Chapter Ten
I don't wanna be a witness, to a path that's overgrown
I don't wanna see this house not be a home
'cause time has taken toll on what we couldn't see
No, I don't wanna be a witness to the end of you and me
Can't go back – Rosi Golan
-0-
October
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November
…
December
...
January
I awoke abruptly, with such a violence I flew off the side of my bed, landing in a tangled heap within my bed sheets. Wincing I rubbed at my hip which had taken the force of the fall and glared at the clock, before burying my head into my hands fighting back the urge to cry or scream from sheer exhaustion.
Agonizing screams filled the otherwise still house, the sounds of which only months ago would have sent me running to my sister's bedroom. Now, I was just so tired that I couldn't even find it in me to want to do that, to save her from the nightmare she was trapped inside. Rubbing the butt of my hands against my tired eyes I untangled my legs from the sheets and moved to stand up, glaring at the window. It was dark and still cold for early January. All I wanted to do was curl back up in bed, but I knew that wasn't an option, so I grabbed my pillow and headed out the room.
As I stepped into the darkened hallway, I was just about able to make out Dad stepping into Bella's room, his movements sluggish. Sighing sadly, I shook my head and slowly and quietly padded downstairs, making an immediate beeline to the couch. Laying down I pulled the throw hanging on the back of the cushions over me, making room for Kitchi to jump up as well. The now 4-month-old pup yawned before burying himself into the space against my chest. Lightly scratching behind his ears, I reached for the remote and switched on the tv, flicking through the channels until I found the old cartoons, letting myself get lost in the world of Looney Toons.
Maybe an hour later, after the screaming had begun again, I heard movement on the stairs. Dad, after going in to wake Bella again, had decidedly given up on sleep and made his way downstairs, where I was still laying on the couch watching Daffy Duck arguing with a very smug looking Bugs Bunny over whether it was Rabbit season or Duck season.
"Grace you need to try and sleep." Dad mumbled, hovering behind the couch.
"Tried that, doesn't look like it's happening tonight…again." I muttered back, my eyes stinging with lack of sleep. I heard Dad sigh softly, but he didn't reply, he just ran a hand over my head before heading into the kitchen, mumbling that 4am was too damn early to be starting the day. And yet, it's how we'd been living for the last 3 months.
Alone the last few months had been exhausting, purely down to the college process. SAT's, application deadlines, the blood drive, which had gone amazing I'll have you know, as well as working, studying, it had all taken its toll, but it had all felt so much worse because of Bella's depression. The sleepless nights, taking it in turns with Dad to wake her every time the screams began, both of us were running on fumes. It'd been a miracle I'd been able to focus on anything but a lot of it had to do with crashing at Angela's, getting a few good night's sleep here and there and using them as a sounding board during the college application period. I'd gotten all my applications in thankfully; I'd applied to my dream college and quite a few others. Bella, however, hadn't and despite me, Dad and even Mom trying to prompt her she just had no interest in applying. I could only hope that once she was through this, she could try applying late.
Edward had gone, as had the rest of the Cullen's. The evil bastard had left my sister in the middle of the forest and it had taken a search party to locate her, with Sam Uley finally being the one to bring her back to us. When she'd been brought home, she had been different, unresponsive…lifeless even. It had been terrifying, it still was. This wasn't Bella, yet for the last three months, she screamed bloody murder in her sleep, she was letting her grades slip, showing no interest in college or school or our friends. In fact, she'd taken to sitting at the Cullen's table at lunch, not eating just sitting there, alone. She was doing just the right amount to function during the day…
I hated it.
I had tried, I was always trying to get through to her, but nothing worked, nothing ever worked. She was lifeless and I hated Edward. I had found myself hating Bella for how she was acting, which in turn made me hate myself because I had realised that there was very good chance, she was depressed. That this was something mental that we needed to get looked at. Thankfully, I think Dad was starting to fall into my line of thinking, we needed to get her help…whether she liked it or not and maybe Forks wasn't where she would get it.
Only Bella had turned around and claimed she'd had plans with Jessica. Which I knew to be a lie but stayed quiet anyway, maybe if I did, she would start pulling herself out of this depression. So, when her and Jess had headed to the cinema last night, Dad and I had sat with our fingers crossed, just hoping. Bella had come home and said it had gone well but when Jess had ignored my txt's, I knew something had happened, but Bella simply claimed it was fine and headed to bed.
Feeling something cold and wet against my cheek I smiled tiredly and glanced down at Kitchi, scratching beneath his chin the way he liked. The little dog had grown so much since we'd brought him home and Doc Roberts had been happy with how he seemed to be progressing, so we were happy to. He was a cross between what we guessed was a border collie and jack Russell, he was perfect and such a lap dog it was unbelievable, Jake was as smitten with him as I was.
Jacob.
The last few months had been testing for our ever-budding relationship. Between all my school commitments and stuff here with Bella, he'd been incredibly patient. There'd been many times he'd come over to study, just so we got a little bit of time together. He was the only light for me at this moment in time, always finding his own unique ways to make me smile.
Picking up my phone I lit up the home screen and smiled at the picture of us staring back at me. It was scary in a way how close we'd become because I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if I got into college. There was an age gap between us, an age gap that was the source of a few jokes amongst certain people in school…luckily none of my friends but still, people talked. Talking I didn't mind, it was the stuff it brought to light I worried about…or tried not to worry about.
It was a little past midday when the sound of metal hitting stone jolted me from sleep. Blinking in confusion I frowned, I was fully clothed and not in bed, plus there was definite chill in the air. It was only when the familiar scent of oil and a throaty chuckle sounded that I realised where I was and what had happened. Groaning I turned to Jacob and grimaced. "I'm sorry." I mumbled, realising I'd fallen asleep on him again.
"You didn't drop the wrench," he joked, placing the tool back down before making his way over to where I was sat up on the battered sofa he'd had put in the garage. Wiping his hands on an oily rag he'd plucked up from the roof of the Rabbit, he tossed it aside and lifted my legs. Sitting down he placed my legs over his and lifted his arm up in invitation. Not wasting it, I immediately curled up against his chest, feeling an instant warmth when his arm came back down and around me. "I didn't mean to wake you." He apologised, as my hand wrapped around his as it rested on my lap.
"I'm glad you did. Can't be wasting another day together." I grumbled, hating the fact that the last few times we'd gotten to spend time together I'd fallen asleep. Jacob always understood however, but all that did was make me feel worse. Between my schedule lately it was hard to get uninterrupted days together, when we did, I was drifting off to sleep, I hated it.
"I wouldn't call this wasted…you look pretty cute when your sleeping..." he teased, making me smile. Looking up at him from where my head rested on his shoulder, my smile widened.
"You been watching me sleep Jacob Black?" I asked, he smiled and shrugged.
"Mostly I was watching you drool all over my couch…" he joked and this time I did laugh, pulling my hand from his to poke his sides, causing him to try and squirm away.
"I do not drool!" I protested, laughing when his hands tried to reach for my sides. A tickle war began to break out with me being the obvious loser again…to save myself though I lifted my hands, fisting them into the collar of his t-shirt and tugging him closer to me before pressing my lips to his.
Instantly his hands stilled, instead sliding around my back, and holding me tighter to him. Bringing my hands up to tangle in his unbelievably silky hair, which I knew would always be one of my favourite things to do. Though the first had to be kissing Jacob, it was almost like coming home…like the rest of the world just disappeared and I was right where I should be. As his fingers slid down my back and found the exposed skin between my t-shirt and jeans, I felt myself arch towards him and in response, he held me tighter.
The familiar roaring of an old chevy truck pierced through the moment before we could get any more lost in the kiss and I groaned as we pulled away. Whilst surprised that my sister was obviously pulling up outside, I was also frustrated, my sanctuary away from her drama was about to be invaded. Jacob half smiled and leaned in again to press a kiss to my lips, a much sweeter kiss before extracting himself from the couch and me. Standing he held his hand out and pulled me up.
"I could sneak us out the back?" he joked, making me smile as he nodded towards the back door to the garage.
"Tempting but…" I sighed and waved towards the entrance, giving his hand another squeeze. "Best go find out what's brought her here." I finished, smiling softly as he kissed the back of my hand before dropping it and moving outside, calling my sisters name. Combing my fingers through my hair and grumbling under my breath I followed in the direction he'd gone at a much slower pace, crossing my arms to ward off the chill.
As I drew closer to the truck and Bella, I watched with a deep frown as Jacob lifted a beat up, broken down motorbike and placed it on the ground. Shaking my head, I quickened my steps towards the two, watching the surprise as Bella acknowledged my presence for the first time. "Grace…?"
"What the hell are you doing with motorbikes?" I asked her, scowling as Jacob ducked his head and began wheeling the first towards the garage. Looking after him and then turning to Bella I shook my head. "You're not planning on riding them…"
"I thought Jacob could fix them up and…I dunno I guess I've always had an interest in them." She finished lamely, pushing her hands into the backs of her jeans. Frowning again, I scoffed in an extremely un-lady like fashion.
"Since when…?" I asked, holding my hand up to Jacob to stop him reaching for the other one before I rounded on him, "Don't tell me you agreed to help her with this."
"What's the big deal…so I want to try out a bike." Bella brought my attention back to her and I saw a flicker of something pass through her eyes, desperation almost. "Don't make a big deal out of this Grace…" she sighed, and I felt something inside of me threatening to explode. A big deal? Was she serious after everything she'd been putting us through for months all because her boyfriend left…and I was the one making the big deal over the fact she was acting insane by buying these death traps?
"Are you kidding me….?"
"Bella why don't you wheel this into the garage." Jacob suggested, pushing the second bike to my sister, halting whatever I'd been ready to throw at Bella. Bella smiled and nodded, ignoring me again and began to wheel the two-wheeled piece of scrap towards the garage. I watched her for a moment before turning back to Jacob. "Grace…"
"You do realise this is insane, right? My Dad is going to freak if he thinks she's getting on one of them Jake and he'll kill you for helping!" I exclaimed. Jacob nodded his head, not at all put out by the anger I was directing at him for this, instead he reached out and took my hand.
"I do realise that, but this is the first time in three months she's wanted to do anything. So, we rebuild them, chances are we won't get them running, but isn't it worth it to see her engaging again?" he pointed out and I reluctantly realised he had a point. In fact, when he'd given her the bike to take to the garage she'd smiled, and I realised quickly that was the first time I'd seen her do that since our birthday.
Maybe Dad didn't have to know. Maybe Jacob was right, and this could be something to help Bella get back in touch with the rest of the world. I missed my sister, so maybe I'd just have to learn to hold my tongue and just go along with this. Slowly looking back up at Jacob, I sighed and nodded my head, only managing a slight smile as he pressed a kiss to my forehead and took off back towards the garage. I didn't follow, instead I hopped up onto the back of the truck and sat, clasping my hands in lap.
For a moment, I just chose to sit. I didn't like lying to Dad, but maybe it wasn't lying but omitting the truth. I couldn't lie about something if he didn't ask, right? Jacob was Bella's friend too, maybe Dad could just take it as a positive she wanted to hang out a little more…maybe he wouldn't push to find out why she was going to be here so much. Nodding my head, I forced myself to be okay with this and hopped back down, heading towards the garage, and forcing a smile onto my face.
-0-
And so, began a new sense of calm in our otherwise hectic lives. Bella appeared to have a handle on her nightmares to a degree, granted they still plagued her sleep, but it wasn't every night anymore which I'm sure Dad, like me, was extremely grateful. Like I'd expected, Jacob's sunny nature was having a positive effect on my sister, it was hard to feel anything negative around him, he brought a light out in people without even realising it.
Despite hating the fact Jacob was helping her to rebuild two motorbikes I couldn't deny how alive my sister seemed to be. Now our conversations stretched to more than just one word, she was even making an active effort to engage in dinner and conversation with Dad. So, I refused to worry about the bikes and instead focus on the positives it was bringing out in my sister. I trusted Jacob to take care of her, I truly did and if just a little time hanging out with him like this was having such a positive effect on her, then who was I to question why or even worry.
The weeks continued to pass by in an uneventful fashion. Bella would spend some days after school at the reservation and even some of her weekend. Whilst I wasn't too keen on having to share, I relented because I couldn't deny how well she was doing. It just meant I wasn't getting enough time with my boyfriend and we'd already been getting next to no time together before. So, when it came to the Friday before he was set to go the movies with both Bella, Mike and the gang, something I couldn't attend due to four hours shift I had tonight at the café, I decided to swing by Jake's after school and we'd hit the beach. Even if we could only get an hour together, just us it was an hour well spent.
"Face Punch? Really?" I laughed as we walked hand in hand along the beach, Jacob chuckled and nodded his head, kicking the sand with his toes.
"Sounds cheesy, I know but your sister chose it," he pointed out, laughing when I just nodded my head with a face that said I clearly didn't believe him. "I wish you could come, gonna feel a little weird just me."
"But you'll have Bella there and the guys are great." I pointed out, "You guys met at the campfire remember, you got along then." I added, watching a small frown appear on his face before he stilled. Following his line of sight along the beach, my eyes immediately landed on Embry Call.
I was stunned as I stared at the young man who I'd once considered a good friend. The transformation from the boy I'd once knew to the one now stood no more than 20 metres in front of us was terrifying. Gone was the long hair, instead it was now short and cropped. Now he stood over 6ft with muscles I knew hadn't been there before, dressed in only cut-off jeans with no shirt the difference was incredible. He was completely different yet at the same time, still the Embry I'd laughed and joked with all those months ago, his brown eyes still held that boyish youthfulness though now, there was a trickle of fear that didn't belong.
As he drew closer to us, I felt Jacob tense, his grip on my hand tightening and I could have sworn I felt his skin starting to warm up, but I knew I had to be imagining that part.
"Jacob."
"So, you do remember my name." Jacob grumbled and there was a hardness to his voice I'd never heard before but then again it wasn't surprising. After all Embry had all but abandoned his lifelong friendship with Jacob and Quil, choosing instead to hang out with Sam Uley and his gang. I was worried, Embry had been my friend also but Jacob's worry over Sam Uley was beginning to rub off on me, especially because he was convinced, they were looking to recruit him into whatever the hell this was.
"Can we talk? Alone." Embry asked, his eyes flickering to me. I frowned at the dismissal and held onto Jacob's hand a little tighter as he held me firmly by his side.
"Whatever you got to say you can say in front of Grace." He said, and I felt a rush of warmth course through me when he kept me by his side. Forcing myself not to smile at his words I looked from Jacob back to Embry whose eyes had flickered past us.
"He asked nicely."
I froze at the voice, turning my head at the same time Jacob did to see we'd been joined by three others now stood behind us. Sam Uley, Jared Cameron and Paul Lahote. All of them scarcely dressed like Embry, their imposing yet impressive figures had me on edge and immediately feeling boxed in. All of them were focused on Jacob, with Paul shooting me a dark stare when I continued to remain where I was.
The council and even Billy Black all spoke highly of Sam according to Jacob. None of them acknowledging Jacob's concerns or the concerns of other members of the community. Since they didn't sit right with Jacob, they didn't sit right with me especially when I could see how different Embry was now. Swallowing past the lump in my throat and trying my hardest to quash the ball of fear now settled into the pit of my stomach I refocused my attention on Jacob, who was locked in a steady stare out with Sam.
Squeezing his hand, a little tighter I gently tugged him a little, willing him to just move so we could get away from them. He didn't though, he remained rooted to the spot and if possible, I could have sworn he was standing taller by another inch, his figure closely starting to resemble the others around us. One thing I was sure of was the heat radiating off his skin, frowning I looked down at our intertwined hands seeing nothing different only the slight tremble in his hold. "Jacob…"
"Beat it pale face." Paul bit out, my focus snapping to him. Jacob turned to look at him, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Don't talk to her." He growled and what surprised me is it sounded like an actual growl. The trembling in his hands felt worse and I felt as though my own were doing the same. There was no one around but us and I couldn't help but feel scared.
"He's right, she needs to go." Sam said and I glowered at him, refusing to move and leave Jacob.
"She, is standing right here and she, isn't going anywhere without Jacob." I snapped, turning my head to look at Embry who wouldn't meet my eyes. Scoffing I looked away and back to Jacob, giving his hand another tug to try and move him or get him to focus on me at least. "Jake come on…" I said quietly, pleading with my boyfriend to focus on me. Instead, he shook, he glared at Sam with such a hatred I found myself momentarily stunned, that look didn't belong on my Jacob's face.
Ignoring the others and the feeling of being boxed in and ignoring the fact that Jacob's body seemed to ripple the longer we stood there I drew myself closer to him. Wrapping my free hand around his arm, I moved, giving his arm another tug, and forcing his attention onto me. I watched as he reluctantly began to turn away from Sam, blinking down at me as though he was surprised to see me there. Just like that though as soon as his eyes were on me the trembling seemed to lessen and the tension slowly began to seep out of his body. My thumb lightly brushed against his arm and I smiled softly, "Come on Jake, let's go." I whispered.
"Yeah…" he said softly, pulling his arm away only to wrap it around my shoulders. Ignoring the dark, somewhat confused looks from the four hulking figures around us, Jacob tucked me tightly into his side. Going willingly, I wrapped my arm around his back, my other hand resting against his stomach as he began to lead us away, neither one of us looking back at those staring after us as we made our way off the beach and towards the recently finished Rabbit.
"You okay?" I asked, feeling a little shook from that strange encounter. Jacob didn't answer for a few moments until we stopped near the passenger side of the Rabbit. He looked down; his face contorted into an expression I hated. Whatever had happened down at the beach had him freaked, I knew how much all of this was worrying him and I hated the fact that not even Billy would take into consideration how Sam was making his son feel. Instead, Billy continued to praise Sam, dropping idiotic hints that Jacob would one day, understand what Sam and the others were doing for this community.
Sighing I pushed up onto my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a tight hug, quietly making sure he knew he wasn't alone. I had his back even if no one else did. Jacob's arms locked around my back as he held me tighter to him, his face pressed into the crook of my neck as he sighed deeply.
"I could call in sick to work." I offered up after a few long minutes of us just holding each other. As we separated, I pressed a kiss to his lips, "We could head to my house, binge watch some more episodes of The Gilmore Girls." This time he laughed as I pulled back, the sound of which eased some of the bad feeling in my stomach.
"Thanks baby but I think I'll be okay. Plus, this film sounds that bad I gotta watch it." He said and I nodded my head in agreement. Still tempted to call in sick just so I could stay with him. Despite my outward appearance I was freaked my what had happened, and I couldn't shake off that nagging, bad feeling I had.
"Well, I expect a full breakdown when I call later." I reminded him, smiling as he saluted to my request before leaning down to press another lingering kiss to my lips. It was a kiss just like the many others we'd shared over the months, but it made my tummy flip and my heartbeat faster. There was no doubt in my mind I had fallen for Jacob, hard…I loved him. I loved him; I think I always had. We had yet to say those words to each other but at the same time, I didn't really think it needed to be vocalised, I knew he felt the same and one day we'd say it out loud but for now, we were content in learning all this together.
"Come on, let's get you to work." He said, chuckling as I pouted. Against my better judgement I let him go, sighing dramatically as he rounded the car to his side, Jacob smiled brightly at me and I found myself unable to do anything but return it. Letting my eyes linger on him for a moment longer, I laughed lightly and shook my head, climbing into the rabbit, not knowing that this would-be last time in a while I'd see or even talk my beautiful boyfriend.
Tonight, was going to change everything and I hadn't even known it.
-0—
"Jake, it's me again, just call okay or txt just let me know you're okay. Bella told me what went down…please, just let me know you're okay."
Hanging up the phone I stared down at the screen blankly, unable to ignore that ever growing feeling of dread now building in the pit of my stomach. Since the beach it had been growing and when Bella had come home and told me what had happened at the movies between Jacob and Mike it had been growing.
What she had said about Jacob almost lashing out and going for Mike didn't sound like my Jacob, that wasn't the kind of person he was, he wasn't violent and there's no way he would've hurt Mike, he liked him. Then she'd told me he'd been burning up and I had to ignore the urge to ask her how she knew his skin was so hot, instead focusing on the fact he might be sick. I'd felt it myself down at the beach how hot he'd been getting during the confrontation with Sam. Had he gotten ill? I knew there was a flu going around but…he'd seemed fine after we'd left the beach.
Combing my fingers through my hair I continued to quietly pace in my bedroom, holding on tightly to my phone. Stopping beside my window I stared out into the darkness, hoping for something to explain to me what was happening. When all I was met with was quiet, I sighed and turned back around. It was late and chances were if Jacob were sick, there's no way he'd be calling tonight, so I reluctantly crawled into my bed, making sure the ringer was on my phone before laying it down on the nightstand.
Rolling onto my side I stared at the photo of Jacob and I on my nightstand. It had been at the camp out all those months ago and the both of us were laughing at each other, no idea that the camera was on us as we both sat beside the fire, roasting our marshmallows. It was a random moment but by far one of my favourite pictures.
Scowling into the darkness I made a promise with myself that if I got some sleep now, and I still hadn't heard from Jacob tomorrow, I'd call Billy. So, closing my eyes I began to succumb to the tiredness I was feeling but had been ignoring, my stomach twisting dangerously as a heart wrenching, ear piercing howl sounded from somewhere outside in the darkness…
That sound followed me right into my dreams…
-0-
So here we go! Chapter Ten, the beginning of the end for any normalcy for Grace. I've been so excited to share everything that happens from now on, with you! I can't believe we're finally here and all the fun stuff begins! I hope you guys are excited too and enjoy not only this chapter but everything that is set to follow.
Once again shoutout to new followers and favourites: inka363, YoursTrulyKarri – hope to hear what you guys think!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review's guys!
Sarah0406 - Thanks for picking up on that little mistake love, couldn't believe I missed that on the many, many read throughs I did before posting. I really appreciate it! Thanks again.
Twin268 – Thanks for another great review love! So glad you're enjoying this story so much, really makes me happy. I don't even know where the puppy scenario came from, it just happened but it turned out to be a very happy accident. Hope you liked the name as well, I researched a lot of Indian names for 'Brave' and Kitchi felt so fitting for the little pup. I really cannot wait to hear what you think about these upcoming chapters I have ready to post as you can see from this one, things are set to pick up and go off now Grace has sort of figured it out about vampires! Anyway I'm waiting eagerly to hear what you think of this chapter! Thanks again lovely!
Guest – Thanks for the lovely review! Pass a name over next time love so I can give you a proper shout out and thanks. I love Charlie, absolutely adore his character and hated how underused he was. As a reader I really disliked how he was treated in the books by Bella. We know she loved him but how he was treated really frustrated me, don't even get me started on the times she ran away and the hurtful things she said to him whenever she did. You'll be seeing a lot more of him, and I have plans to really bring him into the story in regards to the supernatural world. Guy deserved to know what was happening a lot sooner. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
XOXMaximumcullenXOX – Thanks for the review lovely! So glad you're loving their relationship as much as I'm loving writing them. A lot more is set to happen that could either make or break their relationship so I hope you stick around for more and enjoy what I have planned!