AN: Thanks to everyone who commented and alerted this story, it is incredible to come home from a long day and see people are actually reading this. ;) I'm almost at twenty reviews; that's amazing to me! :D
Chapter Two: Open Book (Part three)
I left biology with Mike, like I did most days, thinking about Edward Cullen. Wondering what today had meant in the great scheme of things. Gym class wasn't enough to take my mind off of him because instead of exercise we were given a lecture on the proper procedures for football. Coach Clapp handed out a short booklet on what all positions did; informing us that on Monday we would be having a little test on the contents. Really, a test in gym; that was definitely a new one even for me but at least it meant that I wouldn't have to participate in actual football next Monday. Tuesday was a whole other story.
I changed out of the sweat less clothes; moving with deliberate slowness. Everyone else seemed to be moving quickly, like they were in fast forward. I couldn't pin point why I was so out of it, maybe it was Edward, maybe it was the whole situation or maybe it was because my feelings were again confused. I excited the class in a haze after grabbing my few things.
"BOO!" Was I dreaming? No… this was happening again. This time I didn't trip, but like the last time my books clattered to the ground. He chuckled, "You know you're awfully easy to startle."
"Edward, wha-?" I tried to force out. I looked around uncomfortably, I didn't want anyone to see us together but I guess I had taken longer than even I thought, the hallway was empty. While I was looking around he must have gathered my books because by the time I looked back to him, he handed me my belongings. "Thanks, what are you doing here?"
"Just passing through, my class is down there," he gestured just down the hallway. He was so casual, like he had never been angry with me though his eyes still weren't clear of the hostility from before.
"Oh," I sighed. Was I actually disappointed that he didn't stop by to see me? That was a ridiculous thought, after all nothing had changed; nothing except now we could stand to sit next to each other for a small part of a day. It wasn't like before; the script might be similar but this time no hands would be combined, no heat.
"Well, next Monday," he added composing his face before briskly walking away without a look back.
I blushed, hesitating in the hallway, standing uneasily with my books. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Drama was everywhere, tangible, becoming part of me. The feud now called to me, telling me it was something I had to know more about. Since I'd arrived in Forks I had seen no fighting, nothing at all, not even the verbal tiffs that Jessica talked about.
I brought these thoughts home with me. As I prepared dinner, as I ate with Charlie and Emmett and as I slept I thought about the Cullens and the fight. Waking up was a relief because I had decided that I was going to speak with Emmett.
--
Emmett and Charlie went fishing every Saturday morning since Emmett had returned, it was their bonding time but this Saturday tradition had been broken. Emmett and Charlie would be going fishing Sunday instead because Emmett and I had a date in La Push.
We were driving down to First Beach, the windows open, breathing in the fresh air. It was another rare almost warm day, the sun just breaking through the clouds in a few choice spots. Rosalie was driving herself down later, she was behind on some of her homework so Emmett and I were getting some sibling time. This was also something that I was eager for. I had spent most of yesterday and all of last night obsessively thinking about the feud and I knew today would be the best chance to figure some things out.
"Emmett," I let his name fill the emptiness, not sure where to take it.
"Yes?"
"Never mind." I chickened out.
"Spit it out, sister dearest." He chuckled.
I tried to think of the best way to bring it up and instead it just fell out, "Why do you fight with Edward?"
"What do you mean, why?" His tone fell serious.
"I mean, you two can't just ignore each other?" I questioned my voice sketchy and doubtful.
His laugh was short and pointed, "Bella, you've never wanted to hear about these things before, why are you asking? Is it because he's your lab partner, are you starting to think he's a good person? Well if he's such a good person then why is it two against one? How fair is that?" His venting becoming more exasperated as it went. I was surprised at the venom in his words.
"Two against one?" I mumbled, confused.
"Jasper and Edward are a package deal, you know." He rolled his eyes. I watched his facial expressions knowing that he was never good at hiding how he really felt, he was just like me in that sense. He looked distressed. "You don't want to hear about them, Bella. Like you've always told me, you don't need to get involved. I would never want you to either. I'm sorry I'm getting so hyped about it. They just," He growled, "The thought of them makes me so… so angry."
I hesitated not sure what to say. "Kid, I'm sorry, I am, I just can't talk about this with you, never could. When you told me you never wanted to hear about them before I moved here, I was thankful. I just can't stand the idea that you're being placed anywhere near the leeches." He let out a long gust of air but his face relaxed.
"Emmett, you're right, it's better this way," I murmured though I knew I needed more to go on then what I'd been given. There was no need to get it from Emmett though; clearly it was a touchy subject.
--
First Beach was beautiful; the 'gang' was all gathered around a small fire sitting on logs. The set up had obviously been used for other parties like ours. "Bella, these are the guys, guys this is my younger sister Bella," Emmett announced lacking any specifics. I waved meekly only recognizing Sam, Emily and Jacob. Jacob walked up to me as my brother went to speak with Sam.
"Hey Bella, how've you been?" Jake questioned.
"I'm fine, how about yourself?"
"Fine, fine," he answered dismissively, "Emmett's introduction left much to the imagination. Would you like to know who you've been forced to spend the day with?" He laughed easily.
"That would be nice."
Jacob started pointing around the circle, "Those two guys are Quil and Embry; they're my best buds. The two next to them are Leah and Seth; they're brother and sister. I'd stay out of Leah's way if I were you though, she's pretty vicious," he laughed before moving on, "Then there's Sam and Emily and your brother, Emmett, you might remember them." I laughed despite myself, "Next you have Jared, Kim and Paul and finally we have us, I'm Jacob and you're Bella." He pointed to himself and then tapped my shoulder in turn.
"You're very thorough."
"I've heard that one before. Quil, Embry, Jared, Kim and I were thinking about checking out the tide pools, are you up for it?"
"Sure." I smiled. I remembered hearing about the tide pools and I'd always wanted to see them.
"Okay guys, you ready to head out?" Jacob called as the others muttered their responses before either hanging back or walking toward the tide pools. I followed after Jacob, slowly, careful not to trip and fall.
When we got there I let the sights surround me, drinking it all in. The tide pools really were incredible, I had to remind myself not to lean too close, in fear that I wound fall in. It seemed too soon when Jacob returned to my side and informed me that we were heading back to the fire.
When we returned Rosalie had arrived and Sam was telling ghost stories to the others. I sat down on one of the logs and listened to his enchanting voice. It was full of authority. Jacob sat down beside me while the others who'd returned either sat around or walked down to the water.
We listened for a while before the stories bled into personal discussions and darkness fell. "Do you want to go for a little walk," Jacob asked me, seemingly out of the blue, I looked over at him, though I was dark I could see his eyes uncomfortably looking every way but toward me, he was nervous. It was kind of endearing.
"Sure, where were you thinking?"
"I'm not sure, just around," He let his eyes fall back to me, they were composed and sure, a smile broke easily on his face. His smile was joined by my own; Jake sure had a way of making me feel comfortable.
We got up and started walking away, into the forest and towards the beach. Emmett was too entranced by Rosalie to even notice his younger sister go off with a teenage boy, which was defiantly something! Jake and I didn't talk but he seemed to know exactly where he was going. It was beautiful out, just clear enough that the stars could be seen. Jake walked up to a fallen down spruce tree near the water. "Sit?" he asked.
I nodded though I wasn't sure if he could make that out in the near dark and sat beside him. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" I commented.
"Yes it is, and it was a beautiful day too." I stared at the water, watching as the tide pulled and pushed at it. It was relaxing; being with Jacob was relaxing too. Our silence wasn't awkward like it usually felt with other people, it was just us. I was right before, I could see Jake and I becoming very close, it felt like we were destined to be friends.
"So do you think you'll come back down soon and visit?" He interrupted the quiet.
"Oh I don't know, if you'll have me," I kidded.
He chuckled letting the silence surround us again, "You know you're not like other girls."
"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I rolled my eyes. That was something I had heard often. I wasn't like other people, I was strange, odd and off kilter. In my seventeen years of life I had gotten used to hearing this.
"Good, I meant it as one," he muttered good-naturedly as he elbowed me playfully.
"So how's that Rabbit treating you? Are you close to finishing it?
He sighed, "I wish I were, I'd be nice being able to visit Forks, visit you," He coughed almost as if he'd surprised himself, "You and Emmett, I mean. I figure I'll be finished in a couple months but it depends when I find that part I was talking about."
"You'll find it, I know you will." Again the quiet set in. Our conversation felt so simple and at ease. I didn't need to chatter and he didn't nervously talk like most people. People usually are afraid of silence but I welcomed it. I've never been afraid of the quiet; never felt like silence dictates how poorly a relationship is going.
"So you'll come back to La Push soon, you think?"
I thought for a moment, I could tell he wanted a day and time, "How about Tuesday after school, do you mind if Emmett and I drop by then?"
"Tuesday sounds good." I turned to watch his smile widen. He was really such a silly boy, easily made happy. His nonchalance was addicting, it really was. I wondered if soon I would be coming daily to keep myself sane, keep myself away from the feud back in Forks.
The feud; again my mind pushed it back to the center of my mind. Now was as good a time as any… "Jake, do you know anything about the Swan, Cullen fight?" I was afraid of the answer but I was also afraid not knowing. Already I could see that sitting with Edward was getting easier. He wasn't his family, I knew that. Things that happened in the past weren't his fault. Could I really blame him for something that his relatives did? Not until he did something himself would I ever express hatred. My annoyance with Edward in the last week had been wrongful enough. He'd done nothing to warrant it, at least. The rub of the matter was that was why I had gotten so upset… the fact that he didn't do anything.
"Do you really want to know?" He wondered more to himself. Didn't I just decide that it didn't matter? It had been many years since I had asked about the fight and I had given up wondering long ago because, like I just realized, it didn't matter. People only got hurt when they let the past change their future.
I tried unconvincingly, "Maybe, I'm not sure anymore."
"What made you ask, anyway?"
Jake made me feel like I could speak my mind safely so I almost told him the truth; I didn't think Edward Cullen was bad, not even a little bit. No, Jacob was still Emmett's friend, was still on the 'Swan' side of the fence and I wasn't going to get into that. "I just worry about Emmett," which was true, "I just don't want him to get hurt," I paused and noticed he was waiting for more so I added, "Right now it's two against one…" This was the little information that Emmett had let me gain.
"It's not though, we're here for him." I knew by this he meant the boys from La Push.
"No, you're here in La Push." I pointed out.
"You're worried about what happens at school? Hmm," he chuckled quietly. It drifted off into the trees, "Emmett's a big guy and he has Tyler at school, you know."
"Tyler?" I rarely had heard of Tyler. Emmett had talked about him very little when he called. From those conversations I understood that they were friends. But I hadn't even met him and it had been over a week since I had started at the high school. I didn't notice Emmett with anyone other than Rosalie. To be fair I didn't see him in class.
"Yeah Tyler, Tyler doesn't like the Cullens either. He and your brother are," he thought for a moment, "I guess, friends, they protect each other… But there isn't too much fighting anymore." Why had Emmett told me it was two against one if he had Tyler?
"Anymore?" this piqued my interest.
"Well James and Laurent aren't in town anymore." His causal tone made me feel like this information was something so obvious.
"I'm sorry but I don't know who they are or what they have to do with this."
Jake's laugh was short but sincere, "Sorry. Do you really want to know? I thought you just said that you didn't."
"Just explain who James and Laurent are. You've made them sound fairly interesting."
"They're Cullens; cousins of the one going to your school. They graduated last year, James is a year older than his brother but he was held back, now they're going to, I think, Dartmouth or something else just as prestigious," he sneered. "I wonder how much money they used to bribe themselves in. Anyway while they were here they caused most of the fights. The two of them and James' girlfriend, Victoria, mostly James though. Since they left, life has been mostly drama free."
I let this settle into my thoughts. Maybe Edward didn't do anything wrong, maybe it was just James and Laurent.
"Bella, Jacob, you guys down here?" I heard my brother calling as his shape came into focus out of the trees.
"Yeah over here," Jake called back.
"There you guys are, didn't see you sneak off." He laughed, "Bella, we're going to head back, are you ready? If you want I can leave the truck and ride back with Rosalie." He offered.
"Nah, that's alright I'm ready." I got up and brushed the dirt off from my pants before walking back with Emmett. Jake followed behind as we entered the circle again.
"Well I found them," Emmett announced. "So we're heading out now, see you guys later."
Goodbyes were returned as Rosalie, Emmett and I started walking to our cars, "See you Tuesday," Jake called after me.
"Till then," I replied, turning to catch the last glimpse of his smile before the information I had learnt today clouded everything else; drowning me.
AN: Physical education written tests were actually something that my gym classes had to partake in. Do other school systems do that or is it just a Canadian thing? Anyway, like I said in the last AN writing Jake's character is tricky for me, and hard to get into. That's why this took so long to post and also because instead of writing in order I was writing up the main romantic scene ha-ha.
I'm not sure what my posting schedule will be like for the next couple updates because three people quit at my job and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to fill in like mad. Yay, more money, un-yay, less time.