chapter Thirteen

What the Fuck

Kelsey

My head's spinning. I arrive late to practice but I don't care the way I usually would. Even after Coach chews me out for it and I have to run laps.

I go low after practice. I start feeling shaky and my heart is pounding. I check it with my meter and confirm that it is 65. Damn.

I pop two glucose tabs before heading to the Coffee Bean. It's one of those rare times when having diabetes is convenient; a a caramel apple latte becomes a medical supply. For real, though, they are great for treating my lows. And I need one today.

I meet up with Dad and Billy Black at his house on the reservation. I don't watch football with them, though. Instead, I sit out on the stoop, checking my Twitter feed and sipping my latte.

I'm not really focused on social media though. The only thought going through my head is what the fuck. The La Push guys are werewolves. The Cullens are vampires.

Like I told Paul, it kind of makes sense when put in context. But had I not seen the wolf out today, I'd assume the guys were all on drugs. But still, what the fuck.

I fall into the same position I was in when Paul came over with the Tylenol. The sun has gone down now, but at least it's not raining yet.

I absently smack a few mosquitoes away from my face. I don't know if it's because my blood is literally sweeter than most people's (thanks, diabetes), but mosquitoes love me. The feeling is so not mutual.

I sigh as I drain the last of the latte. I really needed this today. Softball practice, too; it helped me clear my head.

I grab the softball I keep in my practice bag and my catcher's mit. Then I start throwing the ball against a tree, moving to catch it when it bounces back. Not exactly the best catching drill, but it beats just sitting around.

I find my groove easily; throwing the ball again and again. Softball is life to me. I've been a softball player since I was seven; ten years now. I'm hoping to go to college on a softball scholarship.

It happens a few weeks later, the week of Spring break. I am driving through Forks, just enjoying the peace and quiet before I have to go to Seattle for my diabetes doctor appointment. I'm hanging out near the reservation, driving around, when I see Bella do the ultimate in stupid shit: jump off a fucking cliff.

I jump out of the car, slamming the door behind me before I take off trackstar style sprinting down the beach to the water's edge. I disconnect my pump and kick off my shoes before wading up to my knees. Lucky for me I don't have to go any farther because Jacob drags Bella up to the surface. She's coughing and choking, but she'll be okay.

I reconnect to my pump and head back to my car, shoes in hand. I've just gotten back in the car when the phone rings.

"Hello? Dad?" I ask after checking the caller ID.

"Kels? Can you make yourself dinner tonight, Honey? Harry Clearwater had a heart attack and I'm helping Sue prepare for the funeral. Bella's at the reservation with Jacob."

"Yeah. Okay. Love you, Dad."

"Love you, Baby."

I play wall ball for awhile outside the house after my appointment. It was just my three-month check-up. My A1C (a test that shows average glucose readings over the past three months) was 6.5, a good number. We lowered my basal insulin a little for a few hours at night and raised my basal for first thing in the morning to combat the nighttime highs and lows. But that's not what I'm focusing on.

Bella jumped off a fucking cliff. I know she's here; I'd passed her and Alice Cullen talking in order to grab a softball. Was she trying to kill herself? Was she just doing another stupid stunt? I don't know.

I do know that I wanna kill her. Isn't dad going through enough today? Hasn't she put him through enough already?

I need a latte. I swear those things are laced with cocaine; I'm literally obsessed. Although, I guess as far as addictions go, there are way worse things I could be addicted to.

Dad is home when I get there. Bella and Alice are crashed out on the couch, although I know Alice isn't really asleep. Vampires don't sleep.

"Caramel apple latte?" Dad gives me a small smile.

"How'd you know?" I slide into the chair across from him at the kitchen table. "How are Seth and Leah holding up?"

"Leah's shut down; Seth's doing what he can to help his mom."

Dad leaves early the next morning to help prepare for the funeral and I stay back to cook some meals for the Clearwaters. All the times I've been in the hospital, Sue Clearwater dropped off a few hot meals for Dad and Bella. It's time I return the favor.

I reach for the phone when it rings. "Dad?" I answer without checking the caller ID.

"Hey, baby. Just letting you know that I'll be home late."

"Figured. I'll bring you guys dinner." I smile to myself. I can at least make myself useful in some way.

"Thank you, Kelsey." Dad clears his throat. "Love you."

"Love you too, Dad." I hang up the telephone and turn back to the casserole I'm making.

The doorbell rings and Bella goes to answer it. "Jacob? Paul?"

I pop the casserole in the oven and quickly do a load of dishes.

"Kelsey?" I look up at the deep voice.

"Hi, Paul." I smile as I scrub out the inside of my mixing bowl.

"What're you doing?" he asks.

"Making some meals for the Clearwaters."

Jacob's loud, annoying voice carries through the house. I roll my eyes. "You two wanna quiet it down in there?" I call over my shoulder. Paul laughs.

"Do you want some help?" he asks. I smile and nod.

"Yeah. Can you cut that for me?" I slide a pack of bacon over to him.

Jacob strides into the kitchen just as the phone rings. And instead of letting me answer the phone in my own house, he picks it up instead. "Swan residence. No, he's at the funeral." Click.

"Jacob, what the fuck?" I ask, adjusting my grip on the potato I'm pealing. Then, "Who was that?"

"The leech." Oh, fucking lovely.

Paul slices through the bacon with a bit more anger than is strictly necessary. I give him a curious look out of the side of my eye before turning to Jacob. "You do realize that you didn't specify exactly whose funeral Dad was helping with?"

"Oops." Jacob doesn't sound very repentant. I roll my eyes; weird kid.

"Oh no!" Alice's horrified voice echoes through the house. Without another look, Bella and Jacob bolt towards her.

"Here we fucking go." I mutter, rolling my eyes. "It's about to get overly dramatic."

A/n: I'm so so sorry for updating a day late. But you guys, we CRUSHED our review goal! I'm so positively overwhelmed with the support my little story has gotten. Thank you for everything. Okay, so if we can get to forty reviews, I'll update on Saturday. I'll update Monday if we don't. Alright, later!

Lauren.

Replies to Reviews:

Loves to Read Books: Thank you. I hope you like this chapter, as well. Please review and let me know.

Twilightfanjm: I'm glad you enjoyed Paul's take on the scene. I won't do many scenes like that often because I like the idea of the two stories overlapping. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and let me know.

TemporaryShadow: I'm glad you like the occasional dual POV in the scenes. I can't promise that it'll be like that often, but I do have a few more scenes that do that. I hope you enjoyed this chapter; please review and let me know.

Ginger: I'll freely admit that I had to read that a time or two to understand it. Personally, I don't use the mobile app; I just use the website from my web browser on my phone.

Twilight Lover: Well, be prepared to wait awhile because Paul isn't going to open up right away. LOL. But I'm so glad you love this story. I hope you like this chapter, too. Please review and let me know.

Rachaelm1981: I'm glad you were able to catch up. You're right: Bella's so not nice. I hope you like this chapter, too. Please review and let me know.

mkhdhdidhdhkjdse: I'm glad you love the story and Kelsey. I guess you'll just have to wait and see how things turn out with Bella, huh? (insert evil laugh here.) I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, please review and let me know.