Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A/N: Shout out to Axanna – your review from the last chapter made my day! I absolutely LOVE empowering women in real life and wanted to bring some of that to light in this story! :)

"Lost Boy" by Ruth B.
I am a lost boy from Neverland
Usually hanging out with Peter Pan
And when we're bored, we play in the woods
Always on the run from Captain Hook
"Run, run, lost boy," they say to me
Away from all of reality
Neverland is home to lost boys like me
And lost boys like me are free

BPOV

I'm sorry, guys. I probably won't be able to meet until around 7:30ish. Charlie's leaving for a camping fishing trip today, and I have some homework and chores I need to get done… It took a lot of groveling to get my dad to let me hang out with you guys tonight while he's away.

That was the text message I sent to Quil and Jake in a group chat.

It was early afternoon on Saturday now, which meant I survived my first full week back at school, but I had to make sure I didn't fall behind in any of my classes again after missing those two weeks from being in the hospital.

Bummer! Quil and I will wait for you on the beach if you wanna meet us when you're free later? Or we could come over and do homework with you?

Not sure it's a good idea for us to do homework together. The last time, we just studied the circumference of a pizza while laughing at Quil's jokes.

Hey, my jokes were worth us turning in our homework late.

Haha. I do think it helped that you've both been at my house a lot this past week for my dad to get to know you; otherwise, I don't think he would let me see you at all today.

That's good! We can't wait to see you tonight! :)

I smiled at Jake's last text message. I hadn't seen him since Thursday evening when we all did "homework" at my house. I missed him. I daydreamed for a second about how it felt last weekend to hold his hand and have his warm, strong arms around me as I snuggled into is chest. His lips were only inches away from mine when he kissed my cheek…

"Bells," Charlie said behind me, causing me to jump. I turned around in my desk chair to see him standing in my doorway. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay, dad. What's up?" I asked, trying to cover up the blush that appeared on my cheeks.

"I've got all my stuff packed up, so I'm about to head out. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Remember, we're just going to the lake nearby, so I'll have cellphone service. You check-in with me a lot, understand?"

"Yes, I will." I saw him frown. "Dad, I promise I'll be fine. I'm sorry that I've made you worry so much that you're afraid to leave me for one little night while you go fishing less than an hour away. I promise I'm feeling a lot better."

And that was the absolute truth. Ever since my therapy session and self-defense class on Monday, I've felt… good. I was sleeping without nightmares. I didn't feel like I was going to get triggered by something and have to hide under my blankets after taking an Ativan. I felt empowered and strong. I even told Tyler on Tuesday that he needed to educate himself on Rape Culture and couldn't talk to me again until he did. His face was pretty priceless.

"I know, Bell. I just worry. If I ever lost you…"

"You won't, dad. I promise."

He nodded. "Okay, well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes. Bye, dad."

He still looked worried before he walked down the hallway and down the stairs. I heard the front door close and saw him greet his friend outside as they left. I willed myself to focus on finishing my schoolwork. I took breaks and did some chores in between for the rest of the afternoon.

. . . . . . . .

I stopped at the store and grabbed some s'more stuff like Jacob and Quil instructed I do before meeting them at the beach. They said they were going to make a fire for us to roast marshmallows.

I pulled up to the beach and parked. I saw Quil waiting in the parking lot by himself. I got out, grabbed the grocery bag, and walked over to him.

"Hey!" I waved. "Jake's not here?"

"Nah, I haven't seen him yet. Let's go down to the beach and find a spot. I'll make the fire and we can wait for him."

"Okay, sounds good."

I pulled my phone out from my pocket. I had been running late, so it was weird that Jacob wasn't here yet. It was 7:45, and I didn't have any missed calls or texts from him. I followed Quil as he found a spot. He set up the folding chairs he'd carried down and got started on the fire. I was thankful when it was finally going because it was freezing. I held my hands out toward the flames and tried to warm my icy fingers.

Quil sat down next to me. "So, we picked up my mom yesterday."

"Oh, that's right! How is she?" I asked. I felt bad that I forgot to check-in with Quil about it earlier.

"She seems okay… She's at my aunt's organizing everything she can get her hands on. She says it keeps her busy, so she doesn't think about temptations."

"That's a productive way to distract yourself, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess. I just don't know where any of my shit is now." He laughed then paused for a second. "She seems different this time. A little better. I just hope it stays that way. I have some optimism about it for the first time in God knows how long."

I reached over and touched his arm. I didn't know much about addictions, but I really hoped Quil's mom could stay sober for him since he ended up in the mental health hospital the last time she relapsed. "I hope so too, Quil."

"Heeeeyyyy!" Jacob yelled loudly, sneaking up on us. "Sorry I'm late!"

I dropped my hand from Quil's arm and smiled toward Jacob's silhouette in the near distance. As he got closer to the fire, and I could see him more clearly, I noticed a huge, black ring around his left eye. It looked red and swollen, but he had it open.

"Jake!" I yelled as I spang up from my chair and over to him immediately. I reached up and gently touched his cheek, not wanting to hurt him, but also needing to see if he was okay. "What happened!?" I demanded.

"Eh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it!" Jake said before he hiccuped, giving me a strong whiff of his breath.

"Jake," I looked up at him incredulously. "I'm sorry… Are you drunk?"

"Ah, shit, Jake," I heard Quil say behind me. "I thought that stopped."

Jacob laughed as he tried to sit down in the folding chair near us but stumbled slightly. I grabbed his jacket, trying to steady him, but it was hard since he was so much bigger than me. "Mmm… Maybe just a little drunk." He held his index and thumb together, so they were almost touching, to indicate "a little."

"Why!?" I demanded.

He shrugged and tried to sit down in the chair again. "Why not!?" He said as I helped him sit down the best I could.

Once he was safely in the chair, I turned around to Quil with wide eyes. I was hoping he would know what was going on and could explain. Quil met my gaze and shook his head. He looked pissed, but I didn't understand why.

"Okay, someone needs to fill me in here. Now," I ordered. "What's going on?"

They both stayed quiet, so I turned to Quil. "You said you thought 'that stopped.' What were you talking about?"

Quil sighed and looked at Jacob. I followed his gaze and saw Jacob shake his head. "Jacob's gonna get pissed if I explain it to you. Plus, it's his story to tell, not mine… I'm sure that he probably got drunk with Sam, Jared, and Embry, though."

"Is that true?" I turned to Jacob.

He shrugged again as he reached for the grocery bag and tore open the box of graham crackers. He opened one of the sleeves and took a bite out of a cracker.

I was getting really worried about whatever was happening. Did one of those jerks – Sam, Jared, or Embry – hurt him? Was Jacob in some kind of gang or something? I understood Quil's loyalty to Jacob, so I couldn't be mad at him. I watched Jacob destroy the entire sleeve of crackers while he, still gracefully, danced in his chair to the music that some people were playing not too far from us. He, clearly, wasn't in any type of state to adequately explain to me what was going on.

"Have you eaten any real food today?" I asked him.

"Nah, not since breakfast." He said with his mouth full of graham cracker.

"Let's go get some food then." I said, standing up. "You probably need some water, too, and we don't have any here."

"There's a little diner right up the street that open until 9 or 10. We can walk there. It's super close." Quil said as he got up and took care of the fire. I folded the chairs up.

I held my hand out to Jacob to help pull him up. I folded his chair, too. Quil grabbed the chairs and grocery bag. I grabbed Jacob's hand and started towing him behind Quil. "C'mon, drunky."

Once we got back to the parking lot, Quil tossed everything into his car.

"You know, your hands are always freezing." Jacob mused.

"And yours are always warm."

"Maybe that means I'm supposed to hold your hands all the time – you know, to keep them warm. I wouldn't complain if I had to do that." He reached for my other hand then clumsily spun me around, so we were facing each other. I laughed and felt a blush creep up on my cheeks.

"Alright, lovebirds. Let's go get some pancakes. I swear to God if they are out of syrup again, I'm going to lose my fucking mind… Hey, have you heard about the maple syrup company that went out of business?" Quil asked as he started walking down the sidewalk. I pulled Jacob and follow him.

"No, I haven't." I responded.

"They're a bunch of poor saps." Quil responded. I chuckled.

"I got another one," Quil said. "What did the maple syrup farmer say when he saw a good-looking maple tree?"

"What?"

"I'd tap that."

I laughed again. "Quil, stop. You're making it hard for me to pull Jake when I'm laughing so hard."

"Oh, shit. Sorry," Quil stopped and turned around. He wrapped his arm around Jacob's back and made Jacob put his arm around his shoulders. "We've done this before, if you haven't guessed."

"You guys, I'm seriously not that drunk." Jacob commented.

"How much did you drink? Do you even know?" Quil asked pointedly.

"Uh…" he hiccuped again. "Like five beers and then a shot or two of something. I don't know."

"Yeah, that's what I fucking thought." Quil responded dryly. "That means you are as drunk as we think you are."

"Sorry, dad." Jacob retorted sarcastically.

I squeezed Jacob's hand. "Seriously, Jake, we're just worried about you… And when you're sober tomorrow, you are going to tell me what's going on."

Jacob laughed. "You're cute when you're stern… Well, you're always cute. But firm Bella is even cuter." I turned and glared at him. He chuckled again before responding. "Sure, sure. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

"Don't hold your breath." Quil muttered.

The diner was right across the street now. We crossed then made our way inside. The hostess greeted Quil by name then sat us down in a booth. Quil and I sat across from each other and Jacob sat beside me.

When the waitress came, I ordered four waters. I was going to make Jake drink at least two of them before we left. We ordered our food shortly after. Quil said we all had to get pancakes since it was the best thing on the menu.

"I think we should dance," Jacob said suddenly and loudly as he looked at Quil. "I think they have music here, don't they?"

Quil nodded to the left of the room. "Yeah, on their old school jukebox from like the '60s."

"I can get down with some Elvis… I think that's '60s, right? Whatever, just any music," Jake nudged my shoulder. "Let me out so I can go play a song."

I looked at Quil. "Think it's safe?"

"Eh, I don't think he can get into much trouble here." I looked around the room. There was only one family here on the other end of the restaurant. It was pretty dead. I got up and Jacob grinned as he walked over to the jukebox. He fished some quarters out of his pocket and plopped them in. He selected his songs. After a few seconds, "The Loco-motion" by Little Eva started blaring out of the speakers.

Jacob turned around, walked closer to our table and started dancing while singing the lyrics, "Everybody's doin' a brand-new dance, now. Come on, baby. Do the loco-motion!"

I started laughing while I watched him, unable to control it with how funny he was being. Even though he was drunk, this was something Jacob would do anyway. He was just being a little more exaggerated with it now. Well, and a little clumsier.

Jacob reached for my hands and tried to pull me out of the booth to dance with him, but I protested, shaking my head violently. "No way! I can't dance, Jake!"

"Please?" He gave me puppy dog eyes.

"No!" I yelled. "Make Quil." I nodded toward him.

"Don't fucking drag me into this," Quil scoffed. "I always have to deal with his drunk ass; it's your turn now, Bella."

"Always? How often does this happen, Quil?" I asked. Quil shrugged and gave me a sarcastic I-don't-know expression. I think he was trying to tell me that it happened often enough that it was an issue, but he didn't verbally answer.

"Maybe for the next song. I think you're gonna like it." Jacob winked.

He continued dancing while Quil and I laughed. Once that song was over, Jacob came back to the table and took a huge drink of water, to my satisfaction. The next song that came on was, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles.

I laughed at the irony of the song. My stomach and face muscles were going to be sore from all the laughing and smiling I was doing tonight.

Jacob reached for my hands and tried to pull me up again. "C'mon, Bells. You have to. Please, please, please!"

I rolled my eyes and reluctantly let him pull me from the booth.

"Your funeral!" Quil called to me.

Jacob grinned my favorite grin as he wrapped his arms around me and made us sway awkwardly together while we goofily sang the lyrics, "Yeah, you got that somethin,' I think you'll understand. When I say that somethin,' I want to hold your hand!"

Even though he was drunk, I couldn't help but feel giddy with his arms around me. While I stared into his dark brown eyes, I saw only happiness as we idiotically danced together. But looking at his black eye made me worry again.

I wondered now, more than ever, what was really hiding underneath his happiness. I wondered how often Jacob got drunk. I wondered if he was using alcohol to mask his pain in some way. I wondered what Jacob Black's secrets were and if he would ever let me in.