AUTHORS NOTE:
The chapter jumps a little but I'm hoping it ties in sooner than later. I wanted to bring Jacob in with Sam, and introduce more of who Lilly is.
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I just sat there, nothing was coming. I was wasting time sitting cross legged on my floor when I could be doing the one homework assignment I did have. I grunted and lightly tossed it to the side. The poor thing has seen its fair share of abuse; I grabbed my math book and popped in a CD. It took me all of ten minutes to get the twenty six problems done.
Now what? Was I supposed to seek them out to see if I could find something to entertain myself?
Alice poked her head in my doorway. She smiled.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," she looked at all the pictures.
"Who is he?" She asked.
"That is Oliver," I said.
"He's cuter than I expected." I laughed.
"What happened to your shoulders?" Alice asked her face looked so sad.
"I was burned when I was little." I hated the details.
She just nodded, I felt thankful that she didn't press. I put my sweater back on and zipped it up.
"It's my idea, and I ran it by Esme, but I was thinking about going to the city to go to a salon. It could be me and you, but I was thinking that it would be a good chance for all us girls to get to know each other. We could even invite Bella, Edwards' girlfriend."
"Sure, why not."
To me the timing seemed fishy but who was I to judge? I needed to take a run though.
"You don't mind if I go running do you?" I asked her. I wasn't sure if she wanted to talk more or what.
"No, so were on for Friday night?"
"Yep!" I was kind of excited. Maybe I could get them to resurrect my bad dye job?
I grabbed my tennis shoes, phone and I-Pod. I yanked my hood up and went out the front door.
It took me a few seconds to warm up but only minutes to run, I made it to town and past a few of the kids I saw at the high school the talked and pointed but I could care less I passed Bella standing outside washing her truck and Edward watching her intently I smiled and waved as I passed them. He looked so ornery, I felt like I needed to find something to put a permanent smile on his face, he looked so heavy hearted, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I kept going it wasn't long before I noticed a change; there was a difference in the air. I was almost pummeled by some tall dark boy.
His hands wrapped around my shoulders just as I was about to crash to the ground.
"Hey!" he said
"Don't 'hey' me. You ran into me I didn't run into you."
"A little on the touchy side?" he asked.
"You nearly knocked me to the ground!"
"You remind me of Bella." He said laughing.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Nothing," he said quickly.
"Lilly," I said.
"Jacob Black."
"Nice to meet you."
"Are you new in town?"
"You can say that," I said with a smile.
"Where do you live?"
"Dare I ask if you know the Cullen's?" I asked as we walked side by side along the beach.
"I do, why?"
"I was adopted by them." I said.
"Lilly Cullen." He said smiling.
"The name I was born with is Andersen, Lillianna Isabella Andersen Cullen."
"I can deal with that." He had me laughing in minutes with jokes. The time flew by and he asked if I wanted to stay for dinner and meet his dad. I called Esme and asked if she was okay with it. She seemed happy for me but reserved about saying yes.
I followed him inside the small house.
"Dad!" he called.
To say that I was shocked to see Billy in a wheel chair was an understatement. It was hard not to ask, but deciding I was going to not let it get in the way was what pushed me to introduce myself.
"Hello," I said.
"Hi," he was surprised.
"Dad, it's not like she's the only girl you've seen me with," Jacob said.
"The other is Bella and the two of you practically grew up together, she is a whole new face."
"I'm Lilly." I said laughing.
"Billy." I gave him a hug. I didn't end up leaving till nearly ten and Jake walked me to what he called a border line where Alice was waiting. I was exhausted but happy to have met him. I hugged him goodnight and climbed in the car with Alice.
I don't know how I woke up in my own bed but I did, and I was ten thirty. I gasped and walked downstairs. The curtains were closed and they all sat there.
"We figured it would be nice to let you sleep in," Esme said. I was in a short night gown and my legs were almost completely bare.
"Ahh!" I groaned.
"Sorry!" Alice said.
"I feel like you're out to get me." I groaned.
"I'm not. It's your own night gown."
"Alice, I like you. I really do, but I am incredibly uncomfortable with having the majority of the burns on me exposed."
"Burns?"
"Yes, Alice burns. It happens, not usually but in my case it was a bad house and a mean fifteen year old foster brother."
"What did he do?" she asked horrified.
"Hot oil." I said closing my eyes.
She started to ask another question, but I cut her off.
"Please, Alice. I lived it once and would very much appreciate to leave it at that one time."
"Sure," she said. I excused myself to change and slowly shut the door. So much for not reliving any nightmares.
I leaned against my door, there were secrets in this house, but I felt like it was going to be out in the open soon enough.
I gasped; I raced to my closet pulled a pair of jeans out, another brand of jeans that looked like any other. I grabbed a shirt and a sweater. I shoved socks on, and my shoes. I was going to have a panic attack and the last thing I needed was for them to see it. I calmly walked outside and into the trees. I went as far as I could handle before I lost it. I sank to the ground. Nothing I could do was going to move me. Arms encircled me and lifted me up.
I woke up to familiar voices mixed with a few I had never heard.
"You don't think they hurt her, do you?" a man asked.
"Sam, she had like a panic attack, or," Jake stopped, "it was asthma for all I know."
"Jake, they're not exactly known for being the best."
He was picking words carefully.
"Jacob?" I said.
""Lilly," he walked in.
"How did I get here?"
"I carried you."
"Esme!" I panicked, my breathing started to get heavy and slow.
"Lilly, what happened. Did they hurt you?"
"No, Nathan and the burns and Alice, bad memories and I panicked."
"Wait, what?"
"Alice last night changed me into a skimpy nightgown. I have burns from my childhood that cover my back thighs, and abdomen. Long story short a fifteen year old foster brother dumped oil on me. It's the one thing that I still struggle with and I'm uncomfortable having people stare."
"And…"
"I had a panic attack! What the hell do you want me to say? Would you like my medical record?"
"That's not what I meant?"
"I know sorry." I said resting my head on my knees. It was pounding.
"Should I call your dad?"
"What? Who?"
"Your dad, Lilly. Dr. Cullen."
"No!"
"Okay, idea out the window."
"Will you call A. J North? He's number is programmed into my phone. If you get through will you give me the phone," I said.
He took my cell off the small night stand and browsed through the contacts until he reached his number.
"Can I speak to a Mr. North?" Jacob asked.
"Tell him that a Miss Lilly Andersen needs him," he said again. He waited and as soon as his voice was the one he heard he handed it to me.
"Dad?" I croaked.
"Lillianna, bunny, what's wrong?"
"Is there a way that you can get me a refill on my pills? I would go to the local doctor here but it's Carlisle, my adopted dad."
"You should have said that you were out, I can't promise anything but let me see what strings I can pull."
"If you can't I'll talk to him, but I would rather not. I don't want another person thinking therapy will solve the problem."
"I'll do my best. If things work you should have them shipped, on a second thought I'll send them with Oliver. He made plans to come see you next weekend. He's just trying to convince Sara to go with him."
"Thanks, dad."
"Welcome, maybe ask if he can get you a prescription for albuterol. Its typical prescribed to patients with asthma, but have him call me. It relaxes the muscles in your lungs which might help."
"I will," I said.
"Love you bunny. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything else love."
"Love you too, tell mom that I miss her, and love her."
"I will."
Oliver's parents were the closest thing to stable parents that I had in my life. They were there for anything from the age of eight on.
I looked at Jacob, I knew he was lost. I threw my arms around him and just sat there. He smelled like the ocean, earthy dirt, and a musk smell. I loved it.
"You gonna be okay?"
I stayed there with my arms around his neck.
"Someday when I can grasp it.".