SPOV
Jake had finished making me breakfast, if you could actually call it breakfast since it wasn't exactly edible. Upon taking my first and only bite, I realized his "omelet" was basically burnt egg, shell and cheese. Eggs should never be crunchy. "Sorry!" Jake apologized for the hundredth time. He looked only a little mortified. "It's alright!" I said as I dumped my plate in the sink and rinsed my mouth out with water. Jake got up and started opening cupboards. Uh oh. "Jacob, what are you looking for?", I asked, praying he wasn't going to take a shot at making pancakes. "The one thing I KNOW I can make!", he chuckled as he grabbed a box of cereal down. "Take the cereal and sit, I've got this one.", I laughed. I grabbed a two bowls and two spoons and set them on the table before turning around to the fridge to grab the milk. No sooner had I set the milk on the table, I heard a car pulling up. I walked to the door and peeked out. It wasn't Mandah's Edge. It was a silver car. Seconds later, I saw Edward emerge from the drivers side, make his way to the passengers side to open to the door. Mandah was with Edward? Did I miss something here?
I opened the door and Mandah looked at me intensely as if she were trying to speak to me with her eyes. Luckily, we'd been friends long enough for me to know exactly what she meant. We needed to pow-wow. Our pow-wows consisted of quick meetings in one of our bedrooms, sitting on a bed, eating a piece of chocolate and unloading some heavy stuff. Edward followed Mandah through the doorway. "Great place, I didn't know this cottage was here..." he said as he put his hands in his pockets and looked around. "We'll be right back!", I told mostly Jake. As we made our way down the hall to Mandah's room, I heard Jake greet Edward and offer him a bowl of cereal, which he declined laughing. I heard the sounds of male bonding, i.e. hands slapping. Did Jake know Edward? Maybe I'd have to pow-wow with him next, find out if he knew what was wrong with this kid. However, the thought of Jake and I, alone, on a bed...made me think of more valuable things we could be doing.
MPOV
I let go of Shawnies hand, which I was certain I must have been cutting the circulation off of, as we entered my room. I shut the door quietly and leaned my back against it, hyperventilating. I swallowed hard and walked crookedly to the bed where I sat down and grabbed a chocolate out of my chocolate box. I unwrapped it and popped it in my mouth and held the box out for Shawnie. She took a piece and did the same. "Shawnie," I began, "I don't know what's going on." She looked at me like I was nuts. "Why were you in his car?", she asked. "The Edge blew a tire! It was storming out so I sat there for a bit, I was just going to change it myself when it stopped raining but he came!" I scratched at my forehead, a common tick of mine when I was stressed out. "I didn't know what to do, I tried to get out and change it myself in the rain but the jacks gone! Do you have any idea where the jack went?" I asked, shouting a little bit. "Mandah, woah, seriously...calm down. Breathe with me....in....out....yes, just like that...." she said. I tried to follow her breathing as best I could. It helped a little. "Shawnie, I don't get it. Why did he look at my like he hated me yesterday but today he carries me to his car and stares into my eyes like the rest of the damn world doesn't exist? What game is he playing with me?", I was almost weak at this point.
"You got carried today? I got carried yesterday!", she laughed, changing the subject. "What is it with the men in Forks!? Men in Detroit were NEVER like this." I stared at her for a moment and shook my head. "Do you think he's up to something?" I asked her, desperate. I felt myself in a danger I was not familiar with. She thought for a moment before leaning towards me and whispering, "I think Jake knows him.", she said, her eyes wide. "I'll find out what I can." she assured me. "Okay but in the meantime, could you please not let me end up alone with him? I'm scared of him, Shawnie." and with that pitiful admission, she wrapped me in a warm hug. I'd forgotten how cold I was. "Ok, I'm going to change and blow dry my hair, I'll be out in a minute. Find out what you can." I told her as she left my room. I locked the door and dressed in my warmest clothes. A thin yellow tshirt and a pair of black shorts made from sweats material. I rummaged through my sock drawer until I fished out a pair of thigh high, black and white, piano socks. I dried my hair and cleaned my face of makeup. I grabbed a blanket off my bed and headed, holding my breath, out of my room.
SPOV
While Mandah was changing and doing her thing, I decided to see what I could find out. "So!" I said casually as I strolled into the kitchen, standing to Jakes side. "Sounds like you guys know one another?", I asked smiling as if I hadn't a care in the world. "You could say that.." Jake said and they both laughed. "Ohhh, go to school together?", I prodded. "No, we, um, hunt together from time to time." Edward smiled. They looked at one another with knowing glances. I was getting no where. "Jake and I were talking, I informed him that both you and Mandah were both under the impression that being at the ocean meant hot weather and therefore, did not pack correctly." Realization dawned on me. "What do you mean?" I asked cautiously. "It doesn't get too hot here during the summer. More often than not, it's raining and chilly. Today is pretty typical." He motioned to the window. "So, I had offered to drive Mandah out to Port Angeles to buy some warmer clothes and she informed me that you were the more passionate shopper." There was something definitely off about the way he spoke. I made note. Then the opportunity to shop caught my full attention. "Really? You'd take us? What about Mandah's Edge?" I asked him. "I called my brother while you guys were, well, wherever you went. He said it'll be changed soon and that he will call to let me know when it's done. We might as well do something in the mean time, don't you agree?" he said. Very persuasive. Just then Mandah joined us. "We're going to Port Angeles!" I shouted to her. Panic struck her. I walked up and put my arm around her. I whispered in her ear, "You won't be alone with him. I'll even sit next to you in the back!" Mandah went and took her socks off and put on a new pair of flip flops.
We headed out, Jake included. As we got to the silver car, Jake grabbed my hand and asked me to sit next to him in the back. I shot a panicked look to Mandah who shot one right back but waved me off regardless. We took our seats in the back. He hadn't stopped holding my hand. "How far exactly is Port Angeles?" I asked, the longer the better. "About an hour..." Jake answered, smiling. I could see Mandah shivering in the front seat and I felt bad. I wasn't the only one to notice though. Edward went into the trunk to grab a sweatshirt before he entered the car. "Here.." he offered her the sweatshirt. I was pretty sure is she hadn't been near hypothermia, she would have denied the sweatshirt. In this instance, she accepted it. Hoping I was the only one to notice, I watched her inhale the scent of it deeply and slouch down into her seat. Two things didn't change during our ride to Port Anegeles. First, Jake never did let go of my hand. Second, Mandah never took her eyes off of Edward.
_______________________________________________
Please review! I'll post the next chapter once this one gets at least ONE review! :)