Hey guys!! Basically, I have never written a fic before, so don't be too harsh on me! Please R+R and tell me what you think (criticisms are as welcome as compliments).
I would like to dedicate this story to the beautiful JigsawRose, my inspiration and encouragement, I love you so much!!
Anyway on with the fic...
Chapter 1: Oblivious
*~Sneh POV~*
I felt the blow and I bit down on my lip hard, swallowing the whimper which threatened to escape. I would not give him the satisfaction of hearing my pain.
I felt him hit me again, this time the force pushed me into the table, onto the floor. I heard a smash, like breaking glass. I felt a sharp rip across my calf. I quickly distanced my mind from my body, knowing that if I stayed i would not be able to stop the gasp of pain bubbling up in my throat.
I registered the slash of pain across my leg, the bruises i knew i would have in the morning, but i did not feel them. I had long ago learned the knack of dealing with physical pain: detachment. I looked at the scene in front of me as a third party observer. I noticed with a mild interest the crazed light in Kiowa's eyes, my brother's eyes, as he repeatedly kicked my crumpled body, still curled up on the floor.
He yelled something at me, but, being as detached as i was, i registered the sound not the meaning. When he starts shouting he generally stops hitting, being a man he can't multitask. He shouted again and aimed one last kick at my stomach and stormed out of the room. He shouted something else, but it didn't sound angry like before. Unexpectedly, i heard the door slam and i knew i was alone.
I relished in the sudden silence, the absence of movement that was in such contrast to whenever Kiowa was in the house.
I sighed, knowing that the right thing to do would be to re-enter my body, feel the pain, and do something about it. I probably wouldn't bleed to death if I left it a little longer, but I may pass out. Then I would bleed to death.
I uttered another small sigh which was quickly followed by a strangled gasp of pain as I rejoined by body. The blood gushing out of my leg made me feel slightly nauseous, and more than slightly irritated. Now I was going to have to clean up as well as find a bandage.
Being not particularly bothered about finding a bandage, I tore off my jumper and knotted it tightly around my lower leg, slowing the blood flow considerably. I stood up slowly, testing my weight on my injured leg. I could do nothing to stop the anguished bubble of sound that escaped my lips and I froze, cringing, waiting for the rebuff I was certain would follow my outburst. Until I remembered I was alone.
It was useless trying to walk, so I hopped, leaning heavily on the kitchen counter, grabbed a cloth, and expertly mopped up the floor pretending in my mind that the blood was paint so as not to upset my fragile stomach.
I hoisted myself onto the counter, being careful not to jostle my makeshift bandage, and looked at the phone. I could stay here alone, I thought to myself, or I could call Jacob.
My beautiful Jacob.
Jacob was better than alone, surely? But, I argued back, I would have to explain the gash and the bruises which I could feel beginning to show up on my face. I banished the little voice of reason in my head and dialled the number.
*~Jacob POV~*
I was retuning the engine of my rabbit in the garage, reminiscing about yesterday's beach party. Some of the teenagers from Forks had come down and I had finally met Isabella Swan, Charlie's daughter.
And damn was she HOT!
From the way she looked at me, her eyes smouldering beneath those long lashes, I had a feeling she thought I was damn hot too. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but she had asked if I came up to Forks much like she was hoping for a yes. And she clearly preferred me over that blonde git who seemed to think he owned her. Maybe she did like me, maybe...
My thought shower was interrupted by the shrill, impatient ringing of my phone. I glanced at the display quickly. Sneh? What did she want? She'd said she would be busy the whole weekend...
'Hey, Sneh. What's up? '
'Hey, uh, Jake, can you come and pick me up?'
'Sure thing. I thought you were busy, what happened? Did you get bailed on?'
'Har har, always Mr Tactical aren't you. I wasn't going out with anyone for them to bail on me anyway. I'll tell you when you get here...I'm not interrupting anything am I?'
Aw she was so cute. She was worried she was interrupting me when something was clearly wrong at her end. Didn't she know I'd ditch anyone to make sure my best friend was OK?
'Yes, you are, I just left a whole legion of my lovers in bed to answer this call.'
'Oh your capacity for immature jokes never ceases to amaze me. I...'
She stopped mid-sentence and let out a gasp that was quite obviously pained. My forehead crumpled in distress. I hated to see her in pain, no matter how trivial.
'You stay there, sweetie, I'm on my way.' I said, hanging up on her and starting the car in the same movement. It was only a ten minute walk from here to her house, but something was not right and I wanted to be there as fast as possible because she obviously needed me.
*~Sneh POV~*
I felt better after Jacob hung up on me. He would be here soon and everything would be alright. Jacob always made everything better.
The only problem was that I doubted if he would believe I fell over again. I whimpered a little as I lowered myself back onto the floor trying not to put any weight on my leg. I would have to arrange this quickly if I was to make it convincing. Jacob would be here in a few minutes.
With a sigh I got to work.
*~Jacob POV~*
I got to Sneh's house in record time, but I hesitated by the door. I could see it was unlocked, but I'd forgotten to ask her if Kiowa was in. He had something against me. Maybe it was just him being a protective older brother, but I doubt he would like it very much if I barged into his house, but it seemed stupid to knock. It was only Sneh for crying out loud! I suddenly remembered the sound of Sneh's pain and barged in anyway.
I gasped when I saw her, in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the stairs. I couldn't see where it was coming from, but blood was slowly pooling on the floor. She looked up at the sound of my entrance and grinned at me weakly.
'Clumsy old me, eh?' she whispered.
'God, Sneh! Are you OK? What can I do?'
'I'm fine, sorry for calling you, it's just Kiowa's out and I couldn't think of who else to call. Can you help me up? It's a bit uncomfortable down here.' She giggled. I looked at her strangely. How could she laugh about this? She must be in some serious pain.
'Where are you bleeding from honey? Do you think anything's broken? Did you hit your head? Do you feel dizzy? Did...oh my god what happened to your face?!'
'Oh my god what happened to your mom?' she retorted indignantly before flushing as she realised what she just said.
'Fucking car accident, that answer your question?' I snapped before I could stop myself. It had been god knows how many years, but my mom was still a touchy subject.
'Jake I'm sorry, I ... '
'S'OK, I know. Come on, let's get you up.'
*~Sneh POV~*
He noticed the bruises on my face, but, although I felt really bad about bringing his mom up, I distracted him sufficiently enough for him not to return to the subject. He left me sitting on the step, my leg held out awkwardly in front of me and a pack of frozen peas on my back where Kiowa had kicked me, as he went to find a bandage for my leg.
He had already swept up the glass that I had strategically placed around me, not mentioning the fact that there was already some broken glass in the bin.
I tried to hide the fluttery feeling I got as he examined me, trying to ascertain whether it was safe to move me. His rough hands trailing gently across my stomach, back and legs. My breath hitched when his hand reached my thigh, but he quickly removed it. I think I failed at hiding the pain at the rejection in my eyes.
He lifted me swiftly into his arms and I sighed quietly. He looked at me questioningly, but I shook my head. He let it go, but not without giving me a look. He knew I was hiding something from him, but I didn't know whether he suspected that Kiowa beats the fuck out of me practically every night, or that I was madly in love with him.
And what scared me even more than the thought of him knowing either of them, was that I didn't know which one would be more of a relief for me for him to know.
I snuggled myself deeper into his chest and he squeezed me gently. I sighed again, this time with contentment, and he lay me gently on the sofa.
'Jake I'm fine so can we go out? Or to your place? I really don't want to just sit here.'
'Sneh! I'm not taking you anywhere! As fine as you say you may be, I can see you're in pain and you are going to just sit there little missy.' Jake replied incredulously. His cheeks darkened as his stomach rumbled loudly, 'uh, I'm just going to go get some food from the fridge, be back in a tick.'
I laughed as he winked at me, then winced. Laughing was not a good idea. I could hear Jacob clattering around in the kitchen and braced myself before heaving my body up off the sofa. He deserved a good hot meal and, seeing as I had dragged him out of his house, therefore depriving him of sed meal, I owed it to him to cook it for him.
He protested at first, but eventually gave in to me cooking for him. He didn't know the first thing about cooking, and he couldn't resist my steak and chips. I made myself a quick salad as his steak was cooking and got him a coke. He looked at me disapprovingly as I came out with his plate and my own.
'Is that all you're eating? You know you're not fat so there's no need to go all anorexic on me is there now? No, so have some of my chips.'
'Jake, a salad is a perfectly normal meal, and are you saying you don't want my chips? Are you insulting my cooking skills as well as calling me anorexic? Are you? Because that would not be very nice, especially because I just fell down the stairs and then cooked you a lovely meal, and...'
'OK, OK have your salad.' He said, giving in. He would never insult my cooking skills.
I knew Kiowa wouldn't come home until the early hours of the morning, so I relaxed, snuggling into the side of the boy I loved.
Remember, R+R!!! I will update soon. And thank you so much for reading!
Big love
JSC
