~Reboot continues

A/N SM owns Twilight, so I'm working out my trauma after deciding to listen to the books on audio recently.

Chapter 10

Bella

My legs shook after the final round of exercises. Madi patted my back. "Great work, Bella. You won't need me too long with this kind of determination."

While walking my physical therapist to the door, I expressed my appreciation for her. "Thanks, you've been great." We agreed to meet again early Monday morning. One week at home proved to be successful. Madi was super sweet. We'd completed our third session and each time, I felt stronger. The nights when the soreness set in, I wasn't sure how I'd perform the following day, but so far, I always found the strength to push myself.

My occupational therapist, Carolyn, was pleased with my progress as well. She realized I was completely independent with my personal care, so we'd focused on everyday tasks inside the house. Cooking again was my goal for the next session. She left a message early this morning that a family emergency meant she'd need to reschedule a couple of sessions next week unless I wanted the agency to send another OT. I sent a text saying I preferred to keep working if anyone else was available, but I hadn't received a reply.

Rehab had been a full-time job for me in the beginning, so it was strange having so much downtime at home. I only had five therapy sessions per week between physical and occupational therapy. My speech sessions ended weeks before my discharge. I was thankful my brain had awakened long before my body caught on. Not every comatose patient was so lucky.

There was a downside to regaining my memories. I hadn't forgotten Edward, the Cullens, or Renesmee, but I learned how to compartmentalize that other world. I knew without a doubt, the supernatural still existed in this reality. I just wasn't a part of it yet. Jacob was my first clue and now that I knew Leah, my assumptions were confirmed. She was lithe and graceful but also exhibited an unnatural strength.

Mom confirmed that when she told me Leah didn't even need assistance to load a large shelving unit on their latest shopping trip. "Brawn, brains and beauty. What a combination, honey. Leah is a powerhouse, and she appreciates my ideas. Her mother is far too busy with the wellness center. She is surrounded by all those males who don't understand her vision."

Leah hired Renee to help with remodeling the tribal center on the reservation. Mom was hesitant to start helping during the day, but once she saw how well my therapy was going, she agreed to go today. Previously, she'd waited for Dad to get home before she ventured out of the house with Leah. Charlie worked down the road and was only a 911 text away. So far, I'd only met Sam and Leah. It was strange at first to see them as a couple but after the first few minutes, I couldn't imagine another scenario. That's how things are now. The past didn't have a place in this present.

It didn't mean that I stopped longing for my life with Edward. We'd made so many plans. I was made for him. That's what we always believed about each other. Some concrete memories of a connection with him in this timeline reemerged before that day on the icy pavement. It still made zero sense that he disappeared during my unconscious years. They all did.

Sometimes, I wonder if I still exist in another place just like Jacob was there and now, he's here. Maybe Edward doesn't even know that I'm gone. Is Renesmee growing up? Does she miss me? She might be a woman. My daughter could be living a life with Jacob already. That uncomfortable feeling swirled in my gut again. Was she even real? Did he grow to love her? I don't think he did before. She was his obligation. I saw the discomfort in his eyes many times during our conflict preparations.

Blinking, I tried to erase the troubling thoughts. My mom could be right about coma dreams. I could be crazy or imaginative. I'd written many of my memories down inside an old school notebook this week. Maybe I had the start of an unbelievable fiction book. Whenever I think too hard about all this, my head starts to hurt.

I decided to grab my novel instead of worrying about realities I have no control over. Jacob promised to come over for dinner tonight. This will be my first meeting with Quil. Dad hadn't let him cook in our kitchen yet. Several drop-offs on the back porch materialized this week. Every meal was delicious. Each time I tried to stake out the door, the mysterious Quil slipped by before I could catch a glimpse.

I hadn't gotten too far into my third re-read of Pride and Prejudice when a dark shadow caught my eye out the window. After pausing, I believed my eyes only spotted an illusion or a timid creature from the forest because whatever I imagined I saw vanished. The classic novel hadn't drawn me in like it used to.

Mom laughed last night when she saw my reading choices which were unboxed with all my old belongings. "Oh, Bella, you and those stuffy old Victorian stories. I swear, you were born in the wrong era. Give me a second. I have some more appropriate books for your age. Trust me, they'll be helpful since you're spending so much time with Jacob."

Renee had a knack for mortifying me in my teen years and not much had changed. Charlie walked in just as she dumped a dozen or so books onto my bed. Each cover had a bare-chested male who appeared to portray various professions. There was a doctor with an open lab coat, a lumberjack, a fireman, and businessman with an unbuttoned dress shirt. My heart almost stalled when I saw the last two novels: Vampire Lover and My Wolfman.

Dad cleared his throat. "Good grief, Renee. I see you still read those trashy novels. It appears that Fabio has been replaced. Never cared for that guy."

"Oh you, fuddy-duddy. I remember you appreciated a few things I gleaned from all that trash back in the day. Don't deny it. Bella doesn't want a lying father."

Charlie turned ten shades of red as he backed out of the room. He shouted from the kitchen. "Don't read them, Bells! I'll burn them in the fireplace if she doesn't get them out of your way soon."

Mom laughed. I felt mortified for a second but found myself smiling. They'd stop bickering as much since Mom moved all her belongings upstairs four days ago. Remembering Jacob's words, I realized a fine line existing between love and hate could be true. I didn't have a false hope my parents would get back together like so many kids with divorced parents, but it was somewhat refreshing realizing no matter what, that they still had each other's backs. Commitment may have faded but love still lingered.

My eyes glanced down at the box on the floor. Of course, the two supernatural novels taunted me from the top. Closing my eyes, I let fate dictate my next read. When I held the book in front of my face, I allowed one eye to open at a time. My Wolfman it was. This couldn't be good. I'm sure it was pure nonsense, but I opened it anyway and scanned the first page. Thirty minutes later, I found myself talking out loud, "Eloise, you're a ditz. He wants you as his mate. He doesn't loathe you. He's fighting the beast inside of him."

A tap at my window startled me and the novel went flying. A loud scream escaped my lips. Through the parted curtains, a curly-headed, shirtless Quileute waved wildly at me. All fears evaporated when I recognized who it was. He mouthed words, but I wasn't a lip reader. The window had an easy to open mechanism, so I unlatched the lock and swung open the shutter style pane.

He said, "Sorry I startled you, but can I come inside? The chief isn't home yet, so maybe we can bend the rule. It's just, this meal might take a while. I'd like to get started."

It took a second to find my voice. "Sure, Quil. I'll meet you at the back." No wonder I hadn't met Quil if Dad issued a rule he needed to be present for him to come inside.

Once I re-latched my window. I grabbed the novel off the floor and hid it under my pillow instead of leaving it out in the open or returning it to the box. Before opening the back door, I reminded myself that Quil Ateara and I were strangers here. We hadn't spent endless hours with Jacob and Embry, trading stories by the fire and laughing until our sides hurt. He had never confessed his frustration at being left behind, wondering why his best friends had abandoned him. We had no shared history, and no unspoken bond through Jacob. He knew of me and decided to help us because Jacob asked him to. He might fear Dad a tad as well. No doubt Mom flirted with him. It was nothing more. Running into his arms and clinging to one more familiar thing in a world where everything felt so foreign wouldn't be appropriate.

Tapping ensued before I had a chance to open the door for him. As soon as we were face to face, a fully dressed Quil teased, "Oh good, you remembered me out here. I started to worry about the whole coma thing. I thought you might have short-term memory loss or something."

Not sure how to respond, I used the excuse, "I still move a little slow."

"Bella." He stated.

"Quil." I countered.

"You knew it was me in an instant. I like that."

"Um, yeah, Jacob gives good descriptions."

"Oh no. I hope he didn't say too much. I wanted a chance to give you an accurate impression."

The first giggle came from me. Familiarity and peace followed.

Backing up, I motioned for Quil to come inside. He shut the door and followed me to the fridge. I was prepared to show him where Mom put all the food and supplies Sue sent over. Quil took my breath away when he pulled me into a powerful embrace. His strong arms lifted me off the floor before we started to spin in a circle. Dizziness and memories collided. I guess my internal pep talk was useless. Quil shouldn't remember me. But he never considered appropriateness like most people, and I adored him for that. Before bringing my back to solid ground, I caught him inhaling a strand of my hair. His warm breath tickled as he whispered. "You're right about Jake's descriptions because I swear it feels like we've been friends for years, Bella."

An hour later, the braised ribs simmered on low while Quil and I chopped ingredients for the sides. I didn't have the stamina to stand at the counter too long, so he set up everything for us at the kitchen table. Despite his unorthodox personality, I found him to be considerate and careful with me.

A few times, I scolded him for being too cautious. "I'm not breakable."

"I beg to differ because even I can break and that's what will happen if I let you wear yourself out or you get hurt on my watch. Jake will dismember me."

"You're teasing. He's one of your best friends and you're cousins. Besides, Jacob isn't the violent type."

Quil threw his head back and chortled. "Sweet innocent Bella. If you only knew."

"I know more than you think." I reacted.

"Do tell. That sounds mysterious." He wagged his eyebrows and placed his hands under his chin, giving me his full attention.

"It's not, but I know Jacob's strength is used for protection, not vengeance."

Quil's eyes shifted, like he was deep in thought. He hadn't been at a loss for words all afternoon, but his reply was, "No comment." He changed the subject. "You've got wicked chopping skills even though you did a Snow-White impersonation all those years."

"I guess it's like riding a bike," I said.

I wanted to give subtle hints about my knowledge in hopes someone would slip up around me. This was one of the reasons I'd inquired about meeting each pack member. Jacob was a vault, but if I could get anyone to slip up, my money was on the man sitting across the table from me.

Dad, Jacob, or Mom would arrive any minute. I'd been awake for months with no answers. This was my chance, so I asked point blank because my Internet searches gleaned absolutely nothing. "Do you know where the Cullen family moved to?"

Quil had just popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. He gagged as he pushed away from the table. He coughed and choked the whole way to the sink. I worried he needed the Heimlich, and I doubted my strength or capacity to perform a lifesaving maneuver on this giant man. Once I made it next to him, my palm patted his back, and I was thankful to spot the remnants of skin and seeds inside the sink. Choking crisis averted.

Apologizing, I continued rubbing his back as he washed the contents of his snack down the drain. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blurted that out."

Before Quil could get another word out, Jacob discovered us in the kitchen. "What the hell did you do, Quil?"

He wiped the back of his hand as he faced Jacob. "Ask her that, not me, Jake. I've been on my best behavior. This woman of yours tried to kill me."

Fury mixed with embarrassment claimed my response. "I did not. I only asked a silly question, Quil, and I'm not anyone's woman. That's insulting." Turning to Jacob, I let him have it too. "You promised to stop treating like I'm fragile!" Stomping, I turned toward my room and slammed the door on them.

A soft knock became louder, but I yelled, "Go away!"

The door cracked and Jacob's voice soothed my overreaction. "Bells, honey. Quil jokes. You know that?"

"Of course, I know. That's what I kept trying to tell you, Jacob. I fucking know about all of it! Ask me how."

An awkward silence hovered between us before Jacob spoke again. "Um, I think, I should let you rest. I need to talk to Quil before everyone gets here. Again, I'm sorry for upsetting you and so is Quil."

"You speak for Quil?" I quipped.

"Sometimes, I guess because we're close," he added.

"Like brothers?" I questioned.

"You could say that."

Jacob had remained at the bedroom door while he faced me sitting on my bed. My fingers grasped the comforter, and I squeezed to find my inner strength and voice. "They're your pack not just your friends. That's just one of the things I know."

Jacob cleared his throat and took two tentative steps closer. "Bells, I… I mean, things must still be confusing for you."

"Don't patronize me when you know I speak the truth." I didn't want to act so bitchy, but it was time to stop tiptoeing around the truth. We were both guilty of that. Jacob realized something was different about me. I could see it in his eyes. Sometimes, I heard him whisper things to me when he assumed I was asleep. He was brave and strong, but right now, I saw an expression of fear from him.

This recovery had taught me a lot about myself, but I needed a resolution. Edward left me and I wanted to know why. It was an important detail because I used to only want to return to him, but now I needed a solid reason to stay and forget about the Cullens forever. I refused to live a life cloaked in the unknown.

Jake was partially right. My feelings and memories routinely collided, causing confusion. He had been steadfast since the beginning and didn't deserve this harsh line of questioning. There must be a better way. Gentler words and a calm attitude would be my new goal. "You don't have to be sorry, Jake. I overreacted, but I have my reasons. I'm also tired, like you said. PT was intense this morning and I've been cooking with Quil."

He released a long breath. "It's okay, Bells. We'll talk more later."

"Okay, but heads up. I have one important topic we need to discuss."

"What's that?" he asked.

No gentle words came to me, so it was impossible to sugarcoat what I meant. Instead, I blurted it out, "Vampires."

~Thanks for reading.

The book Bella has me so frustrated. I'd forgotten how much I like giving her redemption, but she can still be a brat. What do you think?