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As I opened the passenger side door of Jake's Rabbit, I was taking deep breaths to try and calm myself. We were on our way to my house, and though we hadn't talked about it, I knew this would have to be the time when we told Charlie. What we were going to say, I still didn't know, but since I had dealt with Billy, I was hoping Jake would feel obligated to take over the reins on this one.
"What was going on last night?" I asked.
Jake shut his door, and I noticed that he didn't buckle his seat belt. That always bothered me. "It was Alice again," he replied as he pulled out of the driveway.
I turned to look at him, but his eyes were set on the road. "What was she doing?" Alice wasn't the kind of person to lurk around without a purpose. And she was usually uneasy around the werewolves for any period of time, because they blocked her visions.
"She was pretty vicious." Here he shot a worried look at me. "It seemed like she was trying to get to the house."
A wave of disappointment came over me. So she was trying to talk to me. But I had made a vow, and there was no way I was going to hurt Jacob, especially not now, with all we were going through. I didn't say anything.
"We held her off though," he said, trying to fill the silence. He knew what I was thinking, and I could tell it made him uneasy.
"Was she alone?"
"Yeah, but she was moving around enough for three. I don't know what her problem was."
I pictured Alice's blank expression as she got a vision, then her dancing off the other direction. "That's weird," I noted, trying to close the subject. I didn't want to think about it anymore.
"Yeah." Jake didn't skip a beat before adding, "So, what are we going to tell Charlie?"
"Oh, I was thinking, why don't we just let him figure it out on his own?" Our eyes met, and we both burst into laughter.
"Can you imagine?" he chuckled. "No, really though. What are we going to say?" So much for him taking over this one.
I was quiet now. "I don't know," I answered. "I guess it's best to just tell him, right off the bat. No beating around the bush and whatnot."
"Yeah, I guess so." Jake held my hand as we walked up the sidewalk and through the front door. Charlie was in the kitchen when we came in.
"Hey guys," he greeted us. He took something out of the microwave and set it on the table. Then he looked at it, then us, and said, "I wasn't expecting you home so early."
I led Jacob over to the table, where we sat down with Charlie. "It's ok, I already ate." When Jake nodded, I kicked him under the table. I wasn't sure he noticed, until he blurted,
"So, Charlie, there's something we have to tell you." My dad looked up from the bite he just took of his leftover spaghetti, eying us nervously. I cleared my throat.
After he swallowed loudly, Charlie said awkwardly, "Um, what is it?"
Jake looked at me, but I shook my head almost imperceptibly. He sighed and just came out with it. "We're pregnant." Charlie dropped his fork, and his eyes widened.
"What?"
"And we're keeping it," I added, for good measure. It felt kind of good now that all this was out in the open.
"Well," said my dad. His face was turning a little red. He sat up straighter, no doubt already picturing himself as a grandpa. "I think that's very mature of you," he commented diplomatically. "But where are you going to get the money?"
And he didn't even know that I'd blown my college fund on motorcycles.
"I'm getting a job," announced Jake. I looked at him; this wasn't something that we had discussed.
"Well, that's great, Jacob, but you haven't even finished high school," Charlie replied, more than a little condescendingly. "There's no way you can take on a full time occupation." I didn't mention that he already had one- protecting me, and the residents of the reservation.
Here, Jake shook his head. "That won't be a problem."
I squeezed his hand and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm dropping out." The room was quiet for a minute before I really understood what he was saying.
"No, Jake!" I yelled, before I remembered where I was. Charlie looked startled, so I lowered my voice and continued, "Things won't always be-" here I looked deep into his eyes, trying to convey the message that I couldn't say out loud, "the way they are now. You said so yourself. You'll regret it later if you do; you won't be able to find a good job without a high school education." I felt like a hypocrite- this was coming from me, who had once been willing to give up everything for love.
"I'll help out as much as I can," Charlie put in gruffly. I could see that he was embarrassed again.
Jake groaned. "I'll do what I need to do," he said, in his Alpha voice. A tiny smile broke out across my lips, and I squeezed his hand again.
"We'll talk about it," I said, and stopped myself from kissing him. After all, my dad was looking at us from across the table.
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I was walking on the beach, waiting for Jacob to show up. I figured he was just doing his regular patrol. Now that he was the Alpha, he had a lot more responsibility. This he felt pretty bitter about; I was about four months along now, and now that I was starting to show, he hated to be away from me. I didn't particularly like it, either, but I knew he had to do it.
Frustrated with myself, I plopped down on a driftwood log facing the ocean. I hated this, because I tired much more easily now. Sighing, I wrapped my arms around my slightly protruding belly. I didn't want to know the sex, but sometimes I still wondered.
After a few minutes of sitting there, I thought I heard something behind me. But when I turned, nothing. I shook my head, assuming I was paranoid, and resumed gazing out over the waves. So I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I was shocked to see Alice, standing there behind me. Gracefully, she sat down on the log beside me. However, something seemed off about her. She and I had been close friends, but now I felt uneasy around her. Maybe it was just guilt over Jacob.
"Hello, Bella," she chimed in her high voice. I placed my hand protectively over my baby, and she followed my gaze. Her tiny, pixie-like face lit up with surprise when she saw my bump. It was then that I noticed the difference in her.
Eyes that before had always been amber now sparkled blood red.
Short, kind of boring chapter. Once again, necessary, though. And ooo, and you curious about Alice? You will see more of her in the next chapter! That is, if you review!! So press that button and tell me what you thought!
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