Disclaimer: I do not own the amazing characters or marvelous places from Stephanie Meyer's the Twilight Saga however I do own my characters and plot line of this story such as Zoe, Liam, their mom, and what other character you peoples don't recognize.

Chapter 9

When Jake and I got to the car, our lighthearted mood quickly disappeared and it kinda got a little awkward.

"So…" I said breaking the silence. Jake just stared at the road and ignored me as if I said nothing.

"Damn…mood swings much…" I mumbled to myself. His eyes flickered to me for a second but he still remained silent.

"How's work?" He flinched and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"It's…great." He finally responded.

"Good, good…how's life been?" I said trying to continue the conversation.

"Same old, same old. Of course you would have known that if you kept in touch." He said insinuating that it was my fault we stopped talking.

"So it was me who didn't return any of your phone calls, right?" I scoffed sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes and decided to focus back on the road but I wasn't done with this conversation.

"Maybe I thought that after calling thirty-two times that maybe you just didn't want to speak to me anymore."

"Now you're exaggerating. You didn't call thirty-two times." He stated.

"Ask Billy. He picked up the phone every time and wrote down the date and time that I called."

"Bull. But whatever, all I'm saying is that maybe you should have come to visit. Billy and the guys miss you."

"Yeah, I should schlep all the way back down to the Rez because your violent ass is such great company." I trailed off.

"Where am I driving you to anyway?" He said ignoring my comment.

"Seattle." His jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

"You have got to be kidding me." He groaned.

"Quit your whining you big baby. It'll only take an hour or less to get to my house."

"It's not that. It's just, you were so close that you could have visited anytime you wanted to."

"Did you ever think that I just didn't want to visit you?" He winced a little in pain and I couldn't understand why. He iced me out of his life for months and months just because of Bella and now that she's gone, he suddenly wants to see me. Don't I feel wanted and loved?

"I guess I understand that. I mean, the last time we really saw each other for more than five minutes, you were on my garage floor bleeding to death because I was an asshole and slapped you and you fell into my conveniently placed toolbox…" He looked extremely upset now. I sighed loudly and unattractively and turned to him.

"That's not the reason why Jake. I got over that a few weeks after I got out of the hospital. I guess everything else was just…too painful…" I trailed off.

"Painful?" He questioned. I once again mentally slapped myself for even saying that. Even when we were inseparable, I still wasn't this honest with him.

"Never mind…I think that I was kinda pissed that you didn't ride in the ambulance with me and how you still went to the movies with Bella." Just saying her name left a bad taste in my mouth.

"Yeah, well, I was stupid for doing that and trust me, I regret it every day." He added sadly.

"Mhm." I huffed breath before focusing back on the cars outside my window that were passing by. I eventually closed my eyes and fell asleep. I ended up sleeping for the rest of the car ride until we got to my house.

A slight shift of warmth woke me but I just shrugged it off. But then the same warmth shoving its way into my pockets worried me.

"What the…" I said opening my eyes to see Jacob pulling my keys out of my pocket. Instead of giving me a straight answer, he lifted me out of the car bridal-style. I just wrapped my arms his neck, closed my eyes and went along with it because struggling would do absolutely nothing for me. I groaned a little when I heard my neighbors talk among themselves and comment about the large man carrying me. Without moving me at all, he skillfully unlocked the door and kicked it open.

"Zo, is that you?" I heard Z call to me.

"Yeah. It's me." I think I yelled half mumbled.

"Jesus Zo! Are you drunk or some…no…way…Catherine, get your ass in here right now!" I was reluctant to open my eyes but I did and half wished that I didn't. She stood in the doorway to her room with the half dead look that most seniors in college seem to have. Her blue eyes were outlined by black bags underneath, proving she'd been up all night either studying or writing a paper. Her really long brown hair was up high in extremely messy bun and her comfy sweats and tee were messed up and wrinkly.

"What the fuck happened to you?" My sister said yawning as she joined the group. She look equally exhausted but instead she had longish, messy curly dark brown hair and dark brown eyes to match and her clothes were baggier and didn't show off her killer body like Z's did.

"I cut my hand pretty badly during work and Jake fixed it up for me. Then he offered to drive me home and I fell asleep on the way. Why he's carrying me everywhere, I don't know. Speaking of which, do you mind?" He made an 'o' with his mouth and set me to my feet. I immediately was cold and wanted to be back in his arms.

"You look like shit." Cat said before retiring to her room to go back to sleep. I bent my head back and saw Jake glaring at her. I instinctively placed my on his chest and looked him in the eye.

"Calm down." His expression softened and his fists were no longer clenched. He barely nodded and closed his eyes.

"Can you give us a moment please?" Z nodded and stomped back into her room. I bit my lip and turned back to Jake.

"Thanks for driving me home Jake." I said.

"No problem…when do you think you'll be at my house this week?" He asked sheepishly.

"I honestly don't know." His smile faded.

"Oh…okay. I guess I'll see you around." He said before opening the door to leave.

"Wait, what about your jacket?" I asked as I began shrugging it off.

"Keep it." He closed it behind him. I grinned and hugged my arms around my body. When I turned around to go to my room, Cat and Z were glaring at me.

"Now that lover-boy is gone, explain." Z ordered shuffling her feet till she landed ungracefully on the couch.

"That's attractive." I mumbled plopping down on a bean bag chair myself. Cat rolled her eyes and sat down on the far recliner on the other side of the couch.

"Okay, so here's what happened…" I told them what happened in detail. Their jaws dropped and they face palmed a couple times but in the end both had this disappointed/worried expression.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I asked. Z took my hand and looked at me like a worried mother would to a foolish daughter.

"We just don't want you to get hurt again. Remember how broken you were, both mentally and physically?"

"Don't worry. I probably won't see him that much anyway. He's always gone but I'm beat so we are going to finish this discussion in the morning on our way to get my hand thoroughly looked at." I kissed them both on the heads and retired to my lovely escape of a bedroom.

It was the smallest room in the house and yet, it was the size of a normal master suite. Now, we aren't the most fortunate group of gals but savings and since the four, yes, four including our other 'sister' and roommate Raven, worked, we were able to afford to rent a nice four bedroom house that's probably a little too nice for three college students and one high school student. My California king-sized bed (Courtesy of my magnificent aunt) looked quite welcoming right now.

The lavender silk-like covers that I so happily bought from this wonderful place called Wal-Mart were messy and saying 'come to me' while my body was saying 'bathe me'. I chose to listen to my body and take a quick shower and put on a clean pair of sweats along with a tight wife-beater. I yawned as I turned off the lights and climbed into bed. After an hour or so of trying to fall asleep but failing, I threw the covers off my body and walked out of my room, expecting for everyone to be sleeping but was amazed when every one of my roommates were sitting in the living room, talking and laughing loudly.

"Hey." I said sleepily as I walked out of my room and sitting down on the couch.

"Don't you look pretty?" Cat said sarcastically gesturing to my messed up hair and disgruntled expression. I flipped her the bird and then snuggled up to Xena.

"I can't sleep." I whined like a child.

"Ethan called about ten times while you were in your room." Xena said causing my smile to fade.

"What did he do now?" Raven asked looking up from her book.

"Is he the one who scratched your face?" Cat asked narrowing her eyes. I looked away from them, giving away the answer.

"What makes you think it was him?" I asked.

"Zoe, did he do this to you?" She questioned again more concerned.

"Kind of. I mean, he wasn't himself when he…"

"There is no 'kind ofs' Zo, he put his hands on you. It doesn't matter how minuscule, he tried to hurt you. I think it's time that you left him."

"This was the first time he has ever hurt me…that way and we've been together for some time now and it would be dumb to throw it away just because of that. I know he's a good guy." Cat grunted as she got up and stormed out of the room, but before she left, she turned to me.

"Damnit Zoe. You are so idiotic. It's going to get worse but you don't have to listen to me. If and when he beats your ass, don't come to me crying. I don't just mean Ethan. You are such a spineless little child that it sickens me." She said cruelly then turning away and slamming her door.

"Don't take that personally Zo. She hasn't slept in two days straight." Raven said as I wiped the tears from my eyes. I nodded and closed them. I ended up falling asleep next to Xena and not waking up until late the next day, which I spent reading and catching up on my homework.

The next day at school was a little more eventful, but not by much. We pretty much watched movies all day because a bunch of the teachers were absent due to some huge storm that was slowly making its way to us but that wasn't what made it weird. When I got to my last period class, everybody seemed to be watching me. I checked my appearance before I came to class so there wasn't anything wrong with my face. I also fixed my clothes so no inappropriate body parts were showing, so then what was it? I took my seat next to Lexi and ripped a piece of paper out of my notebook.

I wrote: Why is everyone looking at me like that?

She hesitated before she responded with: There are rumors going around about…Ethan.

"What?" I said loudly as I read the note. She shushed me and continued to write.

I heard that someone saw Ethan drinking with a bunch of his friends and then he was…swapping spit with a girl from the cheer-leading squad after school last Friday by Mr. H's room. She looked at me sadly as I slowly folded the piece of paper and sat back in my chair. How could he do this to me? Wait…they're just rumors. He would never cheat...would he?

"Zo?" Lexi said trying to get my attention. I shook my head and grabbed my things before running out of the room in tears. I ran right to my car and threw my bag into the passenger seat as I climbed in. I gripped the wheel tightly as I sobbed. My phone started to ring loudly with the bastard's ringtone. I wiped away my tears and picked up.

"Hello?" I sniffed.

"Hey baby. Where are you?" Ethan said into the phone.

"In…my car." I sniffed again.

"What's wrong?" He asked concerned.

"N-Nothing." I lied.

"You're lying to me. I'm coming to get you." He hung up before I could respond. Great.

Within about five minutes, Ethan was knocking on the window. I reluctantly opened the door and turned to face him. He placed his hands on each side of my face and gently wiped the remaining tears away with his thumbs.

"What happened?" He asked looking me in the eyes.

"Is it true?" I sobbed.

"Is what true honey?" He asked confused.

"The rumors."

"What rumors?"

"T-The rumors about you and that girl after school." I sobbed even more.

"Of course it they aren't true. I would never do that to you. Come here." He said reassuringly as he pulled me out of my car and into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him as he did to me. He kissed my head as I held on to him and cried. Part of me was relieved that he didn't cheat while the other was saddened by the fact that there was no substantial reason to no longer be with him. I don't know why I feel that way and I'm pretty much sure it's not good.

"I'm sorry for hurting you Zo. I didn't mean it and I promise it will never happen again as long as I live. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you so I'm going to quit drinking for you." He said pulled away. I kissed him on the lips tenderly.

"I love you too." I responded.

"Are we okay?" I nodded and he grabbed my bag from the car and then my hand as he walked me back to class.

The rest of the week was calmer now that the rumors were put to rest and Ethan and I were even going to the school dance together on Saturday but before that on Friday, we had to work at a carnival fundraiser thing so we can afford a decent prom. Friday was finally here and I was working as a game attendant with Lexi and Ethan. We were in charge of that stupid game where you shoot water in the creepy clowns' mouths. I never understood the point of the game but at least it's getting us some money.

"You never told me what was going on with you and Ethan. Anything new?" Lexi asked me as we were finishing setting up our booth.

"Oh, everything's straightened out. He said that nothing happened and he apologized for hurting me and he's picking me up tomorrow for the dance. That's pretty much it." I said while placing the last stuffed animal on the top shelf.

"Hmm." She hummed as she sat up on the counter.

"What?" I asked while stepping down off the ladder.

"It's nothing. It's just, how are you sure that he's not lying?"

"I trust him and love him, therefore, I believe him. Simple as that." I said.

"Okay, okay. Hey look, people are showing up. Speaking of which, where is Ethan? He's supposed to be here by now." She said looking around.

"I…don't know. That's a good question." I said also looking for him.

"Whatever. I'm sure he'll be here soon." I said putting my hair up into large messy bun at the top of my head. Boy was I wrong…again.