Disclaimer: (I do not own Bella, Jacob, Charlie or Jessica...or even MASH)

hey guys...leave me some reviews. oh and don't worry, jacob will return. he's cute like that

CHAPTER SIX

Attention All Personnel

When I got home I went straight to bed. I didn't change my cloths or brush my teeth. I just hit the pillows and cried.

…

When I woke up I took a shower and dressed for the day. I walked into the kitchen and started to pour a bowl of cereal. Charlie walked in from the sofa.

"Bells, you've got a message". I squished a foot loop with my spoon, why did they have to be so…colorful.

I mumbled. "Well that didn't take long". Jacob was already calling with his apologies. "What did he say?" Charlie paused for moment to take me in. I was mumbling. I hadn't brushed my hair. And I most likely gave of a gray atmosphere. Down right depressing.

"She wanted to know if you'd like to go over to her house today"

"She?"

"Jessica, your friend from school."

"Oh…okay". I continued squishing.

"So are you going?" It would have been too nice if he had left it at that. But I guess I couldn't blame him, he was my father. He was warranted to his concerns.

"Well I have some things to do, but I guess I could pop by-". His whole face brightened up. For some reason he loved it when I socialized.

"Good Bells, I know she'd love to see ya".

"Yeah…wait did she say when?"

"Around eleven. Something like that". He retreated back to the couch. It was about nine now so I had some time to kill. I sat down and watched the game with Charlie. I suppose watched wasn't the right word, I kind of just looked. Then it hit me…the last time I did this was with Edward.

…

I stood on the sidewalk staring at Jessica's front door. Why was I doing this? Did I really want to see her? Did I really want to listen to her frivolous talk? No I did not.

"I'm so glad you could make it Bella, I feel like I haven't seen you in years!" I walked through the door.

"Yeah, it has been a long time-"

"Really Bella, it's nice to see you". Her face was all in smiles. I could only assume she had some news for me. "Come in, lets go up to my room". She ran up the stairs while I slothed behind. She pulled out a stool for me to sit on then hopped on her bed. Way too much spunk then I needed to see.

"Bella?" Here it came.

"Yeah?"

"Is something bothering you? Sorry but you kind of look in the dumps". I guess I wasn't looking my happiest.

"No Jessica, I'm fine". She seemed convinced or at least distracted enough not to care. Either way it didn't matter to me.

"Good….cause Bella I have some totally awesome news!" I knew this was coming. "Mike isn't moving to California, he's picking a school in Portland!" I wasn't sure how this was suppose to effect me so I just smiled.

"That's really cool Jessica, but what does this mean for you?" She was basically standing on her bed in excitement.

"I'm not moving to Michigan! I got into a Portland school too! Now me and Mike can officially be together!"

"But you guys aren't together?" She lowered on the bed.

"Yeah, but we could be. I mean now that we'll be going to the same university"

"Oh". She paused and didn't say anything.

"You know Bella you could be more excited for me". Why would I be excited? There wasn't anything for me to be happy for anymore. Edward was gone. Jacob was…different and I was alone. I let it out.

"Well…I'm not having the best week! Edward left town and I'm pretty sure he's not coming back!" Why did I just say that? Her face dropped.

"Wow Bella…that's really crappy. Why did he leave?"

"Because he had no reason to stay"

"Bella, of coarse he had a reason…he's got…". Then her face turned into a frown. "Did he dump you?"

"No, Edward would never do that"

"Then what happened?"

"I left him for Jacob". CRAP! Why was I telling her this stuff. It was like my mouth didn't know when to shut up. Next thing you'd know I'd be telling her I was in love with a werewolf and a vampire.

"Bella you and Edward broke up! But it seemed like you two would get married". I mumbled.

"It seemed…". She continued talking.

"And I've been rambling on about nothing!" We sat in silence for about fifteen seconds. "Wait! Jacob! Jacob Black! I backed up a few inches. "Bella you and Jacob Black are together?!". I tried to make my face convincing.

"Yes"

"But he's so…rebel like". Clearly she didn't approve. "I love it! You guys could totally click!" I didn't expect this reaction. "Bella he could be totally good for you". I couldn't take it anymore. I had to come up with some sort of excuse to get out of there. This is all I had.

"Jessica I'm really sorry but I actually need to be going. I promised Charlie…err my dad that I'd hang with him for the next few days". That didn't sound right, I needed more. "But thanks for the break". That sounded good.

"Oh too bad Bella, I really wanted to do some college planning. But if you need to go then you need to go"

"Thanks Jessica". I headed for the door. She popped her head around the hallway.

"Say hi to Jacob for me!" I put on a fake smile.

"I will!" If I ever saw him again.

I started walking along the sidewalk towards my house, it was a pretty hot day so I tried to stay in the shade of the trees. Not many cars were going by so I decided to walk the yellow lines in the middle of the road. There was more shade there. As I was nearing my house I heard a speeding vehicle. A truck. It zoomed by me hitting the brake. The driver stuck his head out his window and looked at me. I didn't like it, it was as if he was identifying me. The truck speed off and left me in the dust. Who was that? The face seemed so familiar. Now I walked with a bit more speed then probably necessary. I wanted to get home and I wanted to get there fast. Without Edward or Jacob looking out for me I was more likely to be in a lot more danger then usual. Staying home would probably be my best chance of staying in one piece. I guess I would really be hanging with Charlie for the next few days.

I got home and plopped myself on the couch. Charlie wasn't home yet. I noticed a large pile of mail with my name on it so I snatched it and decided to finally fulfill the task of opening them. First was a letter from the University of Alaska asking for financial information. A nice reminder of my past plans. Then a piece of town mail advertising for some new garbage pick up service. Which is where those plans had gone, the garbage. After that I opened my bank statement. Same old same old. Then there was a letter not addressed. I opened it. It read:

Charlie, I really enjoyed last night. The dinner was great. Who knew you were such a mac-and-cheese expert? I just wanted…ect. I was at a blank. Was my dad dating? Then the door opened and he walked in.

"Hey Bells". I didn't think to drop the letter.

"Hey Dad"

"Your home kind of early. Was Jessica's fun?"

"Oh it was fine". He walked across the room and noticed the paper in my hand.

"I see you finally came around to opening your mail". He fiddled through his pile, pushing back the bills and town flyers. "It's about time, the pile was getting pretty big". I held out the letter.

"I think this is yours". He took it and started reading.

"Bella-". I cut him off.

"Are you dating Dad?" His face made a kind of half smile as if he was unsure of what to say next.

"Well yes Bella, I am". I smiled. I figured I owed him that.

"That's really cool Dad". He lost the smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah". This was so awkward, but I kept a happy face for his sake. It really was good that he'd do this. To get over Renee. Mom.

"Well thanks Bells". He took the letter and left to his room. I guess that was that.

…

The next two days were basically filled with nothingness. Charlie was never home and there was still no news of Jacob. You would think I'd be in worry mode but instead I pushed it all back. I wasn't going to freak out anymore. But I still had to ask myself why Jacob was doing this to me? He'd left town and Billy wasn't any help. He didn't know where he went and he didn't seem to care. So my only assumption is wolf business, something he didn't want me to know. Or wasn't allowed to let me know. I hated the whole alpha dog thing Jake had with his pack. Having to bend to Sam's every will just didn't set with me and I couldn't understand how it set with Jake. Stupid werewolf rules. So the past few days have been just me, hanging out with myself. Really not the most reliable company. I thought too much when no one was there to distract me. Jessica invited me over yesterday, but I knew all she'd want to do would be to talk about Jake. And I just wasn't up for that. Besides apparently there wasn't anything to talk about so there wouldn't have been a point. So I declined and used backed up laundry as my excuse and it wasn't entirely a lie. I really did need to start on my washing. So that's what I'm doing now. Dumping some tide into the washing machine. Isn't my life interesting.

Charlie didn't come home until well past nine that night. I had made him dinner and set the table but he didn't show. I waited a good twenty minutes for him until I gave up and retreated up to my room. I now had some idea on how it felt for a parent when their kid ditched out on them at dinner. It felt lousy.

I went to bed early.

The next day I spent my time watching old re-runs of MASH. It was a good eight hour marathon and I watched it all. So much for my week with Charlie, he seemed to have better things to do. Clearly I didn't. After two hours into the marathon I started talking to the t.v., reciting the lines with the actors. I obviously needed to get out of the house. Knowing the script of a MASH episode couldn't be a good thing. Unfortunately for me Jessica stopped calling me to come over, this is probably due to my constant denials. Besides I really didn't feel like running into anymore mysterious people in trucks. So I'd officially ran out of people to hang out with. I'd become a loner. A hermit in my own house. Was there really any other kind of hermit? Who cared, I didn't. I was one and that was that. I put on my slippers, grabbed my bag of potato chips and headed for my room. Eight hours of MASH could take a lot out of someone. I was going to need some sleep if I was going to make it through the second part of the marathon tomorrow.