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Chapter 116

Statements and Interrogations


Jake


After the game, after Marcus had laboriously washed all the lipstick off his face and upper body - as best he could - we had gone to a diner with Marcus' friends.

It was a fun evening, albeit without alcohol. Not one of us was twenty-one yet. It was fun to get to know the whole troupe a bit. Six couples and four singles were in this group. That was a few more than there were in our bunch. I couldn't quite keep up with all the names, but they were all in a good mood.

Janet, Marcus, and Leah had backed off a bit in the meantime, but all three had returned in good spirits.

When my star began to yawn, we headed home.

I was not surprised that Becky was already tired. We had spent the last night apart from each other. In separate houses, not only in separate rooms. The first time in almost four weeks. Neither of us had been able to fall asleep, we had texted for a long time and finally talked on the phone. We had talked together for so long until our eyes had fallen shut. Dad must have taken my cell phone sometime during the night, because it was on my dresser this morning.

Leah, of course, drove along with Marcus.

Jules had already been taken by my parents, as it might become too late for her.

Bran and Lisa got in with me and Becky.

Our newest couple!

I could only shake my head at the two of them.

I had nothing against it. No. I just still couldn't believe it. They knew each other for more than ten years, knew the complete embarrassments of puberty from each other, all ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, knew about the respective sexual experiences and with whom they were gathered. Just knew pretty much everything about each other. Had touched each other at least a thousand times. Neither of them had ever thought about doing anything with the other. And now they were sitting together in the back seat of the car, looking into each other's eyes in love, kissing, holding hands. As if it had always been like this.

Arriving at Brandon's, they got out and disappeared through the front door holding hands and kissing.

Well, then have fun, I thought smirking.

I continued on to Becky's.

Another night without her, I thought wistfully and took her hand.

"Are we about to make another phone call?" my star asked as I turned into the driveway.

"I'm afraid without hearing your voice, I'll never be able to fall asleep peacefully again!" I countered.

For a long time we remained standing, leaning against the car.

I just didn't want to leave, and Becky wouldn't let me go. But it was no use. None of our parents would just lift this regulation for no reason. Unfortunately!

So, it was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye, after briefly going inside with her to say hello to her parents.

Her father became more and more trusting!

But then I drove home quickly so I could make our rounds with Leah as soon as possible and then be on the phone just as quickly.

I smiled in anguish as I pulled up our driveway and illuminated my parents with my headlights.

They sat on the bench in front of the house. Dad casually with his feet on the porch railing, Mom backwards on him - wrapped in a thick blanket. They held hands, hugged and caressed each other, kissed.

In short: they enjoyed the togetherness!

Leah was apparently not home yet.

No wonder. The little Scrapy was just pretty slow on the road.

I grabbed something to drink from the kitchen, a licorice candy cane, and joined my parents.

I actually wondered why they were out here. The whole house was available to them 'childless'. That is, without disruption from us. All evening long. I would have thought of something better with Becky than sitting here.

"Sex isn't everything!" my dad lectured me.

I let my head hang down.

He was right. It would be enough for me if Becky was just here. If I could look into her eyes or hold her hand. Feel her presence. Three more nights until next weekend.

I sighed.

"How was the evening?" Edward then asked.

Did he want to change the subject? Anyway. That was basically fine with me.

So, I sat down on the railing, with my feet propped up on the bench in front of me and told them about the fun evening.

It took a while before Scrapy finally drove into our driveway. While Marcus jumped out of the car and hurried to the passenger door so Leah could get out, I laughed.

The passenger door only opened from the outside.

"How tempted is Rosie to work on his bus?" I asked Edward.

"She was already on the verge of borrowing it secretly one night!" he said, chuckling.

"At least then the thing would be roadworthy!" Mom wanted to clarify.

"It's name is Scrapy, not thing!" I clarified when Marcus and Leah reached the porch.

"Are you bitching about my posh car again!" complained Marcus directly, while Leah greeted Mom and Dad with a kiss on the cheek.

"No no. Bella's truck twenty years ago was a posh car, and at that time it was already a good fifty years old. That's scrap metal on wheels right there!" Dad pointed at the bus and got punched in the side by Mom.

"Scrapy that's it!" I grinned, and Marcus boxed against my shoulder.

"Don't say anything against my truck!" threatened Mom.

Edward chuckled and let her fall sideways into his arms.

"Wouldn't dare!" he lied, giving Mom a captivating kiss that once again made her heart forget its job.

"Run?" I looked at Leah.

She nodded.

"Are you waiting or are you driving now?" she asked Marcus, leaning close to him.

Almost mooning at him.

"I'll wait. It's still early," he purred and kissed my little sis adorably.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed.

My God! I was certainly not as silly with Becky as the four of them!

"No! You surpass us still!" Dad interfered with my mental statement.

Bullshit! He exaggerates. Excessively!

On the way to the garage, I even stuck my tongue out at him for that.

He laughed and enlightened the humans below us about my thoughts.

Leah and I ran pretty briskly.

We both wanted to get back home as soon as possible.

Me to bed and to my cell phone. Leah to Marcus. But Leah did not refrain from showing me extensively that I and Becky were really not a bit better. Crap! They were right after all!

"... They could have come up with far worse!" Marcus explained when we were back home.

"They considered having Leah kiss every boy to release you!" retorted Dad, chuckling.

"I can imagine. But neither Leah would have gone along with that - at least I would hope so - nor would they have been able to justify it to their girlfriends!" Marcus noted.

"I would have done it!" interjected Leah.

I looked at her as shocked as everyone else.

She calmly walked around the railing and put her arms around Marcus.

"To get you back, I would have done just about anything it took!" she said earnestly, running a finger over his eyebrow and kissing him devotedly.

"Good night!" I said and immediately disappeared.


Somehow this love whispering was getting on my nerves.

I went straight to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and threw myself into bed half-naked with my cell phone. From under my pillow, I pulled out a T-shirt of Becky's and sank my face into it.

Her smell was subsiding.

As arranged - as necessary - Becky and I talked on the phone, but she quickly fell asleep while I was still wide awake.

I looked at my alarm clock in frustration.

It was relatively early. Not yet eleven o'clock. Maybe a little trip back to my childhood would help me fall asleep.

I tapped through my phone looking for an episode of 'The Three Investigators' that would hopefully talk me to sleep.

There was a knock.

Mom.

"Jake. Are you all right? I had the impression you kind of took flight earlier," she inquired, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

I straightened myself up.

"Sure, Mom. I just felt redundant," I smiled weakly.

"You miss Becky. After all the time you were together constantly," she noted.

I nodded.

I missed her. Even though she had mostly slept in the guest room, she was here. With me. I could hear her heartbeat, her smell hung in the air, I could kiss her awake and look into her sweet sleepy eyes.

"You know we don't want to punish you with this!" Mom gently stroked my cheek and then lifted my gaze back to her.

"Yes, I got that! But I don't have to like it!" I grumbled. "You have Edward, Leah has Marcus, and what do I have?" I almost whined. I thought it was just unfair. Marcus would surely stay here tonight.

"A girlfriend who loves you more than anything. Even if she is not lying next to you!" my mother said velvety soft, took my face in her hands and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "And if you don't believe me, ask your father!" she added.

I smiled - in love, probably - and hugged my mom. She left me alone again and I let myself fall back on the bed.


I listened to four episodes of the radio play and was still awake.

My thoughts circled around Becky.

That I missed having her so close that I would only have to walk across the hall. That I worried too much about her. I knew what made me so nervous tonight. Mr. Corbin, the lawyer, had announced himself. Already for tomorrow. It came so unexpectedly. By now I had come to the rock-solid conclusion that Mike must have been waiting for Becky tonight to beat the charges against him out of her.

I was drenched in sweat, breathing frantically, my whole body was shaking, ruffling my hair and my racing heartbeat echoed in my ears.

I felt like I was completely beside myself.

As I stood beside the bed in a panic to immediately make my way to Becky, Dad walked in.

"Jake!" Dad stood in front of me, holding me by the arms. "You're not running to her!" he said calmly but firmly.

He looked me firmly in the eyes, as if he were surveying me.

"But ..." I began desperately.

"No, Jake!" he cut me short.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

But I had to go to her. To my star. To see if everything was all right.

"It's all good," Edward tried to reassure me, but I didn't believe him.

I had to see Becky! Right now!

I jerkily turned away from him, took off my wet T-shirt, and took a step toward my door.

I did not get any further as Edward stood in my way. He put his hands on my shoulders.

"Jake. You can't think straight. It's the middle of the night. Becky or her parents would be in touch if something was wrong. It's not her first night without you. She will sleep soundly," he meant.

But I didn't care what he had to say. I was afraid. Afraid for the girl I had imprinted on. Which meant my center of life. What did this bloodsucker understand about it already!

I pushed his hands away from me venomously and continued walking.

Again, only one step.

"You stay here!", Edward stood in front of me again.

This time with an unyielding stare.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins.

How dare he? "You have nothing at all to say to me! ... YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!", I screamed the last part against him. I saw something break inside him and thought I felt it all the way to me. But I didn't give a shit.

I threw my T-shirt in the laundry basket behind the door and turned to leave.

A steely cold white arm that blocked my way through my door.

I narrowed my eyes spitefully and growled.

Warning! No reaction from my opponent. His mistake! Anyone who kept me away from Becky was an enemy I would eliminate! Everyone!

I grabbed the forearm with brute force and felt with satisfaction how the stony bones gave way under the surface. I looked at the vampire as my other hand shot to his throat and I pressed him against the door frame. One of his claws immediately wrapped around my wrist, but did nothing.

Not a bit of fear was in his eyes, but that would come still!

Slowly I pressed my hands together and enjoyed the rising pleasure of this sight.

I destroyed the enemy of my existence. In human form. The only thing that curbed my enthusiasm was the fact that the 'Cold One' did not fight back.

"Jake!" suddenly Mom yelled at me, standing in the hallway pale as anything.

"Bella! Go to Leah!" the vampire mumbled.

The only anxious nuance was in his voice. But Mom did not listen to him.

"Jake!" she screamed again, trying to pry my hands away from Edward.

A pathetic attempt.

A vicious rumble surged through my body. I growled anew.

In her direction.

With eyes widened in terror, she looked at me and backed away.

There was pure horror in her gaze, but she had brought that on herself. Even she wouldn't stop me from running to Becky! She was not a wolf. She had nothing to dictate to me. She was nothing! ...

With a bad-ass slap in the face, I flew back onto my bed.

The movements were too fast for my eyes.

Dazed, I shook my head to stop my room from spinning. I blinked a few times.

I felt each single finger of Edward burning on my cheek. And also underneath. I wanted to get up, but my limbs no longer obeyed me properly, so I slipped off the bed as I tried. Before I slammed to the floor of my room, cold arms caught me. Through a strange veil I saw Edward. He seemed worried, instead of angry.

"Get some rest, Jake," he said softly, and I closed my eyes.

I heard voices, but I no longer had the strength to respond. Everything inside me was tingling haggardly.

"What about Jake?" I heard Mom say. She was almost sobbing.

"A panic attack. He got so wrapped up in the fear that something might be going on with Becky that he considered me the enemy because I forbade him to go to her in the middle of the night," Dad explained calmly.

"Why didn't you just let him go?" asked Mom.

"He would never hurt Becky, but what about her parents if they refused to let him in? As vicious as Jake looked, they wouldn't have let him in even if Becky had been screaming for him!" whispered Dad.

I noticed how everything inside me tensed up.

Becky? Screaming? No!

"Jake. Relax. Becky is certainly fast asleep and dreaming about you!" Dad whispered to me, and I felt his cozy coldness around me.

But I could not believe him. However, I could not move either.

"How do we know Becky is okay? Isn't it possible that he senses something like that through his supernatural imprinting?" Mom voiced my concern.

"The others are keeping watch behind her house in the woods again. So Jazz is with her tonight," I heard Dad say before the voices became too quiet to understand.

I sank into a dreamless sleep, but Dad was with me.

I felt it. It calmed me.


When I woke up the next day, that night scene slammed into my head like another slap in the face.

I quickly got up after taking a cursory glance at my alarm clock.

5:33 a.m.

I knocked softly on Mom's bedroom door and looked in. My efforts to be quiet were of no use. Mom asked mumbling half asleep about Edward.

Quickly I ran downstairs.

The coffee machine was already running in the kitchen, but Dad wasn't there. I set the table.

What else was I supposed to do when I was already down there? Stand around stupidly in the area?

I was getting three cups for coffee out of the cupboard when I heard something behind me.

My well-developed sense of hearing was probably still lying comfortably in bed and dreaming away.

"Dad!", I said, walking up to him. "I'm sorry, Dad!"

I wanted to say more, but I couldn't. The fact that he immediately took me in his arms, without a word, made my throat tight.

"It's all good, Jake!" he replied softly, hugging me so warmly to him that tears came to my eyes.

And I just didn't care at all that I felt like a little kid.

So, we stood there for a moment until it became too embarrassing for me after all.

Dad smirked.

"Is it so embarrassing when you're a father and you hug your son once to show him how much he means to you?" he inquired.

I shrugged my shoulders in silence.

"You don't find it easy to return such a thing to me," he noted. Smiling indulgently.

"I love you, Dad!" I said after thinking about his statement for a moment. I wasn't sure I had ever said it to him that way.

"It warms my heart right up," he joked.

Okay, so that was officially the first and also the last time! For the future I would leave that again to Leah and he would have to be content with me calling him Dad. Period!

"I love you too, Jake!" said Dad seriously, giving me my usual 'good morning' kiss on the forehead. "And I'm very sorry for hitting you last night. It wasn't right," he apologized.

"No. The slap was necessary," I said. "Who knows what else I would have done," I admitted dejectedly.

He nodded and dropped the subject with that.

I grabbed my coffee and sat down on the kitchen counter.

We still had a little time to wake up the others.

"Your fear for Becky was real," Dad said, and I gave him a startled look. "Don't get me wrong. It was unfounded. I just wanted to say that you didn't talk yourself into it. She was actually there. Probably the last-minute appointment with Mr. Corbin made you go crazy, because you only found out about it when you brought Becky home yesterday. You didn't get a chance to talk about it anymore. No time to prepare you with Becky in terms of this appointment."

I nodded indeterminately.

Yes, that would be possible. Becky's father had kind of mentioned that completely in passing. And also only when I was basically already gone again. This news had completely swept me off my feet at that moment.

"When we came up with the idea of housing Becky with us for the time being, we thought about Becky's well-being. That she should now sleep at home again is not a decision to annoy you. However, it's no longer just about Becky's health. It's about yours, too."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, uncomprehending.

"We didn't want Becky to fall into an emotional dependency with you. But with you, there's that same danger."

"I'm not dependent on Becky. I imprinted on her!" I tried to make the difference clear. On the other hand? Was there even a significant difference?

"I think the line is fluid ... But you have to be explicitly clear about one thing. Both of us, Jake, are in the same situation in that regard. You imprinted on Becky by your wolfish heritage and Bella is my one true soulmate. We can't exist without the two of them permanently ..." Dad said meaningfully and I nodded.

What else could I do? It was like this. Without Becky, I was nothing. And without Mom, Dad was lost. Period!

"... But they without us!"

My eyes widened and the cup slipped out of my hand. Dad caught it before it reached the floor, though.

"Bella and Becky are just normal people who have nothing to do with the supernatural world except through us. They could leave us at any time ... I don't want to scare you, Jake. I do not think that this is actually to be feared. Becky truly loves you. With all her heart. And with all her soul. But you must never take her for granted. Because unlike you, she has a choice! And you wouldn't be able to disagree with her choice! Just as I would submit to Bella's choice."

"What am I supposed to do then?" I asked. I felt a little helpless right now.

"You have to fight for your star. Every day anew. But you must never crush her with your love and smother her air to breathe!"

"And how do you do that?"

"I'm indispensable," he smirked. "None of you know how to make coffee or set an alarm clock anymore!" he winked, pointing to the kitchen clock above the door.

6:02 a.m.

I laughed.

He was right. The last coffee I made tasted awful. And I couldn't say offhand what my cell phone alarm sounded like. I had already taken three cups out of the cupboard for us, but Dad took out another cup.

"So, Marcus is here," I stated.

"Yes, he is."

It sounded almost like a sigh.

I laughed, but so did he.

"You should wake Bella," Dad said as we arrived in the upstairs hallway.

"I don't think so. She's practically already asking about you," I smirked.

"Go on. She's your mother and deserves an apology for last night," Dad intimated me.

Oh, yeah. Crap. I completely forgot how ticked off I was last night.

I put my own cup, now almost empty, on the dresser in the hallway and took the one for Mom.

Quietly I entered.

I chuckled when I saw Mom.

She lay across the bed. Without blanket.

I squatted on the edge of the bed and waved the coffee aroma in Mom's face.

"Mmm ... Edward," she mumbled.

"Close," I said, as Mom also opened her eyes and sat up.

I apologized.

Sincerely. It was impossible for me to attack Dad and growl at Mom. And quite honestly, it had been a bestial growl. The fear that had been in her eyes was tightening my chest today. I expected my punishment, and it would be damn hard. But I had not earned it otherwise.

"Not today, Jake," Mom said, though, taking my face in her hands and placing a kiss on my temple.

I was too surprised to say anything when Dad was already sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, dearest," he whispered velvety softly and kissed Mom.

I looked away.

That it did not disturb me in principle, and I actually liked it, how affectionately my parents dealt with one another, was a thing. That I was not half a meter away from it was quite another!

"Last night's situation was different from your outburst back on the patio at Carlisle's. At that time it was your innermost conviction that I would not be good for your mother, giving no one the chance to convince you otherwise. Last night, however, fear for Becky drove you, clouding your perception. You were not yourself in those minutes. Otherwise, you would have remembered that Alice and Jazz were with her then and I would have taken you to her personally if something had been wrong," Dad explained.

I thanked them both and promised never to go against my family again.

As long as I was in my right mind.


I went running briskly with Leah and was soon sitting at the breakfast table.

Marcus had to pick up his little sister and then drive all the way to Portland for school. In this respect, he ate frantically, thanked neatly for the breakfast, which he had not expected during the week, and drove early already.

I nibbled on a piece of cucumber, lost in thought, as I contemplated how to win Becky's heart today.

I would take Dad's statement seriously. Becky was not mine and was in no way tied to me. I would fight every day for the love of my life, and all was fair in war and love.

With my backpack over my shoulder, I was on my way to the Golf, but swiped a single pink flower from a bouquet Mom had on a sideboard.

Dad still winked at me while distracting Mom from this theft.

And Becky was very happy about this little gesture. She didn't really put them aside throughout the day.


And then school was over.

Today was Wednesday, so we had no practice. Would have preferred to today though. Anything would have been fine with me that would keep us from driving to her.

Becky had been a little nervous all day, but it subsided as we sat together in her parents' living room.

Mr. Corbin made a very comfortable impression.

Already in his fifties, somewhat roundish and with gray temples. But Jazz had said that we should not be deceived by the appearance. He had watched a trial or two of his. In court, he was tough as nails. He took his opponents apart, and usually without them noticing.

However, he did not let us see any of these skills today. He talked quietly and very pleasantly with us and Becky's parents.

Then his work apparently began.

He first clarified understandingly if Becky might be uncomfortable with her parents' presence.

However, that was it for her. But into my hands she clawed.

Mr. Corbin smiled.

Of course, I could stay with her if it was Becky's wish.

"Mr. Edward would make an excellent lawyer, from what Mr. Jasper has reported to me. Because of the minority of you, Becky, and the nature of the crime, I have made a request that you be questioned only in my presence. This request has already been granted. In addition, Mr. Edward has made sure from the beginning that you, Jake, are not listed anywhere as a witness. This now has the effect of allowing you to be present at any questioning as well."

I let myself fall with my back into the cushion and mulled over his words, while Becky looked at me with relief.

It took me a moment to understand this lawyer gibberish. Dad had deliberately kept me out of everything. So that I could stay with Becky when she was exposed to the questions of any of the lawyers. 'Thanks, Dad!' I thought emphatically. I knew he was close by. He wanted to see for himself that Mr. Corbin was handling this case with the utmost care.

He asked Becky to tell him about the rape. He knew the policemen's report, her official statement, but it would not be unusual if something occurred to her after the fact.

So, Becky recounted, also trying to remember any details that she really might not have said at the time.

He took notes and marked places in the copy of her testimony. His way of asking something was interesting. Of course, he wanted to know everything in detail, but it didn't seem exposing and uncomfortable, more like a random gathering of facts. He was very concentrated.

We were shaking together when Becky ended.

She with fear, I with anger. I felt the fire inside me, as I did when I found her, and wondered how I could have left Mike alive in the forest. I found the answer to this question in Becky's blue eyes, which immediately managed to push back my fire. For nothing in the world would I risk that those eyes would look at me with rejection or fear.

Mr. Corbin gave us a little breather, went out on the porch and smoked.

Becky clung to me, her head lying against my shoulder.

"How are you?" I asked gently, stroking over her back.

"It's all right. I had beautifully forgotten all the pictures. Now they're back again ... Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked, raising her desperate gaze to me.

I promised, provided her father would not object. My parents would probably make little stress there today.

I smiled slightly when I heard Dad coming. He joined Becky's parents in the kitchen after greeting the lawyer at the door and taking him in with him. I listened as I held Becky in my arms.

Of course Dad knew how Becky was feeling and me too, but he still asked. How Becky endured her memories being stirred up.

"Your daughter shows herself confident and strong. But I'm not a psychologist. How much this conversation is affecting her, I can't say!" Mr. Corbin wanted to clarify.

"Jake's probably with her, isn't he?" dad inquired.

It was briefly explained to the attorney how Becky had spent the first night alone.

Restless and agitated, which only stopped when I was with her.

Dad purposefully steered the conversation in a direction that suited me.

Becky would stay with us again - until the coming weekend was over - so that after these detailed descriptions, such a night would not happen again. Thank you!

Mr. Corbin came to us again. He said that despite his visit and the circumstance that required it, we looked so devoted and harmonious that he asked how we had found each other.

So, Becky told him that she had been together with Mike, but then had broken up with him on a Sunday. He had taken it more calmly than she would have expected. Because normally it had always been him who got rid of his girlfriends.

"He thought about it for a moment, nodded, and then said, 'Okay, then I'll take you home ...' I had wondered about his reaction, that's how I remember it so well," Becky began to say.

However, the morning after, it looked much different. When he entered the school grounds, he had immediately approached her and pressed her.

"... Mike held her rather roughly by the arm and said that he wasn't finished with her yet. And if he had to take it by force!" I still remembered his choice of words pretty clearly. "I got in the middle of it, and we got into a fight, which was finally stopped by the principal ... Since then we have been together," I smiled at Becky and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. "Mike got a leave of absence from school but had his errand boys give me basically the same message a few days later. Becky would still owe him something and he would get it! ... When he was back in school, he came at me every now and then," I explained.

"Becky, what has been your own rapport with Mike since then," Mr. Corbin inquired. "I mean, have you seen each other again, talked on the phone or anything like that?"

"No. Nothing. We run into each other now and then at school, but we haven't exchanged a word with each other since that day. Which I absolutely put no value on also! He just went off on Jake again and again," said Becky.

"Then I guess he blamed you for why Becky broke up with him?" he inquired.

"At least it looks like it," I said. Who knows what goes on in the head of a guy as sick as Mike.

"And ... is he right about that? Did he have a specific reason to assume that you ended the relationship with Mike to turn to Jake?"

"No, actually, I didn't," Becky reflected.

"Actually?"

"I thought about Jake a lot, even though I didn't have that much to do with him. That's why I broke up with him. Because I was of the opinion that I would betray Mike somehow. Even if only in my thoughts," Becky tried to remember, looking at me in love.

I kissed her briefly.

"I was out of town the two weeks before, which is why we didn't see each other for some time. The last week I was on vacation with my mom and sister and unfortunately on the first day of school there was a family emergency, so we flew to Washington State the same day for the rest of the week ... At school, of course, we have always seen each other, but otherwise? It happened a few times that we saw each other like this, but only with others together. And that also only by chance ... When I was back at school after those two weeks, I had no idea that Becky and Mike were no longer together. I just saw him going at her pretty roughly and I wanted to protect her. Even if it was her boyfriend, he had no right to touch and threaten a girl like that!", I explained in more detail.

"Are there any possible witnesses to Mike's threats?" asked Mr. Corbin cautiously.

"Sure. On that Monday, half the school must have noticed," Becky replied.

"When his friends caught me in the gym, Rosalie and Emmett Stone were there," I added. That was not quite true, but the two of them had already told me that they had certainly heard those words and could confirm them, if that were necessary.

"Well then ... That's enough for me!" Mr. Corbin stated with a hint of a smile.

He packed up his things, picked up the glass of water and leaned comfortably in the armchair. He smiled guilefully.

"According to Mike's testimony, this is merely a misunderstanding."

"What does misunderstanding mean? How can you even talk about a misunderstanding in the case of rape?" I inquired perplexedly.

"Well, Mr. Hanks' position is that he was still involved with you at the time, Becky - and the sexual act was by mutual consent. It got only a little out of control in the course of the passion," Mr. Corbin explained.

Becky jumped up from the sofa furiously.

"WHAT?"

I immediately stood by her, put my arms around her and directed her gaze towards me. She calmed down by playing with one hand in my long hair and I gently stroked her face.

Mr. Corbin waited until Becky looked more calmly toward him.

"He won't get very far with this statement. One could say that in the case of hardship it is testimony against testimony, but his behavior leads to the unmistakable conclusion that he understood the separation quite well. If he really hadn't been sure that your relationship was over for good, he wouldn't have given a warning. Not even to Jake ... Don't worry, Becky. I'll tear him a new one! Including his lawyer!" Mr. Corbin smiled diabolically and conspiratorially, which also brought a visibly satisfied smile to Becky's face.


The night passed quietly.

Calmer than expected.

I had woken up once and gone over to Becky in the guest room, but she was asleep. Clutching the little wolf and with a new worn T-shirt of mine, but she was asleep.

I stood in the doorway for a moment admiring my star.

That Dad had immediately suggested that Becky stay here again until the weekend - despite my freak-out last night - had a reason. Tomorrow we would already be facing the next interrogation. The prosecutor would come. He wanted to do his questioning as quickly as possible, while the memories were still fresh. Mr. Corbin had asked very carefully if we were okay with it, but we had both thought the same thing. The sooner he came, the sooner we would have this behind us. So, Mr. Corbin also directly made the appointment with the opposing counsel. For Friday. All in all, a hard week for us.


The prosecutor was a stickler for the rules.

Unpleasant, but not necessarily unfriendly. Rather, you could say he was simply sticking to his law books. Tall and lanky, with dainty glasses on the tip of his nose.

He pursed his lips when he asked a question, uttering a strange chirruping sound.

He spoke to us purely matter-of-factly. Fucking hell, what he wanted to know, how many details he wanted to hear, he didn't mince words and didn't show a trace of compassion. Only when he had heard everything, really everything - ! -, and packed up his things, you realized that he was a human being after all.

"I will file the indictment with the court this month. However, the trial is not expected until next spring. I'm very sorry for what happened to you, Miss Young, but with your testimony and the evidence at hand, it will be a simple matter to permanently remove Mr. Hanks from the public eye."


However, Mike's lawyer saw it quite differently when we arrived at her home after my second game.

A sleazy guy who took every opportunity to tell Becky between the lines that he thought she was a hypocrite who just wanted money for pain and suffering. Or the allegation was just so Becky could justify herself to me for wanting sex with Mike.

Mr. Corbin rebuked him sharply a few times. He even threw him out of Becky's parents' house single-handedly when he actually made her a financial offer.

Her father then threw his numerous documents after him and forbade him to ever enter that property again.

The subsequent stupid face on that one even made Becky grin a little.

We didn't stay with her parents much longer before we drove to my house.

Becky didn't want to see anyone else today.

With soft music playing, we lay on my bed and just cuddled. Every now and then Becky cried, but it was always just a few tears.

Even though the last three afternoons had left her emotionally drained and agitated, she was overall glad that it was now done for the time being.


The next morning Becky was already smiling happily at me again, but I took her home after breakfast.

She wanted to spend some time with her family.

All day long, no one but Dad was home.

No idea where everyone was hanging out.

I then finally sat again in the garage with him at my motorcycle, after he had extensively tutored me in economics.

These 'economic people' ticked no longer quite ... well. Another topic.

I could understand Rosie's words better by now. It wasn't about fixing or restoring something as quickly as possible, it was about the time you could spend doing it. The time that could be taken on it. I enjoyed screwing with Dad on the part, even though we really hadn't gotten very far yet. So, we were still busy taking it apart.

Dad sent me to the shower at some point.

No wonder. I was apparently full of oil and dirt everywhere, which had previously hung on the machine.

As I came into my room with a towel around my hips, I bristled.

Clothes were put out for me. Was I five, or what?

But I put them on and then looked very skeptically in the mirror on my closet.

Black shoes, dark gray plaid cloth pants, a black button-down shirt and red suspenders - was totally trendy at the moment.

Actually, I had wanted to drive to Becky to spend a quiet evening with her - after the nerve-racking week. But apparently I had other plans.

I took my cell phone and went downstairs, where Mom and Dad stood at the front door already.

"You look really fancy, Jake!" Mom opined.

She was almost as moved, as if I wanted to go to the school prom. But I would probably be underdressed for that.

"What's actually going on here?" I asked. After all, I didn't know anything.

"You're not the only one fighting for love!" Dad said mysteriously, holding the keys to the Audi out to me - Leah had been favoring the VW bus on the weekends lately - while Mom explained that I should drive over to Edward's house.

Somehow I felt like they wanted to get rid of me.

I smirked, trying not to think about what they were doing without kids in the house, and walked through the designated front door, which slammed shut right behind me.

"We have the house to ourselves!" Edward then immediately clarified behind it, purring sweetly.

I considered that maybe I should stay at home after all. Just because it was Saturday night, I didn't have to go out, but could also spend a nice evening with my parents.

"Get lost!" I still got to hear.

I laughed and kept walking.


Arriving at Dad's house, I curiously got out.

A single red rose had been lying on the passenger seat. I took it with me and was very curious what would now await me.

I didn't really expect to see anyone else today besides Becky.

I walked through the front door and was already amazed.

Jazz music sounded in welcome background volume. The entire first floor was bathed in pleasant subtle light. I heard the crackling of the fireplace from the back room.

Becky stood in the doorway. In a gorgeous red evening dress. She smiled enchantingly as I walked towards her.

I handed her the rose, for whose presence I would probably have to thank Dad and kissed my star sensitively.

But I asked what it all meant. Whether there was a reason. Whether I might have missed something. Maybe something as unforgivable as her birthday. But it couldn't be that. It was in May.

"I want to thank you with this evening, Jake!" said Becky. "For being there for me. For helping me through these last few weeks. For always giving me what I need, even when I don't really know it myself. Thank you, Jake. For your friendship. For your love ... I love you, Jacob William Black!"

I returned the declaration of love sincerely before she pulled me into the kitchen.

The small table was set for a romantic candlelight dinner and the fantastic smelling food was already ready. There was even a narrow vase just waiting for the rose to get there.

During dinner, Becky told me that this morning when I was in the woods with Leah, she had asked Edward for permission to borrow his cottage for tonight. Of course he agreed. With her mom, she then went shopping for this meal, with Leah and Marcus to Portland for the dress, with Leah to yet another store - which I wouldn't see until undressing - and Mom had helped her with the cooking a bit.

So that's why everyone was on the road, and I was busy with Dad all day. But where did the clothes I was wearing now come from?

Becky also revealed that to me.

Alice was shopping. It was stuff that Alice had bought some time ago and was ready for us in the guest room up here. I had rarely looked in the closet so far, which is why I didn't notice.

It became an unforgettable evening. And a long night ...


Thank you for reading!