Midnight Runner

I didn’t go to school nor did I work cause of the disease in my heart that caused me to be short of breath so if I do too much my heart will speed up and make me pass out.

I hadn’t seen Jacob since Monday and that was okay cause today was Sunday and I was going to head over early cause he wanted me to help with the snacks and I could never decline Jacob. Uncle Mark parked outside Billy’s house as Jacob came outside to greet me I walked to the other side of his car. “Be careful alright?” I nodded my head as he gave me a kiss on the forehead and drove off to work. I didn’t tell Billy or Jacob that he worked or they would have been exactly like Mark…over protective.

We walked in the house I was behind him…then I saw her. “Bella.” I smiled as I sighed remembering he did this as a kid. I was the third wheel but even worse I knew he was in love with Bella and it hurt to know that. He could have been the cause of my heart disease, no I knew he was. “Hey Paige I haven’t seen you in ten years.” Bella smiled she wasn’t a people person but was a nice person. “I know, it’s nice to see you too.” Some time later we were making the food for the bonfire when Jacob said something that confused me a little. “Why do you have to go out with him?” He paused I guess they were having a conversation. “He’s going to hurt you Bella, can’t you see that?” It was silent then she yelled at him and ran out. “What was that about?” I looked at Jacob then the open door that Bella had ran out of.

He stood there rubbing his short black hair. “Nothing, it’s nothing Paige.” He returned to the counter to finish the marshmallow fruit he was working on. I sighed and I knew I was going to regret what I was going to say but I wanted him to be happy. “Go.” He turned towards me. “Jake go before I push you.” I tried to say that without spilling my tears but he didn’t move. “Jacob I know you’re in love with Bella it’s easy to tell…now go after her or you lose her for good.” I had closed my eyes when I said that and when I opened he smiled. “Thanks Paige I owe you one.” I smiled and shook my head and he ran out as tears quickly filled my eyes.

“Paige why did you do that?” Billy rolled his chair right next to me as we both looked out the kitchen window watching him run off to her. “What do you mean?” I tried to hide that fact that I loved Jacob. “Your easy to read I know you like my son and it is alright.” Billy said smiling and patting me on my lower back since he couldn’t reach any higher in his wheel chair. “Billy I’m going to go home.” I started to grab my coat. “Don’t you need to call Mark?” I hadn’t thought of that I didn’t tell them he was working and Jacob was the only one who had a car that worked right now and I didn’t want him to take me…so I lied. “Oh Uncle Mark said he was going to pick me up on the curb on the other side of the neighborhood.” I put on my coat quickly. “Okay, you sure you’re going to be okay?” I turned to him and smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Yup sure will.” I walked to the door and opened it. “Bye Billy”

I walked out the door and closed it sympatheticly as I sighed. I had lied to Billy. I had lied. I repeated that over and over in my head when I walked to the curb noticing Billy was watching and I turned it. I leaned up against a wall as I cried silently then wiped my tears as I started walking slowly while sprinkles of rain started to fall down. Some time had passed and I had to walk slower or my heartbeat would speed up. I wasn’t even out of La Push yet and it started to get dark and I had a feeling that Billy would call Mark asking if I was there.

I had kept walking to the point my feet hurt like needles stabbing into them. Coming to the point where the road went on for another two miles or the forest that had a trail the led right to Bella’s neighborhood, which was two blocks away from where Uncle Mark’s house was. Short time had passed and I decided to go into the woods. I mean I knew my way…I think. I knew where the path connects to this road…I think. Oh great I had forgotten where the path was and it was too late to turn back. I sighed and walked carefully, I was terrified I needed Jacob.

After twenty minutes on going circles I heard crackling and breaking, off in the distance with some kind of growling following right behind it. I walked away from the sound but the sound followed. “Uh oh.” I whispered to myself. My heart had started beating fast just cause I was already nervous and horrified on what was following. I can tell I wasn’t going in circles any more cause the forest got darker and darker and my heart sped up. I became dizzy I shook the feeling but then my hands and legs quivered. I fell to ground my eyes became heavy I tried to shake it cause whatever was following me wasn’t letting up. It was useless my legs weren’t moving and my heart rapidly paced.

It became dark and I collapsed unknowing what I was being left to.

“Dad, where can she be?” Jacob said in a regular tone but sat down at the kitchen table running his fingers through his hair. “Why did she leave anyways?” He asked one question after another. “Son, when we find her you ask why she left.” Billy said locking his hands together looking out the living room window. “I knew Mark worked today but why did I believe her?” Billy then questioned himself as Jacob got up and opened the front door. “Paige!!” He yelled and waited as if he was waiting for a reply. “We’ll find her now come inside Jacob and get some rest.” Billy said like a philosopher. “How can someone sleep like this!?” Billy did not answer but shook his head and headed off to his room as Jacob threw himself down on the couch as he kept thinking about Paige.