A few days have passed since I saw any of the wolves last. Charlie has been scarce between work and passing out in front of the television with a beer in his hand. In my angry state, I didn't bother waking him up at night or even covering him with the fleece blanket from the back of the couch. I know I was probably overreacting but his words had caused some discord in my brain. It stressed me out something fierce that he was threatening to ground me over being late to school one damn time.
Hopping down from my truck in the school parking lot, I trudge across the yellow painted parking lines and in through the doors. Stopping at my locker, I grab what books I need for my first couple classes, shoving the rest of my bag inside the small metal compartment before shutting it and spinning the lock. Angela sidles up to me as I walk to class and we make plans to hang out this weekend. It'll be nice to get away from the house for even a few hours. We discussed going to La Push but decided on Port Angeles instead for a movie and takeout.
The day flies by and by lunchtime, I'm sitting with my normal group of friends. Lauren has been so much nicer to me since I admitted that Edward was controlling me. She admitted that she just thought I was a fake stuck-up, after friending them and then ditching them all for the first pretty face. She gives me a smile as I sit between Malcolm and Angela and I return it as I dig into my lunch. The ache in my chest -that I refuse to believe is anything other than heartburn- is still a constant and my fingers find their way to my sternum time and time again. I see Malcolm giving me concerned looks but I carefully avoid eye contact.
It was really starting to worry me.
As conversation continues around us throughout the lunch period, Malcolm turns to me and whispers lowly in my ear. "Would you like to go out with me tonight, Bella?"
I'm glad I already swallowed my water because the question caught me off guard. Remembering that I'd told him I would like to and the promise I made to myself days ago about enjoying single life, I turned to him and smiled. "That'd be great."
Giving me a smirk that reminds me so much of my wolf, he says, "I'll pick you up at 4:30 tonight, is that okay?"
My grin widens and I nod enthusiastically, knowing my dad will already be on his way to La Push by then. Running a hand down my forearm discreetly, Malcolm goes back to his lunch and conversation with Tyler who I see eyeballing me. I know he's waiting on his chance to ask me out now that Malcolm has and even though I don't intend on doing anything with any of these boys, sexually, it makes me feel really good inside to know they find me attractive or interesting enough to want to date. It's a good feeling, to be wanted.
My mind skips to the sexy, stranger man and I kick myself for not knowing his name yet. I wanted desperately to ask Jake each time I texted him but I figure it's not his place to get involved and I should ask the guy himself. I'm just a bit too nervous for that though...Sure, not too nervous to let him kiss me on the beach but too nervous to ask him his name.
I make no sense.
Lauren side-eyes me as she watches the exchange between Malcolm and me and then the look Tyler gives me. I avoid her eyes because I don't want her to go back to hating me again. That's all I need is for people to think I'm a slut. When the lunch bell rings, I dump my tray and skillfully avoid Tyler when he tries to get my attention, keeping an eye out for Lauren. It's not that I'm afraid of her, exactly, I just don't want to get on her bad side after we started a tentative understanding finally.
The rest of the day goes by uneventfully, thankfully but by the time I head to my truck, I'm nervous about tonight. Where's Malcolm going to take me? What time should I tell my dad I'll be back? Oh God. Should I even tell him I'm going on a date? Jesus, Edward has barely been gone a week and I'm already on a date with another man? What the hell is wrong with me?
"Bella!"
I spin around so fast that my combat boot skids on the pavement and I topple sideways into the front fender of my truck. Lauren's laughing face enters my view and I give her a winded smile.
"Damn boots." I grumble as I right myself and lean casually against my truck.
Still laughing, Lauren shakes her head. "Sure, blame the boots, klutzy."
It's all in good fun so I laugh with her as she stands in front of me. I can see the determined glint in her eye and suddenly, I'm wary. "What's up?" I ask carefully.
Her smile fades and she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, looking down nervously before looking back up to meet my eyes and I see the determination solidify. "I want you to be careful." She said seriously.
Quirking an eyebrow, I tilt my head slightly, confused. "With what?"
"Malcolm." My mind immediately jumps to her being jealous and I inhale a deep breath but before I can say anything, she holds up a surrendering hand. "It's not what you think, Bella. Please just hear me out." She stands closer to me and lowers her voice as the parking lot fills with more students eager to leave the grounds. I take in her expression and I don't see a jealous cheerleader. I see a concerned friend and my brows furrow.
"Lauren, what is it?" I ask quietly, my stomach fluttering with my nerves.
"Be careful with him. He's got a reputation with the ladies." Her voice is so quiet and serious and I wonder if she is one of those ladies she's speaking about. She nods as if she can pick the question straight out of my eyes. "He doesn't take no for an answer."
I release the deep breath I was holding sharply, the forced air hits Lauren's hair and it flutters with my created wind and I stare at it, avoiding her eyes as I think about what this means. I need to take this seriously. Even if Lauren is just a bitter, jealous schoolgirl, I don't think she's leading me wrong on this one. Her bright blue eyes hold nothing but concern and friendship and when I finally meet her gaze, I've made my choice.
I nod shortly. "Thank you so much for warning me." I say.
Pushing off my truck, I squeeze her upper arm in gratitude and plaster a smile on my face as Malcolm steps beside her. I carefully watch how she reacts to his nearness. He's all wide smiles, straight teeth, cocky swagger. Lauren is not the confident popular girl anymore. She's mousy and quiet, her lips pulled down ever so slightly and when Malcolm goes to put a hand on her shoulder, she makes a tiny squeak noise and moves away. He turns toward me easily, pretending not to notice how she reacted to him.
"We still on for tonight, gorgeous?" His voice is all deep and sinful and I find myself smiling in spite of myself.
"Of course. See you at 4:30." I say brightly, giving him a wave as he walks off.
"Bella…" Lauren starts, her voice a whisper.
Shaking my head imperceptibly as Malcolm turns his head toward us one more time before he ducks into his car, I wait until he drives out of the parking lot. The moment he's out of view I step close to her and wrap her in my arms, pulling her close. "Did he rape you?" I ask in her ear.
Stiffening in my arms, I feel Lauren start to shake just before a sob bubbles up her throat. I pull her into my truck and settle her into the seat before taking off toward my dad's station.
"Bella, no! What are you doing?" She says as she wipes her eyes, seeing where I've pulled in. She goes to get out of the truck but I stop her with a hand on her arm.
"You're reporting him. We both are." I said firmly.
"No. No, we're not. He'll just say I was asking for it. And I was! I was drunk and dressed like a slut."
I cut her off with a growl. "You did not ask to be raped, Lauren! Never say that again. He's a manipulator and I will never allow him to do anything like that to another woman again, do you understand me? Edward might not have touched me but he controlled me and you're allowing Malcolm to control you by not speaking out about this."
"But there's no proof." She said in a small voice, her body pushed up against the door of my truck as she tried to hide.
"That doesn't matter. Let's go in here and talk to my dad. You tell him everything, okay? I'll be with you every step of the way." I reassured her.
A few moments of deep thought passed before Lauren straightened up on the bench seat and nodded curtly. "You're right. If I hadn't warned you, it could've happened to you too. That's why I told you, right? So it wouldn't happen to you? But if I don't speak up, it could be the next girl. Let's go."
My heart was pounding the whole time Lauren spoke to my father. Turns out there had been proof. The morning after Lauren's date with Malcolm, she had gone to the doctor's office for a morning after pill, citing she had had unprotected sex with her boyfriend and she didn't want to get pregnant. She'd been put on birth control straight away and peed in a cup. The proof was tenuous at best, but it proved that she'd at least had sex the night before. She had taken pictures and hidden them on a USB drive. Torn, bloody panties; bruises forming on her arms and abdomen; a knot of hair missing from the back of her head.
Each bit of proof was not going to put Malcolm away but it was a start. An idea was forming in my head and though it was stupid and careless, I knew it would be the only way to put him away for good. I kept the idea to myself because I knew Lauren would try to stop me and there was no way I was telling my dad anything.
By the time we left the police station, Lauren's face, though blotchy from crying, was smiling and lighter. She gripped my hand tightly the whole way back to the school to get her car and when she was getting out of my truck, she leaned over and kissed my cheek. The gesture warmed my heart and solidified my reasonings for what I was about to do tonight.
"Thank you, Bella." She said in the most sincere voice I'd ever heard her use.
"Anytime. Promise."
