Chapter three: Jacob

Bella lived fairly close to my house. One of the perks of living in small cities is everyone lived a short distance away. Unless you live in La Push or outside of Forks.

I hesitated to knock on the door when I noticed the sheriff's car in the middle of the drive way. Saving myself from walking in on anything embarrassing Bella came out of the house.

She waved me inside and I slowly walked to meet her.

A man was watching a game in the living room as I looked around the house. Bella offered me something to drink and I accepted a water.

"Just out of curiosity but why is the sheriff at your house?" I asked taking a sip of water.

Bella giggled. "He's my dad. Sheriff Swan. He doesn't bite I promise,"

"Bella is that your friend I hear?" Her father's voice boomed through the house.

She took my hand, bringing me closer to her dad. "Avril this is my dad Charlie, dad this is my new friend Avril,"

Charlie looked decent for an old man. I understood why my mother got the jitters when she spoke of him.

"Its nice to meet you," his rough hand took mine and shook it softly.

"Nice to meet you to," It was a little awkward from that point.

"Well we'll be going out,"

"Don't be home too late,"

"Promise!"

Bella pulled me out of the house quicker before I could say goodbye. She walked over to my car. I unlocked the doors, pulling out of the drive way.

She didn't tell me where to go except start on the road that leads to La Push. I didn't mind that we didn't talk so much in the car.

"You okay with going to La Push?" Bella asked minutes after departing from her house.

I smiled. "Yeah of course, what's down there?"

"A friend, I think you would like him,"

It was my turn to laugh now. "I don't need a boyfriend Bella,"

Her hands closed over her face as she turned beat red. I knew right then I embarrassed her on accident.

"Oh no, I'm sorry Avril. I didn't mean it like that. He's a family friend and I think you would like him as a friend,"

Thank god she wasn't trying to hook me up with him. I was hoping she wouldn't be the kind of girl who thinks having a guy makes life perfect. My last relationships weren't the best and I've agreed not to date till school is done.

"OKay that works. Let's say I've had some bad times with guys," I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable around her.

"I know what you mean. Edward and I had some ups and downs but were good now...I hope," Bella gushed out. It was nice we could open up more to each other.

As soon as we got into La Push Bella directed me all the way to Jacobs house. She gave me a heads up that he was only sixteen. Two years younger wasn't bad.

Thanking my self for changing into pink converses instead of the heels, it wasn't painful to walk on the grass to reach the door.

Bella knocked repeatedly and waited for someone to answer. The door opened a crack and a man in a wheel chair answered the door.

He looked between me and Bella before staring at Bella.

"Jacob's not home right now. He went out with friends," he said.

Bella frowned. "Okay, well when he gets back can you tell him I'm at the beach? I got a friend he would like to meet,"

He looked at me, checking me out to see why I was so special for his son to meet. I looked at the floor, feeling strange while he looked.

"Yes, I'll tell him,"

"Thanks Billy,"

Billy closed the door, watching us out the window. Bella waved as she caught his glimpse and reentered my car.

She gave me directions to the beach as soon as I pulled out of Jacob's property. The beach was only a two minute drive. It was nice that this reservation was smaller than Forks, or at least it seemed.

The beach was very beautiful when the sun was out. I took off my socks and shoes, letting the warm sand warm my feet. Bella copied.

We headed straight to the shallow water, sticking our feet in. I played with the wet sand, making tiny sand castles. Bella helped.

"So when did you move to Forks?" I asked Bella. This was the perfect time to get to know each other.

"A year ago. My mother wanted to be with her new husband and he traveled alot. I agreed to stay with Charlie," Bella said. I could tell she wanted to explain more but wasn't quite ready for that yet. "Why did you move to Forks?"

I sighed, it didn't bother me that I was going to tell her my full story. "My mother caught my father cheating on her one night and decided a divorce was the best thing. I used to live in Maine and Forks was the farthest she could get away from my father. I didn't mind that they got a divorce. They never really got along anyways,"

Bella looked amazed at my story. "Really? Its still hard for Charlie when my parents got divorced. I feel caught in the middle of it sometimes. How do you not care?"

"Well my father has never been there for me like my mom has. He was very angry when my mom ended up having a girl and not a boy. You could say he didn't like me growing up. I chose dolls over football and when it came time for boys, well thats a different story. He was just a prick and my mom could do way better," I stopped right there knowing I would have gone on a bigger rant.

"We kind of have a few things in common," Bella agreed.

I smiled, knowing this was a start of a beautiful friendship.

For the next hour we were at the beach we talked about our old friends and what our former homes were. It was interesting hearing Bella tell me her life. She seemed to have it good but yet she wanted more.

I hoped she didn't think I was a freak when I told her some of the crazy things I did. She listened and talked at the right times, she was very good at that. Bella and I were too alike and it was a little strange for me. I've never met anyone like me but yet different at the same time.

Her cellphone rang cutting our long conversation off. She answered it and right away I knew it was Jacob. Bella hung up with a grin across her face.

"Jacob will be here any minute!" she beamed.

"Cool,"

We put our shoes back on and walked towards the woods, sitting on some tree stumps.

As soon as I looked up from tying my shoe that's when our eyes met for the first time.