The doorbell rang, Bella didn't want to answer the door. She really starts to feel restless. She hasn't heard anything from Billy and she can't go up there so Jacobs absence feels a lot worse now.
If she stayed at the reservation when Jacob left then she would have been better off.
Bella peeks outside behind the curtain of her bedroom and noticed the local delivery service employee enter the Van to leave.
Bella went downstairs to see what's left on her doorstep and outside a vase with a large bouquet in it. She eyed a small card close to the roses and anger surges through her frame.
"You've got to be kidding!" Bella said and walked towards the vase.
'I'm not in the mood for these manipulations, if he thinks he can crawl back into my life then he's wrong' Bella thought.
She snatched the card and read it. "Oh Rene" Bella said surprised. She didn't expect this.
'Dear Bella,
Phil and I are sorry about your loss, Things didn't go great between Charlie and I but I've always loved your father. Please consider living with us In Florida. Please give us a call.
Mom.
Bella desired the sun, maybe she can give her mother a call to look for work in Florida. Soak up some sun to feel better about her depression lingering.
Rene has left her money on her bank account but so far she knows nothing about replacing a tire. Unfortunately the only ones who are available to help her fix it are the Cullens, she really doesn't want to contact them but last thing she wants is create more turmoil by not showing up at the reservation.
Bella felt uneasy, what if they don't pick up because Jacob has imprinted? Do they feel like they have done enough for her?
it made Bella's gut clench. But unless she knows the truth there is no point in making assumptions.
Frustrated Bella went to the kitchen and left Edward a message if he can replace a tire and he'll give the money Rene gave to him.
She deliberately went to his voicemail because it makes it a bit easier to reach out.
Bella then went outside and noticed a lanky looking child sitting on the stairs.
"Seth?" Bella was happy to see him.
"Hi Bella I was wondering if you still decide to visit us soon" Seth said.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten about you" Bella said.
"I just got a flat tire" Bella said.
"Oh.. but you can still come right?" Seth asks.
"Yes, but someone will be coming over to fix it so I need you to be at your best behaviour" Bella said.
"Can I talk to that person?" Seth asked.
"Sure but you need to let him do his job so that he can leave" Bella said.
"Okay," Seth said and skipped towards Bella's truck who seems to be covered in snow.
Bella watched him play and make a heart on her cars hood.
He then abruptly moved away from the car staring into the distance.
Seth sniffed when he caught a scent and looked around.
Edward appeared walking towards Bella's house and could hear Seth's thoughts.
"Vampire! cold one! I won't let him harm Bella!" Seth thought and became reddish.
"Seth?" Bella said shocked. Wondering what he saw. There was no one there and Bella became alarmed. Maybe the fog is obscuring her attackers whereabouts.
She wanted to take Seth's hand to guide him inside her house but Seth wouldn't budge.
He became feral snarling at Edward
"Wow calm down, I'm a friend of Bella" Edward said after appearing in front of them within a second.
"Oh it's you" Seth said and sat on the stairs facing Edward casually.
"Seth.. you almost paced" Bella said bewildered.
"I already paced a few days ago" Seth said.
"Sorry I thought you were one of the bad ones" Seth said to Edward.
Edward didn't seem to be bothered with the hostile response. And it was heart warming seeing Seth as Bella's devoted bodyguard.
"I'm glad Bella has you, Thank you for keeping her safe" Edward said.
"She's part of our family," Seth said and Edward noticed that his mind is so pure, nothing like the animalistic mind of the ones with the werewolf gene.
"Do you want to see how I change the tire?" Edward asked Seth and in a split second his demeanour changed. When Edward went to Bella's truck, Edward lifted it with ease, and the tire got replaced.
Seth starts behaving like nothing happened between them and nonchalantly looked on how Edward tried to revive the truck.
It Wheezed and roared but the car doesn't seem to start Seth seemed to gotten a little bored watching and went towards the forest.
Bella watched him leaving towards the forest The soda can she gave him was half full so hopefully he'll return later.
-/-
Edwards hands was stained with oil, and as much Bella wished she could still keep her car she'll have to do without it. The idea of sending it to the scrap was hard to fathom. Charlie bought it with his savings.
Edward closed the hood and tried to start, only a thick smoke came from behind but it only moved slightly forward.
Edward shrugged after closing the door of the drivers seat.
Seth came towards the house with some dead squirrels in his muzzle. proudly wiggling his fluffy tail.
" Seriously Seth?" Edward said
" What did he do?" Bella wonders.
"He's showing me how to hunt" Edward said.
Seth tried to bark and moved his tail around happy.
Since Edward didn't seem to eat it Seth ate it and Bella flinched looking away when she heard the bone snap and crunch in his jaws.
" Can you change back to normal?" Edward said not liking the smell of a wet k9.
Seth moved to a secure area because his mother taught him that not everyone is used to this and he changed back into a human.
"Sorry" Seth said after coming from behind a tree.
" It's so weird seeing Seth grow from a child to almost a teen in mere days" Edward thought. Even since he paced he has been following Bella around like a bodyguard
but since his mind is so childlike and pure he wants to befriend with anyone Bella talks to.
Edward really likes Seth. And Seth seems to like him too despite what the Quileute tribe taught him about vampires, mainly because he's impressed with Edwards cooking skills.
First Bella didn't feel like having supper but when she smelled the aroma she couldn't help but grab a plate.
Bella ate in silence and heard Seth chattering with Edward,
She wasn't too thrilled about Edward befriending Seth. She just said that he could bring a tire for her car, not to stay this long, but she knows this is part of the plan to win her over by making her friends like him.
It looks like Edward has no desire to take one step at the time. All she has to do walk over to him and say that he's overstaying his welcome, he will know right away that he needs to go.
But she can't. Her anger is fading she becomes less and less upset with him. She even tried to think back about the moment where he said all those bad things to her but it no longer stings, She can't find any more reasons to be angry, except for lying and make her believe she's not good enough but besides that there is nothing left.
At this moment she's only pretending not to like being close with Edward. Seeing Edward so carefree just almost makes her forget how rocky things were since his return.
But she shouldn't get too comfortable.
Edward will not settle for anything except a relationship and when Jacob returns she'll pack everything from her house and stay at the reservation permanently.
With Jacob back in Forks would have been a lot easier to keep Edward away.
Seth placed his plate and things he used in the sink for a wash. Bella brought her place as well and wanted to ask him something.
"Seth I tried to call the reservation but no one picks up do you know what happened?" Bella asked.
"The phone cord snapped," Seth said. "It's an old phone and it needed to be replaced anyway"
Bella felt relieved. Glad that the Quileutes aren't shutting her out for an unknown reason.
"You'll come to my birthday tomorrow?" Seth asked.
"Yes I will" Bella said. "When my car starts"
"So what do we need to fix it?" Bella said to Edward who made another attempt to revive the Chevy.
"Maybe a new car?" Edward said a bit guilty.
"No It can't be," Bella said. "My poor truck"
"There isn't much that can be done about it, the cold weather has damaged the engine" Edward said.
"Well, I guess have to walk for a while" Bella said.
"Or you can try and win one" Edward said assuming she doesn't want him to buy one for her.
"Great.." Bella huffed. "Let me know which number I need to circle."
"I'll text it to you" Edward said friendly but Bella wasn't really paying much attention.
"Shall I go?" Edward said assuming she wants to be left alone.
"I'm just bummed about my truck. Im going to miss hearing it wheeze" Bella said.
Edward felt worse, If he didn't flatten her tire then the truck wouldn't have been standing in the frosty weather this long. But at least Bella is alive. Hopefully he no longer has to sabotage anything for her safety.
"It was a very old truck. It seems like it belonged to the grandfather or Billie's grandfather, I'm surprised it even lasted this long" Edward said.
"Uhum.. Well thank you for the help anyway Edward" Bella said and her face loosened giving him a faint smile.
"You're welcome, I'll circle the numbers at home so you don't have to" Edward said.
Bella didn't protest, she just nodded eying her truck in dread. The afternoon went a bit better than last time at the meadows, No arguments so far even though he feels he needs to be careful around her.
"I need go too," Seth said. "non-teens need to be at the reservation before 5 pm"
"Okay I'll take you home then," Edward said.
"No you can't cross the treaty line" Bella said snapping out of her brooding right away.
"I won't" Edward said.
"I'll race you" Seth said and went behind Bella's shed and came out as a werewolf.
Edward eyed Bella and took a few steps towards her.
" Thank you for letting me stay, I had a wonderful day with you here" Edward said.
Bella smiled a bit. "Until next time, "
"I'll give a call if I need something" hinting that she still doesn't want him around often. But to Edward it seems like progress.
"Yes ma'am" Edward said overly polite and Bella chuckled,
When Jacob returns She'll use him to keep Edward at a distance, she just doesn't have the strength to keep her guard up.
Only 2 more days and it's a wrap.
Seth grumbled impatient and Edward stands next to him. And Seth darted towards the forest.
They avoided humans by picking up their scent and Seth seems to be struggling to keep up and Edward holds back slightly but both are still moving fast.
"Is Bella your girlfriend now?" Seth thought.
"Nothing is official yet but we are in love with each other" Edward said.
"Are you bothered by that?" Edward said.
"No, as long as you are nice to her then It's fine" Seth said.
"Have you imprint on her?" Seth asks.
"No"
"Only humans with the werewolves gene imprint, Vampires and humans choose each other, there is no supernatural link." Edward said.
"I kind of know you are a thing, at times She scolds you like a bossy girlfriend would" Seth thought.
"Hehe, Well Bella and I went through a lot" Edward said "but that will be a story for another time"
"Why?" Seth wondered and Edward slowed down.
"The treaty line" Edward said, "I can't move any further than this. "
"Stupid treaty line, I wished it could be lifted, I want you at my birthday party too"
"Well I can be there in spirit" Run along now you don't want to keep your elders waiting" Edward said.
Seth Barked and poked his muzzle against Edwards hand.
"Bye for now" Edward said Seth went over the treaty line. It won't be long until Jacob catches wind of what happened at the Meadows.