Altered Affection/j.b. (COMPLETE)

Chapter Three

     I dropped Kim off at her house and parked my mom's car in the front yard. I stepped inside the house and it was quiet. My dad's truck was gone, so I guessed they were still out. My phone rang just as I sat on the couch and grabbed the remote.

     "Hey, Jacob," I said happily.

     "Hey, Ana. Did you hear the news?" He sounded strange but I couldn't detect the tone in his voice.

     "About Bella Swan? Yeah, sure did. Charlie told me when Kim and I went over there earlier. Hey, wanna go cliff diving or something tomorrow?" I asked, hopeful that he would say yes.

     "Sure, Aiyana. I'll call the guys." Then he hung up. That was odd. He never hung up without telling me goodnight. Then I figured out why he sounded strange. He sounded...happy. I, however, wasn't happy.

      He had crushed on Bella until seventh grade and I was scared of what would happy when she came back. I dialed Leah's number on my phone and was overly elated when she answered the phone on the second ring.

      "Hey, Ana. What's up?" I heard laughing in the background and I knew she was with her boyfriend, Sam.

     "I need you to come over. It's important," I said quietly, biting my lip.

      "Sure thing, hun. I'll be there shortly." The line went dead and I sighed, looking around me.

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      Leah and I sat on my bed, facing each other, our knees crossed. I played with the hem of my shirt as Leah tried to look into my eyes.

      "You know you're reading way too much into this, right? Jacob would be crazy to leave you for some girl two years older than him. What is this? Cougar Town?" She playfully punched my arm and I giggled.

     "I'm just overreacting, I know. Thanks, Lee-Lee. I love you." I hugged her and she kissed my hair.
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Two Weeks Later

       Today was the day that Bella would arrive. Charlie was on his way to the airport as I stepped out of the shower. My mom and I were going with Jake and Uncle Billy to bring the truck to Charlie's house.

       Jacob and I had fixed the truck up for Bella and Charlie had paid us for our hard work. I sat at my vanity, brushing my thick hair and towel drying it. I pulled on a long-sleeved black sweater and jeans with boots.

       I added a little mascara and eye-shadow, then topped off my outfit with a wooden-charm wolf necklace my father had gotten for me years ago. I grabbed my phone and jogged downstairs.

      As I was pulling my hair into a side ponytail, my mom appeared from the kitchen carrying a plate of food with foil over it.

       "Hey, honey. You look great! Can you go into the kitchen and get the casserole, please? We have to be at Billy's in just a few minutes." Mom smiled and kissed my cheek, opening the front door and going to her car. I grabbed the casserole and locked the door behind me.