"Hey Bella, are you doing okay?" Angela asked as she came up beside Bella in the hall.
Natalia was having a little difficulty answering to the name Bella but she was getting better as the day progressed. She was loving school and soaking up as much information as she could from the classes and Bella's memories.
"I'll be okay," Natalia replied. It reminded her that she was supposed to be quite heartbroken and tried to adjust her demeanour appropriately.
Entering the cafeteria Jessica ran up to them asking questions a mile a minute. Natalia only really managed to hear one of them clearly.
"Yeah they're really gone."
Lauren snorted "Yeah of course they're gone why would they want to keep hanging around you?"
"Lauren! Don't talk to her like that." Angela said.
Natalia bumped Angela's shoulder in thanks
"Like how Edward never even spared you a second glance?" Natalia asked Lauren "I wonder, if you two did ever date who would be leaving who out in the woods alone? I mean you're both equally cold-hearted and shallow."
Everyone sniggered as Lauren huffed, dragging Tyler with her as she left the table.
"So it's true? He really left you in the woods?" Jessica asked.
Natalia contemplated her response. The only thing she had to hide from them was the fact that the Cullens weren't human. She was under no obligation to hide how they were a bunch of callous sons of bitches. She would have to approach this tactfully though, Bella wasn't the petty type and she likely wouldn't start now no matter how hurt she was. She probably couldn't just come out with her actual opinion on the Cullens.
"Yeah he did," Natalia went quiet and hoped that was enough. If she was pushed more she wasn't entirely sure she could keep her opinions to herself.
Mercifully Angela changed the subject for her by talking about a big test coming up. Natalia took a sip of lemonade and fought not to choke as she swallowed. It's so sweet. All her food was so sweet. Do these people just drown their food in sugar and oil? What is going on? Natalia made a mental list of the things she'd get to start packing lunches. The raw ingredients seemed close enough to home that she could probably make similar dishes. Bella could eat however she liked but while Natalia was here she refused to eat this food any more than necessary.
Before biology Mike was chatting away at Natalia until the bell rang for class. She found his antics childish and endearing, though he toed the line between that and annoying. It made her think of when her own children would one day be of age and start attracting potential partners. She made a mental note to teach the children about boundaries should they ever come upon someone persistent against their wishes. Sadness clutched her heart as she thought of her children. She tried to distract herself with the biology lesson, it won't do any good to mope when there's work to be done. When focusing on the lesson didn't work she decided to make a grocery list for after school.
The grocery store was more overwhelming than any camp, den, or fortress she had ever infiltrated. It was so bright and loud, with more food than in a Jarl's great hall. She tried to let Bella's memories lead her to what she needed. Some simple veggies and some beef and she'd have enough hearty beef stew for the week. She also grabbed chicken and leeks and anything that reminded her of home. So many spices were so similar she nearly wept at the thought of home cooking. At Bella's home, Natalia asaged her homesickness with some beef stew.
Letting the broth simmer she started making bread rolls, losing herself in the motions. Punching out the dough, the rhythmic movement easing her stress as she stretched and folded, stretched and folded, stretched and folded the dough. Leaving the bread to rise and the broth to reduce she went upstairs for a little time practising magic.
The night before she had felt tingling in the bite on Bella's arm and she was determined to start manipulating that energy. She meditated until she felt the tingling again, willing the venom to allow her to use it. She concentrated until she was sweating and panting. The tingle had started to feel like small static shocks but not much else had changed. Frustrated, Natalia went back downstairs to knock the bread dough around.
She had managed to calm considerably by the time Charlie got home. They had a quiet dinner, Charlie once again sat with Natalia and tried to make small talk. She felt guilty again, this poor man was trying his best to have a relationship with his daughter and Natalia was here wasting his efforts when it should be Bella. She thought of her own children and the things she may miss out on while she's stuck here. It made her anxious to get back to her magic practice.
She practised well into the night and was exhausted the next morning. And the morning after that. And every morning after that. The novelty of this new world had worn off quickly and she was anxious to get home. She started to retreat into herself. Doing the bare minimum to maintain Bella's life while she focused on training. She only allowed herself small breaks to do things like hang out for short whiles with Bella's friends and spending time with Charlie at dinner. She didn't offer much socially but Bella's friends were kind all the same.
Days blurred together as she worked tirelessly at her magic. Meditation, workout, theory practice, repeat. She was filled with dread at the prospect of being stuck here indefinitely, something that was becoming a reality with each passing day. She couldn't let it consume her. Once she was back at her top fighting and magic levels she'd find a way out, she was sure of it.
OCTOBER
There was a spark, it was small but it was a start. Charlie got her a membership at a gym in Port Angeles so she wasn't working out in her cramped room. She figured out that she could still use her Thu'um when Charlie was out on a fishing trip.
NOVEMBER
Rudimentary destruction spells work briefly. Natalia had a close call with Candlelight where Charlie had come upstairs and she had to find a way to stand so it would float under one of her lampshades. The scar had begun to fade around the edges.
DECEMBER
Realised that the meadow Edward and Bella had would be perfect for safely practising shouts. She began learning maps of the area to try and find it again. Her magic continued to improve. Physically she was as close as she thought she could get in this body to her performance in her own body.
JANUARY
She could reliably cast Magelight and used it instead of lamp light when she worked. She kept the Magelight under a lampshade for Charlie. She wanted to try the water breathing spell but it was too cold still. Apprentice level destruction spells were well within her grasp as well. Her progress was beginning to accelerate and the bite mark was fading more.
Natalia slammed her notebook closed. She had been here working her ass off for far too long. She missed her friends and her family dearly but she wasn't getting any closer to getting home and she needed a break. She went for an aimless drive when she spotted them.
Rusty and broken-down, with a handwritten cardboard sign in front of them, sat two motorcycles. Reckless and stupid, a memory of Charlie supplied. In the safe, sleepy town of Forks there was little to no action for a cop. But surrounded by endless stretches of blind turns and pouring rain there were plenty of accidents to keep them occupied. And for the most part the ones who didn't walk away were all motorcyclists. Charlie had made Bella promise him she'd never ride one.
Natalia had made no such promises and bounded up the steps to the house with her ticket to a good time. The Markses house. A young boy who Bella didn't know opened the door.
"Bella Swan?"
"How much do you want for the bike?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am."
"They don't work."
Natalia hadn't considered having to repair the little beast. Though they did look worse for wear. She never had problems with her truck but if she ever did…
"That's okay, I know someone who builds cars."
"Well okay, if you really want one just take it. Mom made dad put them on the curb to be taken with the garbage."
"Are you positive?"
"Do you wanna ask her?"
Natalia decided it was probably best not to get an adult who could tell Charlie involved.
"No, I believe you."
You want me to help you?" He offered, "they're not light."
"Okay thanks, I only need one though."
"Might as well take both, you might be able to scavenge some parts."
He helped Natalia load the heavy bikes in the downpour and waved her off as she beelined back home. She needed directions to the Black's house and prayed to the gods that Charlie wasn't home to see her finds.
The directions were easy enough and Natalia excitedly trucked along to the reservation. The more she trained her Magicka, the stronger the urge to hunt became. She had been able to push herself harder in the gym by digging down to find where the beast lay in her heart and pulling it to the surface. She even had to watch her speed once as it was getting too fast for a normal human. But she had no other outlet for her restlessness. Perhaps a bit of adrenaline and a new friend were the cure she needed. In any case she was about to find out.
Jacob's head peered out of the window before Natalia could get out of the truck. No doubt the roar of the beast tipped him off of her arrival. He had grown from Bella's memories and their time at the beach months ago. He resembled a young Redguard more than he did a local teenager with his russet skin and broad muscles.
"Bella!" His infectious grin stretched wide across his face, and Natalia had a smaller one that matched.
"Hey Jacob!"
"Come inside you'll get all wet." He led her into the small red house as he pulled his hair up out of his face.
"Hey, Dad," he called as he ducked to get through the front door. "Look who stopped by."
The house was warm and familiar, like well worn leather boots. Bella knew this home well even if it had been some time since she had been there. Natalia smiled at Billy. He was in the tiny square living room, a book in his hands. He set the book in his lap and wheeled himself forward when he saw her.
"Well, what do you know! It's good to see you, Bella."
They shook hands. Natalia was surprised by her size again as her hand was lost in his wide grasp. She lost herself sometimes, forgetting the size difference between herself and Bella.
"What brings you out here? Everything okay with Charlie?"
Natalia had to think quickly. "Yes, absolutely. I just wanted to see Jacob–I haven't seen him in forever."
Jacob's eyes brightened at her words. He was smiling so big it looked like it would hurt his cheeks. Natalia would need to make sure quickly that this was strictly platonic. She felt gross just thinking about the alternative.
"Can you stay for dinner?" Billy was eager, too.
"No, I've got to feed Charlie, you know."
"I'll call him now," Billy suggested. "He's always invited."
She laughed to hide her worry. "It's not like you'll never see me again. I promise I'll be back again soon–so much you'll get sick of me." After all, if Jacob could fix the bike, someone had to teach her how to ride it.
Billy chuckled in response. "Okay, maybe next time."
"So, Bella, what do you want to do?" Jacob asked.
"Whatever. What were you doing before I interrupted?"
Jacob hesitated. "I was just heading out to work on my car, but we can do something else…"
"No, that's perfect!" She interrupted. "I'd love to see your car."
"Okay," he said, not convinced. "It's out back, in the garage."
She waved at Billy as they left. "See you later."
A thick stand of trees and shrubbery concealed his garage from the house. The garage was no more than a couple of big preformed sheds that had been bolted together with their interior walls knocked out. Under this shelter, raised on cinder blocks, was what looked like a completed automobile. Bella had memories of the symbol on the grille.
"What kind of Volkswagen is that?" I asked.
"It's an old Rabbit–1986, a classic."
What an adorable name for something Natalia had taken to thinking of as beasts. "How's it going?"
"Almost finished," he said cheerfully. And then his voice dropped into a lower key. "My dad made good on his promise last spring."
Jacob was bribed at prom to tell me to stay away from Edward for my own safety. "Ah."
Natalia was eager to never think about Edward again. There was just too much space in this girl's brain devoted to him. She had even dreamt about him and Natalia together once because of all the obsessive memories. What in oblivion was she supposed to do with that? Luckily it seemed like a one time thing.
"Jacob, what do you know about motorcycles?" She was eager to get her road to adrenaline started.
He shrugged. "Some. My friend Embry has a dirt bike. We work on it together sometimes. Why?"
"Well…" she pursed her lips as she considered this. Could Jacob keep his mouth shut? She didn't have any other options so she'd just have to risk it. "I recently acquired a couple of bikes, and they're not in the greatest condition. I wonder if you could get them running?"
"Cool." He seemed truly pleased by the challenge. His face glowed. "I'll give it a try."
She held up one finger in warning. "The thing is," she explained, "Charlie doesn't approve of motorcycles. Honestly, he'd probably bust a vein in his forehead if he knew about this. So you can't tell Billy."
"Sure, sure." Jacob smiled. "I understand."
"I'll pay you," she continued.
This offended him. "No. I want to help. You can't pay me."
"Well… how about a trade, then?" She was making this up as she went, but it seemed reasonable enough. "I only need one bike–and I'll need lessons, too. So how about this? I'll give you the other bike, and then you can teach me."
"Swee-eet." He made the word into two syllables. "When will you bring them down?"
"They're in my truck now," Natalia beamed.
"Great." He seemed to mean it.
"Will Billy see if we bring them around?"
He winked at me. "We'll be sneaky."
They eased around from the east, sticking to the trees when they were in view of the windows, affecting a casual-looking stroll, just in case. Jacob unloaded the bikes swiftly from the truck bed, wheeling them one by one into the shrubbery where Natalia hid. It looked too easy for him, she remembered the bikes being difficult to load with help from the young Marks.
"These aren't half bad," Jacob appraised as they pushed them through the cover of the trees. "This one here will actually be worth something when I'm done–it's an old Harley Sprint."
"That one's yours, then."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"These are going to take some cash, though," he said, frowning down at the blackened metal. "We'll have to save up for parts first."
"We nothing," She disagreed. "If you're doing this for free, I'll pay for the parts."
"I don't know…" he muttered.
"I've got some money saved. College fund, you know." Natalia felt a little guilty. The money wasn't really hers to use, but surely with her riches back home she'd find a way to repay Bella. And she could take some extra shifts at Newton's to try and make up the difference.
Jacob just nodded. This all made perfect sense to him.
As they skulked back to the makeshift garage, she contemplated her luck. Only a teenage boy would agree to this: deceiving both their parents while repairing dangerous vehicles using money meant for her college education. He didn't see anything wrong with that picture. Nor did he question the apparent change in Bella's personality to make her want to do such a thing. Jacob was a gift.
