Golden Hour: A Team Jacob Twilight FanFic

Company

Work was dragging more than usual. I only had 20 minutes until my shift ended, but each minute felt like an eon. To make the time go faster, I chatted with a customer eyeing the fishing supplies. Thanks to Charlie's weekly fishing trips, I had some more knowledge to keep up the conversation.

When Mike arrived to take over the register, the need to leave as quickly as possible before he asked any questions made me antsy.

"Quiet today?" He asked, coming behind the counter after I finished ringing up the customer.

"Yes, extremely. That last customer was the saving grace to my utter boredom."

I untied my apron as I rushed out to the cash wrap.

"Happy to see you back here, by the way. How's, um, everything going?" I could see the hesitancy lingering in his crystal blue eyes. I had to be the one to save us from the awkwardness.

"Thanks, I'm glad to be back. Everything's good. I better get going, though, need to make dinner for Charlie. See you soon!"

"Oh, okay. Bye."

I waved and smiled at Mike as I tried not to trip through the front doors.

The sight of the Mercedes' in the lot was laughable—it looked so out of place parked outside Newtons. It felt as if my hatred for it grew more and more each day since it was an attention magnet.

When I pulled out of the lot, the gawking from a man on the sidewalk solidified that fact.

I got home to Charlie, who was already setting out the ingredients on the kitchen counter for my planned baked ziti dinner.

"Hey, kiddo. How was your first day back?"

I slipped off my shoes and hung up my apron in the closet.

"It was good, just boring." In the kitchen, I washed my hands before handling the food. "The same old thing. Here, let me get that. Sit." I took the box of pasta out of his hand, terrified that if he did anything further with it, it would go up in flames.

"Still going to Quil's after dinner?"

"Yes, I think I'm going to be helping him clean. He also invited me to the bonfire at Billy's. Are you going to come? It's at 9."

"Yeah, need a damn break from work. So, did you talk to the kid Mike?" He asked, dragging back a chair to sit in.

"Very briefly." I turned the stove on high heat to let the pot of water boil, throwing in a dash of salt.

"Ah."

Pulling out the can opener from the drawer, I lined it up on the can's lip and peeled it off with a satisfying pop.

"It's always small talk between Mike and I."

"Yeah, but did he say anything about...well, he was there, wasn't he?"

I hadn't spoken to Charlie yet. Anytime he tried to bring it up, I'd shut it down, but I knew I couldn't keep it up for much longer.

"No, he didn't say anything about it."

"Well, can I yet?"

I sighed, pouring the pasta into the salty boiling water.

"Right now?"

"It's been weeks, Bells."

"Fine. Okay, we can talk."

My hair fell over my face, covering it as I leaned over the stove and stirred.

Charlie cleared his throat, adjusting himself in the seat.

"What did that bastard do to you?"

"Dad!"