His Sweet Girl (P. Lahote)

Chapter 7

Bella's on the phone, leaving yet another message, her desperation having reached its peak. In the living room, Charlie and Harry check their fishing gear while Janie sits on the couch watching some documentary about wolves.

"We'll be back by three, Jane," Harry says as Charlie goes to tell Bella.

"Catch some good ones, Harry," Janie urges.

"I'll try," Harry says and he squeezes her shoulder before the men leave for their fishing trip.

"Hey, I'm going out for a walk," Bella says once their dad and Harry are gone.

"Okay, don't die," Janie says and Bella scoffs. "What? I'm watching a wolf documentary. You're the one who suddenly likes the outside."

"Love you," Bella says.

"Love you, too," Janie says and Bella leaves.

Janie watches some tv.
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Janie must've dozed off because the next thing she knows, Bella is slamming the door open and Janie's jumping up, grabbing the baseball bat on the coffee table ready to swing, her blue eyes wide and wild. Harry walks over and he grabs the bat. Janie slowly calms down but her heart keeps beating scarily fast.

"Bella? What's wrong?" Charlie asks once he sees Bella's wild state.

(He doesn't blame Janie for napping. She's been working herself down doing homework in preparation for graduation and doing her early acceptance freshman online courses for the University of Washington. Yes, Janie applied to university during the summer and she got accepted into classes early, before high school graduation. The Headmaster is impressed with the brain of this girl. Charlie us actually very proud of Janie.)

"They're not giant bears -- I saw them," Bella says. "Up in a meadow --"

"Damn it, Bella, I told you not to go into the woods!" Charlie cuts her off, his worry not going down as Harry stays near Janie after putting the bat back on the coffee table.

"What did you see, Bella?" Harry asks her calmly.

"Wolves," Bella replies. "They're wolves, Dad."

Harry sighs ever-so-slightly. The only one who noticed is Janie. She doesn't understand his reaction but she touches his arm, she can tell that he became stressed when Bella said wolves.

"Five of them. The size of - of cars. I swear," Bella says. "They went after -- something -- and I ran."

Charlie hurries to the phone. "Harry, can you get some men from the rez?" He asks as he dials.

"Sure. Yeah. I'll just --"

Harry seems more concerned than gun-ho as he slips out.

"Jerry? Put a hunting party together -- tranq gun, large caliber gun -- there's something dangerous out there," Charlie says into the phone.

"I'm sorry I woke you like that," Bella says and she hugs her sister, who's heart is finally slowly down.

"I've gotta go to the station," Charlie says to the girls.

"Good!" Bella replies. "You should."

"You two okay here?" Charlie asks. "Wanna come with?"

"I actually need to see a friend," Bella says. "Janie can drive me."

"Okay," Charlie replies and leaves.

"Where are we going?" Janie asks as she puts her shoes on and crosses the room for her jacket she stole from Jasper right before the birthday party from the hook.

"Jake's."
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Bella knocks on the Black's door. Then knocks again. Finally, Billy answers.

"Hey, Billy," Bella greets. "I know Jacob's sick but --"

"He's out with friends," Billy says and Janie friends.

"Really?" Janie asks. Everyone is being so suspicious. She hates it.

"I'll let him know you came by," Billy says and he starts to close the door, but Bella stops him.

"Wait --" Bella says, "he's got mono, right? That's what our dad told me."

"You should go on home, girls," Billy says compassionately.

Janie stares at the door in shock. He's never kicked her out before,not even as a kid. Bella sees Janie's withdrawn face and she grabs her hand.

Billy sighs and he rolls to the window. Billy watches as Janie tries to come back to the house but Bella stops her. Billy closes his eyes and lets out a shaky breath.

Bella looks out the passenger window if Janie's Jeep at Billy. Suddenly, there's a knock at the driver's window. She spins to find Jacob. Janie holds a hand to her chest and she suddenly gets mad. Jake sees her getting out and he backs up when she grabs the bat from the backseat.

"Janie..."

"So, what's this?" She asks as Bella grins at Janie's rare mean side, a side that comes out when someone hurt Bella.

(Bella can only imagine the hell Janie will give Edward...)

"You start ignoring my sister, breaking the heart that YOU PUT BACK TOGETHER, you cut your hair, get a tattoo, and you hang out with the guys you said you'd never hang with?" Janie asks. "NO OFFENSE, EMBRH!"

Embry smiles. "LOVE YOU, TOO!" He calls back.

"Jane..."

Jake jumps back when she swings and he scrambles to the house. Sam glances to his side when someone laughs and he sees Paul becoming quickly amused by the girl. Jake grabs the bat quickly and Janie slaps him. Hard. Jake's head snaps to the side and Paul snorts.

"I hate you."

Jacob winces. "Janie..."

"And you know what it means when I hate because I don't hate anyone," Janie says and Jacob hangs his head.

"Janie, let's go before you get sick," Bella says.

"Jane..."

Janie yanks her arm from Jake and grabs her bat before going to the Jeep. Bella's driving the Jeep because Janie's in no shape to drive. Jake watches as they leave.

"Who was that with Bella?" Sam asks.

"Her twin sister who's older by ten minutes, Janie," Jacob replies.

Jacob goes inside and the pack follows.