Chapter 1:
The thought of seeing Jacob's smile always reminded me of the days when he wasn't so bitter and angry. He was the happy Jacob that helped me forget about my sadness, he was my Jacob.
As Edward and I were driving to the border line, he seemed totally at ease. For awhile, he had forgotten about the "mortal enemy" idea for my sake. He was trying to make me happy, as usual.
"Thank you for doing this again, Edward," I said as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. He smiled his angel's smile, which of course, took my breath away.
"Your wish my command, love. Except for a few demands on my part I might add," he whispered. His grin became wider showing his blindingly white teeth.
"Ugh! Can we please not talk about this now, Edward?" I almost shouted.
Marriage.
"Your wish my command," he repeated in a low voice. His eyes were wide with excitement. I couldn't help but to be excited with him, I smiled.
Suddenly Edward's eyes narrowed and his flawless lips turned into a hard line. Could he feel the tension inside of the small car like I felt? I could hear a low growl deep in Edward's chest. Automatically I looked from Edward's intense glare, over to a scowling Jacob Black leaning against The Rabbit with his massive arms crossed against his chest. I couldn't help but to feel a sinking feeling, I sighed.
Edward heard that. He pulled me closer and put his lips to my ear, "Call me." He smiled, but the worries in his eyes were pronounced.
Jacob was getting impatient, he was tapping his toe rapidly and his eyes rolled as he saw Edward get out of the car to say goodbye. Edward leaned down to kiss me.
"Be safe, love," he whispered against my lips. He pulled away abruptly and glowered at Jacob.
"He is screaming that this is wrong. Literally screaming. It's very rude." He smiled halfheartedly. "But I'm sure he'll be very polite when he starts talking with you. Who wouldn't be?" His face was suddenly pained. "He kisses you…hurts you again…" Edward trailed off. I put my hand on his face, reassuring him with my eyes that it would never happen again. I hugged him tightly and started walking toward the "wolf side" of the territory. Looking at Jacob's smile made me smile.
"Hey, Jake!" I called.
"Hi, Bells!" he called back. I was so happy to see him smiling.
I walked to him and he ran the rest of the five feet that were between us. He picked me up and squeezed me tightly. My breath whooshed from my lungs.
"Jake! I can't…BREATHE!" I gasped for air. He let me loose and set me on my feet. We walked to the car in silence because I still hadn't retrieved my breath. He snickered along side me muttering, "Need to toughen up" and "Weakling". I glowered at him teasingly. We climbed into the Rabbit and drove off.
"What do you want to do? Billy wants to see you. Or do you want to go to the beach? Anything, your pick." Although he sounded excited, his eyes were tired. There were bags under them that were stained a deep purple. His eyelids were drooping.
"Jake, you're tired. Maybe you should sleep for an hour or two. We can do something after. I can wait if—
"No! No, Bella. It is okay. I promise." He smiled at me but, I was not convinced.
After minutes of deciding what to do for the day we decided to walk along the beach…again. We talked for what seemed like minutes but were probably hours.
"So," Jacob's face turned pained and sad. "When are you going to…?"
I knew what he was getting at. My face turned sad for his benefit, but my brain was squealing with joy knowing that is was only a matter of time before I was actually in Edward's vampire family. He and I would be lifetime partners, as if we already weren't. But Jacob didn't need to know how excited I was.
"After graduation. In about 2 weeks, Jake." I smiled kindly, but it disappeared when Jacob's hands trembled and his chest started to bulge. He was fighting it, I could tell but this time it didn't seem to be working. I was not expecting him to stay human at that moment but, surprisingly he did.
"Jacob, I'm….sorry...I don't…" I was so fearful of him. His eyes weren't turning back to normal, they were just getting angrier, and all the tiredness that I saw before was completely gone. I suddenly realized something.
Jacob could not control himself. All of Edward's warnings and precautions were because of my safety. If I hadn't convinced Edward that it was untrue this wouldn't have happened.
For the first time, I feared for my life around Jacob Black.
For the first time, I saw him for the monster he really was.