Summary: What if Jacob had taken a different approach to winning Bella's heart during eclipse? Would Bella have chosen differently? AU featuring a less clingy more distant Jacob and a smarter more involved Charlie! Warning Edward bashing and possible lemons! Rated M for a reason!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter one: Attitude makes ALL the difference!
He took a deep breath. "I want to tell you something. And you already know it . . . but I think I should say it out loud anyway. Just so there's never any confusion on the subject." I planted my feet, and he came to a stop. I took my hand away and folded my arms across my chest. I was suddenly sure that I didn't want to know what he was building up to.
Jacob's eyebrows pulled down, throwing his deep-set eyes into shadow. They were pitch black as they bored into mine." I'm in love with you, Bella," Jacob said in a strong, sure voice. "Bella, I love you. And I want you to pick me instead of him. I know you don't feel that way, but I need the truth out there so that you know your options. I wouldn't want a miscommunication to stand in our way."
I stared at him for a long minute, speechless. I could not think of one thing to say to him. As he watched my dumbfounded expression, the serious look on his face intensified. "So what do you have to say?" he asked.
"Jake-" it felt like there was something big sticking in my throat. I tried to clear the obstruction. "I can't- I mean I don't…I have to go." I turned, but what Jacob said next stopped me.
"Okay" he stated and started heading back in the house. I watched him shocked by his reaction. "But answer me this." He said looking at me over his shoulder. "Do you want me to go away and never see you again?" he asked. It was hard to concentrate on his question, so it took a minute to answer. "No, I don't want that." I finally admitted.
Jacob nodded his expression never wavering. "Okay, I'll go get my car keys." he said before leaving me standing outside. I waited shocked by Jacob's casual dismissal of my rejection. Before I could give it more thought Jacob came back.
"Jacob I-" I started to explain myself and my feelings for Edward but Jacob held up a hand singling for me to stop. "There's no need to explain Bella. I get it" he said. I didn't want to lead him on or give him false hope. "Jake, I love you, but I'm not in love with you." I said and Jacob nodded.
"Okay." He said and I was confused. Jacob looked at me and sighed. "Bella, I'm not going to argue with you." He said. "You're not?" I asked surprised. "No, I said what I had to say and laid myself out there." He shrugged.
"So you're alright?" I asked. I need to know that Jacob would be okay. "Would it make a difference if I wasn't?" he asked me looking at me intensely. "Of course, Jake you're my best friend" I said hurt. "No, I'm not" he said. I looked at him surprised.
"What?" I asked. "I'm not going to chase after you like a puppy for the rest of my life Bella." He said. "I gave you your options and you chose him." Jacob stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against the car. "So you don't want to be friends anymore?" I asked trying not to panic. "No, we're still friends Bella." He said. "We're just not best friends." He said. I felt an ache in my chest. "But you're my best friend." I said helplessly.
I couldn't lose my personal sun. "You made your choice and now you have to deal with the consequences of that choice." He said opening up the car door for me to get in. I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Don't cry Bella" he said starting up the car. "I'll still be your friend, not your best friend, but your friend." He said then he leaned over and wiped a tear from my cheek. His face was inches from mine.
"Until your heart stops beating, Bella." He whispered. I stared at him, my heart beating fast. His hand was on my chin- his fingers gentle and loose- I saw him glance briefly at my lips. "Jake" I murmured. He leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to mine. My eyelids fluttered closed as he traced the seam of my mouth with his tongue, my lips parted as I gasped in surprise. He deepened the kiss. He sucked my lower lip between his teeth, scrapping softly on the tender flesh before releasing it again.
My body was pressed against his. Heat spread through my body as I lost myself in overwhelming burning desire. Jacob suddenly pulled away till his face was once again inches from mine. I surprised myself by leaning forward and capturing his lips with mine. I wanted more! I wrapped my arms around his neck so I could press more firmly against him. One of my hands trailed up his shirt feeling his heavily muscled chest.
Jacob growled in my mouth as I ran my fingers though his hair. Then I felt Jacob's hands on my shoulders as he gently pushed me away. I fought to control my breathing, to get control of myself. I looked at Jacob and was instantly aware of my body aching with longing. My reaction to him- to the feel of him, to the taste of him, made me realize something I had been avoiding for a long time.
I had feeling for Jacob- deep feeling and I didn't know how deep my feelings went. One thing was certain though. "I have to go home.' I said. Jacob didn't look surprised. "Alright Bella" he said. I waited for him to say more but instead he just sat there watching me with a smirk. I shifted in my seat nervously. "Just remember you had options Bella." He said quietly before driving off.
"You're going to think about it tonight." He stated. I opened my mouth to say something then thought better of it. We rode in silence as I tried to get under control before I saw Edward. Jacob parked the rabbit in front of the house. I got out and headed for the door. "I'll see you around' I said. "Sure, sure" Jacob said before speeding off. I walked silently past the front room where Charlie was lying on the sofa.
"Hey Bells." He said sitting forward. "How was it over at Jacob's" He asked. I paused. I really wanted to talk to someone but how could I explain how I felt to Charlie. I stalked in to the kitchen and Charlie followed. "What's wrong Bells?" Charlie asked. I went to the freezer and pulled out some pork chops. "Jacob told me he loved me" I said starting dinner. "Really?" Charlie asked sounding amused.
I scowled at him. "Yeah, he said that he wanted me to pick him instead of Edward. He didn't want a miscommunication to stand in our way." I told Charlie trying to ignore the way my hands were shaking. "What did you say?" Charlie asked. "I told him I had to go and he said okay" I said angrily. "Then he said that he wasn't going to follow me around like a puppy for the rest of his life." I walked over to the stove. "Then he said he wasn't my best friend anymore and then kissed me when we got in the car." I ground my teeth together.
"And?" Charlie asked. "I kissed him back" I said guiltily. "Good for you Bells" Charlie congratulated me. "W-what?" I asked surprised. "I never liked Edward" Charlie said "There's something off about him" Charlie shuddered. I couldn't believe he would say that. "There is nothing wrong with Edward." I said defensively.
"I know you think he's perfect but he's not." Charlie stated. "When he left" I flinched at the memory. "You were depressed and Jacob was the one who kept you happy. When you're with Edward you don't look happy. You look high." Charlie said. I turned around to face him. "No, I don't" I said. "You look like those kids I used to arrest that were high on drugs and when he's gone you look like you're looking for your next fix." I tried to block out what he was saying. "Edward loves me and I love him." I stated.
"Edward doesn't look at you like a man in love. He looks at you like a man who's obsessed. I've seen girls get messed up with the men obsessed with them. Other times he looks at you like you're his kid and you just learned how to walk. That's not love Bells." Charlie shook his head. "After he left I thought you might get better. Instead you went through withdrawal." Charlie walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. "Your friend Jessica called that night you guys went to the movies. I know about the bikers" he said. And I stopped breathing. "I talked to Jacob when he bought the motorcycles here. He told me about you using your college money to fix them up, hiking in the woods, riding without a helmet, and you jumping off that cliff." He sounded like someone reading a grocery list instead of someone listing reckless, dangerous stunts their daughter pulled.
"I did all that stuff with Jacob, not Edward!" I exclaimed confused. "You may not know this Bella but I'm not stupid." He said. "I know Edward keeps you on a short leash. While he was gone you probably heard his voice in your head telling you not to do those things, right?" he asked. I couldn't meet his eyes. "The same thing happened to me after your mother left. I could hear her telling me not to wear that shirt she hated. I could hear her telling me to clean up after myself. I could hear her telling me not to go out with that sexy waitress..." He trailed off and got a far off look in his eyes. "Dad!" I called snapping him out of it. Charlie shook his head to clear his mind.
"Look Bells, have you ever tried to be happy without Edward?" he asked. I opened my mouth to tell him how hard I tried but he stopped me. "You never really tried to move on. You distanced yourself from your friends and family. You stopped reading books, you wouldn't watch TV, and you wouldn't listen to music. You wouldn't eat and you had nightmares every time you went to sleep. You gave up Bella!" he shouted. I tried hard never to think about those months that Edward left me. "Just think about it okay? Don't let Jacob slip away Bells." Charlie said before leaving the kitchen. I had no idea how long I had been standing there when the phone started ringing. "H-hello" I said hesitantly.
"Bella, I called your cell phone but… I'm sorry did Jacob drive you home?" he sounded relieved, delighted. I could hear the Volvo's engine in the background; he was already in his car- that was bad! "Um…yes," I stuttered. "So what are you doing?" I hoped maybe he was heading home. "I'm on my way to your house." He said. "Okay but I'm really very tired so I might not be much company." I said in a rush faking a yawn. It had gone quiet in the front room, and I wondered if Charlie was listening. I frowned and lowered my voice.
"Are you alright Bella?" he asked concerned. "Yes!" I said feeling guilty. "Just tired" "What happened?" Edward demanded voice going flat. "I kissed Jacob!" I admitted guiltily. There was a slight pause. "I'll see you in a minute." I heard the sound of his engine accelerating then he hung up. In the other room, Charlie spoke again.
"Do you want me to get my gun?" he asked sounding hopeful. "No, I'll be fine." I said but I was worried. "I'm here if you need me." Charlie said and I heard him opening the safe he kept his gun in. "Dad!" I said loudly. "Fine" Charlie muttered and I heard him close the safe. I heard the sound of Edward's car racing down the street. The brakes protested loudly as he slammed to a stop out front.
I slowly went to get the door but Charlie beat me to it. Edward was waiting. "Hello Charlie" Edward greeted his voice calm. "Edward" Charlie said flatly. "Hey dad" I said nervously "Could you give us a minute?" I asked. Charlie continued to stand there looking at Edward. "I don't want any fighting, do you understand?" Charlie glared at Edward.
"We're just going to talk." I said and stepped out on to the porch with Edward. He put his arm around me and pulled me toward the car. "Bye dad!" I yelled. We were walking down the side walk when I heard Charlie yell behind me. "You lay one finger on my little girl and you're dead!" "Don't worry, I'll be right back." I said. Edward ignored him, leading me to the car.
He helped me inside then turned to face Charlie who was still standing out on the porch. Edward spoke in a voice so peaceful and gentle that it made the words sound threatening. "I promise I won't lay one finger on her." He turned slightly to throw me a quick look. His face was still calm. "We're just going to talk" he said. He started getting in the car but Charlie stopped him. "If you bring her back injured- and I don't care whose fault it is: I don't care if she trips or falls down a flight of stairs and out a window- when she comes back and if she is in less than perfect shape. I will kill you! I will shoot you right between the eyes and bury your body in my backyard! Do you understand Edward?" he said. Edward nodded and got in the car speeding away from the house.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope you liked this story! What did you think of Charlie and Jacob's attitude towards Bella? What do you think Edward's reaction to Bella and Jacob kissing will be? Please review or Pm your thoughts. I love to hear them!