WARNING: GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT, VIOLENCE, ABUSE, BODY SHAMING, BULLYING, AND LANGUAGE. IF YOU ARE UNDERAGE OR DO NOT ENJOY IT DO NOT READ.

Chapter Seven.

Lauren Mallory was a woman to be reckoned with when she found me at work. With her hair pulled into a bun, it finally grew out of that atrocious cut she had done, and glasses perched on nose, she glared up at me like she wanted me dead. I gave her a sickly-sweet smile I reserved for customers.

"Hey, babe."

"I saw you and Mike last night." She deadpanned, and I chuckled.

"Yeah, he tried to get me back. I rejected him, though. Didn't you read that in the text I sent you?"

"Why would he want you when he has me?" Ouch. What the fuck does that mean?

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry, but if he wanted someone short and chubby he wouldn't have dumped you before." My face grew red and tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away and leaned in close to her with another fake grin.

"I guess being tied down to a rude bitch makes him rethink his bad decision." She gasped and slammed her hand on the counter. The customers around us looked our way, but I ignored them.

"You take that back!"

"Jessica, do we have a problem here?" Danielle, my manager, asked as she walked by. I shook my head at her.

"No, Ellen, I was just telling our customer that we don't sell vodka at this establishment and she started to get violent."

"I did not!"

"You know how alcoholics get."

"I'm not an alcoholic, you twat-"

"Excuse me, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"I'm a paying customer!"

"I don't see you ordering anything," Lauren grumbled and left with fire in her eyes. When she was out the door I felt the air whoosh out of me.

What the hell was that about? What happened to sisters before misters? We'd been friends for over ten years, did that not matter now because of Mike of all people?

My phone pinging brought me out of my thoughts and I slipped out without Danielle seeing.

Angela Weber – Lauren is on a warpath. She called me last night and kept me up until five.

Jessica Stanley – She showed up at the diner and called me chubby. Asked why Mike would want me when he had her.

Angela Weber – So tired of her rude behavior these days. I'm about to block her number.

Jessica Stanley – Ditto.

"Jessica, back to work!" Danielle hollered, and I quickly pocketed my phone and went to the kitchen to pick up table four's order.

The rest of the day went by smoothly, well, until Jacob showed up on my break.

He wore a plain black tee and cargo shorts. His hair had been cut again and was spiked with gel. When I walked out from behind the counter his face turned into a wide smile. It warmed me like the sun.

"Hey, baby." He said before kissing me softly on the lips. In Bellaesque fashion, a blush covered my cheeks and I only felt half-embarrassed about it.

'What are you doing here?"

"I have some good news."

"Let's sit then." We slid into a booth and his hand intertwined with mine without thinking.

You're getting too used to this, a voice said in my head, but I ignored it and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back and smiled again.

"Okay, so, I kind of…"

"What is it?"

"I fixed your car."

"What? Really? Oh my god!" A bubble of excitement exploded inside of me until the cold bucket of water that was realization hit me. "But wait… I haven't given you the money yet." With the drama with my father, we hadn't done anything with the money yet.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not taking your money."

"But you have to. I owe you."

"You owe me nothing."

"How can you say that? I waste your gas every day and I use all your money on food. And now you buy me a car battery? No-no this is too much, Jacob."

As I prattled on his smile dropped. "I thought you'd be happy."

"Take my money and I will be."

"No! It's a gift!"

"You've given me enough gifts! Take my money!"

"No, I refuse." I stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"I'll rip the damn thing out."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me, bitch."

"Is everything okay over here?" We were both pulled out of our arguing as Danielle came over to us, a smirk on her face. I half wanted to smack it off.

"Yeah, Danielle. Everything's fine."

"Why don't you head home early, Jess? You're looking a bit sick right now."

"What? No, I can stay."

"Go home. I'll see you for your shift tomorrow."

We went back to La Push, so I could check out Sally. Feeling thoroughly embarrassed by my boss and Lauren that day, I angrily walked into the garage and grabbed the first thing I saw. With a flashlight clutched in my hands I walked towards my car and raised it over my head.

"I don't know how to rip it out of you, but I'll bust it until it doesn't work at all!" With a battle cry, I brought it down at the speed of light, only to be stopped by rough hands.

"What's wrong with you!"

"Go away, you asshole! I'm busy!"

"Put the flashlight down before I make you." In reply, I stuck my tongue out at him. A dark glint entered his eyes and flipped me onto my back. The flashlight dropped from my hand and onto the concrete floor. With wide eyes and a pounding heart, I shook in his arms.

"Jacob?"

"You're being such a bad girl for me. I fix your car and you want to break it? So, so naughty." At his words, I felt myself turn to jello.

"Jacob…" I whispered, my body heating up like a furnace. He pressed his lips to my collarbone and the air whooshed out of my lungs.

"Why don't we get you out of these clothes? I want to see you all pretty and laid out for me." I couldn't move as he let go of my arms and went to work unbuttoning my jeans and pulling them off my legs.

The previous anger was gone and was replaced with lust. I gulped as he kissed both of my thighs before slipping my thong off. The cool air hit my wet core and I bit my lip at the feeling. Jacob slipped two fingers inside of me and groaned.

"So wet already and I've barely touched you," The fingers moved in and out of me in a slow rhythm and went deep inside. My toes curled in pleasure. "You're so pretty, Jessie. I've never seen someone so pretty taking my fingers like this."

"Don't stop." I whimpered, and he chuckled.

"Wouldn't dream of it, beautiful."

An hour later we lay in his bed, our naked bodies draped across each other.

"I have money to spare, Jess. Don't worry about me 'wasting' my money. This way, you can go where you want to and won't have to ask me to drive you places. Not that I mind." A sweet smile graced his lips and I giggled.

"I don't want you to feel like I'm some sugar baby taking your money."

"You may not be my sugar baby, but I can be your sugar daddy."

"Ugh, you're hopeless."

"So, do you accept my gift?"

"I guess. Since it was very sweet."

"Good." He kissed my cheek lightly. "Your black eye isn't too bad today."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, you look good with it, though. Kind of dangerous."

"Yeah, here I am. Biker bitch Stanley." He laughed before turning my face towards his. In an instant, I lost myself in his taste.

Jacob had gone above and beyond for me. It's crazy how so much had changed in this short amount of time.

As his hand dipped lower I moaned into his mouth. His smiled against his lips and kissed me harder. We stayed in that bed for the rest of the night, only getting up for snack and bathroom breaks.

On October seventh I stood in the Sea-tac airport waiting for my best friend in the world. Holding a large sign over my head that read, 'Angelina Ballerina Weber', I swayed from side to side. Jacob stood beside me, joined by Quil and Embry who had begged to come with.

Angela had been accepted into a Kyungpook National University after he amicable breakup with Ben Cheney.

As she stepped into my vision with her model-like height and bangs, I screeched. "Angela!" Her eyes sparkled as she took me in. She had switched out her glasses for contacts and her skin was baby soft probably from a ten-step skincare routine as she wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled my face with her cheek.

"Jessica, I missed you." Jacob took the sign from my hands, so I could hug my best friend.

"How's Daegu?"

"Cute boys, beautiful scenery, great food," We pulled away from each other, and she winked at me.

"I need to come to visit."

"One day, young padawan."

"How's Allen?"

"Still with Miriam. And stop obsessing over my cousin, weirdo." She punched my shoulder lightly and I patted her cheek.

"I'm sorry, but he is fi-ine."

"The only guy you should be calling fine is moi," Jacob stated before wrapping an arm around me and kissing my nose.

"Don't be jealous, stupid."

"I'm not, I'm just stating a fact." As he pulled away from me he gave Angela a smile. "I'm Jacob Black, Jessica's man candy."

"We met in La Push a while ago, but it's nice to see you again."

"These two are my best friends, Quil Ateara and Embry Call."

"Nice to meet you, pretty lady," Quil stated before grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it. Embry stayed silent, gazing at my best friend with adoring eyes.

Almost in a trance.

"Em, you okay?" Jake asked in a worried tone and quickly Embry shook his head before nodding.

"Y-yeah, sorry. I was up all night and didn't get much sleep."

"I'm so sorry. Why don't we leave right now so you can head home and sleep?"

"Don't worry about it. This is way more fun than sleeping." Embry grinned down at Angela and as he went to take her luggage from her hands he slipped and fell backward.

The crash that sounded through the airport alerted everyone.

Angela started laughing and Embry's smile started to drop. But then she leaned her hand out to him and smiled warmly.

"You're very cute, Embry. I'm glad I've met you today."

"Heh, likewise." I glanced over at Jacob and Embry with a raised eyebrow but Quil just shrugged. Jacob was strangely silent, not meeting my eye even as I stared at him.

Angela broke the silence before it could get awkward. "Let's go back to mine. I'll make you boys cookies."

"Damn, I think I'm in love with you, beautiful," Quil said with a sly grin and Embry smacked the back of his head. The four of us followed her but the air still felt weird. Jacob refused to hold my hand even as I tried to intertwine our fingers.

Jacob was distant again. The rest of the day he talked nicely to all of us, but there was this underlying edge to his voice. As we said goodbyes, Jacob and I left together. With a clenched jaw, he slipped back into the car and slammed the door. I followed quickly behind, waving to Angela as she went back inside the house. Quil and Embry had left a half an hour earlier, much to Embry's chagrin.

"What's wrong?" I asked as he went to start up his car, putting my hand up to stop him.

"Nothing."

"Cut the bullshit, already. Tell me what's wrong."

Laying back in the seat he sighed, "I just remembered that I can't be happy." Then he threw the car keys into his lap.

"What do you mean?"

"She's out there somewhere waiting to sink her in me and rip away this happiness I have." Tears filled his eyes and my stomach dropped. "I don't want to lose you, Jessica. I know whatever we have right now is weird and crazy but I… I can't lose you. You're the only one who gets it."

"You aren't going to lose me." I pulled his head to my chest as he started to sob. Tears filled my own eyes and dripped down my cheeks. "I promise."

"You can't know that. It's impossible."

"I do know that. I know it in my heart and the way you touch me and the way I…" the way I love you. "The way I care about you, Jacob."

"Don't leave me, okay? Not like her."

"Never like her."

A scream. Crashes, a bang. I ran into the house with shaky movements, my whole-body trembling. Dad's car was in the driveway, and everything started to come to fruition.

I yanked the door open and saw my father laying on my mom, his fist pounding into her face. I screeched and tackled him, my nails digging into his eyes.

"Get the fuck off her!"

My face snapped to the side as he hit me, causing me to lose my hold and fall backward off of him. Another hit, my lip busted. The room was spinning.

A dark figure ran through the door and dad was pulled off of me.

Jacob's trembling figure held him by his throat, his lips pulled back like a territorial dog. Dad lay limp in his arms, for the first time looking scared.

"You better get out of here before I rip your throat out."

"This is my house-"

"You want to die tonight?" Dad's mouth snapped shut and he shook his head. "Then I suggest you get the fuck out of here. Now." He dropped his body to the ground and dad scurried out the door. Then he pulled me into his arms, checking over my injuries with wide eyes. "Fuck, are you alright? No, of course, you aren't. I'm so-" I put a finger to his lips and smiled.

"My hero." Pulling out of his arms I crawled over to my mother, whose face was beginning to swell. She looked up at me with crazed eyes.

"Where's your father?"

"He's gone." Instead of relief like I expected, all that showed on my mother's face was fear.

"N-no, he can't be… He said he'd never leave again." As she started to cry I felt a sinking feeling enter my stomach. No, she still loved him. He had brainwashed her again. "Bring him back!"

"Mom, he just beat you and you want him to come back? What the fuck!"

"You don't understand. He just got angry. I pushed him too hard."

"No one deserves this. A real man wouldn't beat their wife out of anger." I leaned over to grab her hand, but she pulled away from me with accusing eyes.

"You never liked him or respected him. This is all your fault." It felt like a slap in the face. Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away before standing up.

"I guess it is." Motioning for Jacob to follow me we walked up the stairs and to my room. I wasn't going to stay here and watch her get beat to death. No, I loved my mother but I couldn't help her if she refused my help. It didn't take much time to pack up all of my things and twenty minutes later we were carrying things back and forth from the house to the car.

After we finished up I went back to my mom who was now standing at the kitchen island, a glass of wine in one hand and her phone in the other. She had been calling dad for hours.

"I love you, mom." We met eyes, but she turned her gaze quickly back to her phone.

Jacob's warm arm wrapped around me and he kissed my cheek lightly before whispered, "Let's go home." I let him lead me out of the house and away from the only place I knew. We drove in silence back to La Push, my hand clutching his like a lifeline.

Even though she had chosen him over me, I wouldn't stop trying to help her. Getting myself out of the dangerous situation was step one. Getting him away from her was the next.

When we pulled up to the small red house, Jacob carried me inside and tucked me in before unloading my things. When he was finished he crawled into bed with me and pulled my head to his chest.

I couldn't stop the tears from falling after that.

"Let it out, honey. I've got you."

He was all I had now, really. Angela would be going back to Daegu soon and my mother had cast me away. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I sobbed into his chest.

I love him, I love him, I love him.