CHAPTER EIGHT
ᴇᴍᴘᴛɪɴᴇss

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me. Everywhere I turned it felt like there was something invisible blocking my path, wordlessly telling me not to leave so soon. Perhaps it was because there should have been another lifeforce between these glass walls, coming to greet me as they sensed my presence before I'd even stepped into the driveway.

Though it had been months since the Cullens had left their home, it still felt as if they were rooted within the very floors, their ghosts simultaneously haunting each room I moved through. That was another wrong thing that I was doing: stalking through their house as if my trespassing would alert them into suddenly coming back.

The last time I'd actually been in the house was Bella's birthday. The living room had been sterilised since them, the lingering scent of blood scrubbed away, replaced by the sting of bleach. The crimson stain on the wood floors was nowhere in sight. Everything looked normal, human, down to the utensils in the kitchen and the unused beds in the upstairs rooms, looking as if they were simply away fro a vacation. But, I supposed that was all it was to the family; they were taking a long holiday, and when they returned Bella would have passed and I would have moved along.

When I slipped into Carlise's study, I stood still by the doorway. It felt illegal to go any further without him being there to show me what each item meant. The walls were covered with shelves upon shelves of books, broken up by the pale mark of something big that had once sat there. His paintings. It was weird that they were precious enough to take.

I went to Alice's room last, taking my time to let my hands trail across the embossed titles of the old books on her nightstand. The golden tarot cards still sat on her desk- I laughed when I saw those. But then my hand stopped, snagging on the yellowed pages of a book I gave her not to long ago. Picking it up, I flicked through the pages, stilling swiftly as something dropped to the floor, the sound echoing against the deserted walls.

It was a piece of paper, folded many times into a tiny box, but it felt too heavy to just be that. I unravelled it, letting the enclosed item drop into my hand. It was a gold necklace, shaped into a heart locket, detailed with delicate swirls and flowers. Behind it, on the back of the paper, a note was written in Alice's swirling, decadent hand. The words were enough for my legs to send me bouncing to sit against her bed, crumpling the untouched blankets, my heart feeling heavy in my chest, weighing me down. I traced the words, reading them aloud, imagining her saying them in her twinkling voice.

𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒 - 𝐴 𝑥𝑥

When I returned home, half in a daze, my hand clutched to the necklace, Mrs Rochester was waiting for me with the phone. I picked it up and was met with Bella's voice.

"Hey, I know this is last minute, but want to come to the movies?"

"When?"

She laughed, a sound I hadn't heard in a long while. "Um, like now?"

"Sure, I'll be there."

When I reached Bella's house, there was an unfamiliar car parked in her driveway. And unsurprisingly, as if it followed me, the smell I ran so desperately away from was there. It was faint, watered down by something. Something like the smell of oil and petrol. But it was still there, lingering like it did that day in La Push. No wolves, I thought, or rather hoped- but something or someone close.

Before I could sneak around the back or even leave, Bella appeared at the door, beaming excitedly as she hurried to pull me in. A boy appeared behind her, grinning with pearly teeth from ear to ear. His skin was a light chestnut, his hair reaching down his back. He looked familiar- something about that fact terrified me.

"Hi. You were at the beach day right?" he said.

Then I remembered.

"Yeah, Elide," I said, keeping some sort of distance. He didn't seem to notice that something was off, but I couldn't be sure.

"Jacob," he said with a friendly smile.

Before either of us could say anything else, Bella was pulling us toward Jacob's car, watching as Mike's suburban pulled into the drive.

Bella glanced at me. "What's that you're holding onto?"

I hadn't even realised that I was clutching onto the necklace Alice had given to me. She asked me to take care of it- the only way to do that was to wear it. The necklace hung nicely over my cream jumper- but I felt myself reaching for it. It felt like some sort of promise: that I would take care of it so she could come and pick it up from me one day. But I wouldn't get my hopes up and at least now I had something I could remember her by.

"Oh," I began, tightening my hold on it for a second before I showed her. I didn't know what to say. Any mention of Edward's family could set off her mood. "A necklace... Alice left it for me."

But Bella just smiled warmly. "It's beautiful."

"I remember this guy. The one who thought you were his girlfriend?" Jacob said as he watched Mike in his car, unable to hide the distaste in his tone. "Is he still confused?"

"Some people are hard to discourage," Bella said, nudging him with her elbow.

He smirked. "Then again, sometimes persistence pays off."

"Most of the time it's just annoying though."

Very annoying, I thought. I wouldn't tell Bella that though. Jacob was showing his younger age and slight immaturity off without needing any more help. I could already tell that Mike would definitely not be bringing out the best of him.

"Hey, Bella, Elide," Mike called as he shut the door behind him, jogging to stand beside us.

"Hey, Mike. Do you remember Jacob Black?"

Mike's eyes didn't leave Jacob as he stared him down, taking a check and sizing him up against himself. "Not really."

"Old family friend," Jacob said with a snide smile.

The phone rang, cutting through the awkwardness.

"I'd better get that. Might be charlie," Bella said. Only a few seconds later, she was shouting back to us as she hurried back to Jacob's side. "Ang is sick. She and Ben aren't coming."

Mike shrugged, still eyeing Jacob. "I guess the flu is making another round. Austin and Conner were out today, too. Maybe we should do this another time?"

"I'm still up for it. But if you'd rather stay behind?" Bella said.

"No, I'm coming. Let's go."

"Mind if Jacob drives? I told him he could- he just finished his car. He built it from scratch."

"Fine."

"Wait a minute." I reached for Bella, pulling her back into a slow walk to the car as the boys hurried in front. I raised my brows toward Jacob suggestively, watching as she blushed. "What just happened?"

"I don't know. What just happened?"

"The flirting Bella! He's practically drooling over you," I said, keeping my voice low.

"What?" Her eyes widened. "That's not what it's like. He likes me but I told him we're just friends."

"I don't think he heard you," I said, my face dropping as I noticed Bella's scowl. "Sorry. I just thought..."

She brushed it off, smiling again.

I sighed and laughed it off. "Don't you dare leave me with Mike though."

With a few sarcastic comments from Mike and a music-less car ride, we finally made it the cinema, the flashy lights of the run-down sign paving the way to the entrance. Bella got the tickets for us, given that Jacob was too young for the film we were seeing- some zombie slasher film that I was not looking forward to. The screen room was almost empty, and we were so early that we had to watch the advertisements. The two boys sat beside Bella, hands outstretched and palms facing the dark ceiling. It took all my will power not to let out a snigger.

It was halfway through the film when Bella's whisper interrupted the quietness. "Mike are you okay?"

He looked pale, a green tinge to his puffed-out cheeks. "No. I think I'm sick," he said, shaking his head violently. In the turn around of two seconds, he was to of his seat, scurrying toward the door to the lobby.

"No, stay. I'll make sure he's okay," Bella said, hurrying after him.

Jacob and I shared a glance.

"We should-"

He nodded, not letting me finish. I don't know whether it was his acknowledgement of the awkwardness between us or the want to have Bella away from Mike, but he agreed, already starting after her.

"Yeah this movie sucks," he said below his breath.

Jacob disappeared into the bathroom, coming out moments later with wide eyes. "Oh, he's in there alright," he said, before bursting out with a short puff of laughter. "What a marshmallow. You should hold out for someone with a stronger stomach. Someone who laughs at the gore that makes weaker men vomit."

"I wonder who he could possibly be referencing?"I laughed, eyeing Bella who shared the same amusement in her look. "Keanu Reeves?"

Jacob scowled as Bella said, "I'll keep my eyes open for him."

Following Bella, we sat down on the scratchy velvet seats around the corner from the bathroom. The outdoor lights cast the room in a red tinge and a draft blew in from the open doorways. Jacob took her shiver as a way to move closer to Bella.

"He sounded like he was going to be in there a while," he said.

"Jake," Bella complained.

"Come on," I snapped, watching him with narrowed eyes as he held his hands up jokingly.

Bella shook her head. "It's alright."

"Tell me something."

"What?"

"You like me right?" Jacob said, watching intently for her response.

"You know I do."

"Better than that joker puking his guts out in there?" Jacob pointed over his shoulder.

I sighed loudly, having enough of their talk and announced myself. "I'll go check if Mike's finished."

By the time I made it around the corner and across the corridor, away from the gloomy light of the foyer, Mike was leaving the bathroom. There was a light sheen to his head, and his hands looked clammy, leaving prints on the peeling wallpaper from where he'd leaned against the wall to catch his breath. He finally stood, grimacing in an attempt to smile.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, do you think they'll mind leaving early?"

"No, of course not," I said, mustering some sort of pity.

Bella, to the disappointment of Jacob, stood as she saw us coming. "Oh, Mike."

"I said it's good that we leave early," I said, watching Jacob's frown go deeper.

"Yeah, let's go."

Jacob nudged him lightly as we made a move for the front doors. "Movie too much for you?"

He shook his head. "I was nauseated before the lights went down."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I'll get a popcorn bucket. I don't want you to ruin my shoes," I said, leaving Mike and his sickly face to ask for an empty bucket at the food desk. One glace to Mike was enough to make the young girl behind the counter thrust it eagerly my way.

We piled into the car and cranked down the windows as Jacob began to drive, letting a flow of wind dance past our cheeks. Despite the bitter nip of the gusts, Mike's faced stayed white, not giving in to the warmth of a blush.

Bella was the first to complain. "It's freezing."

"You don't feel it?" She glanced past me, already knowing the answer, instead placing a hand to Jacob's forehead. "Oh, God, Jacob, you're burning up!"

He flinched. For a moment he wasn't able to hide the cringe on his face. "I'm fine. Never felt better."

By the time we reached Bella's house, dropped Mike off with his sick bucket and van, it was dark. Charlie wasn't home yet, and Bella looked more than eager to keep the company.

"You two want to come in? Charlie isn't home for another hour."

Jacob frowned. "I would but I think you're right about the fever. I don't feel too good. I have a banging headache"

"Want us to drive you home too?" she asked.

"No. I don't feel too sick yet. Just... wrong."

"You'll call when you get home?"

He nodded dismissively. "Yeah, sure." Then his head shot up as if he realised something. "Look, Bella can I say something? I think I want you to know."

"Yeah. Go ahead."

He glanced my way for a swift second, and I got the hint.

"I'll leave you two," I said, stepping backwards.

"You won't come in? Charlie would be so happy to see you."

"Next time," I promised, smirking sly toward Jacob. "I wouldn't want to interrupt."

Jacob didn't waste time before he began to talk to Bella, his urgent and desperate voice making it even easier for my ears to pick up. He seemed worried about something that he wasn't going to fess up.

"That I would never, ever hurt you."

Those were the words that stuck out to me. Those were the words that I remember later that night. Those were the words that made me think that something was horribly off. I thought of the wolves that Jacob was surrounded in. He was close enough to them that the smell lingered in his circle. Something was wrong. And, maybe... maybe it was all my fault.

☾