The Consequences {Jacob Black}

Chapter XXX

"Just wait here," I said to the guy. He gave me a look of disdain. I flashed the hundred that Alice had given me at him. "You can keep it all once I get to my destination," I promised. My fare home had only amounted to forty dollars and I doubted it was going to be too much more to get me to La Push. The guy quickly checked his meter and then nodded at me. "Dad," I called through the house. I could hear snores echoing throughout the house as I shoved the door open more and let myself in. "Dad, it's me," I called.

The sawing in the other room cut off abruptly and Dad bolted from the living room. I don't think I've ever seen him look so terrible. I wanted to sit down on the floor and sob as I took in his crinkled work shirt and dirty pants. What had I been thinking? I shouldn't have left him here alone. Harry just died and his daughters just disappeared on him. He pulled so tightly into his arms, I thought my eyes were going to bulge from my head.

"Ryanne," he said, "Where the hell have you been? I bought you a phone for a reason! Oh, God, we've all been so worried." He smoothed my hair down and pushed me away a little. "Where's your sister?"

"With the Cullens," I whispered. "That's where we've been, Dad. Edward thought that Bella had died." He just stared at me like I was telling him that I'd seen a fairy in the forest. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if I had. "I'm so sorry, Dad," I whispered.

"I didn't want to go, but Bella and Alice just took me with them. I didn't know that we were going anywhere and then I broke my phone and Bella didn't have hers and-" I was panting as my brain just spun out. "I'm so sorry, Dad." He pulled me into his arms again and I just wanted to scream with joy.

"You're grounded," he whispered.

"Please, Dad; let me go see Jake," I whispered. I watched my dad's eyes widen, but I wasn't sure why. "Please, I just-I promised Jake that I wasn't going anywhere and then Alice and Bella told me they wanted to go into the city then we were just gone. Jake is probably worried sick and I," I cut off as something warm and wet hit the piece of my chest exposed by my shirt. I was crying.

"Beans," Dad sighed. He probably didn't know what to say. My dad hadn't seen me cry since I was seven; at least, that's the first memory I have of telling myself not to cry in front of him. "Double chores, no allowance, at both houses," he said, waving a hand between the house and La Push's direction. "You give the truck back to Billy. Jake picks you up from school and you stay at the Blacks until I come to get you after work."

When I was younger, the words that he was saying were such a punishment. It felt like prison, being forced to clean two houses, and having no social life. I had two fathers to chastise me for my actions and annoying brother-like figure who would make fun of me. But what used to make me gag only made me want to smile. I was being punished by spending time exactly where I wanted to be.

"Can I please go tell him that I'm okay?" Dad stared at me. I'm not sure what he was thinking. I think there was a part of him that was afraid of my tears, of the fact that I was crying because my sister and her best friend had taken me somewhere. On a normal day, I don't think he would've ever let me go. But my life was anything but normal now. "Please; I have a cab because Bella was taking too long at the Cullens. Please, Dad."

"Will you be home tonight?" Probably; Jake would be so mad at me for leaving I doubt he would even want to see me, imprint bond or not. So I just shrugged. "You call me if you're not. I'm calling Billy; making sure he knows that you're in trouble. And starting tomorrow, you are grounded. You are either here or there. We'll get that phone replaced and you check in every two hours." I nodded curtly, kissing my father's cheek. I was mere moments away from my home.

"Can you take me to La Push Reservation? I'll give you directions from there." The fat man in the front seat just grunted. I was to that point of exhaustion where my brain was trying to entertain itself and I was giddy. I was practically bouncing as I gave my driver directions to the Black house. I pulled my duffle bag strap across my chest, handing the smelly man the hundred dollar bill. "Thanks," I said quietly.