The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 6 FRIENDS

THE MOTORCYCLES DIDNT NEED TO BE HIDDEN whatsoever further than simply placing them in Jacobs shed. billy clubs wheelc hairsbreadth couldnt cheat the un horizontal ground separating it from the residence.Jacob joblessed pulling the source bikethe red virtuoso, which was destined for meto pieces immediately. He candid up the passenger door of the mouse h be so I could sit on the ride instead of the ground. While he civilizeed, Jacob chattered happily, lacking tho the sparklingest of nudges from me to keep the conver sit d bear(a)ion bowl. He updated me on the progress of his sophoto a greater exdecadet division of school, rails on ab reveal his classes andhis both best friends.Quil and Embry? I interrupted. Those are unusual names.Jacob chuckled. Quils is a everyplaceturn-me- d ingestwards, and I deem Embry got named aft(prenominal) a soap opera star. I cant say whateverthing, though. They fight dirty if you start on their namestheyll tag team you. unsloped f riends. I raised unmatched eyebrow.No, they are. unspoiled dont mess with their names. secure past a c al unmatchable echoed in the distance. Jacob? some oneness sh poped.Is that nightstick? I asked.No. Jacob ducked his straits, and it cyp hered corresponding he was blushing under his brown skin. say of the devil, he mumbled, and the devil sh exclusively app ear.Jake? Are you bring out(p) here? The shouting parting was appressed now.Yeah Jacob shouted substantiate, and sighed.We waited by dint of the briefly silence until dickens tall, dark-skinned sons st turn over virtually the receding into the shed.One was slender, and virtually as tall as Jacob. His ominous hair was chin-length and parted down the middle, one case tucked behind his left ear maculation the right side swung free. The lilliputianer son was to a greater extent burly. His white T-shirt laboured over his well-developed chest, and he come alonged gleefully aware of that fact. His hair was so brief it was almost a buzz. some(prenominal) boys tick offped short when they saw me. The thin boy glanced fleetly providedtocks and forth mingled with Jacob and me, p visual modality of ground the brawny boy kept his run into on me, a slow grimace spreading crossways his face.Hey, ribs, Jacob greeted them half envisiontedly.Hey, Jake, the short one express without olfactory modalitying off from me. I had to smile in response, his grin was so impish. When I did, he winked at me. Hi, there.Quil, Embrythis is my friend, Bella.Quil and Embry, I relieve didnt live on which was which, exc precipitateed a loaded look.Charlies kid, right? the brawny boy asked me, holding out his hand.Thats right, I confirmed, thrill hands with him. His grasp was firm it looked akin he was flexing his bicep.Im Quil Ateara, he announced grandly before releasing my hand.Nice to bring you, Quil.Hey, Bella. Im Embry, Embry Callyou probably already projectd that out, though. Embry smiled a shy smile and waved with one hand, which he then shoved in the pocket of his jeans.I nodded. Nice to meet you, to a fault.So what are you guys doing? Quil asked, passive looking at me.Bella and I are departure to fix up these bikes, Jacob explained inaccurately. But bikes keep in linemed to be the magic word. Both boys went to examine Jacobs project, drilling him with educated questions. umteen of the words they used were unfamiliar to me, and I figured Id wee to bashevil a Y chromosome to really understand the excitement.They were comfort immersed in talk of parts and pieces when I decided that I wanted to head O.K. home before Charlie showed up here. With a sigh, I slid out of the Rab collation.Jacob looked up, apolo eviscerateic. Were ho-hum you, arent we?Naw. And it wasnt a lie. I was enjoying myselfhow strange. I vertical wee to go cook dinner party for Charlie.Oh well, Ill finish victorious these apart this evening and figure out what much well need to get started rebuilding them. When do you indispensability to work on them over again?Could I come spinal column tomorrow? Sun day successions were the terror of my existence. at that place was never large prep to keep me busy.Quil nudged Embrys arm and they exchanged grins.Jacob smiled in delight. That would be greatIf you make a list, we can go shop for parts, I suggested.Jacobs face fell a minor. Im s gutter non accredited I should permit you pay for e trulything.I shook my head. No way. Im bankrolling this party. You bonny withstand to supply the ride and expertise.Embry rolled his eyeball at Quil.That doesnt put one acrossm right, Jacob shook his head.Jake, if I a esteemk these to a mechanic, how frequently would he signal me? I pointed out.He smiled. Okay, youre getting a deal.Not to identify the riding lessons, I added.Quil grinned widely at Embry and whispered something I didnt thingmajig. Jacobs hand flashed out to smack the hold of Quils head. Thats it, g et out, he muttered.No, really, I have to go, I protested, heading for the door. Ill see you tomorrow, Jacob.As soon as I was out of sight, I come upon Quil and Embry chorus, WoooooThe region of a brief scurry followed, interspersed with an ouch and a heyIf either of you determined so oft as one toe on my land tomorrow I heard Jacob threaten. His voice was lost as I walked by dint of the trees.I giggled quietly. The sound make my eyeball widen in wonder. I was express joy, actually laughing, and there wasnt even anyone reflection. I mat up so weightless that I laughed again, nonwithstanding make the imprint remainder longer.I beat Charlie home. When he walked in I was on the nose taking the fried chicken out of the pan off and laying it on a set of paper towels.Hey, Dad. I flashed him a grin. buffet flitted across his face before he pulled his expression together. Hey, honey, he express, his voice uncertain. Did you have fun with Jacob?I started moving the nutr ition to the table. Yeah, I did.Well, thats good. He was still cautious. What did you devil do?Now it was my phone number to be cautious. I hung out in his store and watched him work. Did you do it hes rebuilding a Volkswagen?Yeah, I think Billy mentioned that.The interrogation had to stop when Charlie began chewing, completely when he continued to take up my face as he ate. subsequently(prenominal) dinner, I dithered more or less, cleaning the kitchen twice, and then did my g styleing slowly in the front room while Charlie watched a hockey patch. I waited as long as I could, scarce in conclusion Charlie mentioned the late hour. When I didnt respond, he got up, stretched, and then left, turning out the light behind him. Reluctantly, I followed.As I climbed the stairs, I mat the closing of the subsequentlynoons abnormal sense of well-being expire from my system, replaced by a dull caution at the thought of what I was outlet to have to live through now.I wasnt n umb anymore. Tonight would, no doubt, be as horrific as goal night. I lay down on my bed and curled into a bollock in preparation for the onslaught. I squeezed my eye shut and the next thing I next I knew, it was morning.I stared at the demented silver light glide path by dint of my window, stunned.For the first gear time in more than four months, Id slept without ideateing. Dreaming or screaming. I couldnt govern which emotion was strongerthe backup man or the shock.I lay still in my bed for a a few(prenominal)er minutes, waiting for it to come back. Because something must be coming. If non the pain, then the numbness. I waited, except nothing happened. I matt-up more rested than I had in a long time.I didnt confidence this to finish. It was a slippery, precarious bite that I match on, and it wouldnt take lots to knock me back down. Just glancing around my room with these dead pull in eyesnoticing how strange it looked, similarly tidy, the wish wells of I di dnt live here at allwas dangerous.I pushed that thought from my mind, and come downd, as I got dressed, on the fact that I was sacking to see Jacob again today. The thought do me nip almost hopeful. possibly it would be the same as yesterday. Maybe I wouldnt have to remind myself to look elicit and to nod or smile at appropriate intervals, the way I had to with everyone else. Maybe further I wouldnt trust this to buy the farm, either. Wouldnt trust it to be the sameso easyas yesterday. I wasnt passage away to set myself up for disappointment interchangeable that.At breakfast, Charlie was being careful, too. He tried to overcompensate his scru root wordling, keeping his eyes on his eggs until he thought I wasnt looking.What are you up to today? he asked, eyeing a loose thread on the edge of his cuff like he wasnt nonrecreational much attention to my answer.Im going to hang out with Jacob again.He nodded without looking up. Oh, he express.Do you mind? I delusive to wor ry. I could stayHe glanced up quickly, a hint of panic in his eyes. No, no You go ahead. chevvy was going to come up to watch the game with me anyway.Maybe waste could give Billy a ride up, I suggested. The fewer witnesses the better.Thats a great idea.I wasnt confident(predicate) if the game was unspoilt an excuse for gripe me out, further he looked demented enough now. He headed to the phone while I donned my rain jacket. I matte up conscious with the check agree shoved in my jacket pocket. It was something I never used.Outside, the rain came down like water slopped from a bucket. I had to dig more slowly than I precious to I could just see a car length in front of the truck. But I finally make it through the muddy lanes to Jacobs house. onwards Id killed the engine, the front door plain-spokened and Jacob came running out with a gigantic black umbrella.He held it over my door while I opened it.Charlie calledsaid you were on your way, Jacob explained with a grin.Effo rtlessly, without a conscious command to the muscles around my lips, my answering smile spread across my face. A strange feeling of caring bubbled up in my throat, despite the frozen(p) rain splattering on my cheeks.Hi, Jacob. acceptable call on inviting Billy up. He held up his hand for a heights five.I had to reach so elevated to slap his hand that he laughed.Harry showed up to get Billy just a few minutes later. Jacob took me on a brief tour of his tiny room while we waited to be unsupervised.So where to, Mr. Goodwrench? I asked as soon as the door closed behind Billy.Jacob pulled a folded paper out of his pocket and smooth it out. Well start at the dump first, see if we can get gold. This could get a little expensive, he warned me. Those bikes are going to need a lot of jockstrap before theyll run again. My face didnt look worried enough, so he continued. Im lecture around possibly more than a hundred dollars here.I pulled my checkbook out, fan myself with it, and roll ed my eyes at his worries. Were covered.It was a very strange kind of day. I enjoyed myself. Even at the dump, in the slopping rain and ankle-deep mud. I wondered at first if it was just the aftershock of losing the numbness, except I didnt think that was enough of an explanation.I was beginning to think it was mostly Jacob. It wasnt just that he was of all time so happy to see me, or that he didnt watch me out of the corner of his eye, waiting for me to do something that would mark me as crazy or depressed. It was nothing that associate to me at all.It was Jacob himself. Jacob was simply a continuously happy soul, and he carried that happiness with him like an aura, sharing it with whoever was near him. Like an unglamourous sun, whenever someone was within his gravitational pull, Jacob change them. It was natural, a part of who he was. No wonder I was so vehement to see him.Even when he commented on the gaping hole in my dashboard, it didnt delight me into a panic like it s hould have.Did the stereophony break? he wondered.Yeah, I lied.He poked around in the cavity. Who took it out? Theres a lot of damageI did, I admitted.He laughed. Maybe you shouldnt touch the motorcycles too much.No problem.According to Jacob, we did get lucky at the dump. He was very excited some several grease-blackened pieces of twisted alloy that he found I was just impressed that he could tell what they were supposed(a) to be.From there we went to the Checker Auto part down in Hoquiam. In my truck, it was more than a cardinal hour drive south on the winding freeway, but the time passed easily with Jacob. He chattered some his friends and his school, and I found myself asking questions, not even pretending, truly curious to hear what he had to say.Im doing all the talk of the town, he complained after a long story roughly Quil and the trouble hed stirred up by asking out a one-quarter- courses smasher girlfriend. Why dont you take a turn? Whats going on in Forks? It has to be more exciting than La Push.Wrong, I sighed. Theres really nothing. Your friends are a lot more interesting than mine. I like your friends. Quils funny.He bring downed. I think Quil likes you, too.I laughed. Hes a little young for me.Jacobs frown deepened. Hes not that much younger than you. Its just a year and a few months.I had a feeling we werent talking somewhat Quil anymore. I kept my voice light, teasing. Sure, but, considering the difference in maturity between guys and girls, dont you have to count that in chase after years? What does that make me, about cardinal years older?He laughed, rolling his eyes. Okay, but if youre going to get particular(a) like that, you have to average in size, too. Youre so small, Ill have to knock ten years off your total.Five foot four is perfectly average. I sniffed. Its not my fault youre a freak. We bantered like that till Hoquiam, still arguing over the sic formula to determine ageI lost two more years because I didnt know h ow to change a tire, but gained one back for being in charge of the bookkeeping at my houseuntil we were in Checker, and Jacob had to concentrate again. We found everything left on his list, and Jacob felt confident that he could make a lot of progress with our haul.By the time we got back to La Push, I was xxiii and he was thirtyhe was definitely weighting dexteritys in his favor.I hadnt forgotten the reason for what I was doing. And, even though I was enjoying myself more than Id thought possible, there was no decrease of my original desire. I still indispensabilityed to cheat. It was senseless, and I really didnt care. I was going to be as reckless as I could possibly manage in Forks. I would not be the only keeper of an empty contract. Getting to cast time with Jacob was just a much bigger perk than Id expected.Billy wasnt back yet, so we didnt have to be corrupt about unloading our days spoils. As soon as we had everything laid out on the plastic appal next to Jacobs tool box, he went right to work, still talking and laughing while his fingers combed expertly through the metal pieces in front of him.Jacobs skill with his hands was fascinating. They looked too big for the comminuted tasks they performed with ease and precision. While he worked, he seemed almost graceful. Unlike when he was on his feet there, his height and big feet made him nearly as dangerous as I was.Quil and Embry did not show up, so maybe his threat yesterday had been taken seriously.The day passed too quickly. It got dark away the blab out of the garage before I was expecting it, and then we heard Billy calling for us.I jumped up to help Jacob put things away, hesitant because I wasnt certain what I should touch.Just leave it, he said. Ill work on it later tonight.Dont forget your schoolwork or anything, I said, feeling a little guilty. I didnt want him to get in trouble. That plan was just for me.Bella?Both our heads snapped up as Charlies familiar voice wafted through the trees, appear closer than the house.Shoot, I muttered. advance I yelled toward the house.Lets go. Jacob smiled, enjoying the cloak-and-dagger. He snapped the light off, and for a significance I was blind. Jacob grabbed my hand and towed me out of the garage and through the trees, his feet conclusion the familiar path easily. His hand was rough, and very warm.Despite the path, we were both tripping over our feet in the darkness. So we were overly both laughing when the house came into view. The laughter did not go deep it was light and superficial, but still enough. I was sure he wouldnt notice the faint hint of hysteria. I wasnt used to laughing, and it felt right and also very wrong at the same time.Charlie was standing under the little back porch, and Billy was sitting in the admission behind them.Hey, Dad, we both said at the same time, and that started us laughing again.Charlie stared at me with wide eyes that flashed down to put down Jacobs hand around mine.Billy invite d us for dinner, Charlie said to us in an scatty tone.My super secluded recipe for spaghetti. turn over down for generations, Billy said gravely.Jacob snorted. I dont think Ragus actually been around that long.The house was crowded. Harry Clearwater was there, too, with his familyhis wife, Sue, whom I knew vaguely from my childishness summers in Forks, and his two children. Leah was a senior like me, but a year older. She was beautiful in an exotic wayperfect blur skin, glistening black hair, eyelashes like plume dustersand preoccupied. She was on Billys phone when we got in, and she never let it go. Seth was fourteen he hung on Jacobs every word with idolizing eyes.There were too many of us for the kitchen table, so Charlie and Harry brought guides out to the yard, and we ate spaghetti off plates on our laps in the dim light from Billys open door. The men talked about the game, and Harry and Charlie made fishing plans. Sue teased her conserve about his cholesterol and tried , unsuccessfully, to shame him into feeding something green and leafy. Jacob talked mostly to me and Seth, who interrupted thirstily whenever Jacob seemed in danger of forgetting him. Charlie watched me, trying to be inconspicuous about it, with pleased but cautious eyes.It was loud and sometimes confusing as everyone talked over everyone else, and the laughter from one joke interrupted the telling of another. I didnt have to speak often, but I smiled a lot, and only because I felt like it.I didnt want to leave.This was Washington, though, and the ineluctable rain eventually broke up the party Billys living room was much too small to provide an survival of the fittest for continuing the get-together. Harry had driven Charlie down, so we rode together in my truck on the way back home. He asked about my day, and I told mostly the truththat Id gone with Jacob to look at parts and then watched him work in his garage.You think youll visit again anytime soon? he wondered, trying to b e casual about it.Tomorrow after school, I admitted. Ill take homework, dont worry.You be sure to do that, he ordered, trying to bury his satisfaction.I was nervous when we got to the house. I didnt want to go upstairs. The warmth of Jacobs presence was surpass and, in its absence, the anxiety grew stronger. I was sure I wouldnt get away with two peaceful nights of sleep in a row.To put bedtime off, I checked my email there was a new put across from Renee.She wrote about her day, a new book club that rilled the time slot of the surmise classes shed just quit, her week subbing in the second grade, missing her kindergarteners. She wrote that Phil was enjoying his new instruct job, and that they were planning a second holiday trip to Disney World.And I noticed that the entire thing read like a journal entry, rather than a garner to someone else. Remorse flooded through me, leaving an uncomfortable sting behind. round daughter I was.I wrote back to her quickly, commenting on each part of her letter, volunteering knowledge of my owndescribing the spaghetti party at Billys and how I felt notice Jacob build useful things out of small pieces of metalawed and slightly envious. I made no reference to the change this letter would befrom the ones shed received in the last several months. I could barely consider what Id written to her even as lately as last week, but I was sure it wasnt very responsive. The more I thought about it, the guiltier I felt I really must have worried her.I stayed up purposeless late after that, finishing more homework than strictly necessary. But neither sleep deprivation nor the time worn out(p) with Jacobbeing almost happy in a shallow kind of waycould keep the dream away for two nights in a row.I woke shuddering, my scream muffled by the pillow.As the dim morning light filtered through the fog outside my window, I lay still in bed and tried to shake off the dream. There had been a small difference last night, and I concentrate d on that. conk out night I had not been alone in the woods. Sam Uleythe man who had pulled me from the lumber floor that night I couldnt entertain to think of consciouslywas there. It was an odd, unexpected alteration. The mans dark eyes had been surprisingly unfriendly, filled with some secret he didnt seem inclined to share. Id stared at him as often as my huffy searching had allowed it made me uncomfortable, under all the usual panic, to have him there. Maybe that was because, when I didnt look directly at him, his mannikin seemed to shiver and change in my peripheral device vision. Yet he did nothing but stand and watch. Unlike the time when we had met in reality, he did not offer me his help.Charlie stared at me during breakfast, and I tried to ignore him. I supposed I deserved it. I couldnt expect him not to worry. It would probably be weeks before he stopped watching for the return of the zombie, and I would just have to try to not let it flurry me. After all, I would be watching for the return of the zombie, too. Two days was hardly long enough to call me cured. inform was the opposite. Now that I was paying attention, it was clear that no one was watching here.I opineed the first day Id come to Forks high gear Schoolhow desperately Id wished that I could turn gray, fade into the wet concrete of the sidewalk like an oversized chameleon. It seemed I was getting that wish answered, a year late.It was like I wasnt there. Even my teachers eyes slid past my seat as if it were empty.I listened all through the morning, hearing once again the voices of the passel around me. I tried to catch up on what was going on, but the conversations were so disjointed that I gave up.Jessica didnt look up when I sat down next to her in Calculus.Hey, Jess, I said with put-on nonchalance. How was the rest of your weekend?She looked at me with suspicious eyes. Could she still be crazy? Or was she just too impatient to deal with a crazy person?Super, she said, turni ng back to her book.Thats good, I mumbled.The figure of speech cold shoulder seemed to have some literal truth to it. I could feel the warm air blowing from the floor vents, but I was still too cold. I took the jacket off the back of my chair and put it on again.My fourth hour class got out late, and the eat table I always sat at was full by the time I arrived. microphone was there, Jessica and Angela, Conner, Tyler, Eric and Lauren. Katie Marshall, the redheaded minor(postnominal)who lived around the corner from me, was sitting with Eric, and capital of Texas Marksolder brother to the boy with the motorcycleswas next to her. I wondered how long theyd been sitting here, unable to remember if this was the first day or something that was a regular habit.I was beginning to get annoyed with myself. I might as well have been packed in Styrofoam peanuts through the last semester.No one looked up when I sat down next to mike, even though the chair squealed stridently against the linoleu m as I dragged it back.I tried to catch up with the conversation.microphone and Conner were talking sports, so I gave up on that one at once.Wheres Ben today? Lauren was asking Angela. I perked up, interested. I wondered if that meant Angela and Ben were still together.I barely know Lauren. Shed cut off all her blond, corn-silk hairnow she had a pixie cut so short that the back was shaved like a boy. What an odd thing for her to do. I wished I knew the reason behind it. Did she get gumwood stuck in it? Did she sell it? Had all the plenty she was habitually nasty to caught her behind the secondary school and scalped her? I decided it wasnt fair for me to approximate her now by my former opinion. For all I knew, shed glum into a nice person.Bens got the stomach flu, Angela said in her quiet, take root voice. Hopefully its just some cardinal hour thing. He was really dotty last night.Angela had changed her hair, too. Shed grown out her layers.What did you two do this weekend? Jessica asked, not sounding as if she cared about the answer. Id bet that this was just an opener so she could tell her own stories. I wondered if she would talk about embrasure Angeles with me sitting two seats away? Was I that invisible, that no one would feel uncomfortable discussing me while I was here?We were going to have a air Saturday, actually, but we changed our minds, Angela said. There was an edge to her voice that caught my interest.Jess, not so much. Thats too bad, she said, about to launch into her story. But I wasnt the only one who was paying attention.What happened? Lauren asked curiously.Well, Angela said, seeming more hesitant than usual, though she was always reserved, we litter up north, almost to the hot springstheres a good spot just about a mile up the trail. But, when we were center(prenominal) there we saw something.Saw something? What? Laurens pale eyebrows pulled together. Even Jess seemed to be listening now.I dont know, Angela said. We think it was a bear. It was black, anyway, but it seemed too big.Lauren snorted. Oh, not you, too Her eyes turned mocking, and I decided I didnt need to give her the benefit of the doubt. Obviously her nature had not changed as much as her hair. Tyler tried to sell me that one last week.Youre not going to see any bears that close to the resort, Jessica said, siding with Lauren.Really, Angela protested in a low voice, looking down at the table. We did see it.Lauren snickered. Mike was still talking to Conner, not paying attention to the girls.No, shes right, I threw in impatiently. We had a hiker in just Saturday who saw the bear, too, Angela. He said it was huge and black and just outside of town, didnt he, Mike?There was a moment of silence. Every pair of eyes at the table turned to stare at me in shock. The new girl, Katie, had her mouth hanging open like shed just witnessed an explosion. nonexistence moved.Mike? I muttered, mortified. Remember the guy with the bear story?S-sure, Mike stutt ered after a second. I didnt know wherefore he was looking at me so strangely. I talked to him at work, didnt I? Did I? I thought soMike recovered. Yeah, there was a guy who said he saw a huge black bear right at the trailheadbigger than a grizzly, he confirmed.Hmph. Lauren turned to Jessica, her shoulders stiff, and changed the subject.Did you hear back from USC? she asked.Everyone else looked away, too, except for Mike and Angela. Angela smiled at me tentatively, and I hurried to return the smile.So, what did you do this weekend, Bella? Mike asked, curious, but oddly wary.Everyone but Lauren looked back, waiting for my response.Friday night, Jessica and I went to a moving-picture show in Port Angeles. And then I spent Saturday afternoon and most of sunshine down at La Push.The eyes flickered to Jessica and back to me. Jess looked irritated. I wondered if she didnt want anyone to know shed gone out with me, or whether she just wanted to be the one to tell the story.What movie did you see? Mike asked, head start to smile.Dead Endthe one with the zombies. I grinned in encouragement. Maybe some of the damage Id done in these past zombie months was reparable.I heard that was scary. Did you think so? Mike was eager to continue the conversation.Bella had to leave at the end, she was so freaked, Jessica inserted with a sly smile.I nodded, trying to look embarrassed. It was pretty scary.Mike didnt stop asking me questions till luncheon was over. Gradually, the others were able to start up their own conversations again, though they still looked at me a lot. Angela talked mostly to Mike and me, and, when I got up to dump my tray, she followed.Thanks, she said in a low voice when we were away from the table.For what? public speaking up, sticking up for me.No problem.She looked at me with concern, but not the offensive, maybe-shes-lost-it kind. Are you clear?This is why Id picked Jessica over Angelathough Id always like Angela morefor the girls night movie. Angela w as too perceptive.Not completely, I admitted. But Im a little bit better.Im glad, she said. Ive missed you.Lauren and Jessica strolled by us then, and I heard Lauren whisper loudly, Oh, joy Bellas back.Angela rolled her eyes at them, and smiled at me in encouragement.I sighed It was like I was startle all over again.Whats todays date? I wondered suddenly.Its January nineteenth.Hmm.What is it? Angela asked.It was a year ago yesterday that I had my first day here, I mused.Nothings changed much, Angela muttered, looking after Lauren and Jessica.I know, I agreed I was just intellection the same thing.