"Bells! Where have you been?" Charlie inquired from the sofa where he was sitting.

I took my time hanging my coat on its peg, making sure that my back was turned to him as I strenuously regained my composure.

"Bells?" He repeated. I could feel his eyes lingering on me, preferably ignoring the intense action going on in some basketball game on television.

I finally faced him but I strayed my eyes away from his searching ones. "I'm sorry I went for a short trip to Thriftway. I'll prepare dinner right away."

"Where's your grocery?"

I sighed. Having a chief of police for a dad certainly had its disadvantages.

"I didn't find anything I wanted. Let me go to the kitchen," I answered curtly while walking.

"You think you can prepare for four people, Bella? Billy and Harry are coming in a while. Or do you think I should go call for pizza?" His voice sounded concerned. I didn't know if it was because of my sour mood or he didn't think I could make it before the visitors came.

I gnawed my lip and muffled the guilty echoes reverberating in my brain. "Perhaps a pizza night would be good." My energy was already drained and I didn't want his friends to have a bad impression of my cooking.

"Okay, then," he said as walked to the kitchen to call the pizza place.

I quietly went to my room to avoid any more conversations with him. I lay face down on my bed and hugged my pillow with my head turned to the side to stare at the window. Maybe I should stay awake all night and wait. But I was no vampire. And he would know if I was still awake and pretending to be sleeping.

From outside, I heard the rumble of an engine stop right in front of our house. I stood up to check Charlie's visitors. The car was a red Rabbit.

I went downstairs to meet them. Charlie was already welcoming them in and so I stood at the side to watch them file in.

It was Billy Black in his wheelchair but he was being assisted not by Harry, but Jacob.

"Bella! Looks like Harry couldn't make it," Charlie said, but his voice was enthusiastic. "Jacob here took his place though." He gave Jacob's shoulders a huge pat twice and winked at him.

I mentally rolled my eyes. Couldn't he be any more subtle?

I stared at Jacob. I was in awe to see him because of how much he had grown since the last time I saw him.

"I'm only up to your shoulders now," I exclaimed.

"Yeah. Six five," he beamed proudly, his voice also deeper and huskier.

"The pizza's here!" Charlie announced as he left the room to receive it from the delivery guy outside.

Billy appeared very, very engrossed on the game and left Jacob and me to talk. It was obvious that this meeting was contrived between our two fathers.

I ushered Jacob into the kitchen as I prepared the ice cubes and bottles of beer.

"I'll prepare a can of Coke for you, don't worry," I joked at him. It was easy to be light-hearted under his company.

He grinned. "I look mature for my age anyway." He scratched the back of his neck shyly.

I placed the glasses and bottles on a tray but he offered to carry them for me. I allowed him to avoid any accidents on my part.

When we entered the living room, Billy and Charlie appeared to be having a hushed conversation. They stopped as soon as they heard us coming.

Charlie started to speak after we had seated ourselves. I sat on the armchair as I wasn't really planning on staying too long after finishing a slice.

"Bells, the annual fishing competition is this weekend," he began. "That's tomorrow. I'm planning to join this year because I really need a break from work." His forehead creased a little. I knew their biggest case was still unsolved with no leads at all.

"Good luck, Dad," I wished him. "Where's it going to be?"

"The Quillayute River. Billy invited me to spend the night at his place so I wouldn't need to bother coming home then going back again." He looked at Billy and tilted his head a little. I perceived it to be a signal and I wasn't disappointed.

Billy cleared his throat. "Bella, would you like to join us in La Push? Jacob is not joining. He doesn't like fishing and we'd probably bore the hell out of him. You can give him some company."

Jacob decided not to be a simple witness to their obvious matchmaking act. "It's okay, Dad. I'm still fixing something in the garage. That will keep me busy." He looked at me and smiled encouragingly.

"I would really love to go with you all but Mike Newton asked me back to their store and I'm starting tomorrow. I don't want to take the day off on the first day." I tried to sound regretful of that decision.

"Maybe some other time then," Jacob threw another smile at me. I couldn't help but return a sincere one.

Charlie just shrugged but by the way his shoulders slumped, he was disappointed by my answer. But what could I do? I couldn't retract that any more. Billy just returned watching the game very seriously.

All fell silent.

When their drinks were over, I collected them and moved to the kitchen. I placed them in the dishwasher and waited. A few minutes more and I could have my alone time.

"Bella."

I jumped at the sound of my name.

"Jacob!"

"I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" His puppy eyes were smiling and he seemed to be blushing under his brown skin.

"A little, yeah," I admitted with a smile.

"Sorry about what happened there. I didn't know what was coming," he explained, showing a lopsided grin.

"No harm done. They're just being...fathers." I stressed the last word and chuckled.

"Still, they act as if I couldn't get my own date." He rolled his eyes.

"I wouldn't doubt your expertise in that department," I reassured him. Then I suddenly caught myself. Was I flirting?!

"Actually, I've been wanting to ask this girl for a date but I don't know how to ask her."

I fell silent. The sound of the dishwasher became a timely icebreaker. I busied myself with the dishes and ignored his last statement. I could still very well remember the night of the prom when he asked me to dance.

"Do you have any advice for me?" He asked suddenly, still waiting for a response.

I was happy he couldn't see my expression because I was still facing the sink. My brain was racing for a good enough answer to give him.

"Maybe you should check if this girl is really worth dating because she may be delusional. You never know these days," I finally replied. "I need to go upstairs now."

He smiled and nodded. I rushed to my bedroom leaving his towering figure behind.

I lay on my bed wide awake staring at my closed window. I had closed it to see what would happen tomorrow. This time, I knew I was lucid and I did remember to remember that I closed it shut for real.

My head turned sharply to the door. Charlie was knocking. His guests had already left a few minutes ago.

"Come in, Dad," I called out. I lifted my shoulders and rested them on the headboard.

He walked to my bed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Sorry about earlier," he apologized.

"What was that about?" My voice was clearly irritated.

"Just thought it would be nice to have new company. Your daily routine is home and school and back again. It's not normal, Bells," he explained gently.

I pursed my lips. "I'm getting through this, Dad. But let me take my time, okay?"

"Just don't take too long. This is the best time of your life. Don't waste it moping around."

"I won't. Could we please not discuss this any more?"

He just nodded and started to leave.

"Dad?" I called again. I didn't want the night to turn out this way. I was planning to surprise him with fish and chips in the first place!

He turned again. "Yes, baby?"

I smiled at his pet name for me which he had always used when I was younger. "I appreciate what you're doing. You're the best. I...I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Bells." He went back for me to kiss me on my forehead.

"Good night, Dad."

"Good night," he said and closed the door.

I lay on my back again. Little did I know that it would be our last conversation together.