The Last Summer
1. Reunion
Bella drove the truck down the long and windy highway to the Quileute reservation with all windows down, the stereo up as loud as it could go. It was an old hunk of metal, a 1963 Chevy pick up with faded red paint and a dent in the bumper. Charlie had the truck for as long as she could remember; he drove her to school in it, taught her how to drive in it, and would have given it to her sooner if she hadn't have ran away years ago. But it was hers now, and one of the few items she treasured more than her own life.
When she pulled into the only auto-body repair shop in Forks, she looked nervously at the large sign that hung over the giant three story gray-metal building.
"Black's Auto Body" it read in large, thick black lettering. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the truck and peered into the two story double garage door that was open. She could see people inside moving about, unsure if he was there or not. She would have gone to another garage if there was another one in Forks, but this being her only option she exhaled slowly and walked inside.
"Hey, there- whoah, Bella? Bella Swan?" It was Embry Call who she first bumped into. He had been leaning against the hood of an old Sunfire when he noticed her and stood up straight, brushing his hair back behind his ears. "Holy shit, girl!"
"Hey, Embry!" Bella said before he pulled her into a tight hug.
When he let her down he put his hands on her shoulders and looked her square in the eye. "I'm sorry about your dad. Charlie was great."
"Thank you." She said, looking down for a moment. The pain was still raw and hearing his name put salt on the wound.
"I would have been at the funeral but I was looking after this place for Jake."
"I thought it was his. He finally opened his own garage, eh?"
Before Embry could answer, the pair of legs that were underneath the Sunfire that Bella didn't notice rolled out on a plank of wood attached to a set of wheels. He stood up and towered over her, clad in a pair of coveralls and a black t-shirt, grease stains on his right cheek and forehead and all over his bare arms.
"I sure did." Jacob Black said, a little gruff. "Hey, Bells."
She was sure he noticed the blush spread over her freckled cheeks and across her nose. "It's been a long time since somebody's called me that."
"Your husband doesn't call you that?" He asked, a little sarcasm in his voice.
"No. He doesn't." She said, not wanting to meet his eyes.
It was quiet for a moment before Embry cut in, desperate to get out of an awkward situation. "So, what brings you to our neck of the woods, Bella?"
"Oh. Right. Charlie left me his truck. I need a safety inspection in order to register it. And probably an oil check by the sounds of it."
Jacob looked over the top of her head and gazed at the truck. He sucked in a breath. "I'm surprised it's still going, honestly. Old girl's been through a lot."
"You're right." Bella tried to humor him. "The dent is still there from when I smashed into Mike Newton's Bug."
Embry laughed, "Is there still a rip in the seat from Quil's pocket knife?"
Bella giggled and nodded. "So many memories."
Jacob stared at her, the corner of his lip twitching into the beginning of a smile. "Lot's of... memories in that truck."
Bella's heart skipped a beat, and she looked away before her entire body turned a shade of cherry. Not wanting to talk about all the experiments her and Jake performed in the bed of the truck. It was a whole lifetime ago.
"Well," Jacob finally said after watching her nervously chew her bottom lip for a moment. "You can check in with Sue at the front desk. I'll give 'er a look after I finish fixing Jared's Shitfire. Sue will be happy you're here. She, uh, she's trying to get by."
Bella nodded and thanked him, and turned to go through the corridor that led to the office.
The afternoon went by fairly quickly for Bella.
Sue Clearwater-Swan was overjoyed to see her. She had began a relationship with Charlie the year Bella turned fourteen and married him just a few short months before she left Forks. Charlie had moved in with Sue years ago, but kept his house - his reasoning was he needed something to pass down to his daughter when he kicked the bucket. She was a warm and welcoming stepmother to Bella, always keeping in touch with her and sending her birthday cards and Christmas gifts.
She had taken Bella to lunch, a fish and chip stand next to the garage, and caught her up on everything that had been going on lately.
Leah - her daughter and Bella's stepsister had come home from another tour in Afghanistan last year, after getting shot in the leg twice from saving her fellow comrades, and was honorably discharged. She went through months of physical therapy until she could walk with almost no limp. She also had a seven year old daughter named Harriet, named after her dad, Harry Clearwater, who had died when the girls were just kids. Bella hadn't seen Harriet or Leah in 3 years, aside from Charlie's funeral. They exchanged brief e-mails but under James's watchful eye Bella kept her distance. She was sad to hear the news but relieved Leah was out of danger.
Seth on the other hand - the other Clearwater child - was currently away in basic training, following in his sisters footsteps. She showed Bella some postcards and letters she kept tacked to the cork-board in the office.
After lunch, Sue had practically begged Bella to come by for supper. She promised to make her dad's favorite fish fry in honor of him, she said with tears in her eyes. She confessed the last month had been extremely hard on her but she kept a brave face and with everybody's support and love she felt almost okay. Bella agreed - only after being informed by James that he wouldn't be home until late tonight.
Jacob said he'd bring the truck by later that night, so Bella could just catch a ride with Sue to the Clearwater's house. The drive was short, as the garage was build in the center of the reservation so it was close to everybody.
When Bella walked through the door and smelled the nostalgic smell of the Clearwater's she was overwhelmed with feelings of happiness, sadness, and regret. She missed her father in that moment so much.
"Auntie Bella!" A little girl with dark hair squealed, running towards her with open arms.
"Hello, Harriet! You've grown since last month!" Bella hugged her and brushed her fingers through her hair. "You're almost as tall a me!"
"Mummy, come see Auntie Bella!" Harriet yelled, jumping up and down.
Leah came around the corner and half smiled at her sister. "I didn't think you'd actually move back home. I'm surprised."
Bella looked up at her. "I am too."
Jacob showed up just as everybody was eating dinner, with his dad, Billy Black, and Embry and Quil. They joked around a little bit, teased Harriet and wolfed down two plates of fish fry and everything else Sue made. There were some tears, memories shared of Charlie, and lots of laughter. Finally, as the night grew darker Bella slipped into the entry way of the house to sneak out. She had just finished tying her boot laces when a voice appeared in the darkness.
"Sneaking away?"
She jolted up. "Jesus, Jake. You scared me."
"They wont be happy if you leave without saying goodbye." He smirked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Grease and oil marks still on his arms. Maybe they were permanent, Bella thought.
"Goodbyes take years in this house. Is my truck outside?"
"No. I have to finish it tonight. I got caught up in something. But I brought you the keys to my Rabbit so you can get home alright."
"Oh. Thanks, Jake. I appreciate it."
"Sure, sure."
They were quiet for a few minutes. Standing in the darkness, the sounds of laughter and talking coming from the living room. Finally Jake shifted his weight to his other foot, not looking at her.
"So, how've you been?"
Bella paused before answering. A lie, of course. "Good. Really good."
"You're not really good, Bells. Your dad just died for Christ sake."
She sighed. He always knew when she was lying. "Yeah."
He watched her reach for her jacket on the hook and put her arms through it, but when she lifted her arms up to pull her hair out from under it the sleeve went up, exposing a fresh purple bruise on her arm.
"Bella, what's that?" He asked, suddenly concerned.
"Oh, it's nothing." She brushed off, pulling the sleeve down.
"No it's not, let me have a look." He crossed the short distance between them in two strides and pulled the sleeve up. "Holy fuck, what the-"
She pulled her arm out of his reach, refusing to look at him.
"Bella-"
"Stop, Jake. It's nothing."
"It looks like fingerprints. Did James do that to you?"
"Keys, please."
"Isabella. Did James do that to you?" He was getting angry now, his eyes dark and his mouth twisted in a snarl.
"Jacob! Keys. Now!" She raised her voice back to him, mimicking his full name as he used hers.
He growled and reached into his pocket, pulled his keys out and handed them to her. She took them from his hand swiftly and without another word or a second glance she hurried out of the door, slamming it behind her.
