A thousand nights have passed

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𝔻𝔸𝕐𝕊 turned into a blur of laughter and camaraderie, and Rain couldn't help but smile at Bella, who seemed to come alive again. The shadows that had loomed over her sister were fading, replaced by the warmth of newfound friendships, especially with Jacob. Rain felt a swell of pride and happiness for Bella; it was heartening to see her sister rediscover her spark. As Jacob put the finishing touches on the bike, Bella's face lit up with excitement. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, and Rain watched, her heart swelling at the sight of their bond. It was a moment that felt so right, a sign that Bella was healing. The three of them walked out of the shed together, the sound of their laughter blending with the cool breeze of the afternoon.

"So, Quil keeps asking to come over," Jacob said, a teasing lilt in his voice. "I think he likes you two a little too much."

Rain chuckled, a mischievous grin on her face. "You jealous?"

Jacob laughed, giving her a playful shove. "You wish."

Bella joined in, her laughter light and carefree. "Well, I'm really not into the whole cougar thing, you know?" She joked, raising an eyebrow as she shot a playful look at Jacob.

Jacob smirked, walking ahead of them as they made their way to Bella's truck. "What's up with you and age? I mean, how old was that Cullen guy anyway?"

Rain's heart sank slightly as she watched Bella's smile fade, the light in her eyes dimming as old emotions stirred beneath the surface. It was a sharp reminder of the pain Bella had been carrying, and Rain quickly moved to her side, grabbing her hand to provide comfort. She squeezed it gently, silently assuring her sister that she was there, that she wouldn't let her fall back into despair.

Jacob noticed the shift in the atmosphere, guilt washing over him as he realized the weight of his words. He opened the passenger door for Bella, and Rain took the driver's seat, glancing back at her sister. Bella's emotions were a tempest beneath her calm exterior, a swirling mix of joy and lingering sorrow.

"Let's take a drive," Rain suggested softly, her voice steady and warm. "We can clear our heads." She wanted to help Bella escape the dark thoughts that threatened to resurface, to remind her that there were still bright moments ahead.

As they pulled out of the driveway, Rain kept her focus on the road, but her thoughts were on Bella. She wanted nothing more than to see her sister smile again, to remind her of the light that still existed in her world. 

༄.°

In the middle of the cool night, the soothing sound of the wind blowing through the leaves had lulled Rain into a deep slumber. After a long night of swimming and the painful transformation, she was cocooned in the warmth of her blanket, dreaming peacefully. But her tranquillitywas abruptly shattered by Bella's piercing scream.

Groaning softly, Rain rolled over, annoyance flashing through her mind at the thought of losing precious sleep. But she knew all too well that Bella's nightmares were often relentless. With a resigned sigh, she threw off her blanket and padded quickly to her sister's room.

"Bella, hey, hey. You're okay, you're okay," Rain murmured soothingly as she gently shook Bella awake. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind Bella's ear, her heart aching at the sight of her sister's distressed expression. Slowly, Bella's breathing began to steady, and Rain wrapped her arms around her, holding her close.

Just then, Charlie walked in, a look of concern etched across his face as he took in the scene of his daughters. He moved to the edge of the bed and sat down, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions.

"Everything okay?" he asked softly, his eyes searching Bella's for signs of reassurance.

Bella nodded slightly, still clinging to Rain as if she were a lifeline.

Charlie hummed thoughtfully, "Can I ask you something? Hanging out with Jacob... that seems to take your mind off things a bit, doesn't it?"

Bella met his gaze, the weight of his question heavy in the air. After a moment of silence, she nodded again, her expression turning contemplative as she looked down at her hands.

"You know, sometimes... you gotta learn to love what's good for you. You know what I mean?" Charlie continued gently, trying to impart wisdom. Bella looked up at him, her eyes searching for understanding. "Of course, what do I know? I'm just a terminal bachelor," Charlie added with a wry smile, attempting to lighten the mood.

Rain couldn't help but smile sympathetically at him. She placed one of her hands over his, gently rubbing it with her thumb, wanting to offer comfort to the man who had always been their rock.

"Famous ladies' man," she teased lightly, squeezing his hand gently.

Charlie chuckled, the tension in the room easing just a bit as Bella managed a soft laugh.

"Okay," Charlie said, finally sensing that they were on more stable ground. He glanced at Bella, who was still nestled against Rain. "Go to bed. I love you both."

"Love you too, Dad. Try to get some sleep," Rain replied, her voice warm and reassuring.

With a final smile, Charlie stood up and left the girls alone, the door clicking softly behind him. Rain exhaled, the weight of the moment settling around them like a comforting blanket. She felt Bella's tension slowly dissipate as her sister began to drift back into a deep slumber, the shadows of the night retreating for now.

"Sweet dreams, Bella," Rain whispered, brushing her fingers lightly along Bella's arm as she settled back into her own spot on the bed. She stayed close, ready to ward off any nightmares that might dare to intrude again.

༄.°

"If I told you I couldn't have fixed these bikes, what would you have said?" Jacob asked as he sat between the two sisters in Bella's truck. Bella was driving while Rain, sitting next to Jacob, was resting her eyes. Without opening them, Rain responded with a smile, "Is someone doubting their mad skills?"

Jacob chuckled. "No. Definitely not. I mean, they'll run fine. It's just, uh... Maybe if I was smart, I would have dragged out the rebuild a bit."

There was a brief silence before Bella spoke, "If you told me you couldn't fix these bikes, I would say that that's really too bad, but that we're just gonna have to find something else to do." She clicked her tongue, making Jacob smile and laugh a little.

As they drove, Bella observed a group of guys on a cliff. "Is that Sam Uley?" she asked.

There was distant shouting before Jacob replied, "Yeah. Him and his cult."

They watched as Paul and Erian pushed Jared off the cliff. He screamed with excitement as he plunged into the ocean. Sam and Embry were dancing nearby. Bella pulled over the truck. "Oh my God," she exclaimed, stopping the car. Rain opened her eyes and watched Bella climb out to see what was happening. Jacob and Rain followed her.

"Did you see that?" Bella asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Jacob laughed. "They're not really fighting, Bella. They're cliff diving. Scary as hell, but a total rush." Bella and Rain watched as Paul jumped, screaming with joy, followed by Erian. Rain chuckled a little. "A rush?" Bella repeated. Jacob nodded. "Most of us jump from lower down. We leave the showing off to Sam and his disciples."

Bella turned and walked towards him. "You have some kind of beef with him or something?" she asked.

Jacob replied, watching the cliff divers, "I don't know. They just think they run this place. Embry used to call them hall monitors on steroids. Now look at him."

They both watched as Embry jumped off the cliff. "That's Embry?" Bella asked, incredulous.

Jacob looked away. "Yeah."

"What happened to him?" Bella asked, facing Jacob.

Jacob sighed. "He missed some school. Now, all of a sudden, he started following Sam around like a little puppy. Same thing happened with Paul, Erian, and Jared. Sam keeps giving me this look. Like he's waiting for me or something. It's kind of starting to freak me out."

"Well, you should just avoid him," Bella suggested, looking at Jacob with concern.

Jacob shrugged. "I try."

Rain went to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry, mate. You still got me and Bella," she said with a reassuring smile and a fake accent. Jacob chuckled, comforted by her words. As they stood there, they saw Sam dive gracefully into the water, cutting through the surface like a knife.

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By: SilverMist707

Remember that every moment is a chance to start anew. Take a deep breath, smile, and embrace the endless possibilities today holds. <3