Chapter 14 – La Push, Baby!

What idiot thought it would be a good idea to go to a beach when it was only fifty degrees outside? Mike, that's who. People were taking turns in a van changing into wetsuits so they could go swimming in the freezing water. I'm from the frigid Midwest, I know cold…this was wet cold, though. I'd take negative degree dry weather than this any day.

Angela and I were wrapped up in blankets, and I was miserable. I should have asked Edward to spend the day with me, promised to tell him everything I knew…that I shouldn't know. And then the reason I came to the beach walked up to us.

Three Native American's walked up to see who was hanging out, and an already familiar voice called, "Bella!"

I looked up, and involuntary smile spreading across my lips, "Jacob! Hey. Guys, this is Jacob, friend of the family."

He nodded to the group of my friends, and sat next to me in the open van door.

"Yeah…hey, you guys can keep Bella company, her date bailed," Jessica said, glancing at Angela and back to the others.

"What date?" Eric panicked.

I rolled my eyes, "Edward has better things to do than watch you guys drown yourselves," I laughed.

"I thought it was nice that she invited him, no one ever does," Angela said, taking my side. Sweet girl.

"Yeah, 'cause Cullen's a freak!" Mike laughed.

I glared at him.

"You got that right," one of the Native's said. I turned my glare to him.

"Do you even know him?" I snapped defensively.

"The Cullen's don't come here," he said flatly.

I shiver ran up my spine, "With a welcoming party like this, it's no wonder." Jacob frowned and shook his head. "I'm going to walk around, try and warm up. Jake, want to come with?"

He got up quickly, "Sure, let's go."

I let out an angry breath when we were far away from the cars, "Sorry, but I think you're friend is a bit of a jerk."

Jake just shrugged, "Sorry. The Cullen's have a bad reputation out here on the res. So…you're friends with them?"

"With Edward," I said, happy to be thinking of him. "I haven't had much of a chance to meet his family."

"Yeah? So what's he like?"

"He's interesting," I grinned.

"Ah…I see, it's like that, is it?" Jacob returned my grin.

I shook my head, "No, it isn't."

"But you want it to be?"

"Wow, perceptive for a man. I'm impressed."

He shrugged, "I do what I can. Tell me, is Edward so perceptive?"

"I think he is. What do you think about the Cullen's, though? You don't seem as superstitious as the others. Head firmly on your shoulders, all that…"

"My dad believes a lot of crazy stuff. I've been fed it since I was a kid, but…it's just a bunch of crazy stories." He looked up at they sky, frowning. "That looks pretty bad."

I followed his gaze as black clouds rolled in over the ocean. I could press him about the Cullen's…but what was the point? "Still working on your car?"

"Yeah!" he answered eagerly, turning us around so we could walk back to the cars. "Coming slowly. Still need a lot of parts."

"Sounds like it would get expensive."

"Well I can find a lot of the parts I need at the junk yard. It's just that…well, there is a lot of stuff in a junk yard."

"I can imagine," I laughed.

A sudden downpour started, and we were still out on the beach, a good distance from the cars. I groaned as the icy rain hit my bare face and almost immediately soaked through my jeans.

"Ah!" Jacob groaned, "Let's go!"

He grabbed my hand, pulling me as he ran, ran faster than I could, toward the cars. Everyone was running now. My shoes dug into the sand, then dragged as Jacob pulled, and I fell face-first. I spit the sand out, Jacob was muttering apologies as he helped me to my feet, and we were running again.

"Ugh…" I groaned, wiping wet sand from my face. At least it hadn't been concrete. Not a mark on me, just a bad taste in my mouth.

"All in?" Tyler shouted, and slammed the van door shut…right on my right hand.

I cried out in pain, searing pain. He had opened the door quickly, my hand hadn't been in there for more than a moment, but the damage was done. "OUCH!" I screamed, holding my hand protectively against me. "Oh…" I clenched my jaw to keep from screaming obscenities.

"Oh no! Is it broken?" Mike fussed over me.

"Don't touch me," I snarled.

"Let me see, Bella," Angela said softly.

I held my hand out, it was trembling. Where the van had hit the worst it was white, all around it was red, and it was swelling.

"Alright, first stop the hospital," Mike said.

"Bella…I'm SO sorry!" Tyler said, turning to look at me with wide horrified eyes.

I closed my eyes, "I'll live. I'll live. It hurts, but I'll live."

Pain like this…in a fantasy…a fantasy where soon I would have a bloodthirsty vampire hunting me. Pain that he would inflict was going to be a hundred times worse than this. Would I endure it just so I could experience the fairy-tale romance? Was it worth it? Worth this?