Chapter 22
I called Edward and told him we were going to head to his house after dropping Quil and Embry home. We walked out to my car. Becca crawled in the back with Embry and Quil. Leah sat in the passenger seat. She wrapped her arms around my right arm and leaned her head on my shoulder. I dropped Quil and Embry off at Quil's house, then drove to Edward's. Becca laid out across the back seat. Esme met us at the door.
"Jacob, Leah!" Esme welcomed, "You must be Becca."
Esme took a deep breath.
"Oh, you're human," she said, "Just call me Esme. And don't be scared. Emmett's all talk and no bite. Ignore Rosalie, she's - sour. Try to avoid Jasper, or stick by Jacob or Leah. He's a new 'vegetarian.'"
Esme smiled, hugging all of us. Becca was glued to my side. She was a little panicked about walking into a house full of vampires.
"Oh look, Jake brought us a snack," Emmett laughed.
Esme lightly hit him.
"Ha ha ha," I said sarcastically, "This is my sister, Becca."
Becca shyly waived. Emmett stood up and ran over to her. I could barely see him, he was running so fast. It took him a split second to reach her. He wrapped his arm around her, and smelled her neck. Becca was so nervous, she was shaking.
"Emmett, leave her alone!" Esme said.
Emmett groaned, "I never get to have any fun!"
He went and sat back down next to Rosalie, who looked infuriated.
"Why don't we just open up a hotel here? Or better yet, let's just hang a sign at the end of the drive that says, 'Home of the Cullen's. We're Vampires!'" she shouted.
"Rosalie, Relax!" Jasper said bluntly.
Rosalie melted into Emmett.
"Alice," I said, "Your back!"
"Hey Jake! I am back!" she giggled.
"That's awesome! You'll have to tell me the story," I said.
"Jasper found me," she smiled, "I will definitely have to tell you."
Jasper grinned, being rewarded with a kiss from Alice.
"So, who is this?" Alice asked, pointing to Becca.
"Uh, this is my oldest sister Becca," I introduced.
"Hey Becca, wanna play a game?" Alice asked.
"Uh," she looked at me.
"Don't worry, it's only rock, paper, scissors," she laughed.
"Sure," she said, kind of confused.
Alice grabbed Becca and danced over to the coffee table. The both sat on the floor.
"I say, Alice wins," Emmett betted.
"Yah, me too," I laughed.
"Oh come on Jake, have some faith in me,' Becca said.
Everybody chuckled. Becca was about to find out Alice's power.
"Rock, paper, scissors!" the both chanted, through there hands into the middle of the table.
"Rock beats paper!" she grinned.
"Lucky shot," she said," Becca said, "But there's no way you could beat me at-"
"Heads or tails?! Excellent, let's play!" Alice finished., grabbing a coin out of her pocket.
"Here you call it!" Becca said.
Alice handed her the coin.
"Heads!"
Becca caught the coin and flipped it onto the top of her hand.
"Heads," she said, "You're good at this."
She showed a wide smile.
"I'm thinking of a number between one and one hundred, what-" Alice cut her off.
"Seventy-two," she said.
"Damn!" she exclaimed.
A chuckle whispered through the room.
"Becca, you can't win," Leah said.
"Why not?" she asked
Alice froze. Jasper walked up next to her.
"Alice, what do you see?!" he said.
"Carlisle," she said.
Her eyes wandered around the room. It looked as if she was searching frantically for something.
"He's holding up Rachel," she said.
"Is she okay?!" I asked.
"Oh, Jake!" Alice said.
My phone rang, I pulled it out of my pocket.
"Rachel's conscious again!" she yelled, in excitement.
I answered my phone, it was Carlisle.
"Jake?" Carlisle asked.
"Hey Carlisle," I said.
Everybody stared at me anxiously.
"I'm on my way back, I have Rachel with me! She's conscious," he said, "She woke up screaming your name. She wants to see you."
I dropped the phone, standing in the middle of the living room, frozen.
"Jake!" Leah said, "Are you okay?!"
I didn't move.
"Jake!" she yelled.
"She wants to see me," I whispered.
"What?" she asked.
"Rachel! She wants to see me!" I picked Leah up and spun her around.
She started laughing. I kissed her cheek, she yawned.
"Gross! Werewolf love," Rosalie complained.
"I say the same thing, every time I hear you at night," I laughed.
Emmett chuckled, "What can I say?"
I heard the garage door open.
"I guess Carlisle's home!" Esme said.
"Edward!" Bella yelled as she ran down the stairs, "Jake, what are you doing here?"
"I was-" she interrupted me.
"Hold that thought!" she said, "Edward!"
She ran to the kitchen, and hugged Edward.
"Edward!" Carlisle called.
I was so anxious to see Rachel.
Carlisle wheeled Rachel in to the house. She was still hooked up to the IV's and monitors, Edward pushed them.
"Jake!" she squeaked out.
Her voice was low, and she could barely talk. I bent down to hug her.
"Did you 'fall out a window,' too?" Emmett asked.
"Way to introduce yourself, Emmett," I laughed.
"No, I jumped off a cliff," she said, "Then was attacked by a vampire."
"Victoria," I explained.
"Crazy bitch," she mumbled under her breath.
I chuckled.
"Where's my dad, and Sue?" I asked.
"He's back at the hospital. Rachel will have to go back and stay a few days," Carlisle explained.
"So, what'd you think of cliff diving?" I asked.
"Are kidding me? Why do you even have to ask?" she tried to yell, "Can we do it again?!"
Carlisle laughed.
"Maybe," I said.
Rachel tried to stand up.
"Rachel, sit down! You're going to hurt yourself," Carlisle commanded.
His phone rang.
"Hello?" he said.
His voice sang through the room.
"I understand," he sighed.
He hung up his phone, and spoke.
"Alright Rachel, you've had your taste of freedom. We have to get you back to the hospital," he said.
"Bye Jake," she said, "Bye Becca."
We both gave her a gentle hug.
"Bye everybody," she said.
Carlisle slid here out to the garage. Leah stood next to me, and wrapped her arms around my waist, and yawned
"Looks like somebody's tired," Edward said, holding Bella in his arms.
"Yah, maybe we should get you to bed," I offered.
"Okay," she said.
She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. I lifted her into my arms and carried her upstairs.
"Night," I said, "Come on, Becca."
Becca followed me upstairs, and Edward led Bella to his room. We spit ways at the library. I hadn't stayed here in a while. It would be a change from sleeping on my tiny bed.
I laid Leah down and threw the blanket over her.
"Here Becca," I said, handing her a pair of shorts.
"Thank Jake," she said, she walked out of the room.
Leah sat up in bed. I next to her.
"I though you were asleep," I said.
"Do you want me to be asleep?" she said.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
"No," I said.
"For the last time, stop talking, and just kiss me!" she said.
` Her touch was warm and gentle. I never argued with Leah when it came to intimacy. I wanted her to be happy, she can have what ever she wants.
Edward walked in the door with Becca.
"Jacob, you always think about the most entertaining things!" Edward laughed.
I backed away from Leah.
"Nice timing, Edward!" Leah teased.
"Timing is easier when you can read minds," Edward laughed.
He bent down at the foot of the bed, and pulled out a guest bed, and unfolded the blankets.
"Here Becca," he said, "I just thought that maybe you didn't want to sleep with Jacob and Leah."
"Thanks Edward," she smiled.
Edward flashed an arrogant smile.
"What's that about?" I asked.
"Becca," he laughed.
"What about me?" she asked nervously.
"Becca has amusing thoughts as well," he said.
Becca's face turned red, and she sat down on the bed.
"No, it's cute, you're into older men," he said.
I saw this coming. Becca was about to find out how old Edward really was.
"You're seventeen," she said, "I think I'm older that you."
"I'm really one hundred and eight, I win."
"Holy shit, grandpa!" Becca said.
We all laughed, except for Becca, who sat embarrassed on the bed.
"Edward!" Bella groaned.
"I got to go, the wife is calling me," he said, "Coming Dear!"
Edward turned around and left the room, shutting the door on the way out. I went to turn off the lights, leaving my little lamp on. Then, I sat down on the bed.
I leaned in to kiss Leah, again.
"No Jake," she gently pushed on my chest, "Not right now."
"Leah, don't let me ruin your romantics with Jake," Becca said.
I could hear Emmett and Jasper laughing from downstairs. I shook my head. They're always hoping for a free show. I laid back in bed. Leah laid her head on my bare chest. I rested my arm on her back, and kissed her head.
Becca fell asleep first. Leah looked up at me and kissed my lips. I kissed her back, but more intimately. She hugged me tightly laid her head back down. Her skin was soft and warm, against my chest. I quickly fell asleep.
* * * * *
I relived every moment of the horrible night I decided to jump. The water overtaking my lungs, the unbelievable pain of being cut off from oxygen. The suffering was unimaginable. I couldn't imagine having it taken by force. I saw everything over.
The rush of a cold fall morning slipping from my fingers, as I hit the water, with a smack. The blow caused me to inhale massive amounts of water, making impossible to stay conscious. I felt the could hand of what could only be the touch of a vampire on my shoulder. Being almost literally wiped from existence because of a cruel act of revenge.
Being pulled through the water, having all remnants of life stolen away, piece by piece. Dying alone. I couldn't venture into Rachel's head. I couldn't see what she was feeling. It would kill me.
* * * * *
I woke up that morning swiftly.
"Jake, what's wrong?!" Leah asked in a panicked tone.
"It's nothing, I'm fine," I said, calmly, hoping to calm her down.
I wrapped my arms around her.
"Are you sure?" she said.
I kissed the top of her head.
"Yes, I'm sure," I assured her.
Leah gazed at me. I smiled to assure her I was fine. She wrapped my arms back around her.
"Okay," she said, in disbelief.
I chuckled.
"What?!" she said.
"Nothing," I lied.
I looked down at Becca's bed, she was gone. Where could she be. I was confused, and my face showed it.
"What?" Leah asked.
"Where's Becca?" I responded.
"Oh, uh-" she said, "I have no idea!"
I was waiting for the second when Edward would run through the door with a full explanation, but he didn't. I got up out of bed and threw on a shirt. Leah and I both went downstairs. Rose and Emmett sat in the living room.
"Hey, where is everybody?" Leah asked.
"They all went to see Rachel. I mean they don't even know her and yet they're all so anxious to get out to see her," Rosalie said.
"Did Becca go with them?" I asked.
"Yah, not soon enough either. That's the last thing we needed, a human in the house," she complained.
"Rose, babe, it's okay. Becca's cool," Emmett said.
What a brave vampire he is. Rosalie shook her head furiously.
"No, she was trouble for us," she argued.
"Okay, thanks guys!" I said.
I pulled Leah outside. Rosalie and Emmett sat there and argued about Becca. I got in my car.
"I'm pretty sure Becca was freaking out about being surrounded in a car by vampires," I said.
"Poor girl she just met them, she must be terrified," she sympathetically said.
"She'll be fine. She's mad about Edward," I laughed.
"I could tell, last night when Edward made her blush!" she said.
When we pulled into the parking lot at the hospital, I saw three of the Cullen's cars parked around Carlisle's reserved spot.
Edward's Volvo was the first I recognized, then Emmett's truck and Alice's Porsche. I parked next to the Volvo.
Leah and I walked inside and went to Rachel's room.
"Hey Rache," I said, as I open the door.
"Jake," she said in a low voice, smiling at me.
"How're you feeling?" I asked.
She groaned. I took that as, "I feel like shit."
"Is that true, Rachel, do you feel like shit?" Edward asked, even though he probably already knew.
She nodded then hid under her blanket. We all chuckled.
"Hey guys!" the nurse said enthusiastically, "Wow Dr. Cullen, you've got the whole crew with you today!"
"No, just most of them," he laughed.
The young nurse laughed. Apparently trying to flirt with Carlisle, but she was obviously trying way to hard. She pushed a plastic cart into Rachel's room.
"I just have to give Rachel the medication you prescribed," he said, gazing into Carlisle's, almost black, eyes.
He jerked away and looked out the window, as the raindrops slid down the window. Edward stood up.
"Well, come on Bells, we should go. Rachel's going to get really tired," he said.
Rachel sat up, "No! Daddy, don't let them give me a shot!" she said, looking the tray of syringes.
"Oh, it's okay, sweetie, you won't even be able to feel it. It goes in your IV," the nurse assured.
"Daddy!" she held her hand out.
My Dad grabbed her hand. The nurse took the syringe and walked over to the IV in Rachel's room. Rachel tensed up.
"It's okay, Rache, just think about all the stupid shit I've done," I said.
"Let's review, shall we," Alice started, "You squeezed a kitchen knife."
"Jumped off a cliff," Edward continued.
"Broke your back," Carlisle added.
"Okay, I think she get's it," I said, crossly.
They all laughed.
"Okay, I'm done!" she said.
The nurse pulled the syringe out of the IV and left them room. Edward and Bella followed her back.
"Bye, Rache!" Bella said.
Rachel was so drowsy, she couldn't move.
"Why don't we all give Rachel some space," Carlisle said, "Come on guys."
Carlisle stood up, "I'll see you all when I get home."
Everybody stood up and left. Leah and I walked over to my Dad and Sue. Becca sat still in a chair by the bed.
"How's everything at the Cullen's?" he asked.
"Very hospitable," I hesitated.
"Hmm, I would've never guessed vampires could be so hospitable," he said.
"Yah," I said.
Standing there next to Sue and my Dad with Leah was a little awkward, and I'm pretty sure, by the way this conversation was going, everyone else agreed.
"Jake, you make it seem so boring there!" Becca said.
"It's not that exciting," I said.
"Are you kidding? Alice is so cool, and Edward's so funny! Emse's so welcoming and well, Emmett and Jasper are just goofballs," Becca excited.
"Ah, Jasper, born in love, forged in war," I sighed.
"What?!" Leah and Becca said at the same time.
"I'll explain later," I said, knowing my dad was getting pissed that Becca liked the Cullen's so much, "We should get going, guys."
"Okay! Bye Dad," Becca said.
"Bye guys," he said.
Leah took my hand and we all walked out to my car.
"SO where are we going today?" Leah asked.
"Oh no! I'm not going to end up in the hospital," Becca shouted.
"No it's okay. So you guys want to hear about Jasper?" I asked.
"Yes!" Leah yelled.
"Then I know just where to go," I said.
"Where!?" Becca asked.
"It's a surprise," I said.
Becca couldn't stand surprises, but she would love to meadow. Bella took me there when Edward left. I drove down the road.
"It's going to be a long drive, get comfortable," I said.
Leah held my hand and laid her head on my shoulder. Rachel stretched out across the back seat.
"Way to get comfortable," I laughed.
"I'm tired!" she said.
"Then take a nap. We'll be there in about an hour or two," I said, "Depends on how bad the weather is, because it's raining pretty badly."
"Don't kill me," she sighed, and laid her head down on the seat.
I grinned and chuckled.
The thunder crashed out side, causing Leah to jump. I wrapped my free arm around her.
"It's just noise," I said, trying to comfort her.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Ha-ha, nice try!" I laughed.
I kissed the top of her head, and continued cautiously down the road. Leah groaned, and buried her face in my arm. I smiled. Leah fell asleep soon enough. I turned on the radio.
It was a long quiet drive, except for the radio playing softly in the background. Leah slept most the way up, only waking up long enough to see where we were at. I didn't understand why they were both so tired. They didn't go to bed late, and I know Leah didn't wake up early. Becca, I know falls asleep on long car rides, she has since she was little.
We were about a half hour away, when I got a phone call.
"Hello?" I said.
I didn't recognize the number.
"Is this Jacob Black?" a guys voice said.
"Uh, yah," I didn't know who was calling me, or even how they got my number.
"I'm Michael, Rachel's. I was supposed to meet her at your house, and when I got here, nobody was home. There was a note on the door with my name on it. So, I opened up, and I found your number," he said.
Where did Rachel find this guy? He sounds so queer.
"Rachel's at Forks General Hospital. She's been there for two days," I said.
"Why? Is she okay?!" he panicked.
"She is now," I said, "Here, call this number, and he'll tell you what to do."
I gave him Edward's number.
"His name is Edward. When he answers, ask to speak to Billy Black. That's Rachel's dad. I'm out of town right now, or else I'd help you," I explained.
"Thanks! Talk to you later," he said.
"Bye."
I closed my phone and put it on the center consul. Leah slowly opened her eyes.
"Who was that?" she whispered, still half asleep.
"One of Rachel's college friends," I said.
"Okay," she yawned, and wrapped my arm back around her, falling back asleep.
I smiled. When we pulled into a dead end road that was cut off by a forest, I stopped the car. The rain had stopped and the sun was starting to come out.
"Wake up girls!" I said.
I rubbed Leah's back gently. Becca lifted her head of the seat. I laughed at the fabric pattern printed onto her face.
"What?" she asked.
"You have marks on your face from the chair," I laughed.
"Where are we?" Leah asked.
"Well, we're not there yet, but we can't get the rest of the way by car. Don't worry, it's not far," I said.
"We have to walk?" Becca groaned.
"Yes," I laughed.
We stepped out of the car. The air was cold and humid, making the forest looking foggy.
"It's really humid!" Becca said, "And I'm wearing jeans!"
"There's a pair of sweats in my trunk, if you want those," I offered.
It was one of the warmer days of the fall. But winter was coming fast. Most of the trees were bare. The meadow wouldn't be as beautiful as it would be in the spring.
"Yes!" she ran around to the trunk and open the door.
There were piles of clothes in the back.
"Damn Jake! Do you, like, live out of your car, or something?" she asked.
"I have to keep extra clothes, it really comes in handy though. Especially with Quil and Embry, you never know what's going to happen. And if I ever lose my temper, I lose my clothes, too!"
Leah laughed, "Unfortunately, that's one of the down falls of being a wolf. It doesn't happen to me often."
"It happens to me all the time," I said.
I pulled out a trash bag under the mountains of clothes.
"See," I said, pulling out shredded pairs of sweat pants.
"It doesn't look like you lose too many shirts," she said.
"I don't ever wear shirts," I said.
"I can tell."
Becca took off her jeans and slid on a pair of sweats, tightening the waist band.