Riding In Cars With Boys

Chapter 6 – Tangled In the Great Escape

Renesmee's POV

Jacob and I walked into my house, hand in hand. He was mostly there so my parents didn't throw a huge fit – not right away, anyway. I had lied to them in more than one way last night, so I couldn't blame them for being upset with me. Even I was tired of my bullshit.

I could hear them in the kitchen when I pushed the front door open. Their chattering stopped and dad poked his head around the doorframe. I gave him an impish smile and watched his eyes grow wide before landing on Jacob. The look he gave me after that clearly told me that we needed to speak, and I lowered my eyes, feeling like a complete idiot.

He recovered nicely, though, placing a hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Jake, it's nice to see you again. Care to stay for dinner?"

Jacob smiled, stepping around me, but not dropping my hand. "Sounds great, Mr. C."

I thought for sure that mom was going to cry when she saw me, but she just settled for a really tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. She managed to give me the same look dad had given me and asked me to help her with dinner.

Jacob gave me a small smile and nod as I pulled my hand from his. Truth be told, I was still feeling a little shaky, and was doing my best to hide it from my parents. I wasn't sure how to explain away withdrawal symptoms to them. Not with dad being a doctor.

Anastasia sat silently at the kitchen table, putting together a puzzle. She briefly looked up from the puzzle to meet my eyes, but didn't acknowledge my presence in any other way. For Jacob, though, she had a mega-watt smile and one of her famous squeeze hugs. Guilt stabbed at me, like a dull knife, and I barely held back my tears.

It was nothing more than I deserved or expected.

!#$#!

After dinner, Ana went straight for Jacob and pulled him into her room to play dress up. She had once confided in me that she thought Jacob was very cute, and she also loved the color pink on him. Jacob was a good sport, letting her drag him through the house to put tutus and various other sparkly objects on him. He curtseyed good-naturedly and blew us all a kiss.

Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen with my parents. They stared at me expectantly as I fumbled through my jumbled brain to put something feasible together to tell them.

"So I wasn't entirely honest with you last night. I…I went to Ty's house. He was having a party and he wanted me there," It was the closest thing to the truth I could think to tell them. The hurt look on their faces made me feel like the shittiest human being the Earth had to offer.

"But I want you to know I called Jacob to come pick me up. The cops busted the party and I broke up with Tyler. I'm sorry I lied to you both and I'm done with all of that. I'm done with not coming home. I miss you guys."

I sniffled unattractively, looking up at both of them.

Dad spoke first. "We appreciate you being honest with us, Renesmee. But you're grounded."

I nodded quietly, almost smiling because they were punishing me. Jesus, I had just missed them so much. "I understand."

We exchanged small smiles across the table before mom stood up. "So, who's ready for cake?"

!#$#!

I hugged Jacob tightly, and he did the same. He kissed me on the cheek as he pulled away, giving me a small smile. "You know I'm always here for you, kid."

I mock- punched his jaw, returning the smile. "As far as best friends go, I guess I could do worse."

He placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me, woman."

I placed a kiss on his cheek and took a step back. "Thank you for everything, Jacob. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you or properly thank you. But it means everything to me."

"You could let me get a full night's sleep. And call just to hang out once in a while. Oh, and that cake your mom made? Yeah, I'll need one of those, too."

I rolled my eyes. "Typical man; all you want is sleep and food. But call me sometime and we can hangout like normal friends do."

He chuckled and ducked to slide into his car. "Yeah…I'll think about it. Let me know when you're off house arrest."

I waved as he backed out of the driveway. I stood outside for a few minutes longer, soaking up the remainder of the heat from the day. Truthfully, I was putting off the last apology I had to make. It was probably the one that meant the most – to me, anyway.

She was bathed and being put to bed when I finally came back inside. My parents exchanged knowing looks, kissed her goodnight and left the room, leaving the two of us alone. I lay down next to her, noticing the way she stared up at the ceiling, not acknowledging my presence.

I propped my head up and brushed a strand of wet hair away from her face. Her wide eyes met mine, and the expression 'open book' had never met a truer example.

She cuddled close to me, the only thing separating us being a blanket and her Snuggles bear. "Ana, I'm sorry I left last night. It was not a very smart thing for me to do. I promise I won't do that to you again. I'm so, so sorry it made you so upset."

"I missed you lots. I so happy you come home yesserday and then you were gone and I din' like that lots."

I wrapped my arms around her, feeling tears prick my eyes. If my baby sister was upset over my absence, I couldn't imagine the shit I'd put my parents through. "I promise that the next time I have to leave I will let you know, okay?"

She nodded quietly, her eyelids heavy with sleep. Too content and comfortable to move, I squeezed her just a little tighter, ensuring I wouldn't fall off her small bed. Her soft snores were all the forgiveness I needed, and I let her steady breathing lull me to sleep.

!#$#!

When I woke the next morning, it was to the sound of a tiny giggle and the smell of French toast. I sat slowly, realizing I was still in Ana's bed, though she wasn't with me anymore. I also took note of how sore I was, from both the vomiting of the previous day and the cramped position of sleeping on her tiny bed.

I made my way to the sliver of light under the door and quietly pushed it open. The giggling had come from the kitchen, also where the French toast was coming from. My stomach rumbled loudly and I placed a hand on it, as if to settle the beast within.

I tiptoed across the hall to my bedroom and shut the door behind me. I was in desperate need of a shower and a change of clothes. I decided the shower would have to wait for later and slipped out of my jeans. Sleeping in jeans was the worst, but it was something I had recently come accustomed to. I pulled a hoodie over my top half and pulled my hair into a messy bun.

I looked exactly as I felt: like shit. I shuffled slowly into the kitchen, claiming the seat next to mom. A plate of French toast had already been placed there, and I bit my lip to stop from drooling. I was absolutely starving, but I was a little nervous to put so much food back into my stomach. I had felt queasy after dinner last night, but thankfully, hadn't thrown up. I swear Saltine crackers could heal everything.

"Morning Nessie," dad said from across the table. He was digging in to his own heaping pile of toast, drenched in syrup and powdered sugar. Mom leaned over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to her own plate. Even Ana looked dwarfed in comparison to the amount of food on her plate.

Okay, so I was exaggerating – sue me. But seriously, that little girl could eat more than me on her worst day.

Dad, of course, immediately noted my hesitation. "Something the matter, Ness?"

I shook my head quickly, freeing my hand from my hoodie sleeve and picking up my fork. I cut a large chunk and stuffed it in my mouth without much thought, just wanting to appease my father. I smiled around the mouthful, and he was mollified, going back to his own meal.

I chewed slowly and swallowed even slower, already knowing how this was about to end. I set my fork down quietly and stared down at my folded hands, feeling them become clammy and feeling my face flush hot.

I pushed back from the table as quickly as I could and ran for the bathroom, bringing up what had just gone down. Dad was standing outside the bathroom when I finished, his forehead wrinkled that way it does when he's really worried. He took one look at me and sent me back to bed with water and a glass of ginger-ale.

I wasn't sure which was worse: the sickness, or the guilt that ate at me for being so untruthful to my parents. Either way, I felt tears leak out the corner of my eyes, and did the best to muffle the sound of my cries.

I only had myself to blame.

!#$#!

Flash Forward – Jacob's POV

I kicked the door shut behind me, going straight for the answering machine. The red number one flickered at me, and poking the play button with the tip of my finger, the monotone voice filled the room.

I began to put the few groceries I had picked up away as Edward's voice finally came through. Disappointment twisted in my gut, though I really should have expected it. He had called around the same time every day to see if she had called me, though I hadn't heard from her in months…not since the last time she slipped.

Sighing, I made my way into the living room. I let Lola out of her cage and led her outside before I set to work cleaning up the small space. Tucker was just like any other five-year-old boy out there; he could play hard, but couldn't clean it up.

Some days I wondered what it would be like if I hadn't made the decision to adopt Tuck. But honestly, if I hadn't done it…well, I didn't want to think about it. Ness had been trying to get clean at the time, and a two year old, in need of constant attention, was a little more than she could handle.

Don't get me wrong, she loved Tuck more than words could express. I mean, really, it's her son. But for a person going through withdrawal, nothing is easy. And as for his father, well, Tuck has no idea who the man is…and we all hope it stays that way.

I let Lola back inside and grab her leash from the front door. Her tail wags excitedly, but she sits like a good girl and I hook it to her collar, leading her out the front door. She walks nicely in front of me, and I wonder about Tuck on the way to pick him up from school.

Some days I wish that Ness could get her shit together again and be the mother he needs. Kayli came close to being the kid's step mother, but when she met Ness, she fled faster than I could blink. It's okay, though. She wasn't the best choice for Tucker, anyway. I sigh to myself and stop outside of his school.

A few of the women smile politely at me, and I return the gesture in kind. Though I'm not biologically his father – and Tucker knows this – he still calls me dad in front of strangers. It's his choice, and I would never force that on him. But at home, he calls me Jacob, and that's just fine with me, too. Still, it looks better to the other parents around.

He's one of the first out of the school when the bells ring and he jumps right into my arms – after giving Lola a hug, of course. He slips his hand in mine and I smile to myself in contentment.

He chatters at me on the way home, but I'm struck again by how much he looks like Ness. The big brown eyes and the dark brown hair – I miss her more than ever.

Tucker chases Lola inside the house and she barks happily at having her play friend back home. The answering machine flickers at me again, and I sigh, knowing that it could only be Edward again.

Still, I press the play button.

"Hey, Jacob…" I nearly lose all the air in my lungs. Because it's her….

It's finally her.

Heyyy, this story just took a turn I wasn't expecting. But I'm just going to roll with it.

Thanks for the patience, I know it's been a while. Reviews would be lovely, please.

The song for this chapter is Tangled In The Great Escape by Pierce The Veil. It's wonderful.

Much love xoxo
Kelly