CHAPTER TWO

Bella

Ever since I was younger I had always been an early riser, preferring to be up earlier in the day rather than staying out late at night. Renee had been the complete opposite, my childhood memories filled of her arriving back late enough to wake me up only to find that it could be two or three o'clock in the morning.

Slipping out of bed I decided against having a shower, glancing at the clock on my side table only to find it was half six in the morning. Luckily it wasn't a school day, Charlie having mentioned he would take me to get enrolled tomorrow morning so I could start at the beginning of the week rather than half way through.

Pulling my hair up into a high pony-tail I pulled on a pair of jeans and a green sweater before heading downstairs, jumping briefly when I caught sight of Charlie sitting at the table with a newspaper.

"Morning" I greeted, watching him as he had a familiar reaction to my early presence as he jumped.

"You're up early" he noted, surprised. I shrugged.

"I guess I get that from you, Renee was never one to get up if she didn't have to" I said as I headed over to turn on the kettle before grabbing a mug. I needed coffee in the morning, if not I was a real grouch when it came to the rest of the day.

"Yea, that sounds like Renee alright" Charlie agreed before watching me as I poured myself a cup of steaming hot coffee. "You drink coffee?" he asked surprised.

"I'm addicted" I confessed as I took a seat at the kitchen table. "I never feel right unless I have my cup of Jo."

Shaking his head he didn't comment as I took a large gulp, enjoying the burn of it running down my throat as I savoured the taste. "What time is Billy and Jacob coming around?" I asked.

"They should be here in an hour or so, you might want to have something for breakfast beforehand."

"Have you had anything?" I asked as I rose to my feet to make a piece of toast. I wasn't really a breakfast person. So much for it being the most important meal of the day.

Charlie nodded. "I've already eaten, I'm going to catch up on the game before they get here" he told me before grabbing his own mug and heading into the living room. It was only a few seconds later until the sound of cheering fans could be hear, making it clear he was watching a rerun of a live game.

I sighed, never having been one to follow sports of any kind.

I was just finishing cleaning up when I heard another vehicle before it came into view. Moving towards the kitchen window I glanced out only to take note of an old Chevy truck in the drive-way, but I couldn't see who was driving due to the angle.

Was this Billy and Jacob?

"Dad, I think your friend's here!" I called into the living room, hearing the TV get shut off before he appeared in the kitchen.

"Come on Bella, I'm sure Billy and Jacob would like to meet you" he grinned before heading outside, leaving me to throw the washing-up cloth on the counter before nervously shuffling after him.

I hated meeting new people.

"So where's this daughter of yours" I heard Billy ask cheerfully as what I guessed to be his son helped him down from the truck, my eyes widening when I took note of the so-called sixteen year old in front of me. No way was this bloke younger than me, it simply wasn't possible. He was huge!

"Hi Billy" I waved uncomfortably when I headed out on the driveway, biting my lip in an nervous habit as I made my way over towards them.

"Ah, there's Charlie's pride and joy, not so little anymore huh?" he smirked from his wheelchair, his aged eyes taking me in before he gestured me over to give him a hug.

"Hey Billy" I smiled, grunting slightly when he tightened his arms around me before letting me go. Holding me at arm's length he grinned broadly.

"We've missed you young lady, you here to stay?" he asked curiously, the smile never leaving his face.

I shrugged. "I don't know, I'm enrolling in school tomorrow."

"Are you excited?"

"It's school" I said bluntly causing him to laugh before he let me go, turning his attention next to the shirtless boy next to him who seemed just as uncomfortable, if not more so, than I was.

"You remember my son don't you Bella, Jacob?" he asked causing me to wince.

"Sorry, but I don't" I cringed, seeing surprise flash across his features before he quickly shook it off. I was relieved he hadn't taken offence. "Well, I know Jacob remembers you don't you son?"

"Of course" a deeper than I expected voice caught my attention.

I swallowed thickly as I let my eyes run over his form, pausing momentarily on his clear eight-pack before they rose to take in his ink black hair and strong features. There was no way the boy in front of me was younger than me, I wasn't the tallest of people, but still…

"Hello Bella" he smiled.

"Jacob" I nodded, finally letting my eyes connect with his own.

He seemed to get a mask of disappointment on his features causing me to resist the urge to flush in embarrassment. Did he not like how I had grown up? how I looked? or was it that I wasn't falling at his feet?

I shifted nervously, not knowing the boy in front of me well enough to know the reason behind his emotions.

When he didn't comment further, I fought back a scowl. What was wrong with him?

Cringing at the awkwardness I suddenly felt, I wasn't exactly thrilled with how meeting Charles friends was going. With that I slowly made my way back into the house, a frown on my features as I tried to shift away unnoticed. I was just about to slip inside the kitchen when I heard Charlie calling me back.

Sighing I turned around to face three pairs of confused eyes, my own brows raising and my eyes rolled at their ignorance of the situation. "What?"

"Where are you going?" Charlie asked confused.

Frowning, I hurriedly thought up an excuse that would work. "I think I left the oven on" I blurted out before blushing, Charlie looking at me strangely but he didn't comment further. I was relieved to say the least. "Why?"

At this he seemed to perk up. "I know that since you are independent now and need to get around on your own, so…I brought you a truck" he rushed out.

"W-what…"

"I know it's not new or anything special, but thanks to Jacob it's in good shape and it runs which is the most important thing, right?" he asked nervously.

I could honestly say I was beyond speechless. "You brought me a truck?"

Running a hand through his hair he shrugged. "I know the chances of you wanting to take the cruiser were limited, so-"

"Your right" I quickly blurted out before approaching him with a hug. "Thank you, I love it" I gushed; extremely touched that he had given me such a thoughtful gift. It showed he cared. I wasn't used to it.

"She's an old girl but she'll get you from point A to point B" Billy cut in with a chuckle when I pulled away from Charlie.

Making my way towards the rusty old truck I instantly fell in love. I knew it could use some TLC but it was more than I had ever hoped for, not to mention the gesture was incredibly sweet. My dad, the one I barely visited, had brought me my very first car without even asking.

I doubted he realised just how much it meant to me.

"I really love it, Charlie" I smiled at him brightly. "I promise I'll take good care of it" I swore before turning my attention towards my new baby. Oh, she was a beauty.

"I'm glad you approve."

"Approve? I more than approve, this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me" I blurted out in a giddy tone, not realising how true that very statement was until I had said it out loud. I froze for a second, thinking it over before I shrugged and continued scanning my baby.

"It's fine Bells" I heard Charlie mutter and I didn't have to look at him to know that he was heavily blushing. "I'm sure Jacob wouldn't mind giving you the run-down of it" he suggested, my gaze flickering to the boy in question only to find him staring at me with that same disappointed expression.

God, what was wrong with him? It was something major by the looks of it.

"Urm, I'll be fine dad" I tried to suggest weekly, still confused as to why both Billy and Jacob were looking disappointed. Were they high?

"Nonsense" Billy scolded lightly before turning to his son. "You don't mind giving Bella here a hand do you, son?" he asked amused.

When he just stood there, seemingly out of it I couldn't help but look at him oddly. Ok…something was seriously up with the kid. Was he on steroids, I heard they messed up your head a bit? If he was, it would explain why he looked so muscular.

"Jacob!" he snapped when he got no reply, the boy in question finally snapping out of it with a shake of his head.

"Huh?"

"I said, you wouldn't mind showing Bella around her truck would you?" Billy repeated himself, watching as Jacob finally seemed to get a grip of himself as he suddenly gave me a lopsided grin.

Was he bi-polar?

I fought the urge to snort.

"NO!" he blurted out. "I mean, no of course I wouldn't mind" he grinned before practically prancing over towards me. Yep, he pranced.

"Urm…ok?" I mumbled, still stuttering due to his sudden shift of mood.

Trying to ignore how both Charlie's and Billy's eyes seemed to follow our movements I listened as Jacob went on about how he had fixed the engine, using terms which just flew over the top of my head. I at least knew what he was talking about when he said the clutch was a bit stiff but it did the job, and yet the more he talked about the small problems the truck had the more nervous he seemed to get.

Did he think I would call him out on it? A truck was a truck as far as I was concerned.

He seemed to shift on his feet; his hand running through his hair as his tone suddenly seemed to get deeper the more he spoke. I didn't know him well enough to even attempt to guess what was running through his head, but I got the impression that he was uncomfortable with simply talking to me.

I didn't know why, but the thought that he did kind of stung.

"Can I take it for a drive?" I asked excitedly as I bounced on the balls of my feet, having turned my attention back to Charlie who was watching Jacob rambling on in amusement.

"I don't see why not, the keys are in the truck I think."

"They are" Billy confirmed with a nod.

With a bright grin on my lips I hurriedly made my way towards the driver's seat, jumping slightly when Jacob's tall form suddenly obstructed my view.

Jesus, he was tall.

"Here, let me get that for you-" he rushed out only to swear when I suddenly had a face full of metal. "Oh god, I'm sorry, crap" he swore while I held onto my now bleeding nose.

"It's fine" I mumbled, trying not to pass out when I felt the blood start to run towards my lips. Oh god, I could smell the copper scent of it. Ugh! "It's fine," I lied.

"You alright, Bella?" I heard Charlie ask but it sounded like my head was filled with cotton wool. "Let me have a look," he demanded softly but I glared at him when I heard how he was trying to hold back his laughter. Billy on the other hand didn't seem to bother.

"Why are you laughing?" I found myself whining. I cringed at the sound of my own voice. "I think I'm going to pass out" I mumbled, already feeling the first signs as I swayed slightly on my feet.

"I think we need to take you to hospital" Charlie suggested concerned, his tone now completely serious and no longer amused. Good. My eyes were just beginning to close when I felt him move my hand from my nose only for me to flinch back when I felt him touch it. "I don't think it's broken" he thought out-loud.

"Yea because you're a real doctor aren't you Charlie" Billy sniggered. "Hey, I wasn't the one who slapped her in the face with a truck door" I heard him protest, but why I had no idea. Probably his son glaring at him or something…

"I still think I'm going to pass out" I mumbled, leaning heavily on Charlie who seemed to finally get the seriousness of the situation.

"Come on, I'll take you in the cruiser" I heard him say before he helped me towards his car, my mood only souring further when I realised how crappy I was going to look for my first day of school.

"Do I, do I have to?" I managed to get out in a slightly airy tone, but the next think I knew I was sprawled out on the back seat of the cruiser with my head in someone's lap.

"I am so sorry Bella, I'll make this up to you I swear" was the last thing a familiar husky voice told me before I was out like a light, the smell of the blood which was currently dripping down my face finally catching up with me.

I really, really hated blood.

~( )~

I cringed when I was suddenly swarmed with the familiar smell of disinfectant as I felt myself coming to, my head pounding which wasn't a surprise since in Phoenix I used to faint a lot when I was hit with the scent of blood. The look of it I could handle, even the feel of it, but as soon as the scent of rusty copper invaded my senses I was out like a light.

It was pathetic.

Licking my dry lips I knew better than to try and strain myself by immediately getting up, instead rapidly blinking as I tried to clear my blurry vision. I really hated it went I fainted, especially when it was over something as minor as the simple smell of blood.

"Bella, you awake?"

I groaned when I heard Charlie's voice cutting through my mental haze, the rustle of the paper like sheets making itself known as I shifted trying to find a more comfortable position to lay in.

"Dad?" I frowned, finally able to clear the unwelcome blots from my vision before I made a move to slowly sit up right.

"Are you sure you should be doing that, Bella? Perhaps it would be best if you lay back down" I heard Billy suggest, shocking me slightly that he had seemingly tagged along.

What was this, a watch Bella make a fool out of herself day?

"I'm fine" I mumbled as I ran a hand over my face.

"I am so sorry Bells, but the good news is that nothings broken" a familiar voice made itself known. What was Jacob doing here?

Trying to calm down my embarrassing blush I tried to get a grip over my emotions. So much for staying out of trouble…

Reaching up to feel my nose I winced when I touched the now sensitive skin, knowing without even looking in the mirror that it was going to be completely bruised by tomorrow. Great, I was going to look as if I had been in a fight and lost by the time I went to school.

Great way to make a first impression, I thought sourly.

Once my vision had cleared I took the time to take in my surroundings, my suspicions confirmed that I was in fact in a hospital bed. I scowled. I hated hospitals, even if they were like a second home to me.

"When can I leave?" I immediately asked, the strong smell of disinfectant already starting to cling to me much to my distaste. I wanted to be sick.

"Mr Cullen already gave us your discharge papers, all you need to do is sign out and we can leave" Charlie told me causing me to nod, my eyes still focused on a deeply unsettled Jacob as he paced in front of my hospital bed.

"Can you please stop pacing, you're giving me a headache?" I found myself asking before I knew what I was doing, Jacob instantly pausing mid-step before he snapped his head in my direction just in time to see me flush deeply in embarrassment.

Jesus, could this boy make me feel any more uncomfortable?

"Sorry" I mumbled before making a move to get off the bed, Charlie coming around to help me only for Jacob to beat him to it.

"Here, let me help you" he told me eagerly and the next thing I knew I was swept up into his arms.

"What are you doing!" I squealed, my arms hurriedly wrapping themselves around his neck when I felt as if I was about to lose balance.

"I'm helping you, it's the least I could do since I'm the one who put you in here" he answered gruffly, a heavy frown on his features as an emotion flashed through his dark eyes. What was it with the fucking disappointment? "I don't like that I hurt you," I heard him mutter under his breathe.

"Well it's not like you purposely shoved a metal door in my face with the intention of breaking my nose was it?" I rambled, blaming the pain meds the doctor had given me even if I knew they were hardly the strong sort. I had been on the strong stuff, what with being a very clumsy child, and compared to those the ones I had taken were nothing.

They worked though, which was the main thing.

"Of course I didn't!" he blurted out, his eyes scanning mine as if checking whether I was being serious or not. I blinked at him.

Sighing I tried not to squirm in discomfort at the looks we were getting as he carried me out of the hospital after my papers had been signed, glaring over his shoulder when Charlie's and Billy's laughter made itself known to my hearing.

"Do you mind?" I snapped annoyed. "It's not funny" I protested but it only served to set them off again. What was wrong with them?

"It's a little bit funny Bella" Charlie shook his head causing me to snort.

"Glad you are finding my pain amusing" I scowled, but I knew it was clear I wasn't being serious. "And can you put me down?" I snapped at the giant who seemed to be able to carry me with such ease that it was kind of scary. I bet it wouldn't take a lot for him to snap me in half that was for sure.

It was fair to say he ignored me. "Jacob!"

Looking at me he simply shrugged. He shrugged! "Sorry, no can do" he sang almost joyfully before heading over to my dad's cruiser. Oh god, I hoped he hadn't put the sirens on when he brought me here. That would have been embarrassing, it was probably best that I was unconscious since I didn't doubt that he had.

Grunting I decided not to argue further, knowing I probably wouldn't get anywhere even if I did. So with my lips firmly closed I didn't complain when he lowered me into the backseat with surprising gentleness which I wouldn't have expected from someone with the amount of muscles that he had before he slid in next to me.

I had a feeling I would be seeing more of this Jacob in the very near future, and I didn't know quite how I felt about that.

Please give me a review,

I'd love to hear if you think I'm taking it in the right direction, and don't worry Edward lovers, he will be making his appearance very soon :P