Disclaimer: If I could write as well as Stephenie Meyer, then Twilight would be mine. Unfortunately, the rights are hers. I do, however, have a vase of pussy willows.
BPOV
I stared out of my window, watching silver drops of rain stream down the glass, leaving the outside world blurry and distorted.
Anxiously awaiting my finance, Edward, I calmed as a dark shape appeared outside of my window. He was back from hunting earlier than I had hoped, but he had reason to be back so soon; it was the day of our wedding tomorrow.
I frowned as the figure paused. Edward had vampire speed, he should use it. Knowing I would soak myself, I opened the window anyway. A gasp flew from my lips as I stared into the dark eyes of Jacob Black.
"Jake?" I started. "I thought you were gone!" My voice fell as I remembered my anger at Edward for mailing that ill-fated invitation. His voice broke through my reverie.
"Bella, you know I could never miss your," he paused, "wedding." Though his face remained a calm mask, deep down inside I could see a feeling – was it regret? scorn? pity? – haunting him.
"Besides," he continued. "I got you a gift." In his hand, ignored because of the shock his face caused, I saw a long thin package.
"Another one?" I glanced at the silver charm bracelet that I hadn't taken off since he put it on me. "Jake, you know that I can't stand-" he cut off my sentence.
"You have eternity with him, what's one more gift? This will be my last one. Anyway," he flashed my favorite smile, the one that made me nostalgic for the smell of motor oil, the hear of summer, and warm sodas in a paper bag. "I've only ever given you two gifts, three if you count this one, and this one is special." Implications were thick in his voice.
"But still, you know I've made my mind up. I make a choice, and I stick to it. I keep decisions, especially ones as painful as this one." I warned him.
"Of course," Jake replied sadly. "I know that, yet...here!" he bruntly shoved a bundle of sticks into my hand.
"Pussy willows? Jake, that's so...unique." I stroked the fuzzy white blossoms appreciatively as Jake glanced up nervously from behind the wet curtain of his chin-length hair. "I love them." I finished. He snorted.
"A bundle of sticks you love, no problem. But when it comes to a boy with morphing tendencies who loves you..." he trailed off.
"Jacob, you know I love you. It's just that I can't stand you being around so I can hurt you more. Yet when you leave, it's just as bad. What can I do?" I dropped the pussy willows as I sat on my bed and fell deep into thought. He slid down to catch them and put them back in my hand.
"Thanks," I blushed, an innate reaction to my clumsiness.
"It's no trouble for me to protect those who are breakable," he reminded me. That was his job these days, killing vampires to save the humans. I sighed, then stared at the pussy willows inquisitively.
"Jake," I started my sentence off delicately. "What do you do with pussy willows?" I ducked my head, ashamed at my ignorance.
"Well, you can put them in a vase of water. They will root there, and you can plant them to grow in the soil. But," he paused. "The blossoms fall off until they're planted in the spring, and they don't look too pretty for a while. You have to plant them correctly or they'll die. With your gardening skills, that might not be the best option, though." He stopped as if he had told me something not for my ears.
"There's another option?" I hedged cautiously. A pair of marble arms gripped me from behind.
"The dog was debating telling you that you could dry them." He chuckled. "We could do that together, if you wish." His scent made my head light.
"Hey, that could be messed up, too!" Jake interjected. "If you aren't cautious, you could drop all the blossoms while they're drying. Then you would just end up with a bunch of dead," he emphasied the word with a snear, "sticks. I wouldn't trust a leech like him with something as important as life."
"But Bella, you don't have to make up your mind right now." Edward reminded me. "You could always plant them now and dry them later. There's no need for an ultimatum now."
"Yes, but with my luck would they still be alive a year from now?' I reminded the feuding pair. "I'm not the best at preserving life. A year from now, they'd be dead or crippled. Do you really want them to endure that?"
"It's the natural path, Bella. If the leech weren't here, you would simply let them grow." He glared at my fiance.
"I have the choice, though. It's mine, not either of your's. I have a part in it, too." I stared icily at my two favorite men. "What if I want to dry them immediately? What if I just chuck them in the trash? I don't need either of your help; I can do it with someone else."
"Bella, what will you do?" Jacob's eyes shamelessly pleaded. I stared hopelessly at my shoes.
AN: Well, it's your choice. Should she plant or dry them? I have both written, and I can post either once enough people vote. If you want to, I can post both, as to not to offend anyone who believes only Edward/Jacob can have Bella. Please review! By the way, sorry for the blatantly obvious symbolism. I'm not that good at symbolism yet.
-Alice