My Mac Book Pro is in for repair, so my FF writing will be little until its back home . As always, I don't own the characters portrayed in my story, and wish I did…I'd just go and buy a fancy new Mac Book Pro!


Chapter 11 – One foot in front of the other

I rolled the rest of the way out of my bed and sat there for a minute. So much had happened in the past month that it was hard to think with a clear mind sometimes. Renee and Phil had gotten married, and were visiting Florida as I sat here; I was back in Forks, where I thought I wanted to be, only to find that a girl seemed to have taken my spot in the garage out behind Billy and Jacob's house.

Shaking my head I tried to not read too much into it. But when Jacob had stepped away from me, after Andie had brought soda's back in what was I suppose to think. Maybe I was asking too much, I'd been away for 6 long months, which is hard on any relationship let alone one like ours that had suddenly taken turn from friends to more than friends.

"Bells?" Charlie tapped on my door and poked his head in. "Ah, you're up, I didn't want to wake you, but wanted you to know that I was heading out. I'll be back around 5:00 and you know how to reach me if you need me for anything right." He walked over with a concerned frown on his face and kissed my forehead like I was six years old again. Tilting my head up to face his with his finger he added. "It's good to have you back, I've missed you kid." I smiled back at him, happy that I was back. He winked at me and then headed downstairs.

Just then my cell phone vibrated on the night table. I picked it up and had a text from Angela. "Girl, do I have to find out from a girl on the street that you are back in town and two weeks early at that!" I smiled; she was one of my few friends in Forks I could count on.

"Just got in yesterday, planning on texting you today!" I hit send and waited, I knew there would be a reply.

"We need to hang out, soon. Bookstore and coffee, Noon?" I read after the vibration of my phone exactly 5 seconds later.

"Can't today, have plans, how about tomorrow?" Send.

"Ok, what's the big plans today…hmmm…maybe a boy?" Was the almost instant response I received?

"Gotta, go and take a shower. Tomorrow, noon…meet me at the station." I purposely did not give her anymore details about my plans for today. Any detail at all would have kept her texting back and forth for hours; I'd learned that from our texting habits over the past year.

I sat the phone down and gathered my things from my bag and headed to the bathroom. Having the house to myself and time to spare I decided a bath was in order instead of a shower. I need to relax and soak. Renee had always told me that a good soak in a tub was good for the soul and today this is just what I needed.

I turned the water on and let it warm up before putting the plug in the bottom of the tub. Searching the linen closet I found two big fluffy towels that looked like they hadn't been used. Thinking to myself I wondered if Charlie had bought them for me. "Hmm, I can break these in." I said to myself. Running a brush through my hair I looked into the mirror.

"Bella, you are going to grow fins if you don't get out of that tub soon!" Renee was standing in the doorway of the bathroom with a wide grin across her face. Looking down to the water I saw my pink rubber ducky, my soap in the shape of crayons. "You know that Jacob and his mom are going to be here any minute, you don't want him to catch you not ready right." She winked at me.

Dressed in my favorite jeans with bright patches sewn on them in several places, I pulled my pink sweatshirt over my head and then tied my navy blue Keds. "I'm ready, will you brush my hair for me!" I yelled out to the hallway. I grinned when Mrs. Black came through the door.

"Course I will. The girls are getting to the point they won't let me touch their hair anymore." She smiled warmly as she took the brush out of my hand and I crossed my legs and turned my back to her as she sat down. She slowly worked the brush through my long brown hair and I could feel her fingers pull through it, making sure there were no tangles left at all. "Are you excited about today Bella?" She asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Black, thank you so much for inviting me." I was excited that we were going to the zoo!

"Well, I'm glad you and your mom were able to go. If you hadn't I'd be stuck with boys all day." She sorted my hair into sections and asked. "How about a braid today?" I nodded my head in agreement, she did the best braids. As she wove the sections of my hair, I let my eyes close.

"Oh geez!" Suddenly I felt the wet on my feet, I'd let the tub overflow. I quickly turned the water off and let the drain out, allowing the water to go down. Grabbing a couple extra towels from the closet I cleaned up the water on the floor. "Leave it to me to flood the house…" Once everything was cleaned up I slipped my pajamas off and slid down in the water. Carefully, I put my iPod on the stool next to the tub and put my ear buds in. I felt my body slip further down in the tub, but was careful not to let the water reach my ears.

I closed my eyes and thought of the bon fire from last summer. Jakes hand had been so warm wrapped around mine and sleeping so close to him, might have seemed awkward if it hadn't be him. We'd share a tent each time our dad's took us camping and more than once we'd wake up to find that one of us had abandoned their sleeping bag to join the other. Our dad's used to laugh about it and would say things to each other like; we don't have to worry about them sharing a sleeping bag until they are sixteen right…

That night he'd wrapped his arms around me and was careful to keep his hands in a respectable position. Feeling his warmth on my back, and lacing my fingers through his I couldn't think of anything that would feel more right. Then like someone had poured ice water into the tub I remembered "I brought one of each…" and him pulling out of our embrace. Feeling the warm tears traveling down my face I shouldn't have been surprised. What I didn't expect was what happened next!

There was silence in my ears, as the song had just ended and I heard footsteps on the stairs!

A feeling of panic washed over me, I yanked my ear buds out of my ears and got to my knees thinking Thank God I always shut the door when I'm in the shower! Grabbing one of the towels I wrapped it around me and stepped out onto the tile floor. I felt my feet slip and tried to catch myself.

"Bella! Bella are you in there!" Jake called from the other side of the door.

"Ya, just being a klutz like always. Your early, I'll be out in just a minute." I looked down at my elbow and saw red oozing from where I'd struck it on the floor when I'd landed. "Oh crap!" I cried before I could even think.

Hearing me cry out Jacob said. "I'm coming in, are you decent…" the door then opened and Jacob Black was standing over me with a worried look on his face.

Grasping at the towel I had around myself, I started to say No, but it didn't make it out before he was right there.

"What did you do?" He asked. Helping me off the floor, he started to inspect my elbow. "Wow, Bella that's a pretty good gash you've got there. He wrapped a hand towel around my arm and held pressure to it. Looking down and seeing the red blood seeping through the cloth made me light headed. Jacob's arms came around me holding me up and the warmth that spread through me with his touch didn't help my feeling that I was going to faint. Then before I could object, he picked me up.

Laying me gently on my bed, he knelt next to it. "Bella, what are we going to do with you?" His mouth was turned up and into a big grin. Shaking his head he peaked at my elbow again. "Wow you've got some talent for hurting yourself. I hope I'm not the cause of this, I knocked and no one answered and I called your cell and didn't get anything, so I let myself in." Seeing my questioning expression he continued. "Charlie told me a few months ago where the extra key was outside. I helped him clean up some storm damage a while back."

"Oh, of course." Trying to smile back at him while also feeling the sting of my arm. "Wow, I really did it this time didn't I? Not in Forks 24 hours and I'm injured."

"I think you should call Charlie, or I can catch Rachel… this is going to need a couple stitches." He said looking at my arm and then to me again.

"Can you call Rachel, I hate to have Charlie come all the way back home for me, cause I'm a klutz." I asked.

Jacob nodded and started dialing. He stood up and held his finger up letting me know he'd be back in a minute.

I heard him go back downstairs and I took the alone time to slip on my underwear and some jeans. There was no way I was going to be able to keep pressure on my arm and put my bra on, so I decided I'd have to go without. While I was rummaging through my bag to find a shirt I could put on without being embarrassed I heard him clear his throat. "She'll be here in about 5 minutes, she hadn't gotten very far." He walked over to me, noticing the situation. "Bella let me help… I'll keep my eyes closed ok." Looking up at him I smiled and knew that he was telling the truth, he wasn't the kind of guy to take advantage of a situation like this. I shook my head Ok, and pulled out a sweatshirt from my bag. Like he promised, he held it out to me and closed his eyes, but even with that he had a smirk on his face.

"Jacob Black, if you open your eyes for even a second before I tell you…" I warned.

I felt the fabric of my shirt come over my face and I fed my arms carefully through the sleeves. When I opened my eyes before me stood the most wonderful guy other then Charlie I'd ever known. His eyes were still closed and his smile had relaxed just a bit. I let the towel drop to the floor and pulled my shirt down the rest of the way.

Standing there being able to inspect him closer without him knowing I saw the changes that had happened since I was away. His hair was trimmed and it looked like he'd even started to shave a little. His body had changed to a slimmer shape but more defined at the same time. In addition, he must have grown in height by at least 3 inches.

"Uh… can I open my eyes now?" His was now wearing a little bit of a frown.

"Sorry! Of course." I said not being able to hold back the smile that was growing on my face.

With his eyes open now, he looked at me with a questioning expression. "Wait, that's not fair at all, you were oogling me!" He laughed out loud.

"Was not." I tried to say with a straight face.

"Wow, Bella, I didn't even peak and you, well, you took advantage of me." He was smirking now and took a step closer to me. Jacob wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. "Just wait paybacks are hell." He chuckled and I felt a vibration run from him to me. Stepping back he said. "Better go run a brush through that hair, before it dries too much." I agreed and went to retrieve the brush from the bathroom. While I was in there I cleaned up the drops of blood from the floor and drained the tub. In case Charlie came home for lunch I didn't want him to think I'd been kidnapped.

Wincing as I brushed I could tell this wasn't going to be an easy job one handed. Jake leaned against the doorframe and watched. Each time I winced, his eyes squinted also. Taking a couple steps into the bathroom he took the brush from my hand. "Let me, Rachel is going to be here any minute." I felt him maneuver the brush through my hair and couldn't even be surprised he took great care of his own. Smiling to myself I closed my eyes and tilted my head back a bit. Feeling his breath closer to my ear he asked "How about a braid." I felt a shutter go through me. Guessing that meant a yes, Jacob started sectioning out my hair and wove it into a tight weave. He took a black band from his wrist and wrapped the end of the braid and stepped back from me. "I think I hear her Bells, we better get downstairs."

"Ok," I breathed and it felt like the first time I had in a year. "Let me grab some shoes and I'll meet you downstairs."

Shaking his head, "Nope, your luck you'll fall down them." He followed me into my room as I slipped on a pair of deck shoes and turned around. My hand in his we started downstairs.

Rachel pulled up the Forks Medical Clinic and said to go in and let her know how long it would be. Jacob followed me to the door and opened it for me. I walked up to the desk and the woman sitting behind it said. "Looks like we had a bit of an accident?"

"Yes, slipped in the bathroom." I answered.

"Your Chief Swan's daughter right?" She asked. I nodded; everyone must know me by now. "Dr. Cullen is just finishing up with a patient and I'll have him take a look ok." She smiled and twirled around in her chair. "We probably still have a chart on you here somewhere."

Jacob went out to tell Rachel and see if she'd wait, if not we could call Charlie to take us back to the house or just walk over to the station and find him. He came back in and sat down next to me in the waiting area. "She said she'd wait, she's already called into work and told them she'd be in a bit later."

"That's so nice of her; I hope I don't get her in trouble." I leaned into his arm. Being a bother to anyone is what I hated the most.

"You won't they love her…she's their most reliable worker. It'll be fine." He answered me resting his head against mine.

"Bella, Bella Swan." Looking up I saw a blond haired man that seemed oddly familiar. I raised my hand like I was in school and stood up.

"Here, guilty as charged." I said with a smile.

"Want me to go with you?" Jacob asked.

I waived back and mouthed Na…won't be long.

Dr. Cullen escorted me to an exam room and had me sit in a chair as he examined my elbow and then my chart. "Well, what do we have here? Looks like you took a spill, is that right?" He asked.

"Yes, slipped in the bathroom and well, I'm a klutz, so now I'm here." Grinning back at me he just nodded his head a bit.

"Same elbow as last time I see." I wondered what he meant... "Looks like the scar wasn't too bad and looks like we'll actually be able to seal this up with some surgical glue, so it won't be as bad as last time, stitches and all." Suddenly I was away are why he seemed so familiar. He'd stitched me up when I slipped on the stairs on Christmas a long time ago!

A sparkle came to his eye and he winked at me. He was the same as I remembered, very gentle and hadn't changed a whole lot other than a few wrinkles around his eyes and some graying at his temples. After he'd cleaned and sealed my cut under a sterile bandage he leaned back against the exam table and smiled. "Well you are all ready to go young lady. Mind if I tell Alice I saw you today, she'll be excited you are back."

Wow Alice, this must be her dad. "Sure, I was going to call her soon. Alice and I met last summer, I remember in the bookstore." Shaking his head and laughing just a bit he followed up with.

"Yes, Alice is kind of hard to forget. She means well, just remember that ok." I said I would and he walked me out to the waiting area. "Bella, keep that dry and Betty here will get you some extra bandages to take home. Change them at least every day and the glue should dissolve on its own in about a week or so. Come back if it starts to swell or anything and try and not use that elbow too much today. Ok."

"Will do, Dr. Cullen, and thanks for getting me in so fast and not calling my dad or anything." Just then Charlie came busting through the door.

"Bella! What happened, are you ok?" He asked glancing at me and then to Dr. Cullen, who patted his arm to calm him.

"She fine chief, said she slipped at home, didn't even need stitches this time. Bella, I'll probably see you soon…not hear but maybe at the house for dinner one evening. Alice and Edward would love to have you over." He winked at me and nodded at Charlie and walked back down the hall. I turned to find Jacob and he was standing next to me with an odd, disturbed look on his face.

"Charlie, I startled her this morning, it was my fault." Jacob broke the silence by saying. "Rachel brought us in, cause Bella didn't want to pull you from work."

Charlie looked at Jacob and patted his arm. "Well, son I'm glad you were there, Bella here seems to hurt herself enough on her own, so I wouldn't take too much blame. I told your sister I'd be taking you two back to the house so she went on to work." He put his arm around me and waived at Betty and walked us out of the clinic.

"Well you two hungry, it's almost lunch time?" He asked. We both said yes at the same time and smiled at each other.

Charlie took us to lunch where he teased Jacob endlessly about his appetite and that he was happy he'd only had a small little daughter like me, even if I was clumsy. With that comment I punched him in the arm and flicked a French fry at him. "Now don't make me arrest you Bella for assaulting an officer." He said smiling at me. We finished lunch and started back to Charlie's cruiser.

"Hey dad, do you think it would be ok, if we hang out in town for a while. Wouldn't there be an afternoon movie or something starting?" Charlie said it wasn't a problem and dropped us off at the theatre handing me a couple twenties and told us to have fun and he'd pick us up after the movie was over.

Jacob helped me out of the car and kept my hand in his as we walked up to the theater's ticket window. I turned to waive at Charlie and caught his signature eyebrow up. He looked at me and then looked at Jacob and my hands and I saw him cough a little before putting the car into gear and taking off. "We'd definitely be having a talk, and soon."