Fiction Title: Second Best

Chapter Title: Confrontation

Author: Krissy

The next few days were strange. Jake was out running shifts when I woke up in the morning, and he left to run some more right after supper. I wasn't positive he was sleeping at all, unless he came back to sleep while I was sleeping. In addition to him being gone so much, we were barely talking. I had the impression that he was angry with me, but about what I wasn't sure. I made it my mission to confront him at dinner that night. He never missed dinner at Emily's, which is where I had been spending my daytimes too. Hanging out with some wolves and my best friend, you know?

I had no idea what I was going to say to him, or even if I would be able to get him to talk to be alone before he went back out, but I had to try. I was tired of the avoidance treatment he was giving me. It made no sense to me and I wanted answers. To top it all off, I was having flashbacks of the last time Jake was avoiding me.

So here I was, everybody was sitting somewhere in Emily and Sam's living room and kitchen eating hot dogs. It really was the easiest thing to make when everybody was planning on being there for supper. Everybody was pretty talkative, but they were watching what they were saying, I could tell by the way they kept eyeing Sam.

I was sitting in Jake's lap; it was the only available seat unless I wanted to eat alone. I thought maybe he'd talk to me if I was literally in his lap, but he wasn't. He'd nod if I asked a question, but he only spoke to everybody else.

I helped Emily clean up once everybody was done, and slowly the wolves started departing the house. They were going home, or to run more patrol, or something to that effect.

I turned to Jake as soon as Sam and Emily left the room, we actually were alone now, I appreciated it, but I could tell he was looking for ways out.

"Jake, we need to talk," I said, walking over to him and taking his hands in mine.

He nodded. "About what?" he asked, in a formal voice. The voice did not belong to him; it was most definitely Sam's voice. That meant he was upset, and he was trying to control his temper.

"Why have you been avoiding me? Are you upset with me? Did I do something wrong?" I asked, my three biggest concerns coming out in one breath unintentionally. It was too late to take back questions two and three, so I just looked at him, waiting for him to answer.

He looked around the room, basically anywhere but directly at me, and sighed. "Bells, have you noticed anything about yourself lately? You don't offer much to conversations, and you're starting to resemble the scared little girl that showed up on my doorstep four years ago. Who was heartbroken over losing her precious blood-sucker,"

I winced.

"See? I can't mention him anymore. Exactly like it used to be Isabella; I don't understand why," He looked at me, and I stared straight into his eyes, seeing a scared little boy.

"Are you upset with me because I've been thinking about," I gulped "him, again Jake?" I asked softly. I stared at my feet, feeling horrible.

"I'm not upset with you," Jake said in the same quiet voice I was using. "I just don't understand why you're acting this way. You were better, and now you aren't. I can't handle seeing you like that anymore. I can't leave you alone without coming back to you looking all depressed. Since I have to leave you alone sometimes, I figured I just wouldn't come back." Jake looked around sheepishly, like he was hiding something. I immediately became suspicious.

"That's why you're avoiding me? So you don't have to see me depressed Jake?" I prompted, knowing he wouldn't lie to me if I called him out on it. He gets too guilty.

Jake sighed. "Well, that and I have to make sure those damn bloodsuckers get nowhere near you. They've settled back down. I don't know why they came back; it's only been four years. Usually they wait 90 or so," Jake sighed again, and his eyes grew tired.

I gaped at him. "They're back?" I asked, snapping my mouth shut. "The Cullen's are back and you haven't told me?! Why would you do something like that?" I asked, staring at him in total shock. "At the very least you should have told me so I could see Alice!" I said, and I couldn't help it; I was so angry I started to cry.

Jake looked at me. "Bells, I was talking to him. He- you don't know why he came back… I can't let you near him. He's too good at playing with you!" Jake said with the coldness back in his voice. He was mini-Sam again.

"I don't care Jake! I'm going to see them!" I snapped and I got up, storming to my truck. I started it up, ignoring Sam and Emily. I sped towards Forks as fast as I could, going down the familiar road to the Cullen's house.

My subconscious knew how much I would have just hurt Jake; it also knew that there'd be a giant wolf hovering on his side of the line waiting for me to come back. But I didn't care, the only thing going through my mind was 'Have to see them, they're back, I need to see them. I need to see them right now.' Over and over again.