Chapter 6

I wasn't really sure what to do with myself while the house was empty. The sun was shining, so going outside was out of the question. I decided to give myself a tour of the house. I had already seen the first floor, so I moved onto the second. I hadn't realized how much I missed the house. The staircase was lined with pictures now. There were a few of each of the girls, growing up, and a few of Bella growing. When I reached the top of the stairs I wandered the hallway, spotting the bathroom, and three bedrooms. I randomly selected the first one I'd passed. It had been Charlie's room, but it was renovated into what I imagined was Tina's room. There were many posters of male models and bands. The color theme was blue and white. There wasn't much that interested me. I noticed a stereo, a computer, a desk, a bed, and a nightstand, but that was basically the room. I left, carefully closing the door and moved to the next room down.

This room was Lacey's, I just knew it. There were one or two posters of different Broadway plays, a stereo, a large CD shelf, a bookshelf, and a computer sitting on a desk. Her color theme was purple, but not everything matched like Tina's room had. I glanced at the bookcase, noticing many of the books were old Shakespeare novels. I smiled when I saw Romeo and Juliet. I slowly walked out and headed for the last bedroom—Bella's. She had kept the exact same room that she had when she lived with Charlie. I turned the knob and opened the door. Bella's scent immediately flew to my nostrils. Her room looked so much different. The walls were yellow, her bed had been expanded to a queen size with a green comforter, the walls were lined with pictures. She had an old wooden bookshelf and a nightstand and that was her room.

I walked over towards and bed and carefully sat down. Those dark nights when we would lay in her bed and just talk all came back to me. I saw the image of her seventeen year old self sleeping. I missed those memories more than anything. I felt a pain somewhere inside myself, so I erased my mind of those thoughts. When I stood up again, I noticed something sticking out from underneath her pillow. I pulled it out and saw that it was the photo album that her mother had given her years ago for her eighteenth birthday. Inside were pictures of her, her friends, Charlie...and me. It made me glad that she had remembered me fondly all of those years, even if it did make her sad.

I quickly placed the album back and swiftly moved out of the room. I didn't want her to think I was intruding, being the overly curious creature that I was. I made my way downstairs and sighed as I noticed the clock. It was only nine. I still had a long time to go before anyone arrived home.

I decided to try and search out that album of the girls' baby pictures. I longed to see Bella's life as I had missed it. I searched through all the obvious places and then went to the least obvious. I found it in a kitchen cabinet above the sink. It was very thick, so it would take me a good few hours to finish it. Good, something to occupy myself with.

I got about halfway through the album, when I smelled a disgusting scent. Werewolf. As the seconds passed it grew stronger. Something was approaching the house. I ripped myself from the couch, carefully placing the album down, and raced to stance myself in front of the door. Much to my surprise, the thing rang the doorbell. I peered out the window to see Jacob Black.

He was definitely older than the little boy I remembered. He was the one who had sparked Bella's questioning in me being a vampire.

Bella's truck isn't here...the girl's might have it, though. He thought to himself.

My instincts told me to kill him, but I knew Bella wouldn't like that at all—how would I explain to her that her friend was a werewolf and I had to kill him? So, I ignored him. Much to my dismay, he smelled me too and crashed into the house. His body tensed as he growled at me. He seemed to recognize me though, and slowly stood.

Oh my gosh. Jacob thought. It's him. He came back.

Then his face fell.

That sick bastard. He hurt Bella. He tore her to pieces. Kill him. He doesn't deserve to see her again.

It was true, I didn't. I didn't expect Bella to invite me back into her life. It pained me that she had been hurt so.

And then he attacked. His moves were swift and graceful as he transformed into the creature he was. I wasted no time in moving out of his attacking path. He landed against the wall. Once he was on his feet again, we both moved in a circle, growling, anticipating each other's next move. I froze as I heard the sound of a car approaching the driveway. Jacob wasted no time in pinning me down at my weak point. I thrashed and was about to toss him off of me, when I heard a voice scream.

"Jacob!" Lacey dropped her bag and rushed over to our brawl.

"Lacey! Stay back!" I warned. She was in great danger if she came too close. Neither of us was stable.

She ignored me and gently reached her hand down and began to pet Jacob. He immediately stopped growling and seemed to calm down.

"Good," She cooed. She left him for a moment and retrieved a robe from the other room. She slipped it over him as he transformed back. "You're so lucky Tina is at a football game," She scolded him.

I sat up, bewildered. Werewolves were a terribly dangerous thing to be around when in a fight. I guessed I couldn't have looked too friendly either. After making sure Jacob was safe in a chair, she was by my side in an instant.

"I'm so sorry," She apologized. "I guess mom forgot to tell you he was coming." She walked me into another room. "How could she have forgotten something like that? Especially since the dislike between your kinds."

"You know I...and he...your mother, too?" I couldn't make a full sentence. Did Bella tell her daughters our secrets?

"I'll explain later, but I have to get Jacob out of the house first," She looked directly into my eyes, looking for something. "Okay." Was all she said before she left me.