Chapter 18

Hope's POV

The decision was made for me. I'd be returning to school this morning. In fact, not only would I be returning to school, but I was also expected to check in with my guidance counselor upon my arrival. Carlisle and Esme were sweet to be concerned, but I could handle things without the structure they were trying to implement.

"Do you have your lunch money?" Esme was talking to me though I barely heard her through my fog. It took several repetitions of my name to gather my attention.

"What?" I asked, suddenly, startled by the sound of my name.

"I was just asking if you had your lunch money," she gave me a strange look and reached over to touch my forehead. "Are you sure you are well?"

"Sorry, just excited," I lied to cover just how scatterbrained I actually was this morning.

In the back seat, Emmalyn giggled as she played with her new doll that replaced the one she'd lost in the accident. Carlisle brought it to the hospital our second night there to help ward off some of the nightmares that plagued her. Since, she hadn't put the thing down.

"Hopie, sick?" she asked, innocently as she looked up from playing.

I turned to face her, "No, honey. I'm fine. Just can't wait to get back to school and see all my friends."

The little girl seemed to accept that response and returned to playing with a simple "Oh..."

Esme, on the other hand, wasn't accepting my answer at least without some question, "Listen, I know what Carlisle said, but if you need a few more days, you don't have to do this."

"No, really, I want to go back to school," this response could not be farther from the truth, but I think she accepted it because she wanted to see me happy.

"All right, darling," she nodded. "Your first stop is in the guidance counselor's office. She's expecting you."

"Yup," I nodded.

"Mommy," Emmalyn broke into our conversation.

My head whipped around at the mention of our mother. "No, Emma," I shook my head, "Mommy's not here. We've talked about this." That was the moment I realized she was referring to Esme and was trying to gain her attention. I was out the door and gone before the woman even had time to respond. Hot tears streamed down my face as I ran behind the school into the woods. I kept running even though the muscles in my legs screamed out in pain. I kept going until I reached the coastline. It was cold, but I didn't care. Something about the chill kept me from having to think so much and it made the numbness in my body match the numbness I tried to wrap around my heart. How dare she let my sister call her mom especially after such a short time. We had a mom and Esme was not going to replace her overnight. I walked the shoreline attempting to put as must distance between myself and the family as possible. Maybe just maybe I could make myself forget everything or at least not care. My head was a mess. Angrily, I picked up chunks of shale and threw it across the shoreline somehow lulled by the sound of it breaking across the rocky coast. It was like a physical representation of my own brokenness.

Jacob's POV

My first class being a study hall, Emmett, Jasper and I sat inside a booth at the local diner waiting on our breakfast. I sat sipping on my orange juice, gazing out the window at the activity outside. It was starting to snow again, and the wolf in me wished for the fluffy white stuff to start piling up so I could enjoy a good jaunt in the Maine woods. There was nothing like the sound of the snow crunching beneath my paws.

The waitress interrupted my thoughts as she arrived carrying a tray loaded up with dishes. The pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and hashbrowns were weighing her down. The three of us had a weekly breakfast date in the small restaurant where no one ever seemed to pay attention to our presence or care that while the three of us ordered, I was the only one who actually consumed the buffet.

"Thank you, Mary," I flashed her my whites and gratefully accepting the final plate. I scarfed down a piece of bacon before she even disappeared into the kitchen much to Emmett and Jaspers disgust.

"So, Alice said the school is looking at changing its' budget," Jasper began.

"Yeah, there's a meeting about it later on this week, I'm just hoping it doesn't effect the sports teams," Emmett stated.

I was about to comment when my phone rang. "What's going on?"

"It's Esme. Can you meet me outside your school?" something about her tone was off.

"Sure thing," I was confused by her request. "What time?"

"Now," came her quick response.

"Now?" my eyes traveled around the table to my breakfast. My stomach protested angrily. I realized she must have a good reason for the request. "I'll be there in five."

Emmett and Jasper were pulling on their coats when I got off the phone. They didn't need them, and neither did I, but for the sake of preventing questions, we wore the appropriate attire for the seasons.

"I'll drive," Emmett offered.

I snagged the bacon from the table and threw down some bills to cover the check before setting out.

When we arrived at the school, Esme was sitting in her car with Emmalyn passed out in the back seat, favorite doll in hand.

The three of us crossed over to the driver's side window where she stood.

"Hope took off. I was dropping her off at school, and Emmalyn called me 'Mom'. She's never done that before, and we talked about it, but the moment Hope heard, she took off into the woods. Carlisle's working, and I need to stay with Emma. I need you to find her."

"We got it, Mom," Emmett responded, quickly.

"Call when you find her," she requested.

"Of course," Jasper reassured. We'd done this before with others. Bree was one to take off when she first moved in, and of course there was Bella's history with the family.

The three of us followed her scent til we reached the beach. I could see her in the distance, hair wet from the mist off the ocean surf; she must be freezing. I put my hand out to stop the others, "Let me go talk to her. Call Esme."

Hope's POV

I walked along too absorbed in my own thoughts to sense the presence beside me. I gasped and looked up when a hand rested on my arm. Jacob stood there watching me with eyes that warmed me to the very soul.

"Hey," he grinned.

"Hi," I replied, quickly wiping away tears that weren't lost to him.

"I heard about what happened...You wanna talk about it?" I was grateful for his honesty though talking about it was the last thing that interested me.

"Nope," I kept walking.

"Point taken. You want some company?" He didn't push, and for that reason alone, I agreed.

"I guess, if you want," my shrug must have been enough for him to continue on with me.

We walked in silence for awhile.

"I'm sorry for what's happened to your family," his voice was gentle and non-invasive.

"Thanks," I responded. Again followed by silence.

"You wanna see something?" the glint in is eyes drew my attention.

Jacob's POV

I led her around the bend to where the beach stretched out further into the water. The backdrop of the lighthouse was breathtaking especially with the light snowfall. The rocks were slippery so I reached over to take her hand. In silence, we worked our way across the rocky beach until we reached the boardwalk leading to the lighthouse.

"It's gorgeous," she whispered trying to hide a shiver.

"And you're freezing," I pulled her up onto the solid wooden boards before removing my own coat and wrapping it around her torso. It was long on her and seemed to almost swallow her up. The view brought a smile to my face that I couldn't begin to hide. I zipped it up enclosing her in the warmth before tipping her chin upward. "Better?"

The color was returning to her cheeks, but the tip of her nose looked as though it'd been nipped by Jack Frost himself. The snow fell softly around us as though we were in the scene for a real life snow globe. My heart pounded having her this close. It was as though time stopped. I fought the urge to kiss her, but held myself back. Now was not the time for that. Imprinting was one things, but she didn't even really know me let alone know what I was. No, it was best that I keep a big brother role for now. So instead of acting on my emotions, I took a moment to warm her face with my hands before simply wrapping an arm around the teen and guiding her back toward home.