Wolfie
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
PART TWO-GROWING UP
Part One
Six years later...
Thirteen year old Bella Swan was sitting at her desk in school. She was furiously writing, copying notes from the board. Her long, chestnut brown hair fanned around her so she did not notice Mike Newton's obvious staring as he gazed at her in adoration. Bella was trying to hurry and finish her notes so that she would be ready to leave the class immediately. She was meeting up with Jacob, Embry, Quil and Leah after school. It annoyed her immensely that she had to go to school in Forks and not the tribal school in La Push, but as she was not Quileute, this was not a possibility.
Smiling in satisfaction, Bella put the lid back on her pen and folded her notes carefully. She stuffed them in her school bag and waited impatiently for the school bell to indicate the end of class.
"What are you doing after school today Bella? A few of the guys and I are heading over to the diner? Want to join us?" Mike Newton's voice interrupted Bella's reverie.
"Can't Mike, I'm busy..." Bella responded automatically. She did not even turn to face him as she replied.
"You always say that..." Mike whined. "Are you hanging around with those res kids again?"
Bella frowned at his tone of voice and this time she did turn his way. "What do you mean by that?" She snapped.
"Nothing...it's just that they are all so much younger and all boys..." Mike said mulishly.
"Leah is a girl and a year older than me. Any way Jake and his friends look way older. They are taller than you and you're supposed to be thirteen." Bella shot back at him.
"No need to get defensive Bella, I was just saying..." Mike's voice was drowned out as the school bell rang at last. Bella grabbed her bag and ran out of the classroom, not looking back.
Charlie was waiting for her in the police cruiser. He smiled as he watched her sprinting across the school parking lot. He winced when he saw her stumble and fall to the ground. Bella had a habit of being rather clumsy, she sometimes managed to trip over the smallest things, but luckily she always had someone to save her from the fall. Today her knight in shining armour was Tyler Crowley. Charlie had just been about to get out of his car and assist her but the other boy beat him to it. He watched in amusement as the young boy helped her up and repacked her bag. Bella smiled at him gratefully and continued on with her journey toward the police cruiser. Charlie was the only one who saw the boy staring after her, a goofy smile on his face. That was another thing about his daughter, other people just gravitated toward her and she had no clue.
Bella finally reached the car and yanked the door open. She chucked her bag in the back and slid in easily. "Hey dad, how was work?"
"Rather quiet kiddo. How was school?" Charlie switched on the engine and began to pull out of the parking bay.
"Boring as usual, dad can you arrest someone for being annoying?"
Charlie laughed at her question. "Mike been bothering you again, kiddo?"
Bella rolled her eyes. "Oh yes...his new technique is to follow me around school all day opening every door. In the canteen he actually took my tray and insisted he carry it in case I trip. I am not that bad..."
Charlie glanced quickly at his daughter's mutinous expression and reached over to ruffle her hair. "Bells do you want me to have a word with him?"
"Nah...I can handle Mike Newton. If not I am sure Wolfie can..." A wicked grin crossed her face as she thought of her canine friend.
At this comment father and daughter burst out laughing and they drove the rest of the way to La Push in a happy mood.
XXXXXX
Kay Call was waiting outside the local shop where Sarah Black had a part time job. Now all the children were older she had applied to work at the store, owned by Quil Ateara's family. She only did a few shifts a week but the money helped keep food on the table. As soon as Sarah emerged Kay weaved her way over to her and began to yell. It was only early afternoon and she was already roaring drunk.
"Hey you...hey, don't ignore me high and mighty Sarah Black..." Kay slurred.
"I will ignore you Kay. Go home and sleep it off." Sarah replied irritably.
"No...I wanna word with you...C'mere." Kay stumbled forward and grabbed hold of Sarah's arm.
Sarah turned and glared at the other woman. "What do you want?" She demanded.
Kay wobbled slightly in her high heels. She poked Sarah in the chest. "You are takin' my Embry away from me. You an your stuck up family. He is never at home anymore."
"Why is that Kay, huh? You are so lickered up all the time, what is there for the boy to come home to? Like I said go home and sleep it off. I need to get to the car." Sarah began to back away from Kay. The other woman staggered forward again and then suddenly bent double as she was sick all down her front.
"I don't believe this?" Sarah cursed. She was tired and just wanted to go home, however she could not leave the woman alone in this state. Sighing heavily she hauled Kay to her feet and began to lead her toward the old car that she drove locally.
"I feel ill..." Kay moaned as Sarah shoved her in the passenger seat and walked swiftly around the other side.
"No more than you deserve." Sarah snapped, she started the car and began to drive away.
The two women were silent as Sarah watched the road ahead. After another few minutes passed Kay seemed to revive a little. She sat straighter in her seat and pushed her greasy hair out of her eyes. "Where are you takin me?"
"Home... I already told you."
"No, I wanna go and see my son." Kay began to undo her seatbelt.
"Don't be stupid Kay. Embry is not out of school just yet, I will take you home to sober up first." Sarah tried to get Kay to put her seatbelt back on.
"Get off me..." Kay yelled. She began to try and open the passenger door.
Sarah started to panic. She became distracted as she tried to pull Kay back into the car. That was all it took, the car swerved to one side as Kay fought back, still trying to get out of the moving vehicle. Sarah finally turned her attention back to the road, but it was too late. The car had moved off of the road and onto the verge. The tree was right in front of her before she had time to react. The front end of the car collided heavily with the wide trunk of the tree, crushing the bonnet. Sarah's head hit the steering wheel and everything went black...
XXXXXX
The call came over the police cruiser's radio as Charlie was just approaching the Black's little red house. Jacob and his friends, including Leah, were waiting outside. Their school finished earlier then Bella's, so they all met at Jacob's house and waited for her to join them. Charlie parked the car carefully and watched as Jake broke away from the group and sprinted over to Bella. Before her hand was on the door handle he was yanking the passenger door open and grabbing hold of her hand. Bella giggled as Jacob wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up into a bear hug. She had not been exaggerating to Mike when she had told him how tall Jacob and his friends were for their ages. Billy had said it must be the wolf gene, giving them rapid growth spurts. Quil was the only one among them who was a lot shorter.
While Jake and Bella were distracted by each other, Charlie listened to the news coming from his police radio. He picked it up and spoke rapidly to his deputy. He closed his eyes and swallowed down the bile in his throat. He had just been informed that Sarah Black and Kay Call had been in a car accident. Kay was pronounced dead at the scene, but Sarah was being taken to Fork's hospital. Her injuries were severe and she was unconscious, but she was still alive.
XXXXXX
Billy burst through the hospital doors and stared around wildly. He ran over to the nurse's station, startling the receptionist on duty. "Where is she? I need to see my wife?" He demanded in a shaky voice.
"Please sir calm down." The receptionist said softly. "What is your wife's name?"
"Sarah...Sarah Black...she was brought in here after a car wreck. Please tell me where she is?" Billy begged. He leaned against the desk as his legs gave way.
The receptionist looked at him with sympathy. "I know who you mean now. She has been taken to the ICU. Let me get someone to talk to you."
Billy nodded and slumped against the desk as he watched her departure. A minute later Charlie and Harry Clearwater entered the hospital. The children had been left with Sue, Harry's wife. The two men stood on either side of Billy, offering him silent support. He had never been so grateful in his life to have such good friends.
XXXXXX
Five hours later and Billy was sitting at his wife's bedside holding onto her hand tightly. She was hooked up to several different machines. The loudest was the heart monitor as it beeped, measuring every beat of her heart. The doctors had informed Billy that Sarah had been lucky that she was wearing her seatbelt. She had suffered severe head trauma and internal bleeding, but thankfully the skilful work of the surgeons had managed to stem the bleed. She was now stable and they hoped that she would soon wake up on her own.
Another two hours passed. Charlie and then Harry kept Billy company. Sarah did not move. The only signs of life were the small rise and fall of her chest and the constant beep of the monitor. It was at this point that Billy broke down. Harry saw his shoulders shaking as silent tears wracked his body. Putting his hand on Billy's shoulder, Harry tried to comfort his friend.
"I can't live without her...I just can't Harry..." Billy gasped as his grief and fear overwhelmed him.
It was at this point that Sarah Black opened her eyes...
XXXXXX
Jacob and Bella were hiding out in Seth Clearwater's bedroom. Sue had let them alone as she knew that Bella was Jacob's best comfort right now. She had enough to deal with. Rebecca and Rachel were sitting at separate ends of the room, lost in their own grief. Embry was inconsolable. His mom was dead and never coming back. Leah and little Seth were sitting on either side of Embry trying in their own way to offer him support. Sue had never been so proud of her children. She knew that even if Sarah did survive, there was no way that she could take on Embry's care as well. The boy needed a place to live and Sue Clearwater vowed that she would fight tooth and nail with the authorities to let the boy stay with her and Harry...
In the bedroom Jacob and Bella were holding onto each other tightly. Jacob's head was buried in Bella's shoulder and she had let him cry himself to sleep. Her own tears were still running down her face. Sarah Black had been like her own mother. Renee had long disappeared out of her life. She rarely called or visited her daughter now that she had a new boyfriend.
Suddenly the darkened room was flooded with light as Sue peered in at the two children. Bella raised her head and looked at the older woman questioningly.
"She's awake Bella. Sarah is going to be alright..." Sue felt a smile form on her lips as she watched Bella shake Jacob gently to waken him.
"Jake did you hear that? Your mom's going to be okay." Bella said in delight.
Jacob finally opened his eyes and gazed blearily at them both. "Mom?Bells is she really going to be alright?"
Bella nodded enthusiastically and hugged him close. "Yes Jake, your mom is fine."
Sue Clearwater gazed at them both for another minute before she closed the door again and left them alone to absorb the news...
A/N-Sorry I am quite tearful myself now. Thanks for reading!
