Chapter 2

"Jacob!" I squealed, throwing my arms around the neck of my best friend.

"Woah, woah, Bella! You're gonna knock me into the ditch!" Jacob faltered, then tightly wrapped his arms around Bella, belaboring the moment.

"I can't believe you're here," I screamed, "How did you find me so quick; I just barely got here."

Jacob shrugged. "You know you have a special scent," he said with a wry smile. Then his face turned dark. "Bella, what the hell are you doing out here? You know it's not safe for you. Especially if you don't want to run into….him." He spat the words as if discussing a particularly bad hunk of meat in the elevated stages of decomposition.

I pursed my lips and glared. "You know me better than that, Jake. I needed to get out and refamiliarize myself with this place." I shrugged. "So I did."

"Come on," Jacob hissed, grabbing my hand and bouncing into action, "Let's get out of here. You can crash at my place."

I recoiled. "No! I can't do that, Jake, you know that. I have to be there when Charlie wakes up in the morning." I sighed. "He needs me, remember?"

A shadow of guilt passed over Jacob's visage. "Oh yeah. Sorry, I forgot. " He ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, I'll walk you home, then."

I gave him a chiding look, but he was stubborn. He reached for my hand.

I took his hand and we turned around to retrace my steps back to the old house where poor Charlie lay, completely unaware of the pair of glowing red eyes watching us from deep in the woods.

I awoke the next morning feeling more rested than ever before. It took me by surprise. I don't remember this couch being so comfortable, I thought to myself. I let my eyes rest closed as I enjoyed the plunging feeling of my body sinking deep into the tendrils of the couch cushions. It was divine. And the smell. I remembered the smell of Charlie's house – like old logs of dried out wood mixed with river water. It was a comforting smell – likely the result of the wood-burning fireplace and his frequent trips fishing with his friends.

I heard something stir next to me and opened my eyes wide to greet Charlie.

I screamed. "Edward! What the hell are you doing here?"

There he stood, the man I'd been trying to avoid for three months now, just hanging out by the couch, staring down at me with those golden amber eyes as if he were casually stopping by to say hello.

I was livid.

"Get out of here," I seethed. "I told you to stay away from me."

His face contorted in confusion. "Bella, I – " he paused, searching for his words, "I had to see you. It's been months. I had hoped some time away would give you a chance to reconsider…" he drifted off, his face grief-stricken. I felt awful. He came down here hoping for reconciliation. I allowed myself to grieve for him and our relationship for a moment. He had meant so much to me.

No, no he still does mean so much to me. That's why he can't be here.

"Edward, I loved you, I really did. But nothing has changed." I took a deep breath as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I hadn't expected to be forced into this conversation so quickly – I hadn't even seen Charlie yet! "I can't be with you, Edward. You're like an obsession, or an addiction. It leaves me feeling constantly off-kilter, one moment fulfilled and the next entirely unfulfilled." He nodded his head. "You need to go. Please. I haven't even seen Charlie yet."

For a moment, he didn't move. I considered begging. I couldn't handle this; not right now. Not when I had my dying father to attend to – I couldn't handle so much stress all at once.

I glanced down at my hands, hoping the right words would come to mind if I analyzed them long enough. "Look, Edward – " I looked up to continue, but he was gone. I forgot how easily they make an exit, I thought. It's nerve-wracking.

I smiled. Chalk up one more reason to keep Edward off my radar.

"Bella? Are you okay?" Charlie was standing at the bottom of the staircase looking concerned. He looked….awful. So skinny, so pale. His hair was unkempt, his face flushed red, and he clearly hadn't been eating.

"Charlie," I whispered, standing, too afraid to move any closer. It felt like I might break him if I gave him a hug. "You should be in bed," I continued.

He smiled. "Always looking out for me, Bella," he stated jovially. He opened his arms and his face softened. It occurred to me how badly he must need me – he had no other family nearby. I walked quickly into his arms, ignoring the awkwardness of this ritual we rarely partook in.

"I missed you," I whispered.

I heard him sniff. "Me too, Bells. Me too."

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