Chapter 2:

"Come on, its time for dinner." Jacob said darkly to his fifteen year old daughter, Sienna. She had just heard a very interesting conversation between her dad and a very unusual stranger and there was no way she was letting him off the hook that easily.

"Yeah right, Dad. What the hell was that I just heard?"

"That was none of your business. And watch your language." He answered.

"You can't seriously expect me to forget what just happened, can you?" She looked at him incredulously.

"And what did just happen?" He shot back at her.

"I don't know, but it was kinda freaky! This strange hot guy tells me he knew Mom and I figured it was just some random acquaintance. But then you go out there looking like you're gonna beat the hell out of him. You said 'she isn't your concern anymore.' What was that supposed to mean?" She got a very serious look on her face. "Did Mom have an affair with that kid?"

"What? No. Its nothing like that. But its complicated and like I said before, its none of your business."

She took a step closer to him, her temper rising the way his so commonly did.

"It is too my business. It sounded like Mom was in some kind of trouble. If she's in any kind of danger, I think I have the right to know."

"Hey, calm down. Nobody is in danger. That guy out there is just...an old family friend. He's here to help with an important adult matter. One which you are not a part of"

"Is he even an adult?" She asked skeptically.

"He's older than he looks, alright? Look, I don't want you worrying about this. It wasn't really that big of deal. And I don't want you mentioning any of this to your mom. I will tell her when the time is right. Ok?"

She thought about it for a minute, arms folded in frustration. Why wasn't her dad telling her everything? He had never hidden anything from her before. At least, as far as she knew.

"I think Mom has the right to know. Whatever's going on concerns her. If you don't tell her I will." She hoped he wouldn't call her bluff. She rarely defied her father, mostly because she didn't like to disappoint him. But she also didn't want to risk getting into trouble. She thought that maybe the threat of her telling her mom the secret might be enough to get more information.

"No, Sienna. You don't know the whole situation. Look...I'm not keeping this from her, I just need more facts before I talk to her. I'm trying not to worry her and I am asking you to do the same. Please...let me tell her when I'm ready."

"You mean after your midnight meeting on First Beach?" She looked at him smugly. She had heard the entire conversation and had not missed the part when they set up another meeting time. "Maybe I'll just follow you there to find out everything."

He closed the gap between them and firmly grabbed her arm. His voice was fierce as he spoke to her.

"You listen to me, young lady. This is none of your business. It is dangerous and you are on a need to know basis. I am your father and I will take care of this. Until then, your only job is to not tell your mother. Understand? If I even think you might be trying to follow me, you will be grounded for a month, or worse." He released her arm and took a deep breath. "Now are you ready to come inside for dinner? Or should I give you a minute to pull yourself together."

She hadn't realized she was shaking. Whether it was from anger or fear, she couldn't tell. Her dad had never been so firm with her before.

"I-I'm ok." She stuttered.

He looked at her more closely then sighed again. He pulled her into a hug, and she went slightly unwillingly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just know you and that you try to take matters into your own hands. Things that usually don't concern you, I might add. I just need you to trust that I will handle this. There's nothing for you to worry about. Ok?"

She nodded then pulled away from him and started for the house. He followed and they made the rest of the way without any further discussion.

*

Jacob's excuse for their late arrival had been that he and Sienna had just gotten caught up in conversation about her day. Which wasn't exactly a lie. Forks were scraping against plates at the dinner table and most of the Black family was caught up in the colorful telling of Caleb Black's most recent hot date. He was quite the ladies' man and often had new adventures to regale the family of at the dinner table. Matthew rolled his eyes quite often, doubting the truth of most of the things coming out of his brother's mouth. Lucas half listened. He wasn't too interested in girls yet, he was just waiting for his parents' permission to be excused from the table so he could continue his half-finished level on his zombie-war video game. Bella listened to Caleb intently. She loved hearing about her son's love life, but she hoped he found a girl who was a little more clear headed than her oldest child. Jacob was very good at feigning interest in the story. All he could think about was his meeting with Edward and what news Carlisle would bring later on in the evening. Sienna however, sat scowling in her corner of the dining room. She too was thinking of the meeting that happened in the woods earlier and she couldn't understand why her father was acting so nonchalantly. She knew that incredibly amazing looking guy had to be more than just "an old family friend." Maybe she would hint to her mom about what had happened that day. She might be able to get some better answers out of her. She waited for Caleb to finish his incredibly boring story.

"So then we turned the corner and there was her identical twin sister. Just as smoking hot, but she was wearing stilettos and a leather jacket...you won't believe what happened next."

Sienna couldn't take any more of this.

"Oh please spare us, Caleb. Let me guess...you had a threesome in the back of their hummer and now they're both pregnant with your babies?"

All eyes turned to Sienna in shock.

"Sienna Marie! Do you have to be so vulgar at the dinner table?" Bella asked her daughter.

"Why am I the vulgar one, Mom? He was the one telling the story in the first place. I just didn't want to hear his lame made-up speech about the dumb blonde twins."

"It wasn't made up, Stupid. You just can't imagine me being with two hot chicks cause you can't even get a mediocre guy. Am I right?" He and Matthew gave each other five and Sienna rolled her eyes.

"Why do I even try with the level of idiocy in this house?" She asked herself to no one in particular.

Jacob held his hands up as a gesture of peace. "Alright, alright, that's enough you guys. Let's just talk about something else."

Sienna took the opening.

"Yeah, like the guy I met in the woods today."

Jacob dropped his fork on his plate in shock, then glared at his daughter.

Bella perked up. "You met someone in the woods today? Another hiker?"

Jacob tried to intervene. "Yes, just a hiker. Not too interesting, right Sienna?"

Sienna just kept eye contact with her mother. She didn't want to lose her nerve.

"Actually, I thought it was very interesting. He said you were his teacher when you taught literature at the high school a few years ago. I didn't catch his name, though. Did you, Dad?"

Jacob could feel his heart pounding faster. He couldn't believe Sienna was selling him out like this. And not just in front of Bella, but the whole family.

"You talked to him too, honey? Did you recognize him?" Bella turned to Jacob.

His gaze remained on Sienna for another moment, then he turned to his wife.

"I did actually...and its someone we both know, to be perfectly honest. But this is not a conversation for the dinner table. Its more just a you and me thing. Sienna...you're done eating. I'm sure you have homework to finish in your room."

Everyone was quiet. They didn't understand why Jacob had so abruptly dismissed Sienna from the table. But no one looked more confused than Bella. Jacob just started eating again while Sienna angrily pushed her plate away. She stood up then stormed off to her room. Matthew and Caleb gave each other a questioning glance, then quickly looked back to their plates.

"What was that all about, Jake? What did she do?" Bella asked.

"Its not important. Let's just finish our meal in peace."

She did not start eating again. "I'd like to know what's going on between the two of you. What are you not telling me?"

He looked around at the faces of his family. They had all stopped eating and were curious what was going on as well.

"Its really nothing. Sienna and I got in a little argument earlier and I asked her not to bring it up. I could tell she was on the verge of doing just that, so I sent her to her room, ok? No big deal."

This seemed to slightly pacify Bella, but she wasn't completely satisfied that everything was normal. Lucas took advantage of the break in the tension, stood, and announced that he was finished and was going to go finish his level.

"Sit down." Bella and Jacob said in unison. They both smiled, but Luke found no humor in their moment of parental synchronicity. He just sighed heavily and slumped back into his chair.

"Why does Sienna get to leave the table?" He whined.

"Because she's in trouble. I could arrange something like that for you if you really want me to." Jake replied casually.

Lucas' eyes widened. "No, that's alright. I'm fine staying here."

Caleb and Matthew couldn't help but chuckle. They were both so grateful they didn't have to worry about that kind of stuff anymore.

Bella was having a hard time finishing her dinner. It was not like Jacob to keep something from her, so she knew the person they had met in the woods was probably more than just an average hiker. He had said, 'its more just a you and me thing.' What could he be referring to? She looked at her husband with a puzzled expression. He just kept eating, hoping her curiosity would not get the better of her until he had the chance to talk to Carlisle. He really needed more information before telling her about Edward...or the Volturi.

End of Chapter...more to come soon