Complications

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." - Confucius

I croaked a watery, dark laugh that was intended for me into Jacob's strong built chest. How much time had I spent crying uselessly over nothing that I could change? Ridiculous, probably a really long time by the look of the color outside.

"Sorry," I mumbled, totally embarrassed. "That was quite a show for you, wasn't it?"

Jake kissed the top of my head one last time, caressing my cheek sweetly. The rain continued to flood from the evening sky above, washing the windows of the Volkswagen truck as bright, yellow lights from cars on the road passed by us.

"Nah, you're good, Cee," he said with sympathy. Jacob paused for a moment, sighing. "I should be the one whose sorry," he whispered with pain in his tone.

I perked my head up, finally looking up into Jake's face. Blood rushed from my head, making the car spin for a moment or two. I noticed that Jacob's visage expressed regret, his russet colored lips in a sharp, tight line of ache. I hated seeing him like this over me. I wasn't really worth it.

"No," I objected harshly and exasperated to him. "Don't be sorry at all. I'm so happy that you...that you took me. It was an amazing idea, Jacob. Really. I can't ever thank you enough for that. I'm just...just freaking out here. Just ignore me." I started to reach for a lock of his hair. That failed completely.

"Drat," I sighed. "I forgot...you don't have long hair anymore."

Jacob snorted at me, but then he made a face. It read concern; he still was not buying my story. It was the whole truth, though, why didn't he believe me? Well, obviously it was because of my little hysteria fit earlier. But I was fine now, couldn't he tell that I really was?

"Are you sure you're---?" he started, showing off hesitation.

"I really am fine, Jake," I responded with firmness leaking out of my tone.

With that, Jacob nodded, more to himself than to me, and gave me a light squeeze. With his expression, I still couldn't tell if he thought I was telling him the truth. Jake took me off of his lap and placed my body back onto the cold seat, buckling up for me. I started to shiver involuntarily, being used to Jacob's heat that warmed me for a long time. He reached for my hand as he started the car again, turning up the heat for me, knowing right off the bat that I was suddenly freezing.

-----

"Woah! Steady, girl!"

I fell clumsily into Jake's ready arms with force, squealing and giving out a frightened scream as my stomach dropped unpleasantly. I heard the motorbike slam down onto the hard road, some old paint chips probably falling off. Jacob held me tightly like an infant as the bike crashed loudly. I buried myself into his chest, recovering.

"I knew this was a bad idea, Jacob!" I moaned helplessly.

I learned not so long ago that myself and motorcycles just don't mix well at all. It was Jacob's idea, wanting me to ride with him now and again for when I visited. I was not thrilled about this idea from the beginning. I remembered hearing the story about when my mom road a motorbike for the first time, the results bloody scars and stitches. I agreed to it, though, not wanting to hurt Jake's feelings. I'd rather have bruises than upset my wolf.

Jake's happy grin faded into a worried expression, his eyes widening with sudden abrupt fear.

"You aren't crying?"

I touched my cheek absentmindedly after Jake spoke to me. Sure enough, a watery substance was trickling down the right side of my ivory face. Oops.

"Don't cry, please!" Jacob exclaimed, completely exasperated. I knew that he was not one for waterworks with me anymore since we visited Charlie at Seattle."I really am sorry, I---let's stop, Cecilia. Are you hurt? You're not bleeding, are---" Jake rambled on fearfully.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I protested, sobbing as my voice was slightly cracking. Another few small teardrops fell as I spoke.

"C'mon, let's go home," encouraged Jacob softly at my ear. "I'll drive," he added quickly.

With that, he plopped me gently down to the ground. He grabbed the running motorcycle from the earth, fixing himself on it. I climbed to the backside of the bike, weaving my arms around Jacob's strong built middle. I laid my head securely onto his back, clutching on him tightly.

"Ready?" called Jake from over the loud noises from the bike.

Um. No.

"Yes!"

We were off then as fast as lightening, my skin sticking to my skull. I gave out a girl-ish scream, closing my emerald eyes. I swore that my wolf laughed a bit, was that what that strange sound was?

----

"Did you guys hear about what happened last night?"

Alice, Harper, and I were laying on a tan hammock outside in Harp's backyard. It took us about five minutes to figure out how the three of us would fit in it, sadly. I fell a few times trying to get on, my jeans covered with some spots of brown, musky earth. Alice laid between Harper and I, our eyes covered with over-sized, fashionable sunglasses that we bought a while ago. We didn't need the glasses really, it was gray outside like always, though we still wore them just for kicks.

I was surprised when Alice replied a no to Harper's question. Alice would know about the latest scandal.

"There was an animal attack last night," Harp explained, sounding serious for once. "It was on the La Push borderline."

My insides stiffened, but I tried my best not to show it outside. I noticed that Alice's brows furrowed with aggravation. She was annoyed obviously that she didn't see that coming.

"Really?" she said, sounding curious. "What kind of animal was it exactly, Harp?"

I didn't have to be a mind reader like my father to figure out what kind of animal Alice was thinking committed the crime. But something told me that she was dead wrong. Honestly, a werewolf? On the end depths of La Push's land? No way. That was really close, dangerous seemed like a too innocent word to cover the safety and secret spoiling hazards of that. Jacob would never allow that, not on his life.

But what could it be, then? I pondered in my head.

"My daddy is checking that out today," Harper said. It was weird hearing her in a calm state. Very un-Haper like.

This, of course, did not last too long. Harper then soon cracked a wide smile, her checks flushing pink.

"Now, who wants some cream soda?" she shrilled, way too excited for her own good out of the blue.

Not Alice.

"Actually, Harper, Cee and I should get going," said Alice curtly, down to business.

She got up from the hammock in a snap, resulting me to get knocked over. I fell on my font to the squashy, green ground, accidentally letting out a quiet cuss. Alice was by my side before I knew it, grabbing me up by the unders of both my arms. Harper's face looked disappointed and hurt because of the rejection to her horrible tasting drink offer. Once I was up on the soles of my feet again, Alice pulled out her cellphone and dialed a number in a fast pace. Her pixie like face was completely focused, ignoring everything that did not have to due with last evening's attack and werewolves.

"What the heck is Alice's problem?" asked Harp to me dryly.

I shrugged at her, secretly knowing that Alice wanted to share this information with the rest of our family as soon as possible.

"Edward?" Alice chirped, eager. "We need a ride home. Alright. See you."

The conversation was barely five seconds long before Alice snapped her phone shut, placing it back into the depths of her jacket pocket.

"Are you sure you don't want any cream soda for the road?" asked Harper, trying to be convincing with her childish voice.

"I'll have some," I said, not wanting to hurt Harp's feelings even more than they were.

"No, thank you," said Alice tartly, looking nervous.

Alice practically bounced with anxiety as the two of us entered the silver Volvo. Father's face turned from sweet to sour as we walked to the car. Alice was explaining to him what happened inside her mind. As soon as we buckled our seatbelts, they started murmuring jumble that I could not for the life of me or any other human understand. I sat alone in the backseat, staring out the car window.

Was it possibly out there now? Yes. There was no doubt about that. I figured that Father and Alice were concucting a plan to find the monster that would involve everyone in the family expect for me, of course. I didn't think though that that would succumb, though. The thing was on La Push land probably, which meant...

Oh, brother...shit...

My family would be more protective of me.

Could I go visit Jacob anymore secretly?

Whoosh.

A full force blew through me, knocking me forward. My jaw and nose collided with the seat in front of me. I clutched and grasped onto it, trying to catch my lost breath from the shock and sudden, abnormal speed. I tried to calculate how fast my dad was going as he drove. Overall, it was fast.

"I'm sorry, darling," he apologized very quickly, about when my face hit the back side of his seat.

Alice tutted.

"Your wife is going to murder you when she figures out how quick you traveled with Cecilia," she sighed.

Eurgh. I hated when Father did this when he got paranoid.

----

"I'll be back!" I nearly shouted as all of my family members gathered in the living room.

I was determined to get in touch with Jacob about the attack. I wanted to get the truth, not prejudice assumptions.

My mother frowned disapprovingly at me as she caught me by the shoulder lightly. I trying to make way to the backdoor of the kitchen. Fail.

"Where are you going, Cecilia?" she asked calmly.

"I don't want to hear about this now," I moaned selflessly.

"Let the kid go, Bella," supported Emmett, clapping Mom on the back. Even though he didn't do it very hard, she stood up straight instantly and pursed her lips.

"But, what if it's out there, Emmett?" Mother snapped.

"It's not," he argued. "We'd smell it, wouldn't we?"

Mom finally sighed in surrender. She looked at me with an expression that read worry.

"Go ahead."

And with that, I fleeted towards the backdoor. I for once actually felt close to a vampire. I slide slickly with my feet across the titled kitchen floor and sprinted out the door, accidentally leaving it open for all to enter.

I ran into the woods in the back of the Cullen mansion, my cellphone clutched tightly in my right hand. I was deep into the forest grounds, the trees thick and tall and covered with green gunk. My family could not hear me from here even with their unnatural good senses. I called Jacob before in this area and I didn't get hell for it. So, I knew that this spot was safe. I dialed Jake's number on my cellphone quickly with nimble fingers despite my nervousness once I approached the near end of the Cullen land. I was panting like a bulldog after running a mile as the telephone rang. It only rang twice before my wolf answered the phone.

"Hello?" said Jake, sounding annoyed.

"Hey, it's me," I greeted, trying to sound cheerful. My panting was light now, fading away slowly.

There was a small, bright tone now to Jacob's voice.

"Hey, Cecilia," he slightly crooned. "How are you today---?"

"What happened there for real? Is Chief Kurpke still there examining?" I asked, frantically cutting him off.

"Oh...yeah," said Jacob, his voice stunned at my frenzy. I was making him uncomfortable again like the day before.

"Harp told Alice a little while ago. My family is really worried now, and so am I. They think that maybe a werewolf---"

This time it was Jacob cutting me off instead.

"No, it wasn't one of us."

Jake's voice usually friendly voice had turned cold and protective of his brotherhood cult. I was taken aback, feeling the cold shoulder start to develop on me. My insides sunk deeply to the pit of my stomach and I'm pretty sure my eyes zeroed in with horror.

"I didn't think it was!" I responded quickly, my mouth developing a dry sensation. My own voice showed off that I was hurt. "Oh, Jacob, never! It was them, not me---"

Jacob shushed me quietly, obviously feeling bad for his way of speaking to me.

"Calm down, Cee. I know, I know. I'm really sorry, it wasn't towards you."

My cold shoulder began to cease, my stomach filling up with sudden nice warmth. I took a deep breath, truly relieved.

"What could it be then?"

Jacob took a deep breath.

"It's not safe for you to come here anymore, Cee."

My heart stopped beating for a moment. Anguish rushed through my veins.

"What the hell is it, Jake?" I stammered, angry.

A pause.

"Well, you already know that Paul saw it yesterday and...uhh...he's pretty positive that it was a bloodsucker."

A nomadic vampire? In Forks?

Oh, no.

Again? God...

"There is no way that that is going to stop me from seeing you, Jacob," I snapped, firmly. "I'll be safe with you. I know you won't let anything hurt me."