Author's note: Hey! Sorry for the slight delay on this chapter, but seeing as my sister got married this weekend, I was just a little busy. ;) Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. As always, thank you so much to everyone who has been reading and reviewing, it really means a lot!

Out of Nowhere

Six

For a few seconds, Bella remained rooted to the ground where she stood. Mike was cupping his face, Jessica shooting daggers at her, and the rest of her classmates watching to see what she would do next. Her eyes trailed after what she knew in her heart was Jacob's shadow before her feet followed the same action.

Pushing past those who blocked the path, Bella raced into the darkness, hooting calls lingered in her wake. The only thing that went through her mind was finding Jacob; she had to find Jacob.

She made her way across the pitch-black beach, stumbling over the driftwood and rocks, as she neared a reasonably clear path up to the ground above. Picking her way across the dunes, she hit the solid earth running, crossing the empty street with haste. As her eyes finally adjusted to the night, the stars and moon illuminating the land beneath her feet, she gained her bearings and headed through the quickest route to the Blacks' house.

Edging against the trees, she blended in with the darkness as she came upon the two sheds that made up Jacob's garage. She was grateful that the light was on as she made her way inside.

It was there that Jacob stood, the muted light of the lamp casting a soft yellow glow on his russet skin. His bare back was facing her, his hands broadly pressed out on the makeshift plywood counter, breathing heavily. He shook uncontrollably, his muscles jumping underneath his skin.

Bella shivered, hugging her arms to her body before speaking, her voice soft and hesitant. "Jake…"

He spun swiftly around to meet her. His hardened gaze, softened for a moment as he looked at her face. She stepped closer until she was under the cover of the garage.

He didn't say anything, only looking at her as she bit her lip; her eyes were trained on him. He moved abruptly, grabbing a green hoodie from the back of the car seat that remained on the ground and yanking it on, as if he was suddenly aware of himself.

"What do you want, Bella?" his voice was hard, tired, emotionless.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" she whispered, hurt at the lack of care that shone clear in his eyes.

"I could ask you the same question…"

"But I wasn't," she rushed, stepping forward. He seemed to shrink into the back of the counter, attempting to create a larger distance between them. "I called and I came by and then I was grounded, which I still am, and you didn't answer. And I'm sorry about the movies but -"

"This isn't about the movies," Jacob spat, his hand squeezing at the top of his forehead.

"Then what is it about?"

The fire in his eyes was hard to take. "You wouldn't understand."

"Make me then," she murmured, stepping closer to him, sensing that what was going on was bigger than an awkward silence in Port Angeles.

He withdrew again, his eyes closing and beads of sweat forming on his neck, as she reached out to catch his hand. Jacob's skin felt unnaturally warm against hers and for a moment they were both still. They held onto one another's hands, their breathing creating the only sound besides the distant roll of thunder in the sky.

"Jake…" Bella began, her voice barely rising above a whisper. "Whatever it is that you're going through, just know that I'm here. For whatever you need me…I'm here."

Jacob pulled his hand away roughly, his hands slicing through his hair and squeezing at it in one fluid motion. "You can't. I don't want you to."

"I don't understand -"

"It's not safe!" Jacob roared, his hands coming down at his sides.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes tightly, his body grew still and he seemed to only concentrate on steadying his shaky breathing. As he attempted to calm down, thunder rolled again and lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the earth and a dark bruise on his jaw.

The sight took Bella by surprise as she stepped even closer, running her fingers lightly along the purple skin. "Jacob, what happened to you?"

He drew in a sharp breath at her touch; his eyelids fluttered open to meet her worried gaze. "I'm okay…it doesn't matter…"

"Who did this?" Bella questioned, her throat beginning to feel constricted.

When he didn't respond, she placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Who?" She demanded again with more strain in her voice.

"Sam," he answered resolutely, swallowing hard as if it hurt him to say the name.

"Why?"

"Because we got in a fight." His voice was emotionless and cold again.

"Just tell me what's going on!" Her voice seemed to pierce the sky as the rain began to pour and sirens sounded down the road.

"Bella," he said lowly as turned toward her, trapping her between the end of the L-shaped counter and his body. "Just do something for me, okay?"

Taken aback by their sudden closeness, she only nodded as his hand slowly trailed down her face. She could see the sadness in his eyes as he moved closer to her, abruptly stopping as if he had just remembered something.

"Take your truck, go back to Forks and forget about me."

The rush of cold air that encircled her now was a shock against the fading warmth Jacob had created. She stood, frozen as she watched him walk away, leaving her alone in his garage. A sob overtook her body as she pushed herself away from the counter, walking blindly to her truck which they had planned and laughed over almost a month ago.

Her chest throbbed with pain as she saw that her truck was completely restored. He had even repainted the new door to match the rest, covering every last detail so thoroughly as if to make sure that there was no reason for her to come to La Push again, no need for her to see him anymore.

As she slipped behind the wheel again for the first time in almost two months, nothing felt right. Her fingers were numb as she gripped the wheel and backed out of the shed, lips trembled as she passed by his house and turned back on to the main road, eyes blurry with tears as she passed the beach and saw blue and red lights flashing. Three cruisers were lined along the sand. A figure by one of the cars looked up sharply, knowingly as she passed.

The bonfire was out, the last of the smoke rising up into the night air. There was no light to be found now; the stars and moon were gone, having disappeared behind the thick clouds which now brought the pounding rain.

As she made her way back to Forks, a police car tailing her all the way, Bella felt as if her whole world had completely fallen apart. Her school friends were going to hate her, her father was going to kill her, and her best friend had abandoned her, never wanting to see her again.