NTYP Chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: Characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. Plot's all mine ;)

Previously...

"I love you …Bella…I love you!" Jacob dropped my hand and it fell back into the dirt. It happened so fast. He kissed the top of my head and darted toward the trees, with Seth falling shortly behind. I didn't even have time to say anything. Was this goodbye? Was I going to see him again? What if…oh God…what if he got hurt? Even…died? No…I couldn't think of it.

Edward. I had to get back to Edward. He would be reading Seth's thoughts and would know what was going on. Wait, didn't Seth just run off with Jacob toward the fight?

I jumped up as if my body were just shot with adrenaline, and made my legs move as fast as they could toward the campsite.

"Edward! Edward!" I called out. Please let him be here. Where is he?

Just then, I saw a streak of movement and he was in front of me. I nearly collided with him. Panting and panicking, I tried to tell him what I wanted…what I needed to know. Was Jacob okay?

"Is Jacob okay? Please tell me Seth is near and that you know what's going on!" I begged Edward desperately.

"Bella, love, Seth isn't here." His voice was so calm, sweet and controlled. Why couldn't I be so controlled? I was a mess!

"Don't worry. Jacob is strong. He was made for this. The Newborns won't be expecting any of the wolves. Please, don't worry." He pulled me into a gentle embrace.

I had to admit, he made me feel a little better. After all, he was very experienced. Very…old. I wanted to believe he knew what he was talking about. I could trust his word, couldn't I?

He released me from the hug and turned to enter the tent, guiding me in with him. He sat down cross-legged and I just fell onto my stomach. Luckily, there was a sleeping bag to catch me. I didn't care or notice either way. All I could think about was Jacob.

Was he fighting yet? Was his mind clear enough to fight? What could I have done to stop him? I should have begged better, cried harder, scratched, hit him, done SOMETHING. Kiss….I should've kissed him. Would he have stayed, though? I'd have kissed him either way! Now what if I never see him again…what if he…dies? I would at least have had those warm lips to remember for the rest of my life. God…why didn't I kiss him? He would have let me. I knew it. He wouldn't have objected in the least. I blew it. I love him. So so much. I never let him kiss me before. I even hit him the one time he tried, and actually did, kiss me. Why did I do that? He was only trying to convince me not to become a stone-cold-undead-parasite.

While my thoughts were running away with me, Edward didn't make a sound. He seemed to be listening to something. Thoughts, maybe. But whose? Seth left with Jacob. I didn't know, nor did I care really. I was too busy trying to remember the beautiful face of my Quilieute friend while I still could. To remember him full of life, and happy. I had to hold onto this memory before I was faced to see him hurt or possibly even dead by the end of this battle. Yes, I would think of him as the old Jacob. I had to, to bring his face into my mind's eye. Not the face he had recently adopted, but the face I knew when we were just kids. When there were no monsters or magic. Just us two hanging out and no worries. I could remember us sitting on the hood of his Rabbit, listening to soft rock tunes and laughing about absolutely nothing, pizza in hand. Jacob would curse the little car and kick it beneath us with his foot, telling me the dreams he had for himself. He said he would one day have a nice car that I would be proud to ride in with him. He was so adorable, his bright, gorgeous smile displayed perfectly on his handsome face.

Though he had only left minutes ago, It felt as if I hadn't seen him in years. My heart craved his presence more than it ever had. I could see every feature of his face perfectly in my memory. Everything I could make out in complete detail. I was never aware of how much I actually noticed him. I could make out every crease and curve on him, as clearly as if he were right in front of me and I were studying him closely. Yes, I had always seen him, I just didn't fully open my eyes to him and understand what I was seeing. To have the ability to recall his perfection this vividly caught me by surprise. I was able to visualize how his hair moved from the slightest change in the breeze. The perfect line of his jaw. Nothing was foggy in my memories at all. I had no trouble remembering every single detail about him. His little quirks that were so SO adorable. The way he walked, his voice, his occasional swearing and the way he was quick to apologize, red faced. When he blushed it was so sweet. The way the ends of his hair tickled his neck entranced me, for reasons unknown. The way he seemed to never be uncomfortable that he barely wore any clothes around me. He didn't have one flaw…not of which I could see, anyway. Now that I saw him so clearly, I'd never take him for granted again.

"No…er…ugh" Edward started to mumble things and make sounds I didn't understand. Though I was sad to have been pulled from my Jacob trance, I really wanted to know what was happening to the people I loved down there who were selflessly fighting for my life.

"What, Edward? Can you see something?" This didn't make sense. I thought Seth had left. Edward didn't have any minds to read.

"Seth has been here for a few minutes now. He's outside. I've been listening…"Edward informed me.

"Well what's happening!" I jumped up from the excitement and initial fact that I could find out before the end result. I had to find out. Was everyone going to be okay? Were they defeating the Newborn army?

"Jacob's fine, Bella. We're killing…I" Edward frowned and pressed his fingers to his temple. He looked confused…and worried.

My stomach fell. It fell so hard and quick, It was like there was an anchor pulling me south. I felt lightheaded.

No. Please. No. No. No.

"What?" I asked, barely above a whisper. I didn't want to know, but I did. I hated this. I couldn't stand the anticipation.

Edward suddenly rose and flew to the opening of the tent. He stepped halfway out of the tent before he yelled, "Seth! Seth!"

Why was he calling for Seth? I thought he was here? Please somebody tell me what's going on!

"Tell me what's going on!" I screamed at Edward as I lunged toward him. I grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling at it and hitting him frantically, harder than I meant to.

Edward, not seeming phased at all by my ridiculous behavior and sudden violence, turned to me, "Seth's gone. I can't see anything. We're in the dark for now."

I couldn't speak. Why was Seth doing this to us? Where did he go? I needed him! Yes, I needed Seth!

I ran out of the tent and screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Seth! Seth, please! I need you!" I cried out. I looked up to the sky, the clouds were there, threatening to cover the sun. The sun still beat down on me and I felt fear, love, desperation, loss, hope, and rage all at once. Jacob. My sun, is still down there I cannot bear this any longer. I must know what is happening to him! "Seth! I need you! Come back!" I fell to my knees in a heap of sobs.

"Bella!" Edward came at me quickly and pulled me up to stand. I didn't want to stand. "I need you to leave, hide somewhere!" I didn't want to hide. I didn't want to listen to anybody unless they would take me back to Jacob. My best friend. I love him now. I always had. I have to see him. Jacob.

"Bella, listen to me!" He shook me now, forcing me to wake up from my daze and look him in the eyes. Edward was so serious, yet he looked scared as hell. I would listen to him.

"She is coming. Do you hear me? Victoria is coming, I can hear her thoughts." Edward held my arms so tight I thought they'd break.

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, all! )