Chapter 5

I awoke well before my alarm clock, shut off the alarms, and showered. I threw on some boot cut jeans, some cowboy boots, a t-shirt, and my favorite hoodie. I grabbed my headphones, ran them through the top of my hoodie to the bottom, plugged them into my phone, and grabbed my helmet. I grabbed the keys to my bike, my book-bag, and walked to the front door. Dad's boot boomed on the stairwell, "Are you going to ride that bike again?"

"Yes Dad. I have to get to school."

"You know how I feel about that bike."

"And you know how I feel about it."

"I do not want you riding the damn thing."

"Dad, I love you, but I need my bike. Jake and I, we aren't talking right now. Things happened, and I just, I need my bike."

"Hunt, I love you, but no. Look, I'm sorry you and Jake had some falling out, but no bike."

"Dad, I promise I will be safe. It won't be like last time."

"Hunt, I dunno."

"Dad, trust me. I promise."

He looked me over, his eyes lingering on my arm where I had broke it last summer in the accident, "Just, be safe." He let me go out the door, thankfully, and watched me load my bag onto the bike. I put my headphones in, turned on my music, and started my bike. I put my helmet on and climbed onto my bike. I gave Dad a wave, and lifted my kickstand. I backed out of the drive, and turned my bike towards the road. I pushed off and revved up the bike, going faster and faster. I got going down the highway, and kept going until I could see the beaches. I pulled into the parking lot, and found a spot to park.

I spotted Jake standing next to his car, with the gang surrounding him. They all glanced over at me as I shut off the bike, and got off. I hung my helmet on the handle, and shook out my hair. It was a nicer day at school, so I took off my hoodie, and threw it into my bag. I threw my hair up into a pony, and threw my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my helmet. I walked towards the building, without another glance towards the group.

"Damn babe, you are looking fine today!" Le said, running up beside me.

"Thanks. I'm feeling better."

"You look better."

"Thank you. How was yesterday?"

"Eh, it was okay. Jake was asking about you almost all day. Asking if I had heard from you, and if you were okay."

"Mmm."

"Is it something you want to talk about?"

"No, not really. Just, I need some time." I said, stopping by first period. "Thank you for worrying about me, but I just need some time by myself. This isn't just something that gets better the next day. He said some hurtful things, and I just."

"Need time. I know. I got you. You take your time, just know I am right here, right behind you. I will support you with whatever you need."

"Thanks." I said, as the bell rang, and Le headed off towards her class. I went and sat down. I went through the motions of the day, and when lunch came around, I ate in the library again, reading. I finished out the motions of the day, and went to my back. I got to it, and saw a single rose laying on it, with a note attached, I'm sorry. was all it said. I looked around to see Jake leaning against his car, with his arms crossed over his chest. He was watching me, nodded, and got in his car and left. I ran the rose under my nose, and smelled its sweet smell. I slid it into the bag attached to my bike, along with my book-bag, and got on my bike. I started it up, heard its sweet rumble, and revved up the engine.

I slid out of the spot, and headed out of the schools lot. I stopped at the convenient store, and grabbed Jake's favorite candy. I paid, and left. I took a piece of paper out of my bag and wrote a note on it, I'm sorry too. But it doesn't change anything. I wrapped it around the candy, and tied it with a rubber band. I stopped at Jake's house, left it on his hood, and honked his horn. I got on my bike, waited for him to walk out the door, and see the candy bar. He looked at me, and I drove off.

I made it to my house, parked my bike, and went inside. Bella pulled in, and slammed her door shut, then came inside. "How was your day?" I asked, as she hung up her coat.

"It was fine. Are you making dinner?"

"No, I thought you might like to."

"Yeah, I do. I was thinking steak?"

"Sounds good. I'll be in my room. It's been a day, and I need some alone time."

"Alright. I will let you know when dinner is ready."

I just nodded and went to my room. I turned on my radio, and turned it up. I threw my bag onto my desk, and pulled out my homework. I worked on my math, and then English. I didn't have any other homework, so I grabbed my phone and laid on my bed, and played on it for a little while. It was about two hours before Bella knocked on my door, "Dinner's ready. Uhm, Dad invited some people over. So, we've got company."

"Who?"

"Billy and Jake."

"I'm not hungry. I think I'm just going to go on a walk." I grabbed my hoodie, noticing the rain outside. "I'll be back in a bit."

"You sure?" Bella asked, looking worried.

"Yeah." I said, and smiled reassuringly at her.

"Okay."

I put my headphones in, and walked out the door, careful to avoid Dad's gaze. Jake started to walk towards me, but I just went out the door and ignored him. I shut the door, pulled on my hood, and turned on my music. I walked down the road for a bit, then stopped and turned towards the woods, and walked a little ways in. I sat down on a log, and started thinking about all the events that have happened, and started tearing up. I missed my best friend. I missed the one person I talked to about everything.

I hung my head into my hands, and started bawling. I didn't know what to do. I sat there for a few minutes crying, just holding myself. I kept my eyes closed, as I didn't want to see if anyone was near and watching. I felt the log shift under me, and about jumped out of my skin. I glanced to my right, and saw Jake sitting there.

"What the hell Jake?" I screamed, ripping out my headphones and wiping my face.

"I followed you out here. I wanted to talk. Why are you crying?" He asked, swiping some missed tears off my face.

"You know why." I said, scooting away.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him, "You need to tell me. I can't read your mind."

I stood up and looked at him, "Seriously Jake? You want to act like you don't know?"

"Ki, I don't know. Tell me. Please." He said, standing and coming over to me, cupping my face in his hand and lifting my face to look at him.

"Don't Jake. Don't make me say it. Not again. I can't live without my best friend." I said, the tears coming back.

"Then you won't. Just tell me."

"I love you Jacob Black. I always have. And I probably always will." I said, stepping back. "But you don't love me. You love my sister. You always have. I'm not stupid." I turned on my heel, just to have him grab my arm and pull me back to him again.

"Ki, you don't get it. I do love you. I have for a while now, but I love her more. That doesn't mean we can't be friends. It just means we can't be anything more than friends."

"And that is why I can't do this. I knew I would loose you if I said anything. I'm sorry, but we can't be friends. I can't love you and look at you everyday, knowing it won't go anywhere." I jerked my arm away, and walked off towards the road, and back to my house. I could hear Jake yelling after me, but I couldn't stop. I had to get back to my room.

A few minutes later I made it back to the house, and back into the safety of my own room. I grabbed a pillow off my bed, and screamed into it. I went to the bathroom, locked the door, and started a hot bath. I needed to relax, and get my mind off the events that unfolded today. I heard someone come into my room, and knock on the bathroom door.

"I told you, I'm done talking to you."

"It's just me." Bella said.

I got out of the bath, wrapped my robe around me, and opened the door. "Sorry, I didn't realize it was you."

"Are you okay Hunt? What's going on?" She said, setting a plate of food on the counter.

"Its nothing." I said, wiping my eyes.

"Did he hurt you? Is that what's going on?"

"Bella, please."

"No, if he hurt you, I want to know. I'm not going to have my little sister hurting because of an overgrown boy. What did he do to you?"

I walked past her, grabbed me a drink out of my stash, and back to the bathroom. "Don't tell dad. About my drinking, or about what I am about to tell you."

She just nodded, and came into the bathroom, and shut the door. She sat down on the floor, while I climbed back into my bath. I opened my drink, and downed some of it. "Okay, you have to swear to not tell a soul."

"I swear."

"So, for as long as I can remember, it's always been just Jake and I. And you, when you were here for the summers. But then you stopped coming, and it was back to being Jake and I. We spent almost everyday together. We built my bike out front, we worked on his Rabbit, we did everything. A couple of years ago, he started to fill out, and become a man. Well, I slowly fell in love with him, more and more, each day. I've been in love with him, for what seems like a million years. I have always loved him, and I don't think I'm going to stop loving him. But there's one issue." I paused, downing the rest of my drink, and swiping away the tears that managed to escape. Bella handed me a warm washcloth, and I took it, rubbing my face. "He loves someone else." I managed to escape the last piece, before busting out into tears.

Bella ran over, and wrapped me into a hug, "I am so sorry. Is this what you meant by you didn't want to talk about it the other day? Is this what happened?"

I just nodded into her shoulder, and cried some more. She rubbed my back, trying to comfort me. I felt nice having someone there, other than Dad. I finally had a female that understood me. Bella helped me wash my back, and then left me alone to have some quiet. I sat there for a bit, letting the warm water calm me. I finally had to pull the plug and get out. I dried off and threw on my pj's, and walked out into my room. My phone went off with a message, so I checked it. Look on your nightstand, and under your pillow. I love you Sis. Try to get some sleep. You have school tomorrow. Goodnight. I looked on my nightstand and saw a plate of brownies and some milk. God, she is a heaven send right now. I pulled my pillow back and saw some candy bars sitting there. I smiled, picked them up, and put them in my nightstand drawer. I am so thankful to have a sister right now. I chowed down the brownies, and drank the milk. I took the dishes to the sink, and went back to my room and laid in my bed. I smiled, thinking of how great it was that Bella and I were finally bonding.