Ever since their understanding in the car around a week ago, Bella had barely left Haven's side. The two had been constantly together and Bella opened up to Haven a lot more.
She was in no way back to her old self, but in hanging out with Haven it seemed like the girl had gotten some of her old spark back.
Unfortunately for Haven, it seemed like Bella still had her new desperate need for an adrenaline rush and that was why she intended to drag Haven to a secret location—where Bella was presumably going to do something reckless.
"What do you mean you saw him?" Haven scrunched her face up in confusion at what her friend had just tried to tell her.
Bella sighed, she realized how stupid it sounded, "I mean that when I do something reckless or dangerous, it's like Edward is right there beside me. I can see him."
Bella wasn't even sure if it was safe to tell Haven about how she saw Edward when the vampire world was hidden from her. But she the brunette was going insane not being able to talk about it. Bella couldn't help herself and she decided to tell Haven anyway. She found it easy to talk to Haven and it made her want to confide in her.
"So that's why you are doing all this stupid stuff?" Haven inquired. Her brain started to work out how the teenager beside her felt. "In hopes of seeing Edward?"
Bella nodded in conformation, her eyes focused on the road. Bella was driving her red pickup truck (which Haven had already made fun of over twenty times in the first ten minutes of entering the vehicle) to a location that she knew could help provide her with an adrenaline rush in the future.
"You could have just told me that. I know that you love Edward and it's hard being away from him but shouldn't you be working on moving on rather than dwelling on what could have been?"
"Maybe you will get why I am doing this when you fall in love."
Haven rolled her eyes, her knees were tucked up on the seat of Bella's truck. She had no clue where Bella was taking her but she was willing to go anywhere with the girl now that she had become more of herself again.
The drive to the location didn't take long. Bella turned her car into a long driveway—the road was rather bumpy and Haven was jostled in her seat.
After Bella parked her truck, both her and Haven bailed out. "Are you going to tell me what we are doing here?" Haven asked as she noted the rustic looking house in front of her. Bella hadn't said anything about visiting anyone.
"You'll see in a sec."
Haven saw a figure rounded towards them from behind the house. She immediately recognized the long, dark hair and the muscular build.
Jacob stalked towards the two girls with a grin on his face. He sported an army green long sleeved top and jeans. Haven couldn't help but notice how good he looked.
"Bella, where the hell have you been?" Jacob approached the girl and spun her around in a hug. A feeling brewed in Haven at the sight of the two together.
"Around," She looked at Haven and gestured towards her. "This is Haven by the way and Haven, that is Jacob."
"We have actually already met," Jacob stated, his eyes keenly focused on Haven.
Bella quirked a brow at this, not knowing how the two would have met considering they don't go to the same school or live relatively close. She looked to both of her friends that stood before her in hopes one of them would explain.
"We met at your search party," Jacob continued to say, a smile grew on his face at the memory of seeing Haven for the first time.
Haven didn't say a word. The last memory she had of Jacob Black was when he ran away from her without saying a word, then his father proceeded to give her a pointed look almost like he knew something about her.
"Interesting. Anyways, I bought something for you." Bella steered the conversation away from that topic, she could see a semi sour expression on Haven's face at the memory of the encounter.
They all turned to look at the object that Bella had draped a green tarpaulin over. Haven had wondered what it was when the Swan girl had picked her up but Bella didn't offer a word of explanation when she asked.
"It's a little crazy." Bella moved closer to the back of her truck and gripped the end of the tarpaulin. She pulled it up to reveal two dirty, ruined motorbikes.
Jacob raised his eyebrows at what was under the cover, it had not been what he expected. "Wow, scrap metal. You shouldn't have," He deadpanned sarcastically with a smile.
Haven immediately rolled her eyes upon seeing what was revealed. "I swear you are obsessed with motorbikes or something."
"I saved them from the junkyard."
"I could tell that by just looking at them—you really didn't have to explain it." Bella swatted Haven's shoulder at the teasing remark.
"I think they will probably fix more to cost than they're worth but then I thought if I had a mechanic friend to help me out..." Bella continued on what she was trying to say and ignored Haven's previous comment.
"Ah, that's me," Jacob interrupted, the smile still on his face. "Since when are you in to motorcycles?"
"Since now."
Haven let out a laugh at the comment—if only Jacob knew why she wanted to ride one. "I have a question, why am I here then? You know I have no interest in motorcycles."
Bella looked at her friend like the answer should be obvious. "Two reasons actually. One—I wanted you to meet Jacob but it seems like you already covered that without me. Two—because I know you want to make sure I'm being safe. By being here you can check up on how I'm being responsible."
Haven nodded at the reasons. Bella had a fair point on the last one.
Bella turned back to Jacob who had a hesitant look on his face. "I understand if you think this is really stupid and reckless."
"Yeah. It's completely stupid and reckless." Bella's once excited expression faltered at Jacob's words.. "When do we start?"
Haven sighed and spoke the first words she had to Jacob since they first met. "You are just as irresponsible as she is." She knew that she was going to have to oversee this operation, those two together would definitely be one life threatening combo.
Bella and Jacob both smiled at Haven, their expressions matched in a knowing grin.
"Can we start now?" Bella asked hopefully. Jacob nodded happily and went over to the back of the truck.
"Be careful, those things are actually really heavy," Bella warned seeing that Jacob was going to try and lift them simply.
The warning didn't bother Jacob as he picked up the first bike with ease. Haven watched in amusement as Bella's face turned into a look of confusion and wonder at the sight.
"Jake, you're really buff. How did that even happen? You're like sixteen, I don't get it," Bella laughed as she spoke. The boy she once knew as a child would not have been able to do what Jacob just did.
"You're only sixteen?" Haven questioned. He definitely looked older than that. She was positive that it was his physique and height that made him look more than his age.
He looked at Haven like he was used to this observation. "I get that a lot. And age is just a number, Bella. What are you now, like forty?"
Bella looked offended at the comment and Haven laughed. "She acts like it most of the time—always kept up in her room and never answers her phone."
"Alright guys, no need to pick on me. It's not my fault that I was born before the two of you."
"I like being seventeen. Maybe I should just refuse to age," Haven wondered as her and Bella followed behind Jacob—who wheeled the first bike across his lawn.
"I don't think you really have a choice in the matter," Jacob turned to look at the brunette playfully as he spoke.
"A girl can dream, Jacob."
---
It had now become a regular thing that Haven or Bella would pick the other up and travel to Jacob's house in La Push to work on the motorbikes.
To be fair, Haven didn't enjoy the whole mechanic situation but what she did enjoy was seeing Bella happy. She seemed to be in her element with helping Jacob fix up the bikes, Haven had seen glimpses of what Bella used to be when they all hung out.
What also made Haven want to attend these gatherings was Jacob. They had fast become friends and she enjoyed spending time with him. Although when they met she did think that Jacob had been a jerk to her when he left unannounced, he had fast blown that assumption out of the water. Haven still didn't know him that well but she did thoroughly enjoy his company.
Most of the afternoons consisted of Jacob and Bella doing the handy work while Haven would either sit and watch or catch up on any homework that needed doing.
Haven had never seen her friend unhappy on their motorcycle revamp afternoons—that was until the current day.
"Quil keeps asking to come over," Jacob stated as the three teenagers had finished up for the day and walked towards Haven's BMW. "I think he likes you a little too much," He continued to speak, the conversation directed at Haven. There was a firm tone to his voice, he didn't sound too happy about the school boy crush his friend had come to develop.
Jacob's friends, Quil and Embry, had met Haven and Bella a few times now. They were Jacob's best friends and considering the two girls had began to occupy all of Jacob's free time, they were curious as to what was going on.
As soon as they met, Quil had taken a small liking towards Haven although they had never really had much of a conversation. It was obvious that he had taken a liking to her looks rather than who she was. It didn't really bother her, in fact it was quite fun to flirt with the boy just to see him squirm in awkwardness and embarrassment—he wasn't really the best at talking to girls.
Bella rolled her eyes knowing the infatuation that the boy had with her friend. "I think he is becoming obsessed."
"He's harmless, besides I'm not really interested," Haven admitted. They now stood around the vehicle as Haven and Bella both got ready to leave.
"And you don't want to be a cougar right?" Bella joked. She placed her bag inside the car and was about to slide in to the passenger seat when Jacob spoke up.
"What is up with you and age? Besides, how old was that Cullen guy?" Jacob didn't mean harm in anything he said but in mentioning Edward he struck a nerve.
Bella didn't say a word, she simply hopped into the passenger seat and shut the door behind her. Jacob looked towards Haven in confusion—he wasn't sure what he had done wrong.
"Don't feel too bad, it happens when I mention him too. She will be opening up to me fine about anything but as soon as I say his name it's like her brain shuts off."
"Got it, don't ever utter the word Cullen again," Jacob joked. Although it was a joke he knew it was probably for the best if he actually didn't mention Edward again.
"That will definitely make our afternoons more enjoyable." Haven was about to open the door to her car but Jacob's voice stopped her.
"I have actually been meaning to ask you something," Jacob announced. Haven simply nodded her head for him to go on.
"Why do you keep coming along with Bella? I mean, I know you don't like motorcycles so why do you keep coming back?"
Haven already had the answer that wanted to flow out of her lips. She didn't need to put any thought into it, the brunette already knew why she continued to come back.
"I like seeing Bella happy and she seems to really enjoy the whole mechanical work thing," Haven let a smile make its way on to her face as she spoke. "Also, your company isn't too bad, Jake."
A grin grew on his face at her words. Jake would be a liar if he said that comment hadn't made him extremely happy.
The truth was, he enjoyed Haven's company just as much.
---
Haven shut the door behind her as she walked into her house. The now decorated walls filled with family photos and artworks were the first thing she saw when she walked into the kitchen—along with her dad—who stood against the counter.
She beamed a smile at him and headed to see what was in their refrigerator. "Did you have fun?"
Haven's head peaked out of the cold doors to answer her father. "Yeah, just the usual. Bella and Jacob were working on the bikes."
"You have been spending a lot of time with this Jacob kid."
Haven turned to face her father and quirked a brow before she replied, "I'm not just with him you know. Bella is always there with me."
"Is she still going through a difficult time?" Chris asked his daughter curiously. He was trying to get a grasp on the situation in hopes that he might be able to convince his daughter not to see the Quileute boy anymore. He knew it was going to be a difficult task.
"Yeah, this motorbike thing with Jacob seems to be helping. I said I was always going to be there for her and this is something she wants me to do with her."
Chris spoke up again. "Couldn't she just do it alone with Jacob?
Haven was confused as to why her dad was now questioning her actions. It was almost like he had a problem with Jacob. She had explained it to him before but apparently he didn't catch on or understand. "Do you have a problem with Jacob or something? It sounds like you don't want me to see him."
"Well, I haven't actually met him before, how do I know if I can trust him?"
"Because I trust him, that's how you know." Haven snapped back. She didn't mean for her tone to be filled with anger but the last thing Haven wanted was her dad prying into her personal life. "Why do you all of a sudden care about who I hang out with? I'm not stupid, Dad."
Chris sighed before he made his way over to where Haven stood and threw an arm over her shoulder to bring her to rest at his side. "I just want you to be safe."
Haven cuddled closer to her father, she knew he had good intentions but he always went about them the wrong way. He should have been upfront about his concerns instead of asking questions. "I know but I've got this. They are just motorcycles and Jacob is just my friend."
Chris wasn't worried about the motorcycle—they were a lot less dangerous than what he was afraid would hurt his daughter.
He didn't mind her hanging out with a Quileute for a little while but he didn't want her permanently mixed up with shape-shifters. It would only make what she had to do that much harder.
---