The Consequences {Jacob Black}

Chapter XL

"I'll call you later," I promised Jake, kissing his cheek before walking into the house.

"I'm not late, Dad," I said when he followed me inside.

"Kitchen." What had I done to warrant this kind of anger? "Dad, what's wrong?" I asked hopping up on the counter top.

"I'm home before curfew," I said.

"Are you? All the time, huh?" What? "You've been sneaking out!" he accused.

"What are you talking about, Dad?" I said, nerves rising up in my belly.

"Your sister came to talk to me, Ryanne. She saw you sneaking out last night. I can't believe that you would do this, Ryanne. You're supposed to be grounded. I've never had to discipline you before. Why now? She tried to talk to you and you just ignored her. Where have you been going?"

That bitch! She told my dad about me leaving at night. Because it had nothing to do with the fact that her boyfriend spent the night every night. It had nothing to do with the fact that her boyfriend would always want to suck my blood more than anything else. How could she just do that to me? She dragged me half way around the world to save her boyfriend and she couldn't just let me sneak out?

"Ryanne Lee Swan, I asked you a question. Where have you been going?" Better to be as honest as possible.

"To Jake's," I said quietly. "I've been going to his house and sleeping there and coming home in the morning before everyone is awake," I admitted.

"I can't just let you sneak out of the house, Ryanne. There are rules and expectations, Rye. What has gotten into you?"

I could stoop to her level. I could inform my dad that Edward snuck in through Bella's window and sat up all night watching her. Because, you know that wasn't creepy. At least Jake and I went to sleep. How could she just do this? I mean, it was lower than low and an act of complete desperation.

"Your sister is worried about you, Ryanne," Dad said.

"No she's not," I said in exasperation. "If Bella cared, she wouldn't have told you."

"She was just trying to do the right thing."

"No, she wasn't. She was trying to get me in trouble."

"And why would she do that?"

"I don't know! I do know that she wouldn't have told you if she cared, Dad."

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. I was fuming, wanting nothing more than to just find something to punch. Preferably my sister. She was trying to kill me. Did she think that this was going to get Jake to like her again? Because it wasn't. If anything, Jake was going to be more upset with her than he was before.

"Why have you been going over there, Rye? Does Billy know?" Better save that relationship.

"I've never told Billy that I was going over there, Dad. I don't think he knows." There, Billy can decide to tell my dad whatever he wants and I hadn't lied. I had never mentioned my staying to Billy. "And as for the why, Dad, there's a lot I can't tell you. I just can't. But I can't sleep here, Dad."

"That's not a reason, Rye."

"I just want sleep, Dad. I haven't had good sleep in months. I've been trying so hard to pretend that I'm okay, but I just want my old life back. I want to fight again, I want to sleep again. I want to laugh and tease Jake. I want my freedom back. I get that I'm grounded, I do. I understand that there has to be a punishment. I get it all, but I just-I can't stay here, Dad."

I wasn't lying. Everything I said was true. I could barely sleep in my own room anymore. And having Edward and his mind reading right next to me didn't help. So I hadn't lied. But I didn't mention the fact that Jake didn't want me to stay here. And I certainly didn't mention the fact that Edward was a vampire and Jake was a Spirit Warrior who shared bodies with a wolf.