"You ready?" Jake calls from outside.
"Yep," I reply, tugging my last boot on and bolting for the door. From a campfire setup near the house, Billy waves us a goodbye, along with a couple of his friends.
Sitting in the driveway next to Billy's pickup is the red Volkswagen Rabbit. Jake worked on the Rabbit for most of the day, and I watched. There was a comfortable silence between us since we didn't have much to talk about. After he was done, he drove the Rabbit out of the shed. Now it's running and waiting for me. We jump into the Rabbit and begin our venture to the movie theater in Forks.
"I think we've gotten close enough now," Jacob mumbles. He doesn't look at me or glance in my direction. His eyes are firmly on the road. I raise a brow at his statement, wondering if it has anything to do with us or…Bella.
"For what?" I hesitantly ask.
He nervously smiles. "You know, Bella and I? Even with my emotions torn, I think I'm ready to try to hold her hand and see if the spark comes back."
"Oh, a big commitment." I chuckle lightly, but deep down I feel like I am on fire and weigh a ton of bricks. Why am I feeling this way?
"Shut up," he playfully says, laughing as well.
My eyes lingers over his smiling face. Though he's only sixteen, he could be mistaken for an eighteen-year-old. His square jawbone is prominent and his nose is just the perfect length. His teeth are always white even after drinking a cup of coffee, and his tight russet skin barely has any wrinkles. He catches me staring at him and his smile disappears.
"What? Something on my face?" He asks.
I shake my head slowly. "I just want you to know that you are handsome, and if for some dumb reason she turns you down, I don't want it to get to you."
There is the faintest blush on his cheeks, hardly visible against the color of his skin. "Thanks," he says. His eyes avert from glancing at me any further. He focuses back on the road.
I turn my head to the window and watch as little shops and houses pass us by. It's not raining in Forks at the moment, so I can see people walking and window shopping clearly. I notice an old lady with a bandana on her head, watching the Rabbit as we drive by. Her eyes appear dark, from where I can see, and I notice she's still watching us even as we drive away.
Odd.
When we arrive we see Bella's car across the road from the theater and we park behind it. Standing in the front of the theater entrance is Bella and a dirty blonde male. I frown. I thought there was supposed to be a group of people? Jacob waves as we approach, barely paying attention to the road as he crosses. I stumble along beside him eyeing down both directions of the street for any oncoming cars.
"Hey, Furiae," Bella waves, gaining my attention back. She seems genuinely happy that I am here. With her smile not looking half dead. "Jacob, glad you could make it. This is Mike, Mike this is Furiae and Jacob." She introduces us by waving in our general direction.
Mike is shorter than Jacob by a good few inches and has deep blue eyes that can't seem to peel off from Bella for more than a few seconds. There is a sheen of sweat covering his forehead, and he has pale blotches all over his face. He doesn't seem pleased to see us when he looks our way briefly, but he also looks sick as well.
By the weakness of Jacob's smile, I can tell he's not happy about the circumstances either. After all, Mike might be Bella's age and go to Bella's school, giving him a few more points than Jacob when it comes down to the relationship department, at least, I think.
"I'll go get the tickets," Bella says, walking towards the ticket booth. We three gather and wait for her on impatient feet.
"So, Face Punch, huh? You like action movies?" Jacob asks Mike. He leans against the wall of the theater and shoves his hands in his jacket pockets.
Mike shakes his head. "Not really."
Jacob nods. "I heard it sucks, bad."
"Then why are we seeing it?" I cross my arms against my chest and frown.
"Bella chose the movie, she wants to see it," Mike says. "Are you two even old enough to see this movie? I mean, like, without adult supervision."
"Yeah, well, she's buying our tickets," Jacob replies.
"So, how do you know Bella?" Mike asks slowly. He looks like he's about to pass out the way he sways on his feet. The paleness of his skin turning a shade of light green. He's ill. Very ill. From some sort of cold or flu. I don't know how I know, other than the slight symptoms he's showing, but I know full heartedly that he's very contagious.
"We've been friends since we were little. Reconnected when she moved back to Forks," Jake says.
I lean against the wall next to Jacob and feel a heat wash through me. My right side feels cold against the breeze but my left is hot, and it's closest to Jacob. Jacob is radiating so much heat that I can feel it from a foot away. I look him up and down to see if he's showing any sign of pain or fever as well, but he looks normal, except for the frown on his face.
"How about you?" Mike asks, now eyeing me.
"I-ah," I stutter.
"She just met us a few days ago. She has amnesia from hitting her head during a cliff diving accident. She's been staying with me and my dad so she wouldn't be stuck at a hospital," Jake interrupts. I am glad he took the lead, I wasn't sure what to say - what would be appropriate for a new meeting.
"Amnesia? Wow, that sucks," Mike frowns.
"It does." Is all I can think of saying.
"Well, Jessica bailed, and Angela got the stomach flu, so Eric is taking care of her. It's just the four of us," Bella says, walking halfway to us while waving the tickets in the air.
"Great," Mike says sullenly.
The two boys step forward to follow her inside, leaving me behind to follow them as we enter the theater.
This is uncomfortable. Bella sits in-between Mike and Jacob while I am on the other side of Jacob. The movie is action packed, like suggested, but it does suck. There are a lot of swearing and threatening and poorly coordinated fighting scenes. This has me roll my eyes towards Jake and notice that both boys have their hands sitting on their armrests with their hands open, ready for Bella to spring her hand out into one of their clutches. At least Jacob is smiling again.
"Oh god, I think I am going to be sick," Mike blurts out. He lurches off his seat, covering his mouth as he runs out of the theater room. We all look at one another, shrug, and get up to follow him to the bathrooms.
"What a marshmallow," Jacob chuckles as we walk down the hall, passing up the men's bathroom. I follow behind the two, my hands linked behind my back as Jacob inches closer to Bella's side. "You should hold out for someone with a stronger stomach. Someone who laughs at the gore that makes weaker men vomit."
Bella giggles, "I'll keep my eyes open for that."
I roll my eyes. The heaviness I felt in the car before lingers inside me and I frown watching them as they get closer together. Soon enough, Jacob and Bella walk shoulder to shoulder, and in between, I see Jacob grasping Bella's hand. My heart drops and I feel lightheaded. Bella shakes her hand free and walks around a staircase to sit down on the steps.
"What, I can't hold your hand?" Jacob asks, looking a little frustrated.
Oh boy. I lean against the wall attached to the steps and listen in on the conversation.
"No, of course you can. I just think it means something a little different," Bella says.
"Well, tell me something, you like me right?"
She nods, but her frown deepens.
"And you think I am sort of beautiful," he smirks.
"Jake, don't do this," Bella looks down at her hands.
"Why?" He asks, coming around the wall to sit next to her.
"Because you're about to ruin everything. And, I need," she sighs.
"Well, I got loads of time. I'm not going to give up."
My frown deepens. I start to slump from how heavy I feel.
"I don't want you too," she half smiles at him. "But it's just 'cause I don't want you to go anywhere. It's really selfish. You know, I am not like a car you can fix up." She frowns and shakes her head as she speaks. "I'm never going to run right."
"It's because of him, right? Look, I know what he did to you. But Bella, I would never ever do that. I won't ever hurt you, I promise. I won't let you down. You can count on me."
He leans in, as if ready to give her a kiss, but she instead rests her head on his shoulder.
A quiet sigh leaves my lips, and I close my eyes briefly to feel the heavy sensation roll over me.
"Well," Mike sniffles, alerting me that he's coming up from behind. "I need to go home."
Bella pulls away the moment Mike makes himself known. Implying she doesn't want to be seen in this predicament. Jake looks livid. He's holding back, I can see it, from hurting anyone. His fists clench and open, clench and open.
I come around the stairs and stand at the bottom of the last step.
Mike leans against the railing of the staircase, earning a devilish glare from Jake and confused glances from Bella. "I was feeling sick before the movie." He looks down at Jake's fists and his brows furrow. "What is your problem?"
"You're my problem. Feeling sick, maybe you need to go to the hospital." Jake gets up and walks up to Mike, driving Mike to back up with both hands up in defense. "You want me to put you in the hospital!"
"Jake!" I start, but Bella quickly grabs Jacob's hand and tries to pull him away, but he stands still as stone. Anger radiates off of him like fire.
"Jake, what are you doing?" She puts a hand against his chest, further keeping him from going up to Mike. She looks down at their connected hands, her brows knitting together. "You're, like, really hot. You feel like you have a fever."
"I don't know what's happening," Jake looks down at the ground, as he visually thinks over whatever is rolling around in his mind. "I got to go, come on, Furiae."
He wiggles his hand free from Bella's and reaches out for mine, grabbing it with his feverish hand. He pulls me along as we head out the doors and to the Rabbit. Once we're at the car, our hands separate and we head for our designated doors.
"Get in," he demands, still sounding enraged. It catches me off guard. What did I do?
"Okay, can you calm down a little?" I ask, while opening the passenger's side door. He pauses at the driver's side, putting his hand on top of the Rabbit while he looks over the hood at me. His teeth are clenched and eyes are narrowed. He's more than furious.
"Sorry," he forces out through his teeth.
I don't want to cause anymore confrontation, so I climb into the car and buckle up. Jake does the same, placing both hands on the wheel and gripping tightly. Tight enough that his knuckles turn white. I am not sure he should drive, but I don't remember if I'd ever driven before amnesia.
"Look, I am sorry," he sounds like the tension is dying down, but his shoulders are stiff and he's slumping over the wheel. He starts the car, panting and growling under his breath.
"You okay?" I ask, reaching out to touch his back, but before I do, I bring it back just in case it'd only anger him.
"I don't feel good," he says, resting his forehead on the back of his hands.
My heart drops. I look at him closely and realize what I've not noticed before. He's sweating pretty bad. He's not pale, but his skin isn't the normal russet color either. I glance around the car and then outside. What should I do? I need to get him home.
"Okay," I let out a shaky sigh. "You're not driving.
"What?" He asks. He looks up at me from the steering wheel, his eyes look calmer, softened, even.
"I'll try to drive," I admit. A shiver of adrenaline races down my spine and I can feel my heart beating in my chest. I look at the steering wheel and think, maybe I'll get us in an accident.
"I can't let you do that," he shakes his head against his hands and sits back up, taking a deep, long breath.
"Give me your hand," I demand, earning a confused look from Jacob. But he obliges and hands over his right hand. I grab ahold of it gently; my own being engulfed in heat and a tingling sensation. "Whenever you feel sick again, squeeze. Now drive while you're okay."
He looks me straight in the eyes with a warmth behind his, and my heart flutters faster against my rib cage.
When we get to Jacob's house, I have to help him out of the car. Through most of the trip, he was doing well, barely squeezing my hand. He remained focused and kept a watchful eye on the road, but sweat dripped down his forehead, along his jawline, and down his neck.
I shuffle my feet as I drag some of Jacob's weight as he leans against me. We reach the door and I struggle to open it, but once it creaks wide open, I see Billy looking at us from the living room. His eyes widen and a deep frown creases his cheeks.
"Take him to his room. I have to make a phone call," Billy orders once we get through the door. I do as I am commanded and walk Jake to his room as carefully as I can. I help him down onto the cot and turn to go leave the room. Jake grabs a hold of my hand, pulling me back.
"Don't…Leave me," he whispers. His eyes are almost completely shut, and he's groaning quietly. He's hotter than before and he's not looking any better. Something about him makes me think that his insides are hurting him.
"Okay, I won't," I bring myself down to my knees next to the cot and continue to hold his hand. It squeezes harder with every passing minute. He brings our hands to his chest. I can feel his heartbeat pounding deep inside him, fast and unsteadily.
My breath hitches in my throat and my heart aches as it races so fast that it hurts. Panic fills the pit of my stomach. Billy hasn't made an appearance since the living room. Not even a word has reached us.
A slam echoes through the house from, what sounds like, the living room. I turn to go investigate but three tall, shirtless men appear in the doorway. They are huge, taking up the majority of the space. They look down at me with confusion. They look familiar to me; I think I saw them before.
"Jared, get her out of here," the frontal man says. He's taller and stronger compared to the other two. A young man comes from around him and reaches out for me, but I scoot away.
"No. He wants me here. I am not leaving."
Jared looks at his commander, waiting on instruction, and he receives a nod. Without another word, Jared circles me so quickly, I almost don't see him before he grabs me from behind. His strong, thick arms come up between mine and pull me off the ground, my back to his chest. My hand is forced free from Jacob's, my fingers feeling cold against the air outside of Jacob's presence. I kick and squirm, and Jared struggles to pull me a foot from Jacob.
"No!" I scream. My squirming lowers me enough for my feet to plant on the ground, and when they do, I use all my strength to pull forward, back into the room, forcing Jared to come with me.
Jared curses behind me, trying his best to lift me back up into the air and he does so with ease. He carries me out of the room, my hands reaching pathetically down the hall as I am carried out.
"No!" I scream again, but now, I feel a heat of rage piercing through me. My vision blurs and what I think is a yellow glowing light forms around my hands.
"What the hell is that?" Jared shouts. The other young man looks out from Jacob's room. It's the one who wasn't commanding Jared. This one looks buff and angry, but his eyes widen. Soon, the commander pops his head into the hall.
"Get her out of here!" He demands.
"I'm trying!" Jared yells back. The further I get from the hall the brighter the lights around my hands get. Billy is on the far side of the living room, his eyes parted wide like the others. The light breaks free from my hands and shoots out all around me, taking over the room and pushing back everything it touches, including Jared and me.
We go flying out of the house through the door, skimming across the muddy ground. My hands burn and my head pounds, just as painful as the day I arrived. The blurriness of my vision worsens until all I see is black.