Chapter 31
What I don't know

I don't know

What I don't know

I don't know

~What I Don't Know- Avatar

"I think it was really nice of Charlie to watch Renesmee today." Jacob mused aloud as they walked through the aisles containing various articles of clothing. "He didn't have to to do that."

Bella picked out a simple dark tunic and held it up to her body. "I told him I'd make enough food for a month before we leave, if he watched her."

Jacob snorted and picked up a T-shirt that was two sizes too small for his bulky frame. "Ah, bribery."

"Works every time. He just doesn't realize I was going to do that regardless." Bella smiled up at her husband and winked. Her smile fell when she saw the shirt and she pointed at the wrack. "Why do you shop like you don't know your size. You can't fit that."

Jacob scoffed but put the shirt back. "Are you calling me fat?" He placed an arm over his face dramatically. "How could you?"

Bella patted her husband on the chest then picked out a larger shirt. "Your boobs were too big for that one. Sorry."

Before she could escape, Jacob smacked her butt and she couldn't help giggling.

"Okay lovebirds, get a room." Alice rounded on the couple while holding several outfits in her arms. "Can you believe we're getting that new principal today?" Alice paused and pulled out her phone. "Demetri said he would keep me filled in. I told him to sneak me a pic." Alice tried juggling her clothes but ultimately they fell to the floor, crowding her feet. "His name is-" Alice gasped and blanched. Her phone slipped from her hands and fell onto the pile of clothes gathered on the floor. "Oh no. This...this can't be happening!"

"What's wrong?" Bella was beside Alice's side in an instant, picking up the phone and giving her friend a quick hug. "Who is the principal?"

Alice looked into Bella's concerned eyes with fear rippling her own. "Aro!"

"What?" Bella was taken aback by the name. "How? Why? What?"

Alice passed Bella her phone with a picture of Aro standing proudly at the front entrance of the building. The older man had his hair pushed back into a neat ponytail with no strand out of place. He was wearing a dark colored blazer that held a stark contrast against his nearly translucent skin. His face looked almost kind with a firm, but gentle smile. If Bella did not know him, he looked like a picture perfect candidate for the principal candidacy."I asked Demetri to send me a picture of the new principal because the name was too familiar. I just can't believe this is happening!"

Jacob shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another. "Who is Aro?"

Bella handed Alice back her phone then began to pick up the clothes on the floor. "He's this psycho who drugged Alice a few weeks ago, then kind of stalked her. It was a whole ordeal." Bella tried to shrug it off but the memories gave her goosebumps and she truthfully had hoped to never see or hear about Aro again.

"What?" Jacob gaped at the women. "How is he the new principal and not in jail?"

Alice looked down at her feet nervously. "I never reported him. I just hoped that by ghosting him he would kind of go away. I can't believe this is happening."

"Hey." Bella captured her friend's attention as she noticed the woman beginning to shake. "He can't hurt you. If he does anything, we will report him immediately. He may be the new principal, but now he just has more to lose right? He can't do anything to you or he'll lose his job. So I guess it's a blessing in disguise." Bella tried her best to comfort her friend, but even to her, the words didn't pack the punch that she wished they would. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

Alice, while still frazzled, gave Bella a hug and nodded at the words. "I guess you're right."

"If you're worried, you can tell your new beau. Jazz right?"

Alice looked at the clothes in Bella's hands with an unreadable expression. "I haven't been able to get in contact with him since before the fire." Before Bella could speak, Alice stuffed her phone into her pocket then grabbed the clothes from Bella. "I'm going to buy these and then head out. I'll see you later okay?" The pixie haired woman did not wait for a response. Deep in thought, she bid Bella a farewell and headed off in search of a cashier to help her complete some transactions.

Bella watched her go then turned her attention back to her husband. "It was a scary time. It was when you were gone. I was hoping we would never see him again. This feels so surreal."

"If he gives you or Alice any trouble, please let me know." Jacob stood up taller and narrowed his eyes at the thought. "We've been through too much for some guy to be harassing my wife or Alice."

Bella felt a smile tug at her lips. "Thank you Jacob. I think we should be alright. Maybe all of the bad things are behind us." The words didn't feel right to Bella and she tried to ignore her gut feeling and resume shopping.

The pair shopped for the essentials. They bought enough clothes for themselves and Renesmee to last a couple weeks. They also purchased Jacob a new phone since his had been lost in the fire. He was lucky though, as his contacts transferred over easily. On their way out of the mall, Jacob received a phone call and stepped away from his wife to take it.

"Bella?"

Bella dropped all of her bags from the sudden voice. She looked around the entryway of the mall but her husband was out of sight. Steeling herself, she grit her teeth and looked up at her old neighbor. "Hi Caius."

Caius stood before her in but instead of his typical scowl, his face sagged with a mixture of emotions. "Let me help you." Caius helped Bella pick up her fallen merchandise then held the bags awkwardly. "Here." He passed them to her and his face seemed to fall even more.

"Thanks." Bella mumbled trying to find a way to leave the scene. Caius had never been so kind to her. The only expression she had ever seen him display was one of irritation or anger. Currently he looked downright dismal and slightly remorseful. She was sure that he didn't even know the meaning of the word 'sorry' so there was no way remorse should be a feeling he could experience. "Bye." As she turned to leave, Caius reached out and grabbed her arm. "Um?" Bella wasn't frightened by the sudden action, but her senses heightened and she realized that the two were the only people in the area which was making her uncomfortable. "What are you doing?"

Caius looked around as though also determining they were the only two in the area. His lips twitched and he began towing Bella farther away from the store into a dark corner where they were less visible.

"Let go of me." Bella hissed while simultaneously tugged her arm away from the man. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I have to tell you something." Caius released her but continued to look around them as though he were searching for someone. "IamsorryforwhatIdidbutitisnotmyfault."

Bella blinked at Caius with confusion overwhelming her. "I didn't quite catch that. You spoke really fast. What?"

Caius shook his head and smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry for being a terrible neighbor. I would have died in that fire had Jacob not saved me." Caius suddenly embraced Bella and leaned close to her ear. "You have to get out of here before he gets you." Bella stilled at Caius words and she felt fear trickle down her back. "I'm sorry for what I did. But this is me making up for it." Caius slide something into her pocket and she tried to push him away but he only squeezed her tighter. "Take care." Caius finally released Bella then disappeared from her sights.

"Bella? Where are you?" Jacob called out to his wife from the exit and held the door open for her.

The woman in question snapped back to attention and hurried to her husband. "Sorry I got sidetracked. You won't believe what just happened." She walked through the door with her husband quick at her heels.

"Wait, you won't believe who just called me." Jacob interrupted. "It was my old boss at Filmores! He was reviewing some paperwork and my termination is under review." Jacob grinned at his wife. "There's been some technical errors in the system and he told me that I should not have been fired." Jacob unlocked the door to the car and helped Bella put away their belongings. "This is fantastic news right? I might be getting my job back."

"Did he say why you lost it in the first place? It all seems sketchy to me."

Jacob shook his head and claimed the drivers place while Bella sat beside him. "No, but he seemed genuinely perplexed when he came back from a month long vacation to find me not working anymore. He said that whoever fired me didn't have the authority to do so with how it went down."

"Well that's good." Bella rifled through her pockets and pulled out a thin envelope which she assumed Caius had stuck there. "So what happens next?" She asked while opening the envelope.

Jacob peeled out of the parking lot and headed for the road. "Well they want me to come in for a meeting Monday afternoon. That gives him all weekend to try and figure out what's going on. I'm just excited to get my job back. Everything seems to be falling apart, but maybe this is everything turning around."

"Maybe." Bella reached into the envelope and pulled out three one way plane tickets out of the state. "Or maybe not."

A/N: Last update of the year! Happy New Year everyone!