I plan on putting a new chapter up soon. I have another three done, just proofing them is all. Enjoy and please review if you think about it. Thanks everyone!
Chapter three:
"So I'll see you tomorrow. We can finish our movie then. I'll try to pay closer attention. It can be hard sometimes when your dad wants to talk to me the entire time." It was dark on my front porch steps as I was saying goodbye but I could tell a smirk had crossed Jacobs face. He enjoyed the fact that I was annoyed by my father's fascination in him. He had come over for a movie night with my dad and about half way through a movie with far too much shooting and car chasing scenes I had fallen asleep. It took them until the credits before they realized that I was out. The last thing I remembered they were having a discussion as to whether Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone makes for a better action actor.
It had been a few days since I had my conversation with Charlie about the Cullens being back. I still hadn't mentioned anything to Jacob. It's not because I was nervous, I just hadn't heard anything else. Charlie hadn't brought it up again and I didn't hear anything elsewhere. I was even keeping my ears open at school this week and hadn't heard a word, which was weird for such a small town. So I just let the days pass and hoped that everything would just go back to normal and this whole thing was just one big coincidence.
"You know that Charlie is going to bed in another hour or so." I said glancing up at him. "You can always just stick around and come back to stay the night with me." I was trying hard not to sound desperate for him to come back over. However it had been almost a week since he was able to stay the night at my house.
Jacob had been busy out on the reservation lately with the pack. I guess they we're going through their rounds on the reservation and all the bordering lines. There was no threat, he had reassured me of this a few nights ago. Sam just wanted for them to stay sharp so that if anything happened no one was out of practice. Embry had just got done changing as well. Jacob said that he had been working with him a lot to get him used to his new self. Unlike some of the other members, Embry was thrilled about the change. He thought that it was great to be able to hang out with all the guys again. It had taken awhile to sink in with Jake. Now I don't think he would have liked it any other way.
"I may just have to take you up on that. I'll talk to Sam once I get back on the Res. I worked with Embry a lot last night going over the run that borders Forks. I think he's finally getting it. It's weird getting to see someone else go through the change. I can remem…" He froze.
The wind picked up then hitting us with a cold chill. The goose bumps rose on my arms instantly sending a chill down my back. A low grumble escaped the back of my throat. No matter how long I lived in Washington I could never get used to the wind. I leaned into Jacob for warmth expecting to be met by strong soft arms, not this time. His chest and arms where tense and offered me no sense of welcoming. I was like leaning up against a brick wall. When I looked up I saw his jaw was shaking from the pressure of being clenched so tightly.
"What's wrong?" I asked surprised. There was no answer from him, just more tension.
"HEY!" I demanded. "What is wrong?" I went to playfully slap his chest in order to get his attention. The response I got was not one that I expected.
He caught my hand in the air before it could make contact. His grip was tight around my wrist. His startled eyes never met mine. He was focused on the woods surrounding my house. Something was seriously wrong with Jake. All the color had left his face and he almost looked as if he was going to get sick. It was like something had hit him hard putting all his senses on alert. I wanted to remind him to breath. I was afraid he was about to pass out on me. I could feel the heat from his body radiating out from his chest and through his hand. It felt as if he were on fire right now.
"Nothing," He finally responded. His grip on my wrist softened and he lowered his arm so that he was now holding my hand. Color eventually returned to his face but his body stayed rigid and tense. "Bella, I'm not going back to the reservation right now. I don't want Charlie knowing I'm here though." His gaze never broke from the edge of the woods. "I want you to go back inside, just get back to your room like you normally would, I don't want you worrying Charlie. I'll be waiting for you there." He finally broke his concentration, his eyes now staring at me urgently.
His words hit me with their intended severity but didn't sink in. There were very few things that could have caused this kind of reaction from Jacob. There was a part of me that was screaming with the answer. It wasn't just that Jake looked worried or infuriated right now, he looked like was protecting something, he was protecting me.
"Bella, I need you to tell me that you're going to do this." He pleaded. "I have to make a call but then I'll be right up. I promise."
"Ok, ok! I'm going right now." I said as I turned to the door. Jacob was already around the corner of my house, cell phone in hand, before I could get the door opened all the way.
Once inside I took a minute to stand in the hallway and collect myself before passing back by Charlie. I didn't think that it would look too great if I came back in shaking and unable to finish a sentence. Whether Jake had smelt, heard or saw something outside I wasn't sure, I just knew that he had. His reaction had been precise and quick, I wondered if it was thanks to the recent training he had been doing with the pack. Maybe all that had something to do with tonight. The past couple days it had felt like he'd been leaving something out when we talked. I could tell there was something on his mind, keeping him alert, since this last weekend.
I took a few deep breaths willing myself to stop shaking. The hall no longer felt like it was spinning and I knew that at any minute Jake would be waiting in my room. If I wasn't there soon enough it would just make him even more anxious. As I walked back into the living room Charlie was sitting where we left him only he had switched to some hunting channel. I swear, no matter how much I saw them I could never get used to watching them shoot bambi then parade their kill on TV. Charlie on the other hand loved it.
"Thanks for letting Jake come over for movie night dad. I uh… I know that he really likes it." I leaned up against the chair not wanting to get too comfortable.
"Well of course. You want me to change the channel for you? I know this isn't your favorite." He said.
"Oh no, I was actually thinking of calling it an early night. Jake and I were thinking about going out to First Beach tomorrow if the weather isn't too bad, I'm not holding my breath." I turned and started to make my way for the stairs.
"Well hold on, what about Jessica and Angela? I haven't seen them for awhile Bella. Angela used to come over here all the time. You know I like Jacob but I also don't want you losing sight of your other friends… again." He stood and slowly walked over to me. "We already went through all this once before. I don't want to see you so consumed with someone else again. I am sure you already know this but I feel like as your dad I should say something."
"Char… Dad, You don't need to worry about that, OK?" I was not in the right state of mind right now to reassure Charlie. "Plus, Jess and Ang are going out to Port Angeles tomorrow to go dress shopping for Winter Formal. Since I'm not going it kind of seemed pointless for me to go. I'll figure something about with them though."
"Aren't you going to the dance? I would think that Jake might ask you." He didn't seem too suspicious.
"Well Jake doesn't go to my school dad, so it would be kind of weird if he asked me to a dance for a school he didn't attend. You know that I'm not really one for the extracurricular activities either." I glanced over at Charlie who looked comfortable with my answer.
"Well ok then." He had learned better than to push topics like this one. "I'll probably be gone most of tomorrow, Max wants to head out early and do some fishing on the lake. Just think about what I said, alright?"
"Yeah, sure dad."
I hadn't heard Jake come in through the window but that didn't mean he wasn't there. He had gotten too good at sneaking in quietly. Charlie was retreating back to his chair so I figured this was a good time to break away from further conversation. "I am going to bed though. I'll see you in the morning maybe."
Before I went into my bedroom I changed my clothes in the bathroom. I had to stick to my normal routine, knowing my dad, the police chief, he would notice if I strayed away from it.
