Sorry this was late! This chapter is dedicated to Mrs. Angelica Cullen. "Yes, we're married." I love you Jell!
But baby, anywhere,
Is away from me.
~Bigcitydreams, Nevershoutnever!
Chapter 7
Chance Encounters
I didn't know where I was going. But I knew I just had to drive. Drive forward and forward and not turn back. I knew I'd go back eventually, of course, just not right now. I needed time. They knew that. I just had to get away for a while.
Where was I going to go? La Push? Maybe. Not now, later. I pressed down on the gas, the sound of the engine humming. I grinned at myself. It wouldn't be in this great shape if it wasn't for me and Blondie's constant tinkering. Well cars were one thing she and I agreed on. Cars and Nessie. Before.
I don't know how long I drove. I just went on and on and on. I subconsciously fought with myself. Nessie's hurt, go home. A little voice told me. No, commanded me.
"Yeah right." I said aloud, like someone would hear me. "Keith can help her."
"They broke up." The voice said. What a persistent conscience. "She meant what she said. Go home." The voice was bossing me around again.
"It's what teenagers do. On again, off again." I reminded the voice.
"Just go home, Jacob." The voice said simply.
I sighed. A buzz from my dash board caught my attention. I was low on gas. I drove for a solid five minutes before seeing a gas station. You know, the kind with a diner outside. My stomach growled. I hardly noticed that I was hungry. Might as well.
I pulled into a spot in front of the diner. HALLIE ANNE'S DINER, a large lettered sign read. I twisted the key. I reached over into the glove compartment on the other side. I took out a pair of sunglasses, (a/n: STUNNAS!) and pushed open the car door. I walked, sauntering, to the diner. I pushed open the transparent glass door and a small bell chimed.
I sat on a stool in front of for the good old fashioned diner experience. A waitress came around with a menu. She looked familiar. Like I've seen her before. She had light rd-gold hair, piled into a messy bun, fair skin, and faded freckles, indicating many she had before.
I kept my order simple. Cheese burger with everything on it, fries, and a coffee. I was still in the Olympic peninsula, so it was cold everywhere. I ripped open a sugar packet and dumped it's contents into the ceramic cup. I put in two of the little cream things. I mixed it with the small spoon. I slumped onto the counter waiting for my food.
"Love problems?" The waitress asked. I looked up and locked eyes with her cinnamon pupils. She was holding my plate of food.
"What makes you think so?" I asked.
"I'm a high school substitute teacher. That expression means heartbreak: careful when you talk to them or assign homework." She said. "That or confusion: give some advice." She smiled. "Not that you look high-school. What are you? Senior in college at least."
Senior? Yeah. I though. In high school. But the werewolf gene made me look about twenty, but I could still pass for eighteen if I told you that up front.
"More or less." I said.
"Drop out?" she asked.
"Um, personal?" I said defensively.
"Sorry." She said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lizzie." She smiled a one dimpled smile, and extended an arm.
I gawked. I didn't have to have an excellent memory like Nessie to remember this girl.
"Hey, you okay? Hello? You there, with the stolen car." I remembered her shout at me about ten years ago. The day I tried to imprint. The day Nessie was born.
"Jacob." I said, shaking her hand, something I never got to do.
"Do I know you from somewhere? Did you go to the school nearby?" She asked.
"I don't think you do." I said. "I'm actually from up in La Push. It's near Forks. Kinda close to Seattle."
"By Forks?" Lizzie asked. "And Seattle and Tacoma?"
"Um, yeah I guess." I said. She was piecing it together.
"Sorry if I scare you. I recognize that face, is all." She said, shrugging of her shoulders. "I'm pretty sure I've seen you before."
"I moved about eight years ago. I'm in Portland now." I said.
She nodded, and left when more people came. She assisted them quickly, but her gaze lingered on me from time to time.
"So who's the girl?" She asked, surprising me when she came back.
"Ex, I guess." There were no words to describe Nessie and me. "We dated so long…and then she found another guy, and then she dumped him and wants to get back together, but I'm not sure if I really want to."
"Do you love her?" Lizzie asked.
"Yeah." I said without missing a beat. "I've always loved her."
"Then what's wrong?"
"We've been fighting a lot lately." I said. "It's…"
"Complicated? I see." She asked. I nodded. "Let her know you love her. Go back to her. Don't leave her hanging. You don't want to mess things up anymore than they are now do you?"
She walked away, leaving me to eat alone. When I finished, I waved good bye and gave her a five dollar tip. I went out to the Jetta, and thought for a solid ten minutes. What was I going to do?! Who could I ask?!
I settled on two, maybe three, people, and figured the fastest way to La Push. Who I really needed to see were Claire and Kimmy, and maybe Myra. It was time to hear the imprintee side of the story.
So REVIEW! Now that this is FIANLLY up, i can go back and do Secrets for one chapter. :) read that if you havent yet.
Also, i keep mentioning: Jelly and Sam right? well my oter friend Yazi is reading Secret now, and my friend Melissa is reading Nessie Chronicles I and II, and Holding On! Yay! more people i personally know!
