Worlds Apart

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Part One-The Return

Bella sighed contentedly as she snuggled back into Jacob's warm body, except it was cold. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head and looked straight into the eyes of her fiancé, Edward Cullen.

"Are you okay, love?" Edward asked as he raised himself up on one elbow. He was lying on top of the covers, consciously being considerate that his cold body would make Bella freeze. "You had quite a restless night."

"Did I?" Bella tried to sound nonchalant. "I didn't say anything, did I?"

Edward gave her a gentle smile as he ran a finger along her cheek. His touch left goose pimples all along her body. "You said Jacob's name a couple of times, I know that you have been worrying about him. I'm sure he's fine."

Bella edged away from him and then climbed out of bed. She reached for her dressing gown and quickly tied the sash around her slender waist. "Of course I am, Edward. He is out there somewhere alone and hurting."

Edward sat up on the bed and crossed his legs as he studied her with his amber eyes. Bella could see he was frustrated that he couldn't read her mind. She was glad that she was the exception to his special talent. If he knew what she had been dreaming about, he would have gone running back to Italy. "He's quite capable of looking after himself. I am sure he will be back soon. You never know he might even meet someone while he's away."

"You would love that, wouldn't you?" Bella snapped, a flash of jealousy surging through her veins at the very thought.

Edward frowned. "You want him to be happy, don't you?"

Bella turned her back on him. "Of course I do. I'm just going to have a shower."

"I'll wait here for you. We both have a long day ahead of us. Alice wants to show you the bridesmaid dresses and Carlisle wants my approval on the guest list." Edward gave her a loving smile. "I know the pressure has been getting to you, Bella. Just think in a few weeks we'll be on our honeymoon, somewhere nice and warm. Just you and me."

"Yeah, just you and me." Bella said dully as she left the room, the ring on her finger weighing her down.

"Look Bella." Alice spun round in a circle, showing off her shapely legs as the calf length peach dress swirled around her.

"Lovely." Bella mumbled as she stared out the window of the Cullen's palatial mansion.

"You're not really looking." Alice pouted in annoyance. "And you haven't even started sorting through the color scheme for the table decorations. I highlighted the best ones."

"I'm sorry, Alice. I have a headache. I'm not feeling very well." Bella lied badly, forgetting that Alice would see right through her.

"That's a lie." Alice sighed and sat down next to Bella, looking at her intently. "Come on, what's wrong? You are the most unenthusiastic bride I have ever met."

"You know this isn't really my thing." Bella waved her hand at all the wedding paraphernalia. "That's why I let you have free reign with the planning."

"There's more to it then that." Alice kept her voice low. "You've been thinking of him. I've seen it."

Bella flinched. "Am I to have no privacy at all." She snapped. "I'm going home."

"Bella please." Alice took her hand to stop her getting up from her chair. "I'm not blaming you, but I worry about Edward."

"I know." Bella sighed. "I really need a break from all this, Alice. I might just head home to think."

Alice studied her again for a moment. "I'll tell Edward you had that headache."

Bella mustered up a smile as she slipped her hand out of Alice's. "Thank you." She said gratefully before heading out of the house.

Alice stood at the tall window and watched as Bella got into her old Chevy truck. The wreck was on it's last legs but she refused to give it up, much like her feelings for the dog. She pressed her nose to the window as the Chevy roared to life and headed down the long driveway. She had already seen that Bella was not going home, but had already made the decision to go to La Push. Giving another frustrated sigh, Alice began to recount the works of Shakespeare in her head, making sure that Edward would not be able to pick out any information from her mind that would upset him.

Bella knocked on the Black's front door and waited. It seemed an age before she heard the squeak of Billy's wheels on the hard wood floor as he answered the door. He frowned when he saw her standing on his doorstep. "What do you want, Bella?"

"Is he back? Have you heard from him?" Bella begged, twisting her hands together nervously.

"As Seth has told you numerous times, no he isn't."Billy said tiredly.

"You know about my calls to Seth?" Bella asked in alarm. "I asked him to keep that private."

"There is no privacy in the pack mind." Billy reminded her. "Anyway haven't you a wedding to plan for?"

"I don't care about the damn wedding." Bella said desperately. "I just care about Jacob."

Billy's eyes softened as he saw how distraught she was. "I know that, Bella. Jacob needs his space, so let him have that. It is for the best that you stay apart from now on. Let him move on with his life."

"I want him to be happy, Billy. I never meant to hurt him." Bella said sadly. "This is all such a mess. I really miss him."

"First love is always the hardest. He will heal in time so don't worry. Live the life you have chosen for yourself, Bella and try to be happy. Now I have to go." Billy said no more as he closed the door on her. Bella crumbled as the tears began to fall down her face.

Bella smiled as she felt Jacob's body wrapped around hers. She loved the feel of his arms holding her tight, it made her feel safe and so desired. She rolled onto her side and opened her eyes, yearning to look at his handsome face. There was no one there she was alone in bed and cold. The blankets were lying on the floor and the chill wind from the opened window made her shiver. Edward had been out hunting for the night, so for once she had been alone. A tear slipped out of her eye as she realized she had been dreaming again. Reality was becoming increasingly disappointing. She checked the time, it was eight in the morning, the perfect time to call Seth.

"Hey." Seth's voice sounded tired as he answered his cell.

"Hi Seth. Sorry to wake you." Bella apologized.

"It's fine. What's up?"

"Have you heard from Jake?" She asked, expecting the usual denial. This time however he hesitated. "Is he back? Seth, please I need to know."

"Yeah, he got back last night." Seth finally admitted.

Joy surged through Bella's heart. Jacob was home. "Is he okay? He's not hurt is he?"

"No, he's fine physically." Seth said warily. "Look Bella, you really need to..."

"Thanks for everything, Seth." Bella interrupted him. "I'll see you soon."

Seth heard the dial tone and he winced. "Shit." He muttered.

Bella didn't bother to shower, she dressed in the first clothes she could lay her hands on and headed out to her truck. She nearly had a meltdown when the engine refused to turn over, but a few choice swear words frightened the Old Chevy and she rumbled to life. Breathing a sigh of relief, Bella floored the accelerator and headed for La Push. The journey there seemed to take forever, she felt like she had aged ten years by the time she saw the familiar little red house come into view. Not wanting to alert anyone to her presence Bella parked down the dirt track and turned off the engine. She took a moment to collect herself. The last thing Jacob would need was her sobbing like a baby when she laid eyes on him. She knew she had a lot of grovelling to do. Taking a deep breath she got out of the Chevy and began to walk toward the house.

Billy answered the door quicker this time, the smile he was wearing slipped from his face when he saw Bella standing nervously on his doorstep. "Why are you here?" He asked her.

"Seth told me Jake got home last night. Can I see him?" Bella pleaded, her eyes looking over Billy and into the dark hallway.

"Bella you need to leave." Billy replied, a worried frown on his forehead. "I told you it's best that you both stay apart from now on."

"I just want to apologize to him and tell him I've miss..."

"Go Bella, now." Billy said again anxiously as he heard movement behind him.

Bella felt her heart thud painfully in her chest. Billy was hiding something. Was Jake hurt after all? She didn't have long to find out. She saw a familiar shape heading down the hallway and watched as Billy gave her an imploring look. "Go now." He said again.

Her feet were rooted to the spot, she heard Billy sigh in defeat as Jacob came into view. Bella's heart lodged in her throat as she looked at him. He'd grown, again. In the few weeks he had gone missing he had added another few inches to his height, his muscles were more pronounced, but it was the look in his eyes that shocked her. There was a darkness in them as he glared at her dismissively. "Your breakfast is getting cold, dad."

"Jake." Billy shot him a warning look but his son ignored him. He looked at Bella, a sympathetic light in his eyes as he turned his chair around and reluctantly went back down the hallway.

"Jake." Bella said shakily. "How are you? I've been so worried. I..."

Jacob didn't respond. He briefly looked her up and down before shutting the door in her face.

A/N-thanks for reading!