Chapter Ten

Bella

I really enjoyed my time with the Cullen family, they were everything I had ever dreamed of as a little girl which was odd because they weren't even a real family. They were close, they seemed to love each other and Carlisle and Esme, they spent time as a family and I felt none of the tension or animosity that most families had between members. Even when Esme told Emmett off for being too boisterous he didn't sulk just grinned at her and apologized.

They were very mature for teenagers, especially the guys and even Rosalie once she had got to know me had softened although I sensed a certain reserve. One thing I really liked was that they spent mealtimes as a family. Whenever I invited Alice or Edward for dinner they always refused,

"Esme likes us all together for mealtimes but thanks, Bella."

By the same token I was never invited for a meal unless it was a picnic and I noticed that even then I was the only one who ate anything, the rest was always packed for me to take home when I left.

They were away one week, the first week of good weather since I arrived and I really missed them, especially Alice as she and I were more like sisters now than friends. Alone over the weekend as Charlie was working I did my chores, some baking, and weeded the flower bed Charlie had started some years ago but never really finished before showering, grabbing a tuna salad for lunch and taking a book into the back yard with a blanket to lay on. I hadn't been reading long when a shadow appeared across the page and I looked up to see Jake standing there looking down on me.

"Bella, can I talk to you?"

I nodded sitting up and slipping my tee shirt over my bikini top glad I'd decided on shorts today!

"OK Jake, I'm listening."

He looked around,

"On your own today? No Cullen bodyguard?"

"What? Oh, Jake for God's sake don't start. If you've come here to run them down then don't. I'm fed up of hearing it from you. I like the Cullens, end of story."

"Maybe you wouldn't if you knew their history."

"Really? You're going to try that again Jake? Don't you know when to give up? Listen to me, I'm not interested in going out with Edward Cullen or you. I'm beginning to think you've got a problem, Jacob Black, just go away and leave me alone."

"You have no idea what you are doing or what they are capable of Bella."

"And I don't care. Now if you aren't going then I am."

I grabbed my book and the blanket and marched inside slamming the door angry that Jake had ruined my relaxing day. I put the kettle on and turned around to find him standing behind me making me jump and by now I was truly pissed with Jacob Black.

"Get the hell out of my house Jake and don't come back again."

He grabbed my arm and I yelped,

"That hurts, let go."

"Not until I tell you about the Cullens."

I stood deciding the best way to get rid of Jake was to listen to what he had to say.

"Go on then, get it off your chest, Jake."

He pulled me over to the table and motioned for me to sit down so I did still waiting impatiently.

"The Cullens aren't what they seem, Bella, they are extremely dangerous."

"So you said."

"They are killers, all of them and you are in terrible danger every time you see them."

"I'll bear that in mind Jake. Is that all?"

He scowled looking almost dangerous himself, his hands shaking wildly, and then I heard a key in the front door, relieved that Charlie was home to save me. Jake cursed and let go of my arm leaning in to whisper in my ear,

"They are vampires, they drink blood."

As he stood up ready to leave I burst out laughing which annoyed him even more and he slammed his fist down on the top of one of the chairs splintering the wooden cross rail as Charlie appeared in the doorway.

There was an awkward silence as Jake bent to pick up the splintered rail watched by a confused and annoyed Charlie.

"Care to tell me what's going on Jacob?"

Jake shook his head putting the wood on the table,

"Sorry Chief, I lost my temper for a minute. I'll pay for any repair and I'm really sorry."

Charlie turned his attention to me looking at the red mark on my arm where Jake had grabbed me.

"Are you OK Bells? Did Jake hurt you?"

I shrugged,

"He was just leaving dad and he's not coming back."

"Good, I think that might be the best thing all round Jake and in the future, keep your hands off my daughter or I'll throw you in a cell and throw away the key."

Jake hung his head and left, but I could see he was still angry and I wondered if Charlie hadn't come home when he was what Jake might have done next. Of course Charlie wanted to know what the argument was all about but I could hardly tell him what Jake accused the Cullens of being, it was so stupid. Instead, I told my dad he was jealous of my friendship with Edward and Alice.

"That boy has no more sense than his father or Harry, they all hate the Cullens even though they never did anything to deserve it. I'll have a word with Billy, tell him to keep Jacob away from you. I only came home to change my pants, we picked up a drunk who threw up all over me, but I'm glad I did. Any more trouble you ring me OK?"

"I will, but I don't expect him to come back dad. Do you have time for a coffee? I made some cookies."

He nodded sniffing the covered baking,

"Chocolate? My favourite."

After Charlie went back to work I prepared myself some dinner and then went up to my room to e-mail Renee, take a shower, and put on my old sweats. Then I went back downstairs to watch a film, Far From the Madding Crowd, a story I had yet to read. I tried to concentrate on the film, but Jake's words kept ringing in my head, "They are vampires, they drink blood." What had made him come up with such a preposterous story I had no idea. Why hadn't he just accused the doctor of killing off patients or Esme of sending poisoned cup cakes to the P.T.A meeting? Equally as unbelievable but far less ridiculous. He really was terribly jealous although I had never given him any cause to think he meant anything to me except a friend of Charlie. I wondered what Alice would say when I told her, it would be entertaining that's for sure.

Charlie took Sunday off, a little uneasy about Jake's behaviour the day before which was sweet of him. We had a proper Sunday lunch and then he dropped the bombshell, he had asked Billy and Jake over so the latter could apologize for his behaviour.

"Really dad it's not necessary, I don't want to see him again, I said all I had to say to him when he was here."

"Bella, he hurt your arm and he broke a chair, that young man needs to understand there are consequences to his actions."

A few minutes later I saw Harry's car pull up outside, Charlie hadn't mentioned him! He got out and getting Billy's wheelchair out of the trunk helped his friend into it. There was no sign of Jake and I began to relax, at least I wouldn't have to face him and his crazy ideas. Billy apologized to Charlie saying Jake had left the reservation to visit relatives in Denali, but he had written a letter of apology for me. Harry handed it over and I took it upstairs to read leaving the guys talking. It was short and to the point,

"Bella,

I apologize for hurting you when I grabbed your arm and for the things I said. Things you didn't believe, but things I do. Be careful.

Jake."

So he was sticking to his crazy ideas to the bitter end!