Woo!! So many reviews, so many reviewers... Lol. Oh, and thanks so much to those who went and found AlwaysBettingOnAlice's story and reviewed it! To find it, just read the reviews for this story and scroll along 'till you see her username, click on it and yeah, you all know what to do after that!
And the AWESOME reviews are:
Lianna Weschester, Ghosts in the Snow, Intoxicated By His Presence, LookAfterMyHeart, Bethany Knight, beggingtobebitten, chrissyhale, okiegirlforever, laibballfan, jennifier potter, GinnyBrown is here and now, AlwaysAround888, edwardluva234, Muff'Nbutter, edwardsfavouriteflavour, Child-Of-God13, booknerd14, AlwaysBettingOnAlice, King of the broken hearted, twilightaddict26, Music ADD, Princess-Tinkerbelle, yaaaay, KiRaTwinkles, Michelle62092, x-aly-x, FrEvrNvrLasts, Bellefire253, sunybee, books and bojangles, ErikaBaby (x2), vampiressuck (x2), mrsjacobblack91, sprinter1, Rommy (x2), xx Phyre xx, Grillllz, 143twilighter.
Special Mentions:
Lianna Weschester: Drama is my middle name! I love it. But I hope it's not too over-the-top? I'm currently slogging through another fanfiction atm, having to read it only two or three chapters at a time so I can get my head around everything. Let me know if I'm over-complicating things, though. A 'sook' is when someone's acting like a baby - sorry, I didn't even think about whether non-Aussies would know what I was jabbering on about!
Kevin the Cornbread Slice: Sorry about the confusingness - I'll try and make sure things work out clearer in the rest of the story!
LookAfterMyHeart: I like your username! Lol. Canada is an awesome country, you guys have the best flag. Thanks for reviewing!
Bethany Knight: Lol, sorry about the moth hatred, but I promise it'll all make sense in the end! You'll find out what the silver thing under the seat was in this chapter :-)
beggingtobebitten: Haha, I was debating whether to actually leave that author's note in there or not - but I wasn't sure that everyone was going to be having a 'with-it' day so I decided to leave it there, just in case. Good observation though!
chrissyhale: I'm totally hoping I live up to everyone's expectations with this party... a little nervous actually, I'm totally going to stress when the time comes for my final read-over before posting! Thanks for the review!
jennifier potter: A little scary of a review - but still good. Lol. I'll skirt around the petting area of the local zoo for the rest of my life now!!
GinnyBrown is here and now: Don't stress!! There will be plenty of Edward/Bella 'action' soon enough :-)
AlwaysAround888: That's right, she was afraid of the moth so she didn't call Edward. I know it sounds a little lame, but, the last two times fairly major social catastrophes occured in her life, there was a moth present. Wouldn't you be a little freaked, too? Especially concerning Edward - who she totally has a crush on. I wouldn't call him if a moth turned up either; I'd be scared of messing things up with Edward.
booknerd14: LOL, no, I don't hate Mariah Carey. I'd kinda forgotten her personal fetish with butterflies and stuff. I assure you Mariah Carey won't somehow impose on the whole My Pen Pal world. Lol.
AlwaysBettingOnAlice: My pleasure! I know how disappointing it is to be writing a story and have barely any reviews. Most of the time it's because people just haven't seen your story though - so I thought I may as well give you a foot-up! And with the Alice/Jasper thing, I thought it would be nice to make them enemies instead of like immediate life mates or whatever. Edward was sooking because of what he witnessed on Athletics Day - wouldn't you be upset if your crush told you they were actually taken?
twilightaddict26: I've done the 'dial 90 percent of the numbers then hang up' thing too!! It's soooo nerve racking. Crazy stuff. Ooohhh! You noticed that Sam sneaks off ;-) keep an eye on that situation!!
Princess-Tinkerbelle: Hitler Youth in history for you too? Wow. Must be like a world-wide 'lets learn about the Nazi's!' thing going on atm! Haha, you make up your own curses, that's gold! Aww, thanks for the compliments on the story -goes all gushy- I hope your art project went well though!!
yaaaay: Haha, loved your makeshift swears and exclamations! I lurve seeing people get all crazy killer when there's a mosquito or fly or something irritating them - so I'd love to see you taking out a few whip-slaps on a moth that invades your personal space! As for the Edward getting back into the dating game thing... we shall have to wait and see. Lol.
KiRaTwinkles: I'd like to think I have a good sense of humour, but some people just inform me I'm insane instead... lol... oh well. It happens. This story isn't symbolic as such, but, the appearance of moths seems to represent impending problems for Bella. Or so she thinks. But keep reading, please?
x-aly-x: Haha, you're not the only one who seems to be pitying Mike Newton, so, don't stress. I guess I'm just too good -examines nails mindlessly- lol JOKING, joking!! I didn't know whether to actually finish this story or not in the beginning- it was my friend Ally who bullied me into it! And since your name is very close to hers, go ahead and feel free to take some credit!
FrEvrNvrLasts: Nope, she wasn't waking when she said Edward's name.
Bellefire253: Hell yes! He definintely has a crush on her, lol. Otherwise, it just wouldn't be a real fanfic, would it? I tried to fly when I was little too, once. It was after watching Mary Poppins for the first time. I was convinced I could jump off of the garden wall in my back yard with an umbrella and float around the world. Lol. Damn, I wish I was still that ignorant, life was so simple once...
books and bojangles: Love your penname! It's so random, but trippy. Wonderful stuff. You passed up a lake trip to read my story? Whoa. My ego just increased two-fold! Lol. Now it's the size of TWO peas!! Ooooh, Coldplay... if their music could be eaten then I'd be on a Coldplay diet for the rest of forever! When I go to the US in a few years, I'll be sure to try out your Bojangles Restaurant!
Erika Baby: No problem! Sometimes I'm too lazy to log in too, plus, it's good to know that people have found my story by some form of randomness and still reviewed! (Sorry if that made no sense lol)
vampiressuck: Lol, thanks, I think I let a tear slip when I was writing the break-up scene. It was sad :'-(
mrsjacobblack: Edward and Bella will happen, don't worry!! She is most certainly him aim of the dating game.
sprinter1: I'm not quite sure what 'chill' means, sorry, I'm so out of the loop! But if you mean when they'll get together, then it will be soon. Thanks for reviewing!
Rommy: Rom, I know you love creepy things. I actually had you in mind when I came across the moth idea! And candles.. yumm... so romantic! Haha. Oh, Alannah Hill! Break me off a piece of that! As for AlwaysBettingOnAlice's story, I'll bet you've probably found it by the instructions at the top of this Author's Note so I won't worry about repeating myself.
xx Phyre xx: Yep, E/B will meet at the masquerade ball for sure! And they'll recognise each other too. Man, why doesn't anyone my age throw masquerade balls? Sigh. If only I lived in high society!
Grillllz: Aww, thankyou for the sweet words! I like this Edward too, and I agree with you on the My Verson/Stephenie's Version of Edward. A guy like this is more appealing in some ways than Edward-Edward, but Edward Cullen will always be the dreamiest... -sigh-
143twilighter: Lol, sorry, I hate having to think unnecessarily as well. Like I mentioned above, the appearance of moths seems to represent impending problems for Bella. Or so she thinks. -Cue 'dum dum dum' music- lol, so dramatic! Thanks for the uplifting review!
--
Kk, my Author's Notes are getting sooooooooo long these days. But I wouldn't have it any other way. And, as always, you can just as easily skip over them! Hope you enjoy this chapter, and if you like French Toast your perspective as to what it can do to you is about to alter. Read on!
Chapter Seventeen: Stranded
I remembered getting up, I remembered getting to school, and I remembered my lessons in vague forms. I remembered getting home and cooking Charlie dinner, and heading up to my room to do my homework. I remembered these things, but it was like ticking a list of requirements rather than having lived a whole day of life.
To put it simply; my Tuesday passed in a blur.
So now I was sitting on my bed again, reading Edward's insanely lovely handwriting just because I liked the way it looked and the way the paper smelt.
I picked up a blank page; one of the loose ones that came with my History folder. I then scrambled forward for a pen before settling back against the wall at the head of my bed, bringing my knees up as a makeshift table. It was time to write a reply.
--
Dear Edward,
I haven't seen I Am Legend – but I've heard it's pretty scary. I don't fare very well with scary movies; they tend to give me nightmares. I know everyone else grew out of the 'nightmare' stage, but not me! I guess that just proves how unique – or weird – I really am. Oh well. You can be the judge.
So, I might as well tell you about what's currently going on in my life at the moment. Mike and I split up. It wasn't very pretty, and I'd usually say 'I don't want to talk about it', but right now I'm in one of those moods where I say absolutely everything that's on my mind.
I know that I've told you this already, but I might as well refresh your memory. It'll be easier for me to explain it if I write the whole story anyway.
Mike told me he loved me on our sixth month anniversary, which was this Saturday just passed. I came home from a day of phone-less shopping with Alice to find Mike surrounded by the remnants of a romantic dinner which he had prepared for us as a surprise. He even got me a beautiful gift; a watch which I'd fallen in love with when I first saw it on my first date with Mike six months ago. I was stunned that he'd remembered it, or that he'd spent so much time keeping it for me. A minute after I got all emotional and girly, Mike woke up. He told me it was okay, and that he didn't mind. But then he left, and I was left to see a moth kill itself by flying into a candle flame.
That's been happening a lot lately, actually. While I was having a shower a while ago, a moth died by drowning in the drain right in front of me. It was quite horrible. Then, just before, a moth stopped me from doing something I wanted to do because it covered the writing. I don't think wildlife likes me very much.
Anyway, after that disastrous non-dinner it was really awkward between Mike and I. So on Sunday, after talking to you and Alice about it, I went to see Mike. He wasn't very willing to speak to me, because he knew what was coming. I didn't love him. I never have, and I didn't want to drag it out any longer because that would just hurt Mike more. Even thought I don't love him the way he loves me, I still love him enough to care about his feelings. Painful story cut short – we broke up. I was really upset. Yesterday at school I might as well have not been there; and today was even worse. Mike didn't come to school and I feel extra guilty for being the reason his education is going to take a hit. Now things suck heaps because I don't know what to do with myself.
I want to love Mike. I want to make him happy and see him smile and feel his happiness make me happy too. I want to be able to hug him and feel my heart speed up. I want him to be the one for me, because it would make him happy and I would have found the right person for me. But he's not, and I'm not. I don't understand this life. If we're not meant to be with a person, why does it last so long? Six months is a fairly long time, really. Why didn't we- no, why didn't I see it? Why couldn't it have ended earlier so the both of us wouldn't have been so hurt and confused and left in this horrible post-break up part of life? I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life feeling my heart break over, and over, and over again. I don't think there's anyone out there for me. Why would there be? And what's the chance of meeting them anyway? There are millions and millions of people in the world. There is very little chance that I'll happen to stumble onto the right person for me by means of some stupid coincidence, Edward. That just doesn't happen. That stuff is for fairytales and ignorant, self-centred idiots. I'm neither. There is no true love; there is only convenience and chance. As for the people who found their perfect matches, how long did they have to look? Really? And if they stopped looking once they thought they'd found their "soul-mate", how do they know there isn't something better out there? Well. They don't, do they.
And that's what life is, really. Always trying to get one-up on one another. Trying to get a better grade, or more goals, or more drunk, or a flashier car or job or house or spouse or funeral. No one deserves to be truly happy unless they can return that happiness to the other person.
Does that mean I was meant for Mike, but I just messed it up? That we messed it up? Geez, Edward, a relationship can go so wrong in such a stupid moment of bad judgement. Things change in the blink of an eye. And it isn't time that is moving too fast, it's just me that can't keep up.
I'm tired of trying to keep up. I'm tired of wanting to feel the happiness I see in romantic movies. I'm tired of pushing through every day and thinking that it's all going well, but then finding that it was all just some stupid trick of fate, laughing at me while I claw my way along the coals of life. I'm just so tired.
Gosh. I'm so sorry, that was way out of line. But I think it was valid. I'd like to know what you think about it all. Anything. Everything. Just tell me what you think.
Hoping that you still think I'm a little bit normal,
Bella Swan.
P.S. Try getting Leah or Kim to wear your clothes for a day. You'll smell like a woman in no time!
--
I set my pen down and re-read the words. Wow, I can be really depressing sometimes. But, despite the possibly scary nature of my sentences, I seized an envelope from the table beside me. I sealed it with Edward's name and pushed it into my bag, picking up Edward's reply to me and putting it on the dresser a moment later.
For some reason I sat still for a few long minutes, my mind scrambling through countless thoughts. I only caught glimpses of them, and this frustrated me. My head felt like it was about to split from the internal pressure.
Slowly, to make sure I didn't end up on the floor, I got up and headed downstairs to the kitchen, thinking of making French toast for an after-dinner snack. The television was on in the living room, as I could hear, and there were infrequent crunches coming through the doorway. I decided that Charlie must have stolen the crackers from the cupboard – the empty box was half-sticking out of the rubbish bin.
I rustled around in the bread box, but didn't find any bread other than the few rock-hard rolls that were hibernating in their plastic bag. Great. I took a quick look at the clock on the stove and decided I would make it to the Thriftway if I was quick enough.
"Charlie?" I called as I shoved one arm through my jacket. It was raining outside; I could tell not only from the sound on the roof but from the drizzle coating the windows around the house.
"Yeah?" he called back, and I heard a rustling as he tried to hide the crackers.
"I'm gonna quickly go down to the Thriftway and pick up some bread." I stepped around the corner so I could see him properly. He was still wearing his uniform, but his jacket was draped over the arm of the couch beside him and his gun belt had been removed already. "Do you want me to pick up some more crackers for you?"
He smiled sheepishly and revealed his hidden arm, showing me the bowl of chips he'd almost finished off. "Yes, thanks Bells." He smiled and reached into his pocket to reveal and ten dollar note. He handed it to me and I smiled as I shoved it into my jacket pocket.
"Thanks. Shouldn't be too long."
"See ya."
I turned back to the door, fishing around in the pocket of my jeans for my truck keys so I wouldn't have to stand in the rain outside to find them. Once the silvery pieces of metal were dangling from my hand, I twisted open the front door and made a careful dash to my truck, clambering in and shoving the keys into the ignition so the heaters would crank up as soon as possible.
It took a couple of tries, but eventually I was cruising down the highway. I didn't bother with the radio today. The combination of rain and the thundering of my truck would have drowned it out in any case anyway.
Just as my destination came into view, I looked at the clock and was pleased to see that I had ten minutes to find bread and crackers. Not many people were still there, most cars were pulling out rather than in, and so I found myself a lucky park not too far from the grocery giant's front doors.
I yanked the keys out and leaned over to smack down the passenger side lock before shoving open my own door and hitting the lock before throwing it closed again. I pushed my hands into my pockets, one curled around my money and the other around the cold metal keys.
The automatic doors were very welcome, because just as they closed behind me I heard the sheeting rain protest against the lack of admission to the inside of the well-heated store. Many of the lights around the place were beginning to flicker off, so I smiled apologetically at the remaining one checkout girl before striding in the direction of the breads and pastas section. I picked up two bags of Wonder Loaf and then headed down a little further until I saw the biscuits and crackers.
With the carbohydrate filled items tucked under my arms, I eyed the tall glass windows at the front of the store. The dotty old lady in front of me counted out her coins for the patiently waiting checkout chick. I kept my eyes on the rain outside, thinking of how slowly I was going to have to go along the highway to get back home, and how good hot French toast was going to taste after battling the outside conditions.
The gray-haired woman eventually stepped out the automatic doors, letting in a cold breeze which made the hairs on the back of my hair stand up. I stepped up to the mark and dropped my intended purchases onto the moving conveyor belt, bringing the ten dollar note out and slapping it down on the other side of the little computer monitor.
The girl – her name was Sarah, according to her name tag, scanned the items through, quickly putting them into a plastic bag for me. She smiled in a business-like manner as she said, "That comes to six-eighty, thankyou." And I handed her the money, and she handed me the change along with a receipt, and I put it in my pocket. I then took the plastic bag from her with a returning smile as she said, "Enjoy the rest of your day!"
I headed off toward the exit, and was glad to see that the rain had slightly settled down. It was still cold when I stepped through the moving doors, but I wasn't slapped in the face with water so I couldn't complain. My truck slowly came closer, and I skipped over the rapidly moving storm water drainage gutter as I pulled my keys from my pocket. The door opened easily, and the relative warmth and dryness it provided was greatly appreciated.
I swung the bag over onto the passenger seat. The keys jangled as I found the right one, and connected it with the ignition. I turned it, foot ready to give it a rev if necessary, but wasn't met with the usual rumbling growl of my motor. It coughed pathetically, wheezing its protest at being disturbed. I tried again. Same response.
Baffled, I looked around me to see what I had left on to cause the battery to go flat. I checked the lights, radio, indicators, and cabin light along with everything I could lay my hands on, but everything seemed to be fine. Darn it. Okay, time to call Charlie for assistance.
I emptied all my pockets, expecting the shiny piece of technology to turn up. But it didn't. Feeling exceptionally frustrated, I slapped a hand to my head to try and think of where my phone had last been. School bag, yesterday. Bedroom, now? No. I didn't see it when I'd been doing homework. Charger? No. I'd have tripped over the cord on my way out. Handbag? Ha! Unlikely. Friend's house? No, Alice would have given it to me today, and I hadn't been to Angela's in a fair while. Must be in my schoolbag. Argh.
A flash on my eyes disrupted my thoughts, and I watched, slightly panicked, as the last car in the parking lot pulled out and made its way along the highway. The worry started to set in, but I momentarily muffled it by spotting a phone booth. On the other side of the huge parking lot. Excellent.
I sighed and zipped my jacket all the way to the top before pushing out of the cabin and bravely striding out in the open with my head down, checking every few seconds that I was still heading in the right direction. The rain held off, mercifully, and I got to the bright orange public phone without much trouble. Until I spotted the receiver on the cement by my feet, and the severed phone cord dangling limply from the body of the phone.
Back in the cabin, I prayed for some kind of weird miracle. I knew Charlie would eventually come and find me; he knew where I was and that I wouldn't have gone anywhere else without first telling him, but I didn't want to have to wait a further half an hour or possible forty five minutes for that to happen.
I was mentally calculating the chance of reaching Angela's house before freezing to death when a crack of thunder sounded overhead and scared the living daylights out of me. Then, something absolutely wonderful happened – despite the fact that the rhythmic beeping made me scream ear-piercingly loudly.
I looked down at the bluish light coming from under the passenger's chair, and felt my heart take a calming breath at the realisation of my phone's presence. Then I remembered, my second rate bag zipper had enticed me to leave the 'useless' mobile in the cab of the truck last night. I could have kissed that brown leather bag right now. (A/N: Oh, I forgot about the 'cell phone' thing in America - that's what a mobile phone is.)
I leaned down and snatched the cold metallic brick up from the floor, pressing the 'Read' button for the sms I'd just received. It was from Alice.
'Cnt believe u ddnt come 2nite! Ange&I hav seen tons of eye candy. Nxt time, no excuses. See u, Alice&Ange'
Damn it. Why had I had one of my stupid out-of-it days today?! I didn't even know where they were. Oh well. At least I knew she was going to reply if I asked her where Emmett was tonight.
'Kk, sori, I'l come nxt time 4 sure. Wher r u? I need a ride. Flat battery, I thnk. Is Emmett busy?'
I sent that, and waited only for a minute or so before the phone beeped again.
'Emmett's out with Rose 2nite. We r in Prt Angeles the football prac sesh. Hot! Ange says 'unluky'. I laugh! Xoxo'
I laughed to myself, knowing that Alice and Angela would be flaunting the heating of their cars to the cute football players and comparing observations of muscles for at least another hour. I suddenly thought of some other people who might be able to help me, but I didn't have either of their numbers.
Yeh, thnks 4 that, I feel v. luvd! Do u hav the Cheney's num? I'l try them nxt.
Again, Alice was lightning fast with her reply.
'Yeh, but it wnt do u ne good. They'r both here, Ange is chekin out Ben's buns lol sori darling, by the time we get bak u'l b an ice block. Hope ur ok xoxo Alice&Ang'
I read it and exited my inbox, annoyed. I decided to call Charlie, thinking that he wouldn't let me down, not matter what game was on the TV.
It rang six times, seven times, eight times, nine times … and went to the answering machine. I hung up before the beep was heard, and tried again. And again. And again. Darn it, Charlie! Get out of the shower or wake up or something! It wouldn't have mattered if I'd left a message, because Charlie didn't know why there were sometimes numbers flashing on the answering machine – let alone how to operate the thing.
Argh.
I scanned through my pathetically small list of contacts. Angela and Alice were too far away to help. Charlie was currently incapacitated. Ben and Tyler were wrestling with other guys in the rain. Emmett and Rosalie were out together somewhere.
I looked through my inbox again, and stopped when the highlighted line got to B. Black. Jacob Black. Well, we used to be good friends, right? And he knew how to fix cars. I opened the contact box and moved the cursor down to his home phone number.
I really didn't want to resort to this, so I tried the truck again. More wheezing. Ugh.
The phone barely rang once before a breathless voice was talking into my ear.
"Hello?" Jacob said, sounding like he'd almost fallen over trying to get to the receiver.
I swallowed, knowing that I was totally using him. And that this may not end up going very well.
"Jake?" I said, having to clear my voice before saying it.
Silence.
"Bella?" he said, disbelieving. I couldn't blame him. I heard a quiet chuckling in the background on Jake's end, then the sound of a door being loudly closed.
"I -, you -, what do -, um, can I help you with something?" he stuttered, clearly shocked.
"Well, to be honest, I need a favour." I knew that trying to woo him into helping me wouldn't be a clever idea; considering he was going to be alone with me if he did agree to help, and I didn't want to confuse any intentions of the call. "I'm stranded and I need you to give me a lift home."
"Mhmm," he said thoughtfully into the phone, like I was saying something he already knew. "Where are you?"
"Thriftway in Forks. I think my battery is flat." I looked around me and felt a shiver when I noticed how dark it was getting, and how quickly. I pressed my hand down on the lock of my door and checked that the passenger side door was also secure.
Jake made a tongue-clicking noise. "Left your lights on?" he said, like I was a child who needed particularly easy words to understand.
"No, actually, I don't know what happened. Everything seems fine to me. But I'm no mechanic."
"Lucky for you, I am." A pause. "Why didn't you call anyone else?"
"I did, but they're all busy tonight. Just my luck. And Charlie's not picking up either." I huffed, frustrated, and knowing that Jacob was going to rub this in for the remainder of my life.
"Okay, okay, I'll be there soon. If I can't fix it I'll give you a ride home." I heard a rustling in the background, like he was getting up. A door clicked and my thoughts were confirmed; he was actually going to help me.
"Thanks, Jake. See you soon."
"Bye, Bella."
I sat back in my seat, the phone light partially obscured by my hand. After about twenty minutes, a pair of headlights swung into the car park. As they got closer, I could see that it was Jake, in his red Volkswagen Rabbit. I smiled, remembering the fun we'd had in that car when we were kids; pretending to be race car drivers or travelling through outer space.
How times change.
I tried to start the truck again, just to make sure I wasn't going to be caught in one of those situations where the car started when Jake tried and then I looked like I was just trying to get him alone or something. But it didn't start. The little car parked in the spot beside my truck. Jake stepped out a moment later, and his height when he stood made me think that he couldn't possibly have fitted inside the car.
He smiled at me, but I couldn't see through the water-blurred glass if it was a sneer or a real smile. He jogged around to the other side of my truck and tried to open the door, but it was still locked. I hurriedly leant over and unlocked it for him. He jumped in and shook the moisture out of his hair, then turned and smiled at me. A real smile, not a Jasper-smile.
"Hey Jake, thanks for doing this for me."
"No problem," he said, "so what's the problem?"
"It won't start." I turned the key, and the groaning effort of the engine was heard, but it didn't kick into life, making me both frustrated and relieved at the same time.
"Okay. You're sure nothing's on?"
"I'm sure."
"Okay, pop the hood," he said, pushing open his door again. I reached down and pulled the little switch up for the hood. It popped open and Jake flipped it up, putting the metal bar up in the same movement. I couldn't see anything more then, and I didn't fancy joining him out there in the cold and rain, so I leaned back in my seat. Something dug into my hip, and I pulled my phone from my pocket. No messages. I decided to write one to Alice, just in case she – or Angela – was worried about me.
'Hey guys, dnt worry. I got sum1 out 2 take a look at the engine. Shld b fine. Enjoy ur nite xo Bella'
There was a small bang as Jake shut the hood again, then he jumped back into the truck and wrung his hands together to try and warm them.
"Try it now," he said, playing with the heater settings.
I turned the key in the ignition and was overjoyed to hear the truck roar to life. I revved it a little more than usual, just to hear the lovely noise after such a long while of silence punctured only by rain.
"You are my hero!" I called to him over the rumbling, a big smile on my face. "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!"
"No problem. Just let me thaw out before I head back to my car first, and you've got yourself a deal."
"Okay," I said, putting my own hands in the path of the slowly warming air. "What was wrong with it?"
"The battery clamp was loose, so I whipped out my spanner and took it off. There was some blue-green corrosion under there, so I got my pocket knife and cleaned it off, reattached the clamp to the battery and yeah, it was fixed." He seemed bored with the explanation, like he'd thought of exactly what to say while messing around under the bonnet. Either that; or he spoke car-talk like it was his second language.
"You lost me,' I said, laughing at my own clueless nature.
Jake laughed with me, and we both warmed our hands in silence.
We sat like that for a few minutes. I eventually found my hands burning from the heat, but Jake still seemed to need the heater, so I didn't say anything. I sat back and started kneading my hands together, glad that the truck beneath me was still idling happily.
"So," he said from beside me, still rubbing his hands together. "How are you?"
I wasn't sure whether his question was directed at my general well-being or not, but that was what I was thinking of when I answered him.
"I'm alright. How about you?"
"Pretty damn cold, but other than that I'm okay," he said, smiling cheekily at me.
"Thanks again for this, Jake," I said sincerely. "I think I'd have ended up an iceblock before anyone came looking for me!"
"No worries. But I'd have expected Newton to turn up before me!"
I know his words were innocent, but that didn't stop me from averting my gaze downwards and feeling the cold pain creep into my chest, the water from building in my eyes. I tried to take a deep breath but it sounded too ragged for me to disguise it as anything other than a sob.
"Bella?" Jake said, alarmed. "What's wrong?"
I tried for another breath, and did better at keeping it silent this time. "We broke up."
"Oh." He knew to keep silent until I said something else, a skill many guys lacked.
He knew I would either open up to him, or make it clear that I wanted to be alone. He expected the second option, I knew, but I what I didn't know was why I went with the first.
"I think he really hates me now." I said, feeling the tears slip down my cheeks. I wiped them away angrily, and sniffed to stop myself from breaking into an unstable emotional mess. "He's missed the last two days of school because of me. It was my fault! I totally messed everything up."
"Shh," Jake said, sliding across the seat and putting his arm around me in a pleasantly brother-like manner. "It takes two people to break up a relationship, Bella. You could have burnt down his house by accident and if he loved you enough, it wouldn't have mattered to him."
I knew Jake was right, and I wanted to tell him so, but my throat felt constricted by the stupid emotions burning my heart to cinders. I opted for just leaning into him and clutching his warm jumper so I wouldn't keel over. Jake stayed silent, one hand on my shoulder and the other gently rubbing my back. It made me feel considerably better to know that he was there, and for now, he was my Jacob Black.
Eventually I ran out of tears, and Jake let me go as I straightened up.
"Thanks," I croaked from a dry and sore throat.
"Any time," he said seriously, ducking slightly to see into my eyes better. His gaze flicked between my pupils, and I knew he was checking for any further possibilities of break downs. "Take a big breath," he suggested, and I did. It made me feel much better.
"Thanks," I said again.
"You'll be okay?" he asked, and I knew he didn't just mean would I be alright to get home on my own. He was really asking me if I was going to hold up, if I could work through the break up and separation and guilt and the painful conversations he knew I would go through all too soon.
I nodded my head. I would be okay.
"I'd better get going," he said, looking down.
My small hands were encasing one of his huge, warm ones. It was a very nice temperature to heat my skin on. I let go and smiled apologetically. He didn't take the attachment the wrong way, and just patted my hands on my knee before he stepped out of the cabin. The rain had stopped, so he lingered for a moment before stepping around to his car.
"I'm sorry," he said, and though I would have thought he'd meant it as a gesture of regret on his part about mine and Mike's relationship, I picked up some other intention of the words. I opened my mouth to ask, but he was gone, the sound of the truck door vibrating in my head as though some door to life had just been slammed in my face.
And... Review!! Don't forget about AlwaysBettingOnAlice's story - she's got about 20 reviews so far. So, a few more and you all won't have to worry about not seeing this story's ending!!
Did anyone guess that the phone was what fell from Bella's bag? I did mention something about a phone; '...so I sat on it to make it close, hoping that the mobile phone I rarely used wasn't going to end up damaged from the onslaught...' hehe. Claps to anyone who figured it out! And something else to also think about - you know how there was a 'pleasant looking older woman' in the front office in chapters 9 & 10? Think about who she could have been.
Love you all!
Oh, and this chapter's question: What is your favourite fanfiction story? (I'm looking for other stories to spend my time reading :-D)
-Shaps