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."

"Left?" She flinches. "Where did she go?"

"Listen, Hayden, there are a lot of things that you don't know about the Cullens," Jacob leans forward, his eyes meeting hers. "Things that I can't tell you, things that won't make sense. But trust me when I say that they're not good for you or Bells, or anyone in the town."

"Jacob, where did Bella go?" Hayden insists, wanting an answer. He couldn't just start telling her all of this, and not give explanations.

"Italy. To save Edward from exposing his kind." Jacob states, rising from his seat as Amberley calls out to let them know that dinner is ready. "Please rethink your decision on sticking with the Cullens. I don't want you to get hurt too."

He leaves the room before she can comprehend the words that left his lips. To expose his kind? What had Jacob meant?

And what the hell kind of secret was the Cullen family, including Emmett, keeping from her?

---

"How are you doing in school, Hayden?" Billy asks, picking up his fork and digging into the steak her mother had prepared. "I hear you're quite a smart one, from what Paul has been saying. I can never get him to shut up about you."

"Well, I'm still keeping up my high GPA," she giggles, shaking her head at the mention of Paul's bragging. "But I wouldn't say I'm all that smart. Average, I think. Although I'm pretty good at taking notes and studying, I just can't seem to keep focus lately."

"Would that happen to be because of a certain boy?" The long-haired man raises an eyebrow, ignoring the stares of Amberley and Brantley. "Paul told me you've been hanging out with the Cullen boy— which one was it, Jacob? Oh, that's right, Emmett."

"Oh," Hayden murmurs, her face turning a light shade of pink. "Yeah, Emmett. We aren't really anything at the moment, just friends. But I might like him . . . just a little."

"The Cullens?" Her mother questions, eyebrows raised as she looks to her daughter. "I remember meeting the family when I was a teenager. Carlisle is the father of Emmett, I assume. I was in a car accident and he worked at the hospital I stayed in. I didn't know he and Esme had children your age . . . they looked to be in their thirties when I knew them, which was quite a time ago."

"They don't look like they've aged a day," Billy muses, chuckling as Jacob cracks a grin.

"Emmett and his siblings were adopted," the brunette explains, glancing at Billy and Jacob for a short moment with confusion as to what was so funny about her mother's statement. "They're a lovely family, and very welcoming. You should meet them sometime."

"Of course," Amberley nods. "Is Emmett the boy that's been picking you up for school in the mornings?"

"No boys for you," Brantley shakes his head. "Wait until you're older, or choose one that we already know— what about that Paul boy? Bring him over for dinner one night, Billy tells me he's a good one."

"He's a charmer." Hayden sips her water. "But we're better off as friends. Besides, it's not like he sees me as anything more than someone to talk to."

And suddenly, Jacob is choking, and pounding on his own chest. He coughs a few times, before shaking his head and recollecting himself. "Sorry about that."

"Was there something wrong with the food?" Amberley furrows her brows, seemingly disappointed. "I taste tested everything, but I wasn't really sure if you'd like—"

"No, no," Jacob assures her quickly, running a hand through his cropped hair. "Hayden's comment just threw me off, that's all."

"What is that supposed to mean?" The Marris girl turns her attention to the tan boy.

"You implied that Paul doesn't like you," he pauses, giving her an obvious look. "But of course he does, you should have realized that by now."

"Realized what?"

"Oh," Jacob's expression drops. "So you really are oblivious? Well, you see, Hayden— sometimes people develop feelings for people they're close with."

"Jacob, I'm not two years old, just tell me," Hayden rolls her eyes.

"Paul is totally head-over-heels for you, Hayden," he states. "Why do you think he gets upset when you ditch him for that Cullen guy? He wants you to spend time with him."

"What a joke!" Hayden laughs, placing her glass back on the table. "Really, Jake. That one was real funny, you almost had me there."

"I'm not laughing," Jacob shrugs his shoulders, "because it wasn't a joke. You can ask Dad— when he came back from La Push one day, he was suddenly all about this girl he met there, and was talking about how he had imprin— ouch!" Jacob winces, looking under the table then sending a look to his father. "I mean— he went on and on about you. Still does, too."

"He's not lying," Billy backs up his son, his eyes finding Brantley's. "I've never seen him light up like he does when he talks about your daughter, Brant. I'm telling you, he's a keeper."

"Why don't you invite him over for dinner tomorrow?" Her father suggests to Hayden. "Your mother and I would like to meet him."

"Ooh— I can make casserole, and—" Amberley starts, but is cut off by Hayden.

"No, I will not." She sighs, glaring daggers at Jacob. "Even if Paul did like me, don't you think he'd tell me? Or give off hints, at least?"

"He has been, but you're completely oblivious, Hayden. Why do you think he follow you around like a lost puppy all the time?"

Her heart aches at the thought— her being completely blind as he vies for her attention. But this wasn't true, it couldn't be. Paul wouldn't keep a secret like that from her.

And, quite literally, he was. Jacob wanted to groan, to face-plant the table; to yell to the world that Paul had imprinted on Hayden. No matter how much Hayden denied Paul's feelings, they would always be there.

"I don't know, maybe it's because he doesn't?" Hayden scoffs. "I like Emmett, Jacob! Paul is just a close friend."

"How about I invite him?" Billy offers, smiling at Hayden's parents and ignoring the bickering between the teenagers. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

"Tell him to be here at six o'clock tomorrow," Brantley tells Billy. "Oh— but only if Hayden is content with it. Would that be okay, sweetheart?"

All eyes were on the girl. She fidgets in her spot, her hands gripping the table as she releases a long, and stressed breath.

"Okay." She mutters. "You can invite him."

But on the inside, she was utterly petrified. Because what if Paul really did like her?

It would change everything.

_______

❝ sorry this took so long! i've been
finishing my other books so i can focus
on this one, and it's a lottttt if work. but
anyway, paul imprinted :)) bet y'all
didn't see that one coming lol. but neither
did i, so it's a plot twist for both of us
cause i dunno what on earth i'm gonna
do with this sudden information. lmao,
i guess we shall see. much love! ❞