Chapter 3- "You don't have to go through this alone."

Author's Note: Hey guys! Just wanted to thank you for your reviews, I appreciate the feedback, keep 'em coming! =) I might be editing, and adding/changing things for this story every so often, so please, bear with me as I try to make this story as interesting as I possibly can.

Disclaimer:

I do not own Twilight in any way shape or form; All credit goes to Stephanie Meyers. However, Ray is all mine. The title 'Love Story' doesn't belong to me either, it belongs to Taylor Swift. I love that song. Ha-ha!

-xxx-

I took a few steps backwards until I reached a dead end, and plopped down on my bed. I had a feeling I might need to sit down for this one. My grandfather took a few long strides, and was kneeling in front of me just seconds after. His dark chocolate eyes stared straight into mine, and I made sure I did the same.

"Raven." His voice was stern. So filled with authority that it weighed me down like a ton of bricks. Just that one word, my name, spoken from his wise lips had my undivided attention. "I know your father's death has been very hard on you. Leila has told me what you've been up to since then." I grunted when he mentioned my mother, and his warm hand came up to my knee, giving it a light squeeze. "She's worried about you, and so are we. I just want you to know that you don't have to go through this alone. Your grandmother, and I don't want to impose, but we also don't want to just sit here, and watch you suffer."

I inhaled a deep breath thru my nostrils before letting it out in a sigh; I was at a loss for words. Nothing in my head seemed to form together to create sentences. I couldn't tell him that I wasn't suffering. He'd know I was lying. Like Jacob, my grandfather saw right through me. What was it with these natives? My hand came up, and I ran my fingers thru my shoulder length, black hair.

"Thanks gramps," I finally said. "but you don't have to worry about me. I am ok. I'll be ok." The tears were coming, I could feel them building up to spill over, but I choked it back. I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, and continued to look my grandfather in the eyes. ".I just need time is all."

He nodded his head, and his eyes dropped from mine as he stood up, and straightened himself out. "Just remember what I said, Ray. Your grandmother, and I are here whenever you want to talk."

Within moments, I was alone in my room staring at the door my grandfather had exited though. I didn't hear his footsteps down the stairs, but I still waited. When I felt like my legs were no longer stoned to the ground, I pulled myself up, and headed down the stairs into the kitchen. My food was waiting for me on the table.

-xxx-

Sunday morning was bleak. The sky was covered in clouds. No sun at all. It looked like it was going to rain, and that bummed me out. I woke up a little later than I would have if it was sunny, and my body was sore. I rolled out of bed, and still felt like if I hadn't done that, I could continue to sleep straight through the day, but I knew the consequences of that.

I washed up, brushed my teeth, and brushed my hair to the best of my ability before I changed into a pair of denim jeans, and a black t-shirt. I threw on my old Converses, and headed down the stairs. My grandmother was in the kitchen. I had missed breakfast, but like last night, my food was on the table.

"Mornin' sleepy head." She said in a cheery voice. I wondered how people could be so happy in the mornings; I was always grumpy.

"Morning." I said groggily as I sauntered over to a chair, and slumped down into it. I picked up a fork, and took a stab at my scrambled eggs. "Where's gramps?"

"In the garage. Spends most of his day back there on Sundays. Now he's got his truck to worry about since he knows you'll want to work on your car."

I chuckled as I stuffed a piece of bacon in my mouth.

"How are you feeling today, hun?" She sat down across from me, drying her hands with a rag.

I looked at her confused for a moment before I swallowed my food. "Ok, I guess."

The elderly woman looked at me, and then smiled a bright smile. "Where did you go yesterday?"

"The beach."

"And what did you do at the beach?"

"I sat in a quite place to think." I replied putting another spoonful of eggs in my mouth. "Where are you getting at with these questions, grams?"

She chuckled softly, dipping her head slightly to look over her black rimmed glasses. "Nowhere in particular my dear. I was just curious."

It was as if she knew something without me telling her. Had I acted differently when I arrived from the beach? Was I that easy to read? I finished up my plate of food, and took a sip of the apple juice she had poured for me.

"I am going to keep gramps some company out back."

She nodded her head, still smiling. "I am sure Ben would like that."

I smiled at her comment, and thanked her for the food before exiting the kitchen, and heading 'round back to the garage. There he was, bent over the hood of his truck seeming to be pretty intently working on the engine.

"Need any help?"

Ben lifted his head up for a brief moment, and smiled at me. "Sure, kid. Hand me that wrench over there will yah?"

Nodding my head, I stepped down, and headed towards a tool box on his right side. It was set on a table beside his truck. I reached in, and grabbed the wrench he asked for.

"Thanks." He said with a slight nod as he dipped back into the hood.

I was quiet for a while just watching him work so diligently on his truck. It was both amusing, and very surprising that a man of his age still moved like a youngster. Sometimes I forgot he was my grandfather.

"Hey gramps?" I finally said after a few long moments of comfortable silence.

He must've heard the hesitant tone in my voice because his head snapped up all previous work to his engine forgotten. I could tell he was giving me his undivided attention; That made me nervous.

I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment as my eyes kept themselves occupied with the garage floor before they lifted up to meet Ben's dark eyes.

"I-" The words worked to form themselves, but I couldn't find a way to let them out. "Do you know a.. Jacob Black?"

I saw his expression change from worry to amusement. I could see the twinkle in his eyes, and the corner of his lips twitch into a smirk.

"I do." Came his reply with a slight nod before he went back under the hood. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I met him yesterday. At the beach."

I heard him chuckle. "And?"

"And, nothing…" My reply came quick which made him chuckle again. "I-I just wanted to know… You know.. What you thought of him."

Ben stopped what he was doing once more. He set the wrench down, and grabbed a rag to clean his greasy fingers. "He's a good kid. A little stubborn at times, but he was raised well. I know his father, Billy Black, we're both on the counsel."

"The counsel?"

He nodded. "We natives have a type of government too, Ray. Any big decision of the tribe has to go through a group of elders before it can be made."

I looked at him with a shocked expression. "Wow. So, you , and Billy are a part of this.. Counsel?"

He nodded at me once more before throwing the rag over his shoulder, and leaning against his truck arms crossed. I could tell in his eyes there was something else he wasn't telling me. He, and Jacob were rubbing off on me.

"Why did dad hate it here?"

The question was random, but Ben didn't seem too taken back by it.

"You're father… He didn't believe in superstition. Hell, he didn't believe in anything we natives believe in. Said it was a bunch of nonsense."

I scowled. "It's not nonsense."

He watched me for a brief moment, and then smiled. "Do you remember those old legends I used to tell you when you were younger?"

"Of course. You used to tell them to me as bedtime stories, how could I forget? They were fascinating."

"Which one stands out most in your mind."

I wracked my brain for a few moments, scanning through every story he'd ever told me. One stood out of them all. "The cold ones."

"Ah, that's a good one." He smiled at me, and I could tell there was some sort of hidden message in his smile. Like he was trying to tell me to specifically keep that story in mind. Of course, I ignored my instinct.

"Jacob said he has a garage, and he'd help me out with my car. Would you mind if I stopped by there today?"

Ben smirked at the change of subject. "You should take his offer; Jacob knows a thing or two about cars. He fixed up a Volkswagen Rabbit from scratch all on his own. Kid's got a gift." Another hidden message that I chose to ignore again.

"So, you wouldn't mind if I spent some time over there?"

"Not at all. It might be good for you." He said with a soft chuckle. "Just… Don't miss dinner."

I smirked. "Sounds good. I am going to take a drive down to Port Angeles first. I want to buy some paint, and other car stuff. I'll be home for dinner."

My grandfather nodded his head before going back to working on his truck. I headed out to the driveway, pulling my keys out of my pocket as I hopped into my car. I was on my way to Port Angeles.

-xxx-

The ride was fairly long, but it didn't really matter. I was in no rush, so I took my time in getting there. I kept thinking about my grandfather the entire ride. His words kept replaying in my head. I wish I knew what he was hiding.

My car idled in the parking lot of a strip mall before I pulled the key out of the ignition, and stepped out. I walked down the street till I found a car store. It seemed like I had been in there for hours. Picking out paints, new mats, air fresheners, and other stuff my car might need to feel a lot more like me. I was wondering around with a basket full of junk in hand before I made it to the front desk.

There was a good looking, blue eyed guy there. I smile at him as he rang up the things I pulled out of the basket. He was cute, but somehow I wasn't interested. I didn't really understand why. He was exactly my type. Blonde, shaggy hair, blue eyes, light skin. When he was finished, he told me the total, and I shoved my hand into my pocket to grab my wallet.

I handed him the amount of money, and then tugged the bags off of the counter balancing my weight as I turned towards the exit of the store. I slammed into a cold figure that made me stumble back a bit with all the bags in my hand.

"My apologies." A smooth, velvet voice spoke making my head snap up to look at the marble skinned male. Honey brown eyes stared into mine as a soft smile formed on his slightly purple lips. His hair was as dark as mine, and up in a semi-long ponytail.

When I realized I was gawking, I shifted the bags to even them out on my arms, and gave a small smile. "It's fine. I wasn't paying attention. Not totally your fault."

Giving a soft chuckle, I let my eyes wander. He was close to my height. No where near as tall as Jacob. I could tell through his muscle shirt that he had a rather large build to him. I found myself intrigued with his features. He was.. Beautiful. But what caught me even more than his looks was the fact that he was cold. Cold as ice.

He noticed that I was examining him, and his smile grew into a rather crooked smirk. I felt my tanned cheeks get hot with embarrassment. "Excuse me." I said politely as I walked around him, and headed out of the door. I could tell he was watching me leave as I headed down the street to my car. I shoved everything in the back seat before getting in, and driving off towards La Push.

My music was blasting on the speakers. AC/DC. My dad's favorite band, and recently my own. I glanced at my clock. I still had plenty of time to stop by Jacob's house.. Even though I realized I had never asked where he lived. I chuckled softly as I drove around looking for a house that might be Jacob's. The entire time I thought about the male I had bumped into at the car store. I let out a soft sigh, and then my eyes caught sight of someone outside of their house, and I instantly recognized the figure. The corners of my lips curled up into a smile as my car neared Jacob Black.

Hearing the roar of my engine nearing, Jacob's head lifted up to meet my eyes from the window-shield of my car. A grin formed on his face, and as I turned off my engine, and pulled the key out of the car, he made his way over, and opened the door for me.

"Missed me already?" He teased leaned forward against the door.

"Nah." I teased in return. "I am just here for your garage."

We both chuckled at my witty reply, as I shut the door to my car shoving my keys in my pocket. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Jacob's lips twist into a scowl, and his nose wrinkle as I stepped out. Instantly, I felt self-conscious about myself. Did I forget my deodorant or something?

Noticing the confused expression on my face, his own expression changed, and he smiled a reassuring smile at me. "Pull your car into the garage, and we'll see what we can do with it."

He tried to mask the smug tone in his voice, but I pretended I didn't notice, and simply nodded, before I got back into my car. I briefly wondered what caused Jacob's sudden mood change. He was happy to see me before I stepped out, and now he was sort of reluctant? Maybe I was over reacting. Not dwelling too much on it, I slowly parked my car into his garage.