Hi everyone, I know I said this was going to be longer, but I decided to do it in little bits. Originally I was going to make the festival one whole huge one, but I don't have a lot of time today and I finished one, so I figured I'd just put that one up. But it'll be easier for me to finish them piece by piece anyways. So here is the first bit of the festival. This one is in Jake's POV.
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She has completely lost her mind…that is the only thing I can think of to explain what she's doing. Becoming a vampire has permanently altered her brains. It's really the only way Bella could have thought of this. I had to stop though, because even though I knew this was a crazy idea, it had Bella written all over it. She would be the martyr, suffering in silence, and sacrificing herself, so that her family would be safe. Didn't that girl have any sense of preservation at all?!
"Are you ready Jake?" my dad voice broke my trance. I had been sitting at our kitchen table staring out into space, waiting for him to get off the phone with Charlie. They were going over their stories so there would be no mistakes for anyone to catch.
"Yup, let's get this freak show on the road." I grimaced as I helped my dad out the door. I didn't know how this day was going to end. My nerves were twisted so tight I felt that if someone jumped out and yelled boo I'd phase right there. Calm… I thought to myself, willing my body to relax. I wasn't dangerous when I phased, I mean I wouldn't hurt my dad, but I was fully dressed today, and he'd never shut up if I ruined these sneakers.
As I drove towards Forks I wondered what had happened last night. I knew that Alice had gotten a lot of stuff to make Bella look more human, and sickly. I knew that the big one and blondie were getting the cottage ready to become hide-out central for them and Nessie, and I knew Edward was worrying. Other than that, all I could do was guess. I still wasn't up on all the intricate details of the plan. The most I knew was what Charlie and dad knew. Bella was still sick but on the mend, and that she wanted to recover in Forks so she could be near Charlie. They weren't mentioning Nessie and we were feinting ignorance with the Mike Newton incident.
We pulled onto Charlie's street; he was just locking the door when we pulled into the driveway. "Hey Charlie" I called as he climbed into the back seat.
"Hi Jake, Billy; how's everything going?" He looked like he hadn't slept a wink last night. Neither had I, but I'm a wolf, he's just a human. The circles underneath his eyes stood out, he almost looked as pale as Edward. I knew he was worried about Bella, and the whole family. I was with him there.
"Everything's right on schedule Charlie, no need to be worried. Just relax, enjoy the picnic. Edward and Alice have everything figured out, there's nothing to worry about." I soothed as we pulled into the lot that was designated for parking, although I didn't really even believe what I was saying myself. While Charlie helped Billy, I took in the surroundings, looking for quick exits in case I needed to phase to talk to Seth, Leah and Sam. The parking lot was against the woods, so that was one option; no one would see me once I disappeared through the underbrush. Off in the distance I could see white tents set up; food, people selling crafts, a kid's tent, and every other autumn related thing you could think of. There was already a fair amount of people milling about, listening to the band that was playing in the far corner of the area. I still looked around for the Volvo even though I knew they wouldn't be arriving until later. We headed over the registration table and Charlie greeted the woman there.
"Hello Susan…er, great day for a picnic…" He looked up that the overcast sky, and then looked back down, clearly unsure of what to say next. He and Bella were so similar sometimes it scared me. I could help but chuckle. The woman, who turned out to be Mrs. Weber, the mom of one of Bella's friends, pointed out what all the tents were along with the activities that would be happening throughout the day and handed us each a raffle ticket. She tried to start a conversation with Charlie and Billy, but as soon as she did a cell phone at her hip rang, and she bustled off to solve some problem dealing with bratwurst. The three of us looked at each other, unsure of where to go or what to do next. None of us would be here normally if Bella didn't need us, so we all felt out of place. We walked into the heart of the picnic, Charlie was a popular figure for people to come up and say hi to. Once or twice someone would ask about Bella, luckily they were easily distracted and didn't need very through answers. I bounced anxiously in my plastic folding chair, waiting for then silver Volvo to pull into the parking lot.
"Calm down Jake, you're making me nervous" my dad advised. I looked over and he was staring at my leg jerking wildly around underneath the table. I smiled sheepishly, and tried to take deep breaths. I couldn't help thinking about Nessie, and some reporter being egged on by Jessica, putting her in danger. I know that my dad and Charlie think it's a little silly to be freaking out this much over one girl, but I know better than anyone what can happen when a teenage girl has determination. Bella was just trying to help me, and she doesn't have a nasty bone in her body. I shuttered at the thought of what Jessica was capable of.
Just for something to do I looked around the park, looking for quick exits, places to hide, ect… and speak of the devil. I saw who I assumed was Jessica Stanley in a group of teens clustered behind one of the tents. I recognized her from Bella's graduation and just basically knowing everyone in Forks. She was with Mike Newton and Angela, and a boy whose name I think is Ben. Angela and Ben looked like they'd rather be else were, but Jessica and Mike were looking around like hawks scouting out their prey. Just as I was about to look away Jessica made eye contact with me, then looked over to where Charlie and Billy were sitting, a few feet away from me. She got this smug little smile on her face her eyes lit up as she started to walk over. Mike stopped mid sentence, they were obviously planning, and he was cut short by Jessica's sudden departure. The rest of the group hung back as she sauntered over to our table.
"Hi Chief!" she cried, the sicky sweetness in her voice was almost enough to make me gag. Could this girl get any faker? "Hi, Jacob, and you must be Billy" She reached for my dad's hand with another false smile. He smiled back and shook her hand politely and gave me a helpless look. "So, are you guys enjoying the picnic, I just love autumn festival, and we all get to hang out as a community, it's a great bonding exercise." She didn't pause long enough for us to answer, and just kept talking. "I heard that the Cullen s were back in town. Chief, have you seen Bella yet? They must have gotten in really late, if you still didn't know she was on the mend when we called you. Mrs. Cullen called Angela's mom yesterday RSVPing, did you know by then?" She still had a huge smiled fixed on her face, looking at Charlie waiting for an answer.
"Er…yeah, they called me last night. I, uh, didn't think she'd be able to come to the picnic, but you know, Carlisle is the doctor…" He looked over to me for assistance.
"Bella is still very sick, but her doctors in Atlanta agreed to let her come home and get better here. So she could be around Charlie, and her home. They say it's the best thing for her to get better." I tried to mimic her phony smile and sweetness, and as I spoke her eyes narrowed, like she was trying to look right through me and see the lies.
"Well that's great! I'm so glad that she's getting better, I've missed her! So what did she have?" Jessica directed the last part to Charlie, turning her whole body to face him. I panicked, just a little, we really hadn't discussed this. We didn't think we'd be alone to answer these questions.
"Um…what did Bella have?" You could hear the lump in Charlie's throat as he tried to think up an answer. Jessica just nodded and stood her ground in front of him. "Well, she was in South America, and, um, she and Edward were on their honeymoon, and she, uh, well she drank some bad water….and –"
"…And she contracted a rare strain of Typhoid fever, most commonly found in South America. Usually very easily it's treatable, but Bella's particular stain was unresponsive to the usually medication. We were really worried she wouldn't pull through, but the people at the CDC found a new way to treat the virus. We're very lucky that they worked so diligently or we may have lost Bella…"
I had never been so happy to see a blood sucker in my life. I'd always liked the good doctor, he was a kind soul, but he seriously saved the day here. Charlie was looking at him like he was Jesus, and Billy had this stupid smile on his face, that make him look like a clown. Jessica just looked a little nauseous. He gave her a warm smile and a nod in her direction and then turned to Charlie "I think Edward could use your assistance with helping Bella into her wheelchair. Jacob, do you think you could go sign us in?" Charlie lumbered over towards the parking lot, glancing back several times.
I headed off towards the desk we had signed in earlier, trying to crane my neck to see the parking lot. Would Bella be able to fool everyone? God, if she is ever to be able to lie, please let it be now! Just as I thought that, I saw a group of people moving towards me, moving much to gracefully to be anyone other than the Cullen's.
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So, like I said I'm going to keep going from person to person, instead of putting it one huge one.