Plotting against the world's latest heartthrob isn't bound to help you gain brownie points, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Jacob, how are we meant to get back at Edward anyway? He's impossible to defeat." I sighed.
"Well, first things first, this car needs to be fixed. I'll get Dad to hook it up to ours. My friend Sam can help me fix it." He gave me a broad smile which I returned with a meager one.
"You guys are staying for dinner right?" I asked. He nodded in reply.
"Well I guess since we have guests I ought to be the chef this evening. Charlie might poison you with his cooking." Jacob laughed in response.
"I'll help you then." He offered.
As anticipated, Charlie hadn't even put a thought towards the meal; he sat on the edge of his seat, as did Billy, screaming at the television.
"So what's on the menu tonight chef?" Jacob asked as he wheeled himself into the kitchen.
"Well…" I began, while rifling through the fridge and cupboard for some stables; my search ended in a failure. "You can choose between baked beans or half a tin of tuna." I held the cans up disgustedly.
"Err…" Jacob looked at his options unpleasantly.
"Take out?" I suggested and he nodded enthusiastically.
We were on the road within minutes; I was at the wheel of Jacob's car managing quite alright, although Jacob begged to differ.
"What's up?" I asked him, noticing the freaked out expression he wore.
"Please don't take your eyes off the road and you can slow down if you want." He winced. "Is it just you, or do all women drive so recklessly?"
"Hey! That is completely uncalled for! See that tree over there?"
"Yes." He whispered.
"Be thankful Cullen isn't in the back or we'd have hit it by now." I informed him. It didn't seem to offer a source of comfort as he just held onto the arm rest tighter.
"Not long ago I would have encouraged you, you know?" He said with his eyes shut tightly.
"What happened?" I asked, although I knew the answer.
"I'm in a wheelchair, what do you think happened?" He said defensively.
I shut my mouth after that and we drove in silence.
"Hey, look up ahead." I broke the silence after what seemed an eternity. "The Golden Arches." I smiled.
"McDonalds it is then." He said gently.
We went through Drive Thru and with a growing boy like Jacob, we spent a small fortune of Charlie's money on dinner.
"Fries fix everything." He said through a mouthful of grease.
"I'm more of a Big Mac fan." I said as I took a bite of my burger, with one hand on the wheel.
Jacob being preoccupied with the food, forgot his fear, and smiled back at me.
We chatted happily all the way home about sport (Jacob), I told him of my friends and lifestyle back home while he listened contently, though never bothering to make a personal contribution, obviously he wasn't proud of his current disposition.
***
Charlie actually smiled at me when he saw the food and took a burger from the bag, only to return immediately to the game.
Jacob went to sit with them, so I followed.
The game seemed absolutely pointless, and I made sure my opinion was voiced, while Jacob laughed at my complaints.
"Football is completely pointless! It's completely different to the kind I'm subjected to back home but that too was just as meaningless." I said.
"How so?" Jacob asked.
"See this guy?" I said pointing at the TV. "Not only is it wrong he's a grown man wearing tights, but he's gaining satisfaction of jumping on his opposition, who doesn't even have the ball! And correct me if I'm wrong, but the main idea is to put the ball down in the box at the end of the field? Come on guys, doesn't that seem slightly absurd for grown men to be getting paid for this rubbish?"
"And to think he's earning more than a lawyer pet annum. What has this world come to?" Jacob said sarcastically while fighting the urge to laugh.
"Charlie? Where did you get this girl? Every Swan in existence loves football! Whose daughter is she anyway?" Billy asked.
Charlie and I exchanged worried glances; we hadn't gotten that far in depth of my origin.
"Ellie's."
"I thought Paul was looking after the kids down South?" Billy asked softly.
"He moved them to Australia when Ellie died, couldn't stand the familiarity of the place. Hazel needed to come back home." He said shortly, which seemed to answer everything as Billy immediately shut up and watched the game in silence, until his team became in possession of the ball again and began to shout.
Jacob gave me a sympathetic smile and I tried to return it as honestly as I could manage, though it pained me to deceive him this way.
"Sorry for your loss." He said gently.
I shrugged, not knowing how to respond to such a lie Charlie had made up for me and continued to watch the game.
I remember Simon taking me to a game back at home one time, it rained during the whole game and my clothes were drenched. So, I sat shivering while he yelled at the teams to "PUT IT DOWN!" or advising one guy to "SLAM HIM!" When Simon saw me shudder he laughed and pulled me close to his chest in an attempt to keep me warm. It helped a little, but since we were both wet I think I just got wetter. It was the thought that counted though…
"Your lips are all blue." He noticed, tracing them with his finger.
"You don't say; guess that happens when you're cold and wet and..." I said through chattering teeth but he cut me off as he pressed his lips to mine.
"Did that help?" He asked sincerely as he pulled away.
"Almost." I replied and pulled him back down to me.
We ignored the chants of the rowdy crowd behind us and continued to kiss.
"I think your team just scored." I said to him as our side of the stand erupted into cheers, jumping up and down.
"Then that makes two of us." He laughed.
"Hazel… Hazel! Earth to Hazel." Charlie snapped his fingers in my eyes.
"What's wrong?" I asked groggily, struggling to open my eyes.
"You fell asleep!" He laughed. "Seems American football isn't up to your standards."
"Sorry, I guess I just drifted off." I replied, although I didn't remember closing my eyes to begin with. "Where's Jacob? And Billy?"
"They left already." He smiled. "I want to thank you." He said earnestly.
"Thank me? What for?" I asked confused.
"For dinner, for making Jacob smile again." He said. "None of the other people who take Bella's place has ever been able to do that. Guess he's just a sucker for a pretty face." I blushed at his compliment.
"Or maybe it's just my killer personality." I suggested, purposely leaving out the immediate connection Jacob and I made due to our hatred of Edward. Maybe I was the first one ever to hate Edward.
"What were the other girls like?" I asked Charlie.
"Head of heels for the Cullens. I think Edward only ever grew slightly fond of one until…"
"Please Charlie, go on." I begged.
"In due time." He smiled and began to head up the stairs for bed.
"Well answer this for me then. Why is it that everyone here has changed in some way, from the description I've known? But you and Edward are just as I pictured?"
"Maybe we're just not yours to change." He answered shortly and continued up the stairs.
"Charlie." I called again and he paused on the step. "Do you know the ending to the story? To Twilight?"
"How can I? Bella never stays here longer than she can unpack, regardless of my efforts; she finds that door and vanishes. In return I get a foolish girl, eager to set her sights on that Cullen boy. When she leaves, Bella's at my front door again, so angry at me that I've forgotten to pick her up at the airport and she had to take a cab here. It's just like a never ending cycle, and Bella doesn't remember where it ends or begins." He said angry.
"Like Groundhog day." I suggested.
Charlie laughed bitterly. "Yes Hazel, just like Groundhog day."
A/N: You might already know this, but if you were thinking who's Simon? Well he's the guy Hazel was talking to in the first chapter, before she's crossed paths with Bella. If you have any questions just ask. I'm trying not to make this story completely confusing.
And when I said Sam, yes I meant Sam Uley, the werewolf. He'll be there next chapter, and plays a very important part.
Enjoy!