Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. I own nothing!!!!!
So this is the improved version of Chapter 2.
Chapter 2
I was running, and then running faster. Where am I? Where am I going? I felt lost, but I instantly recognized my surroundings. I was on the beach in La Push. In my peripheral vision, I could see her. She was chasing me with fierce speed. Her red hair tossed violently in the wind, signaling my need to go faster. Faster...faster...I needed my legs to move faster. Then in a flash, she was gone.
My breath tripped in my throat and I stopped running. The red-haired threat was gone, but my fear didn't subside. It only intensified once I looked up and Victoria had been replaced with Edward. His eyes were glowing red, anger and fury showing in his brow. His features were all still perfect but something was different. Terror swept through my body and I turned to run in the other direction. I realized I was no longer on the beach, but back in the woods-the last place that I saw him. I began to run; I was always running. Why was I always running? The light was slowly fading and my eyes were trying to adjust to the new scenery. My chest felt like it was on fire; my lungs were just mere seconds from exploding. The hungry eyes appeared before me once again, and then in a blink they were gone. Darkness, utter darkness surrounded me, engulfed me as the fire in my chest intensified. I blinked rapidly trying to see something, anything. I suddenly felt warm, and comfort blanketed me. When I looked up, I saw big brown eyes and a bright warm smile, a familiar smile.
"Bella, Bella."
It felt like an eternity had passed; my body was dead weight unwilling to move. I rubbed my eyes trying to remove some of the weight on my lids.
"Bella, are you alright?" Jacob asked, his voice dripping with concern. I looked at his face and he seemed panic-stricken.
"Yeah, I guess I just dozed off."
"Bella, you've been asleep for two hours, you started screaming. Scared me half to death."
I sat up and realized that Jake was holding me. Immediately I moved from his lap feeling embarrassed. My cheeks started burning as the customary pool of blood found refuge in them.
"I'm okay. Sorry about that." What about me did Jake find so appealing? I was a constant mess. I was always on the verge of a complete breakdown. What I wanted, needed, more than anything was a breakthrough.
"I'm real sorry if I'm ruining your day," I said.
"Bells, you're always apologizing. If I didn't want to be here, then I wouldn't be, okay?"
Jacob stood up and I couldn't help but sneak a glance. He was tall, massive. Every muscle in his body was sculpted to perfection. He had flawless features, gorgeous skin. Again, I found myself questioning why. Why would he want me? He could have his choice of any of the girls on the reservation, or any girl in Forks for that matter. I was thankful for whatever held him here with me. I needed him. Although I couldn't love Jacob the way he wanted me too, the way he needed me too, the way he deserved, I did love him. I loved him with every single broken piece of my heart. I suppose since Jacob had picked up the remains and put them back together in some small way, he owned my heart. But my heart kept going back to...him...to Edward. I feared that if we moved forward, I might forget...him...Edward.
I shook the thought of him from my mind. I needed a distraction.
"Jake, whaddaya say we go to the grocery store? Charlie isn't much of a shopper, and I really do not want to eat pizza again."
"Where food is involved, count me in." Jake was already holding the front door open.
"Let me leave Charlie a note just in case he comes home early."
I grabbed my keys and rain jacket, because like almost every other day in forks, it was raining.
We made the trip to the grocery store in record time and without incident. Well unless you count seeing Jessica Stanley and Mike Newton at the traffic light in town. I waved mechanically, trying not to laugh at Jacob's impression of Mike Newton's puking face. I could feel the heat of their stares and knew that I'd hear all about it on Monday.
"I think that Mike almost broke his neck," Jacob said, a smile forming at the corner of his lips. "It will take a long time for his ego to recover from seeing us together."
I couldn't help but laugh, Jacob was always so funny.
"You know Bells, I think he may be hung up on you almost as much as I am."
Ouch! That was below the belt. "Shut up, Jake."
"Oh come on Bells, the best part of internal misery, is being able to find the irony of it."
"So, I make you miserable," I replied sharply.
"Bella, that's not what I meant. Just never mind, you wouldn't understand."
"Try me. Maybe I'll surprise you."
"Bella, let's talk about this later."
"Maybe we should get it over with, clear the air. I don't want to make you miserable." I was fighting the tears back. I was mad at myself for being upset about something I had known was true all along. I was constantly using Jacob. He had healed me, held me together. He rarely got anything other than my admiration in return.
"Bella, I see you every day, you're face is the last thing I see before I go to sleep and you're the first thought on my mind when I wake up. I want nothing more than to be with you, every minute of the day. I'd do anything to protect you, to keep you safe, to love you. Bella, I can love you the way you deserve to be loved. I want to hold your hand; I want to be the one that holds your heart."
"Jake...I'm...I...don't," I interrupted his emotional spill, not wanting to hear any more of it.
"Bella, it's OK, really. You asked remember?"
We were stopped in the driveway and the rain was really pouring down. Jacobs's words were tearing me apart. I knew them to be true and I really felt the same way about him. I did love him and I hated that I was bringing him pain.
"Please don't cry Bella. We're cool, you and me."
Jacob leaned over and squeezed my hand, smiled my favorite smile. I didn't deserve his friendship, but I didn't know where I would be without him.
The rain had slacked and we carried in the few bags of groceries. I put them away and began making dinner. Jake had wanted tacos so I laid out the ingredients and got to work.
Charlie had called to say he would be later than expected and Jacob had insisted on staying for the evening. I didn't object. One of the benefits of having Victoria out of the picture, well other than the obvious, was that Jake was free of constant wolf patrol.
After the taco dinner, we went to the living room to watch a movie. Jake had picked it out and we settled on the couch.
Before the movie ended, Charlie came home.
"Hungry, Dad?" I asked. "I made tacos for me and Jake. You're lucky he saved you some."
Jake was too involved in the movie to catch my insult, so Charlie and I went into the kitchen. I heated up his food and sat down with him for a bit. Neither one of us was good at conversation, so, my sitting with Charlie while he ate was the best he would get.
"Bella, I guess I'm going to go it's getting late and I need my beauty rest. It's hard work to be this fab-u-lous," Jake said, adding a little melody to the last part.
Charlie and I both laughed and I got up to walk Jake out.
"Thank you for staying today. Thank you for, well, being you."
Jake didn't hesitate to give me a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
"Night, Bells. I will call you tomorrow."
Ugh. Tomorrow, I wouldn't have Jake around. He was on patrol, and then other wolf business, as he called it. I could feel a frown forming at the thoughts of being without him tomorrow.
"Don't look so down, I've got something planned for us tomorrow night."
"I hate surprises," I said with a little more force than I intended.
"Humor me, Bella, you won't be disappointed."
A/N: So chapter 2 is done...show your love. Please...please...please.
