(11) Stunned
Jacob Black?
I stood still for a moment and let that piece of information sink in. What was he doing here? This was becoming very strange. I contemplated whether or not to get out of bed but curiosity won over. I pulled the covers off my head and swung my feet over. The floor is freezing.
I let my feet find the slippers I used on the coldest nights in Forks. There were plenty of those nights to get good use out of my slippers. They were tattered and the purple color was fading.
I checked to make sure I wasn't wearing embarrassing pajamas. Gray T-shirt and sweat pants perfectly acceptable.
I glanced down from my window and Jacob waved his arms. I slid the window open even further.
"What are you doing here?" I knew it was rude to ask that but I was baffled as to why he was here right now.
"Charlie called earlier." Jacob admitted and I was still confused. What did that mean? Jacob seemed impatient for me to try to figure out his message. He was walking towards the tree.
"What are you doing?" I asked again and Jacob shimmied up the trunk. He seemed to reach the thick branch that was a few feet below my window with ease. He gripped the branch and hauled himself up to a sitting position.
"You grew again." I accused. He was unstoppable in that department. Pretty soon, he wouldn't need to climb branches to reach my window. A simple jump and he would clear the ledge of my second-story window.
He laughed deeply and shook his head. He stood up and was eye level with me. "You might want to stand back." Jacob whispered now that he was closer to my house and I widened my eyes.
"Don't! You'll kill yourself." I gasped and he laughed again. I hugged my arms around my chest and refused to move.
"Thanks for having so much faith in me. You might want to move now. I'm coming in." Jacob warned and his eyes danced in the moonlight. The black pupils were alive with energy and I obediently took two steps back. Jacob gripped the window-sill with his hands and swung his legs through the opening. He fell quietly to the floor.
I was amazed that he didn't make too much noise. I listened for Charlie's snoring and heard the proof a minute later. My Mom was downstairs so I didn't worry about her overhearing Jacob's landing she was a pretty deep sleeper.
Anger overcame me. "What do you think you're doing? You could have hurt yourself. I would be in more trouble than I am right now." I pushed his shoulder but he didn't budge.
"What's up with that?" Jacob sat on the edge of my bed and I sat next to him. I looked down.
"How did you know?" I whispered.
"Billy of course. I overheard him talking to Charlie on the phone. He was asking him about the treatment center that he knew about." Jacob played with a string from my bedspread. He wrapped it around his finger letting the string tighten around his index finger. I stared at him.
"It's bad Jacob. Worse than I ever could have imagined. Everything has gotten out of control." I couldn't explain to Jacob why I was leaving.
"Is it because of that Cullen guy?" Jacob asked shyly and snapped the string from the bedspread. I jumped and swallowed suddenly my throat was really dry.
"No." I lied. I felt guilty about lying but Jacob knowing the truth would be bad right now.
"Did he hurt you?" Jacob turned to me a fiery heat in his words and his eyes were menacing. I saw the flicker of his eyes that paused waiting for my answer.
"Yes but it's not like that. I am just going to Serenity to talk about my feelings. I have a lot of issues that I am dealing with right now." I covered lamely. Please, stop questioning me.
"You can talk to me." Jacob confided and moved his hand closer to mine. I shifted from him and he leaned forward. I noticed he didn't have a jacket on. It must be freezing outside.
"Aren't you cold?" I gasped. The chilly air invaded my room from the open window.
"No." Jacob waved away the question. "You're deflecting." He pointed his finger at me.
"No I'm not. It's really cold outside. Why aren't you wearing a jacket?" I asked suspiciously. Jacob leaned forward and looked me in the eyes.
"Because I'm not cold. Now why are you going to Serenity?" Jacob started to quiver and I backed away from him. He pushed his hair away from his face and he looked scared.
"Are you okay?" I asked cautiously and he nodded his head.
"No actually I'm not. I'm not feeling too good." He stood up wavering. "I think I'm going to go." He stumbled to the window.
"Use the front door." I scolded because he looked like he was going to be sick.
"I'll be okay." He breathed evenly and put his hand on the window sill.
I walked towards him and he looked down at me. "Will you visit me?"
"Yeah." Jacob gruffly said and turned away from me. I wanted to hug him do something other than stand by and let him leave. He waited for a minute then went out the window. He really did not look that well. I bit my lip and hoped he made it home.
I didn't get much sleep after that. I heard Renee walking up the stairs. She was much lighter on her feet than Charlie was. She knocked a couple of times and slowly opened the door.
"Oh, you're packed." She looked at the two bags stacked neatly on my bed. I figured since I wasn't going to be able to sleep I might as well pack my clothes. I only brought a few pairs of jeans and three weeks worth of shirts. I hope they had a washing machine.
"Might as well." I muttered and flopped back on my bed. I started to read my book when Renee sat across from me.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Renee pulled her legs up and sat indian style. I wasn't in the mood for a chat.
"No Mom not really. I don't have anything to say." I stomped to the closet and pulled out my jacket. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get going."
"Oh, okay." Renee climbed from my bed and stood awkwardly by my door. I gathered my two bags and stomped down the stairs.
"Hey Bells, want some breakfast?" Charlie called. I strode past him and flung the front door open.
"No." I said slammed the front door. I opened his cruiser and threw my bags in the backseat. I sat down and pulled the seatbelt around me. If they wanted to send me away then that was their business but I would not make it easy for them. The frigid morning air made the waiting in the car unbearable. I considered going back inside until I saw the door open.
Charlie came down the steps and I rolled down the window. "Honey, don't be like this. Come inside and eat before we leave."
"I'm not hungry." I spewed and put my earphones in my ears. I turned the music up and Charlie threw his hands up in the air. He climbed the steps and came out five minutes later with Renee. They both got in the car. Thankfully he turned the heater on.
I didn't talk to them the whole way there. It took less than forty minutes to reach Pacific Beach. I should've been enjoying the scenic views but I closed my eyes the whole time. I did happen to catch a glimpse of the ocean every now and then.
We drove up a small hill and arrived at a wooden house with the word Serenity carved in the sign. It was small, but cozy. There was soft light coming out the front window and I didn't see any chain link fences. The house was not the least bit intimidating kind of like a vacation home for kids. I hated it.
Charlie parked and we all walked up to the front door. Charlie and Renee went in first. I followed and the counter up front had a sign-in log. The woman who sat behind the counter was friendly and asked for my bags. She checked each item and I stared at her. Was that necessary? I'm not some hardened criminal. She was small and overweight. She had puffy red hair and glasses.
"How was the drive, Chief Swan?" The woman turned to Charlie. Charlie talked about the road and I plopped on the couch.
Renee walked over and sat next to me. "This is only temporary."
Huh, like my relationship with guys or friends. Temporary. I leaned my head back.
Renee and Charlie struggled to say goodbye and I allowed them to hug me. I plopped back down on the couch and stared at the fireplace. A soft light was glowing on the wall from the decreasing fire. The woman ambled over to me.
"I'm Connie the house mother." She reached out her hand and I shook it. I didn't like shaking adult's hands because they always had clammy skin. Connie was no exception. "Follow me, Bella. I'll show you to my room. Give you some facts about Serenity."
Here, come the rules. Connie picked up one of my bags and walked down a short hallway.
"There are five rooms including mine. I have three girls in the house you make four. You're sharing a room with Lily. I do not allow unsolicted phone calls from friends. You are allowed to use the phone three times a day only to family. The curfew is five o'clock. I posted the meal times and if you're late then you are stuck with cereal. I'm a fair person, Bella but I do have my limitations. You will meet with Dr. Shay tomorrow." She stopped at the end of the hallway.
I gripped the suitcase with my hand and Connie opened the door. I followed her inside and saw a small girl sitting on the twin bed across from me. She had blonde hair and a pale complexion. She looked up from her magazine and nodded.
"Lily this is Bella. Such beautiful names. I'm going to start dinner." Connie left me.
"Hey, you didn't bring a lot of clothes." Lily commented and I saw her staring at my two bags.
I hoisted one on the bed. "I know but I'm only here for a month."
Lily scoffed and closed her magazine. "Yeah, that's what I said, a year ago."
I stopped unpacking and stared at her. "You've been here a year?"
She took out a nail file. "And then some but hey this might be my lucky month." She swiped the file across her nail. I started to breathe unsteadily. I noticed my hands were shaking and I stopped taking the clothes out of my bag.
"Why are you here?" I asked uncertainly. I didn't know the line to cross with Lily. She smiled at me and stood up.
"I know why you're here." Lily moved next to me. "Trouble at home. Parents going through your stuff. They find out something that's a big secret." I freeze and she giggles.
"Yeah, that's pretty close isn't it? Don't worry we all have our fantasies. But mythical creatures wow. You're imaginative."
"What are you talking about?" I lie and continue to unpack.
"Your journal duh. You know if you're boyfriend is a vampire then what does that make you?" Lily stepped up so she was eye-level with me.
I couldn't find the words to speak. I gulped and looked down.
"Why are you here?" I veered the topic and Lily stepped back down.
"Isn't it obvious?" She waited and I looked at her in complete bafflement. "I can read minds of course." She giggled again and I felt like throwing up.