Disclaimer: SM owns.
March, 2012
~9~
"Now Bella, I can list several guys who would have to disagree with you." Jacob admonishes.
Propping his bike up, he grabs the spare tire, wrench, and jack out of the back of my truck and gets to work.
"What are you doing here, Jake?" I inquire.
"Had to see my boy, Seth. He owes me some cash. Ya know."
While Jacob goes to school in La Push, the local reserve, Seth was expelled last year and had to be enrolled here at Forks High. Luckily, Sam also attends school in Forks, and has his back.
Being a member of the LPR—the La Push Riders—at least gives Sam and Seth some protection, some immunity. However, there has always been a feud between the East-Enders and the LPR's. While I used to belong on one side of the line, with the Cullen's and the Hale's, my priorities have definitely changed.
Having the local motorcycle gang standing behind me is undeniably useful; Jacob fixing my tire is proof of that. My police connections have also proved to be beneficial to the guys as well. It is amazing how easy it can be to con one of Dad's police buddies into dropping charges or forgetting about tickets.
Once my truck is ready to go with the small donut tire replacing my regular one, I say goodbye to Jacob, thanking him, and head home. Tonight is my night to prepare supper and I know just what to make: dessert. Nuts on sundaes count as protein, right?
~SW~
The following day, Mrs. Williams, the journalism teacher, has a new assignment for me.
"Bella, this is Karen Hunt. She is here to help organize the 25th anniversary class reunion. She would like to set up a display, and it would be great if you could help her." Mrs. Williams sounds desperate, and I can already tell that Karen Hunt is getting on her last nerve.
I offer a polite smile to Karen. "So, graduating class of '87?" I probe.
"Precisely darling." Her voice is wispy, floating as if on a cloud. I think her head is in the clouds. "A wonderful year, a wonderful class. Why don't you start with the yearbook; see if there are any good photos we can enlarge."
She hands me her copy of the 1987 yearbook, pristine and perfect like the day she got it.
Flipping through with as much interest as I can garner, I freeze on the page entitled, "Homecoming".
"Did you know her?" I say, pointing to the girl wearing the Homecoming crown. My voice is tight, and it is hard to force the words through my throat.
"Renee Higginbotham? Of course! She was what every other girl here wanted to be. Homecoming Queen, high school sweetheart to Carlisle Cullen" Karen trails off, a dreamy expression adorning her face.
I stare at her, open-mouthed, shocked.
"Why, Bella?" Karen questions. "Do you know her?"