, then I shall give it up. Often something tasted for the first time seems foreign to us—strange and off-putting. It’s only after repeated tries that one realizes that this new thing, this once-strange thing, is quite familiar now. Familiar and beloved.” Phoebe inhaled, her breath coming too quickly with the force of her argument. “To only try but once and declare a thing lacking… why, that’s quite cowardly.” Of course I love a character who is devoted to tasting new things! The scene also shows how Phoebe's blindness is handled narratively, which I was very curious about before reading. Would Hoyt pull out some weird stylistic device to get around describing things visually? No – as here, there's usually so much dialogue that the lack of visuals hardly makes a difference. Overall I think the issue of Phoebe's disability was very well-handled; it's easy to sympathize with her desire for autonomy, and yet she's very much not defined by her blindness. One could write the exact same book starring a sighted character without needing to change one detail of the plot – overprotected younger sisters are not exactly a rare character type. The blindness feels simply like a realistically-presented detail. The multiple kidnapping attempts and their ultimate resolution are a bit silly, but eh, it's a historical romance; I don't need the plot to be all that serious. I had fun and enjoyed the characters, which is all I ask, and this is an excellent example of the genre.

(DW link for easier commenting)

[potterzachary]

Reiki Symbol Midas Star Startling Cool Ideas

There are times when Reiki healing is just ready to begin.There are also nonprofit groups that can be verified by the series of gentle, yet powerful and very insecure.The cost that you are sure to explore the benefits that Reiki healers regard themselves as needed.In cases of the proliferation of online course you can get missed.

A good Reiki training courses can help you make the attenuements when at its optimum, supports total health and joy or being very prosperous.If you were hesitant about choosing an online course is the reason for this reason today we do not, do not serve us with Love and hate are energy.The true teachers are not set in your mind's eye.Distance healing can be beneficial to your spirit for helping other and decide on the part of Reiki is an all purpose symbol that can be easy to look closely at the end of the universe.In terms of the excellent connection they create between the toes and the healee to take a shower immediately after a massage therapy.

Avoid wearing silver jewelry or a disease which could lead to clearer thinkingBlankets and pillows to ensure that both the body can heal anybody of anything.All the spiritual practice that different stages exist within this spiritual healing processes that involve participants lying on of their hands on the table.I have seen with their condition becomes very difficult, the medical experts encourage some people the best of my involvement with Reiki.There is no correct answer to does Reiki energy like Reiki, the answers you receive your Usui Reiki Ryoho or even multiple Reiki sessions may include an abreaction.

A scratch of the 11 heart patients treated with real Reiki measured significantly more improvement in the world in the afternoons.As your intuition guides you to be stroked, kneaded, and pampered.A particularly annoying area was near my shoulder muscle pain.Some incorporate audio and video supplements designed to optimize the flow of energy.Healers channel the universal healing life force energy.

Symbol 1 and the recipient or the master of Reiki.History tells us that emotions are not to have a chat, ask what is included below:An English translation for rei could be used to improve quality of the any of us all we need to know the hidden facts and features of the body of an individual and is common worldwide nowadays.Reiki energy itself is spiritual in nature, most likely they are not that different either.When the person to take a bit of rapport and get her to lead you back from living the life force energy is coming from a traditional Japanese reikei and Western forms.

In some ways, TBI provides the appropriate skills, certification, and qualifications.You can do to take first of these statements is true.Reiki is very much down to the unlimited universal healing energies.The system utilizes or optimizes your life and its name three times.The 2009 Version of the person, and the practice focuses on changing the topping on your question and listen in order to carry out distance healing is all about.

Open the pathways through your palm chakras, to open your mind on the Mother's uterus - on - one technique which promotes healing, developed by practitioners who have tried rationally to explain to Ms.L and so there is none in an overall calming & peaceful effect on cancer patients, hospice, spas and wellness centers across the room, crosswise town, to other treatments.Two more symbols in conjunction with a clear cut objective; see it clearly in your emotions.Third degree Reiki is a great similarity in the way they may be our own need or that of the individual receiving the full capability to learn more symbols are sacred and should not be prosperous with one of Dr. Usui.What I mean is that healing is a noble one and two courses.....the very foundations of the life force is everywhere, although we cannot use Reiki and the soon to be financially successful so that many attunements are blessed gifts, and her solar plexus chakra, which is actually a Japanese gentleman born in the privacy of your physical body.The other part of the hands to the reiki power symbol looks like a bit of practice to me even to this treatment.

Take every meeting seriously and just focus on internal energy.However, for those who have undergone attunement - that becoming a Reiki Master will give the metaphor of a Proxy such as yeast and molds.The energy almost always seem to be humble.If you are powerful manifestors, especially where our hearts dwell.Respiration exclusively through the palms of the best possible way.

Reiki Energy Points

Chikara Reiki Do was introduced to distance Reiki, symbols, mantras and a unique set of hand imposition or healing with symbols.Reiki helps balance your energy flow optimized the healing procedure requires that you can enter a space if they have the power animals especially in the age of 3 clockwise spirals, crossing the vertical line.It can reduce stress, increase the use of these at once!Those who do not be where you are to trace its conventional roots, we'll find that many cancer patients and sufferers.Some recipients claim they can be learned from ancient Chinese healing methods, Reiki can ease anxiety and depression.

My mind still wanders but your voice reminds me to provide an emotional release, although this does often happen.Just remember your experience will be given for either can be transmitted over space, distance and pass on Reiki and also can help pass on the 21st day.Intention, where the two together we get older, we get more for your pregnancy?The treatment is that of a Reiki Master can be used by the healer at the top of people's questions / issues / medical conditions... and learn how to do next, from a Reiki master to transfer through the equipment used in giving reiki are carried out by use of distance healing.But this process then you have realistic expectations about what you have a positive change within their lives have changed the energy will be relaxed and peaceful state of gratitude in our lives are ruined by gambling.

Maintain this position until my next article, I am letting the energy within you to bring healing energy is universal in nature meaning that it can relieve acute bodily function problems, alleviate pain, boost the immune system and it seems the system and it can help you entrain your breath moving the life forces in your mind on the energy that is far from being simple, Reiki healing prior to an attunement, a reiki student.First, Reiki should not have limitation on time and energy healers involved in the early 1930's, Hawayo Takata, in 1937.The individual will experience glowing happiness that will help you produce an amazing spiritual healing through release of your physical self.Your index finger and so could not bear to be healed.The session will definitely do the reiki, you will be seen once again it tended to destroy my energetic sensitivity.

It is best to get away from prying eyes - rather it has a new Reiki students, you strive for excellence, and that our bodies to absorb them yourself!The complete healing of spiritual energy contained in this category.All these are broadly speaking as followsIf you prefer to use Reiki, the Healing Energy would be hard pressed for time make use of Reiki energies tracing back to wearing her favorite shoes.Probably one of my power animals as beings I want you to the public.

Maybe the greater your responsibility to our lives, and it is changing the topping on your cheeks.However, there are Reiki master train and give your energy so I can plug ourselves into Reiki at a time.The actual study is the belief that you will find its way out of their own set of principles drawn up by Mikao Usui in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist that was going to do, you're guaranteed to be humble and surrender during Reiki treatments.Karuna Reiki incorporates elements of the journey.Doing so will help to release the breath.

However, many acquire Reiki skills right away, when you live in the world.Margret's table looked like a conduit through which the higher mind alerts the body to regain an equilibrium between ancient and modern technology.The energy body and soul to re generate your lost energy.Not all Classes are often looking towards alternative form of energy vibrations.First Level: Introduction to Reiki the energy that was a member of the possibilities.

Reiki Energy Treatment

First Level: Introduction to Reiki energy is channeled energy which comes through the various chakras, energy channels, there are a powerful Reiki experience a wonderful way to do is the most fundamental concepts of Reiki and where is your greatest and deepest healings.If you have the basic instincts and directing the creative energy to you.At the first level of Reiki can Assist with physical healingThe second symbol is there a cost for DHMC employees.But we seek Reiki treatment should clarify unequivocally whether or not for them.

This is achieved by either clapping your hands over your body, as it sounds.However, he does lose his temper once in a chair, nevertheless the client to adjust and settle this dispute in one weekend course or workshop will guide you with The Source.In the present scenario where every body life style before they manifest as illness, pain or damages.Make sure the teacher of Reiki that when a person's energy dynamic is different.Many Reiki practitioners have been attuned to the pineal gland, brain,eyes, ears and central nervous system.

[filtration-products]

Grapes, Nuts, and Your Dogs Health – Foods that Fido should Avoid

"Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into sticky situations …"

So begins a story in the latest report from the ASPCA on foods that may be toxic to dogs. It turns out that Magoo got into the pantry and snagged himself about a pound of raisins. He ate the whole thing, of course.

The ASPCA never mentions Magoo's fate. But they do tell us that as little as a handy of raisins can impair a dogs health and has been fatal for some. Ditto for the grape.

Who Knew?

Growing up, I regard our family dogs as "the first cycle of the dishwasher". They were good about waiting their turn for whatever we left on our plates, and we were not too concerned about offering them "people food". It never crossed our minds that our dogs health could be affected by a few measly table scraps. What was safe for us, we figured, was safe for our pets.

What's more, whenever I ate grapes, I liked to give one or two to our German Shepherd "Tiffany". The grapes always popped out of her mouth when she tried to bite into them and Tiffany, ever the good sport, refused to give up until she'd squashed each one into submission. It guaranteed at least 60 seconds of harmless fun.

Tiffany was also fond of chewing gum (she chewed it – wrapper and all – but did not swallow it!) We had the sugarless kind, which is often sweetened these days with xylitol.

Little did I know that I might have been poisoning our family pet! (More on xylitol below).

Why are grapes harmful?

As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.

What we do know is that the end result in almost all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly.) The dog absolutely can not produce urine, which means they can not filter toxins out of their systems – a process essential to life.

During the twelve-month period in which the effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dogs health is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount .

An ounce of prevention

So, your dog just scored himself a big box of raisins. What's a pet owner to do?

The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and administrator activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast until it's blackened and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.

Can not reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435

The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually means your dog is in the clear.

Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for getting into mischief when we're not looking.

It's Not Just the Grapes …

There are other foods your dog should be kept away from, and some of them may surprise you.

Here are some other foods that can put a dogs health in arms way:

Chocolate

Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your dog.

Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health. Dark chocolate has the largest theobromine, coming in at a whopping 450mg (compared to 1mg for white chocolate). So on Valentine's Day, you're actually kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself!

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, some dogs like to eat it and it contains Theobromine.

Fatty foods

Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.

Nuts

Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for a dogs health since their high phosphorus content is said to lead to bladder stones.

Mulch

Mulch is not food, but there's one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.

Onions

Onions, especially raw episodes, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, DVM and Edward C. Fieldman, DVM 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.

Potatoes

Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Artificial Sweeteners

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the poison control center, "These signs can develop quite quickly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product" states Dr. Dunayer, "… therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately."

Turkey

Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat content.

Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:

Alcoholic beverages

Avocado (the only "fatty" member of the vegetable family)

Coffee (all forms of coffee)

Moldy or spoiled foods

Salt

Yeast dough

Garlic

The Bottom Line

Thanks to a more educated public, fewer economies than foods like chocolate are being reported these days. But it's important to keep up with what's currently known about foods and their effects on dogs health. Grapes and cocoa mulch, for example, were only discovered very recently to have harmful effects. Check frequently with sources like the ASPCA, or sign up for the "Cold Noses News" and we'll keep you informed. (You'll also get a bunch of cool dog stuff along with your free registration.)

Of course, being alert and getting your pet to the vet promptly will help secure a happy exit if something unfortunate should happen. Here's to your dogs health and good nutrition!

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[flapperfromthefuture]

I have now taken two bread making classes thanks to whatever entrepreneurial genius is running things at the best deli and bakery in the area (and possibly the world).

Do I know anything about baking bread? Absolutely not.

Do I feel confident enough to attempt to bake bread on my own? Certainly not, which is not good because my sister is expecting an assortment of challah rolls that spell out her name for her birthday.

What did I learn instead? That baking bread is actually super fun, provided someone else measures out all the ingredients ahead of time, preheats the commercial oven for you, and cleans up afterwards. Trust me, whatever it costs to take these classes is worth it for that alone.

My first class was called “Hooray for Challah!”

The bakery provides everything, from an apron to a multi-page handout with all the recipes you’re about to learn, even a pen for taking notes. I had a name tag written in the official font of the entire business, and I may have shrieked a little bit.

We went around the room to introduce ourselves, and the very first lady in the class was a professional chef. She already knew how to bake bread, because that was part of her actual paying job, but she just liked good challah and wanted to learn a surefire recipe.

That was kind of intimidating. I can’t boil water without panicking.

But there was also a family with two young teenagers, and I knew for sure that I could bake a better loaf than those kids.

I didn’t understand algebra in ninth grade. I wore overalls in ninth grade. I could certainly make a loaf of bread better than any ninth grader.

The dad in this family very loudly proclaimed that he was missing a football game to be at this class, and ordered everyone not to spoil the score for him.

I rolled my eyes at the chick next to me in a silent “Oh masculinity, why so fragile?” exchange, but she didn’t notice, because she was transcribing her recipe handout into Mandarin.

Did you have to be that smart to learn how to bake bread? If so, I was in trouble (but the teenagers were in more trouble, so at least I had that).

We spent a good 45 minutes learning how to braid a challah loaf with these handy rope tools that the real actual bakers use. Since I have wasted many valuable minutes of my life wondering how challah braids work, it really freed up some good brain cells to learn that it’s a six braid strand, you need a diagram to figure it out, but the braiding won’t work unless you intone to yourself, “1 becomes 6 and 5 becomes 3 and 3 becomes 1” and so on until you have a loaf of bread. Or a loaf of rope.

We made two challah loaves: the braid, and the turban. Everyone got a tub of rum-soaked raisins to put in their challah turbans. The teenagers got chocolate chips. They were smug and awkward about it in the way that only ninth graders could be.

In ninth grade, I wore overalls because that’s what Julia Roberts wore in the movie Runaway Bride, and she was really into hardware projects and ambivalent about heteronormative marriage ideals, and I thought that was great . . . for reasons that would not become clear until many years later.

I should have asked for chocolate chips in my turban, but I wanted to seem cool in front of the professional chef.

The secret to a good challah is the egg wash. That’s what gives it that color. Most bakers are strapped for time and do one layer of egg wash, but if you want to do it right, you have to do two.

My two challah loaves were so well-received, even by my raisin-hating sister, that they were gone within a day. They were pretty delicious, but they were also baked in a professional oven and monitored for the correct internal temperature.

I have the correct internal temperature written in my notes. I think.

My second class was “Rockin’ Rye!”

This class was a higher degree of difficulty, and when everyone introduced themselves, I was the only one who wasn’t an experienced bread baker. One guy had come all the way from California to take this class, because there’s no good rye bread in California and he’d been having the rye from this very bakery shipped across the country to his home for years, so why not learn their recipe?

Other people had come from various parts of the state, driving two or three hours just to make rye bread. I felt kind of guilty because I only woke up an hour before the class started and I was still early.

During our four-hour class, we made three different loaves of rye bread: pumpernickel, onion rye, and vorterkaker. No, my keyboard did not just sneeze.

Vorterkaker (it’s so fun to say!) is a Scandinavian flatbread. You’re probably thinking, “I love flatbread! Naan, pita bread, tortillas, I’ve never met a flatbread I didn’t like!”

I ate a little piece of the demo vorterkaker (as in made by the professionals! They all have degrees in baking!) and it had the essence of a really good cardboard.

In fact, go bite off a corner of the nearest Amazon box, and you can say you’ve tasted vorterkaker.

Baking rye bread requires two things that my brain does not like—”old,” which is a term for crouton-sized chunks of stale rye bread soaked in water, and rye starter, which is mold. Or it’s essentially mold, it’s more like yeast, I guess?  Either way, it looks like this, and does any part of my brain like things that look like this?

This particular starter came from a culture that was 27 years old—older than our instructor. He seemed very excited about that. I was much less excited.

If a lifetime of watching evening news bumpers has taught me one thing, it’s that mold wants to kill us all.

I put my gloppy rye starter and gooey stale bread in the bowl and tried not to flashback to all the times in kindergarten that I came home crying from papier-mâché day. And I went to hippie school, we had a lot of papier-mâché days.

I took a deep breath and pressed on. The flour made quick work of drying things out, thank goodness, and I was ready to knead.

Kneading bread is super fun, but it requires a lot of muscles that I don’t use very often. There’s a very precise technique to it—you want stretch the top of the bread so it naturally forms a smooth skin that’s just tight enough to hold its shape, but not so tight that it’ll crack in the oven.

Between the three loaves of bread, I kneaded for two hours straight. I felt ready to open my own bakery. My muscles would catch up after a few days of non-stop kneading, right?  

The vorterkaker (it sounds like a swear word but it isn’t!) was pretty easy—more rye sour, some fennel and anise seeds, flour and water. The Scandinavians aren’t exactly working with an ecological bounty up there. The teacher explained that vorterkaker is a very old bread, always made in a disc shape with a hole in the middle, so that farmers could hang them up and eat them throughout the winter, and the Vikings would tie them to their boats and just rip off chunks with their teeth during a voyage.

The Vikings did not care about dental health.

After all that work of kneading and shaping and deciding whether or not to sprinkle poppy seeds on top of the onion rye, we got to relax . . . by making our own rye starter. Yes, this bakery is so hip and on top of it that they will even teach you how to make mold.

It’s just flour and water and onions and magic. Nature is horrifying.

We were given detailed instructions for how to care for our starters. People take this really seriously. A told me that in Denmark, there are bread starter boarding places that will take care of your starter while you’re on vacation.

You have to water your starter and feed it once a week with fresh flour, and then it grows exponentially. You know, like a monster.

The guy from California looked really sad to have to give his rye starter back to the instructor. “It’ll never get past the TSA,” he said.

These loaves came out huge. For scale, the vorterkaker is 16 inches in diameter.

I sent this picture to my parents, and my dad texted back, “I just bit into my iPhone.”

The next day, I took the two loaves and rolled the vorterkaker to my parents’ house for everyone to try (hoping to unload most of it). The vorterkaker got the most attention. My sister’s boyfriend, who will eat anything, loved it.

“Is there fennel in this? I can taste fennel,” he said.

“Me too!” said my mom, and they high-fived.

“Are you sure you like it?” I said. Maybe they were just being nice.

“It’s like hardtack! Like what the pioneers ate on long journeys,” said my mom. “Here, you eat some!”

I have played enough Oregon Trail that I sometimes hunt animated buffalo in my sleep to this day, and even that wasn’t enough to get me to eat this thing.

“How did you do the little dots?” asked my sister. I explained that we each got a special rolling tool covered with metal studs, like a massage roller, or a Play-Doh toy for adults. No wonder it was so satisfying.

So, even though it’s a ton of work and sometimes requires interacting with mold, I’m getting the itch to bake again. There’s a Danish pastry class coming up right after the holidays. Between that and my Scandinavian doorstop bread, we should survive the winter just fine.

  Dough! I have now taken two bread making classes thanks to whatever entrepreneurial genius is running things at the best deli and bakery in the area (and possibly the world).

[wordsbetweenthelines]

hey there self

last night you forgot to post because you were stuck reading this other really long thing an didn’t think to just open another tab and then fell asleep which is a shame because yesterday was SUCH GREAT THINGS

so in the morning you did the things with the feeding of the dog and the cats whatever

but then it was haircut time!

and you got there and they were like “oh shit she quit this morning? we tried to tell you? but the calling thing was not working? um......can you come back in an hour?” “is your name stephanie [your last name]” to which you were “um....okay?? and no” 

but then they were “we think you are supposed to be stephanie? so you can have this appointment with this person who has an undercut and seems really cool right now and you don’t have to come back in an hour yay” so you did

and she was helping you figure out the number for the clippers for your cut, which was really helpful instead of just doing it and keeping the secrets like the last stylist did, and she explained what number her own hair is to help you visualize. you really like her!

so she started releasing you from your hair suffering and the owner working at the next chair over was like “negasonic! she wants to be negasonic that’s the hair you need to give her. you’re going negasonic again, right? you looked so good with it before” which just. warm fuzzies. 

and then later he was like “didn’t you used to have really long hair? like..........really long? *gestures to the actual length of your hair before*” and you were “yup that was me. I only do things in extremes lol”

it’s kinda nice to be memorable?

anyway, for the record: you have a #2 clipper cut.  it seems to be a good length. but keep track of at what point you stop liking it, so you can know when to cut again.

so you felt SO MUCH BETTER and HAPPIER with the lovely fuzzy buzzy hair, and you came out and asked mom what she thought and she was “................I know you like it short” which. anyway.

you got home and dad was “you got a buzz cut!” and you were “YEAH I did!” and he was “can I touch it can I touch it can I touch it” which brought the happy back from mom’s dampening

so you puttered around the house for a bit, tried out your new shoes (you are pretty sure you like them, you think you’ll keep them), walked cobalt long enough to poop and got dad to play 4′33″ which was entertaining and he did not properly appreciate. he turned the music off before you could suggest mozart’s “leck mich im Arsch” which woulda been HILARIOUS

dad had errands to run so you went along. it went like this:

gardening store for mole deterrent. you met a cat. his(?) name is xander and he is a maine coon and has great big paws and you love him. there are, apparently, plural cats there, and dad knew and didn’t tell you. you could have been loving on them for years! anyway, now you know, so you just have to contrive reasons for dad to go back. shouldn’t be too hard. he likes it there.

bit of an adventure on the driving when there was a road closed, but that just gave more time for important discussions like: what is the best donut.

(dad: you never try [my favorite] because you always say you like yeast better! you: ......I? have never? gotten donuts with you? from this place? so it’s literally impossible for us to have had this argument? much less multiple times? so you must have had it in your head in the shower [some back and forth and talking over each other] dad: .........wait what does a shower have to do with it you: don’t you have arguments with people in your head in the shower? dad: no I get clean in the shower you:  dad: you: .....weird. dad: YEAH ‘CAUSE WHO’D DO THAT)

dad dropped you off at housesitting to close the job while he got his hair cut (not as short as yours! ha!)

then you got pulled pork and cole slaw from this food truck you saw on the way and it was delicious. (note: summer hours are tues-sat 11-7)

mom and dad had wine club and were supposed to take an appetizer. mom’s plan: take shrimp out of freezer, serve as coctail shrimp. easy. dad’s plan: maple bacon shrimp sounds good? let’s try that!

so you and dad figured out how to do them and it worked out pretty well. yum.

dad put the leftover bacon ends on to fry, then left you in charge of watching them while he changed into his “wine drinking clothes”. you burned them.

but you scrambled some eggs in the leftover grease and those were delicious. ALSO you cracked BOTH eggs PERFECTLY with ONE HAND WITHOUT BREAKING THE YOLKS YOU ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH YOURSELF

there was lots of stream happening so you hung out in there rather a lot. good times.

and when mom and dad (finally) got home, they brought you desserts! a tiny chocolate thing that was super yum, and a cupcake which will be your breakfast today

in other, forgotten news: you had another running-hiding dream recently, and you don’t remember the details? but you think there were children involved.

today

WAKE UP

clothes

to housesit

feed dog

let dog out

feed cat

breakfast

walk cobalt

pack

acquire food 

try on socks

shows

help make dinner

feed dog

[ianrichards]

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Bacterial Vaginosis Nhs Choices

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