I blinked in surprise, "Seriously? I don't know if I can do that. I mean, what if he's still mad? What if he hates me?" I relayed my fears to Jacob.
"I'm sure he won't hate you, especially not after he knows…" Jacob trailed off. He had convinced me to get in his small beat up car before telling me where we were going – to Charlie's, my grandfather. He must've known I would react like this, but it was too late now. If he didn't drive so recklessly I may have considered jumping out of the car.
"Knows what?"
"That I'm your father," he stated quietly.
"Oh, so you're on good terms?" I guessed, somewhat relieved.
"Sure, sure, him and my dad are best friends. He felt horrible when Bella left. He really thought we were good for each other."
We drove in silence for the rest of the ride. It was the first time that it really hit me. My mother and Jacob were more than just involved. They were in love. It was hard to picture Mom with someone other than Dad, but I could see her with Jacob.
"Ali, we're here." Jacob announced. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the car. Here we go.
"Officer Swan? It's Jacob!" He called out as he knocked on the door. There was a police cruiser in the driveway so I assumed he was here. Finally, the door opened and Jacob and Charlie embraced while I stood awkwardly on the porch behind them.
"Who's this?" Charlie asked when he noticed me.
"I'm Ali," I said reaching my hand out. He shook it dubiously. I could tell I looked familiar to him.
"Actually, that's why we're here." Jacob explained.
"Oh, well, come in, come in." Charlie invited. I followed Jacob into the living room and sat next to him on the couch as Charlie took a seat in the chair across from us. He was peering at me, inquisitive.
The three of us sat for a moment, but the seconds dragged on for what felt like and hour before Charlie finally spoke.
"So, what, exactly, did you want to tell me?"
Jacob and I looked at each other. There was no way I going to explain it, but it was obvious he didn't want to either. I gave him my best "you're the one who made me come here" look. Finally, he sighed and started talking.
"Alright, well then, um, Charlie. Well, Ali, you see is, uh," It was painful watching him try to spit it out, but there was no way I was going to be able to either. "Well you remember when Bella and I were, uh…" And then it hit him. Charlie's eyes widened as he recognized me from the one time we had met, at my parents' wedding. He looked from me to Jacob, Jacob to me, noticing the resemblance.
"Are you joking?" He yelled. At first I thought he was livid, but when he stood up and embraced Jacob I realized how happy he was.
"How could you not have told me this?" He exclaimed as he turned to me, arms open. I hugged him tentatively.
"I didn't know until yesterday," Jacob answered, beaming.
"Well where's Bella?" Charlie asked, settling back into his chair.
"She's still in Arizona. I kind of ran away." I said slowly, not sure how he would react.
"Well, I guess I can understand that. She's still married to that guy isn't she, what was his name?"
"Edward, and yes." I said as Jacob cringed beside me.
"Well that's too bad." I got ready to defend my dad, but then decided against it after the way Jacob had reacted a second ago.
"So, are you going back?"
"I will eventually, but for now I've got time."
"Good, then we can chat, get to know each other!" Charlie said, excitedly. It was odd hearing this from him. I had grown up knowing he didn't want to see me – ever, but now that I was Jacob's daughter, I was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
"So what've you been up to the last, what's it been, ten years?"
"You know, school and stuff, friends." Jacob glanced at me nervously and I guessed he was worried about me spilling the beans about the werewolves, but I was used to it, living with vampires, telling Charlie hadn't even crossed my mind.
"Well that's good." We talked until it was dark, and then well past that. I told him about school, my friends, Mom and Dad, my aunts and uncles, and grand parents. I even told him about Trevor. I just felt so comfortable here. I felt like I could say anything without being embarrassed.
~oOo~
When I woke up it was still dark. I was wearing the same clothes from yesterday (again. What was that, three days straight?). I righted my disheveled shirt as best as I could before looking around the room. I looked out the window first, and saw the police cruiser in the driveway. I must've fallen asleep last night. Jacob's car was no longer in the driveway, but I didn't mind that he had left.
I turned the light on so I could snoop. The room had a bed, a nightstand, and a desk with an ancient computer. I was amazed to see that it still worked when I tried turning it on, but it was painfully slow, so I shut it back off.
As I was walking towards the closet I tripped on a floorboard that's end was poking out above the rest of the smooth floor. I kneeled down and pulled at it gently. It lifted with ease and I reached my hand in to pull a dusty shoebox from beneath.
I went back to sit on the bed before opening it. Inside were tons of folded papers. I opened one. It was a note, a love note, from Jacob. Bella, it read.
Ever since you came back to Forks I knew you were going to be the one for me. I think you knew it too. I love you more than you know,
Jacob
His messy handwriting was a little hard to decipher but it was sweet all the same. I picked up another. This one was crinkled as if it had been scrunched into a ball, but then flattened out.
Bella,
I know it's hard, but I just can't tell you. I want to so badly you have no clue. If you just wait, I can see you again. I still love you and I hope that you haven't stopped loving me.
Jake
There were tear stains on the page. I wasn't sure if they were from Mom or Jacob; perhaps they were from both.
I put the notes back in the box and replaced the lid, but didn't return it to below the floorboards. I was going to keep it. I didn't know how I'd get it home if I were running, but I'd figure something out.
I raided the closed, hoping Charlie hadn't moved any of Mom's old stuff, as this was obviously her old room. Luckily he hadn't.
I was a lot taller than my mother so I had a limited selection. Shorts weren't such a hot item here in the rainy weather, and most of her pants would be too short. There was no way I was going to wear a skirt.
I settled for a pair of jeans, which I cuffed so they looked like capris, and a tee shirt. I decided underwear were too much of a burden if I was going to be phasing, so I just went without. It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but I got used to it.
The sun was just starting to rise as I poked my head into the hallway. I heard snores from down the hall as I padded across to the bathroom. I searched the cabinets fro an unused toothbrush, but didn't find one. I settled for mouthwash instead.
I walked down the stairs and raided the cupboards, searching for suitable breakfast food. My stomach grumbled because I was so ravenous. I hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday and my stomach wasn't too happy about it.
Finally I found some eggs in the fridge and some bread in the cabinet. I put two pieces of bread in the toaster and Charlie came downstairs as I was cracking eggs over the sizzling pan.
"Good morning," he said groggily, shuffling towards the coffee maker.
"Morning," I replied. "Do you want some eggs?"
"No thanks," he said, shuffling back upstairs, coffee in hand.
I ate the half dozen eggs I had cooked and three pieces of toast, but was still hungry. I would have to buy Grandpa Charlie some groceries before I ate him out of house and home.
As I was washing my dish and the frying pan there was a knock on the door. I peeked out the window to see it was Jacob, so I let him in.
Soon after Charlie came down the stairs looking refreshed and ready for the day in his uniform.
"Alright kids, I'm heading out. Feel free to hang out here if you want." Charlie said as he walked out the door.
I finished drying the dishes and then sat at the table.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" I asked Jacob.
"I didn't have anything in mind. Whatever you want, I guess."
"I don't know of anything there is to do around here."
"There's plenty. We could go to the beach, drive down to Seattle, go hiking, or just hang around here." He listed, ticking off the choices on his long fingers as he talked.
"Seattle sounds like a good idea to me." I said.
We headed out to his car for the hour drive. I didn't know what we'd do in Seattle, but it was better than sitting around in my grandfather's small house all day.
Sorry about the BxJ mushiness there. I've always been team Edward, but it was appropriate for the story.
The next chapter is going to be a little different before I pick things back up with Ali and Jake.
(I honestly don't even know what's going to happen in Seattle, but I have a few ideas.)
As for the rest of the story I've hit a little dilemma. I really wanted Ali to imprint on someone, but after further speculation I realized she can't. Female werewolves can't bare children, and the whole objective of imprinting is to carry on the wolf-gene, so they can't imprint, and no one is going to imprint on them. So... I don't know what I'm going to do about that.
That's it. Carry on.
