A/N So, it appears that I have come down with the flu, which has given me some time to write when I'm not sleeping. I think I'll do Alice's POV next, or maybe Carlisle's again or maybe I'll just stick with Bella. Tell me what you guys want and don't forget to tell me what you think of this chapter! Thanks guys!
Jake and I rode through the back roads of Denali, racing each other. Even with my arm bandage I was still a formidable opponent. I knew Jake was worried about my driving habits, seeing as I had just been released from the hospital, but he never spoke up. He knew that I knew when I couldn't do something, and if I couldn't do it, I wouldn't.
We slowed down as we entered town. Angela and Ben lived just on the out skirts, maybe a mile or two out. We decided that we would stop at a local store and buy Angela and Ben something for putting us up for the week.
"What about this?" Jake asked as he held up a souvenir Denali coffee mug.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "What? You don't think they'll like these?" Jake said in all seriousness.
"Yeah Jake, why don't you just get them a Denali sweatshirt to go with it?" Jake's smile fell as he stomped of to put the coffee mug back. When he returned he held the pout of a four year old and had his arms crossed over his chest in indignation.
"You're no fun sometimes Bells." Jake said as he held his pout, defiantly.
"I know Jake…but you'll always love me anyways." I said as I reach up on my tip toes to kiss his check.
Jake blushed and dropped his pout. "You're right Bells."
"I know I am." I said happily as I skipped over to where the expensive bags of coffee were kept. Angela, like me, was a sucker for coffee and anything that made Angela happy, made Ben happy.
When I came back, Jake was still standing there, but he was smiling.
"Ready to go?" He asked as he slung his arms over my shoulder to bring me closer to him.
"You bet, I'm sure Ben and Angela are anxiously awaiting our arrival, we shouldn't keep them waiting." I said as I paid for the coffee.
Once we were back outside, Jake helped me put away the items we had bought for the short drive ahead of us.
As I hopped on my bike and brought it roaring to life, I shouted over at Jake "I'll race you!"
Jake turned and smiled at me before shouting back "You're on!"
I laughed as we both revved our engines before pealing out of the lot at the same time. Jake and I road side by side down the small, two lane road leading out of Denali. We were neck and neck for the entire journey before I pulled ahead of him, just in time to pull into Ben and Angela's drive way before him.
I hoped off my bike just as Jake cut the engine on his.
"I win!" I shouted joyously, earning an annoyed look from Jake. "Aw, come on Jake! Don't be a sore sport!"
"Yeah Jake, shouldn't you be used to it by now?" A deep, male voice said from behind us.
I laughed and turned to see Ben and Angela standing in the doorway.
"Bella!" Angela squealed as she ran off their porch towards me. "Oh my God! What did you do to yourself? Jacob! This is hardly what I would call taking good care of her! Shame on you! Now come inside before you catch a cold!" Angela, as usual, skipped the greetings and went into full mothering mode.
When I left Forks, Angela wrote me several times. When I visited her for the first time, when Jake and I first came through Denali, Angela became my best friend, and my mother.
"Bella, what were you thinking? Jake tells me you two were racing on your way here. That you hit a patch of black ice and almost killed yourself! And were you two racing on your way here? Have you not learned anything?" Angela was ranting as she walked me through her front door. Ben was hanging back with Jake; most likely prepping him for Angela's pending interrogation.
Angela set me down on her couch in the living room. She started to check me over at once, looking at my arm, inspecting my cuts and bruises, making sure the rest of me is still the same since the last time she saw me.
"Bella, you look thinner…have you been eating?" Without waiting for me to answer, she whirled around and faced Jake and Ben. "Jacob, have you been making sure she eats?" Again she didn't wait as she whirled back around to face me. "I doubt it…I mean just look at your poor arm! And these cuts! They don't look healthy…you do not look healthy!" Angela tries to emphasize how displeased she is with my current physical state by looking me dead in the eyes.
"Never mind…you don't care! Well, I have some food waiting for you, it should still be warm. Sit tight alright! Jake are you hungry?" Angela left the room before Jake could answer, saying something like "Of course you are! When are you ever not hungry?" as she walked out.
I turned to Ben, who was still standing by Jake. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, looking very casual and unconcerned. He knew his wife better than all of us, even Angela.
"Hey Ben, how are you?" I asked, looking him up and down.
"Just fine Bella, and yourself? You gave my wife and I quite the scare there." Ben said as he came over to hug me.
"I know, and I am sorry for that." I said as he released me.
"We know you are Bella." Ben said as he stepped back to take his place in the background.
Angela came bustling in, a tray of food in her hands.
"Jacob, come and sit so you can eat." Angela said as she motioned Jake over to come and sit next to me.
Jake, who knew it was useless trying to argue with Angela, came walking slowly over. He took his seat next to me, looking up at Angela warily. But I knew that Jake had nothing to fear at the moment, as long as I was near him Angela would refrain from bitching him out.
Angela brought the tray closer to me as she said "I made your favorite, spaghetti with my special sauce."
I grinned up at her as she put a fork in my hand. The food smelled absolutely delicious and it wasn't until that moment that I realized how hungry I was.
I looked over at Jake, who was smiling amusedly at me. He knew just as well as Angela how much I loved her spaghetti.
"Well, dig in you great oaf…I believe Angela made some for you too." I said as I smiled back at Jake. He stuck his tongue out at me before picking up his own fork and literally digging in.
Once we had both eaten our fair share, Angela took away our dishes, before quickly returning. She and Ben took their normal spots on the love seat. I knew what this meant and so did Jake.
"So…should I grill you two now or later?" Angela's voice was expectant.
Jake and I looked at each other, we both knew it was coming and that it would be best to just get it done and over with.
"Now." We both said at the same time.
Angela sighed as she got to her feet and began to pace. She threw her hands in the air before she turned on us, looking angry.
"You cannot imagine the panic I felt when I got the call from you saying Bella was in the hospital here! My God! I should be used to it by now, but still…I panic every time, every horrible possible scenario runs through my mind. Racing! Racing through the back roads! How many times have I asked you guys to stop doing that when you come to visit! This is what happens when you don't listen to me!
"And Jacob! Have you been making sure Bella at least eats regularly? Because so help my God! You obviously fail at making sure she doesn't do stupid things…so please tell me you've been keeping up with her health! And how long have you two been clean? Don't answer that! I will say this once and only once! You will not and I repeat will not be doing drugs under my roof or for the duration of your stay do you understand me?"
Angela was panting by the time she finished, but she had driven home her point. Jake and I both nodded at her, both of us feeling like children being thoroughly scolded by our parent.
"Alright, now that Angie's had her say and you both understand, I think it's time for bed." Ben said softly as he stood to gently place his hands on Angela's heaving shoulders. She seemed to greatly relax under his touch and she nodded in agreement with him.
"Yes, you've both had quite the day and I think it would be best if we all retired early tonight." Angela continued to nod her head as she turned around and into Ben's embrace.
Ben smiled at us as Jake and I got up from the couch. He mouthed "Good night" to us as he began to slowly rock Angela's body with his.
I picked my hand up in a small wave before I turned and walked out of the living room with Jake.
Jake picked up my hand and brought it to his lips and continued to hold it as we walked down a hallway. We always stayed in the guest bedroom on the opposite end of the house.
"Do you think Angela got it all out of her system?" Jake asked a slight chuckle on his lips.
I laughed a little too "I hope so; otherwise it's going to be a very long visit."
As we reached the door to our room, Jake turned to me, looking very serious.
"Bella…what are we going to do about…the leech problem?"
I sighed looking down at my feet. I had no idea. To be quite honest, if I was going to be here for awhile, I wouldn't be totally opposed to fucking with their heads. As long as they understood how much I really did hate them in the end.
"I don't know Jake. I'm not sure what we should do." I answered in the best way I knew how.
"But what if one of them finds you, and comes here and wants to talk to you?" Jake asked looking me straight in the eye.
"Then I'll talk to them, but only so they can see what monsters they truly are."
Jake nodded his head grimly before I walked into the room. Jake followed me, shutting and locking the door firmly behind him.