A/N: This update took so long because I was working on other projects, I've been very tired lately, had an E.R. visit, this chapter was just being stubborn, laziness and I can come up with plenty more of excuses, LOL.
I didn't get a chance to write from Jacob's POV in the last chapter, so I will write from his POV a little bit during this chapter.
This chapter is a little sad and angsty in some parts, but don't worry.
Anyone who knows me knows that I dislike writing angst so it won't last too long.
I heart you so much j and I hope that you are enjoying this!
I have to apologize for the lack of smut in this chapter.
If you throw virtual rocks at me I completely understand. How dare I take almost a month to update and not bring you smut?
I also have to apologize because this chapter is extremely boring.
I figure since I was bored writing it, you all will probably get bored while reading it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or anything associated with Stephenie Meyer's characters.
Chapter 2: Hold On To Me
Emmett's POV
I frantically search for my phone; I knock various things off of my nightstand until I find it. I wipe the sleep from my eyes as I dial Rosalie's number. I tap my foot impatiently as I wait for her to pick up. I hang up when I hear her voice mail message. I look at the clock and it reeds 3:23 A.M. Rosalie is probably sleeping and I'm just being paranoid. I lay back down and my phone is ringing as soon as my head hits the pillow. I know by the ringtone that it's Rosalie. I pick up after 2 rings.
"Em? Is everything alright?" She asks.
I run my fingers through my hair. "I don't know, you tell me."
She pauses for a few seconds. "Um… everything's not exactly peachy keen."
"What's going on and why didn't you call me?" I interrogate.
"It's just Jacob, I didn't think—"
"What's wrong with Jacob?" I ask.
"His mother was rushed to the hospital a few hours ago, she had a heart attack," Rose explains.
"Is she going to be ok?" I wonder.
"We're not sure. Jacob's going to the hospital in the morning to see her. Right now, he's… dealing with it," Rosalie tells me.
I bite my lip. "It doesn't sound like he's handling it too well. Does he need some company?"
"He probably could use some more company, but it's late and you should go back to sleep," Rosalie advises.
"I got a few hours so I'm fine. I'm coming over there," I announce.
"But Emmett—"
I hang up and put some clothes on. I grab my keys and my phone before I walk out of the door. I'm still wondering how I just knew that there was something wrong with Jacob. I shrug my shoulders and I turn the radio on. I relax as I just get lost in the songs playing on the radio. I yawn as I park into Jacob's driveway. For some reason, I don't knock and I just walk in. I really should have knocked because the view in front of me is shocking. There's an extremely tiny person with black spiked hair sitting in Jacob's lap. Although she is tiny, I can tell by her body and mannerisms that she's not a child. I also know that she's not a child because she kisses Jacob on his forehead, both cheeks and then on the mouth. Jacob is hesitant at first, but he gives in and kisses the munchkin with a passion that makes me slightly jealous. I know that I have no right to be jealous, but that doesn't change the way that I feel. I turn to leave the house. My hand is on the doorknob when Jacob addresses me.
"Hey Emmett, I didn't hear you come in."
"I um… forgot to knock, I'm sorry. I can leave if—"
"No, you don't have to leave. I want you to stay," Jacob tells me.
"Hello Emmett, I'm Jacob's friend/ex girlfriend Alice," The small girl introduces.
"It's uh…nice to meet you Alice," I force myself to say.
"Rose is in the basement with Jasper if you want to see her," Jake informs me.
"I didn't come over to see Rosalie. I came over to see you, but you seem kind of… busy?" My statement comes out like a question.
Alice looks at her watch. "It's later than I thought and I have to get up in a few hours, so I'm going to head out. Call me with an update as soon as you have one though, ok?"
Jacob nods and Alice gives him a slight smile. Jacob picks her up like a toddler to give her a hug goodbye. That hug soon turns into a not so friendly kiss and I fight the urge to growl. He finally lets her go and she leaves wordlessly. Jake moves to the couch and I reluctantly join him. He looks nervous as he opens his mouth to say something. I speak before he can say anything.
I cross my arms. "So… she kisses all of her exes like that?"
Jacob decides to play dumb. "What are you talking about?"
"Most people kiss their exes on the cheek if they kiss them at all. You two were playing tonsil hockey," I spit.
"Explain to me why you care who I kiss. I'm not your boyfriend or anything," He counters.
I finally turn to look at him. "You're right, I'm not your boyfriend, but that may change."
"You've had time to sleep on it so you've made your decision already?" He asks.
"Well, not yet—"
He cuts me off. "Since we're not together, I can kiss whoever I want."
"That's really fucked up and you know it, Jake," I nearly shout.
He looks me in the eyes. "I wasn't trying to hurt you or make you jealous by kissing Alice."
"I know it wasn't your intent to hurt me, but you did anyway," I tell him.
"You don't think I was hurt earlier? After you kissed me, you told me that you had to think about if you wanted to pursue a relationship with me," Jacob retorts.
I shake my head. "I'm unsure about my feelings for you, but don't you think that's natural? You kissed me earlier and then I walk in on you frenching your ex. I don't think you know what the hell you want either."
"I do know what I want, Emmett. I'm looking right at him," Jacob says genuinely.
"If you want me, then why…"
"Alice was just helping me cope. I kissed her because of the numbing feeling it gave me, not because I still have feelings for her," Jake explains.
"Seeing Alice kiss you made me forget why I came over here in the first place. I hope that your mother will be alright," I sincerely tell him.
Jacob yawns. "Thanks. I hope so too."
"It's late and you must be exhausted emotionally, you should get some sleep," I advise.
"I know that I should, but it's hard for me to sleep when I'm stressed," He replies.
"Do you think you would sleep better if I lay down with you?" I ask.
"Emmett, I'm glad that you came by, but you don't have to—"
I pat my shoulder. "Treat me like your pillow."
He grabs a comforter from his closet before he joins me on the couch and rests his head on my shoulder. I run my fingers through his ponytail and he hums in contentment. Jacob closes his eyes and soon he's sound asleep. I smile because he looks so peaceful and like a gentle giant while he's asleep. I wrap my arms around his waist loosely and I like the feel of him in my arms. I give him a delicate kiss on his cheek.
"Sweet dreams, Jacob."
My arms are empty when I wake up and I hear hushed voices. I kick the comforter off of me, wipe my eyes and then I head to the bathroom. When I leave the bathroom, I see Jasper and Rosalie sitting at the kitchen table and they don't look well; Jasper looks like he hasn't slept and Rosalie's eyes are puffy and red. Rosalie gets up from the table and gives me a hug before I can ask what's going on. She kisses my cheek and holds my hand in a soothing way.
"What's wrong Rose?" I ask.
"She didn't make it," Rosalie manages to get out between sobs.
"What? You mean Jacob's mom is…" I can't form the words.
Jasper nods solemnly. "Yes. She's gone."
"Where's Jacob?" I wonder.
Rosalie wipes her tears. "He had to go handle some things. He'll be back soon though."
"Is there anything that I can do for him?" I question.
"Just be there for him. There's nothing else that you can do. We can't take his pain away, but we can lessen it and not let the pain cripple him," Jasper remarks.
I nod. "You are absolutely right. We have to be his crutches."
Rose puts an apron on. "Jasper and I are going to cook for him. Would you mind cleaning up?"
"No. I'll clean. Do you want me to do anything else?" I ask shyly.
"Nothing that we can think of at the moment," Jasper tells me.
I smile. "Alright. Just let me know if you think of anything."
Jacob's POV
4 Days Later
It's the day of my mother's funeral and I'm getting myself ready. I tighten my tie and I look at myself in the mirror. My hair is down and not in its usual ponytail. I'm wearing mostly black and my eyes are irritated mostly from lack of sleep. I take one last look at myself and then I head downstairs where Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, Emmett and a few others are waiting for me. A sudden wave of nausea hits me and I rush to the bathroom. Emmett follows me and he is right behind me, so he holds my hair back for me as I empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. He hands me some tissue to wipe my mouth with.
I flush the toilet. "Thanks, Emmett."
"You're welcome. Are you sure that you're going to make it?" He asks.
I sigh. "I don't…I mean…I don't want to go, but it's my mom's funeral. She would want me to be there. She would expect me to be there."
"People have funerals so they can praise and say goodbye to someone they love. You can say goodbye to your mother in your own way. Don't go to the funeral if you don't want to," Emmett encourages.
"Will you stay here with me if I don't go?" I ask softly.
He nods. "Yes. I'll tell everyone that you're not going and you can clean yourself up."
Everyone hugs me before they leave and they whisper words of encouragement in my ear. I go back upstairs to my room and I quickly undress. I hop into the shower and I sit next to Emmett on my bed after I've got dressed again. I turn the TV off and I announce that I'm going to the kitchen. Emmett follows me and he sits at the kitchen table while I search through my cabinets. I smile when I find an unopened bottle of vodka. Emmett opens his mouth like he's going to protest, but he doesn't say anything. I open the bottle and I take one big swallow.
"I can't believe that I'm not going to my mom's funeral. What kind of son am I?" I wonder.
"You're a great son, Jacob. You're just in a lot of pain and can't handle going to the funeral. There's nothing wrong with that," Emmett tries to make me feel better.
"I lost my dad a few years ago and that hurt me a lot. It hurts ten times more now that my mom's gone because she basically raised me on her own. I can't believe that she's gone. What am I going to do without her?" My voice cracks.
"It's going to be hard and difficult, but you'll get through it. You have to. Your mom wouldn't care about you missing her funeral, but she would care if you fell apart because of her death," He told me.
I drink some more. "Everyone that I care about ends up leaving me somehow. It doesn't matter if it's death, sometimes they move away, or sometimes they just leave. There are very few constant people in my life. I feel so lost and lonely without my mom, Emmett."
"She's only gone physically. She'll always be in your heart and she's watching over you, Jake. She won't ever leave you," He states.
I wipe my rapidly falling tears. "I'll never be able to hug or kiss her again. I'll never get to hear her voice again. She understood me more than anything. She was always the first person I called when I needed advice or consoling. I miss her so much already."
Emmett stands next to me. "I know that the pain you're feeling seems unbearable. I know you think that you're going to fall apart, but you're not. I won't let you. I won't let you fall into a deep depression. If you feel like you can't hold on anymore, hold on to me."
I embrace Emmett tightly and I sob into his chest. He rubs my back to soothe me and I try to stop myself from crying. I clutch his shirt firmly for a few seconds before letting go completely. I collapse to the ground and Emmett falls with me. I'm crying hysterically and I'm not sad anymore, I'm angry that my mom has been taken away from me. I'm pissed off because I'm suffering.
I start hitting Emmett in his broad chest. "Why? Why did this have to happen to me? Why am I always getting hurt? Why did God have to take her away?"
He grabs my hands to halt my actions and I realize that my heart is pounding and beating in an unnaturally fast way. I'm sweating and when I look at my hands I see that they're trembling. I hear Emmett whispering calming words in my ear, but I can't really hear them. I'm more concerned with the fact that my chest hurts and it feels like I'm choking. I try to stand up and I almost fall because I'm dizzy. I lean on Emmett to steady myself.
"Jacob? Can you hear me? Are you alright?" Emmett asks frantically.
I shiver violently. "I c-can't feel my legs, my whole body feels numb and I'm cold. What's wrong with me? What's happening to me? Am I dying?"
He brings my body even closer to his. "You're ok, Jake. You're fine. You're not dying. I just need you to calm down, ok? You're having a panic attack."
"Don't leave me, Emmett. Please, stay with me," I plead.
"I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay with you for as long as you need. I'm here for you," Emmett says and these are the last words I hear before I pass out.
When I wake up I'm in a hospital room and I see three pairs of eyes staring at me. I look to my left and I notice that Emmett is holding my hand. I give him a slight smile. Rosalie and Jasper look relieved that I'm awake. Emmett moves out of the way so that Rose can give me a kiss on the cheek and Jasper gives me a hug. Emmett resumes holding my hand when they sit on the other side of my hospital bed.
"What happened?" I ask in a husky tone.
Rosalie holds my other hand. "You had a panic attack. We were still at the funeral when Emmett called and told us. We're so glad that you're alright."
I raise an eyebrow. "Emmett called and told you?"
"Yes. You don't remember anything that happened?" Jasper questions.
I turn to look at Emmett. "My memories are a little foggy. I remember everyone leaving… except you. I don't recall anything else. You've been with me all of this time?"
"Yes. You asked me to stay with you and I did. I promised that I'd stay," Emmett replies.
I nod in understanding. "Yes, now I remember. I passed out right after you told me you wouldn't leave."
"They're going to run a few more tests and then they'll more than likely let you go home," Jasper informs me.
"Good. Although I'm just going to go right back to sleep when I get there," I state.
Rose kisses my forehead. "You need to rest and relax anyway. We're going to make sure that you're ok."
Emmett yawns. "Sleep sounds pretty damn good right now."
"You should go home and take a nap. You've been around me all day and you need a break," I instruct him.
He shakes his head. "I don't want to leave you. I'll be fine. I can sleep later."
"I appreciate that. I honestly do and I want to thank you for everything. You've done enough for me. Go home and relax. Rosalie and Jasper are capable of taking care of me," I insist.
He looks like he wants to argue, but he changes his mind. He caresses my hand one last time before he kisses it chastely. I feel vacant when he lets my hand loose. I sit up a little higher in my seat so he can hug me. I reluctantly let go and my heart skips a beat when he kisses my forehead tenderly. He hugs Rosalie and tells Jasper goodbye before he leaves.
"You're totally glowing Jacob! I need my sunglasses on just so I don't go blind looking at you," Rosalie teases.
I laugh. "Whatever."
"You know that I'm right. I'm always right. You're definitely falling for him, I can tell," She points out.
I shrug. "What can I say? He's utterly irresistible."
A/N: Thank God that the story actually started to pick up when I began writing in Jacob's POV.
I would've had this chapter done weeks ago had I not got bored to tears while writing in Emmett's POV.
I have to apologize again because this update took me so long.
I promise that I will update before a month passes by again.
There will always be some more action during the next chapter.
Happy 2010 everyone!