Mimic | Jacob Black

25. Decisions

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"So, you'll officially be free of high school soon."

"Uh, yep," River said. He had the phone pressed in between his shoulder and his ear as he grabbed a photo from the pile on his bed, sticking blue tack on the back corners and pressing it onto the wall beside his bed, next to all the others he had already put up.

"I've been really caught up at work recently, but–"

"Dad, it's okay. If you're too busy to come up, I totally get it."

"No, let me finish. I managed to get some time off to come up, but only for most of the day, then I'll have to head back. I'm sorry I can't stay longer."

"Don't be, I'm sure Mum will be happy to see you," River teased.

He could practically hear Joseph roll his eyes through the phone.

"She would have killed me if I couldn't make it there for your graduation. Still, I'm glad you've been doing better now. How is Bella, by the way?"

Julie never did bring up his and Bella's little excursion, and River was sure she wouldn't bring it up now. He was safe.

"She and Edward just got back from visiting Jacksonville over the weekend." Edward had sprung a two-way trip to Jacksonville after dropping them off one afternoon last week. Apparently it was the gift Carlisle and Esme got for Bella on her birthday, but she never opened it because of... obvious reasons. Charlie was happy that Bella was going to see her mother, but less happy once he realised Edward was going with her, trying but failing to convince River to take Edward's place. River was adamant on following through with spending less time around Bella, so he kept declining, even though Edward was weirdly insistent on trying to get River to go in his place as well. River suspected the trip was just a last ditch effort from Edward to try and get Bella to change her mind about her future. It didn't sound like it worked, not that River expected it to.

"Ah, Renee. Are she and Phil good?"

"Yeah, from what I've heard, they're doing great. It sounds like Bella had a good time there."

"Sounds like she's getting real close to that Cullen kid. Speaking of which... how are things with that friend of yours, uh what was his name... Jacob?"

River's lips pressed into a line. It didn't sound like Julie had mentioned any of the discourse, but clearly she had made a habit of mentioning Jacob enough for Joseph to bring it up. River still didn't know what to do about this stuff. Surprisingly, Jacob had called while Bella and Edward were gone, but River was too scared to pick up–being reminded of what Edward said and worrying that what Jacob wanted to say was something bad. Why else would Jacob wait this long before calling?

"Jacob is fine, I guess. I don't see him much; he spends most of his time with a pack of friends down at La Push these days." River didn't even realise the euphemism he had used until after he spoke the words.

"From what Julie told me, it seems like you were real close."

River didn't like where this conversation was heading. He tried to think of an excuse, but Bella's voice saved him.

"Take. Those. Down."

He turned to his open door to see her staring at the pictures he was putting up with a horrified expression. It was fairly obvious why. Joseph had finally mailed up an album of photos of River and Bella growing up that River had been asking for. Now he was using them to decorate his room. He made sure the most embarrassing ones (of Bella) were put up first.

"Was that Bella?"

"Yes," River said. His mouth stretched into a sly grin, not once breaking eye contact with Bella as he stuck the newest photo in his hands onto the wall. It was of young Bella, her face covered in dirt.