Two chapters in almost as many days? The blasphemy! It's as if I had a few days off or something!
The sun was definitely a mood brightener for me that day. Charlie had already left, so I drove to the La Push address Charlie had supplied for me. It was only fifteen miles to La Push, with the wide Quileute river snaking under the road twice, and beautiful walls of sparkling green foliage along the way. When I found the house, I stopped the truck outside. Charlie's cruiser was sitting in the driveway, and the place looked dark and quiet. They were already off fishing I guessed. Their house was beautiful and warm looking, with a set of plastic sheds beside it. The ramp for Billy's wheelchair was worn, but stable looking, and had a few fishing lures dropped beside it. I pulled out my phone to figure out my path from here to the beach when a loud knock on my window had me jump so hard I knocked the car horn. A young but attractive aboriginal boy laughed at my reaction as he mimed rolling down my window. I did better than that, opening the door for him. He leaned in partially, offering his hand.
"Charlie said you might swing by. I'm Jacob. Jake." I shook his hand, calming my breath a little. He seemed familiar, his face looked like his sister's, although I didn't much remember him.
"Bella. You look a lot like Rebecca actually. I probably would have guessed."
"So I've been told." He shrugged dramatically. I laughed at his good humour. "I heard you need a mechanic?" he rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"I was ditching out of carpooling this morning, and said I had to see a guy about my truck." I admitted sheepishly. "Although I'm sure it could do with a once-over." He laughed jovially, and loudly. His voice was booming.
"I'm definitely the once-over guy. I know it's loud, but it sounds great. Pop the hood so I can take a look?" he backed out, and I reached under the dash and pulled the hood switch. I hopped out of the driver's seat, to come see what he was doing. He looked no older than 16, but clearly this was the boy who'd got my tank in working order for me. He was taller than me already, with long black hair, and smooth copper skin.
"Everything looks just like I left it. I heard you got into an accident?"
"I did not get into an accident. An accident got into me." I snapped, miffed at his assumption. He turned to face me apologetically.
"Hey, easy. I'm teasing. I heard what happened. Charlie wouldn't shut up about it for two days. Swear to god he kept Billy on the phone longer than the one a few years back—" he stopped talking and looked apologetically at me. "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up."
"Yeah it's not my favourite subject, but I figured you guys knew. Charlie and Billy gossip like old women." I sighed.
"Yeah they do," he laughed. "Is your hearing any better though? I heard Charlie say he was learning the hand-talking stuff."
"It's called 'signing', and not really. My hearing is maybe even worse than Charlie realises. But he mumbles and he has a mustache, so he's hard to hear and lip-read from." I confided. Something about Jacob emanated trust and warmth.
"You can lip read? That's awesome! Maybe you can teach me, and the signing someday." he fell quiet as he climbed around the truck, checking the superficial scratches from the accident.
"I don't have to lip-read with you, your voice is very loud and easy to hear actually." I laughed in return. Jake smiled proudly, as if this were a great compliment.
"Normally I get told to pipe down. Today's a good day." He patted the back of the truck. "Looking healthy, considering the age I mean."
"Rude. I'm not that much older than you." I joked, it elicited a large booming laugh from him.
"I meant the truck. How old are you anyway? Like 20? I remember you being a lot bigger than me when we were kids."
"Pfft. I'm nineteen actually, and you tell a soul and I'll crash this tank into you." I checked my watch. "I should probably head to First Beach soon. You know how to get there?"
Jacob rolled his eyes at me. "Seriously Bella? I've lived here all my life."
"Well then. You coming or what?" I smiled, getting into the truck. Jacob held up a finger to indicate that I was to wait, and he ran back inside. He emerged moments later with the grease wiped off his hands and a new shirt and jacket. He slipped in beside me, grinning from ear to ear.
"Let's ride!"
…
It turned out that I did manage to beat the kids from my school there, but when they arrived, they filed out in two cars. I'd been to the beaches a lot with Charlie when I was younger, so the mile long crescent of stone beach scattered with driftwood was familiar to me, there was a small strip of white sand too, but it was nothing in comparison to the beautiful smooth pebbles of every colour. The water was dark grey and white capped, and beautiful sheer-cliffed islands scattered the ocean. I knew that somewhere close, but through the forest to the right of where I had parked was a trail that lead to a variety of tide pools that I had been fascinated with as a child. I had also fallen in more than a few times.
I climbed out of the truck, dumping the light jacket I had brought onto my arm – just in case the weather turned, and Jacob followed suite. I was trying to absorb as much sun as possible, turning my face towards the brave and warm sun that peeked through the halo of grey clouds. Moments later more cars arrived. Ben, Connor, Tyler, Lauren, Jessica, Angela, and someone I remembered falling over in gym, all climbed out of a sedan and van. Lee, Samantha, and two extra people filed out of a two-door Volkswagen shortly after. It was quite a gang. Mike didn't seem pleased that I'd arrived with Jacob. The gang headed down the beach to a circle that had clearly been used for gatherings like ours before and they started up a fire.
"- seen a driftwood fire?" Mike turned to me. I shook my head. As it lit up it flamed with whites, greens and blues.
"It's beautiful," I exclaimed. Mike began to say something, but Jacob filled in quicker, and louder.
"It's the salt that does it. Some of the best burning wood is the whitest." Jake supplied helpfully. Mike looked miffed at first that Jake had interrupted his explanation, and then he definitely 'sized up' Jacob, seeming pleased with his obvious youth in comparison to most of my group. Mike sat beside Jess, because I was sandwiched between Angela and Jacob. I had never been more thankful, as she was clearly glad for the attention, and Lauren was receiving enough attention from Tyler to keep her occupied. I introduced Angela to Jacob, and told Jake about the car troubles she'd been having. He jumped in with a list of things it could be, and offered to take a look if she'd bring the car around.
"I'm not a trained expert or anything, but it'd be cheaper than hauling that guy off his butt in Port Angeles. He's expensive." Jacob looked a little shy.
"Don't sell yourself short Jake. You're the only reason my tank is still kicking." I offered as support. He seemed to be pleased with the praise. Angela offered food in return for a car check-up.
"Angela's cookies are like crack though Jake, once you've had them you'll never be able to eat any others again." I warned dutifully. In our many get-togethers she'd fed me enough that I appreciated her epic baking skills.
"Done deal. Maybe we'll start up a supply chain here, get the res kids hooked, make you some money." Jacob joked. We both laughed at the fake speculative look in his eye.
Angela suddenly nudged me, and I looked to her, then across to where she was staring.
"—tide pools?" Tyler asked everyone. About three people raised their hands. "And who wants to stay here?" the rest put up their hands.
"We could split up." Mike offered. Lauren was the one who made my decision for me. She didn't want to hike, and she was not wearing the appropriate shoes for it. I asked Angela and Jacob if they'd join me. Jacob said he was down, but Angela looked speculatively at Ben, a boy I'd seen her glance at before, watched him say yes to the tide pool trip, and then nodded her head.
B.E.N? I asked with sign, discreetly with my hand. She just blushed and looked away. I laughed and rubbed her shoulder encouragingly. "Go get him tiger." I whispered into her ear.
Jacob, Mike, Jessica, Angela and Ben came to see the tide pools too. I had to watch each step I took carefully, avoiding roots and branches on my way, so everyone except for Jacob sped away in front of me.
"Sorry I suck at hiking." I sighed as I tripped into a tree, scraping my hand slightly.
"I've been hiking these woods since I was like three. I'm fine taking it slow, and I generally know where to duck." He held back a tree branch for me and I smiled at him.
"Show off." I chuckled. He smiled too, and we finally broke through the trees.