Can't you feel my heart beat fast? I want this to last! Need you by my side.—"Every time We Touch"
"Don't get me wrong. That was some good work, getting rid of that leech by yourself," Embry began, "but was this really necessary?" I took another huge bite of the beef sandwich and leaned over Embry's shoulder, looking at the computer.
"We spoke with several wildlife experts at the Washington State Zoo, and they confirmed that there is never been a confirmed sighting of wolves this size." The reporter declared. The image switched to a recording, taken from what looked like a motel window. "As of yet, no one has been able to explain how this is possible." A car screeched, and an enormous wolf suddenly charged across the road and through a parking lot. I stared. The wolf was enormous—a little smaller than Sam or Jake, admittedly, but still huge. Instead of their dark colors, though, it had a gray and white coat.
"Is that me?" I questioned, amazed at the sight. "Is that what I look like?" Jake walked over and studied the image.
"Yeah, that's you." He confirmed. "What were you doing running through town like that?"
"Playing tag." I smacked his shoulder. "Chasing Victoria, genius! What else would I be doing?"
"Who would dare to explain anything you do?" Paul joked, sitting at the kitchen table with Jared and Sam. "If they ever start handing out awards for strangest girl alive, I'll make sure you get it."
"Haha. You should be a comedian." I said dryly. "I'm going to die laughing." The phone suddenly rang, and Jake snatched it up.
"Black residence." He said politely. "Yes, actually, she is." He paused. "Sure." I groaned and accepted the phone when he held it out.
"Hi!" I tried to put a cheerfulness in my voice.
"Bella! Where have you been?" He was practically growling. "I expect you home five hours ago! I was checking with all your friends, they had no clue where you were! I called the school, they said you left but your truck was still there!"
"Dad… I'm sorry." I apologized, thinking rapidly. "Jake dropped by the school and we were hanging out. Friday partying and all. I forgot to call."
"Really?" Charlie asked, sounding completely unbelieving. "I called Billy several hours ago, he didn't say anything about it." I swore silently. Just my luck.
"Ask Sam, or Jared. They both ran into us," I lied further. "Actually, Sam's here right now, helping Billy with something. Would you like to talk to him?" Charlie fell quiet, thinking.
"No, it's alright. Just call me next time, okay? Hours go by, and I don't know if you're kidnapped or in a theater." He sounded more relieved than angry, which meant that he either bought it or decided it wasn't worth pressing right now. "When will you be home?"
"About an hour and a half." I promised, leaving myself plenty of time. "See you then."
"Bye." The phone clicked off. I set it down, letting a long breath out.
"He thinks I'm lying," I groaned, "what a mess. He doesn't believe me."
"Smart guy." Paul remarked. I gave him a death glare, earning a laugh from Embry and Jared.
"It won't have to happen again." Sam commented. "You killed the final leech in the area. We shouldn't have anymore work for some time."
"Let's hope so." I said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I should really get home."
"I'll drop you off at the school." Jacob volunteered, as I expected he would.
"Thanks." I meant it. I headed to the front door.
"Bella." I turned at the sound of my name. Sam looked mostly calm, but I could see the traces of worry in his face.
"That was good work, but in the future, you need to demonstrate much more… discretion." Sam addressed me. "We've already had far too much press coverage as it is."
"Understood." I replied seriously. "It won't happen again."
I stopped, finding myself reaching for the seatbelt. Old habits die hard, I guess.
"Do I really need this anymore?" I asked Jake. He laughed when he saw what I was referring to.
"Not really." He started up the car. "But they give tickets if you don't wear it. And your dad is a cop."
"Doesn't matter." I released the belt and sank back into the seat. "It's too dark for anyone too notice." Jake wasn't wearing his, either. The bumpy country roads became the highway, and I was getting drowsy. I had run several hundred miles, Victoria had tried to kill me, I had eaten nine sandwiches and a quart of milk once Sam and I got back to La Push…
"I'm sorry." Jake spoke out of the blue. I blinked a few times and straightened, waking back up. The scenery had changed, making me wonder how long I had been asleep.
"For what?" I asked back, of course.
"You shouldn't have had to go through that alone." He replied sorrowfully. "No one should have to." I was silent for a few moments, wondering if hugging him would make him feel better.
"You're not my babysitter, Jake. You're not around all the time and you can't be. I know that." I felt unsure of what to tell him. "It's like what that crazy monkey from The Lion King said. 'It does not matter! It's in the past!' "
"It does matter." Jake replied quietly. "It's in the past, but it still affects the present."
"Oh, yes, the past can hurt." I told him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder and mimicking the crazy monkey's accent the best I could. "But the way I see it, you can either run from it—or, learn from it!"
Jake didn't reply, but I thought I saw a smile tugging at his lips. I decided to change the topic.
"Let's have some music." I leaned forward and began fiddling with the stereo, trying to find the 'on' button. Jake glanced at me.
"Third from the right." He directed.
"Oh." I tapped the button, and the radio came to life.
"— we have all your jewelry needs in a—" click.
"—what's really amazing is that he actually—" click.
"—you're the only one, I'd be with until the end," a female singer proclaimed. "When I come undone, you bring me back again. Back under the stars! Back into your arms!" Jake sighed in exasperation at the music. I grinned and joined the radio.
"And I don't wanna fall to pieces, I just wanna sit and stare at you!" I sang in unison. "I don't wanna talk about it! And I don't want a conversation, I just wanna cry in front of you!"
"You're feeling energetic." Jake remarked. "How much coffee did you have?"
"It's those sandwiches," I shot back, "Billy's a good cook."
"Those were from the deli." Jake informed me. I sighed dramatically.
"You just don't appreciate good food like I do." I said playfully.
"Oh, and you're an expert?" Jake countered, teasing.
"Totally." I said, seriously. "A master chef, you know? That's what I was going to be."
"And now you're a monster like us." Jake said, feigning sadness. "A lost career."
"Tragic, I know." I agreed. "I should get over it in a few hundred years. Ha, I'll have a hundred 18th birthdays to think about it."
"Going to stay a teenager forever?" Jake asked curiously. "I would think you'd at least get to your 20's before stopping."
"Hey, once gone, never retrieved." I said. "What's wrong with being a teen for a century or so?"
"You lose five years for immaturity." Jake said, shaking his head. I whacked his arm and resumed my duet with the end of the song.
"And I don't want a conversation, I just wanna cry in front of you. And I don't wanna talk about it, 'cause I'm in love with you!" I proclaimed. "I'm in love with you!" Jake swung the car into the school parking lot and into the space next to mine. I sighed. I would have preferred a way longer drive.
"And now you send me home to my doom." I bantered as I got out of the car.
"There's not really much I can do about your dad." Jake said. "I'd suggest you sneak in, though." He gestured to my clothes. That is, he gestured at his set of clothes that I was wearing.
"Oh… yeah." Jake's meaning dawned on me. I hadn't thought about it. "He'd probably think we were—"
"Most people would." Jake pointed out. "Hey, you could tell him you caught on fire and your clothes burnt off."
"He's touchy about that sort of thing." I said, ignoring the joke. "I'll have too run upstairs, or stay in the shadows or something." I checked my truck and verified that my stuff hadn't been messed with. It was all there, much to my relief. "Hold on." I put my jacket on, zipped it up, then held by backpack low, covering my bare feet and my knees.
"Good luck." Jake said doubtfully. He turned to leave, then paused, looking back. "Hey, on the off chance that he doesn't ground you for the weekend, want to try dirt biking again tomorrow, say, noon?"
"Sure!" I was grinning. "I'll bring a pizza."
"It's a date." Jake smiled.
"Got that right." I said. He waited a beat, and I impulsively stepped forward and embraced him. "See ya tomorrow."