A/N – I've been getting quite a few emails alerting me to this story being favourited and I'm glad it's being read, I hope to see some review alerts soon though, I'll start to give out previews of the next chapters for those who review. ;)
Chapter 2 - The Note
Jacob POV
"Jacob?", A small voice asked me.
I looked up to see who it was.
"Can I come in?", the voice asked.
"Sure.", I replied.
Anna stepped into the room and gave me a small smile, we'd certainly grown close over the past year and she had a crush on me, This much I knew, my heart ached for Bella though, I couldn't help but have feelings for Anna though, we'd shared a kiss yesterday and I knew this would be the subject we'd be talking about in a second. She moved to sit next to me.
"Hey", She smiled.
"Hi.", I gave a quick reply.
"So...she's back, huh?", Anna gritted through her teeth.
"Yeah.", I replied immediately.
We both stared down at the floor in complete silence, not knowing what to say, Anna grabbed my hand, I thought about pulling it back but I knew she liked to hold it and I couldn't bring myself to stop her, I liked holding her hand.
"How do you feel...about it?", She spoke hesitantly.
"I really don't know", I sighed.
"Well don't forget, she left you", She spat bitterly. "She can't just expect to come back and be let back in."
The words stung "Well don't forget, she left you". It hurt to think about, Bella would probably have an excuse but whether it was one I wanted to hear, I don't know. Anna held onto my hand tighter and smiled slightly.
"So...uh...what about us?", She asked.
"I'm not sure, that kiss was...well...", I trailed off.
"Yeah.", she smiled. "It was."
Without warning she suddenly launched herself at me and pressed her lips to mine, I sat there for a moment, contemplating what she had said "she left you". I had to move on, I needed to. I'm not sure what that would mean for me and Bella but she had missed her chance with me. I hadn't imprinted, like I said I wouldn't because I knew I never would.
I kissed Anna back.
Bella POV
The drive home was awkward, we sat in complete silence, Charlie didn't push me for what had happened with Jake and I was glad, though I wasn't quite sure myself with what had happened, I didn't know how Jake felt about me anymore, did he still have feelings for me, ones like before, that is? Did he still want to be with me?
"I'm going to bed", I sighed as soon as Charlie shut the front door.
"Okay, Night Bells", He spoke.
"Night.", I shouted as I raced up the stairs.
I sat down on my bed for a moment, sighing and I just thought about what was going to happen, I didn't expect Jake to want to take me back, I'd just vanished, even If I had a good excuse, would he care? I stood and walked over to the open window. Hmm, I don't remember leaving that open before. The slight breeze made me shiver as I closed the window and turned to face my desk, there was a small pad of sticky notes sitting on top of it, As I leaned closer to the desk, I noticed that there was writing on the first note sitting on the pile. I lifted it to my face and read.
Did you really think you could just come home and live happily ever after with the mutt and that I wouldn't find you...again? See you soon, love – E.
I dropped the sticky notes and rushed for the stairs, grabbing my keys as I passed my bed, I rushed down the stairs and out the front door, ignoring Charlie's yelling of my name, I jumped into my truck and sped off. I had no idea where I was going but I just had to get away, for some time to think at least. I chose First Beach. My truck growled in protest as I pressed my foot down on the gas pedal harder, willing my truck to get me to La Push faster. I raced out of the truck as it came to a stop and ran across the beach, I passed two people on the way, a couple who I didn't look at twice, I reached my destination, the place that Jacob and I had always come to on this beach, I sat myself down in the sand and pressed my face into my hands. I cried.
Jacob POV
I didn't know how long we had been kissing for but it must have been a while because once Anna pulled back, we were both panting. She smiled and stood, dragging my out of my room by my hand.
"Let's go for a walk before you take me home", She smiled.
"Oh, I need to take you home, do I?", I teased, grinning.
"Yes, you should try and be a gentleman", She chuckled.
My dad was already in bed so we snuck out and after a short walk, we were heading down across the sand, I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and we laughed. It wasn't long before I heard the rumble of a familiar vehicle and froze on the spot. Anna stopped and looked at me.
"What is it?", She asked, clearly worried.
I didn't reply, the next thing I knew, a young woman ran past us and headed off to where we were heading, to the spot Bella used to meet me at, our spot. It took me a second to realise before I noticed the woman had beautiful brown locks and the faint smell of strawberry shampoo registered around me. That was Bella! I didn't move, what was I meant to do?
"Was that...her?", Anna asked.
"Yes.", I replied immediately.
"She seemed upset.", She ground out.
"Yeah, I should see if she's okay", I sighed, finally moving forward.
"No!", Anna immediately growled. "It's not your job to do that!"
She pulled me off in the other direction while in the distance I heard the faint sobbing coming from Bella. Something was seriously wrong, But Anna was right, It wasn't my job to worry about her anymore. We stopped and sat in the sand, staring out as the moon illuminated the water in front of us. After what felt like an hour, I looked to my right and saw Bella walked back to her truck. She stopped, sensing a pair of eyes on her and turned to face me, my arm still draped around Anna as she snuggled closer, Bella quickly looked down at the ground and ran back to her truck. Before she had the chance to look down though, I had noticed the hurt in her eyes. Her truck was gone before I snapped back into reality.
"Come on, I need to go home", Anna spoke, standing up.
We headed off to her house and approached the front door, she fumbled with her keys then opened her door, turning to face me and then kissed me quickly.
"Thanks for walking me home", She smiled.
"Sure, sure", I chuckled. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight.", She replied.
I turned and walked down the driveway as she closed the door but not before I heard what sounded like her mumbling "I love you.", I shook off the feeling that brought, did I feel the same?
Bella POV
I knew it would have happened, Rachel was just trying to not hurt me when she said Jacob and this girl were "just friends". I had to expect it though, I didn't expect Jacob to just wait for me, for all her knew I was never coming back. But it still hurt. I found it very hard to get out of bed the next morning, I forced myself up and took a shower, taking my time to wash my hair and clean my body, I felt dirty and the reason lay deep down in my mind, something I couldn't tell anyone, I'd told Rachel the reason why I'd vanished but I hadn't told her everything that had happened while I was gone. I reached the kitchen.
"Dad?", I called out.
A small note was left on the counter, I was hesitant at first to even look at it after what happened last night, what if Edward was watching me, I knew that he had followed me, that much was obvious in the note I'd found. I picked up the small note hesitantly and looked at the word.
I sighed, I didn't know if I could face a day at Emily's, surely the pack would show up which meant facing Leah and then of course what if Jake showed up, what if she came with him? I battled with these thoughts before I picked up the phone and dialled Emily's number, surprised that I could still remember it.
Bells,
Gone fishing with Billy, be gone all day so don't bother making dinner, Emily asked for you to her call her, she wants to catch up.
Dad
"Hello?", Her sweet voice answered after three rings.
"Hey Emily, it's...Bella", I spoke.
"Bella! I take it Charlie spoke to you, what time are you coming up?", She asked excitedly.
"Uh...oh...ten minutes?", I replied.
"Great! See you soon!", She laughed.
We hung up and I turned to grab my keys, I was out the door not long after that and soon I was pulling up outside of Emily's place and knocking on the door. Sam answered and greeted me with a smile.
"Hey Bella, come on in", He said, gesturing for me to go inside.
Emily was in the kitchen with Rachel who smiled at me when I entered, I carefully walked over to the table and took the seat that Emily pulled out for me. We sat there for a moment in silence.
"Bella, first off, I'm sorry", Rachel spoke. "I told Emily everything"
My jaw dropped and I sat there shocked.
"Please don't hate me", She continued.
"It's not her fault Bella, I practically beat it out of her", Emily chuckled.
"I don't hate you", I finally spoke. "I'm actually glad I didn't have to say it all again"
We all laughed and Emily reached over to grasp my hand in hers and she smiled at me, I smiled back. Emily was one of those people who cared for you too much to hate you, I was glad.
"I'm glad you know Emily", I smiled again. "But uh...", I trailed off.
"Bella?", Rachel asked.
"I got a note last night", I blurted out.
"What note?", Emily asked.
I reached into my pocket and retrieved the note I'd found and handed it to Emily, her eyes scanned over it for a moment and then she handed it to Rachel who repeated this action and then they both stared at me, both looking shocked and worried. I stared at my hands for a moment, willing the tears to not fall from my eyes, I was scared so much, right now I just wanted to be wrapped up in Jake's warm embrace but he had someone else now, that wouldn't be happening for me now.
"He's here, in Forks?", Emily gasped.
I nodded.
"Where did you find this?", Rachel asked.
"In my room. The window was open when I got home last night", I mumbled.
"We have to tell Sam.", Emily spoke.
"No...I can't", I began to protest.
"Tell me what?", Sam asked as he entered the room.
He stiffened and looked around at us.
"Why do I smell...vampires?", He spoke.
We all looked down at the note on the table before Emily picked it up and handed it to Sam, his eyes read over the note before a look of confusion spread across his face, he glanced at Emily and then to me, Emily stood and grasped the note from his hands.
"Bella found that in her room last night", Emily spoke.
"Is it from...Cullen?", Sam asked.
I nodded.
"I think it's time I found out what happened to you this past year Bella, the pack must know too", He said.
I thought about protesting but I knew it would be useless, the pack would find out anyways and if I could tell Jake in front of others then it might be easier, I wouldn't have to keep telling everyone, I'd be killing two birds with one stone here. Great. Sam called all of the pack together and soon the house filled with sounds of laughter and loud voices, I heard Jacob enter then Sam told everyone to take a seat. I stood in the kitchen, Rachel took my hand in hers and smiled, assuring me with her eyes that it would be okay. I nodded. Once Emily exited the kitchen with the food, I knew it would be time.
"We're here to talk about...Bella", Sam spoke.
I knew Jake would have froze at the mention of my name.
"What about that foul leech-lover?", I heard Leah growl.
"Sam, what's going on?", Jacob asked, worried.
"She can explain it better", Sam replied.
The door opened and Emily stood in the doorway, she gestured for me to go into the other room, here goes nothing...I entered the small living room and saw the pack all huddled across the seats and the floor, every pair of eyes fell on me and I glanced at my feet, hoping I would be able to do this, I moved over to where Sam stood and he held out his hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the note again, all of the pack stiffed as they caught the scent of vampire.
"This note was left in Bella's room last night, from Edward Cullen", Sam spoke calmly.
I glanced at my feet.
"I don't know the full story so that's why Bella is here...to explain", Sam looked at me.
"Explain?", I heard Quil ask.
"Where she's been this past year", Emily spoke up.
"Who cares?", Leah asked.
"Shut it, Leah", Embry growled at her then smiled at me.
I smiled back, weakly.
"Go ahead, Bella", Seth smiled.
I took a seat and sighed before looking up at all of the eyes staring back at me, this wasn't going to be easy so I nodded and finally spoke up.
"After the newborn fight...", I began, everyone tensed. "After I went to see Jake, I headed to the Cullen's house to break things off with Edward".
"Funny, didn't seem that way when you just disappeared along with him", Leah hissed.
"Shut up Leah", Rachel glared at her.
"...Anyways, I told him that it was over and he asked for a goodbye kiss", I spoke hesitantly, Jake growled at this. "I gave in and told him that this would be indeed, a goodbye...But...uh...something knocked me out and the next thing I knew, I was in a car."
I woke up to the rumbling of an engine as I looked around, it was dark outside and I was lying across the back seat of the Volvo. I sat up and stared at the back of Edward's head as he drove down the dark highway.
"Ah, Bella, love, you're awake", He smiled. "Come sit up front"
He patted the passenger seat. I climbed over and sat there, looking over at him. I turned towards the door and found the lock on the door had been broken, preventing my escape. The car seemed to get faster as I stared at the lock.
"Don't even think about it Bella", Edward hissed.
"Edward, where are we?", I asked. "Where are you taking me?"
"Far away from that mongrel", He growled.
I leaned against the door, trying to be as far from him as possible.
"He is not going to have you", He hissed again. "You're mine!"
"Edward please...", I began.
"NO!", He spat. "We are meant for each other, can't you see that?", He asked.
"Edward, no, I can't.", I spoke.
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it, glaring at me, the sky had darkened rapidly outside and I was shaking from fear, this was so unlike Edward, what was wrong with him?
"I know you feel the spark when we touch", He sighed. "I know it!"The pack continued to stare at me, I gulped and continued with this memory that was forever burned into my mind.
We pulled up to a motel and Edward locked the car, I was trapped inside as he booked us a room. He came back to the car and dragged me inside, locking the room and throwing me onto the bed.
"Did you think you could just leave me?", Edward growled. "You promised to love me...forever!"
I sobbed as he moved over and gripped my arms tightly to the point where it became unbearable, I fought to free myself from his grasp.
"You said you chose him.", He spoke calmly suddenly. "Was it because he can give you something I can't?"
I knew what he meant, intimacy, he thought this was about the fact that he couldn't give me sex without trying to kill me but Jake could.
"What? No!", I cried. "I love him"
"You're lying, you love me!", He hissed, ripping my shirt open.
I screamed as he began to trail angry kisses down my neck, gripping my waist painfully, he fumbled with my jeans and then pushed me down onto the bed.
"I can give you sex", He growled.
He ripped his own jeans open and forced himself between my legs.
I fought the tears as I recalled this memory, the words were stuck in my throat, I couldn't even finish explaining this, Everyone stared at me, completely silent before Emily came over and hugged me.
"It's okay, Bella", She soothed me. "You don't have to say everything if you can't"
I nodded.
"I'll be okay.", I sighed.
Jake glared at me, he looked shocked, his eyes had a clearly visible expression in them, He looked angry, I knew that at least.
I lay on the ground, it had been five days since the motel incident, we'd left that room the following morning and Edward explained he had a house for us to live in. He hadn't spoke a word of the night before, I was in pain as he entered the dark basement, turning on the lights, the room was completely black before that, a bare room with nothing but a mattress and a small fridge on the floor.
"Love, I see that you're awake now", He smiled. "I brought you some dinner".
He placed a tray at my feet and I quickly rushed to it, swallowing it down quickly. He chuckled and sat down next to me.
"You were certainly hungry, huh?", He chuckled.
"Edward, please...", I began to sob.
"No! You aren't going anywhere", He smiled and stood up, unfastening his jeans again.
"Please, don't, Edward", I cried as he pressed himself over me once again. I blacked out before it was over.
When he was finished I lay there, the pain crippling me as blood flowed down my legs, I cried myself to sleep that night, I was going to die here, he'd brought up that he had plans to change me, make me like him, this was something I feared more now, I didn't want to die, I wanted to go home, back to La Push and lie in Jacob's warm arms on the beach and be able to laugh...smile and feel happy. I lay in that basement for ten months, Edward would bring me food every five days, have his way with me and then leave me lying there, bleeding out. I'd cry and then scream until my throat hurt. One day He forgot to check the tray for the knife he'd given me to peel an apple he'd brought me. I'd hidden the knife under the mattress.
"I'll see you soon, love", Edward smiled as he climbed the basement stairs. "I'm going hunting."
He closed the door, this time he'd left me a small lamp and a book to read. I heard the door close upstairs and lock. I stood up quickly, Grabbing the knife from under the mattress before I made my way to the staircase, stumbling up them on unsteady legs, it had been a good while since I had last walked. I used the knife to pick the lock on the door, surprised that it even worked. I moved through the house, it was quite a nice home, beautifully decorated, I moved through each room, looking for food, clothing, anything I could find. I caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror, I was a mess, my skin darkened with dirt and blood, my hair was wild, sticking out in every angle, my clothes were tattered and ripped. I knew I didn't have time but I climbed into the shower and washed away my shame. Heading to the bedroom, I grabbed some clothes I found in Edward's bag and changed. I found some money.
"You stupid, dense asshole!", I smiled as I zipped up the bag and made my way downstairs.
Opening the door and rushing down the driveway, he had left the Volvo thankfully. I had found the keys on the counter in the kitchen and thankfully the car still had some gas in it, I pulled out of the driveway and sped off down the street, making my getaway. The sound of a car honking behind me distracted me for a second before I realised I was sitting at a green light, I pressed my foot down on the pedal and headed out of town. I was going home. To Forks. I smiled, my joy however, was short lived as I heard the loud honking of a truck, turning to my right in time to see a large truck smash into the side of the Volvo, everything went black.
"I was in a coma for the next three months", I sighed.
"You expect us to believe that?", Leah asked.
"Yeah, It's the truth", I hissed back at her.
"So when you woke up, what happened?", Jared asked me.
"I spent two months in a small town, working at a diner to earn enough money for a ticket home", I said.
"What happened to the money you found and the car?", Seth asked.
"I used it to get an apartment, I had to make sure Edward hadn't follow me to Forks so I thought I'd settle down for a little while, I couldn't have him following me back here and the car was totalled", I sighed, staring at the young wolf.
"So is that it?", Paul asked.
"Well, not completely. After I'd settled into the small apartment, I found myself actually feeling happy once again", I smiled. "That's when It happened."
I'd just finished my shift at the diner, arriving home just in time as the rain poured down, I moved through the darkened apartment, switching on the lights as I moved around each room, coming to a stop in my bedroom, I could smell something, like vanilla? I opened my bedroom door and found the room illuminated in candlelight and the bed covered in rose petals, I moved closer and sitting in the middle of the bed was a small piece of paper that read...You can run but you can't hide, I'll always find you – E.
I gasped, clamping my hand over my mouth, He'd found me. I moved quickly, grabbing a bag and shoving as much of my possessions into it as I could. I dashed to the front door and down to my car. Without looking back, I turned the key in the ignition, nothing.
"Damn it!", I cried. Slamming my hands on the steering wheel.
I climbed back out of the car and rushed down the street, running as fast as I could, I was lucky that I didn't fall over, knowing how clumsy I was. It didn't take me long to reach the bus station which I was glad about, I didn't live too far, It's why I'd picked the apartment I had, in case he found me, I'd have a quick escape.
"One ticket to Port Angeles please", I cried.
"And well, here I am", I sighed.
Everyone sat in silence for a moment before Leah glared at me.
"That's a pretty scary story for you, must have been hard", She said, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"Leah!", Sam warned.
"No, it's fine Sam, it is a pretty unbelievable story but It's the truth", I shot back at Leah.
"What made you think to come here if you didn't want him following you?", Quil asked.
"Forks is pretty much the only safe place for me, if you can call it safe", I said. "It was now or never, you guys are here and I hoped the Cullen's still would be, Edward would listen to no one but his family".
"So you thought you'd just come here and we'd protect you?", Leah hissed.
"No, of course not, you don't owe me anything", I said.
"You're right, they don't", A voice startled me.
We all looked up to see Jake's friend, Anna I think her name was, standing in the doorway.
"Anna, what are you doing here?", Jake finally spoke up.
"I heard she was here, I had to see for myself", She growled.
Everyone's eyes moved between me and her, I'd never felt so awkward in my life, I stood and stared at her.
"I think it's time you leave, they don't want you here", Anna spoke bitterly.
"Bella can stay as long as...", Emily began.
"No, she should leave!", Anna interrupted.
Everyone looked at me, I stared down at my feet before I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door, Jacob stood up behind me and Anna glared at me as I passed her and rushed down the driveway to my truck.