Chapter IV

An unannounced visit

I tried not to think too much about what happened that day. If not for the doctor appointments, probably again I would fall in the same state I've been in for the past few months. Several weeks have passed since the unfortunate meeting at the Black home. Spring break was coming up and I was eager to see Jacob. School, work in the Newton store and the enormity of duties at home effectively drove me away from thinking about what actually happened the between me and my childhood best friend. I didn't do anything wrong, Charlie tried to talk to Billy several times about it, but this onereluctantly answered his calls. Charlie missed a friend and their fishing trips together. We both couldn't understand why Jacob's father was trying so hard to keep us off the reservation.

" No, I don't understand Billy...", " How can you... Why are you doing this...?", "What security...? "

"You can't just separate them! No.. and your son... Damn Billie, I'm sick of this! No, I won't calm down...! "

" I don't understand and I don't want to understand!".

"See you later!" exclaimed Charlie, nervously flicking down the phone.

I felt like a 5-year-old overhearing Charlie's conversation with Billy. I still didn't understand what was actually going on. Some strange twist of fate decided that my best friend would never appear in my life again. If that's the case, then I'll have to live with it. I've survived Edward, and I can survive him too. Apparently I wasn't the right company for Jacob, or maybe I betrayed his trust by not speaking to him all these years? He had a right to do that, and I had no right to doubt it or force him to be friends with someone like me. I have to respect his decision, I thought as I curled up in a ball on my bed.

The next day I couldn't get out of bed, I felt numb and the pain in my muscles wouldn't let me even move my arm.

"Char-. Dad?"

"Are you okay, Bells?" he called from downstairs.

"I'm not feeling very well today, maybe it's better if I stay at home? I don't want to faint in class and then you have to pick me up from school. It must be some kind of flu."

"Fine, but only if you don't try to do anything around the house today, no cooking or cleaning. You have to rest, understood kid?"

"Of course Chief Swan!"

"I brought medicine, everything I could find in the house. I'm not a doctor, but you have something for pain and something for the flu here. This should be enough. After work, I'll buy something at the pharmacy, if you need anything, call me. I brought you some toast too, I guess that's it..."

"Thanks dad."

"No problem, kid. Get some rest. See you soon!" he murmured, kissing my forehead.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts continued to race to the recent events at La Push. Just as I was falling asleep, I heard a strange tapping on the window. Edward? It's not him, he promised never to come back. Not knowing what was going on, I walked slowly to the window, pulled back the curtain and saw none other than Jake himself. What was he looking for here? I thought he didn't want to see me...

He noticed me looking at him from the window.

"Bells, I know you're there! Please let me in. We need to talk." His face was wrapped in a mask of seriousness.

"Jake." I called as I opened the window. "What do you want? You don't hate me anymore!?" I was not only angry but also frustrated.

"Step aside, I'm coming in."

"What? Through the window? Are you crazy?"

"Bells, you better step aside. If I were you, I would take this advice to heart. I don't want to ram you in flight!"

And like a monkey, he nimbly slid into my room through the window, bouncing his feet off the tree. He was standing now in front of me.

"Hi Bells, long time no see." he said, giving me a beaming smile.

I stood there stiff as a pillar of salt, not really knowing what to say.

"Hh-hey."

He was even bigger than a month ago.

" I wanted to do it differently but I can stay away from you. I know that you don't understand anything and I know what it sounds like. But what's happened recently... I'm totally baffled. By inviting you, Billy has unknowingly put you in danger. I don't want to scare you, but there's something you need to know. I refrained from it by last month but I can't. Please listen to me!"

''You're right, I don't understand what it's all about, but I'd love to find out.So please enlighten me. What is so important that you have to stalk me in my own room in the middle of the day, using the window as a door." I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting to hear what he would say.

"I don't know where to start Bells." he whispered, combing his hair, then sat down in the rocking chair, he seemed lost, his hands nervously clenched on either side of the chair.

"Maybe so... Do you remember that book I gave you 4 years ago the last time you visited Charlie?"

"Quilete Legends?"

"Yes, that one. Have you read it?" he asked curiously.

"I did it a long time ago."

"Do you remember the legend of the Cold Ones? And the legend of the origin of the Quilet tribe? Say you remember."

"Cold people... I remember something about that."

"Something else?"

"N-no...sorry."

"I'm not surprised. It's very important Bells, it's important that you remember. It's also important that you stay away from these bloodsuckers, oh yes Bells, I know who or what they are."

How? From where he knew about the Cullens?

No one in town had any idea that a family of golden-eyed, perfect-looking people was actually a clan of vampires. And not just any, many of them had talents most of them had only seen in Marvel comics.

"Vampires? I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Jake." I protested.

"No? Then why do you end up in the hospital every now and then? It only happens when you're with HIM. And don't blame everything on your innate clumsiness Bells! Since they left, I haven't heard of you visiting the hospital once. Charlie is quite a frequent visitor to my house. This bloody leech is putting your life at risk. A relationship with him means certain death!"

"How can you just come in here and say such things! You don't know anything about me or my life!" I exclaimed through tears.

I couldn't hold it in any longer, all of these emotions that I've been holding inside for the last few months... I tried to hide my face in my sprang up from his chair and before I blink, he was already holding me in his arms. He was incredibly warm.

"J-jake.." I stuttered.

"Shh...I'm with you. I'm sorry I got so carried away, will you forgive me? I'm not who you knew a few years ago, my... new "nature" makes me act too impulsively. It was not my intention to hurt you, and it never will be Bells."

"I missed you Jake. You have no idea how much I missed our friendship." I mumbled,resting my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The pain that had numbed me so much this morning was suddenly gone. I felt as if a part of me had returned to its place. I haven't felt such peace in a long time... since Edward disappeared from my life.

"Oh Bells, I missed you too. More than words can say. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you; I've never forgotten our friendship, though I know you had a different impression after our last meeting."

"I won't deny it, but I was angry with myself for not speaking up once all this time."

"Look at me Bells." he said looking me straight in the eye. They were a beautiful brown color, there was not an ounce of regret or anger in them. They were full of love and devotion. "It's not your fault your mother isolated you from Charlie. Don't blame yourself for anything, seriously Bells. Let's leave the past behind us."

"Maybe you're right." I sighed wiping the tears from my face. "So that means we're still friends?"

"Yes, as long as you're not going to send me away after what I did earlier." He laughed, his smile always one ofthe most beautiful things I loved about him.

"I don't want to lose my best friend for a second time." I added snuggling into him tighter. "Jake you are incredibly hot."

"Hot you say?"

"Not that hot! Your temperature! Do you have a fever?"

"No, that's one of the things I'd like to talk with you .But not now, not until you know who I am, not before. Please remember. It will be easier for both of us that way."