Twilight: What She Doesn't See...

Getting Familiar

January 22nd, 2005

      Jacob's knuckles rasped against the brown oak wood door of the white house. Impatiently, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and looked about. He smiled at the orange, rusted truck sitting in the driveway. Bella's awestruck reaction resurfaced. It was cute how her eyebrows had furrowed and her nose crinkled when she found out she was the new owner of the 1963 Chevrolet, but it had soon turned to worry.

Truth be told, it was a fixer-upper and it had taken nearly a whole year of hard work to completely repair that old monster. Billy, his father, had been reluctant to let it go at first, but ever since the accident, the truck had no significant use to him so it was just hanging around, constantly being fixed on. Selling the truck to Charlie was the easiest way to get it off their hands. Besides, Charlie wanted to give Bella something special to show his appreciation for her; to him, the truck was the perfect gift.

Jacob's eyes swept over the green steps that led up to the entrance; paint peeled off, chipping in several places. The railing sat awkwardly on the steps in a slanted angle; it was very close from toppling over if it wasn't fastened soon. It was best if Jacob volunteered to repair around sometime in the future, Charlie never had enough time on his hands to do housework.

The door opened and he snapped his head to look in front of him.

"Jacob? What are you-I mean...I wasn't expecting you," Charlie said with a short and hesitant laugh, his hands lightly patting at his thighs. "Does it have something to do with Billy? A worrisome frowned framed his tiring features, his mustache puckering above his lip.

There was a moment's hesitation too long before he answered.

"Oh, no, uhm-"

"Is he all right?"

"Of course, Mr. Swan- when isn't he all right," Jacob said, smiling warmly.

"Right. I forgot. He might be in a wheelchair, but he's as healthy as a horse." Charlie rolled his eyes in almost relief.

"And seems to get around as fast-if, not faster," Jacob added.

Charlie gave him a look of agreement. Billy had as much energy for his age as a twenty-one-year-old running a full marathon like it was nothing but a breeze.

"So, is there something you need?" Charlie scratched his head full of black hair.

"No, I just wanted to know if Bella was here. I kind of want to tour her around. Get her familiar with these parts. If that's a problem, I can-"

"Oh, no, it's not a problem at all. That might actually be a great idea. I'll go call her down."

Charlie called her down as he'd assured: "Bella? Jacob's here to...uh...see you."

Uneven and clumsy footsteps repeatedly resounded against the squeaky wood of stairs. "Hey, Jake!"

Jacob found himself sucking in his cheeks at a shortened version of his name.

"Hey...Bell," he responded, slyly.

A morose pink suffused her pale cheeks. Awkwardly, she stuffed her hands in the back of her blue-jeaned pockets.

"So...what are you doing here?" She pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Bella's hair was sort of unkempt and placed in an untidy bun.

"Just thought you'd like to hang out with me or something," he said, casually as he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Um," she shrugged, "that sounds-that sounds pretty cool," she turned to look up the stairs. "Hold on a second, will you?" She trotted back up the stairs. There was rummaging, and not too long after, Bella came back with a yellow raincoat and her backpack.