(Bella’s POV)
I was standing in the bathroom, dabbing my eye and the side of my face that Edward slammed against the wall, before ‘throwing’ me into the car. I didn’t cry; this wasn’t the first time. He’s just really stressed, trying to provide for us both. I watched the places where the skin had burst open and blood was pouring out. This time it was worse than usual though. I shouldn’t have angered him by looking at that guy like that. I had no idea his business meeting was already over and he had seen me dancing and looking at that guy. Why did I look at him anyway? He was staring at me as if he knew me, that was why and his handsome appearance caught my eye. He had something about him that made me feel safe, even though I had never met him.
I peered into the dark bedroom, at the place where he dropped his drunk body onto the bed. He hadn’t moved yet. When this all started, I considered leaving him, but he was so upset, he got down on two knees and begged me not to leave him. The next time I tried to leave him he threatened to kill himself. The last time I wanted to leave him, he threatened to kill my father and make me watch him do it, before he’d kill me.
I looked down. My own life wasn’t worth much to me, obviously with the way I let him treat me, but I loved my father and I could never live with myself if anything would happen to him because of me. Edward didn’t allow me to go visit him, or anyone that used to know me. I wasn’t even allowed to go to Forks, or La Push for that matter. I was to stay in Port Angeles, attend college, shop for groceries and do the household chores. I wasn’t to go out for anything else without him. But that was merely because he was so scared of losing me. He always brought me lovely gifts, expensive jewellery, dozens of roses, rare perfumes and designer clothes.
Why was I even complaining again?
I looked into the mirror. Hmmmmm…
(Jacob’s POV)
The look of that jack-ass slapping her so hard haunted me, even in my sleep. How could any man hurt a woman like that? I had no idea how, but I was thinking about it for so long, that I saw the sun coming up again, without having had any sleep.
I decided to get up and take an ice cold shower. It made me feel a little more refreshed, but nothing could wash that one scene off of me. I walked into the kitchen to find my dad already up, getting ready for a fishing trip with his best friend, Charlie.
He looked at me and said, “Morning Jake, you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“I did dad, you’ll never guess who I saw when we went out last night!” I replied, while I poured myself a cup of coffee. Billy looked at me fascinated, “Do tell son!” I swallowed a hot sip of coffee. “Bella Swan,” I almost whispered. Billy’s face fell. “So she’s hanging around in Port Angeles but she doesn’t take any time to come visit her old man in Forks?” he snorted. I raised my hands in Bella’s defence. “I think she’s not in a position where she can come to Forks dad,” I said. “What are you on about Jake?” he asked, squinting his eyes. “I have serious reasons to believe she is a victim of domestic violence,” I carefully said. Billy’s pupils widened, “Why are you saying that Jake? It’s a serious accusation!” I sighed rubbing my neck, feeling the muscles there tighten as I re-played the scene I had seen yesterday. “Because I saw her man mistreating her,” I gritted between my teeth. Billy closed his eyes. “If that’s true, then I’ll have to inform Charlie,” he said. I knew he was right, but wouldn’t it cause her even more problems? Billy patted my shoulder, “You did right telling me son,” he said. “I’ll inform Charlie and let him take his actions from there.”
Then I heard a car honk. It was Charlie, picking my dad up for a fun day of fishing. I bet the fun would be out of it in no time once he’d hear what Billy had to tell him. I finished my coffee after my dad and Charlie took off, then I jogged to Sam’s to talk about what we witnessed last night.
(Bella’s POV)
When I woke up the next morning, Edward was already gone. I rubbed my eyes and a jolt of pain went through the right side of my face. I forgot how bad it hurt. I looked up and saw that Edward left a rose on my nightstand. I didn’t feel much for the roses anymore, as every rose only symbolized every time he had done something to hurt me, physically or mentally. I grabbed the rose from my nightstand and threw it out of the open bedroom window.
I walked into the bathroom and looked at the right side of my face in the mirror. Good lord, it looked even worse than it did last night. Then I heard the sound of my phone… a text message! I walked over to my purse, took out my phone and read the text message.
Bells, dad here, I haven’t seen you in so long, and it would mean so much to me if you could come over to have a cup of coffee this afternoon. I’ll always love you darling. X
I felt the tears burn in my eyes. I missed him too, but how could I show myself to him, looking like this? Not to mention Edward would flip if he’d find out I went to Forks. Edward I could deal with, but my dad asking questions, no, definitely not.
I rushed back into the bathroom, took a shower and then started covering up the bruises on my face with foundation. It actually worked, as long as I wouldn’t come too close to my dad, he would never notice. I texted my dad that I’d be over at his place at two in the afternoon. If I made it there in time and got back in time, Edward never had to find out.
I fixed my hair and got dressed, then I grabbed an apple from the plate with fruit on the kitchen counter and a bottle of water from the fridge, and I ran to the car, parked in the garage. I put the keys in the ignition and checked the rear-view mirror.
What was I thinking?
I knew there’d be hell to pay if Edward found out, but I promised my dad now, so there was no turning back. I backed the car out of the garage and made my way to forks.
(Jacob’s POV)
Just when I wanted to leave Sam’s place, I received a text message from my dad, asking to meet with him and Charlie back at his place as soon as possible. I jogged back home to get the Rabbit and rushed my way over to Charlie’s. “Where’s the fire?” I asked grinning as I walked in. Billy looked at me, “Bella is coming over. “We’re hoping to be able to make this an intervention.” I nodded, “So we’re gonna try and do what? Get her to admit that her boyfriend is mistreating her?” Billy sighed, “Well we hope we can find an opening as the conversation flows.” I grumbled and leaned against the kitchen doorpost. I didn’t think it would work, but heck, we could try.
I looked out the window and saw that is had started to rain. Then we heard a soft knock on the porch door. Charlie went to open the door. I heard soft talking, and moments later Charlie walked back into the kitchen with a soaking wet Bella right behind him. “I think you’ll remember Billy Black?” Charlie gestured in Billy’s direction. She nodded, keeping the right side of her face out of our sight. Charlie continued, “I don’t know if you remember him, but that’s Jacob Black.”
She turned to look at me and I saw she was shocked because she involuntarily looked at me straight, enabling me to see the right side of her face. It was black and blue, with the skin burst in several places, and make-up dripping down her cheek.
That slap couldn’t have done that! I thought to myself.
When she saw the look on my face she must have realized that the rain had washed away her make-up and snatched a paper towel from the paper-towel-holder, sitting on the kitchen table. She panicked and covered her right face with the towel, asking if she could use the restroom to touch up her make-up. I opened my mouth to tell her no, but Charlie beat me to the punch, “Sure you can, but if you’re thinking of covering up those bruises I can save you the trouble. Jacob here has seen you yesterday, and he saw what happened to you.”
She lowered herself onto a kitchen chair, covering her face with her hands. Charlie pulled up a chair and sat beside her, Billy wheeled himself over to her other side.
(Bella’s POV)
I should have known better than to come here. I sat there a long time covering my face, listening to all the ways out Billy and Charlie were telling me about. I knew it would be no good, as Edward would always find a way around it. I looked at Jacob, who was still standing in the same position he was in when I arrived. He never took his eyes off of me, and that’s when it dawned on me that he was that boy I used to play with, back when I was still visiting my dad on a regular base. I felt a little uncomfortable with his staring, but I could imagine him staring at me, I must be looking hideous.
I just let my dad and Billy spill their guts and nodded on occasion. Then it was my turn to tell them they had no idea what they were meddling with and that they shouldn’t be interfering with my life.
Right before I had to leave, I agreed to put my dad under ICE, In Case of Emergency, in my phone. I gave both my dad and Billy a hug, thanking them for their concern, nodded at Jacob, not sure what to think. I got into my car and waved one last time, then I checked my watch. I was going to make it home in time, if traffic was nice enough.
As I was driving back to Port Angeles, flashbacks from my childhood flashed before my eyes.
Stop it Jacob! Daddy! He’s teasing me!
Heh… that was when he was chasing me with a spider in his hand. A few more memories flashed through my mind, and then, the most important one came back to me. I was saying good-bye to Jacob, because I wouldn’t be able to visit my dad anymore. Mom was moving to the other side on the states, for some odd reason.
I cried, then he pulled up my chin with his hand and dangled a hand made bracelet in front of my eyes. It had a wooden Quileute totem on it.
Don’t ever forget me Bella Swan…
I closed my eyes and felt his warm lips on mine.
Then, his tongue slid into my mouth…
He gave me my first kiss! I sighed and rubbed the bracelet that I still wore to this day. Of course Edward didn’t know about any of that, nor did he of the true meaning of that bracelet. I told him it was just some souvenir from the La Push Reservation. I wanted to kick myself back then for ‘betraying’ Jacob like that, but it was that or…
Well that was now in the past. We were both grown up, and had our own lives. But I did regret one thing and was that I had forgotten about him.
I was finally home, and in time to have dinner ready before Edward came home too! I parked the car in the garage and got out to close the garage door. Then I walked into the house and shut the door behind me quietly. When I put my keys down on the little table next to the front door, a light switched on behind me. I felt my heart stop beating as I turned around. Edward was sitting in the ottoman glaring at me angrily.
“And where have you been?” I heard him ask.
