Chapter 14: Los Angeles

Nessie's POV

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the trip to LA. Packing numerous bags. So many bags that I didn't even attempt to count the amount of bags.

It was weird because even though I was supposedly heading back home I'd never felt more at home than I did here with the Cullens and Jacob. They'd made me feel more welcomed in just the past few days than my own mother did in an entire lifetime.

The next morning we headed out to the airport. Due to how late we booked our plane tickets we couldn't sit together as a family and we were scattered all over the place. Except Jacob and I. Somehow we were able to sit together much to my father's obvious dismay. I could actually see my dad baring his teeth when Jacob put his arm around me.

At some point during the flight I fell asleep. When I woke up my head was rested on Jacob's arm. I didn't even bother to move. His warm muscular arm was the perfect pillow for my head.

"Oh you're awake sleeping beauty," Jacob whispered into my ear.

I smiled.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked him.

"Almost the entire flight. We're about thirty minutes away from landing,"

"Oh,"

"So Nessie I was wondering. Since when morning comes you're family is going to be pretty much trapped inside for the day, would you like to go have a breakfast with me somewhere? Maybe show me around?"

Oh holy hell! Was this date? Did Jacob just ask me out on an actual real live date? Because I was sure that was exactly what happened!

"I-I-I-" I sound like a complete bumbling idiot right now that's what!

The smile he gave me only left me more speechless!

Eventually I found my voice and said "Yes,"

I glanced back at my father. That was a mistake because my father looked like he was ready to jump out of his seat and kill someone! My mom looked completely mystified by Jacob's behavior. Not angry just confused. As for me? I was just happy. I liked Jacob and I mean I really really liked him. Hopefully this meant that he liked me as well.

When we landed it was almost sunrise and my family scrambled to get out of the airport and to the nearest hotel in time. I didn't understand what the sudden rush was. What was so bad about sunlight? I'd have to ask when everyone wasn't freaking out about the rising sun.

Only Jacob and I were allowed to roam the city freely. I could tell it was killing my father having to watch the two of us leave together and not be able to do anything about it.

Since Jacob was eager to see where I grew up I thought we'd go have breakfast close to my neighborhood which was still quite a bit further out from the airport. About 45 minutes actually. Jacob insisted on paying the Uber driver no matter how much I tried to fight him over it.

As we waited outside iHOP I caught Jacob surveying the area several times. I'd grown so accustomed to the graffiti, run down buildings, and run down streets/sidewalks that it was normal to me. I'd forgotten that it wasn't so normal to everyone.

"Welcome to South Central Jacob,"

His attention automatically went back to me.

"South Central?"

"South Central or South Los Angeles. Whatever you want to call it's where I grew up. Don't worry crime isn't as bad as they say. Yeah there is gang activity here but poverty is more of an issue here than anything else,"

Jacob was about to say something when they called his name saying our table was ready.

"This is really where you grew up?" Jacob asked once we sat down.

"Yes Jacob this is where I grew up. Just keep your valuables hidden and don't flash around a ton of money and you'll be fine. Rich people are much more likely to be a victim of crime here than we are. Why are you so worried anyway? Big bad wolf," I laughed at that last part.

"Maybe it's not me I'm worried about,"

"Oh Jacob stop worrying and just enjoy your pancakes,"

Jacob definitely took full advantage of the 'all you can eat pancakes' deal. I actually lost count of how many pancakes he was eating when he'd gotten to his tenth pancake. How that boy had enough room in his stomach for so much food was beyond me. I jokingly stated that if he didn't stop eating they'd start charging us extra for all the pancakes.

When it came to pay for breakfast I fought, and failed massively, to pay the bill. When I asked to at least split the bill Jacob was having none of it. Insisted that it was the "gentlemanly" thing to do.

Since I was in no absolute hurry to go home I thought I'd show Jacob around some more. Jacob decided to be obnoxiously overprotective. He insisted on being at my side at all times despite me telling him that I'd been taking care of myself here for years.

We were heading one way when Jacob suddenly changed directions and since he was pushing my wheelchair I had no choice but to follow him.

"Jacob what're you doing?"

"We're not going that way,"

"Why not?"

"Because-"

"Nessie!" I heard two little voices scream at the same time.

I looked back and saw two toddlers, a boy and a girl, running toward me. Rosalin and Owen were twin two year olds that lived at a homeless encampment that I frequently passed by.

As soon as they got to me they threw their arms around me. I felt bad as I usually had food for them but this time I didn't.

"Nessie we missed you," Rosalin said.

"Yeah I missed you kids as well,"

"Nessie you know these kids?" Jacob asked curiously.

"Who is he?" Owen asked.

"Yeah I know them Jacob. They're orphans that live at a homeless encampment nearby. Their mother was homeless to," I remarked with sadness. Elena was one of the few friends I had in my life. Her parents kicked her out when she got pregnant. Sadly she died due to childbirth complications. I promised her I'd do what I could to take care of her kids even though there wasn't much that I could do.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Little Rosalin asked.

"What? No and how do you even know what a boyfriend is?"

She giggled.

"So you take care of kids to Ness?"

"I love kids Jake. Can't stand seeing them suffer. Sadly no one does anything to help them,"

"Beautiful inside and out, smart, compassionate, caring. The list of things that I love about you just keeps growing,"

I blushed and was rendered speechless again. Seriously Jacob was the only guy in the world that could have that effect on me.

"Well, seeing that it's 12:30," Jacob said as he looked at his watch. "Why don't we go get some lunch and-"

"Seriously Jacob?" I looked at him like he was crazy. "After everything you ate for breakfast you're actually hungry,"

He rolled his eyes. "I was actually thinking about getting something for the kids. For the record, yes, I am hungry,"

I couldn't say no to getting food for the kids but how Jake was still hungry after eating about a hundred pancakes was beyond me.

I told him where the nearest McDonald's was and he followed my instructions. As we were walking Jacob accidentally crashed into someone.

I felt my heart skip several beats as it usually does whenever I see him again. It was none other than Oscar. One of the guys that raped me.

"Hey sorry dude," I heard Jacob say to the guy.

"No worries man," he said back.

I instantly grabbed Jacob's hand and without thinking about what I was doing I showed Jacob the night I was raped and the faces of the two boys responsible. One of whom we'd just ran into.

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