Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter 20 - Car Ride Home

Dad hadn't said a word since we got in the car.

The windshield wipers flapped rhythmically as the Forks drizzle rolled down the glass. Bella sat in the passenger seat, head leaned against the window, bandage obvious under her hair. I sat behind her, keeping quiet, arms wrapped tight around my ribs like that would hold in everything I wanted to scream.

Dad finally cleared his throat.

"I don't want either of you hanging around that garage anymore."

Bella turned slightly. "It was an accident, Dad—"

"That's not the point," he said sharply. "You could've been seriously hurt, Bells. You're lucky it wasn't worse."

She didn't answer. Neither did I. Because if he knew the real risk — the cliffs, the cult-like boys, the motorcycles — he wouldn't be calm. He'd blow the whole thing sky-high.

"Jacob's a good kid," Dad muttered after a moment. "But something's... off. Especially with that Sam Uley crowd."

My ears perked up.

Bella asked cautiously, "What do you mean?"

Charlie shook his head. "Just... I've been hearing things. His dad's worried. It's like Jacob's getting pulled into something weird."

Neither of us replied.

When we pulled into the driveway, he turned off the engine and looked at both of us in the mirror. "I mean it. No more garage time. Please."

Bella nodded weakly. I managed a murmur of agreement.

We all went inside. Bella drifted toward her room, and I made a beeline for mine — but a few minutes later, there was a knock on my door.

Bella slipped in quietly, her bandage barely visible in the soft lamplight. I sat cross-legged on my bed, hoodie wrapped around my knees. The rain was tapping gently on the window.

"I know you're mad," she said softly.

"I'm not mad," I replied. "I'm freaked out."

She sat beside me, careful not to jostle her stitches.

"Jake says Sam is dangerous," I added. "That whole group? It felt wrong."

Bella nodded slowly. "You saw the way they just launched off that cliff. Like it was nothing."

"Like they weren't even human," I said before I could stop myself.

She didn't laugh.

That scared me more than anything.

"We're messing with something we don't understand," I whispered. "The bikes, the pack, all of it."

"You think we should stop?"

I hesitated. I didn't want to lie to her. "I think we're already in it."

Bella looked away, eyes shadowed.

"And if something happens again — like today — we won't be able to explain it away so easily."

"I know."

A beat passed. Then:

"Do you think Jake's in danger?" she asked.

I thought about his laugh on the beach. The way it had vanished the second his friend changed. The way he changed after.

"I think he's on the edge of something. And I don't think he knows what yet."

Bella leaned into my shoulder. We sat like that a while, quiet, listening to the storm outside.

And for once, I wished Jasper were here. Because this time, I was the one who needed to be calmed.