LOST GIRL FOUND

Catherine Winters, whose trail has been nearly nonexsistant, called her parents yesterday at 3:30 pm, stating she wanted to go home. I ran away because I am often lonely and upset, she told the press today. Eric Hunt, a senior at Hart Mountain High School, who reported seeing her in a bar with a large man named Jake Cullen, has been proved false. Both Catherine and her family have refused any more information on the situation.

Jacob put down the article, and got up, closing his eyes. Not again. No…the affliction would come soon. When he knew she was never coming back, it was going to rip a hole in his chest – right next to the swelling scar of Bella Swan. He paced back and forth. Waiting.

The phone rang.

Billy answered. “Hello.”

“I don’t think now is the best time.”

“I realize that.”

“Who is it?” Jacob asked, back turned.

Billy eyed his son cautiously. “I’ll have him call you back.”

“Bye Bella.”

Jacob cursed and yanked the phone out of Billy’s hand.

“Hello?”

“Jacob.”

Silence followed.

“I heard about,” She hesitated, “Cate.”

Her name was the trigger. Jacob doubled over.

“I’m coming,” She told him.

Jacob rolled onto the floor, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Bella,” He gasped.

“I’ll be there soon.”

Jacob heard the slam of her truck door.

She disconnected.

Billy went into the other room, leaving his son to suffer without embarassment.

Jacob needed her. He needed her immediately. He was going to die with this sort of pain. He could handle one fatal injury, not two.

He grabbed the phone.

“Hello?” Even her voice was beautiful.

“Cate.”

She was silent. “Jacob.”

“I need you.”

She hesitated,“Me too.” Emotion dominated her voice, making up for seeing her face. He knew what it would look like.

“You have to come.”

“You know I can’t.”

“I’ll do anything.”

She was quiet.

“I’m going to try to give up Bella- for good. Please just come back.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“PLEASE.”
“No, Jacob, I mean, I really don’t think I CAN.”

“Parents?”

“Oh yeah.”

He managed to grin, “Do I hear a kidnap?”

“No,” She sighed, “Don’t do that. The police will have a fit- as if you don’t have enough on your plate already.”

“Cate-“

“Words don’t really mean much to me. Prove it first.”

“How?”

She was quiet. “That’s for you to figure out.”

She hung up.

The second she did, the misery reaturned.

He winced. What could he do?

He heard the slam of a door.

“Jacob?” Bella asked, coming over to him.

“Hey,” He said, propping up onto a chair, grimacing.

“That bad?”

“She left.” His voice cracked.

Bella was quiet. She did know what he was going through.

“I didn’t really talk to her,” Bella whispered, sitting down. She pulled her knees to her chest. The similarity to Cate sent a new wave of despondency. “What’s she like?”

He sighed. “Stubborn.”

She hesitated, biting her lip.“And?”

“Sensitive, quiet except when she has questions- which is nearly always. Cate is…”

Bella felt a wave of jealous envy.

“Jake?”

He looked up.

“Does she know?” Bella asked, blushing.

“Yes.”

“Is that why she left?”

He paused, “Yes.”

“I’m so sorry,” She whispered. She sat still for a second. “This is my fault isn’t it?” She breathed in discovery, “I came over. “

He turned away. “It’s not your fault Bells,”

“Yes it is.”

He sighed. “It would have happened somehow anyway.”

“Was she mad?”

“No.”

Bella sat still, processing it.

“Did she…break?”

Jacob’s face contorted in obvious guilty torment.

“Oh, sorry.” She sighed. “I just hurt people all the time don’t I?”

Jacob ducked his head so she wouldn’t see his expression. Yes, you do, his face said.

“No,” Jacob said, face still down, “You don’t mean to.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

He shrugged.

“Jacob,” She began, “I’m really sorry. I know I’m keeping you from having a…” She blushed, “Relationship with anyone else.”

“It never stopped you.”

“Huh?”

“Your being in love with me didn’t stop you…when he came back.”

She winced.

He exhaled slowly. “Why don’t you just leave?” It came out harsher than he meant.

She stopped. “If…you want me to.”

“This is pointless,” He told her, “I’m just…making it worse.”

“You mean I’M just making it worse.” Bella corrected him, pointing to herself.

“That’s what I said.”

“Ugh-“ She punched him in the arm- lightly as to not break her hand again- “You are so immature.”

He rolled his eyes. He gazed at her for a minute.

She changed color. “What?”

“Is that-“ He gestured at her rounded stomach, “His?”

She was quiet for a second. They were entering a highly sensitive area.

“Yes.”

“How?” His voice broke.

“We…don’t know.”

He slammed his hand into the wall. It left an unpleasant gash.

“The ONE thing I could give you- that he couldn’t. Gone.”

“I’m sorry.”

His jaw was set.

“I need Cate…I swear I’ll kill myself if she doesn’t get here within two hours.”