CHAPTER 2
Charlie walked in just as I put the couple different leftovers I had reheated for dinner on the table.
"Hey, how was studying?" He said as he walked into the kitchen.
I almost dropped the plate I was holding. Oops, I forgot I had told him that I would go study at Jessica's. I turned around to get myself a glass of milk so he couldn't see my face while I answered. "It was fine. I stayed longer than I thought I would so we're having leftovers."
"Leftovers are fine Bells, don't worry about it," he said as he dished up his plate. "Did you hear back from Jake?"
"No, but I did hear from Alice," I said with a smile as I watched his reaction carefully.
"Alice Cullen huh? It's been a while," he said hesitantly. He looked tense and there was definitely an edge to the way he said her last name.
I decided to give him Alice's phone excuse before he could get any more worked up. "Yeah, there's some mix up with their phones when they moved, changed numbers or lost numbers or something." I shrugged as I explained. "She apologized a lot. But she is visiting colleges and wants to stop by here. I told her yes, she'll be here tomorrow." I grinned.
He looked stunned for a moment, I hadn't shown this much emotion in a long time. "That's fine I suppose. Is she alone?" He said a bit gruffly.
"I think she said Jasper was with her." I mentioned him just in case he was seen in the next few days. "But it will just be her coming over tomorrow night."
"That's good then," Charlie finally relaxed, "I think it will be good for you to see her. I'll pick up some pizza for dinner."
"Thanks and yeah I'm really happy I heard from her." I said with my smile still in place. It was nice of him to offer that, not that Alice would eat the pizza.
Charlie just nodded and went back to eating. I was thankful I didn't have to make up any more excuses.
I escaped up to room with the excuse of more homework as soon as I could. While I waited for Charlie to finally fall asleep I thought back over what Alice said earlier. Edward wanted me to have a clean break from everyone but what about I wanted? At the very least I had wanted to say goodbye to everyone. He said didn't want me anymore, didn't love me, but Alice now said he was determined to protect me. And why had he stopped talking to his family? Or was he just off looking for other distractions? My head was spinning and my chest ached by the time I heard Charlie trudge up the stairs and close his door.
When I could hear him snoring I pulled my window open as high as I could, stuck my head out and stage-whispered into the darkness. "Alice? Jasper?"
"Be there soon Bella, just a small problem." Alice called from somewhere in the trees.
"What? Should I come outside?"
"No Bella, stay there," a deeper voice called. Jake? What on earth is he doing outside of my house in the middle of the night? He's been sick and ignoring me for almost 2 weeks and comes back now? Something about this just didn't add up.
I needed to see him and find out what exactly is going on here. Clearly I'd been given excuses and ignored. I checked once more for Charlie's soft snores and was out the back door as quickly and quietly as I could manage.
Alice stepped just out of the trees so I could follow her back and confront Jacob. I stormed after her, now that I was out of the house I could let my irritation show. I saw Jasper first, I couldn't quite make out his face but he looked stiff and uncomfortable. I felt myself calming down slightly as I got closer. I gave him a small smile and he did the same and nodded towards the other end of the small clearing.
"He says he just wants to talk to us, Bella," his tone suggested he didn't exactly trust that statement.
Perfect, I thought. I intend to talk to him too.
I finally turned towards Jacob and was shocked at his appearance. He was standing about 10 feet away from us in a small circle of moonlight. The extra light only made the drastic differences from the last time I had seen him more noticeable. His hair was now cut short and his face was hard. He did not look like my best friend at all. My breath hitched as I realized he looked like Sam.
"Jacob, what are you doing here? What happened to you?" My voice still had an edge despite Jasper's influence.
"I told you to stay inside." Jacob's eyes softened just a little as he looked at me, he still looked too much like Sam though.
"And I came out here to demand to know why you've been avoiding me for days, having your dad constantly make excuses for you or just outright ignore me, and yet you show up at my house in the middle of the night."
"I'm sorry Bells. I wish I could tell you," Jacob pleaded with me. "I'll keep my promise as soon as I can. I just have to figure out how." He looked pained now and part of me wanted to hug him. I wanted to try to bring the Jacob that I called my sun back but I couldn't do that yet.
"How Sam got to you, you mean? Or how to get away from him? I can't believe you joined his gang Jake!" He had been so scared of them a few weeks ago.
"You don't understand. I didn't understand when I told you about him." His voice rose as he spoke.
"Then explain it." I emphasized each syllable as I spoke and took a few steps closer to him.
"I-" he started again and stopped, his mouth hung open like he was struggling to find the words. His hands started trembling and he curled them into fists.
"Careful Bella, don't get any closer to him," Jasper interrupted us. I looked over to see he had Alice practically pulled behind him on his other side.
Jake growled and looked down, he took a few deep breaths before his hands relaxed.
Finally he looked up at me again. "I can't tell you, I'm sorry. But the worst thing is that you already know." He gestured in Jasper and Alice's direction.
I frowned and looked back at Jasper and Alice, both of them staring Jake down looking like perfect ivory statues in the slivers of moonlight through the trees. Does he know they're vampires now? He didn't believe in the stories when he told me last year.
I turned back to Jake feigning ignorance. "I don't understand, what am I supposed to know?"
He sighed and scrubbed his face with one hand. "Do you remember the stories I told you last year? All of the stories?" He searched my face for a hint that I knew what he was talking about.
All of the stories? I remembered the cold ones of course but what else did he tell me? I tried to remember but that just seemed like too much right now and he was distracting me from my intended purpose of yelling at him.
I shook my head and forced myself back on track. "Look Jake, I'll think about it, but that still doesn't explain why I haven't heard from you for almost two weeks now! Why would you do that? I thought you were horribly sick."
"I know, I'm sorry. It just isn't safe for us to hang out anymore."
"Why? Because of Sam again? He pulled you in and you have to drop all of your other friends? You could've at least called and told me this, you know. It would have been easier than constantly worrying about you."
"Aww Bells I'm sorry, really. I didn't know how worried you were." His voice was thick with remorse, "I want to-" he cut off again and shook his head with a huff.
"I'm sorry you worried," he started again, "but if you figure it out we can work on seeing each other." He smiled encouragingly and looked a little bit more like my friend.
"Sure. As long as you promise to at least return my phone calls or is that not safe enough either?" My irritation was fading now.
"I will call you. I promise," he nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay good." I looked at Alice and Jasper again still looking like statues and something else nudged at my brain. "What were you three doing before I came out? Why couldn't you come inside?"
"He wouldn't let us." Alice sniffed and turned up her nose a bit at Jake's perceived rudeness.
"What?" I nearly shouted. This just got way more confusing. "Why not?" I pressed when no one answered. "I get to decide who comes in my house and who doesn't." None of this was making sense. Why would Jake stop them in the woods of my backyard? I think I was just becoming way too tired to process any more weirdness today.
"He said we shouldn't see you and wanted to know why we were back." Alice finally answered, "but I've already seen you, and we should go inside now in case Charlie wakes up. Plus you really need sleep, Bella."
I nodded and Jake started to protest. I cut him off with a glare, "we're going inside Jake, who I see is my business. And I'm still a little mad at you so if you manage to return my next phone call maybe I can see you again too."
Jake's mouth pressed into a thin line before he answered. "Fine Bells, just remember what I said about the stories. I know you can figure it out. Call me or come to my house when you do."
"Sure, I'll do my best." I promised and then turned to go back inside with Alice and Jasper following me.
When we got to the back door Jasper spoke up. "Bella, I need to apologize for what happened on your birthday. I feel terrible that I lost control like that and caused this whole mess."
I shook my head to stop him "It was an accident Jasper, I was clumsy and got a stupid papercut. I've never blamed you, I forgave you right after it happened. I told Alice that before I even went home that night." I looked at Alice and she looked proud and maybe a little smug.
"I told you she would forgive you." she smiled as she grabbed Jasper's hand again.
He blinked at me for a moment. "Thank you Bella, that means a lot. I don't feel like I deserve it but thank you all the same."
"Let's talk more inside where it's warm Bella," Alice cut in. "I'm going to carry you because I'm quieter." Before I could even protest I was in her arms and back on my bed.
Jasper closed my bedroom door behind us and calmly sat in my desk chair. It was a little strange having vampires in my room again.
Alice tried to wrap my blankets around me and said "You really do need sleep Bella. You've had a very long day." Yeah, that's an understatement. I would have rolled my eyes but I suddenly realized I was exhausted. "Everything is fine, for tonight at least, from what I can see anyway." I could tell she was trying to be reassuring but had just a little edge to her voice.
"For tonight? and from what you can see?" I asked slowly, "what does that mean exactly. You have to tell me Alice, what about Laurent?"
"I mean we can continue to figure it out tomorrow." Alice placated. "I had my visions disappear again just like with you earlier. It's just so strange and I'm not entirely sure why yet."
"That is weird especially since it never happened before," I agreed. "And what about Laurent, could you track him or see him in a vision?"
Alice grimaced but Jasper spoke before she could answer. "Laurent is dead."
My eyes went wide with shock. "Wow," I said slowly "The wolves actually killed him? He ran from them in the woods."
They both nodded. "So you can hopefully sleep well because it will most likely take Victoria a day or two to realize he isn't coming to report on us." Jasper explained. "Seriously Bella I can feel how exhausted and worried you are. Alice and I will plan with the others and we'll fill you in in the morning."
"Okay then what about Jake? What am I supposed to remember or figure out?" I asked and finished with yawn.
"We're going to leave that one to you," Alice stopped me, "we can talk about everything in the morning."
I took a deep breath and nodded letting my head sink back into my pillow. I really was exhausted. One less murderous vampire to worry about was a good thing. Tomorrow Charlie could see Alice and that meant a little less sneaking around and I would of course be happier since they were staying so he should like that.
"Good night Bella," Alice sang and I figured Jasper was forcing away the last of my worry as I drifted off to the deepest sleep I had since my birthday.