SHE LIVES, SHE LIVES!

So I'm truly updating. I finally figured out a way to continue this story. So yes. I am out of my zombie-like slump and will try to update this more often.

Sorry for all the waiting. I know you want to get to the 'action,' so here it is.


Chapter Three: Hell's Frozen Over

LPOV

The rest of the day passed relatively uneventful. The crew left me alone for the most part and I managed to finish all of my homework in my study hall. As soon as the last bell rang, I was out of the school in record time. Because there was no food in the house, I stopped at the grocery store to load up on junk food for the weekend and spring break. I was planning on having a movie and painting marathon this weekend and needed all the sustenance I could get.

The driveway was empty when I got home, as usual. Dad worked really long hours especially during the weekend. And his new girlfriend was just another reason why he didn't come home as often. (Not that I particularly enjoy thinking about what him and that woman do when I'm not around.) It didn't matter. I liked having the house to myself. It was a good system. Dad and I were more like roommates than family these days. When I was asleep, he was up and moving and basically out of my way. When I was awake, he was usually sleeping or out somewhere.

I was getting ready to make nachos and veg out in front of the T.V. when a car pulled up to the driveway. Confused, I checked the clock. Dad didn't usually come home this early. I heard the door slam and ran to open the front door.

"Dad!" I called. He smiled at me and I hugged him in response. It was rare that we had these sort of opportunities, so I cherished it while it lasted.

"Hey Leah." We walked into the house together and he followed me to the kitchen. I continued to make my nachos as he stood there. I took a good look at his face and groaned jokingly.

"Where are they sending you now?" I asked. Around this time of year, his bosses often sent him on workshops and conferences in different places around the country. While he left, my aunt Nora usually stayed with me until he came back.

"Hawaii." He said with a smile. "It should be fun. I leave tomorrow."

"When is aunt Nora coming over?" I asked happily. Even though I didn't like it when Dad left, it gave me an opportunity to bond with my older aunt. Even though she was a good deal older than my father, she was the only adult I could think of that I truly enjoyed being around.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about..." Dad said, looking sheepish. He grabbed a beer out of the fridge and leaned against the counter as he paused. "Aunt Nora broke her hip skiing in Colorado, so she has to get a hip replacement this week."

"Why was she...?" I began. He gave me a look and I shrugged. "Yeah. Dumb question. So who's going to stay with me?"

"Well, I was going to ask Charlie, but then I realized that you and Bella don't exactly get along." I nodded at that, thankful to have dodged that whiny bullet. "And Emily and her mother are going shopping in California for a day, so that's not an option." Thank God...

"So I get to stay home alone?" I asked, jumping in excitement.

"No. Don't get too excited." He said, laughing a little. "I ran into Billy Black at the supermarket. Jacob was with him. I remember how you two used to be really close... Anyway, he offered to let you stay with them for a few days." The world around me seemed to freeze in its place.

"Leah... Are you okay..?" His voice was a thousand miles away. What did he just say?

"What did you just say?" I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

Dad seemed sort of startled as he watched me. I tried to compose myself and cut up a few jalapenos for a distraction. I really cannot believe my rotten luck.

"Billy offered to let you stay with them. He needs someone to help him around the house since Jacob's going to be gone on some college road trip during Spring Break." Now that was different. As long as Jacob wasn't around, I could see myself possibly surviving the week. Hopefully...

"Oh. Okay then. I guess I can deal with that." Dad looked at me again, but said nothing. If he caught my discomfort, he didn't say anything.

"So tomorrow after I leave, I guess you can just go over there. You won't give him any trouble will you?" I rolled my eyes.

"Of course not, Dad. Billy's cool; possibly cooler than a certain old man I know..." Dad ruffled my hair and gave me another hug.

"I love you, Leah." He said, kissing the top of my head. "You remind me so much of your mother when we first met..."

"I love you too, Dad." I sighed. Maybe everything would be alright after all. Dad straightened and smiled, clapping his hands together.

"Now, who wants to help me pack?" I laughed and followed him to his room, balancing the nachos and drinks as I climbed the stairs.


Early the next morning, I waved Dad off as he left to catch his plane. Once he was out of sight, I packed my car, carefully placing my art bag in the trunk, along with my overnight bag. My optimistic feelings from the evening before had vanished, leaving me feeling empty and afraid.

I checked to make sure all the doors and windows of the house were locked before jumping into my car and trudging over to Billy's house. I saw Jacob's motorcycle in front of the garage and groaned. I would have to park on the street. I was going to do anything I could to avoid him until he left.

The door opened before I could knock and I almost threw up a lung when I saw who answered.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jacob asked grumpily. Obviously, he had just woken up. His hair was in messy disarray and his sleep clothes were wrinkled and disorderly. He wasn't being intentionally mean, the first time that's happened in a while. He was just grumpy. I often act the same way in the morning. I can't even form coherent sentences.

"Ummm..." I was about to answer when Billy rolled to the door, smiling brightly even though it was early Saturday morning.

"Leah! Hello." He looked at his son and smiled again at his confused face. Even I had to admit that it was kind of cute. "Harry Clearwater is going out of town, so I offered to let Leah stay with us until he gets back."

"Oh..." I could tell that Jacob was trying to suppress a mean comment for Billy's sake.

"Since you're going on that college tour, she's going to help me around the house." He groaned, glaring at me as if this were my fault. Instead of glaring right back, I gave him a cheeky smile and winked. "Now come on in. I set up the guest room for you. I hope you don't mind the smell of moth-balls. Jacob, get her stuff out of her car."

"Oh, you don't have to. I can..." But Jacob was already off, stumbling toward the car. I sighed and ran after him. "My stuff is in the trunk." I unlocked it with my key and bent to get a bag. When I came back up, Jacob was staring at my lower back. My Paramore band t-shirt had ridden up again.

I glared at him and yanked it down as I passed him my heaviest bag. The walk back to the door seemed unusually long. To fill the stony silence, I decided to make polite conversation. "So... What colleges are you looking at?"

"What's it to you?" He growled. I rolled my eyes and blocked him from entering the house.

"You know, I'm not happy about this either." I said, glaring at his surprisingly amused face. "I know we hate each other, but can we at least try to get along like civilized human beings for once?"

"Why would I do that, Clearwater? You're so sexy when you're angry." He smirked and I stomped his sock covered foot, smiling in satisfaction when he doubled over in pain.

"I guess that's a no." I picked up the bag he had dropped and slung it over my other shoulder. "You better avoid me if you don't want another broken nose."

I turned and walked away, leaving him clutching his foot in the middle of the driveway.


Crappiest Chapter Ever, huh?