Mimic | Jacob Black

20. Heartbreak

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River woke up to the sound of a car pulling up outside the house. Bella moved her head from his shoulder to look at him when she felt him shift. It looked like she had also just been woken up.

"What's going on?" River asked softly as he rubbed his eyes. It was darker outside than it was before. How long had they slept?

Before Bella could say anything, the door opened and the lights flicked on, momentarily blinding them. Jacob startled awake, gasping and jumping to his feet.

In the light, River was able to see the tear stains on Bella's cheeks and, by the way she was looking at him, he was sure he had them, too. They wiped their faces clean, not missing Jacob's eyes on them as they did, before turning to the front door.

"Sorry," Billy said. "Did we wake you?"

His expression was hard with grief. Everyone understood immediately. Jacob hurried to his father's side and took one of his hands. Sam was right behind Billy, pushing his chair through the door. His normal composure was absent from his agonised face.

"I'm so sorry," Bella whispered.

"Charlie and Julie are still at the hospital with Sue. There are a lot of... arrangements to be made."

"I'd better get back there," Sam mumbled, then he moved hastily out the door.

Billy pulled his hand away from Jacob, then rolled himself through the kitchen towards his room. Jacob watched him for a minute, then came back to sit on the floor beside the teens again, head in his hands.

After a long moment, River spoke up.

"Do you... need to talk about it?" He repeated the words Jacob had said to him the other day, hoping Jacob understood that he was ready to talk if needed.

"No, I'm fine." Jacob turned to look at them. His eyes were rimmed red. "What about you guys? You don't look so good."

He was definitely referring to their tear-stained faces.

"We're fine," Bella said. She went to continue, but held her tongue. River imagined she was going to say something along the lines of them feeling better than they did before, but given how upset everyone was about Harry, she probably thought it a bit tone deaf to say.

"Mentally, anyway. I'm still exhausted physically," River added. Well, in terms of finally talking things out with Bella, he felt better. When it came to what happened at the cliff... he still didn't know.

Maybe I really am losing my damn mind. Going insane.

"I'll drive you guys home, then. It's probably best if you're there when your parents get back."

Neither of them objected, not really feeling right to drive. They hopped into the passenger side and waited for Jacob, who quickly got dressed and rushed out. Bella leaned against River in a silent hug for most of the ride. They were still a little cold and Jacob noticed.

"It's one-hundred-and-eight degrees over here," he said.

They scooted closer to him, relishing in the warmth. Bella was practically sitting on River's lap so they could both feel the heat.

River sighed. "Must be nice, being your own personal heater." Jacob slung an arm around his shoulder and pulled the both of them closer. River was practically leaning against Jacob as they drove. There it was, that strange feeling again–River had almost forgotten about it. It seemed harder to ignore now, or maybe that was just Bella's weight on him.

"Yeah, it is. I don't think I told you, but I also heal pretty fast. Wanna see me stab my hand?"

"No," River and Bella said at the same time.