Chapter 25: Bits and Pieces

Disclaimer:These characters except for Michelle Chen, Chad, Matt, Cisco and Curro are the property of S. Meyer. The story is mine.

Bella's POV:

I still had two more finals to complete tomorrow, and I was in no shape emotionally. My heart and mind were far away in a small prison cell at SeaTac. I kept hearing Jacob's baritone in my head lecturing me, "C'mon Bells, don't be stupid, you know you have to do well on these finals. Besides, I could never love a brainless bimbo. Intelligent girls are always the best, and I know you're intelligent, 'cuz you were smart enough to choose me, right?" I could imagine his infectious laugh, and even though I knew it was just a figment of my imagination, I decided he was exactly right. I had to do well if not for me, then for my Jacob.

I fixed dinner for Charlie and we ate it together in silence. There were no more tears to be shed. My quota had been filled over this past horrific week. My tear ducts were as desiccated, as the billabongs of Australia after a drought. Charlie patted my hand before I got up from the table to clean the kitchen. He tried to console me, "Don't worry, Bells, I have some old friends at the prison. I spoke to Curro and Matt about Jacob. They're going to keep a lookout for trouble. They promised me that no harm would come to him." I shuddered to think about what could happen.

I knew Jacob was pretty well equipped to defend himself, but what if some thugs ganged up on him? Could the guards get to him in time? I had to put it out of my mind and focus on the task at hand. I studied until it was time for sleep. Then I did something that I hadn't done in a long time—I got down on my knees and begged my Father in heaven to watch over Jacob and lighten his burdens. I didn't deserve any answers to my prayer—but this was for my Jacob, and he certainly did.

I got up in the morning, showered, threw on a green sweater and some jeans, and dragged a comb through my tangled wet hair. I grabbed my pop tarts as I waltzed out the door. I was determined to do well on my exams. I could almost hear Jacob say, Damn, Bells, go get 'em girl!

The math test wasn't as bad as I anticipated; probably my extra studying had something to do with that. After it was over, I had an hour to kill.

Angela was outside at one of the picnic tables, waving at me. She was between exams too. She handed me a book. "I know you and Jacob are going through a tough time. I thought this book might help. Keep it. It's yours if you'd like it, that is."

"Thanks Angela. You have no idea how much your support means to me. No one else seems to care about Jake, after all, he's just a poor boy from the rez."

She tilted her head, her kind eyes filled with concern. "Yes, and Jesus was just a carpenter from Nazareth ... Being poor isn't the epitome of who you are. It's what you do with the talents that you're given; it's how you make other people better for knowing you. I have seen how that poor boy from the rez lifted you up, and made you Bella again. You were spiritually dead—and now, the light is back inside of you. It's all because of Jacob. It's no wonder that you love him."

"How did I get so lucky to have a friend like you?"

"Maybe we were sisters in another life," she laughed.

I took the book, and tucked it into my back pack.

Angela sat up straighter and looking excited, said, "So, Did you hear the latest about Chad?"

"Do I have to?" I groaned.

Angela looked down at the worn wooden table, "Well, I guess I wouldn't want to hear anything about him either."

I felt bad putting a muzzle on Angela. She was the only good friend I had left, besides Jacob. Angela wasn't one to gossip either. I relented ... "Alright, I'm sorry. Go for it."

Angela hesitated, and then blurted out, "He's been accepted at Yale. But get this ... he's going to be attending Penninsula College until September, so he can get some prerequisites out of the way."

Holy cow! Did that mean I had to run into him all summer long?

"Thanks for letting me know Angela. Maybe I can keep my antenna cocked so I can avoid him like the plague that he is." Good grief, and I was so looking forward to his absence this summer.

"You're right. Sometimes these girls can't get past the good looks, but I'll take a good heart any day."

We passed the rest of the hour talking about our plans for the future. Angela rehearsed her Valedictorian speech for graduation on Friday. She asked me for any suggestions, but I thought the speech was perfect as it was. The warning bell rang, and we both trudged off to chemistry to face our final exam.

Chad had the sense to sit as far from me as possible, but I could still feel the weight of his stare occasionally. I finished my final and was ready to turn it in when Chad got up from his seat at the same time. I sat back down and Chad gave me a questioning look. I changed the direction of my gaze, taking one last glance at my papers. After he returned to his desk, I got up and handed my finished work to the teacher. When I settled into my chair, I noticed that Chad was still writing something on a piece of paper. He folded it neatly and handed it to the guy on his left. It traveled to the back of the room and finally found its way to me.

He looked back over his broad shoulder, smoothing his thick sandy hair back over his ears in a nervous gesture. The intensity of his ice blue eyes sliced through the space between us, entreating me to read his note. I locked eyes with him and answered his entreaty by carefully tearing the paper into tiny pieces. I didn't give it the consideration that he had hoped for. Toooo bad! I gathered the fragments in my right hand, and as I passed by his seat, I sprinkled the bits over his head. Was that a mean thing to do? Yep! Did I give a hill of beans? Nope!

I raced home, with one thing on my mind. Charlie knew I'd be anxious to send my love to Jacob via the postman, so naturally he left the address to SeaTac on the kitchen table. He also attached a note saying, "The stamps and envelopes are in the bottom drawer of my desk in the living room." I snatched up the address, an envelope and a stamp and took it to my room. I got out my scented paper and started to write. The words flowed straight from my heart onto the blank sheet:

Dear Jacob,

I miss you terribly. I'm so, so sorry that everything turned out this way.

You know that I love you and would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. If I had a magic wand you'd be sitting beside me in my room right now, distracting me in the way that only you can. I miss your warmth, your sunny disposition, your laugh, that silly grin that sets the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Most of all, I miss those hugs that wrap me up in the security of your arms, and bring peace to my soul ... (It goes without saying, that my lips are lonesome for the touch of your lips).

Know this ... I'll wait for you as long as it takes. I'll pray for your safety every day, and that you'll be free to come home soon.

I love you, Jacob. Please don't ever doubt that.

With all my heart, mind and strength,

Your Bella

I slipped the letter into the envelope, sealing it closed with the flick of my tongue. I ran down the stairs and out the door. Jumping into my truck, I and headed off to the post office and lovingly deposited it into the mail slot. I crossed my fingers, willing that Jacob would receive it in a day or two.

Renee surprised me by showing up at the door Friday morning. It was a bittersweet reunion. We went out to lunch, dragging Charlie away from the police station. It was almost as if we were deluding ourselves. But for this span of time, we were once again, an intact family. The delusion was nice, as delusions go. Renee took pictures of us all together. I should've put those in an album entitled My Fantasy Family Life.

After lunch, Mom helped me pick out a dress at the mall. I basically went through the motions. I didn't really care if I wore a burlap sack to graduation. Mom actually picked out the frock, a lavender velvet sheath with cap sleeves and fitted bodice, with a satin ribbon cinched at the waist, very un-me. My thoughts immediately drifted to Jacob. Once again, his voice boomed in my head, Wow, Bells ... that dress is ... well ... that is ... jeez ... I'm speechless. You take my breath away, honey!

My hallucination was interrupted by Renee's comment. "You're awfully quiet," she commented. "Something wrong? I thought you'd be all excited. This is a milestone in your life, Bella." Her forehead was wrinkled in concern, her pale blue eyes encouraging a response from me.

Ugh! Rene and her intuition. As usual, she was right on the mark. No sense in ruining her day ...

"I'm a little nervous—you know—being in front of all those people, trying not to trip. I guess I also feel bad letting you spend all this money on a dress I'll wear for one night."

Renee settled the argument. "You only graduate once, Bella. You're my only child, and I get to spend money on you if I want to. Make your mother happy, okay? Smile for me, this is not a funeral we're preparing for."

I flashed her a forced grin. "There are you happy now?"

"Yes, that's a little more like it!"

Back at the house, Renee helped me get all gussied up. She cried softly as she brushed my hair, piling it softly on top of my head. When I was ready, I could tell that Charlie and Renee were pleased with the results. Charlie let out a breath with a loud whoosh. "You look beautiful Bells."

"Of course she does," Renee chided, "she's our daughter."

They both beamed as we drove to the high school.

The ceremony itself passed in a blur. The diplomas got handed out one by one, and I walked up to the podium while Charlie and Renee cheered me on. I heard some rooting from the back of the auditorium. I looked back to see who was making the racket. There, sitting in a huddle, were Billy, along with Quil, Embry, and the Clearwaters—Sue, Seth and surprisingly, even Leah. That afforded me some comfort, but I still felt the absence of one particular person. There was an empty seat in that huge room that no one else could possibly fill. My celebration was incomplete without him.

I kept up the charade as we dined at The Lodge. All of Jacob's extended family shared a mealwith us. Billy was just as proud of me as Charlie and Renee. Everyone was chatting away. Leah was almost cheerful. She and I discussed our travel arrangements to and from Peninsula College. Sue offered her home to me during the week while I was in school. What could Charlie say? He was a sucker for Sue, or was I imagining things? It seemed like there might be a budding romance going on.

The celebration finally came to an end. Billy and Sue gave me a congratulatory hug, and Seth and Leah followed suit. Embry embraced me next, but when Quil took me in his arms, it seemed a little toooo long. Embry pulled him away. "Okay Quil, I think she gets the picture. We're all proud of her. Some more than others it seems," he muttered under his breath. "Time to leave now before Charlie Shoots you. Let's go."

Jacob's POV:

I quickly surveyed my surroundings—a cot, a sink and a commode. I was almost expecting an empty tomato can positioned in the corner. Thank you, health department!

I didn't think I would be able to sleep tonight, but I konked out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Before I knew it, it was morning and one of the guards opened my cell and told me I had a visitor. She looked like Bella ... could it possibly be?

"Hey, Jake. Are you okay? They didn't hurt you did they?" Damn, it was Bella. What was she doing here? How did she get here? Then I thought who cares?

"Yeah, I'm good, as good as can be expected, considering ..."

Bella stood there fidgeting, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She wasn't extending her arms out to me. There was too much space between us. That was not a good sign. Her eyes looked lost, and she was biting her lower lip like she did when there was something hard to say.

"Spit it out Bells. I know something's wrong. What is it?"

"I'm really sorry, Jake. Michelle says your trial won't start for months, and I don't know if I can wait that long ... Chad came to the house. He begged me to forgive him. So I have ... and ..." she started to cry. "Jake, please don't hate me. I didn't mean to. It just happened. I've started to have feelings for him. I came here so you wouldn't find out when you came home, I mean ... find out ... that we're not together anymore."

I was stunned. "What are you saying? Bells, you promised. You told me that you would wait. You said you would always love me. Forever, Bells, you said forever. This can't be happening!"

She started to back up and rapped at the door. The guard opened it a crack as she turned to face me once more. "I've gotta go; I'm so sorry, Jake," she murmured, as she walked away.

"Bells, no! Don't go. Please, Bells, let's talk about this. Bells, come back, I'm begging you. Bells," I shouted. "Bells, don't leave me ...! Bells!"

Just then I heard a loud thumping on the outer wall. "Hey, chief, keep it down will ya? I'm trying to get some Z's here ... Crazy Indian! Yelling about some stupid bells. Why aren't you dreaming about a girl like a normal guy? Hells bells!"

I woke up with a start. My face was beaded with sweat. Several voices were roaring simultaneously, "Shut up down there," and "Go back to sleep, morons! Bells, my arse! Duermate, gatos! Es muy facil ... Cierra los ojos."

The noise died down after a few minutes and I fell into a dreamless oblivion.

The next morning started early. Two guards came to escort me around the prison. The taller one was Matt Delaney, a ruddy cheeked guy, with smiling Irish eyes, grey-blue in color. His light brown hair was balding prematurely. He wasn't quite as beefy as I was, but he looked like he could be a scrapper. He was easy going, fairly quiet, with a good sense of humor. Now Curro Castillo was something else altogether ... He was a non-stop talker for one. "Hola, Jacob, como esta? Charlie sent me to be your guardian angel. My name's Gabriel ... get it? Angel Gabriel ... Never mind ... my friends call me Curro, 'cause I'm such a flashy dresser and a great dancer. The ladies love me. They call me the Handsome Spaniard. We are gonna be such great amigos, I can see it in your eyes. They are so intent on absorbing my every word." I was actually waiting to see when he was going to take a breath. "Let us take a stroll then, Jacob."

I gazed at Matt. "Is he always this eager first thing in the morning?"

Matt answered warmly, "Pretty much."

As we were walking past the adjoining cell, a scar faced, darkly tanned inmate named Cisco let out a wolf whistle. Besame, bebe'! Mira, muchachos—carne fresca. He finished by making kissing noises. (Translation: Kiss me baby! Look guys, fresh meat!).

Cisco, cierra la voca. Tu esta bajos fondos sociales, Curro retorted. (Translation: Shut your mouth, Cisco. You're the scum of the earth).

"Stay away from Cisco Andrade, Jacob. He is one mean hombre—bad to the bone. He is Diablo incarnate and can make your life hell."

We continued down the row of cells, most of the men taking Cisco's lead and kissing the air as I went by, giving me leering looks. It made my flesh crawl.

Matt and Curro showed me around the mail room, the mess hall, the courtyard, the vegetable gardens, the library and game room and last of all the garage.

"Charlie tells me you are numero uno with car engines. Is that so?" Curro turned his bright blue eyes on me for an answer.

"I know my way around a garage, yeah."

Curro shook his curly black hair in amazement. "Bueno, the warden will love it. His Chevy truck has more problems than a pearl diver in a school of sharks. Jacob, you need a job, and the warden needs a running truck. It's a match made in prison, no?" He slapped me on the back and shook my hand till my teeth rattled. Matt shrugged his shoulders, and nodded his head in agreement, a smile breaking over his face.

I guess things did look a little brighter. I could pretend the truck belonged to Bella, and if I couldn't hold my girl's hand at least I could wrap my hand around a greasy wrench and listen to the purr of an engine. All that would be missing was the warm root beer and the paper bag.