A Fateful Choice
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
Bella held her cell phone in her hand. She was shaking so much that she was having difficulty scrolling down the numbers. She looked to the side to see that Edward was still caught up with the airport official as he arranged last minute flights for their journey home. Bella knew she didn't have much time. She finally found the number she was seeking and pressed the call button. The ringing seemed to go on for an eternity, Bella kept looking nervously over at Edward to make sure he was still occupied. "Pick up, please...please." She whispered desperately.
Finally her call was answered. Bella felt tears of relief well in her eyes as the familiar voice mumbled a sleepy hello. "Jake, it's me." She said in as low voice.
"Bella? What the hell?" Now he sounded more awake.
"I need your help." She whispered frantically.
Jacob was quiet for a few seconds as if he was contemplating her cry for help. "Where are you?"
"Halfway home. I should be back in Washington State by the morning." Bella continued. "I need you to come meet me."
"What the fuck happened, Bella?" Jacob demanded. He was shouting so loud that his voice hurt her ears. "You have only been on your honeymoon for a few days."
"I can't explain now." Bella begged him. "Please help me? I need you."
Jacob sighed. "Tell me when and where." He finally caved in after hearing the desperation in her voice. However much she continued to hurt him he could never abandon her completely.
"I'll text you." Bella's eyes widened in fright as she saw Edward finish up with the airport official and head her way again. She ended the call and slipped her cell back into her pocket.
"You've been crying." Edward observed as he sat next to her. He gently wiped the tears from her face. "We'll be home soon, Bella. Then we can sort this mess out and continue on with our lives. Carlisle is ready and waiting."
"I thought he was supposed to save lives not end them." Bella hissed as her hand flew to her slightly swollen abdomen.
Edward winced. "I know you are upset, but in the long run you will see that this is all for the best."
"Go to hell." Bella cursed him, unable to hold back her anger. She shifted away from him and refused to communicate again.
The flight seemed endless. Bella drank lots of fresh water but only nibbled at her meal. She was craving eggs; just like she had done when she initially fell pregnant. Her stomach roiled and she felt sick. Twice she had to wedge herself into the small toilet cubicle and and throw up. Edward kept looking at her worriedly and assuring her that it would all soon be over. Bella ignored him, keeping her hands clasped in her lap when he tried to take them in his own.
"I love you, Bella." He said eventually. "I will not ever let anything endanger your life."
"Not even your own child?" Bella snapped at him.
Edward fell silent again and just stared at her with a pained expression. She turned away from him and closed her eyes as she pretended to sleep. It was only when the plane touched down that Bella opened her eyes again. The harsh cabin lights made her squint as all the other passengers began to gather up their belongings. Edward touched her arm gently, but Bella recoiled from him. She heard him sigh as she hugged her arms around her middle and followed the other passengers from the plane.
The airport terminal was crowded. Bella glanced around frantically for any sign of Jacob's car. She had sent him a text giving him the time of the flight's arrival. She had sent it before she boarded the plane. Edward had been so preoccupied he had just assumed she was just messaging her dad. Bella couldn't see any sign of Jake at all. She began to worry.
"I need the bathroom." She told Edward.
He nodded at her. "I'll wait outside for you."
"You will not." Bella replied coldly. "I'm hungry. Get me some fries or something."
Edward frowned as he looked at the long queue winding its way out of the small MacDonald's fast food joint. "We'll get you some proper food when we get home."
"No. I need food now." Bella insisted. "It helps with the sickness."
Edward's frown deepened but he did as she asked. "Be careful and meet me over there."
"Yes." Bella quickly agreed. She just wanted to get rid of him. She watched as he trailed over to join the queue and then headed in the direction of the female toilets. But before she reached them she circumnavigated a group of women and hid behind them as they made their way out of the airport. With their larger bodies she could hide behind them easily.
Once outside Bella breathed in the cold, crisp air. It was odd that she was so pleased to be back in Washington State after so long wanting to escape it. She cursed herself internally for the situation she now found herself in. If Jacob had decided against picking her up, she would have to try and hunt down a taxi. The seconds ticked by as she peered frantically about, scanning the area for Jacob's little red car. But there was no sign of him. As more time passed her hopes faded and she began to resign herself to the fact that she was on her own. As she moved away from her vantage spot a shiny black truck pulled up beside her. The passenger window was wound down and to her surprise she saw Jacob lean across and shove the door open.
Bella hurriedly climbed up into the passenger seat and slammed the door after her. Jacob did not bother to speak. He just nodded at her curtly and sped away from the airport.
Jacob didn't say anything until they were at least five miles away from the airport. He slowed down to a much more safer speed and glanced across at Bella. She had snapped her seat belt around her body and was sitting rigidly. He noticed that her skin was extra pale. In fact she looked as if she wanted to be sick. His eyes flicked down to her hands which were curled into fists in her lap. The milky white of the skin along her wrists was heavily bruised and, when she fidgeted, the sleeve of her top rode up a little he saw more yellow, black bruising curling up her arm.
"Fuck." He spat, hitting the steering wheel. "He beat you, didn't he?"
Bella was startled by the venom in his voice. She stared down at her hands and saw the fading bruises on her skin. She had forgotten all about them. With the discovery of her accelerated pregnancy she hadn't thought about anything else. "He didn't beat me." She told Jacob. "It was an accident."
"Wake up and smell the coffee, Bella. The guy is an animal." Jacob shook his head in disbelief. She was still defending the leech. He couldn't believe it. "I warned you this would happen. You are lucky you are still alive."
Bella's teeth ground into her bottom lip making it bleed. Should she tell him? No, not yet. He was angry and she needed him to concentrate on the road. She felt his dark eyes glaring at her and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Thanks for coming to get me." She said quietly.
"As if I had a choice." Jacob muttered.
"You did. But you still came." Bella smiled at him weakly. "You are a good friend."
"Fuck your friend's speech, Bells. We were never friends." Jacob snapped. "Stop yanking my chain."
Bella fell silent. Easy tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't blame him. Every angry word he threw her way she knew she deserved. They remained silent for a while as Jacob kept his eyes on the road. An hour passed and they were now halfway back to Forks.
"Why call me, Bella?" Jacob eventually asked her. "Why not Charlie?"
Bella swallowed down the lump in her throat as she thought about her dad. "I needed a friend..." Jacob's expression darkened at the word friend. Bella sighed before continuing. "I mean I needed someone I can trust, and there is no one I trust more than you."
"Way to dig the knife in Bells." Jacob shook his head at her as he gripped the steering wheel tighter in his hands.
"I'm sorry." Bella apologised again.
"Don't be sorry for wanting to stay human." Jacob's voice was softer now. "Just be glad you made the right call just in time."
The breath flew from Bella's body as she realised that he had misunderstood her. He thought she had left Edward because she had a change of heart. Her guilt and shame made the nausea well up in her stomach again. Was there no end to her selfishness? She should never have placed that call. Bella knew she was going to break Jacob Black for the third time when he found out the true reason. She saw him glance at her again. Some of the anger seemed to have left him.
"Hey, don't stress." Jacob actually smiled at her. "I didn't mean to kick off. It's been a hard few days. When I got your call I was stunned. I half decided not to come...but I knew I had to. I found it hard to believe you were actually going to leave him. The Rabbit is totalled." He shrugged when Bella's eyes opened wide in surprise. "When you left I took my anger out on the old girl." He continued. "This is Sam's truck. I had to borrow it. Luckily he let me."
"Oh Jake..." Bella couldn't say the word sorry again when in reality it was so meaningless. "I don't want to hurt you again."
"How can this be hurting me?" Jacob looked at her in confusion. "Yes, I was pissed, but this is a good thing. You know we should be celebrating. Bella Swan came to her senses and finally realised she wanted to live."
Bella sank lower in her seat as his words stabbed her in the heart. "Yes. She murmured faintly. "Now more than ever I need to live."
A/N-thanks for reading!