CHAPTER THREE

I could help but gasp when I saw the five white students, even paler then I was! The one who was staring at me had untidy bronze hair, and was insanely gorgeous. I suddenly felt my chest throb and scream in agony and I gasped again, this time because I was unable to breathe. I only vaguely saw his look of horror, because I twisted around and leaned forward, trying to catch my breath.

People started staring as I swiped my bag and started breathing in and out into it with labored breaths, but it barely helped. I could start to see stars in my sight, everything going cloudy. Before I passed out, the only thing that went through my mind was "Oh my g0d... I'm going to die…" then everything went black…

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There wasn't anything that I could see, yet I could hear just fine. There was an annoying beeping sound to my left, and I instantly recognized it as a heart monitor. I knew this from the countless times I've visited hospitals. I could make out the sound of humming, which I guessed were people talking. I let out an involuntary groan and moved my head to the side, my vision slowly returning.

"Ugh… I have a headache…" I muttered to myself and put a hand over my eyes to block them from the bright light overhead. I felt exhausted, and it was like there was a heavy weight being pressed down on my chest, making me cough horribly.

"G0d… this is worse then the last time…!" I said in exasperation, not caring if whoever was here was staring at me like a lunatic. I was used to it.

When my eyes adjusted to the bright light, I pushed myself up from my uncomfortable position, looking around the room. Apparently I was wrong. There wasn't anyone in here. The humming must've come from my ears then.

I sighed in irritation to myself and rubbed my eyes with my index fingers. "Why did they bring me here…?" I hissed under my breath and looked around. I was obviously in the nurse's office. Where they got the money to get a heart monitor was beyond me.

I pulled the weird clamp that kept track of my heart rate off of my middle finger, jumping off of the bed. My vision spun slightly and a stumbled, leaning against the bed as I breathed in deeply to calm my heart down.

Once it was at a more regular pace, I walked to the door and pushed it open. The nurse, I forgot her name, jumped up from her seat in shock.

"Miss Swan! You should be resting! You passed out at lunch." She said and came toward me, but I stepped back and held my hands up.

"I'm fine." I reassured with a fake smile that I used a lot. "I just lost my breath." She looked at me warily, but didn't say anything else. "How long was I out?" I asked.

"… For about thirty minutes, so lunch is almost over…" She said, and before I allowed her to say anything else, I walked over, grabbed my bag, and walked out into the moist air.

As long as I wasn't dead, I didn't care about what happened. That's all I wanted for now. Is to live. Who knows what would happen to Mom if she lost her only daughter? I felt a pang in my heart thinking about that, but quickly pushed it away.

"I'd never leave her like Dad did." I said in determination, frowning. I zipped open my backpack and shuffled around, pulling out my cell phone and dialed in Mom's number.

I only had to wait for three rings when she answered in a panicked voice, "Hello? Charity? Is everything alright? Did something happen? Are you-"

"Mom!" I broke in to her hysterics and had to laugh weakly at how she always over reacts. "I'm fine! But I passed out at lunch," She took a large intake of breath on the other end. "But I'm fine now. I just got shocked by something…"

"Do you want me to come and pick you up, sweetie?" She asked, now calmer. I smiled softly.

"Yes, that would be great if you could. I don't feel like dealing with any of the people here…"

The dial tone took place, and I knew that she was already on her way here. I sighed and flipped my phone shut, putting it in my backpack and slipping that back on.

"Oh Mom…" I said and shook my head, reaching the parking lot. I sat down on the curb, resting my hands in my lap. I stared at a lone blue jay that flew onto a bush and chirped noisily, hopping from branch to branch.

"Wonder what it's like to be a bird…" I mused and closed my eyes, resting my head on my knees, trying to relax. I jumped slightly, but luckily was able to keep my heart rate in check, when I heard a roaring engine, nothing like our Honda.

I looked up from my lap, and instantly grinned widely. "Uncle Jacob!" I said and hopped up, giving him a large hug. He wasn't my real uncle, but I considered him to be one. Jacob chuckled deep in his throat like he does and wrapped his long arms around me. I always hated how warm he was, but I never complained about it.

"Hey there, squirt!" He said cheerily and ruffled my hair with a wide grin plastered on his face. "Your Mom called, asked for me to come and get ya."

I brightened even more. I'd have to remember to thank Mom later.

"Sweet! I get to ride on the bike then?!" I said in excitement, and he nodded enthusiastically. He handed me a helmet and buckled it on, slipping on behind him and wrapping my arms around his waist.

He was about to gun the engine when I heard something like a snarl that sent shivers up my spine.

I felt Jacob shift and felt his muscles ripple under his skin, something that happened to him when he gets angry.

"What're you doing here?" Jacob said in a voice I never heard him use. I blinked and looked to where he was staring and froze, almost having an episode.

It was those five new students from before, and all of them were glaring hard at Jacob.

"And what about you mutt?" The tall blond hair girl hissed, but even though it was filled with so much acid, it still sounded beautiful. Then I realized the last part she said. Mutt?

I looked over to Jacob with a stumped expression, but he was still glaring hard at the new students.

"Uncle Jacob… what's going on?" I said warily, and all of their eyes flashed to me, making it hard to control my breathing. Obviously Jacob noticed and growled warningly at the students, lifted me up and easily putting me into his lap as I felt my heart rate quicken.

"Get out of Forks, otherwise I'll tell Sam about this." Jacob growled out and then gunned the engine, and we were suddenly speeding off down the road.

I clutched his thin shirt in shock and squeezed my eyes shut as I started to cough violently, my body convulsing.

We made it to my house in no time though, and he quickly turned off the bike and knelt down in front of me, looking me in the eyes with his black ones.

"Charity, listen to me. Just breathe. In and out… in and out…" He said in a rush, showing me an example to help me follow. Mine were staggered though, and I was gripping his muscular arms with my shaking hands.

After a few moments, I was able to calm down and he lifted me up into his arms with ease.

"Let's go inside and get you something to eat." He murmured, walking into the house after unlocking the door with the key under the mat. I closed my eyes as he set me down on the couch, walking into the kitchen to get some things.

I sighed and rested my head back, kicking my flip flops off and tugging the helmet off of my head.

Why was Jacob so rude to the new students? How come that blond girl called him a mutt? How come they were all snarling and growling like animals? I sighed and slowly shook my head, my brain throbbing.

I felt Jacob plop down beside me, making me bounce slightly at my seat. He handed me a bowl of carrots with some ranch when I opened my eyes, he having a bag of Doritos.

"Thanks Uncle J." I said and took a carrot, dipping it in the ranch and taking a bite.

"No problem." He said, distracted by something. I didn't ask though. Instead we just watched some horror movies on the Fox.

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Mom came back at around four, apparently when I called her she had been at work. She greeted Jacob and me warmly then went into the kitchen to start dinner.

I looked over to Jacob and bit my lip slightly. "Um… Uncle Jacob?"

"Hm?" He asked and looked to me from the movie that was playing.

I looked down to my lap, staring at the bowl that used to have carrots in it. "Um… what was… my Dad like?" I could feel him tense and I glanced up to him. "S-sorry… I just want to know… since I've never met him…" I said and sighed, looking up to the ceiling. "I want to know if he was nice or polite or alcoholic… anything…" I closed my eyes. "But you don't have to…"

He stayed silent for a moment before he sighed, shifting and I felt his large warm hand on my shoulder. "I guess it's the least I can do…"

I opened my eyes to look at him. "Really?" I asked hopefully, and he nodded. I grinned and gave him our signature teddy bear hug, and he chuckled at that. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I repeated before he carefully pulled me off.

"Alright, well where do you want me to start?" He asked as he sat me down on his lap.

"What did he look like?" I said instantly, resting my back against his chest.

"Hm… well…" He twirled some of my hair between his fingers. "He had your hair, but it was shorter," I laughed slightly.

"I know that, but what else?"

"Let's see… He was pale, like you are… Apparently all the girls here thought he was hot…" He said, and I think I could hear him frown at that. "Your Mom used to compare him to a male model…" I nodded slowly to show I understood, leaning my head back to look at him.

"How come he left Mom?"

He sighed at that, closing his eyes as he rested his head on his hand that was being held up by his elbow on the arm rest. "His family was moving, so he wanted to tell her the truth about how he felt before he left." He growled slightly. "Your Dad wasn't at all pleasant, Charity, nothing like how you are." He opened his eyes to smile to me, kissing my head. "You're kind, thoughtful, always think of people before yourself, even when you're so sick. He wasn't at all like that. He was just using your Mom, probably out of pity." He muttered.

Before he could continue, Mom walked in. "What're we talking about?" She asked, sitting down beside us.

Jacob looked to her and smiled. "Just chatting about worthless stuff," He wrapped one arm around me, and the other around Mom as she leaned in to his warmth.

I blinked and looked ahead at the TV. Dad was really like that? I frowned. That settles it. I thought of him as some kind gentleman, now I know better. I looked out the window. Dad, wherever you are… I hate you… I thought icily and looked to see Mom smiling happily as she and Jacob talked. You made Mom sad… and I hate anyone that makes my family sad…