You walk the streets at night still looking for your reason
But you don't wanna try
You swear the world has got you backed into a corner
But no one holds your hand to walk into a fight
You swear the light is gonna find you
But it can't find you when you're waiting all the time
You say, "keep my head from going down"
Just for a little, just for a little
Watch my feet float off the ground
Just for a little, just for a little
Love, if you can hear this sound
Oh, just give me something, something to believe in
Something To Believe In-Parachute
'This is horrible.' 'Teaching the clumsiest girl ever to ride a motorcycle is idiotic.' 'Horrible idea.'
These are the thoughts running through my head as Jacob walked Bella through the basics of the motorcycle.
'Edward is going to kill me.' 'Alice is going to kill me.' 'Alice would call me if something were going to happen right? I mean that would make sense, she wouldn't let her die even if Edward said no contact.'
"Now where's your brake?"
"Behind my right foot."
"Wrong."
'Oh great she doesn't even know where the break is!'
"Very good. I think you've got all the parts down. Now you just have to get moving." Jacob said after explaining everything again and I started to have a tiny panic attack.
"Umm are we sure this is a good idea?" I asked from the tailgate.
"I'll be fine Piper," Bella turned around. "I've got to do this," she looked at me with pleading eyes and I knew it was just to hear Edward again but when will it be too much.
"I want you to hold down the clutch," Jacob instructed and she wrapped her fingers around it. "Now this is crucial, Bella," He stressed. "Don't let go of that, okay? I want you to pretend that I've handed you a live grenade. The pin is out and you are holding down the spoon."
'Oh lord,' I worked to not cover my eyes as he kick started the bike…and again…and again…and again.
"Try out the throttle," He suggested. "Very lightly. And don't let go of the clutch."
'She's going to slip off the clutch or something I just know it.'
"You want me to let go of the grenade?" She asked after it was finally started.
"That's how you move, Bella. Just do it little by little." I squinted my eyes shut as she slowly let off of it.
"Oh!" she gasped and released it all together. Suddenly the bike jerked and it both collapsed, the bike half on her. Instantly I jumped up but Jacob was already there.
"Bella? Are you hurt? Bella?" Jacob shook her shoulder.
"I'm fine," she said and glanced back at me with a dazed expression.
'She heard him.'
"I didn't hurt the bike, did I?" She asked
"No. You just stalled the engine. You let go of the clutch to fast."
"Let's try again." She nodded and I felt the urge to groan.
This time she tried to kick start it herself and finally the engine caught and roared to life.
'Oh god please don't die,' I frowned as both of them smiled. I let out a long breath and suddenly she was off. Quickly I moved forward to watch her go down the road. I thought she might actually make it until I saw her start to panic as the road turned before she was even off I was running. I barely noticed Jacob pass me on his bike he quickly had it off her and was crouched down beside her as I got there.
"Bella?" I asked hesitantly.
"I'm great!" She answered Jacobs question, "Let's do it again."
"Noooo way," I answered as Jacob put in an "I don't think so."
"I think we'd better get you to the hospital first."
"I'm fine."
"Um Bella?" You've got a huge cut on your forehead, and it's gushing blood." He said.
Instantly she slapped her hand against her forehead and I saw the slight panic, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Jacob."
"Why are you apologizing for bleeding?" He looked confused and I turned my face away. "Let's go, I'll drive."
"The bikes?" I asked and he looked.
"Here I'll get those…And take this." He pulled off his shirt and handed it to me.
"Here," I took her arm and held the t-shirt in place as Jacob kick started the bike. She took place holding the shirt as I lead her towards the truck. I knew she was getting a little queasy from the blood, but all I could think of to distract her lead back to the last time I helped her with a cut.
"He's a nice guy," I murmured watching him race around.
"Yeah," she whispered.
"I'm glad you found him," I said just as Jacob came back over opening the door. Thankfully Bella slid into the middle
"I'm honestly fine," Bella said and Jacob fussed. "Don't get worked up. It's just a little blood."
"Just a lot of blood," He muttered
"Now, let's think about this for a second," she began. "If you take me to the ER like this, Charlie is sure to hear about it."
"Bella, I think you need stitches. I'm not going to let you bleed to death."
"I wont," she promised. "Let's just take the bikes back first, and then we'll make a stop at my house so I can dispose of the evidence before we go to the hospital."
"What about Charlie?"
"He said he had to work today."
"Are you really sure?"
"Trust me. I'm an easy bleeder. It's not nearly as dire as it looks."
"Truth," I nodded as it looked like he was warring with himself but he allowed it and we slowly made it back to Forks.
When we got to the Swan household Bella I offered to help her change but just like Bella she said no and I waited downstairs with Jacob.
"So…" I started trying to ease the unsettling feeling.
"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"
"I was at the bonfire last spring," I nodded.
"Yeah…so I'm guessing you go to school with Bella."
"Her, Alice and I were besties." I nodded
"Oh…" He trailed off.
"Were you dating one too?" He guessed.
"The big one," I gave a tiny smile and we both drifted into an awkward silence.
"Hurry up," We both called at the same time and then made eye contact before laughing slightly.
"Okay, okay," she shouted back, "How do I look?" she asked.
"Better," I nodded along with Jacob.
"But do I look like I tripped in your garage and hit my head on a hammer?" She asked Jacob.
"Sure, I guess so."
"Very believable for you Bella," I complimented.
"Why thank you Piper," she smiled.
"Let's go then," Jacob hurried us out insisting on driving again.
"We should have grabbed you a jacket." Bella frowned as we drove to the hospital.
"That would have given us away," he teased. "Besides, it's not cold."
"Are you kidding?" Bella shivered and I glanced over to see him completely comfortable. I mean I was comfortable too but I had on a jacket and sweater.
'You might be part of the gang soon enough.' I thought biting my lip tuning them out.
By the time Bella had her seven stitches we rushed to get Jacob home and back to the swan residence so Bella could cook for Charlie and I could get home.
That night as I laid in my bed I hoped and prayed that whatever Bella did next time to hear his voice didn't get her hurt worse.
oOo
As the rumors of bears started to escalate I started to think that it might not be bears in the woods but the wolves. Which is why, when Bella asked if I wanted to go hiking with her a Jacob I wasn't as afraid as I should have been.
What I was afraid off was her having a nervous breakdown because it was to the meadow her and Edward went to.
"What better place to go to hear him Piper," She said when I had said it was a bad idea.
So that Saturday afternoon I sat in my hiking boots a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt and jacket, in Billy Black's living room. As Jacob made a complicated web across the map trying to find this place.
"Maybe we'll see the super bear," Jacob joked his eyes still on the map.
I glance over at Billy watching his eyes for any indication that it was the wolves. I mean he had to know they were real right?
"Maybe you should take a jar of honey, just in case," Billy joked.
"Hope your new boots are fast, Bella. One little jar isn't going to keep a hungry bear occupied for long," Jacob laughed.
"I only have to be faster than you guys." She spoke and with that I let out a unladylike snort.
"Good luck with that!" I laughed along with Jacob as he refolded the map.
"Let's go."
"Have fun," Billy said wheeling himself towards the fridge.
She drove to the very end of a dirt road before stopping near a sign that marked a trailhead.
'This doesn't seem like a good idea.'
"I went this way," she murmured pointing straight ahead at an unmarked area.
"Really?" I muttered looking at the dense foliage.
"I would have figured you for a trail kind of girl."
"Not me." She said with a weak smile. "I'm a rebel."
"Yeah," I let out another short laugh.
"Give me a second," He held up the map and compass. "Okay, first line on the grid. Let's do it."
I cautiously walked behind Bella holding out my hands every time she would stumble.
"Hey…Jake?" Bella asked out of nowhere cutting off Jacob's whistling.
"Yeah?"
"How are things…with Embry? Is he back to normal yet?" I took me a bit but I quickly remembered Jacob's friend that had turned into a werewolf.
"No. He's not back to normal yet," He said stopping to wait for us.
"Still with Sam." I stated.
"Yup."
"Are they still looking at you funny?" She half whispered.
"Sometimes," He said while staring through the trees.
"And Billy?"
"As helpful as ever," he said angrily.
"Our couch is always open," Bella offered and he let out a laugh going back to his normal self.
"But think of the position that would put Charlie in, when Billy calls the police to report my kidnapping." Both Bella and I laughed along
We continued hiking until Jacob had said we'd gone 6 miles and then cut west for a short time until heading back on one of his lines.
"Are you sure you know where this is?" I sighed to Bella as she bit her lip.
"It's the right starting point." She assured.
"Then we'll find it," Jacob promised he reached out grabbing my hand to help me through a thick mass of ferns, "Trust me," He stated before helping Bella through.
"You're good, "Bella admitted.
"Next time we bring flashlights, though." I smiled.
"We'll save hiking for Sundays from now on. I didn't know you were that slow." He looked down at her and I saw her yank her hand away. Both Jacob and I chuckled as we walked back to the truck with me stuck in the middle again.
"So you two up for another try tomorrow?" He asked.
"Sure. Unless you want to go without me so I don't tie you down to my gimpy pace." Bella said and I just sunk down some keeping out of it.
"I'll survive," he assured her. "If we're hiking again, though, you might want to pick up some moleskin. I bet you can feel those new boots right now."
"A little," she confessed.
"Told you," I muttered. Talking about this afternoon when I came by, I had told her they weren't going to feel that hot at the end of the day.
"Shush you," She elbowed my side.
"I hope we see the bear tomorrow. I'm sort of disappointed about that," Jacob joked.
"Yes, me, too," She agreed sarcastically.
"Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow and something will eat us!" I clapped just as sarcastically.
"Bears don't want to eat people. We don't taste that good." He grinned. "Of course you guys might be an exception. I bet you two taste good."
"Thank," I muttered as Bella said a, "Thanks so much."
'You're not the first to say that.'