Fate's Hands
Chapter 1
Bella's POV
I entered the den throughly annoyed. Today was my first meeting with the 'person who is supposed to help solve my problems' and 'bring back the old Bella'. I plopped down on the old white overstuffed couch and pulled out a pack of Newports. I pulled out a cigarette and held it between my lips as I dug out my red and purple lighter. I looked in front of the t.v and my eyes glazed over, thinking back and losing myself in memories.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as one of his strong hands were knotted in my brown hair and the other was wrapped around my throat. 'Please,' I pleaded, voice raspy. 'Please, Jacob. Please let me go,' I whimpered as his hand left my arm and connected hard with the left side of my face. 'Do you love me, Isabella?' he asked, smirking evilly. No, I wanted to yell. You hurt me and want me to love you? Are you insane? But rather than risk the beating I'd get for denying him, I nodded. 'Yes, Jacob. Yes, I love you,' I whispered, shaking with fear. His smile grew wider and he let me go, only push me to the floor roughly. He slid over me and I heard the all-too familiar sound of a zipper and denim being pushed. His face came into view and his head dipped down to my ear to whisper, 'good', before pushing hard into me. The tears fell faster as I fought against my boyfriend who laid on top of me, raping me.
"Bella!" I felt soft hands shaking my shoulders and I realized I began crying and balled up. Apparently, Renee came in shortly after I fell into the haunting memory and noticed I dropped my lit cigarette. She put it out and had been shaking me for four minutes. "Bella, baby, are you okay?" she asked, worry a permanent feature on her face. She knew about that day. She found me crying in my room after he left. I told her everything: how he abused me, raped me countless times for months before then, how he threatened to kill me if I left him. She wanted to call the police, but I told her I was fine. I continued living my life as she wanted... At home. Outside, I would cut class, smoke with Lauren and Jessica, and drank at parties on weekends. After Renee found out, she told me I could do what I wanted, as long as it wasn't a secret. I nodded, answering her question."Yeah, mom. I'm fine. When do we leave?" I asked, hoping to get away from all these memories. She looked down at her watch. "Well, now, if you're up to it," she said, a small smile on her lips. I jumped up from couch. "Let's go," I said, sounded abnormally chipper, but if Renee noticed, she didn't say a word.
After a short drive, we pulled into a relatively empty parking lot. I got out of Renee's Saturn and looked at the building looming in front of me. It was tall and made of red brick. I gulped and walked slowly to the door. Just as my hand reached out to pull the glass door open, it opened and nearly hit me in the face. I jumped back and growled, looking up to see who the offender was. I stopped short and nearly melted when I looked into those beautiful, liquid sapphire eyes. He pushed the blond hairs out of his eyes. As he ran the few steps to me. I stumbled slightly as his proximity, and he wrapped his arms around me, willing to catch me if I fell. My heart raced and my palms began to sweat as he made sure I was vertical before letting me go. I took in his full form. He was about 6'3". His blond hair fell in waves long enough to barely cover his ears and hide his eyes. His white wifebeater hugged his chest and showed his abs while the plaid shirt he wore over it was open and loose. His jeans hung just right on his hips and I'll be damned if he could... Stop Bella! My brown eyes stared into his blue ones and it felt like I couldn't look away. I didn't want to. I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know what to say. "You okay, darlin'?" he asked, his Southern accent making me swoon a little. "Uhm yeah. I think so," I replied, my voice slow and dazed, as if someone told me my dog had ten hours to live. He smiled. God, even his smile is attractive. "I wasn't paying attention. I was thinking about my mom. She's always working, so I came by to see her, but she has a patient coming. I'm Jasper, by the way," he introduced himself, holding out his hand. "Bella," I smiled, taking his hand and shaking it. All too soon, he let go and walked away, looking back occasionally to smile at me.
I walked into the building on a cloud and barely heard my name being called. I rose from my chair and the nerves came back. Renee grabbed my hand and squeezed. I smiled and walked into the room, nearly tripping over the weird noise thing outside the door. I looked around the room and snorted. This was a therapy office. Shouldn't it have a lay-down couch and a chair near it for the therapist to write down how I feel. All there was was a normal couch and chair, like living room furniture. The door closing behind me made me jump and I heard a high pitched laugh. I turned and saw a woman with brown hair and blue eyes behind me. She wore a simple black skirt with a white blouse and black heels. I smiled. She seems nice. She sat in the chair, so I took the couch. She looked down at the forms Renee filled. "Isabella, correct?" she asked. I laughed. "Bella," I corrected. She smiled. "Bella," she repeated, as if testing the name. I noticed a hint of a southern twang and I quickly wondered if this was his mom, Jasper's? "Okay, my name is Maria. This says you suffer from paranoia. Do you care to explain?" she asked. I hadn't expected this. I half wanted her to tell me to talk about it. I don't know if I could tell her about Jacob on my own. She sighed, possibly sensing my discomfort. "Okay, let's just talk. How old are you, Bella?" she asked. "17," I answered her easy. She smiled. "I have a son your age. He actually just came by to see me," she laughed. Yep, Jasper's mom. "Blond hair, blue eyes, about 6'3", named Jasper?" I asked. She froze, then relaxed. "You've meet him," she deduced. I smiled and nodded. "He's a handsome man and very sweet," I complimented. She smiled. "Yes, he is, isn't he?"
