"Bella, I think we need to talk." Jacob's tall form stood there, a laugh in his eye.
"Jacob? You scared me… Why do we need to talk?" Hearing "we need to talk" was not something I felt I could handle right now. All I could hope was that Jacob wasn't going to say his final good-bye too.
"Did you mean what you said?" Jacob's face flushed and his eyes flicked to mine for a short moment before looking at the ground in front of him.
"When?"
"Just now. Between you and that blood-sucker."
I rolled my eyes and was sure to make it obvious. I hated it when Jacob made known his distaste for the Cullens, and he knew I didn't like it. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Jacob laughed, "Yeah you don't. When you left me standing in your driveway I thought I had lost you for good Bella… I was prepared to fight your blo… Prepared to fight Edwad for you. I told you I had time Bella. I told you I would wait."
I shook my head. Did he really think I wasn't listening to him? "Don't think I missed your little slip up with Edward's name." I had to admit, Jacob could make me laugh though.
"The point is, you just dumped him. You said it was because you had fallen for me."
I should have figured that Jacob would be listening, "I know I told you that I needed you to keep trying Jacob. And I also know I told you that nothing would ever come of it. But when I saw Edward's face, something inside of me clicked. I don't know… It was weird. It was like, I felt my heart squeeze because as much as I wanted to be back with him, I knew I couldn't risk him trying to 'do what was best' for me anymore. I can't be in a relationship where he could leave on a whim because I'm a clumsy oaf."
Jacob stepped forward and placed his hands on the sides of my face. "I won't leave you. And I don't care if you think you're broken. To me, you're perfect."
I stepped back, immediately missing the warmth on my cheeks, "But if we have a relationship, it won't be perfect. Victoria's still out there and now the Volturi demand that I be changed or die. They think I know too much. The only reason I was able to come back is because they thought I was interesting." I shook my head. I didn't know why Jacob couldn't hear my thoughts or why so many powers didn't work on me. I hated being interesting.
"Victoria?" Jacob laughed and stood tall. "Bella, you have a pack of werewolves on your side, what makes you think one red-headed chick is going to get through all of us? We kept her away from you all year, one day she'll slip up and we'll catch her. But… What's a Volturi?"
"The Volturi are like the government to vampires. They are the ones who keep the vampires hidden. If a vampire is caught breaking these unspoken rules, the Volturi takes care of them. It's how Edward was trying to kill himself. He was going to expose himself to the humans."
Jacob thought for a moment and nodded. "I might have had to thank them had they killed him."
"Jacob!"
"Sorry… But how many of these Volturi are there?"
"I don't know. There are three main ones and several loyal followers. Your pack couldn't take them all. You can't protect me from them." I shook her head as she felt the sting of tears in my eyes. There was no way I could win. Either way I was going to have to break a heart. I way I was a danger to someone. "It's not fair!" I screamed before remembered Charlie was downstairs. I quickly covered my mouth and my eyes felt as if they were going to pop out of my head.
Jacob looked at me with fear in his eyes and mouthed Charlie before disappearing out the window. I stood staring out the window, hating that I was alone in the room when I heard the door open behind me. "Bella! You're awake. What's not fair?"
I tried thinking quickly, "Um… It's such a nice day outside and I can't go anywhere." I was far too tired to lie well, and it would be hard getting Charlie to believe me right now.
Charlie narrowed his eyes and looked at me before speaking, "I don't care if it's not fair Isabella. Two years in a row now you've disappeared for lord only knows what reason. This time all I got was a note. A note! I could care less if you're eighteen now, if you want to be treated like an adult, you should act more like one."
I'll admit, I was hardly thinking about Charlie before, but him telling me that I wasn't acting like an adult upset me, "As an adult, I shouldn't even have to tell you anything Cha… Dad. I didn't even have to leave a note!"
Charlie's face grew tired and he walked over to sit on the bed. "Bella, I know. I really do. But you scared me. Last time you walked out you almost died. What if a note was all I had left of you this time? And you made poor Jacob worry too. I can't lose you Bells… And as your father, I shouldn't have to worry about seeing you go before I do."
I started, Charlie never showed these kid of emotions, "Dad… I'm sorry. It was a spur of the moment thing. I really didn't mean to worry you."
Yeah… well… I guess I can't stop you from growing up, can I? Just try not to do it again. I'm too old for you to give my heart a jolt like that."
I smirked. Good thing about Charlie, he wasn't going to drag a father/daughter talk out, "I'll try Dad. I'll do my best to not plan things on the fly. But I can't make promises. I may be a legal adult, but I'm still a teenager, remember?"
Charlie smiled and looked up, "You can go visit the Blacks if you like."
"I would like that Dad, I just might." Charlie walked out of the room and I watched him. With as little as he and I talked, we never had talks quite like that. Charlie always avoided serious talks if he could. Our personalities never called for it. I knew I might not be able to keep my promise of no more spontaneous outings. Not with Victoria out to kill me and the Volturi out to change me. What I knew even less about though, was how things were going to work with Jacob. We still had a lot of talking to do and I had no idea where to begin. Was it selfish of me to lead Jacob on? I was broken. I could never give all of myself to him. He deserved the very best. But I couldn't force myself to push him away too.
"Psst! Bella!" I heard Jacob right outside my window and smiled.
I looked down and laughed, "What?"
"So, do you want to come over? I'm sure my dad would be thrilled to see you! And the pack is going to love that you severed ties with the Cullens."
I smiled wider. How I loved my sun. "Jacob, you're insane. I didn't do it because I wanted to please the pack. I did it because all I could think about was you."
"Yeah?" A grin spread wide across Jacob's face, "Well, I still think we should talk. It seems we have a bit to talk about. I mean, you haven't even told me where you and I stand!"
"Sure Jacob, let me go tell my Dad. He's always liked it when you and I hung out." I pulled out of the window and grabbed the nicest outfit I could find in a hurry and threw it on. I ran down the stairs and told Charlie I was going to visit Jacob. I could hear Charlie mumble happily as the door shut behind me.
I ran out back and saw Jacob, my Jacob waiting there for me. This day might have not started out very well, but I had a feeling it was going to turn out to be a good day after all.
