Chapter 6

Initially I just drove, but after a couple of hours I pulled over and called Angela, my voice of reason. While we haven't seen each other as much as we would have liked to since graduation, we still talk regularly. She is as up-to-date as a human can be without knowledge of the supernatural. She even knows how much I've been doing for Billy. Previously, I told her that Jake had been put to work by the Quileute Elders which would explain his notorious absence over the past several weeks. To be blunt, Angela was livid for me when she learned the truth. Being the Godsend that she is, she suggested using one of the tickets from the Cullens' to go to Florida to see my Mum. Angela gave me purpose, something I can't thank her enough for. Honestly, Angela is the best thing that happened to me in Forks. She taught me what it is to have a true friend.

I hope the sun would give me some safety from Victoria but I can't dwell on the threat she poses, since I can't do anything about her. I'm just a regular old human. So I can only hope that the wolves manage to take her down.

I rang Renee. She may be flaky and harebrained but I know she loves me and just wants the best for me. After a few rings she picked up, and right away I told her everything that I could—minus the supernatural. Right from the start, she and I were on the same page that both Jake and Billy were cretins for the way they used me. I hated them for it. Granted though, I would have happily helped out and stayed down on the Rez but the lies and deceit they created were more than enough to keep me at bay forever.

I trust Charlie but I don't trust Billy and Jacob at all anymore. The only thing that worries me though is that Charlie's 'best friend' will manipulate the facts to depict me to be the one at fault and not Jacob. Knowing Billy, I wouldn't put it past him to try and pull such a manoeuvre. Over the phone, I told Renee about the situation, and she surprisingly didn't disagree with me over my fears. We then hung up but an hour later Phil called me. He made a startling suggestion that I sell the old Chevy truck. He even gave me a number for a friend of a friend of his that dealt in restoring classic vehicles. Luckily their main location was in Seattle and I wasn't too far from there.

On the drive to Seattle, I stopped at a truck stop and found the plane tickets that had been haphazardly tossed in my bag. Sparing a few minutes, I decided to repack my stuff deciding what I wanted to keep or donate. It took a while but when I was done, I dropped the stuff into the nearest donation bin. Afterwards, I drove to the address Phil gave me. I had managed to sell the truck for much higher than I originally expected, but was promised by the buyer that the shell and parts of this particular model were worth it. To be extra nice, the guy even gave me a lift to the airport. He was so nice.

When arriving, I soon learned that an open first class ticket allows for far more leeway than I expected. Let me tell you this, there is a major, major difference in first class to coach. It's not just the extra legroom; it's the overall service and treatment. The food was nearly edible!

Before boarding, I sent a text message to Renee with the flight number and arrival time. She responded right away, and to be honest, that part didn't really surprise me. What did surprise me was when I saw both Renee and Phil waiting for me. Renee was actually there for me for a change… I couldn't help but gape in shock.

When we got back to her house, I phoned Charlie. Needless to say, the conversation included nothing but yelling—more so on his part—where he told me to come straight home. It was when those words left his lips that I had learned the truth; my worst fears had come true. Billy had gone to him and told him that I was delusional. Billy told Charlie that Jake had been busy working on a surprise for me; that that was why we weren't spending as much time together. What a load of lies! By the conversation's end, I told him that since I was eighteen and legally an adult, I was making the choice of staying with Renee. It might have hurt his feelings but I was not returning to Forks! I was also the first to hang up.

By now Renee is furious for me. It's nice to know that I have one parent on my side for a change.

Meanwhile, after the disastrous call with Charlie, I rang Angela and told her Charlie's reaction. She is seething for me too. I could hear it in her voice. Despite the fact that she doesn't like to say negative things about people, to propel the conversation forward, she asked me about the flight and the welcome I received.

Not much has happened since. Over the passing week, I had trouble sleeping as my dreams—no, nightmares were consumed with thoughts of either Victoria or Jacob catching me. To make matters worse, the deceit hit me hard. Having Charlie believe Billy over me hurt more than a physical blow ever would. I thought Charlie and I had grown close, but him choosing Jake over me spoke for itself. While in Forks, I managed to escape one manipulating boyfriend but ran straight into the arms of another. I trusted them down on the Reservation but finding out how misplaced that trust was hurt in ways I can't even begin to describe in words. I don't know how far the deceit goes but if the wolves are under some kind of compulsion I don't know anyone strong enough to go against them.

In the meantime, I also started to second guess Old Quil's motives when he performed that second aspect of the ritual on me. I mean... was he really trying to help me or them, his fellow Quileute men? Also, had he known that the ritual would leave me in a week-long coma? The idea it could have been left me feeling dirty and used. But it did teach me one thing: I hate not knowing if I can trust people.

A/N

Three chapters in one day, TriforceandSheikahArts is going above and beyond as a Beta. Thank you!

:)-J