Into the Woods
By: Everleigh Allen
Chapter Two
A/N: Please go back to Chapter one and read it first. This is a long chapter.
~O~
The car ride was silent except for the loud engine of her dad's old military Jeep. Bella and Charlie always had a simple, easy relationship and while she wondered what it was going to be like living with him until the semester started. She could only speculate that it would be an obtuse amount of boredom.
"Nice jeep." Bella smiled.
Charlie snickered in amusement, "Yeah?"
"Yep. Nothing says welcome like an old military jeep barreling down the highway. Are you trying to alienate me from any type of new friends so fast?"
"Yes?" He shook his head, smiling.
"Why?"
"Because I love you?" He chuckled but took in her questioning arched eyebrow, he relented, "and I wanted to drive it."
Bella laughed. "You mean the station probably pays for the gas and you are cheap."
"Thrifty." Charlie smiled. He could never get anything over his daughter. He liked to think that came from him. "They don't pay us much, you know."
"Whatever, old man," Bella laughed. "Does this thing have any music?"
"It has bullet proof glass and a fire whistle."
"Awesome! Mind if I sound it?"
"Yes."
"Can we go off-roading?"
Charlie shook his head with amusement. "Maybe."
They sat in comfortable silence as Bella watched the semi-trucks pass by. She saw the dewy grass and the evergreen trees sway in the cool California breeze. The snow white clouds pillowed over the distance giving a soft contrast to the cerulean sky. It was in this moment that Bella released the breath that she was holding.
She felt a warm hand cover hers making her smile, the gesture calming and comforting.
It wasn't long before Bella laid her head on to the cool glass and fell asleep.
"So, this is it." Charlie sighed, kicking at the gravely carport. His bushy mustache twitched as he waited for her reaction.
"It's not like I've haven't been here before." Bella smirked, shaking her head.
"Well, it's been a while. I was just trying to break the ice."
"Was there ice? I didn't notice any ice between us," Bella grinned. She loved riling her father.
"Okay. Maybe I should just say welcome home? Finally."
"Better," Bella winked before eyeing the house. The paint seemed new as did the grass. There were still lines from where the new turf laid in thick strips over the soil. She moved to the back of the Humvee and was going to pull out her suitcase when she paused.
"What was that?"
Her father frowned, looking into the trees that surrounded his house. It was getting dark and hard to see into the brush. "What? Can you describe the ruckus?"
Bella scoffed at her father's joke but stood still for several moments listening. After several long moments she relented; whatever it was, it was gone. "I guess it's just forest noises," Bella pulled her long brown hair off her shoulder and moved it to the opposite side before she picked up her bags to carry into the house.
But there was still an ominous feeling in the air that she couldn't shake.
Charlie held the screen door open with a smile as he held the heaviest of her luggage behind him so she couldn't take it from him. She was stubborn and felt like doing everything herself. Not unlike himself. It was a requirement when Renee was in the picture, no doubt.
"I missed you," Charlie whispered. "Glad you're back for as long as you can stay." It had been so long since his daughter had been home and he couldn't help but wish she would stay longer. But also knew that he wouldn't be any better than her mother, keeping her away from the things she wanted to do and experience.
He didn't get to go to college and the military was a quick way to provide for a growing family. Taking classes they offered was helpful and he managed to pull off a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice to have something to fall back on once he retired. He also sometimes volunteered with the local police to occupy the time alone.
Bella smiled. "It's good to be here old man."
Working as a civilian for the military had its perks, though. He was able to help his daughter with college, giving her the experience that he and Renee missed out on.
Looking at his daughter, he could only hope that she didn't get too distracted by guys and looped into their fate of being young parents.
"I have a welcome dinner planned out for tonight."
Bella turned toward him with narrowed eyes. She looked so much like her mother that it made his breath hitch. "You didn't."
"I did." He chuckled. "They'll be here in about an hour."
"Why?" She was whining but couldn't help it. She was tired and not up to entertaining the nosy questions of strangers.
"Because it's game night and my night to host?"
Bella huffed in disgust. "Who?"
"Some people from work."
"Military guys?"
"Some." It wasn't often that he hosted and he could tell that his daughter was getting upset. "You can stay in your room, if you want. Unpack, and take your time doing… whatever."
He couldn't hide the look of disappointment in his face.
"I will make the obligatory greeting slash food accumulation and come back up here."
"Thank you." He smiled warmly, outstretching his arms to her. "I really am glad you're home."
"Jake!" Charlie beamed. "You made it after all!"
"Yeah." The guy scoffed and winked at Bella. "The guys and I were just waiting for you."
Bella took in the guy before her, feeling oddly shy. She vaguely remembered a scruffy, scrawny boy named Jake who used to tease her about her stringy, nappy hair. She had taken him seriously at the time and it was a hit on her already sensitive self-esteem. It wasn't until she went back to Renee before she learned the teasing was Jake's way of expressing himself in childish ways.
That was at least according to her mother.
Bella was not amused.
But damn if that boy hadn't grown into a man. He was really something to look at, if she was looking- which she wasn't.
He stood at least a foot or more above her and the thin white shirt failed to hide the odd, thick tattoo's that covered his chest and arms. It was then that Bella noticed that Jake was flexing his various engorged muscles for her.
"Don't drool, Tree. There's other ways to make you wet." Jake scoffed, and Bella glared. She had forgotten the nickname until that moment.
It was as if a bucket of cold water was thrown on her. He wasn't this small boy or attractive man, he was an ass.
"I wasn't drooling, roid-monkey. I'd ask what you did to yourself but I can tell just by looking at you."
"Checking me out, eh? So, you like what you see?" Jake didn't seem to notice the change in attitude because he sauntered over, invading her space.
"Um... that would be a no. What did your balls do to deserve such punishment?"
"What's that? You want my balls?" He snickered and moved forward, his torso jutting out, uncaring that Charlie was just feet away sorting her suitcases.
"Definitely not. What are you trying to be, the hulk? A super soldier?"
"Uh, what?"
"Nothing. It's gone to your head. The damage is done, I'm afraid." Bella feigned a sad, pitiful face as Jake looked at her with confusion.
"You're weird but funny."
"On that note, I'm going far away from here," Bella pointing at Jake, meaning him. She walked onto the porch taking a moment to look back at Jake who was still watching her, eyes narrowed as if he was trying to figure her out.
She gave him a sneer-like smile, noticing something was seriously unusual with him.
He was creeptastically off.
But when she walked into the house, she was bombarded with a house full of guys just like Jake and their friends, so it could also be all the testosterone floating around.
"This is Bella, my daughter- don't even think of touching her." Charlie glared. "Bella, the guys. It's game day, so they started without us."
"Joy." Bella sneered. This wasn't at all what she expected when she got to her father's house. She quickly moved through the living room and up the stairs into her room. She had no idea who they were, nor did she care to find out.
"Potluck," Her father said as he appeared with two plates of food from the kitchen. He handed one to her before he moved into the room, eyes on the television.
She booked up stairs.
"Knock knock!" Jake snickered as he tried to open Bella's door moments later. "You decent? Haha, I hope not!"
"No. I am sitting here naked with a houseful of testosterone filled strangers and my father." Bella said dryly, eyeing Jake as he tried to open the door wider. She was not amused by Jake's hovering.
"You're funny," He beamed pushing her door open wider, but the look of disappointment at finding Bella clothed registered on his face for a moment before his face split open in a grin.
He obviously found her cleavage.
"What do you want?" Bella's exasperated sigh was lost on Jake. She zipped up the sweatshirt she was wearing before she turned toward the food on her nightstand. She held the plate with one hand while forking the pasta with the other.
"You seemed bored down there-"
"I was downstairs for less than a minute."
He looked over her room, noticing it still had a lot of childish charm. She followed his gaze, and knew what he was seeing. She made a mental note that she would definitely have to update it. "Maybe it's because you don't know everyone well. I thought I would fix that, starting with me."
"You saw me all of 5 minutes, but whatever," Bella was wary but was trying not to be overly rude or hateful. It was difficult. She didn't really feel comfortable with him in her personal space.
"So… um… I live down by the river." He said awkwardly.
"I know all of this," She sighed with exasperation. "And more since I was like… five."
"I am building it up."
"Excellent. Who doesn't love a slow burn?" She huffed.
"What? You're weird."
"I know. So you've said." With a roll of Bella's hand, for him to continue, Jake began to tell everything he thought she'd want to know about him. He was 18 and that he worked in his mother's greenhouse moving trees, soil, and the pots mostly.
He liked pizza the best, but hot wings were a close second. His favorite color was blue. He liked to watch boxing more than football. He's not allergic to anything.
Riveting stuff.
Bella was bored but stifling her yawns by shoving the pasta in her mouth.
When he started talking about how he sometimes does security detailing work with some of the guys downstairs she had had enough.
"I thought that's what the police department was for?" Bella finally interjected, rolling her eyes dramatically. But Jake's eyes were narrowed on her. Bella was instantly on alarm, worried about crazy the boy being in her room and so close to her. She recoiled backward, slightly gauging the distance between her, him, and the door.
"There's more danger out there than common criminals, Bella." He sneered.
"Oh, yes. Like all those allusive jay-walkers," She teased trying to lighten the mood.
Jake smiled, seemingly startled out of the sudden the darkness that had consumed him. It was as if his eyes lightened and he continued to talk about himself.
A seemingly safe, yet unending topic, as Jake was quite a catch. He said so himself, as he propped himself up on her desk.
Bella scoffed as he went into detail about a girl named Hannah who thought he was cute.
"You should go for her." Bella said with a smile.
"I have my eye on someone else." He winked.
"Who?"
"You. Obviously."
Bella felt her stomach drop.
"This is practically a first date."
"No. It absolutely isn't a first date and besides, I am older than you," she laughed uncomfortably, eyeing the door and sending Charlie subliminal messages that he seemed to be ignoring.
"I like older women," Jake snickered. Mr. Suave was laying it on thick. He even moved closer to try to touch her cheek but when she moved away he shrugged and sat down at the desk.
Bella liked the distance.
But as she took the man-child in, she noticed it seemed Jake's mind was far away while he looked out the window.
"There are some people here that you need to stay away from."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Are you going to tell me who I can be friends with now?"
"There are things you should know about them, but that I can't say."
"Whatever that means." Bella grumbled. "Look, I'm an excellent judge of character."
"But you don't know what I know."
"What do you know then?"
"I can't say… just… some families aren't on the list of acceptable friends."
"What families… who's list?
"You know what I mean. The Cullen's."
"Why is that?"
"Their family and ours don't, uh, mix."
"What? Mix?" Bella scoffed. "Like are you referring to DNA or breeding capabilities or something?"
Jake cackled out loud.
It was creepy.
"We definitely don't have breeding capabilities! We mark those we're with, Bella. The Cullen's are different. They just suck the life out of people." He scoffed; shaking his head as if was the most inane thing he'd ever heard.
"What did you just say?" Bella put her plate down on her nightstand.
"What? When?"
"You said you mark those you're with… like a tattoo or brand?"
"I was rambling. It's nothing." He scoffed, lifting his shoulders for dramatic effect.
But it wasn't just nothing; it was very much something. And when she took a closer look at Jake he seemed to be losing his cool again. His eyes were wild and glaring out the dark window or at his reflection.
What was with him? Perhaps he was ill. "Is something out there or are you needing some kind of medication?"
"What? No." He turned away from the window. "I don't take medications."
"You're a bit unstable naturally?"
"No!"
"No. Okay. So, you're making glaring faces at your reflection for fun, then?"
"No!" He scoffed, turning away.
"Then what were you glaring at!? Is there something outside?" Bella growled, completely aggravated and wary of this guy in her personal space. He seemed to be coming unhinged. He was starting to sweat yet had goosebumps. His dark hair lay over his face as if to shield him.
He was twitching, fists balled.
She needed to get him out of her room.
Away from her.
"Is there anything else, Jake? Because I'd like to eat my food in peace."
Jake instantly turned on her. Eyes narrowed as he hissed at her. "Look, you don't understand, Bella!"
He was going to make her understand.
He came at her with a growl, hands up as if he was about to hit her. Bella fell backward, causing him lurch forward but then stopped and caught himself when he saw her sudden fear. He noticed her hands up to defend herself from his attack.
Jake stood up, dropped his hands, and took a step back. Whatever had upset him seemed dissolve and she took this opportunity to confront him.
"No, you look Jake! You need to leave, now. You can't just come in my room and at me and speak in tongues! I am not going to pretend that I care about what you have to say about everything and anyone. I am old enough to make my own decisions on people. And frankly, you need to go back downstairs before I blow the rape whistle."
Jake stood; his shoulders were still shaking with his thinly veiled anger. He was red faced, and fuming but he got up and moved to face the window. When his mouth started to move but no auditory words came out.
Bella was very worried about his sanity.
Then she remembered her mother's warnings about the forest.
Wolves.
Monsters.
The childhood stories around the bonfire.
Marking.
Things seemed to click.
Bella had seen this type of behavior before. Renee had that crazy ex-boyfriend named James and he was controlling, telling her who she could and couldn't talk to, that he knew best for her.
Stalking her.
Jake's intentions weren't pure as they seemed. It seemed as if he wasn't not in there to be helpful or get to know her again. He was making it known he was upstairs alone with her while all of his friends were down stairs.
She felt disgusted, even if that wasn't his intention.
She had let this go on long enough.
"Why are you here, Jake?"
He turned his face from the window to look at her. His eyes wouldn't focus much on her.
"What?"
"Why are you really here, Jake? And in my room?"
"What?"
"You heard me, why are you in here when all your friends are down stairs?"
"I was getting to know you, is all?" He looked a bit abashed, flushing but his smile betrayed him.
Bella's top lip lifted in anger at his lie. He hadn't asked one question about her, to get to know her. "That is definitely not what you are doing here. If that's what you were doing you would it would be a volley not one sided."
"Bella," Jake said condescendingly and came over to her, putting his hands on her shoulders, stilling her from moving away from him. "We were childhood friends I was merely trying to tell you about myself, baby. We'll get to you."
He reached out to caress her cheek but Bella recoiled away but he grabbed her wrist to prevent her from moving away from him.
"First, I am not your baby. Second, let go of me, now." She said sternly even though her heart was racing. All the sudden there was fissure of energy that seemingly moved through the room. Fear laced through her veins when his grasp only tightened on her.
His face showed his irritation before he smiled caustically then his body started to quake. Rage seemed to roll off him in waves. Muscles twitched and curled under his skin.
Freaky animatronic shit.
That was when she was truly afraid.
Jake Black was not a normal eighteen year old guy.
"I'll scream! Charlie will be pissed to see you missing from the game and up here in his daughter's room manhandling her!"
That seemed to finally get through to him. Jake took a step back, looking thoroughly chastised, but didn't let go of her. His grip loosened and even though she tried to twist her wrist away, it was in vain. It could easily snap.
"Sorry," Jake laughed. "I don't know what came over me." He gave her a lazy smile that made her stomach roll. He ran a thick finger down her cheek which made her seethe.
"Leave."
"I think you're wrong, Bella, Charlie would encourage us to be together. Anytime it will happen for us." His voice held conviction and made Bella tremor, recoiling away.
Then he whispered some weird chant.
"Let go and leave now." She demanded in a low, cold voice.
He gave her a curious look as if he was waiting for something to happen but when nothing did he finally let go of her arm. "Look, you may as well know we're going to be together someday, I just know it. My dad said so when we were babies. You just need to be more open, I think." Jake grabbed her hand and before she could get away he laced her fingers with his, bending them awkwardly as he leaned forward for a kiss.
The doorbell rang.
Bella took that moment to push Jake away from her.
Jake grunted but barely moved, other than to watch the doorway to Bella's room.
There were several things Bella learned about Jake as he clutched her hand and used his weight to overpower her.
He has issues with acceptable personal space.
He doesn't listen well, or at all.
He needed anger management as he was clearly suffering from a steroid induced rage or he had some sort of aggression disorder.
He had the worst breath, ever.
And an ego straight from Hell.
"I think you should go downstairs, Jake." Bella was fuming. "Or I'll have my dad file assault charges on you the next time you decide to touch me against my will."
Jake released her, instantly.
Bella then took the distance and kneed Jake in his probably tiny, shriveled, roidy balls.
The man fell like a sack of potatoes grabbing his jewels as he cried.
"I- I am sorry! I don't know why- I just want to grab you!" Jake recoiled moving toward the doorway, but stopped and turned to Bella. He suddenly looked like the fifteen year old boy he was somewhere under all that muscle. "I feel oddly protective-"
"Want me to do it again?"
"No! God, no!" Jake twisted away from her, edging his way over to the door.
Bella rubbed her wrist.
"Sorry," he looked up and watched the redness he created on her alabaster skin darken momentarily. With a nod, Jake finally got up slowly, slightly hunched over and exited the room only to pass a curious Charlie in the hall.
"What's going on in here?" Charlie looked in between his daughter and his best friend's son.
Jake looked like a sad puppy as he glanced up at Bella for a second as if seeking her support.
I kneed him in his balls because he can't keep his hands to himself, Daddy." Bella gave her father a sad look, and rubbed her wrist.
That was all the ammo Charlie needed to lay down the law.
"Bella's room is a guy free zone. I don't care if you're basically family, Jake. I heard her yelling. Next time, I may shoot you."
"Yes, sir." Jake sighed and nodded, looking away from Bella as she absentmindedly rubbed her wrist. He scooted around Charlie before he slowly made his way downstairs.
Charlie watched the boy go before he turned to his daughter. "Did he touch you?"
"He just had a temper flare and thought manhandling me would help his case."
Charlie nodded red faced and angry. "Did he, you know, touch you-touch you?"
"No dad," She blushed. "I am fine, really." It was easier to lie than to get into the whole ordeal.
"Um, this came for you. I didn't open it."
"Is this from who was at the door?"
"I think it's an invitation or something."
Bella reached over and took the invitation and sat back on her bed. Charlie was hovering, obviously interested in what was inside the envelope.
Bella looked at the delicate yet thick script on the crisp paper.
Bella Swan
C/O Charlie Swan
"So, you're okay then?" He gestured to Bella's wrist, no doubt noticing the hand print that was becoming visible on her skin.
"I'm okay," she smiled softly, her eyes thanking him.
He obviously got the message because he nodded and made his way out.
With a hand on the doorknob, he turned and said, "Lock this, just in case. I'll make sure you're not bothered again."
She shook her head in amusement, "Thanks Daddy." Charlie's mustache twitched with amusement before he shut the door.
With the door locked, Bella sat at her desk that sat below the southern window. With new excitement, Bella then opened the envelope, pulling out the thick cotton paper and smiled.
She wasn't aware of the set of eyes watching her just outside the window.