The man suddenly had some friends. Four others herded me, cornering me into a sidewalk, no where to run, no where to hide…
"Do not touch me." The four words were supposed to sound fearless and menacing, but they sounded like words coming from a coward.
It was true, though. I was afraid. But it didn't matter, my face was an 'open book', nothing changed that.
And I heard his voice. His familiar tone. The voice that was here to save me.
"Bella!" His voice was gruff, like how I remembered it.
"Jacob," I breathed. I coughed suddenly, I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath.
"Damn it," one of the men muttered.
"I told you she wasn't alone!" another shouted to him.
"Get away from her," Jacob nearly growled. Embry was with him. I watched them, amazed at the effect they had on the men.
Jacob suddenly didn't look fifteen anymore. To me, age didn't matter. I didn't care that I was two years older than him. I wanted him, and I knew that he wanted me.
I wasn't really paying attention to the bad guys anymore, who were fleeing. My hero was here.
"Jacob!" I ran out towards him. "Oh, Jacob!" I threw my arms around his neck, sobbing on his shoulder.
"Bells, it's okay, they're gone now, hush, don't worry," he kept repeating to me.
Jacob's arms were around me, and he was rocking me a little. When I was done crying, he released me.
"Oh, man, Bella, what the hell are you even doing here?" he looked around, to emphasize his point.
I just shook my head. I didn't even remember. "Oh. Angela. Jess, oh my gosh they must be so worried. I can't believe, it's-"
Jacob stopped me. "Hey, hey, it's okay, come on, get into the car, we'll be out of here soon." He gestured toward a glossy, dark blue van with tinted windows.
"But I thought, your permit, Jake! I'm not a legal adult, yet! You haven't even passed the test!" I frantically worried out loud.
Jacob laughed. I looked at him, confused. "Bella, I'm not driving, Embry is. He's sixteen, he passed his driver's test."
This made me feel a little better. "Oh. I see. Okay, well we have to meet Jessica and Angela at the Blue Moon Café, do you know where that is?" He nodded.
"Down the street, drive North a few miles, around the corner," he said proudly, then added, "I've been here before, Bella. I've lived here my whole life."
Oh. Of course. He lived in La Push, only about forty minutes from Port Angeles.
We got to the café just in time, Jessica and Angela were about to climb up the steps to the restaurant.
"Jess! Angela! Guys!" I called, getting out of the van, almost tripping, of course.
"Oh, Bella! Where've you been?" Angela asked, worried.
"And… who's he?" Jessica added, referring to Jacob, who was escorting me out of the van.
"Oh. Well. He's Jacob, an old family friend, we knew each other since we were born, practically." I flashed a smile at him.
"Bella, I guess I'll be going home now. Bye." He smiled a boyish grin, I loved it.
"See ya, Bella!" Embry called as they drove away.
I just stood there, staring after the car. I was smiling, but I didn't realize it until I saw a hand waving up and down in front of me.
"Hello? Earth to Bella! We're going to eat, now, if you don't mind." Jessica's voice rang in my ears.
I shuddered, and snapped out of it. "Oh. Yeah. Food. Right." I tried to smile.
After we ate, Jessica dropped me off at home.
"Bye Bella! I'll see you tomorrow!" she said when I got out.
As I walked to the porch, Angela called out to me, "Good night Bella! Thanks for coming with us!"
I waved at them and smiled before turning around to go inside. I turned the key, and had to shove a little at the 60 year old house door. It creaked open, and I slammed it shut when I was inside.
Charlie wasn't home yet, so I got started on dinner as soon as my bag was upstairs and put away. I grabbed a big fish from the freezer, I didn't really pay attention when Charlie told me what kind of fish he'd caught that day, and set it on the table to thaw.
I grabbed some butter from the fridge, and turned on the stove. There was a pan already on it, so I smeared some butter on the surface and waited for the pan to heat up. Soon I was frying his dinner, flipping it occasionally.
The fish odor filled up the room, Charlie liked the smell of fish. It didn't appeal to me the same way it did to him, but the cooking fish did smell kind of good, so I didn't really care.
About ten minutes into frying the fish, I heard Charlie's cruiser pull up into the driveway. I heard his heavy boots stomp unintentionally on the wooden porch, and his key turn in the lock. The door opened, and I welcomed Charlie home.
"Hey, dad, I'm cooking fish, I know it's your favorite." I tried to sound positive, but you could hear it in my voice. I was tired.
"Hi, hon- mm… that does smell good." He walked in the kitchen and looked at the pan. "I love fried fish. Thanks, Bell." I smiled at him.
I left him with his plate of fish and some milk, and went upstairs. I was so tired. I took my sweats and t-shirt into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower to calm my nerves from the shock I had today. I stepped out onto the thick, fuzzy towel on the floor and wrapped my towel around my body. I shivered.
After I was dry, I put my pajamas on, and brushed my teeth. I brushed my hair, too, and walked slowly to my room, my eyes half closed.
I groaned as I sat on the bed, and removed the covers from underneath me. I got inside the warm blankets and sighed.
It really was a long day.
I ran through the memories again.
Jessica said something about Mike's haircut, Tyler taking me to prom. Crap. I really needed to set him straight. He thought that taking me to prom would make up for squishing me with his stupid van.
Shit. I suddenly remembered the injuries that I'd gotten from that accident, and all of a sudden my head started to hurt. Great. Just what I needed.
I thought about the stalkers, the ones who'd tried to hurt me, and then my eyes blinked open and I was sitting up.
Jacob, Jacob. I love Jacob Black, and I couldn't deny it.