Afterglow

Chapter 1

After months of the heaviness of being left behind weighing on my chest as I woke each morning, I was surprised to feel a bit lighter today. The sun was shining through my window, and, even though it was snowy and cold out, I felt good, or at least better than I had felt in months. After getting ready and making myself a cup of coffee, I slipped my coat on and went to sit on the front steps, watching the world pass by as I sipped the warm drink in my hands. Looking to my neighbours house, I noticed two banged up looking motorcycles leaning against each other at the curb, with a sign saying that they were free for scraps , and I thought of Jacob Black. He still called to check in every once in a while, after hearing from Billy that I had been found in the woods in pretty rough shape all those months ago. Though I never answered, Charlie always made sure to pass along the message that I was free to go visit him on the rez whenever I felt up to it, and that he always offered to hangout. Charlie had even drawn out a map to Jacob's house, leaving it on my desk one day and telling me it was there just in case I wanted to pay the Blacks a visit.

Staring down the bikes, I remembered how he had told me about the car he was fixing up, and that he had done all the work on my own truck. I could bring him the motorcycles, and ask if he wanted to fix them up, which would give me time to hang out with him. After isolating myself from my friends in Forks for so long, it felt easier to extend the olive branch to Jacob instead, and though we weren't on bad terms, I felt like I needed to make up for being such a bad friend. With that, I made my way back inside, washed my mug, and left a note on the fridge telling Charlie where I was, and drove the truck over to my neighbours house.

After knocking on their door to ask for some help lifting the bikes into the truck, I was off, letting Charlie's map guide me to the rez. I hadn't even thought to call first, but I knew that Jacob had been telling Charlie the truth when he said I was free to come by anytime, that he wouldn't just say it for the sake of saying it.

I saw Jacob walking out of the garage as I pulled up to his house, knowing that he had probably heard the monster of a truck as soon as it was near his street. He had a smile on his face, hair pinned out of the way, and he jogged over to me as I got out.

"Bella!" His grin widened, and I took in his face. He had matured over the past few months, now standing much taller than me and had obviously filled out, and while still lanky, he no longer looked like the seventeen year old I had met when I first moved here. A shock of guilt ran through me as I remembered Charlie mentioning that it had been his birthday a few days ago, and I hadn't even called.

"Hey, Jake!" I felt myself smile, his happy energy contagious, "Happy belated birthday!"

He blushed, thanking me, then a confused look crossed his face, "What brings you out here?"

"I figured I would come visit you, maybe bring you a bit of a project?" I walked around to the tail of the truck as I talked, bringing him with me, "I found these, and, knowing I had a mechanic friend who I wanted an excuse to hang out with, thought we could try to fix these up! Get them running maybe?"

As I pulled back the tarp that covered the bikes, I heard Jake bite out a quick laugh behind me. I turned to him and looked at him in question, but he was already shaking his head as he looked at the bikes.

"You really must have a lot of faith in that mechanic friend," He laughed a bit, "because those bikes are a second away from falling apart."

"As long as he's willing to put up with my company while he tries, I've got the utmost faith." I grinned, trying to convince him to at least give it an attempt.

"Alright, let me get them into the garage and then we can see what we're working with," He opened up the tailgate, and was already lifting them out before I could even try to warn him about their weight.