I kept the events of that night to myself, choosing not to confide in my Grandma about the mysterious occurrence. The memory lingered, haunting me as I pondered how I had ended up in the depths of the woods near Bella's house. The details eluded me, leaving me perplexed as I struggled to piece together the sequence of events leading to my unexpected location.
Months slipped by, and school became a bright spot in my life. Bella and the others welcomed me into their circle, their humour and acceptance warming my heart. Yet, despite the growing closeness, I remained guarded, wary of letting anyone too close. Mastering my school assignments felt like second nature, and I swiftly caught up on the material I had missed due to the relocation.
I noticed Bella's distant expression, a veil of sadness clouding her features. She confided in me about her recent breakup with a guy named Edward, his departure leaving her feeling abandoned. Her words struck a chord within me, reminding me of the lingering pain from the loss of my parents, a pain I had yet to share with my newfound friends. With my seventeenth birthday come and gone, I hosted a small party, inviting friends to celebrate with me. However, Bella's absence weighed heavily on my heart, leaving me feeling disappointed yet understanding of her need for space.
After spending months in solitude, Bella finally reached out to me, inviting me to join her for a shopping trip followed by a movie. I was thrilled by her invitation and eagerly accepted. As we watched the zombie film together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through me. The movie was truly thrilling, and sharing the experience with Bella made it even more enjoyable.
"I don't get why are there so many zombie movies," Bella remarked.
"It's probably a metaphor, you know? Maybe for crass consumerism or something," I replied quickly as we walked away from the movie theatre. Bella glanced at me, considering my words.
"Not that you'd know anything about consuming. You didn't buy anything today," I remarked, arching an eyebrow at Bella. Unlike her, I had purchased a simple silver pentagram necklace that caught my eye.
"I bought something," Bella shrugged, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"Socks don't really count... I've been worried about you lately, Bella," I confessed, gazing into her deep chocolate-brown eyes.
"I've been kind of... out of it," she admitted.
"Kind of? Bella, you've been cooped up in your room for months. I was starting to get really concerned, but I understand you needed time—" Before I could finish, some bikers shouted at us, offering us a ride on their bikes. We glanced down the street, where several bikes were parked outside a bar, their riders eyeing us like prey. Bella seemed to be in a daze as she stared at them, so I stepped in front of her to get her attention.
"Come on," I urged, but she kept glancing back at the bikers.
"I know them... I think," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the group of bikers.
"Can we just go?" I insisted, reaching out to grab her arm, but she shook it off.
"I want to see something," she declared and began walking down the street. Concerned for her safety, I followed closely behind, my mind racing with worries of potential danger.
"You're not them," Bella suddenly spoke, causing me to stop in my tracks behind her. Feeling a surge of fear, I realized I needed to intervene.
"We'll be whoever you want, honey," one of the bikers replied, sending a chill down my spine. Another biker pulled up beside us on his motorcycle.
"Ready for a thrill ride?" he asked, extending his hand towards Bella. I shook my head vehemently, taking a step back. Bella hesitated for a moment, but then determination flashed across her face as she climbed onto the back of the bike.
"I can break promises, too," Bella declared, leaving the biker confused before the bike roared to life and sped off into the night, leaving me standing alone in the deserted street. The remaining biker approached me, his eyes gleaming with malice as he reached out to touch my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. With no one else around, fear gripped me as I stood frozen in place, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Such a pretty little thing," he slurred, his words dripping with drunkenness. I recoiled in disgust at his leering gaze. Stepping back, he positioned himself in front of me, his eyes boring into mine with an unsettling intensity. I braced myself for whatever he might do next, refusing to entertain the thought of his intentions. As his hand reached out towards me, I instinctively raised my left hand in a claw-like shape, unleashing a surge of power. A piercing scream tore from his lips as he crumpled to the ground, writhing in agony, blood trickling from his nose.
In a matter of seconds, he lay unconscious on the pavement, his memory of the encounter erased by the force of my retaliation. Bella appeared suddenly; her confusion evident as she surveyed the scene before her.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I confronted her, my frustration boiling over.
"I... saw something... Wait. What happened here?" she asked, her gaze shifting to the unconscious figure at my feet.
"Oh...uh... He picked a fight with the wrong guy," I improvised, hoping to divert her attention from the truth.
"The more dangerous... the more real it was," Bella mused, attempting to piece together the puzzle before her.
"Don't get me wrong, if you want danger, go hang-gliding or bungee-jumping. Hell, I'll even come with you just to keep an eye on you," I declared, my tone serious and unwavering. It was a promise she knew I would keep.
...................................
The following day, Bella reached out to me, proposing an excursion to work on some bikes together. Intrigued by the idea, I eagerly accepted her invitation and made my way to her house. Upon arrival, I found Bella waiting for me, ready to embark on our adventure. We climbed into her truck and set off, the anticipation of the day ahead palpable in the air.
As we pulled into the driveway of our destination, I couldn't help but notice the tranquil surroundings. The yard we entered was adorned with an array of tools and machinery, indicating a passion for mechanical work. Suddenly, the door of the nearby house swung open, revealing a figure emerging with a grin adorning his face. With his long black hair and tanned complexion, he exuded a sense of rugged charm that immediately captured our attention.
"Bella!" He called out as he sprinted over to the truck, his excitement evident. Bella and I both exited the truck, watching as he embraced her warmly before turning his attention to me as I rounded the vehicle.
"'Bout time you came by. Who's this?" he inquired; his head cocked in my direction.
"Jacob, meet Charlotte. She's a friend," Bella introduced, gesturing towards me.
"Hi," I greeted with a wave, a smile playing on my lips as I observed the interaction. Jacob returned the smile before refocusing on Bella.
"I brought you something," she announced, moving to the back of the truck and unveiling two rusting motorcycles concealed beneath a tarp.
"Scrap metal. You shouldn't have," Jacob remarked sarcastically, his playful tone evident as Bella continued to explain.
"I rescued them from the dump. They'd cost more than they're worth to fix... unless one had a mechanic-type friend," she explained, casting a meaningful glance at Jacob.
"Me, being the mechanic-type friend?" Jacob queried, prompting Bella to shrug before he continued, "Since when are you into motorcycles?"
"Recently, I'm guessing," I interjected, catching both of their attention. I exchanged a knowing glance with Bella, silently acknowledging our shared understanding.
Jacob turned his gaze back to the bikes, assessing them critically. "The parts alone will be pricey," he remarked thoughtfully.
"I have a college fund I can dig into," Bella offered, her determination evident.
"I can also chip in. I have some money saved up from summer jobs," I chimed in, meeting Bella's serious gaze with a resolve of my own.
"Mia, you don't have to," Bella insisted, her expression earnest.
"I know I don't. But I want to," I asserted, a sense of determination fuelling my words as I glanced between Bella and the bikes. She responded with a small smile, silently appreciating my support.
"Charlie's gonna love that," Jacob commented with a hint of amusement.
"Charlie won't know," Bella declared firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Wow. Lying to Dad. Blowing through college money. Repairing dangerous machines - that I'm guessing you both want to ride?" Jacob teased, his grin widening as he leaned closer to us.
"I really get it if you think this is stupid and reckless," Bella admitted, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"Oh, it's totally stupid and reckless," Jacob agreed with a chuckle, his enthusiasm contagious. "When do we start?" As Jacob's question hung in the air, I watched as Bella's face lit up with a rare, genuine smile. Together, we began unloading the bikes from the truck, laughter and banter filling the air. With each moment, it felt as though Jacob had breathed new life into Bella, rekindling her spirit.
As Bella and Jacob walked ahead, caught up in conversation, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine. Pausing for a moment, I glanced towards the edge of the woods, a sense of unease washing over me. Yet, finding nothing amiss, I quickly caught up with the others as we made our way towards Jacob's garage.
.......................................
Another day had come and gone, and once again, we found ourselves gathered in Jacob's garage. Motorcycle parts were scattered across blankets, and Jacob moved among them with an air of excitement, expertly piecing them together. Bella and I observed his progress with fascination.
"If we're going to be working on this every day, we should probably include some homework. Don't want Billy to think I'm a bad influence on you," Bella remarked, and I nodded in agreement.
"You influence me? Please," Jacob retorted, his focus still on the parts.
"I am older than you," Bella reminded him, causing Jacob to raise his head with a grin.
"Age ain't nothin' but a number."
"And we both convinced you to secretly build us two-wheeled death machines," I added, earning a mock-horrified expression from Jacob.
"God, you're right, you're both like Satan," he joked, prompting laughter from Bella and me.
"Yo, Jake, you in there?" a voice I didn't recognize called out. Bella and I exchanged a quick glance, and she moved to cover the bikes with a tarp, silently signalling for me to follow suit.
"It's cool, it's just my boys," Jacob reassured us as two unfamiliar figures entered the garage before we could fully cover the bikes. The first was short and stocky, radiating a feisty energy with his short hair. The second was tall and lean, exuding a laid-back vibe with his chin-length black hair.
"Hey, Jake—" the taller of the two began before trailing off as they caught sight of Bella and me. They shared a knowing smile.
"Hey. This is Bella, and this is Charlotte," Jacob introduced us and offered their names as well. Bella and I exchanged greetings with Quil and Embry.
"So the bike-building story is true," Quil remarked.
"Taught him everything he knows," Bella quipped with a grin.
"And I taught her everything she knows," I added playfully, earning chuckles from the boys.
"What about the part where you're his girlfriends?" Quil teased, prompting an awkward exchange between Bella and me.
"Oh, we're just friends," Bella clarified, putting an end to any misconceptions.
"Ooh. Burn," Embry remarked, feigning shock.
"I said they are both girls and friends," Jacob interjected, stumbling over his words slightly.
"Embry, you remember him making that distinction?" Quil asked, to which Embry shook his head with a smirk.
"Nope," he replied, grinning mischievously.
"So, I guess you guys have girlfriends," I remarked, coming to Jacob's rescue. His laughter filled the garage as the tension eased.
"Right. Quil took his cousin to prom," Jacob added, still chuckling. Embry joined in the laughter.
"Yeah, that's still a riot. You want funny, Black? I'll give you funny," Quil declared before lunging at Jacob playfully, sparking a lively scuffle. Bella and I watched, thoroughly entertained by their antics.
*****************