Scary Stories
Chapter 8
This day easily felt like one of the longest days of my life. Accidents, arguments, the emergency room visit, the awkward reunion and confrontation should have been more spaced than experienced over the course of one single day. It had been too much. It was a bit overwhelming to think back on it all. As exhausted as I was I shuttered to returned home because there was still Jake to deal with, though I felt this way in the kindest sense.
He was sitting on the front stoop when we pulled into the driveway, his long legs bent at the knee where his elbows rested. He cradled his head in the fold of his arms. He looked anything but comfortable. In the end I didn't really feel like I needed to deal with Jake. He was always dealing with me. The fact that he sat all evening on my front stoop was proof of that.
"Ah, Dad. You could have let him wait inside."
"A little waiting outside never killed anyone. It's not even raining," he defended.
I gave Charlie a sideways look.
"Besides, I told him to head home."
"Yeah. Like that was going to happen."
Charlie nodded in agreement. Jacob never looked up from the position he held watching Charlie and I converse in the cruiser before exiting the car. I, on the other hand couldn't take my eyes off of him. His eyes were red and swollen. My heart sank. To my recollected I had never before had a boy cry because of me. I hadn't started my career as a heart breaker until moving to Forks. Back in Phoenix I was just ordinary.
It was humbling to see Jake in this way. His body was massive to fit the size of his heart. He only turned his head to meet my gaze as I approached him.
"You didn't have to wait for-" I started to say before Jacob cut me off.
"Yes I did," he said in all seriousness. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I don't even know where to start," I said, exasperated, while squeezing onto the stair next to Jacob. I slung my right arm over his back, noticing that he was covered with dried leaves and dirt. I swept the debris from his shirt and then gently rubbed his back.
Charlie started to walk up to stairs slowly.
"Chief Swan." Jacob said raising Charlie's attention.
"Yes Jacob," Charlie said automatically. He seemed ready for this conversation.
"I am sorry that I wasn't able to keep Bella safer. I-" he paused. "This sort of thing-"
"Jacob, son, please no apologies. No explanations. I have had one hell of a day and I can hear everyone's apologies but yours. You haven't done anything to apologize for." Charlie looked down at me and then breathed in deep, looking up at the house. His chest swelled and then he exhaled. "All I want to do is wash up and find something mindless to watch on tv." Charlie pursed his lips and then looked at Jacob before making it to the front door. He tousled my hair as he went past. "Bella, don't forget Dr. Cullen's orders. Rest." Charlie said closing the front door.
Jacob sat straight up when the word "Cullen", left Charlie's lips.
"I thought you went to the ER?" Jacob questioned.
"I did."
Jacob's eyebrows furrowed as he organized his thoughts. "Dr. Cullen is practicing in the hospital emergency room?"
"I guess so, 'cause that's where I saw him," I said nonchalantly.
Jacob inhaled two large breaths of air, exhaling both slowly.
"What is the matter?" I asked him.
"Huh, never mind," Jacob said pulling me closer to him. "I should be asking you that question," he said, burying his face into my hair.
"Um, you may not want to do that." I warned, explaining about my fit of nausea.
"Well, Charlie says you are supposed to rest so I'm going to get out of here so you can," Jacob said standing, then reaching out to help me up from the stair.
"Hey, why don't you take my truck home and you can come by tomorrow to pick me up," I suggested.
Jacob pulled his lips over his teeth, hissing in a breath of air. "I don't know if Charlie would like that."
"What do you mean?"
"This is kind of my fault," Jacob said, looking into his hands.
I shook my head. "No Jacob. None of this is your fault," I said taking him into my arms. I held him there tightly for a moment pressing the side of my face against his chest. Jacob's hands moved through my hair and down my back.
"I'm so glad you are okay," he breathed into my hair, his voice becoming watery.
"I know," I paused, still holding him. "Jake?"
"Yeah," he whispered.
"Take my truck," I insisted.
Jacob pulled away from our embrace to look into my face. "I'm sorry," he said wiping an errant tear from his eye. "I'll take you truck," he said clearing his throat, regaining his composure. "I'll take you truck and be back tomorrow."
Sunday couldn't have been more perfect, restitution for the ruined first date that Jacob and I had looked forward to, and that had been cut disastrously short. Jacob agreed to visit at my house. Pushing Charlie's nerves at this juncture by insisting on going out was a far cry from reasonable. I didn't want to risk Charlie having an aneurism, another day wasted in the ER. Regardless, I just wanted Jacob to be with me. It was of little consequence where we were.
We watched some TV and a movie. We played cards and Charlie ordered pizza. Time passed quickly. It was nearly seven o'clock when Charlie rose to say that he was going to give Jacob a ride home. Charlie waited in the car while Jacob and I stole a private moment to bid each other good-bye. He pulled away, wrinkled his nose and then headed out the door.
Monday, I anticipated being my only real day of rest. I arranged for Lauren to get my list of assignments from my teachers and leave the collection in the office for Charlie to pick up that afternoon. According to Charlie, resting still involved completing my school work. I tried reasoning with him.
"A concussion is a brain injury, Dad."
"Right so work the brain to make it stronger so next time you're hangin' around in the woods, or at the beach doing whatever it is that you kids do, you'll be more careful because you'll have that much more to lose." Charlie gave me a coy smile after his brief lecture. He grabbed his jacket and belt from the rack, readying himself for work, before finally leaving.
I poured myself some Cheerios and settled down in the living room. In my literature class we were starting to reading Animal Farm by George Orwell. I eyed the book skeptically. It wasn't a long book. I figured I could make short work of it today and then sweat through calculus, chemistry and government the rest of the week.
I propped a pillow on the arm of the couch, rolled up the legs of my favorite sweat pants, and settled in. I hadn't even finished eating my cereal when I was inspired to get up and open a window to let some fresh air in. The air was cool but comfortable. I pulled the curtain open so as not to block the flow of fresh air. I returned again to the couch, chewed a few more bites of cereal and then cracked open Animal Farm. I hadn't made it all the way through the section on the author when I heard the sound of someone pulling into the driveway.
I heard the sound of gravel being kicked up in the driveway as the car rolled in. The car's engine was loud, but sounded finely tuned, something kept loud so that people would take notice; like it was something to be proud of. I wondered briefly if the sound of an engine was completely dependant on the make and model of a car or if it were possible that a mechanic could have some influence.
I didn't have to get up to know who my guest was. I quickly rolled down the legs of my sweats completely disregarding a brief idea to go upstairs and change into something decent. I was afraid that he'd leave, thinking I was asleep if he couldn't hear me yell that'd "be down in a minute" while I was changing upstairs and he was knocking downstairs. There was also the problem of my hair. It was still in its rat's nest state of being that could hold all day, if only it were fashionable. I finger combed my hair quickly and used a hair tie to fasten a messy bun to the back of my head. I was able to compose myself casually on the couch just as Jacob started to ascend the stairs to the front door.
When Jacob came to the door he didn't knock. Quietly…no, silently, he opened and closed the door. He moved like a phantom, without making a sound as he approached the stairway. He was just about to take the first stair when his nose wrinkled and he turned his head and spotted me watching him. I waited for him bright eyed and smiling. His face, which had seemed very serious turned to warm, his wide smile glowing.
"Whoa!" he said. "You scared me," he said still smiling, holding one hand to his chest as if to monitor the beat of his heart.
"Yeah, well, what did you think you were doing, entering a girl's house without permission," I flirted.
"I thought you might be asleep. I wanted to surprise you."
"Sounds like you wanted to scare me, sneaking up on me like that"
Just then, Jacob's face fell. His light and warm facade immediately melted into a dark exterior. His brows cinched casting shadows over his eyes. "I have never wanted that," he said seriously. His mood swing was like a dark overcast spoiling a sunny day.
I stood up, realizing that I had touched a nerve. I took one of his hands in both of mine and looked way up at him. I tilted my head sideways and smiled. "Then lighten up," I said throwing my arms around him. He held me there for a long time, searching my back with his hands and stoking his cheek against my hair.
"I never want to scare you," he said like a whisper.
Where is this coming from? "You don't scare me," I comforted. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I haven't had a lot of sleep," he explained. "I stayed up all night putting the Rabbit back together so I could make my way over here today."
"I guess you did. Why is it that you're not at school," I interrogated.
"Oh," it was nice to see Jake smile again, "you'll love this," he paused, delaying to imitate anticipation, "new policy at school. Any unexcused absences, than you can't graduate."
"Okay, you're point?"
"Told Billy to call me out or I won't graduate. Brilliant, isn't it?" he said standing tall, proudly.
"No," I disagreed. "You shouldn't manipulate Billy like that and besides didn't you miss a ton of school already, when you were sick?"
"All that just needs to be made up by the end of the semester. Who cares anyway? I'm not really that into school. I wanted to come by to help you rest," he shrugged, winking.
I breathed out deeply to express disapproval.
"I'm a mechanic, Bella," he defended. "That is who I am. I don't need to read about Chaucer or learn government bs to know how to make a sweet classic purr." Suddenly he lowered his voice. He wanted me to know he was serious. He became less animated and looked down at me. His eyes narrowed with worry. "Can you accept that?"
I was startled. It had never occurred to me that Jacob may think of me as a snob with my forced study dates or my lecture now on skipping school. I nodded my head to his question. "Yes."
"Good," he smiled again. "Now who's the one who has to 'lighten up'?" he joked grabbing me by my waist and pulling me down into his lap on the couch. We sat there for a long time. We giggled and played with each other's hands. My hands were so much smaller than his. I could wrap my whole hand around only just two of his fingers. Our skin tones were also so different. When I looked at my hand resting in his it occurred to me that we came from two different worlds. Jacob's world was exciting for me, a mystery. I was suddenly eager to learn more about his family, friends and the Quileute people in general.
Jacob was very receptive to a question and answer session. He rubbed the tip of his nose against my neck, occasionally leaving the warm imprint of his lips there. We whispered back and forth to each other, for no other reason then to express the shared intimacy of whispering. I was in heaven.
I learned a lot about his people talking with him in this way. He told me of how he and his friends wanted to put the Rabbit project aside to find a classic Ford Thunderbird. When I asked him why a Ford, and not another Volkswagen, as I had anticipated, Jacob explained that the Thunderbird is a mythical creature to many Native American people. "I just thought it would be a cool concept," he explained. "Like a tribute to my people and my hobby." Jacob mouth turned down, "It's not exactly easy to tie those two things together," he paused. "Besides they're a sweet ride," he said smiling again.
"This must be boring you," he remarked.
"No," I said shaking my head vigorously. "Not at all. I think this is fascinating."
The morning went by like this for a long time. Jacob told me several stories about the Quileutes. "When I was young," Jacob said folding and unfolding my hand in his, "my babysitter, this old nut who lived up on the rez, used to tell me stories before bed about this old lady who kidnapped naughty children and would eat them," Jacob cringed. "Isn't that awful," he remarked.
I thought for a second and then responded, "No," I disagreed. "Just as bad as any other stories kids are told so that they'll behave," I commented. "The Grimm's Fairy Tale collection is filled with children being eaten for misbehaving. In those stories characters cavorted with the devil, paid horrible penances, were imprisoned in towers. I think that adults just like to tell their children scary stories."
Jacob nodded agreeing with me but his face fell again. Jacob's mood today was like the rising and falling of tidal waves. Charlie's claim, that Quileute boys were tied to their land was very accurate. I decided then that I had given Jacob the right answer. I can accept that.
My concentration was interrupted by the loud rumble of Jacob's stomach.
"Oh," I said moving from his lap.
"Sorry."
"Oh," I shrugged, "don't be," I said getting up from the couch. "I'm just going to go upstairs and get dressed for the day real quick and then I can make something for us for lunch."
"Oh," Jacob said, grabbing my hand before I could take off up the stairs. "You have no idea, do you," he grinned. "I think you look good. Real good," he flirted, his voice deepening.
I pulled away from him and started to climb the stairs. He refused to release my hand. I took a step up and he took a step up.
"Well, I guess you're just going to have to come with me," I flirted back.
"Can I?" he asked taking two steps up the stairs toward me.
I stood frozen. "I, ah, um-" I said stumbling over my words.
Jacob scooped me up into his arms.
"What are you doing?" I spoke nervously, my voice wavering.
"Helping you rest," Jacob said climbing the stairs two at a time. Before I knew it, I was dropped on my bed. I sat up and Jacob dropped to his knees in front of me on the floor. I leaned my body into his, nuzzling his neck, breathing in his earthy scent.
He turned his face toward mine and planted his lips against mine. Our mouths explored each other for an indefinite period of time. His hands smoothly caressed up and down my back, finally settling one hand on my waist and the other encircling me. He pulled me closer to him. I turned my head up to encourage him, offering him my neck. He kissed down my jaw to my neck and back up to my lips.
He pulled away breathing deeply. I expressed my excitement the same way, my chest rising and falling. My whole body was tingling. I had never experienced real physical excitement. I had never been allowed to throw my eager self into my work. I decided, not wanting to pass up this opportunity, I would make the most of it.
I took Jacob's hand from my waist and scooted backward, further onto the bed, then laying flat on my back. I pulled Jacob with me, who willingly followed kneeling over my body, watching me. A throbbing vein in his neck defied his slow deep breaths. He closed his eyes and began kissing me again. His hand slowly pulled up a corner of my tee, exposing my abdomen. His hot hand grasped my hip and then wrapped around my waist, pulling my body toward his.
Jacob pulled away from me wrinkling his nose. His eyes burrowed into mine. I lay very still, confused.
"What's wrong," I said propping myself up onto my elbows. Jacob backed away from me just as his loose hair was blown wild by a sudden, chilled gust of wind. I turned my body facing the window. The yellow curtain whipped like a loose sail smacking back and forth against the walls. The silence of the room was startling. There were no more heavy breaths. In fact, I wasn't positive, but I think Jacob was not breathing at all.
"Bella," said the voice in my head only Jacob's head whipped as fast as the sheer curtain had. His startled response was proof the voice was real this time. Not in my head. In my room.
My cheeks flushed. I felt warm and my breathing seemed shallow. I was choked up. I felt shame.
"I'm sorry," Edward said. "I'm here to speak with Bella," he said his eyes looking sad. Edward was talking to Jacob but watching me.
Jacob stood with his feet plastered to the floor but I could feel the vibrations of his body running up through the floor into the bed, where I was still sitting. Somehow he seemed like this was in control.
Edward backed away from the corner and toward the window. "I'm sorry," he said again. "I was told that you wanted to speak with me," Edward said looking away from me, to the floor. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Jacob looked from Edward's face to mine. I locked eyes with him. I was still not speaking. This was becoming a problem. My mouth fell open, not sure of what I was defending or what I needed to say. I hadn't orchestrated this meeting but somehow it fell on me to rectify it.
"Yes, but not now Edward," I said my eyes darting back and forth between Jacob and Edward. It seemed like these two were opposing currents and standing between them would prevent disaster, only I wasn't worried for Jacob. Edward didn't appear to have any fight in him. I stood up to better put my body between peace and a physical altercation. I watched Jacob as I stood with my back to Edward. Suddenly the air left me lungs and I was thrown back onto the bed. An instant and both were gone. The curtain rod pulled down. The sheer yellow material floated down, outside the window to the grass below. There was no sign of Jacob or Edward. For the first time in a very long time, I felt completely alone.
