Today's Quote: The fact that jellyfish have survived for millions of years without brains gives hope to many people.
Dinner that night was a… tense event, for lack of better words. Dad had spotted Bella's stitches despite our best efforts to hide them under hair and a beanie, and he had immediately begun questioning our actions for the afternoon.
"I just tripped, Dad," Bella lied. Dad's eyes narrowed suspiciously at Bella's weak explanation.
"Maybe you should just stay out of the garage altogether, Bella," he suggested.
I tried to eat my steak as casually as I could when Dad looked at me for confirmation.
"Uh-huh," I said. "We went hiking and Bella tripped over a root. She went tumbling down the track - would've been funny if not for, ya know." I gestured at her face.
"Since when do you hike?" Dad asked sceptically.
"Working at Newton's was bound to rub off some time," Bella pointed out. "Spend every day selling all the virtues of the outdoors, eventually you get curious."
I was almost proud of her for her smooth(ish) lie. Dad glared at us, unconvinced.
"I'll be more careful," Bella promised.
"I don't mind you hiking right there around La Push, but keep close to town, okay?"
"Why?" I asked.
"Well, we've been getting a lot of wildlife complaints lately. The forestry department is going to check into it, but for the time being…"
"Oh, the big bear," I said with sudden comprehension. "Angela was telling me about it."
"Yeah, and some of the hikers coming through Newton's have seen it," Bella added. "Do you think there's really some giant mutated grizzly out there?"
His forehead creased. "There's something. Keep it close to town, okay?"
"Sure, sure," Bella said quickly.
"I'll watch her," I said.
Dad gave me a crinkled smile. "Yeah, you and what muscles?"
"Oh, it's like that, is it?" I rolled up my sleeves, kissing my biceps obnoxiously.
Dad laughed, and suddenly we launched into a conversation debating whether or not I had muscle.
When Bella and I got home from school one afternoon, a very familiar car was parked in front of our house. Jacob was leaning against the hood, a huge grin lighting up his face.
"No way!" Bella shouted as I jumped out of the truck. "You're done! I can't believe it! You finished the Rabbit!"
He beamed. "Just last night. This is the maiden voyage."
"Incredible."
"It's very impressive," I agreed. The car was drab, ugly, and, to put it lightly, old, but the fact he had got it running was an amazing feat.
Bella held her hand up for a high five. He smacked his hand against hers, but left it there, twisting his fingers with hers. I bit back a smile at Bella's somewhat panicked look. Nearly four months, and Jacob still hadn't gotten the hint.
"So do I get to drive tonight?" he asked. I had almost forgotten they were going to a movie tonight. Crosshairs, the latest horror, filled with gore and blood. In other words, another movie with far too much screaming and too little accuracy. Don't get me wrong, I love a good scare as much as anyone, but for the love of god could Hollywood please stop producing overly-dramatic films?
"Definitely," she said, and then sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm giving up—I can't top this one. So you win. You're the oldest."
He shrugged, unsurprised by her capitulation. "Of course I am."
Mike's Suburban chugged around the corner. I grimaced at the idea of Bella spending time with that pervert. As time went on, he got nicer. The same could be said for his creepiness.
"I remember this guy," Jacob said in a low voice as Mike parked across the street. "The one who thought you were his girlfriend. Is he still confused?"
Bella raised an eyebrow at me, giving me a look that could only be described as 'Is he serious?'.
"Some people are hard to discourage," she said slowly.
"Then again," Jacob said thoughtfully, "sometimes persistence pays off."
"Most of the time it's just annoying, though." Jacob glared at me.
Mike got out of his car and crossed the road. "Hey, Bella," he greeted her, and then his eyes turned wary as he looked down at me. "Morgana."
"Asshole."
If he looked scared seeing me, he was positively frightened at seeing Jacob. I glanced briefly at Jacob, too, trying to be objective. He really didn't look like a sophomore at all. He was just so big - Mike's head barely cleared Jacob's shoulder; Bella barely met his chest, I didn't want to think about what I measured next to him given I was like a head shorter than her.
"Hey, Mike! Do you remember Jacob Black?" Bella asked.
"Not really." Mike held out his hand.
"Old family friend," Jacob introduced himself, shaking hands. They locked hands with more force than necessary. When their grip broke, Mike flexed his fingers.
I heard the phone ringing from the kitchen.
"I'd better get that—it might be Charlie," Bella told us, and dashed inside. Apparently, it was Ben. Angela was sick with the stomach flu, and he didn't feel like coming without her. He apologized for bailing on Bella. I frowned, Angela was sweet, I hoped she got better quick.
I was a mix of feeling bad for Bella having to deal with the two boys on her own, and jealous I wouldn't get to see any of the drama unfold.
"I guess the flu is making another round. Austin and Conner were out today, too. Maybe we should do this another time," Mike suggested.
Jacob spoke. "I'm still up for it. But if you'd rather stay behind, Mike—"
"No, I'm coming," Mike interrupted. "I was just thinking of Angela and Ben. Let's go."
"And that's my cue to say goodbye," I said. "Have fun, Bella dearest. Later, losers."
I twisted my body around until I found a comfortable position on the floor, pushing my feet into Dad's lap. He patted them absentmindedly, his full focus on the game.
"Okay, so who are we rooting for?" I asked, staring dubiously at the two teams on the field. I assumed they were playing baseball, but I really didn't know.
"The Badgers."
"And they are…?"
"The ones in blue and white."
"Yay! Go Badgers!" I said with obviously fake excitement. Dad chuckled.
"You're a strange kid, Ana."
"I take pride in it." I watched with morbid fascination as a green player dove dramatically over a base, screaming out in pain. "Whoo!"
Dad gave me a look.
"What?" I asked, giving him a sly grin. "Isn't that good for the Badgers?"
"I feel like I should probably be addressing your violent tendencies, but… you know what? It is great for the Badgers." Dad surprised me by cheering loudly, making giant whooping sounds and clapping. "Yeah! Feel the pain, Player Number 7!" he screamed. "I refuse to learn their names - it makes them human," he added. He waggled his eyebrows at me.
"Fair enough." Who was I to question Dad's weird priorities?
I heard the front door open behind me, and I turned around to see Bella walk in, placing her phone on the table.
"Movie over already?" Dad asked in surprise when he noticed her.
"Mike got sick," Bella explained. "Some kind of stomach flu."
"Hope he's out sick for a while," I said. Dad pinched my toe for that.
"You okay?" he asked. Bella didn't look great - kinda peaky and like she was gonna cry.
"I feel fine now," she said doubtfully.
She leaned against the kitchen counter, her hand inches from the phone. It was a solid twenty minutes before she finally picked up the phone (I wasn't being creepy, I was just observant!)
"Who're you calling?" I asked, when the phone rang out for the seventh time.
"Jacob. I want to make sure he got home okay."
"Aww, you two are just adorable," I teased. She stuck her tongue out at me.
On the eighth ring, Billy answered.
"Billy, it's me, Bella—did Jake make it home yet? He left here about twenty minutes ago.…. He was supposed to call me." I made a point of staring at the TV when Bella saw me eavesdropping on her conversation. "He was getting sick when he left, and I was worried.…. Let me know if you need any help," she offered. "I could come down.…. Okay. Bye."
Bella set down the phone with a sigh. "He's sick," she proclaimed.
"Must be a pretty contagious virus, if both Mike and Jacob caught it," Dad said.
He couldn't have been more wrong, as three hours later Bella was shivering under a pile of blankets, and not thirty minutes after I was woken by an intense need to hurl into the toilet.
"I hate you," I moaned, wiping away the grossness on my chin.
"Me?"
"Who else. You gave this stupid thing to me."
"Blame Angela - she's the one that got it in the first place."
I frowned. "I'd be okay blaming Mike," I suggested instead. Bella made a noise of agreement, before shoving me away so she could steal my spot in front of the toilet. "Ew."
"Tell me about it."
Ghostwriter71 - It's a cute name, right? I had a rabbit toy named that, I guess it stuck in my memory.
DxGRAYxMAN - IKR I can't wait until that scene. Aro won't know what hit him.
Brookie Twiling - Morgana and Carlisle are definitely adorable and perfect together, I can't wait until I can reunite them.
lolistarkiller - Reveal to Charlie might be a while away, I have two scenarios I'm playing out in my head, each incredibly different, so you'll just have to wait and see. ;)
Lectiox - She's totally amazing, I'm so glad you like her so much.
Guest - A Morlisle baby? I kinda want it now that you've suggested it lol. I wouldn't get too excited about Morgana having a baby though, although you'll definitely get to see her as an Auntie.
Eeeeaud - I know, I love how much Bella and Morgana relationship as sisters has grown, it's been great to write.