Chapter Three
Bella
I was sick of living here with Charlie but my options were severely limited, it was here or Jacksonville and there was no way I was moving back with Renee and Phil and I couldn't afford to support myself and finish school. Now I didn't even have Jake to make things more bearable, he was the only thing that kept me sane. What I really wanted was to find Edward or die trying but that probably wasn't an option either, with their money they could be anywhere in the world now and he probably had another distraction. When I rode my bike I felt alive, the adrenaline rush helping me visualize Edward although I would never tell Jake that or he'd stop it immediately. Being on the Res itself helped too because I had found out my best friend was actually a wolf, pretty neat or at least exciting. Being with Jake gave me a certain edge, being in danger from the unpredictable mood swings he sometimes displayed if he was frustrated. It was a little like the feeling of being with the Cullens although I thought they were probably more controlled. I'd never felt in any real danger, not even from Jasper, I forgave him his attack because I understood the reason for it. I'd tried explaining that to Edward but he had tunnel vision, that was the one thing that annoyed me about him. It was Edwards way or no way, he thought he was the only one who saw things clearly, presumably because he could read minds but he didn't always see that there was more than one side to everything, 3D? He was hardly 2D.
Once in my room I put my music on, just a little louder than Charlie liked but hey, I would make him pay for my jail time anyway I could. I finished my homework, it was embarrassing being so up to date but there was little else to do here. Renee had sent an e-mail rambling on about the holiday Phil and she were taking in Brazil next month.
"You could come honey, get some sun. Would you like me to ask Charlie?"
A curt no would probably cause more grief than I needed so I made an excuse about work and exams and sent it off then carried on with my own research project. I was trying to trace any of the Cullens back to their human days, Rose I couldn't because I had no idea of her human surname, nor Emmett's but Carlisle was presumably Cullen when he was human so I tried that. I had stolen Charlie's password for some sites that the public didn't have access to but had no luck there so I spent a few dollars and joined one of those ancestry sites where you got access to lots of old and even ancient records and I'd followed the Cullen line back almost far enough. If I were right then the guy I was researching now was Carlisle's uncle, a well connected gentleman at court. I was trying to find his brother who would have been Carlisle's father but the records were so vague and incomplete I didn't really expect much luck, especially as his father had been a lowly clergyman but it was something to do. Then I heard a tap on the window and my heart missed a beat, was it Edward back after all this time? I ran to the drapes pulling them open eagerly, only to see Jake sitting on my sill,
"I thought you were in Portland?"
"So does Billy. Are you OK?"
"No."
"Do you want to go out?"
"I'm grounded remember?"
"So we'll wait till Charlies asleep. Come on, the guys are going cliff diving, its great to watch."
I'd heard them talk about this diving and it sounded really dangerous so I was curious.
"OK, come in and wait."
He climbed over the sill and into my room giving me a hug which just for once I returned, he deserved it after all the shit he'd got in for me.
Jake
I looked at Bella's computer screen and grimaced,
"You still looking for the Cullens? Why Bella? They left you, just disappeared, why would you want to find them now?"
Bella shut the lid of her computer and turned away,
"I'm not looking for them."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Nothing, just trying to trace where they came from and don't start Jake. You know that subject is taboo. Anyway, sorry about the bikes."
"It doesn't matter, the money went to a good cause."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, there's a charity which helps sick tribe members and Charlie and Billy donated the money to that, your money I guess."
"It was your time that meant they were saleable Jake. So cliff diving? It sounds exciting."
"Yeah but if I think its too dangerous you don't dive OK?"
"If it's safe for you and the others..."
"Bella we're not so fragile as you, wolf genes remember."
"Yeah I remember"
Bella
I remembered the day I saw Jake phase accidentally in front of me. He got really angry with Paul who'd been riding him for weeks over everything and Jake just lost it. I stood open-mouthed as the two guys, now wolves rolled over and over in the grass at the back of the garage spitting and snarling at each other until Sam ran up and called a halt. That day they told me all about the Quileute guardians and I understood why Jake was so anti Cullen. To him they were the enemy and Edward especially as he was involved with me,
"See Bella, I told you the Cullens were bad news."
"I know what they are Jake and about the treaty with the wolves, you told me that story on the beach at La Push remember.?"
"It doesn't make them any less dangerous."
The argument never stopped it just eased up somewhat after the Cullens left Forks but Jake was seriously annoyed that I couldn't just forget them, forget him.
When we heard Charlie snoring Jake stooped so I could climb on his back and then jumped out of the window hitting the ground very gracefully and then ran into the trees just in case there was anyone out who might spot us. The moon was full and the journey through the trees was wonderful in an eerie sort of way. When he came out onto the clearing at the edge of the cliffs he wasn't even out of breath. Quil and Embry were waiting for him,
"Sam took the others to the high jump, we waited for you but what is she doing here?"
"I told her she could watch."
"No Jake, you told me I could jump if it wasn't too dangerous and its a still night."
"Not a chance Bella, the tide is out too far, the water's too shallow tonight."
I grumbled, even pleaded but it was no good and I was only allowed to watch from here as the other wolves plummeted past like graceful missiles to disappear into the sea below. A few seconds later their heads would break the surface and the others still waiting would whoop their appreciation. I found out that Sam didn't know Jake was bringing me until Embry phased and Sam caught his thoughts. The ensuing row was extremely heated and ended with Jake taking me back home with strict instructions to make sure I got to my room safely.
"Bella, I don't want you trying this. Not even from this low, it's too dangerous. Jake should never have brought you."
I nodded but deliberately didn't promise anything. I would be trying cliff diving just as soon as I got the opportunity.