Chapter 4 Notes: OK, La Push time. This chapter is a longer, but I had a lot of bases to cover.

CHAPTER FOUR: Bonfire

I struggled to retain any composure during the drive to La Push, but it was a losing battle. As the anger boiled up inside of me, I felt the dreaded moisture spill out of my eyelids. Edward Cullen didn't deserve my tears, yet there I was, sobbing uncontrollably. So he detests me. So what? Maybe I hate him, too. I certainly hated that he was making me cry.

As hard as I searched for another explanation for Edward Cullen's behavior, I knew I had to be the problem. True, at lunch, he looked at me twice but not with the pure repulsion he sent my direction in English. Even when I first entered the classroom, he seemed perfectly apathetic; it was only until he realized that I was sitting next to him that he appeared revolted by me.

My only theory that even remotely made sense was that he knew I was the police chief's daughter and that somehow made him think less of me. Mike had said Dr. Cullen provided a home for "troubled youths"… Yet, his sister Alice seemed to have no animosity towards me. Maybe he was more deviant than his siblings or had some sort of personal vendetta against local law enforcement. Ultimately, though, I knew it had to be something else, something to do with me, not my father.

I checked my face in the rearview window to make sure I didn't look as if I'd been crying. I wanted Jacob to erase the terribleness of my day, but for reasons I couldn't put my finger on, I didn't want to discuss Edward Cullen with anyone, especially Jake.

"You've been crying." He surprised me at the driver's side window, his face wrinkled with concern. "Do I need to go pummel someone?"

"No, Jake. I just had a rough first day." I climbed out of the truck and into his arms. Resting my head on his shoulder, I said, "I really don't want to talk about it."

"Then we won't." He stroked my hair as we stood there, embracing in silence as the minutes passed by. For the first time since before lunch, my heart returned to a steady pace. Fully trusting my voice, I asked, "So what time is that bonfire?"

He sighed, pulling back ever so slightly to scrutinize my face. "We can skip it. Sam organizes those things every time he's home from school. I'm sure he'll be back Labor Day weekend, so it's no big deal. We can go then."

"No, I want to go tonight." It was the truth; I felt suddenly compelled to surround myself with people who didn't loathe me. "Really!" I nearly chuckled at his skeptical expression.

"We've got an hour or so." He smiled. "What do you want to do to kill the time?" He raised one eyebrow suggestively.

"Teach me to change a tire."

Now both eyebrows lifted to their limit. "What?"

"I'm serious; I need something to distract me. It helps when I learn stuff."

To his credit, he didn't offer to "distract" me in other ways. He just grinned and leaned over to look into the bed of the truck. "Wow, your jack is a thousand years old. I can't believe I never noticed that." Before Charlie bought me the truck for my sixteenth birthday, it belonged to Billy, but Jacob spent the most quality time with it, keeping it alive in its senescent years.

"I can't believe Charlie didn't notice that. I mean, you know how he monitors that truck, the second a single snow flake falls, he's out there with the snow chains…" I smiled as I spoke. It was sweet how my father took care of me. Even after two years, I was still getting used to having someone look out for me for a change.

Jake was quickly at work, showing me how to jack up the frame and take off the lug nuts. Soon his laughter warmed me to the core. "No, Bells, you need to turn the hub cap the other way…"

"Glad you find my ineptitude amusing." Although, to be honest, I did too. "What time is it? Shouldn't we be going?"

"Oh! Yeah. What I would I do without you?" He plants his lips against mine. The warmth of his body was inviting, but eventually I pulled away. Immediate guilt followed, but I knew the hour was getting late.

"We have to go, Jake."

"Whatever you say." He darted off inside. His voice drifted out through the open windows. "Do you need to call Charlie or anything?"

"Oh, no. He wouldn't care if I was robbing banks after school, as long as I was with you." Charlie's adoration for Jacob made having my first boyfriend around the house so much easier. "I could use a jacket, though."

He raced out of the door, tossed me a hooded sweatshirt, and jumped into the Rabbit. I followed suit. We sped down to the beach, holding hands the entire way. I babbled on about nothing the entire way there, trying to keep unpleasant memories from earlier in the day at bay.

The sun was beginning to set as we pulled up to the bonfire. The usual crowd was there, Jacob's best friends Quil and Embry, plus Sam Uley and his girlfriend Leah Clearwater, and a few others. Leah's younger brother Seth waved enthusiastically from his spot on a log near the fire.

Kissing my cheek, Jake headed off to undoubtedly stir up trouble with Quil, and I settled down next to Leah. She turned her eyes from watching Sam gather wood for the fire and smiled sweetly in my direction. "How have you been, Bella?"

We shared a certain camaraderie, being the only two girls who frequented these sorts of get-togethers on the beach. "School started today. I'm surviving, I guess." Barely. "So how are things with you? Is it tough with Sam back at school again?" Sam was a junior at the University of Washington, where he'd made a name for himself on the swim team. They were forced to part at the end of each summer, since Leah was still in a high school, a senior like myself.

"He actually doesn't go back until Wednesday. But, yeah, it's hard. He's happy there, though. Plus, he comes back as often as he can." Her eyes crinkled as she spoke. "And I visit too, to see him at meets. You should see him swim the 100 meter freestyle, Bella. He's the fastest one out there."

"You must be really proud of him." I knew it was only a matter of time before those two were engaged; they were young, but anyone who didn't know them needed little time to see each worshipped the ground the other walked on. He was quiet yet earnest, she bubbly and full of life. As I watched Leah ogle Sam's backside while he stirred the fire, I couldn't help but wonder what sorts of thoughts people had about Jake and me.

He must have read my mind, as he appeared instantly at my side. "Hey," I smiled, leaning in close and landing a fleeting kiss on his lips.

"Hey yourself. How are you doing?" His tone suggested he hadn't forgotten my face when I'd first driven into his driveway this afternoon.

"I'm good, getting better by the minute… I just," I paused, feeling as if I should tell him the truth about my day. Keeping secrets from him was unnatural. "I just had the weirdest experience with this new guy at school."

He furrowed his brow in mock fury. "A guy, huh? Anything I need to worry about?"

"God, no. At least not like that. I think he may have a hit out on me or something." I hoped my anxiety was hidden behind my humor. "He was glaring at me in English like I just stabbed a puppy."

To my relief, Jacob laughed. "Well, you are quite intimidating. I mean, has he seen you on the badminton court yet?" More than anyone else, Jake enjoyed hearing my horrific tales of my gym class experiences.

"Ha ha. No, it was so bizarre, though. I never said a word to him, but…" I shook my head, thankful it was getting dark so he couldn't see my face flush. "He's just a jerk, I guess."

"Yeah, sounds like it. That pummeling offer still stands, you know." It was my turn to laugh. "What?!" He exclaimed. "I'll have you know, I grew almost one and a quarter inches over the summer!"

I shut my eyes and leaned against his shoulder. "I love you, you know."

"Oh, don't worry, I know." I didn't have to open my eyes to know he was grinning.

We continued to lounge by the fire, and soon everyone was teasing Sam and Leah, as they apparently were trying for the world record for longest sucking of face. My smile wore off as I noticed Harry Clearwater, Leah's father, making his way down the beach, his walk unyielding and urgent.

"Seth! Leah!" His voice was a cross between anger and worry. Leah pulled back from Sam immediately, but he snaked his arm around her protectively.

"Dad!" Seth exclaimed, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"

Harry's eyes searched the crowd. "You kids didn't tell me you were going out tonight. It's a school night. And it's getting too dark out."

"What, seriously? Dad, it's the first day of school; we don't have any homework." Leah's voice was strained. I knew she was bothered about losing precious time with Sam.

I'd never seen Harry so frantic. "We're going. Now. Get your things." He turned to the rest of us. "Jacob, your dad is looking for you, too. He wants you home, but said you should first make sure Bella gets home safely." He emphasized that last word.

"Uh, okay?" Jake obviously had no clue what was happening either.

Seth and Leah grumbled as they followed their father down the shore. I couldn't understand what was happening. Everyone knew the last precious weeks of summer were prime bonfire season for the kids on the reservation; I'd always come down here with Jake this time of year since moving to Forks. Never once had anyone's parents complained. In fact, I'd heard Billy say he liked it, that it kept up a sense of community. I would have to ask Charlie if there had been any recent crime sprees in La Push…

"Well that was fun," Jake mused as we pulled into his driveway. Given Harry Clearwater's behavior, I wasn't surprised to see Billy on the porch, anxiously awaiting our return. "Great," Jake groaned.

"Dad? What's going on?" We made our way up the driveway.

Billy wheeled his chair to the edge of the porch. "You need to follow Bella home, Jacob. Make sure she gets there okay. Walk her inside."

"Why? Is there a serial killer on the loose or something?" The playful sarcasm drained out of Jacob's voice as his father's expression remained fierce.

Billy's eyes flickered to me. Hesitating ever so slightly, he responded, "There've been some bear attacks in the area, close to town. You shouldn't be out by yourselves at night." He turned his severe expression onto me. "Bella, you be careful."

"Um, I will." I had no idea what to say. I opened the door to my truck and climbed in. "I guess I'll race you to my place, Jacob."

He laughed, eying my truck. "No contest, Bells."

"Hurry back, Jacob," Billy called out.

"Sure, sure." He leaned in through the window to kiss my cheek. "I'll be right behind you." Sneaking a peek at his father, Jake continued with a smile, "Lock your doors on the way, though. You know how bears like to target moving vehicles."

I was afraid to laugh, given the fact Billy remained perched at the porch's edge. I started the engine and pulled away, not wanting to look back. Billy was usually so sweet...

The drive to Charlie's house was uneventful, no bears in sight. Keeping his promise, Jacob walked me to the door.

"You have to call me the minute you figure out what's really going on," I insisted.

"Of course." He glowed as I drew him close, brushing his lips with mine.

I made it through the door, greeted by Charlie. "Hey, Bells. Did Jake drive you home? Is something wrong with the truck?" He peered out the window.

"No, it's fine, Dad. Hey, do you know anything about bear attacks in the area?"

He furrowed his brow. "No, why? Did you see something?"

"No, but the strangest thing hap—"

We were interrupted by the shrill ring of the phone. I knew it was too soon for Jake to be calling, and I had no idea who else would call past ten.

Charlie could barely get out a hello; whoever was on the other end of the line was doing all the talking. I listened in intently.

Eventually, Charlie was able to speak, his voice coming out gruff, slightly annoyed. "Of all people, Billy, you should be a little open-minded. It's about time we had a doctor with some real qualifications come into this town." He paused; Billy was obviously disagreeing with him. Charlie's face grew stern. "Well, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt instead of lynching every new family that moves to town. Good night." He slammed the phone onto the receiver.

I pretended to be preoccupied with the hem of my shirt as he rounded the corner. "Everything okay, Dad?"

He sighed. "Yes, Bella, everything's fine." I started up the stairs to get ready for bed, turning around as he called out, "Next time you're over at Jake's, check to make sure Billy's taking care of himself, okay? I think he's getting a little paranoid in his old age."

"Sure thing."

I made my way into the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, I couldsn't help but think that there was no way my senior year could get any stranger than today.

Chapter Four End Notes: To those of you still reading, I love you. Seriously. You reward is coming…