Chapter 3 – Unexpected Friendship

With Alice gone I found myself alone at Billy's house or if it wasn't raining, at First Beach more often than I would have liked. Charlie had been visiting Sue when he wasn't at work and only came home to eat and sleep so that meant even if I wanted to stay home, I would be alone. Meanwhile, Jacob was busy trying to track Victoria, but they hadn't had much luck so far. Jake had said that she has disappeared without a trace and they had no idea why. And I had no one to talk to about my developing and confusing relationship with Jacob.

Today it was raining again and I was sitting alone in Billy's lounge room watching TV again. Then I heard a quiet knock at the door. When I answered it I was surprised to find Emily standing in the doorway with a shy smile on her face. As I stepped aside to let her in I said, "Billy isn't here at the moment, and I'm not sure how long he'll be out."

"Well… I actually came here to see you." Emily said, biting her lip.

"Oh…umm… why?" I asked in a surprised tone, hoping I didn't sound rude.

"I've heard about you and Jacob, and I thought about how confusing it must be, and I know you don't have many friends here at La Push, and I thought you could use a friend right now." she explained in a quick voice as she sat down next to me on the lounge.

"Well I guess it's true that it is confusing, and that I don't have many friends, and I really, really could use a friend right now." I said, my voice breaking as tears started to roll down my cheeks. I had been keeping all my emotions bottled up inside me and I was finally having an emotional breakdown. "I-I-I'm so s-sorry, I'm s-sure you didn't c-c-come here to see th-this" I sobbed as I held myself in a tight ball and rocked back and forth.

"It's alright Bella." she said as she hugged me, "Tell me everything."

"Well, I-I think I'm in l-love with m-my best friend. H-how stupid is that? And Edward has found out that Alice came to v-visit me and he can read her mind and he will see that me and Jacob are…are… well I don't really know what we are." I said thickly as I sat up and my sobs began to slow.

"Well what's wrong with Edward finding out?" Emily asked in a soothing voice as she rubbed my arm, trying to comfort me.

"I don't know how he'll react. Will he be mad? Jealous? Happy? Will he want to hurt Jake?" I asked, my heart accelerating with fright at all the possibilities. Emily's eyes widened as she saw me fall apart.

"Calm down Bella!" she said as she watched me hyperventilate.

"Bella? Are you here?" I heard Jacob call and the back door shut.

"Oh no! He doesn't have to see this!" I groaned as I continued to rock back and forth. Jake entered the room and his eyes flew from Emily who was holding me and patting my hair, to my tear streaked face, back to Emily and then back to me.

"Bells? Honey? What's wrong?" he asked worriedly. I just hid my face in Emily's straight, black hair unable to say a word.

"Jake, I think you should go and come back later. Maybe when Bella is ready to talk?" Emily instructed.

"Oh. Umm… Okay, I'll-I'll just come back when you leave Emily." I heard him mutter and then the door slam shut behind him.

"Wh-what am I going to say to him?" I asked desperately as she let go of me.

"You should tell him the truth about everything." She said gently, "Why don't you go and wash your face? It will make you feel better." I went into the bathroom and splashed freezing cold water on my face. I looked up and saw my refection in the tiny, dirty mirror. I was red in the face and my eyes were all watery. I sighed and walked back out and sat down next to Emily.

"Better?" she asked.

"A little bit." I replied.

"Are you ready?" Emily asked, "Will you be able to tell him everything?"

"Yes, I think so." I mumbled as I sat up straighter.

"Okay then. I'll see you later." She said as we stood up and hugged each other.

"Thank you so much. I really needed that. Bye" I said as she walked out the door and got in her little car. I went back and sat on the lounge, waiting for Jacob. Not long after, I heard Jake curse as he tried to open the jammed door.

"Bella? Are you ready to talk now?" Jacob asked as he sat down next to me.

"Yep." I replied, and then repeated what I had told Emily. "Well, the thing is, Edward has found out that Alice came to visit me, and he will read her mind and find out about everything. And I think… I think I'm in love with my best friend."

He just sat there and stared, his mouth hanging open. "Jake?" I said as I waved my hand in front of his face. He shook his head, as if to clear it and asked in a stunned voice,

"You- you mean you've finally fallen in love with me?" I laughed that he was amazed at that, and not at the fact Edward could or could not be furiously jealous. He smiled sheepishly as he watched me laugh at him. And I knew that our relationship would be easier from now on and that Emily and I will be best friends for a long time.