perfect times → EMMETT CULLEN ✓

n i n e t e e n

CHAPTER NINETEEN
❝ your secrets ❞

     HAYDEN WAS HAPPY to see Jacob as she opened the door for their guests to come inside. Her mother had lit a vanilla scented candle in the living room, which had made its rounds throughout the house and made every room smell like that of a bakery. The Marris girl held the door for Billy Black as her parents entered the room, seemingly joyed to see their older friend. As they showed Billy to the dining room to chat, Hayden nodded Jacob to the living room.

He sat on the sofa across from her, scanning the room. It was very open, but cozy— or maybe it was just the candle he smelled. Hayden sighs, flattening her dress as she catches his eye.

"Long time, no see," she chuckles, watching as he shakes his head. "I swear, it's been a whole week since I've saw you."

"Well, I've been finishing up on those bikes, so I haven't really been out with the boys lately." Jacob says, his voice deep, but smooth like honey. "I haven't seen Bella for a while, either; maybe two weeks. She's just always caught up with the Cullens that I can't seem to snatch her away for even a minute."

"They're good people," Hayden says, taking up in their defense. "And besides, she just likes spending time with Edward. He's a nice guy, once you get to know him. But he can be quite intimidating at times."

"I know enough about them to make a judgement," Jacob frowns, running a hand through his hair. "She's just getting used to him being around again. He left for a while, you know— and Bella was a mess the whole time he was gone. I should know, I had to help her get through it."

Bella had mentioned it before, but hadn't gone into detail. Hayden decided to push it, and get more information on the subject.

"What do you mean?" She furrows her eyebrows. "Did he just leave Forks or something? On his own?"

"Not just him— the whole family went missing. One day they were here, the next day their house was empty with no sign left behind as to why they left. Edward and Bella took a walk in the woods, and that's when he told her. He said goodbye, then left her there. Charlie had to send out a search party to find her, and blamed the Cullens for her depression that came after. Bells refused to come out of her room for a good few months."

"So no one could help her?" The girl sinks into the couch, surprised at the secret Bella had kept from her. Was this why she held onto Edward so tightly? Maybe she was afraid he would leave her again, without a single trace.

"Charlie threatened to send her back to Phoenix, so that's when she finally started to straighten herself out. I made sure to distract her from everything, and we got pretty close through that time. But then she started this adrenaline hype— like, suicidal-type crave. She started cliff jumping and doing some dangerous stuff. And the nightmares she had . . . We didn't really know how to react; but then she got a visit from Alice one night, and she left."