A/N: Thank you to my faithful readers for the positive feedback! I hope you enjoy this chapter and be sure to review!
I hung my coat up in my closet as Charlie rounded the corner from the kitchen. He leaned up against the wall, watching me with a look of shock and confusion.
Clutching my newest copy of Wuthering Heights to my chest, I copied his expression. "Something wrong?"
"Did you have that when you left?" He gestured towards the book.
"No. Esme recommended that I get back into reading since I used to enjoy it before all of this happened."
"And you listened?"
I laughed once. "Why are you so surprised?" I plopped onto the couch and pulled the blanket over my feet.
He joined me in the living room, taking a seat on the edge of the recliner. It was clear that he had no intention of staying there long. "You're stubborn, that's all." There was a hint of a smile hiding under his mustache.
"I'm kind of like my dad in that way, I guess," I joked.
He rolled his eyes. "I'm just glad to see you decided to listen to her. It will be good for you to get back into the swing of things."
I sighed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think you're right."
The silence grew slightly uncomfortable. I could tell he was holding something in but didn't want to tell me. "Anyway," he grumbled. "There's a missing person case that the department really needs my help on. Are you going to be alright by yourself for a little while? I don't want to leave you here alone if you're not ready."
Charlie hadn't been back to work since my latest visit to the hospital. I could only imagine the stack of paperwork that was more than likely piling up on his desk at the station. I pondered for a moment, wondering if I truly was ready. He couldn't stay home to protect me forever.
"Go ahead," I urged, flashing what I hoped was a convincing smile.
He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck. "If I could work from here, I would," he said. "If you need me, give me a call. I'll come straight home."
I waved my hand. "Don't worry about me."
Charlie smiled and proceeded up the stairs. I settled deeper into the couch and opened my book.
Reading came back to me much more naturally than I would have expected. Before I knew it, I was swept away in Bronte's writing that I seemed to forget all of the troubles around me. For once in a very long time, I didn't need to force the disturbing events I had survived to the back of my head. They dissipated all on their own.
A crack of thunder broke my concentration, causing me to jump. I was sore from sitting in the same position for so long, but time had flown. I had made it halfway through the book when I finally glanced up at the clock. It was almost seven and already dark outside. My heart rate jumped the slightest bit as I grew uncomfortable. The house was so quiet that I could hear the crickets chirping outside and the rain pounding the roof of the house.
Normally, that was a sound that would have calmed me. But this time, it was all the more reason to panic. I forced myself to try and get lost in the book again but failed. I found myself having to re-read the same pages over again, unable to concentrate. I simply couldn't live in my fantasy world anymore.
I sighed and set my book down. I began turning on all the lights in the house. I don't know how that would have helped me if Allyn were nearby or even in the same room. I grew increasingly desperate to see anything and everything around me. A part of me regretted it, wondering if all the lights being on would attract attention to the house from the outside.
Searching every room, I felt the need to ensure that I was, in fact, alone. I peered around each corner and moved as silently as I could. I ended in the kitchen as I pondered whether or not I should try and convince myself to eat something.
I opened the newly stocked refrigerator, staring at its contents. Nothing seemed appetizing. I sighed and placed a hand on my forehead as I closed my eyes, annoyed with myself. Eating was obviously not the best idea.
A knock on the door sent me nearly tumbling to the floor in sheer horror. I froze as tears welled up in my eyes, praying that whoever was on the porch was a figment of my imagination.
There was another knock and I jumped and gasped in response. I sank to the floor, clutching the pockets of my jeans hoping to find my cell phone. My pockets were empty. A lump formed in my throat as I forced myself to keep from screaming.
As the knocking grew louder, I scrambled into the living room. I yanked the blanket off of the couch, searching frantically for my phone. It was nowhere to be found. I clenched my teeth as I realized that I may have left it in the truck.
"Bella?" a familiar voice called out. That voice definitely did not belong to Allyn.
I let out a loud gasp of air I hadn't realized I had been holding. With my knees wobbling, I placed my hands on the edge of the sofa as I tried to steady myself. "Just a minute," I responded, my voice shaking. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and finally stood up straight. After a few more deep breaths, I found the will to open the front door.
It was pouring outside and Jacob Black was completely soaked from head to toe. "Oh, Jake, I'm sorry!" I gasped. I hurried him inside and grabbed a towel from the linen closet.
"It's fine," Jacob said with a grin. "The rain doesn't bother me." He wiped his face and dabbed at his dripping hair. "I thought you might be sleeping and was about to head back home until I thought I heard you fall or something."
I snorted and gestured towards the couch. "I tripped over the blanket." I didn't enjoy lying, but it had become so much more natural to me after constantly hiding details from those around me. It was better than admitting I was cowering in the hallway.
"Of course you did," Jacob laughed. His smile disappeared as he joined me in the living room. "You're white as a sheet, Bella. Are you feeling alright?"
I sighed and waved my hand dismissively. "I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting any visitors, that's all."
He raised one eyebrow, clearly not at all convinced. "Okay." It was more of a question. "What were you expecting?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Anyways, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to check on you to make sure you were doing alright."
I stared at him for a moment and pursed my lips. "My dad called you, didn't he?"
Jacob sighed and put his hands over his eyes, embarrassed. "Alright, fine, you caught me. Yes, he called me." He placed his hands back on his lap, but didn't make eye contact. "But I wanted to see you anyway," he added hurriedly. "I was happy to come over here and check on you."
Suddenly, I felt a spark of anger. This was coming from someone who seemed to have no desire to speak to me over the past week. And all of a sudden, here he is. Why do you care, I thought to myself.
"I know what you're thinking," Jacob said, studying my face. I wondered what my facial expression must have looked like. "I also wanted to come over here to apologize, Bella. I'm sorry I didn't visit or call you."
I shrugged. "You don't owe me anything." I tried to control my tone but failed. My irritation was obvious.
He winced slightly and I immediately felt guilty. "It's complicated. I really was worried. I'm sorry."
"My dad mentioned something to me about your family and the Cullens not getting along," I finally said. Maybe I could get some information out of him. The Cullens were definitely not your normal family, but they certainly didn't seem like bad people. "Does that have anything to do with you not calling?"
"Maybe." His voice sounded strained like he wanted to tell me more, but physically couldn't. "I can't really get into that. It's complicated."
"What could possibly be so complicated? I saw the look you gave Dr. Cullen. That's a look you give your worst enemy." My tone had regained its harshness, but this time, I refused to feel guilty.
Jacob looked amused and mumbled something under his breath that sounded like "pretty much".
I let out a heavy sigh. "You don't look at someone that way over a 'complication'. They've either done something to you or they haven't."
"I can't tell you. I really wish I could. Please just trust me when I say that it's complicated." Jacob's dark eyes were pleading and urgent.
"Fine," I surrendered.
He let out a breath of relief and seemed to compose himself. "Why don't we just change the subject? What have you been up to?"
"Not much," I said cautiously. I didn't want to explain that I had been to therapy and certainly didn't want to mention who my doctor was. "I ran some errands today and went to the bookstore." I patted my copy of Wuthering Heights.
"That's an . . . interesting choice," he said, slightly laughing.
"It's one of my favorites. I used to read a lot. I thought I should get back into it."
"Well, why did you stop reading if you enjoyed it so much?" I could tell he was fishing for information, just as I had been a few moments ago. I found myself amused at the situation as a whole. It seemed that everyone in this town had secrets to keep, but no one wanted to tell them.
"Life, I guess," I said quietly. "Although I nearly killed myself in the process. I slipped on some ice on the front steps of the bookstore."
He let out a pleasant laugh. "We just need to put you in a bubble, Bella."
I smiled sheepishly and looked down at my lap. "You're not the first person to tell me that. I don't know what would have happened if Edward hadn't caught me."
Jacob froze and his playful smile immediately vanished from his face. "Edward Cullen?"
Oh no, I thought. I scrambled to find a way to respond, but I knew it was too late. "I don't know, he only gave me his first name." My lie was pathetic and not at all convincing.
"Oh, please," he snorted. "There's only one Edward in this town."
I sighed and shrugged. "What do you want me to say, Jake? I was heading face-first towards the concrete. If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
"Still," he sneered.
I couldn't deny that this had stung. "So you would rather have me end up in the hospital or worse? That's nice, Jacob," I snapped. The venom in my voice surprised me.
His eyes widened. "No, Bella, that's not at all what I mean." He stood up and began pacing. "I just can't . . ." He trailed off as his fists clenched, his knuckles turning white.
"Look, I know for whatever reason you can't tell me what's going on. But they seem like very good people to me."
"They're not," Jacob boomed. I jumped in response to his sudden hostility. "They are the polar opposites of good."
His entire body began to shake. He was clutching both hands in a manner that I worried would break his fingers, but he seemed completely unphased.
Suddenly, I felt extremely uncomfortable. I started to think that Jacob wasn't at all who he appeared to be during our first meeting. He was someone I thought was warm and caring, but his increasing anger began to remind me of someone I never wanted to see again.
"Jake, I'm sorry -,"
"I gotta go," he interrupted. Before I knew it, he was already at the front door, taking deep breaths.
I stumbled after him just before he stepped outside. "I'm sorry we don't see eye-to-eye on this. I didn't mean to upset you." I placed a hand on his trembling shoulder and was shocked by how it felt. "Jacob, you're burning up."
"It's nothing," he said, shrugging away from me. He threw the front door open and took one step outside. Before leaving, he turned to me with a facial expression that left me speechless.
Jacob's dark eyes were furious, but in a way that made me think he was mad at himself and not me. His teeth were clenched and chattering and it was certainly not from the cold. It was as if he were ashamed.
"I need you to promise me something, Bella," he said shakily.
I simply nodded, still in complete shock by his reaction.
"Stay away from the Cullens."
And just like that, he hopped down the front steps and began to sprint away. But instead of getting behind the wheel of his Volkswagen Rabbit, he disappeared into the woods.
"Jacob!" I called after him. I ran out into the rain, but couldn't see anything through the sheets of relentless and heavy droplets. "Jacob!"
He was gone. And I was more confused than ever. I couldn't understand why he was keeping a secret that was clearly eating him up inside. Something bad had to have happened for him to give me a warning like that. It was then that I realized that I had been doing the same for a very long time.
Giving up, I turned to head back into the house until a spec of white in my peripherals caught my eye. I hurried out to the edge of the treeline to investigate. It was a piece of shredded cloth.
