Chapter 4: The letter

Knock. Knock.

"Just a minute!" Billy Black yelled from the kitchen; he had just wheeled himself in there to make a sandwich when there was a knock at the door. He closed the refrigerator and had to set everything down on the counter before he made his way into the living room to answer it.

"Who is it?" He asked before opening the door to the unknown stranger.

"UPS" The man on the other side of the door replied.

Billy opened the door, a strange look crossing his face, it wasn't often that anyone in his house ever received anything via shipping.

"I have a package here for Jacob Black." The man in the brown uniform said.

"Jake!" Billy yelled over his shoulder "There's someone at the door for you!" he said while backing up out of the door way.

Jacob stumbled sleepily into the living room wearing only his boxer shorts. He had been asleep for the last several hours after being on patrol all night, when the sound of the knocking mostly woke him up.

"Yeah?" He said to the UPS driver.

"I just need you to sign here please." The man said to Jacob holding out a digital signature pad to him.

Jacob scribbled his name and handed the machine back the delivery man and took his package from him. "Thanks." He said before closing the door.

"What's that?" Billy asked him from the kitchen.

"I dunno know." He answered him while ripping open the package.

Inside the generic brown box was another slightly smaller white box with a letter attached to the outside of it. The paper inside the envelope was thick and felt expensive. Jacob unfolded the piece of paper and on it read:

October, 13 2012

Mr. Black,

This is to certify that Miss Isabella Swan was a customer of our bank. She maintained a safety deposit box with our London Branch; Bank of England, since the date of; September, 15th 2007. As instructed by Miss Swan; the account was to be closed and all contents mailed to one Jacob Black if no activity occurred after five (5) years of listed date. In view of this, after several attempts to reach Miss Swan, the safety box account has been closed and mailed per instruction.

Sincerely,

Steve Meyer

Steven Meyer

Bank of England

Threadneedle Street

London EC2R 8AH

Jacob read the letter once more and then again out loud for Billy. Billy stopped mid bite as Jacob read the letter. After staring at each other for several long second, Jacob tore into the box, as if to find Bella, his long-lost friend, in there herself.

Jacob ripped the top of the heavy white box off to find a closed envelope on top of the pile of things that were there. It was addressed to 'Jake' written in Bella's messy handwriting.

Jacob held the letter, rubbing his fingers over the script several times before finally turning it over to open it. He was gentle with this letter, taking extra caution when opening it.

Jake,

Hey. I hope you never get this, but if you are reading it, it means that something bad has happened, and I'm so sorry! You know I love you more than anything in the world, right? But Jake I had to do this for me. I hope you understand. I'm sure you know now that I didn't go to college in London, I lied to you about that and I'm sorry. I can't tell you where I went, it would put you in danger, but know that I am completely ok with whatever has happened! I needed peace Jacob, you know what from, and I went to find it.

I wish I could have told you, but I knew you would never have let me leave. I had to do this Jake, I had to do it for me, please try and understand. If you're reading this it's probably because, well, like I said, it's not good, and since this won't get to you for 5 years, I'm sure you've already assumed as much. Please don't do anything reckless or stupid! It won't change ANYTHING! Please Jacob. Promise.

I love you, you are my best friend, and I love you so much Jake! Take care of yourself and Billy, and watch out for my dad k? And don't tell him I sent this to you.

Bye Jake, Love you.

Bella

(12/3/10)