(4) Discovery
My head throbbed. I felt a slight banging on my forehead. I was disoriented. I forced my eyes to open and stared out the windshield into the dark sky. Okay, that explained the forehead throbbing. I looked at the unfamiliar car and adjusted my vision. The cab was dark and I knew I wasn't in my truck. I looked over and saw Jacob Black driving steadily. He was looking at the road in concentration his eyebrows furrowed.
I moved my head into a more comfortable position. Jacob turned to look at me his eyes filled with worry. He still kept both his hands on the steering wheel but his eyes were staring at me. I looked at him and saw his black glossy hair pulled into a low ponytail. I envied his hair. It was had the kind of texture that you couldn't achieve from over-the-counter products. This was au natural.
"How do ya feel?" Jacob held my gaze while keeping his truck in line with the road.
I snickered and felt like a fool because I was pretty much remembering fainting in front of him. "Fine. Sorry I fainted in front of you. I saw all the blood and got light headed. Was I difficult to take to the car?" I asked nervously. I didn't want to know the truth but in some sick masochistic way I did.
Jacob gave me a weird look. "Nah, you were light as a feather. Besides you kind of gracefully sank to your knees. I caught you before your face hit the ground."
I snorted. That's perfect. "Are we almost there?" It seems crazy but I didn't feel the pain in my back anymore. Or I was paralyzed? I started panicking. If I was paralyzed I couldn't move my legs. Hopefully, it was the position I was sitting in.
"Sure. I took the highway. It's faster. How did you get that cut on your back?" Jacob took one hand off the steering wheel and put it behind my seat.
"Umm. I was in the woods on the trail. I wasn't looking where I was going and fell against a rock." I had the story rehearsed in my head. I didn't want to include the bird's nest because I felt it was too silly to mention. Plus, I didn't want everyone to laugh at me.
Jacob stood quiet for a minute. "That's it! I expected something a little more dangerous. Like, you were standing on a cliff and a branch reamed you in the back. Or you were hiking and a bear took a stab at you." He was really getting into his imagination machine.
I rolled my eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you. I was just a little clumsy." I shrugged.
"That's okay. When we get to the hospital you can tell the doctor one of my stories. I'm sure it will brighten their day." Jacob smiled again and tapped the steering wheel. I watched him easily navigate the truck through the tiny town of La Push. I saw the small houses and store fronts that were empty. People were probably eating dinner or getting ready for bed.
"I hope I'm not keeping you from anything like homework or something." I murmured.
Jacob laughed and he shook his head. "No way! I was listening to my Dad complain about the music I was listening to. I had to hear about the music in his day. He was going on a spree right before Charlie called. That was a godsend. I owe your Dad one!" Jacob gleefully exclaimed and pulled into the hospital parking lot.
"What were you listening to?" I asked curiously and Jacob parked the truck in the sparsely filled parking lot.
"Just some music my friend Embry gave me. It's a compilation CD that had some bands on it. I think there was Green Day and Lincoln Park." Jacob opened the door and hopped out of the cab. He walked to my side to help me out of the truck.
"Those are good bands." I commented as he held my door open for me. I saw him smile and his eyes crinkled in shared admiration.
"I know. Billy doesn't believe in rock and roll unless Elvis or some other fifties singer is involved." Jacob smirked and I saw the humor dancing in his eyes.
"You might need to help me." I suggested and went forward a little to get in a better position. I gasped in pain and clutched my back. I stopped moving and waited for the pain to subside. I had an agonizing minute where I felt like throwing up. Jacob noticed my pain.
"Do you want me to go inside and get a wheelchair?" He asked apprehensively.
"NO." I yelled and bit my lip. "Sorry, I just don't want to make a big deal out of this. I need to get out slowly that's all." I reached for Jacob's extended hand and he helped me out of the truck. I stepped onto the gravel parking lot and took baby steps. Jacob hovered over me and kept even pace with me.
We both walked through the electronic doors. Jacob went to the front desk and I perched near the doorway shivering in the cold waiting room. Jacob was talking to the nurse and she nodded. She was wearing dull pink scrubs with cows printed all over. I would have laughed if I wasn't afraid of triggering the immense pain in my back.
The nurse walked over to me with Jacob her face was composed. "Bella, honey, your Dad called and let us know that you were coming." Jacob nodded encouragingly. "Do you need help into the emergency room?" She was speaking slowly. Yet, I still needed a moment to comprehend what she was saying.
I nodded my head and blinked unsure of what to do. I was just glad to be in the hospital. A place filled with wonderful medicine that would eliminate my horrendous pain. I think I was a little out of it already. The nurse set off to find a wheelchair and I wobbled a little bit.
Jacob reached out ready to grab me if I fell again. I tried to focus on his face but I was having a hard time. I wobbled again and put my hand against the wall to steady myself. Jacob looked at me then at the hallway that the nurse disappeared in. He kept looking back and forth. I giggled at his movement. My ears started ringing and my vision turned blurry.
Jacob picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder. It was instantaneous. He held me without touching my back and my head was leaning over his shoulder. Jacob started walking down the hallway. I saw the waiting room grow smaller and smaller as we headed toward the nurse.
"Oh my!" The nurse exclaimed when she saw Jacob carrying me barbarian style.
"She's really weak." Jacob reasoned and the nurse guided him to an empty bed. He set me down on my back and the pain started to stab me like a thousand knives. I clamped my mouth shut and waited for it to subside.
"Let's make you feel better." The nurse suggested to me and brought out some needles. I instantly turned the other way. I didn't like to watch the needle go into my arm. Jacob stared in awe at the process with a glint in his eyes. I guess needles don't bother him.
Whatever she gave me instantly made the pain disappear. I nodded gratefully at her and her wondrous medicine. She patted my arm and checked my vitals.
Jacob crouched near the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. He had a peaceful expression on his face as he stared at me. The nurse explained to me that the doctor would be in to check on me then left the room. Jacob moved closer once she was gone.
"Needles make you queasy?" Jacob chuckled and sat in the extra chair in the room. He scooted it closer to my bed.
"Only the big ones." I quipped and he laughed again.
"Right." He sarcastically nodded with me and laughed. I looked at him and giggled. I haven't felt like laughing for a long time but it felt good. "I'm going to call Charlie and let him know we're here." Jacob got up and went outside to the pay phone.
I looked at the doorway and pondered my newfound revelation. I liked talking to Jacob he seemed like a very mellow person. He wasn't someone I needed to impress or lie to. He was there and he enjoyed himself. I knew that he was younger than me but somehow he seemed older too. When I found myself giggling along with him it shocked me to realize I wasn't sulking. Jacob walked back into the room filling it with his exuberance and easy-going attitude.
"I told Charlie we were waiting for the doctor. He's coming as soon as he's finished." Jacob retrieved his spot next to my bed.
"He worries about me too much." I said slowly even though I was happy that Charlie cared about me immensely.
"Well, if today was an everyday occurrence then I would worry too." Jacob joked and put his hands behind his head. I noticed his biceps when he moved his arms. They were defined in his long sleeve shirt. I felt like an idiot for staring at his arms.
"I don't end up in the hospital everyday. Maybe just once or twice a week." I joked and Jacob laughed along with me. He raised his eyebrows and smiled again.
"You know I had no idea you were like this. I mean that in a good way. When we were at the beach you seemed different somehow. I think it was this intensity that you had. You are not the same." Jacob complimented. The smile froze on my face. I remember that day when I wanted to know about the Cullen's and Jacob told me the story. Of course, I was different because I was discovering a horrible secret about them. Jacob looked down at his hands.
"Your right. I'm not the same." I agreed with Jacob and threw in a soft smile for emphasis. "I enjoy spending time with you." I reasoned. Jacob had a bigger smile on his face if it were possible.
"Thanks." Jacob added. I laughed along with him and Charlie came into the room. He saw me and Jacob laughing at our shared joke. He did a double take and went to my bedside.
"How you feeling?" Charlie leaned closer to me and felt my forehead.
"Good." I replied.
"Yeah, the nurse doped her up." Jacob snorted and I nodded my head in agreement. Charlie shook his head at both of us.
"Has the doctor been in yet?" Charlie asked turning his head to the doorway.
"Nah." Jacob replied looking at me in agreement. As if magically the doctor would walk in when we mentioned the word, doctor.
"I'm going to see what's taking so long." Charlie got up and walked into the hallway. He still had his uniform on and he wasn't too patient nowadays.
"He seems antsy." Jacob theorized toward Charlie's behavior. I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Jacob.
"Sometimes. He just worries too much." I suggested and took a drink of water. I guess I wasn't going to school tomorrow since I'd probably have to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Great, another day at home with nothing to do, the boredom was already overwhelming me. I looked at Jacob again and suddenly wanted to know more about him. Everything about him. Well why not?
"Hey, since I'm probably not going to school tomorrow. Do you want to come visit me? I can't promise you'd have a good time but it would cheer me up." I see Jacob's smile grow wider. He leans closer to my bed.
"I'm up for that. I could even bring your homework for you." He saw the look on my face. "Well, maybe I could just come over." He rolled his eyes at my horrified facial expression.
"Yeah, we could think of something to do." I offer and Charlie comes in with the doctor walking behind him. I feel better and not because of the drugs. I feel like the hole in my chest is lessoning now that I don't have an empty void tomorrow. Was it was wrong to use Jacob Black? But I did really enjoy his company. I knew if given a chance we could be friends. Why not crazier things have happened? I should know all about that.