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"𝕀 did see something in the woods," Angela said, her voice a mix of excitement and fear as she and the group sat in the bustling cafeteria the next day at school. Eric, holding her hand, nodded fervently. "Totally. Baby, I believe you."

Rain and Bella walked into the cafeteria, the noise from the other students filling the air. As they approached their usual table, Bella glanced over at the empty table where the Cullens used to sit. Rain, noticing her sister's moment of melancholy, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," she said softly. Bella managed a small smile and continued walking with Rain. As they neared their friends, they overheard the conversation already in progress. Angela was still talking about what she saw in the forest, describing a huge animal. Mike, ever the jokester, chimed in, "Or an alien. You're lucky you didn't get probed."

Eric laughed nervously, holding Angela's hand tighter. "Last time you clowns doubt my girlfriend."

Rain smiled and rolled her eyes as she sat down, beginning to eat her lunch. Bella, meanwhile, joined the conversation. "You know you're not the only one. Um, my dad's been getting reports at the station. Like, five hikers have been killed by some bear, but they can't find the bear." Bella took a seat next to Mike, with Rain sitting beside her. Angela clicked her tongue thoughtfully before Eric added, "Hmm."

"Last time you clowns doubt my girlfriend," Eric repeated, earning a smile from Angela.

Mike cleared his throat, drawing Bella's attention. "Um... So, I mean... Bella's back..."

Bella chuckled, "Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, welcome. Um, so listen, you know, now that, you know, you're talking and, uh... eating again, which, you know, gotta get that protein in there," Mike said awkwardly, pointing to her lunch.

Rain tried to suppress her laughter, feeling a bit sorry for Mike's awkward attempts at conversation. "Um... I was just wondering if you wanted to go see a movie with me," Mike continued.

Bella thought for a moment before replying, "Yeah, sure. Yeah, I do."

Mike nodded excitedly, "Cool, um... Let me see, we could check out, um... Love Spelled Backwards Is Love. You know, it's a dumb title, but, um, it's a romantic comedy. I mean, it's supposed to be..."

Bella quickly interjected, shaking her head, "No. No romance. Uh... How about Face Punch? Have you heard of that?"

Mike stammered, "I mean, that's an action movie."

"Yeah, it's perfect. Um, guns, adrenaline. It's my thing," Bella said decisively.

Rain chuckled at Bella's choice as Mike responded, "Okay."

Bella looked around the table, "We should get a bunch of people to go. Do you guys want to go see... Face Punch?"

Rain glanced at everyone as Eric immediately responded, "Face Punch, yeah. Mike, hey. We were supposed to watch that. Remember, the trailer's like..." He mimicked an explosion, "Punch Faces."

Jessica, laughing awkwardly, added, "Yeah. Movie night with Bella."

Bella turned to her sister, "You coming too, Rain?"

Rain sighed, looking at the eager faces around her before nodding with a smile. "Sure."

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As night fell, Rain stood next to Mike and Jacob outside the theatre, the cool evening air filled with anticipation. Jacob was playfully taunting Mike, who kept glancing around, clearly uncomfortable. "So, Face Punch, huh? You like action movies?" Jacob asked, his eyes fixed on Mike.

Mike shook his head and muttered, "Not really."

Jacob nodded, a chuckle escaping his lips. "I heard it sucks. Bad."

Mike turned to face Jacob, trying to muster some confidence. "You know, are you even old enough to see this movie? You too, Rain? Though I'm not saying I'm not happy you are here, I'm actually glad you came." He scratched his neck nervously.

Rain looked at him with a small, reassuring smile. "Bella is buying for Jake's ticket and mine, so it's alright."

Before Mike could respond, Bella approached the group, her expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Jessica bailed, and Angela got the stomach flu, so Eric's taking care of her. It's just us four." Jacob's face lit up as he draped an arm around Rain's shoulders. "Great," he said with a smirk, glancing at Mike, who looked disappointed. "Great," Mike echoed half-heartedly.

Rain clicked her tongue, sensing the tension. She slipped her arm around Bella's and started walking toward the entrance, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. "Come on, let's get our seats."

As they walked, Rain couldn't help but think about Jessica's decision to bail. She couldn't blame her after everything that had happened the last time. The memory of the awkwardness still lingered, but tonight she hoped for a fresh start.

Inside the theater, the dim lights cast a warm glow over the seats. They found their spots and settled in, the previews already starting to roll. Rain sat next to Jacob, who sat on Bella's side with Mike on Bella's other side. As the opening scene of Face Punch exploded onto the screen, Rain felt a surge of adrenaline. She glanced at Bella, who seemed focused and determined, while Jacob leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ready for some face-punching action?" Jacob whispered to Rain, his tone playful.

Rain chuckled softly. "Bring it on."

The movie began, and for a while, the tension melted away as they got lost in the high-octane action scenes. Rain found herself enjoying the ridiculousness of the film, her worries temporarily forgotten. She could feel Jacob's occasional glances, his presence a comforting reassurance beside her.

As the movie played on, Jacob had a broad smile plastered on his face, clearly enjoying the over-the-top action scenes. Mike, on the other hand, looked traumatized, wincing at every explosion and gunshot. Rain, sitting with a bored expression, munched on popcorn, her eyes occasionally flicking to the screen. Bella, however, wasn't paying attention to the movie at all. Her focus was on the two hands resting beside her, contemplating which one to hold. The cacophony of shouting and gunfire echoed through the room, but Bella seemed lost in her thoughts.

Rain noticed her sister's internal struggle, shaking her head with a soft chuckle before turning her attention back to the film and her popcorn. The moment of relative calm was broken when Mike groaned, "Okay, I... I think I'm gonna throw up." He stood up abruptly and rushed out of the room, the trio following him with concerned glances.

Jacob scoffed as he watched Mike dash to the bathroom. "What a marshmallow," he said, amusement clear in his voice. Bella chuckled at his remark while Jacob reached for Rain's popcorn. With a swift motion, Rain smacked his hand away. "Nuh-uh, I'm not sharing. You wanted popcorn, you should've gotten yourself some," she said, glaring at him protectively over her food. She then walked over to the staircase, sitting down to finish her snack. Jacob gave her a playful glare before turning back to Bella.

"You should hold out for someone with a stronger stomach. Someone who laughs at the gore that makes weaker men vomit," Jacob suggested, his tone light and teasing.

Bella nodded, trying to play along. "Yeah, I'll keep my eye open for that," she replied with a small smile. Jacob chuckled, grabbing Bella's hand as they approached the stairs where Rain sat. Bella glanced at Mike's direction, concern evident on her face. "I feel bad, he probably has that flu that's... going around," she said, letting go of Jacob's hand to stand next to Rain.

Jacob looked at Bella, a hint of hurt in his eyes. "What, I can't hold your hand?" he asked, his voice a mix of disappointment and hope.

Rain put down her finished popcorn and sent Jacob a protective look. Bella, noticing Rain's stance, quickly responded, "No, of course you can." She hesitated, then added, "I just think it, you know, means something a little different to you, so..." Her voice trailed off, uncertainty lacing her words.

Jacob pressed on, his eyes searching hers. "Okay, well, tell me something. You like me, right?" He smiled a little, hope flickering in his eyes.

Bella nodded slightly, trying to remain calm. "And you think I'm sort of beautiful," Jacob continued, his voice softening.

"Jake, please. Don't do this," Bella pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. Rain watched the exchange closely, ready to intervene if needed. Bella sighed heavily and sat down beside Rain on the bottom step. Jacob knelt in front of her, unwilling to let the conversation end.

"Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Bella looked down, gathering her thoughts before looking back up at him. "'Cause you're about to ruin everything. And... I need you," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

Jacob's expression softened, but he remained determined. "Well, I've got loads of time. I'm not gonna give up," he said firmly.

Rain felt a pang of sympathy for Jacob, recognizing the sincerity in his eyes. She also felt a twinge of frustration, sensing that Bella was using Jacob as a distraction from Edward. Bella, tears brimming in her eyes, replied, "I don't want you to. But... it's just 'cause I don't want you to go anywhere. That's really selfish."

She clicked her tongue before continuing, "You know, I'm not like a car that you can fix up. I'm never gonna run right, so I should be fair to you."

"It's because of him, right?" Jacob asked, his voice heavy with frustration as he sat down next to Bella. He sighed deeply and looked at her intently, seeking answers. Bella kept her gaze down, unable to meet his eyes. "Look... I know what he did to you. And Bella, I would never, ever do that. I won't ever hurt you. I promise." Rain's eyes shifted between them, noticing Bella's pained expression. She spoke softly, trying to ease the tension, "Jake, not now."

But Jacob was determined. He ignored Rain's plea and continued, "I won't let you down. You can count on me." His voice was earnest, filled with a raw honesty that made Bella look up at him. She hesitated for a moment before resting her head on his shoulder, seeking comfort in his unwavering support.

Their moment was interrupted by Mike's weak voice, "Well... I need to go home." Bella nodded, her expression showing concern for Mike, while Jacob's face darkened with anger and annoyance. Rain sensed the rising tension and stood up, ready to intervene.

Mike, noticing Jacob's hostility, tried to explain, "I'm... I was feeling sick before the movie, okay?"

Jacob chuckled, but there was no humour in it. "What is your problem?" Mike asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Right now, you're my problem. Feeling sick? Maybe you need to go to the hospital. You want me to put you in the hospital?" Jacob stood up, his anger boiling over.

Rain quickly descended the stairs, placing herself between Jacob and Mike. "Jake, enough. Calm down," she said firmly, her eyes pleading with him. She knew she couldn't use her siren song to calm Jacob with Mike and Bella present, so she had to rely on words alone. "Jake. Jake, Jake, the movie's over. What are you doing?" Bella interjected, standing up and grabbing Jacob, trying to hold him back.

Jacob's temperature spiked, his skin radiating heat. Bella looked at her hand in shock. "You're... really hot," she murmured, bewildered by his sudden change.

Rain's eyes widened in realization. She quickly moved Bella behind her, shielding her sister. "Jake, maybe you should go home and talk to your father," Rain suggested, her voice calm but authoritative. She hoped to diffuse the situation before it escalated further.

Jacob looked at Rain, his expression conflicted. After a tense moment, he turned and ran off, leaving Rain, Bella, and Mike standing there in the aftermath of his outburst. Rain let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, hoping Jacob would find the guidance he needed from his father or maybe Sam.

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By: SilverMist707