A Potter Secret

Restoration of Smiles

Bella carries her tray to an empty table, but looks over at Mike, Angela, Jessica and Eric. Bella takes a breath, then casually joins them. They take note, but keep talking. "I'll kill Tyler if he gave me his flu," Jessica says.

"It's going around. My sister was so sick she couldn't come on our hike this weekend, so she didn't see it," Angela notes.

"Ang, maybe you should keep that to yourself," Eric suggests.

"We saw something, Eric."

"I believe you."

"No he doesn't. He's just trying to get lucky," Jessica says.

"Is that an option?" Eric asks, serious.

"It was jet black and huge; on all fours it was still taller than a person. A bear maybe," Angela explains.

"Or Big Foot," Jessica jokes.

"Or an alien. Lucky you didn't get probed," Mike says.

"We saw it," Angela replies.

She's serious. And a little scared. Bella see that. "You're not the only one," Bella says. Everyone stares. Did Bella just speak? "My dad's been getting reports at the sheriff's station. A couple hikers went missing. People are scared."

Now everyone's chilled. "I did hear some guy talking about it at the store," Mike says.

"Last time you clowns doubt my girlfriend," Eric says. As they continue, Angela mouths "thanks" to Bella. They share a smile and join in, Bella becoming part of the group.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jacob and Bella's faces are just inches apart. "You look scared," Jacob notes.

"I'm not," Bella corrects, quickly. She's lying. She's straddling the now completed motorcycle. She starts to second guess herself, wondering what Harry would think if he saw what she was doing. Jacob stands next to her, holding the bike up. There's an intimacy to their proximity. The bike is aimed down a dirt road. Jacob runs through the instructions.

"Brake?" Jacob quizzes. She taps it. "Clutch?" She squeezes it. "Right. Gas?" She grips it. "You ready?" Bella nods. Jacob grins, then kick-starts the bike. "Slowly, release the clutch."

She does. the bike moves forward an inch. Jacob cautiously steps back. She moves forward another inch. "Stop," Edward pleads in her memories.

Bella turns to find the apparition of Edward standing next to her. Her hand slips off the clutch, the bike bucks and falls on top of her. Jacob quickly lifts it off her as the apparition of Edward disappears. "You okay? Bruises, breaks?" Jacob asks.

"I'm going again," Bella insists.

"I'm not sure that's a good-" Bella quickly rises and hops back on.

"Guess we're going again. Now what are you going to do with the clutch?" Jacob asks.

"Release it. Slowly."

Jacob nods. Then kick-starts the bike again. She releases the clutch and moves forward. Slowly at first. Edward reappears at her side, glowering. She keeps going, a little faster. Edward appears on her left now; she passes him. He reappears ahead; she passes. The wind flings Bella's hair back. She gathers speed and for a moment, experiences pure freedom, exhilaration then she sees Edward standing at the curve in the road ahead, and realizes something. "I don't- how do I turn!?" Bella yells.

"Bank it! Bank- hit the brake!" Jacob calls back. Jacob races toward her on the other bike. She reaches the turn, doesn't bank, goes straight, and flies right into a rock. As she lies on the ground dazed, Jacob hurries up.