Jake's point of view:
Getting back to normal was harder than it should have been. Not only had I lost the ability to phase into my wolf form, but my memory and motor skills were also affected. This made it very hard to work in the garage. Working with my hands now seemed almost more destructive than helpful. Out of nowhere I would forget what I was doing and would wander around until I found something else to do. With this said very little got done.
Billy gave me my much needed space and avoided several topics, most of them consisting of events before my "motorcycle accident". Although I was no longer a wolf I still had my temper, maybe even worse. I would storm out of the house fuming on a daily basis for one petty reason or another. Today's tantrum was for a viable reason in my mind though.
"Dad just one short trip, please, I'd only need to be gone for a few days." I begged like a child, but I didn't care as long as I got what I wanted.
"No, that's completely out of the question. Besides we have no money for plane tickets and you can hardly drive to the store by yourself safely." Billy was particularly crotchety and persistent today, but I wouldn't give in this time.
"You're overreacting. I can drive just fine. Besides Alaska isn't that far away, and they'd probably 'see' me coming anyways." Billy had become more tolerable of the Cullen's since they saved my life, but he still didn't trust them as far as he could throw them. This was only a minor obstacle; I was going to see Bella no matter what, I just wanted to give Billy the opportunity to approve my trip before I left.
"As long as you're living under my roof you'll do what I say," Billy yelled. He was seething. His hands were gripping the wheels on his chair so hard there would probably be indents when he lifted his hands.
"Fine," I sneered, "when I get back you can choose to let me back in or not. It's not like I don't have plenty of friends who would let me bunk with them."
Without looking to see Billy's reaction I grabbed my keys- it's not like Billy could drive the car anyway- and smugly marched out the door.
I didn't exactly know where I was going so I just headed north. Once I got a comfortable enough distance away I pulled off to search for a place with internet access. I found a small internet café a few miles past the exit and looked up directions. Bella once told me about a coven in Denali, so I started there. It turns out the drive is a little longer than I thought, i.e. just over two days. I sighed and printed out the map. I snatched an abandoned highlighter off the table next to me and headed back to the car.
As I drove I realized that I forgot my medication and that worried me. It was supposed to help me focus and remember; with a two day drive I was going to need to stay focused. I used some fishing line Billy had left in here and hung the directions off the rearview mirror so I wouldn't forget what I was doing. As to make sure I followed the right steps in the right order, I highlighted every step as I completed it. I had a fool proof plan.
After five hours my entire body ached. "I forgot the pain meds too," I thought to myself furiously. I stretched out my legs at a rest stop and continued on my way. With my lack of funds- all of which were going towards gas- I was not eager to retire knowing full well that I was going to be forced to sleep in my car.
Day one went by without falter. I was hungry, tired, soar, and anal, but I was making good time. The traffic was fairly light most of the time and I was doing well focusing considering my lack of meds.
It was 4:27 p.m. when my car gave a final wheeze and sputtered to a halt. I was somewhere slightly past the Canada/Alaska boarder, surrounded by trees with no sign of human life for the past hour and a half. I popped the hood and that's when I realized I was stuck. I looked the wires and metal with on idea what I was doing. My brain had been so concentrated on remembering how to drive and follow directions that it left me blank on practically everything else. I had been working on cars for years, but at this moment I had no clue as to what I was looking at. Fury built up inside, my entire body shook like I was going to explode- the feeling was very familiar, but from where I couldn't remember. I shouted a long string of profanities at the top of my lungs. With the dense walls of trees it took a good five minutes before the echo stopped.
I waited, helpless on the hood of my car waiting for a traveler to pass by. That could take hours, I hadn't seen another car since midday. I lied down and pressed my cheek against the cold, bug splattered windshield, I figured if I slept now I would be able to drive longer later. With that I turned my hazards on and went to sleep.
I woke up as a cold rock was pressed against my neck. Why was there a rock on my throat? I lifted my arm to push it off without opening my eyes. However, it wasn't a rock; it was a hand. I bolted up to see a woman standing over me. Darkness had engulfed the road, but this woman seemed to glow. My flashing lights turned her other wise porcelain skin orange every two seconds. She stared at me with a look of recognition coupled by shock. It took a second for all this to register, but when it did I was nearly knocked over by my realization.
"Alice!" I jumped and ran to her. I was thrilled to see her; it meant that I was so close to my goal.
"Jacob Black," she stated in disbelief, "Why are you here?"
"I came to see Bella," I said flushed with embarrassment. Now that I had almost reached my goal the entire trek did seem kind of outrageous. "How did you find me?" As soon as I said it I figured that she had 'seen' me.
"Well I was hunting and I saw you lying on your car with your hazards on and I was worried. I had no idea it would be you of all people," she seemed irritated my that fact, "You smell different I didn't recognize you; you smell much less . . . revolting." I tried to take that as a compliment.
Enough with the small talk, I had to see Bella. "Where's Bella?" I tried to be friendly, but it came out more as a demand.
"Well they're not too far from here, we like the desolateness of the area you know." She seemed distracted while she spoke. I looked in her eyes; they were as black as the surrounding forest.
"Vampire," I bellowed. Wow I was really losing it without my medicine. All my prejudices came floating forward in my mind; however, they didn't seem to matter much anymore. Everything Bella had told me about them pushed all my memories of chauvinism out of my mind. They were good vampires, they don't eat people. Why had this been so hard to understand before?
"Oh," I snapped back to reality, "You're thirsty aren't you?"
"Yes very much so actually; I missed the hunting trip the rest took yesterday so I'm trying to catch up," I could tell she was struggling with my close proximity. I obviously had lost my wolf smell.
Alice finally spoke after a few minutes of awkward silence, "I better take you back to the house it's very late and you wanted to see Bella didn't you?" I just nodded as she danced towards the driver's side.
I couldn't tell how long the drive actually took; all the trees looked identical to the next to it. We finally stopped; Alice had jumped out before the car had come to a full stop.
"I'm sorry I really must hunt." With that she ran back into the dense forest. I yanked the keys out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. With a deep breath I hesitantly approached the door.
I hardly touched the door before it was answered.
"Bella?" I breathed.
Recognition crossed her face. Then her expression mirrored mine. We both looked as if we had seen a ghost.
A/N: Wow this story has gotten a lot longer than originally intended. I have no idea how long it will turn out in the end, but I'm fairly confident I can promise at least two more chapters. Hope you are enjoying the story.
PLEASE REVIEW! It's not that hard, and it will make me very happy. I love reading your comments as always.