Young Forever

Chapter Two

Seth Clearwater.

The name kept going through my head like a marquee blinking above me. It was just hard to believe that the teen had come so close to death. I couldn't help but wonder how his family felt at the moment. His parents had always been the loving, caring type of people, I even witnessed their kindness, and it made it more challenging to cope with the idea that they could have lost their son.

My father had come in late that night, and he usually wouldn't if that meant that something was terribly wrong, so I didn't know what to expect when he walked through that door one in the morning.

As soon as I could, I followed my father to the hospital the next day to see him, knowing that he at least deserved the support from me, and Bella of course. She had already been at the hospital with her dad.

I tried to stay, but the waiting room was crowded with his family and people from the reservation. It almost seemed pointless to make an appearance, but Seth seemed pleased to see Bella and me. Even though he was exhausted, Seth told us that it was all a big accident and that he hoped he hadn't got anyone in trouble -that and he didn't want to be left alone in the hospital another day.

I couldn't say much or even comprehend what was about to happen. Bella's father was still investigating what happened, which meant that those who weren't involved, needed to leave until all statements were taken; including Jacob's who happened to be sitting in the waiting room the entire time in silence next to his parents.

He sat in the waiting room like deadweight in between his parents. At that moment, I had wished I had telepathic abilities to hear what he was thinking. I couldn't tell if he was bothered by all of this or if he was afraid of some big truth coming to light. Did he really save Seth as word had been spreading, or was the story entirely different? Would Jacob really put his social life in jeopardy just to save Seth?

"Dr. Evans said he'll be released soon after he runs a few tests," Mr. Clearwater informed my father and few of the others, "they just want to make sure he's breathing properly, and there aren't any dangers of his lungs collapsing."

With the relief of Seth's conditions, we decided to go home and leave the family to themselves. I knew my father was still a bit distressed over this and I knew he'd be giving me a lecture when we got home. It wasn't his way of punishing me, but he had the habit of always placing me in the same situations and begin to worry if it had happened to me, I never understood until he has seen me as fragile; something I don't like admitting to myself.

It took a few days for the council on the reservation to finally come up with the consequences the instigators would face. Emmett McCarty, Jacob Black, Jared Cameron, and Mike Newton would be facing the same punishments: community service as well as an apology letter to the Clearwater family for their actions.

I wasn't sure how Seth felt about this all, but I was convinced that he wasn't too happy to be put in the center of this, especially if he thought he was responsible for setting the guys through the trouble. I could say that it would upset me that Seth would pity them, but that's just who he was: kind-hearted.

I noticed Jacob was quick to respond to his duties and redeem himself to Seth and his family. It was, in fact, true when the story came to light; Jacob had saved Seth and had promised to stay by Seth's side as the friend he used to be. Bella was convinced -I wasn't so sure.

I found it awkward to see the trio associate and act as if nothing had happened, and I had tried my best. But after dealing with my own issues, it was hard to concentrate on anyone else really. I was being medicated now, and I wasn't sure if I could really handle the constant calls to me and my father that I needed to come in and see the doctors. The problem was, I just didn't want to.