Swan Goin' Wolf

Anger

 Bella's been gone for two days and dad is beyond worried about her. Dad has sent out messages to every department between here and Phoenix on the look out for Bella and has had the scanner on non-stop. We haven't gotten a call from hospitals or Renee so I'm taking that as a good thing. I am refusing to worry about Bella and the consequences that her decisions have. She cracked my dad, the one man that has never let me down and has looked out for me no matter what, even though he was doing it all on his own.

I was cooking dinner when there was a knock on the door. I wiped my hands on a towel before getting the door. I was surprised to see Jared on the other side holding a pan of lasagna. He gave me a smile which a returned.

"What this?" I asked.

"Mom's worried about the two of you and sent me over with food." Jared said and I laughed opening the door wider so he could come in.

"I already started dinner so you can just put it in the fridge." I said and he nodded before marching off to the kitchen.

"So how's your dad holding up?" Jared asked as he shut the fridge. I sighed and shrugged.

"Terrible. She told him the same thing Renee did when she left him." I said and crossed my arms across my chest and stared down at the floor. Jared blazing arms wrapped around me in a hug and I sighed and leaned into it.

"I don't understand how she can do this. Especially to dad. He would give her anything she ever wanted and when he finally gets the one thing he wants for the first time, she rips it away from him just like her mother." I said bitterly and Jared tightened his hug and kisses the top of my head in a brotherly way.

"I wish I could change this for you and Charlie." Jared said.

"I know you would because you and Paul are the best friends a girl could ask for I said before pulling back a little to look up at him. He smiled before letting go of me so I could check on the cooking food.

"You want to stay for dinner or do you have to go?" I asked as I stirred the sauce for spaghetti and meatballs.

"I don't think mom would mind if I stayed here for a while. Can I use your phone?" He asked and I nodded. He grabbed up the portable and walked into the living room. For a little while it was just like old times when Paul or Jared would be over and try to help me cook dinner. More often than not they would just end up sitting at the table watching and talking while I cooked.

"Why don't you call Paul and see if he wants to come over? I know Adam flew out last night?" I asked and Jared nodded as he came back in and dialed Paul.

"He'll be over in twenty." Jared said as he hung up the phone. I nodded and Jared handed me the basil as I reached for it on the top shelf.

"You know just because you and Paul had a huge growth spurt doesn't mean I can't reach the top shelf." I said with a pout causing Jared to laugh. I was far from short, I was 5'7" and taller than most of the girls my age around here.

"Yeah but Paul and I might as well use our new height to good use." Jared said and I conceded.

"How tall are you two now?" I asked as I looked up at him.

"We're both 6'3"ish." Jared said with a shrug like it was nothing.

"You know Sam's like 6'5" right?" Jared asked and quirked an eyebrow.

"And?" I asked.

"Just saying you should get used to be the short one when all the people around you are taller." Jared said and I glared at him.

"Your mom's not." I said. Natalie was an inch or two shorter and I knew my argument meant nothing.

"Whoa... one person out of six." Jared said with a laugh and I slapped his arm, but it only seemed to hurt my hand and cause Jared to laugh harder.