We had been driving for almost fifteen minutes when we finally stopped outside of what looked like a barn. Okay, so it wasn't a barn, but with the colour red that it was, it certainly could of passed for one had it been a little bigger.
Bella shut off the truck and turned to face me.
"Brooke, I don't know if you remember Jake or not. I think the last time you two saw each other you were both pretty young..." Bella trailed off.
"Bella, do we have to do this?" I asked, twirling the ring on my finger nervously.
"You're both the same age, so there's no problem there. They're all huge, but don't let that intimidate you. They really are great guys," she said, ignoring my comments.
"Just be safe, please," I whispered.
"I'll do my best. I just want you to know that no matter what happens-" Bella began.
"Don't even go there, Bella. Nothing is going to happen to you so don't," I said, my voice low.
"Either way, I love you."
"Love you more, Bells."
I opened the door, a lone tear trailing down my cheek. What was I getting myself into? I was scared silly for my sister, the knots in my stomach growing with each passing second. Yanking my bag from the back of the truck, I started to make my way up the small walk, directly behind Bella.
I stopped as something came to mind.
"Where are we?" I asked, looking at my surroundings.
"Jake's house."
"Oh, right, I knew that," I said.
When we were almost to the door, it surprisingly swung open.
"Bella!" the voice cheered.
"Hey, Jake!" Bella replied, pulling the large man into a hug.
"Jake, I don't know if you remember my sister Brooke or not. You're both the same age, so I figured maybe she could stay with you in La Push until everything calms down," Bella said, biting her lip and looking up at him through her lashes.
Was she attempting to flirt? Oh, this was rich.
"Uh, sure, sure. Does she know...?"
"No, I didn't think that would be a good decision," Bella said, her tone hinting that he should change the subject.
"We'll talk about it later. Where is Brooke?" Jake asked.
I took this as my cue to step up.
"Uhm," I coughed. "Hi, Jake. I'm Brooke, in case you've forgotten me, I'm the one that made you eat the mud pie," I said while smirking, and offering him my hand.
He grabbed my hand in a firm shake, throaty laughter escaping through his lips.
"How could I forget."
"Holy jam jar! What is with people around here!" I cried. "First, Edward's hands felt like he dunked them in an ice tank, and your hands feel like you spent all day sticking them in front of the heater!"
"Uh-Um..." Jake sputtered.
"Jake! It's rude to keep your guests outside. Invite them in!" A voice from inside hollered.
"Bella, Brooke, do you want to come in?" Jake questioned, gesturing with his hand towards the door.
"Well obviously I don't plan on sleeping outside," I snorted. Bella quickly shot me a dirty look.
"I mean- of course Jacob!" I said cheerily.
"Okay then. Bells, you coming in for a bit?" Jake asked, turning his back to me.
"Well then. I'll just lead the way," I mumbled to myself.
I walked through the open door, lugging my bag behind me. The first thing I noticed was that the house smelt like those green air fresheners. The pine ones, except not as strong. When you first stepped into the house, there was a long, narrow hallway that from what I could catch a glimpse of, led into a tiny kitchen. Almost four steps into the hallway, an opening was in the wall that I could now distinguish, led into the living room. I could see a man watching TV. I stepped into the living room, and sat down on the arm of the couch.
"Um...hello, I'm Brooke. I guess I'm staying here for a couple of days?" I questioned, seeking approval from what I assumed to be Billy Black, Jake's dad.
"Brooke! Why, I haven't seen you since you were this tall!" he raised his hand about four feet in the air. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm all grown up now. I've been good besides the fact that my sister's in apparent danger. Speaking of that, I don't suppose you want to fill me in on why I'm staying here?" I asked with a smile.
"Hmm..." he scratched his chin "...no, I don't suppose I do. Don't worry kiddo, I know these boys can protect your sister better than anybody else," he said, returning the smile.
"I don't understand why nobody can tell me-" I threw my hands dramatically in the air and plopped down on the couch "-if it involves my sister, it involves me," I stated.
"I know that you're concerned for your sister, Brooke. Just trust me when I say the La Push boys are the best people for the job. I trust them completely, and you should too," Billy said.
"Hey dad! Bella couldn't stay, but she said that she might drop by tomorrow if she can," Jake hollered from the hallway.
"Why don't you come show Brooke her room and then take her over to Sam and Emily's for a bit?" Billy yelled back.
"Great idea. Brooke, are you okay with that?" Jake asked me, entering the room.
It wasn't that I didn't want to meet all of Jake's friends. The way Bella described them, they sounded great. I just didn't think that I could handle being around any more people who knew this big 'secret' and not blow up.
"Actually, I'm kind of tired; it's been a long day. Do you think it would be okay if I just hung around here today? Maybe I could make you guys some supper?" I propositioned.
Billy looked away from the television to scrutinize me.
"You'd make us supper? In the kitchen?" he questioned.
"Uh...yeah. Isn't that where you guys make your meals here?" I replied.
Jake began to laugh, and a smile spread across Billy's face.
"Sorry, Brooke. Our kitchen hasn't really had anybody cooking in it for a while. Sue or Emily normally send something over, or we call for pizza," Jake explained.
"Really? Well then, it's settled. I'm making you guys a home cooked meal tonight!" I exclaimed.
"Are you sure you can only stay for a couple of days?" Billy joked.
"Unfortunately, I did move here to stay with my dad when Bella leaves for university." I smiled.
Jake and Billy both seemed to tense up when I said this, and shared a sad look. Breaking the mood, Billy said, "Good old Charlie is set for life."
"It seems so," I whispered. Why did they react like that when I said Bella was going to university? Did they have some kind of aversion to university students?
"So, Brooke, you'll be staying in my old room. I moved into Rachel and Rebecca's old room when they moved out because it was bigger..." Jake trailed on.
"I really don't mind. Just show me the way," I urged.
Jake led me into the hallway, pointing out which room was which along the way.
"This is the bathroom," he said, pointing to the door across from the living room. "The right one is Billy's room, the one on the left is mine, and the middle one is yours." He pointed to three doors that were lined up on the wall.
"Oh, and in case you haven't noticed, that's the kitchen at the end of the hall. There's a backdoor in the kitchen. The backyard is all woods basically. Most importantly, speaking of woods, never go in the woods alone," Jake warned.
"Won't be a problem; I'm claustrophobic. The woods scare me." I smirked.
"Well, that's everything I suppose. Make yourself at home; I can show you around La Push later, if you'd like. I'm heading over to Sam and Emily's, and then I have to work. I should be back in time for supper," Jake explained, beginning to walk away.
He stopped walking as though he just remembered something important. Turning, he said, "Just so you know, I eat a lot. I would make enough food for about six people if I were you." He flashed me a smile, continuing to walk down the hallway and out the door.
I opened the middle door and stepped inside, closing the door behind me. The room was... cozy. It was a small room, with only dim light coming in through a surprisingly large window along the wall opposite the door. There was a cot pushed up against the right wall, with plain, white sheets covering it. On the left wall, a modest dresser and desk were side by side. I noticed a tiny, beige lamp sitting on the corner of the cramped desk, and flicked it on. Light flooded the small room quickly, bouncing off of the pale blue walls.
I decided not to stall any longer, and began to unpack the small amount of clothes I had brought with me into the dresser.
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That night, as I was laying in the warmth of my bed, I realized that Jake was right when he said he could eat. I had made enough for six, like instructed, and he ate everything that Billy and I had left! Yet another thing to add to my list I suppose. If I was going to be cooped up in La Push for the next three days, then I was going to enjoy it snooping around.
"I will find out what is going on," I whispered to myself.
I pulled the covers tight, and did something I had not done in a while.
"Lord, I don't know if you can hear me or not...I'm sorry that I haven't done this in a while. I just wanted to ask you to keep my sister safe this weekend. She's a good person, she deserves to have somebody looking after her after all she's done for mom and me. Please, Lord, here my prayer."
I drifted off into a peaceful sleep after that, the soft sounds of rain my soothing lullaby.