4Gracie04 and echo58 thank you for your reviews, I'm glad to be back. There will be no set schedule for the foreseeable future, but I will try to update once a week.

Chapter 35

Jake and Lauren headed to his room, while Bella headed for the twins room to get her stuff. Bella stopped in the hall suddenly realizing there were three of them and one bathroom.

"Do either of you want to take the first shower." She asked.

Laurens lips turned up in a mischievous smile. "We had our shower last night," She announced.

"Showers." Jacob corrected, sounding annoyed.

Lauren looked amused.

Blushing, Bella said, "Right." Lauren was a pro at making her feel uncomfortable. "I'll just-" She pointed at the twins room door and rushed in, closing it quickly behind her. She waited to hear Jacobs door close before she grabbed her stuff and headed to the shower.

Coming out of the bathroom she could hear Jake and Lauren's conversation.

"You need to stop!" Jacob sounded annoyed.

Were they fighting? Bella stopped in the doorway of the twins room where she could still hear them. At this location she would be able to duck into the room before she was caught eavesdropping.

"Why? I know Eddy gets a kick out of her. He gets some sort of thrill out of leading her around like a dog on a leash, but he has some weird kinks. What do you see in her? There is no way she could do anything for you, she is such a child."

Bella flinched at Laurens words.

"She is not a child." Jake practically snarled. "You are far more childish than she is, and don't you dare speak that psychopath's name in front of her."

"Why?" There was a pause, and then a gasp so loud she heard it clear across the hall. "He's the one who did that to you, isn't he?"

"Just leave it alone." Jake sounded defeated.

Laurens tone turned somewhere between snide and teasing. "Did she kiss your booboo to make it better?"

"Why do you insist on pushing my buttons?"

All teasing gone from her voice, Lauren said. "Because, It's the only way I can get you to talk to me."

She sounded hurt. Bella found it hard to believe the girl had any sensitive feelings, but she couldn't deny the vulnerability in her voice.

Feeling bad about her intrusion, Bella turned and went into the room.

Bella always suspected Lauren didn't like her, but hearing her opinion only drove her suspicions home. That is why she was so shocked when Lauren looped her arm around her like they were the best of friends.

They just left the house and were headed to the truck when Lauren said, "So, tell me about your weekend."

Jacob pulled the blonde away from Bella and told her to go get her bike.

"Not now, you can bring me back here later to get it."

Lauren tried to get back to the conversation with Bella again but Jacob interrupted. "Get it now, or it will be a very long time before you get it back."

She scowled at him. "Fine!"

While Jacob was busy securing the bike in the cargo bed, Lauren confronted Bella.

"You're going to tell me what happened, right?"

Bella felt cornered, even if she wanted to tell her she couldn't. Her mouth wouldn't form the words. Every time she tried she felt such panic she just wanted to run. She tried to look for an escape from this conversation, but they had already stored their backpacks in the storage container Jake installed for them, so Bella didn't have an excuse to get away from the girl.

"Come on, you know I won't say anything." Lauren pleaded.

Bella was pretty sure the girl would keep quiet. After all she never did tell what she witnessed that day in front of the bar and grill.

She opened her mouth to speak but all she could wheeze out was, "I can't." before a panic attack took hold.

She could feel small hands on her shoulders, and hear Laurens voice but it sounded so far away, "Bella! Bella! Jake, Help!" The words echoed like her head was under water.

She felt like a ragdoll when a strong pair of arms wrapped around her pulling her in. The pounding in her ears impeded her hearing even more.

"Go get a glass of water." Jacob's voice somehow reached her consciousness. He cupped her face in his large hands forcing her to look at him. "Bells, Honey, look at me. Focus on me. You need to breathe. Come on honey, deep breath, in and out. Copy me." He took a deep breath in and waited for her to do the same before he let it out.

"Now that you're breathing I need you to count with me. One. Come on Bella repeat, one. Don't make me shock you out of this, say it, one."

She forced her mouth to work and repeated from one to ten and then from ten to one. She was starting to come back to herself but she wasn't quite there yet.

"Good, now name five red things."

What, why? She didn't understand but she did as he said. "Tomato, stoplight, your truck, apple, My backpack."

"Good," He praised, "now touch five beige things, and name them."

She wrinkled her brow but did what he said. "Seat, roof, belt, steering wheel, your shirt."

"Good. Are you completely back with us now?"

She looked around. Charlie, Billy and Lauren were staring back at her all looking pale. Bella swallowed thickly and lowered her head trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Um, here." Lauren held out a cup of water.

"Thanks." Bella mumbled as she took the drink.

Charlie cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Jake, why don't you take your friend to school, and then meet us at the hospital. I'm going to take Bella to see doctor Scott, and make an emergency appointment for you too."

"Who's doctor Scott?" Bella asked.

"My shrink." Jacob mumbled.

"I don't need-" Bella started.

Her father cut her off. "Yes, you do! I should have done this yesterday. Let's go."

"But," Bella tried again.

"I'm not asking. Let's go. Now!"

Before Bella could move, Jake whispered. "She's going to have questions."

Bella didn't have to ask who he was talking about. Lauren demanding answers is what put her in this state to begin with. "Tell her." She rasped.

"You sure?"

Bella nodded her head then went to join her father.

Thank you for reading.