Little Truths
Part One
I
When he sees the pale girl with the long, dark hair, he can not help but think of better times. Not happier times, no. He is happy. Things are going well, and he knows he should not complains. There is no real reason to. Yes, there might be some troubles here and there, and he could punch whatever phantom force bound his father into that chair. But overall, he knows that he can be grateful for the way things are.
He has always been a happy kid.
Then he looks into her chocolate-colored eyes, sees the shy, awkward, slightly uncomfortable smile stretching her lips, and he remembers. It seems like gazing at the clear night sky, the stars reflections of the past.
When he looks into Bella's eyes – she is older than him, so much older than he remembers – he feels the same tingle in his stomach that had accompanied her arrival all those years ago. All the memories that he cherishes so much over the years become clearer than ever, because the key part is now standing right in front of him, so close.
She is back. Bella is actually back.
II
"Hey, I'm Jacob."
She feels a feather-light flutter in her chest when she hears the cheerful greeting of Billy Black's son, a magnetic smile shining on his face. Hunting through her memories, Bella can not remember having ever seen a smile this bright or genuine.
"We used to make mud pies when we were little," Jacob adds, stepping closer to her. Something inside her wants to take a step as well and shake his hand, an urge she can not explain away. It just seems like something she should do. But he was quicker, and now it would just increase the awkwardness that threatened to suffocate her ever since she said goodbye to her mother.
Soundless, shapeless memories drift through her mind at his words, and for a fragment of a second she can feel wet, sandy beach under her fingertips, the harsh blow of the Pacific against her skin, and the enthusiastic chatter of a young boy ringing in her ears.
"Yeah, I remember."
III
Jacob's chest swells with pride as he sees the happy grin on Bella's face. She is resting her hands against the old, red truck, and he feels like this is really much more his gift for he than Charlie's. He devoted the last few weeks almost entirely to restoring the old truck that was so close ot his heart, and he wanted it to be the best it could be for Bella.
Yes, he knew he barely knew the girl, and had only spent a few occasional days on the beach, but she was part of a past that was more complete than the present he lives in. A past where his Dad could chase him across the beach, where his sisters had no reasons to flee, and where his mother read him a story before kissing him goodnight.
Bella was part of that, so she deserved this ancient truck to be at its best, even if that meant a rather hefty argument with his father over a disastrous English test, and several inquiries from Quil and Embry about that mystery girl who had to risk her life in the old piece of junk.
"Thank you," she says with a bright grin, pulling open the driver's door. Billy's elbow nudges against his back, and Jacob swallows as the truck's door falls shut.
"Better tell her about the clutch, son," his father says calmly as always, and Jacob only nods. Not as always. There are not many events accounted for that have rendered Jacob Black speechless. But the bright grin on Bella Swan's face most certainly does.