Chapter 3: Situation Critical

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The pack knew something was up. I hardly said a word, or rather … thought a word for 48 hours. Well, no duh … Bella had kicked me to the curb after the best few minutes of my life. I was devastated. This was different from all the other times she'd dumped on me. This was a blow to my ego, and it hurt like hell. She turned onto me, then like a tap, turned herself off. How could she do that—make love to me one moment, and slap me down the next? I was so hurt and angry.

I held off as long as I could, but on the third night of patrolling, it slipped out. Paul actually bared his teeth, and growled. No wonder you're so tied up in knots. That chick is poison—a real ball-buster, man. Let the bloodsucker have her. I'm telling ya, dump her butt … you gotta dump her. You'll be better off.

You don't know the whole story, Paul. She came to me afterwards in tears. She didn't know what she was doing, or why.

So that's an excuse? That is so lame. Why are you on her side anyway? You don't even like the leech lover.

It's not for us to judge, smartass.

You're just saying that because she's a female. You women all stick together, Quil chimed in.

Leah slowed to a trot. I didn't say I agreed with what she did to Jake, I'm just saying that she was terribly confused. Bella was an emotional wreck, a bona fide basket case.

Embry put in his two cents worth. What do you say, Jake?

Nothin'. What was there to say? Jacob Black strikes out again.I ran ahead, leaving the pack behind me, still discussing my situation. If they hit upon a solution, maybe they'd share it with—right, like that would ever happen.

. . . . .

It'd been six days since my world splintered, and there was no word from Bella, not that I wanted to hear her voice anyway. At least, that's what I thought to myself. My dad told me that Charlie had called saying that Bella was walking around like she was dead. Like I cared how she felt.

It was my turn to patrol again that night, and I happened to think about how cruel Bella was to not even try to contact me whether or not I would welcome it. She was the one to say goodbye; she should've at least had the decency to see if I was okay. I literally dragged my tail; more depressed than ever.

Sam picked up that sickening scent, and we were on it, well, Seth, Jared and Embry were anyway. I was particularly useless. There were three of them, nomads, I guessed.

We split up. Sam, Jared and Seth followed the trail of two, Embry and I on the one remaining. The scent got stronger and Embry took off; I was left, choking on his dust. I slowed down, what was the use? Just let them go. We're doomed anyhow. The bloodsuckers are like cockroaches; they'd outnumber and outlive us all.

I heard Sam. We lost them, they've doubled back. Watch out Embry. They're probably heading your way.

I see them. Jake, where are you? I need your help.

I could see Sam racing through the forest; Seth and Jared on his heels. Get over there. Jacob, Embry's in trouble. We're too far out.

Quickening my pace, I arrived just in time to spot Embry fighting furiously to keep the filthy leeches off. Jeez, I was almost too late. I plowed into the fray, ripping the head off of one of them. My best friend was still struggling with a tall, dark-haired male. I lunged at the vamp before he could sink his teeth into Embry's throat. Sam and the others caught up to us, and swooped down to our aid, making mince meat of the third. In a few short minutes, there were curls of purple smoke punctuating the cool night air.

There was an awkward silence all the way home. I shirked my duty; I was fully aware of that. If I'd been paying attention, instead of wallowing in self pity, I would've noticed the stench of the other two as they made their way toward Embry. Because of my apathy, he almost lost his life. And if he had, it clearly would've been my fault.

We reached the familiar terrain near our homes, and stopped to phase and pull on our cut-offs.

I could tell that Sam was pissed. "Okay, everyone, get some rest. Jacob … I need to talk to you tomorrow."

That was all right with me. I deserved whatever I had coming—in spades.

The next afternoon, when school let out, Sam was banging on our front door. He stood at the entrance with a serious expression on his face, and motioned to me.

"C'mon, Jacob, let's take a walk."

I followed him outside, and we came to a clearing in the woods. He pointed to a fallen tree trunk, while he remained standing. "Sit down over there."

Closing my eyes, I braced myself for the wrath of Sam. Instead of yelling at me, he quietly said. "I understand what you're going through, but last night we almost lost Embry, and I can't let that happen again. I've talked it over with the rest of the pack, and well … none of us feel we can trust you to watch our backs anymore. So, until you can regain your focus, I'm taking you off patrol duty."

What? I was being suspended? This was the only thing I had left. "Sam … I promise I'll do better."

"No, that is not an option. Right now, you're a danger to all of us. You're not to be part of the pack until you come to terms with what that Swan girl did to you. You've lost your purpose, the reason for exercising your wolf gene. Until I say otherwise, you are no longer a protector. I'm sorry, Jacob. That's all I'm going to say on the matter."

He looked at me with concern in his eyes. "You want me to walk home with you?"

"No, I'd rather be alone."

Great—I'd lost my girl, my pride, my pack, and more importantly, their individual respect. I nearly lost my best friend last night too. Could I sink any lower? I would really be in a rage; angry at the girl who did this to me, if I wasn't so freakin' depressed.

Quil and Embry were waiting for me outside the Taj. Why they would wanna hang out with this pitiful loser was a mystery to me. They followed me into the garage, and Embry put an arm around my shoulder.

"I'm guessing Sam already gave you his decree, huh?"

I looked down at my dirty work boots, kicking at some loose screws lying on the cement floor. "Yeah. I'm not mad about it or anything. I got what was coming to me. I'm only sorry that my stupidity just about cost you your life."

"Hey, don't even go there. I'm not blaming you. You're in a dark place, everyone can see that. Sam should have known better than to have you leech hunting when your mind wasn't in the game.

"You want to work on the bikes? Maybe it'll take you away from your problems for a while."

"That's right," Quil snorted. "Let her be the bloodsucker's problem from now on."

Embry shot his buddy a murderous look.

Quil shrugged, mouthing, "What?"

Even though it stung a bit, I pretended not to hear that remark. "Okay. Quil, can you hand me that wrench sitting over there by the tool box?"

After tinkering around with the bikes a couple hours, I said goodbye to my friends. I went inside the house and flopped onto my bed, staring at the cracks in the ceiling for a while before making dinner for Dad and me.

That Monday, Alice cornered me in the school cafeteria. She led me away from our usual table, far enough so my soon to be husband would have a hard time sifting through all the extraneous conversations. Apparently, she wanted our talk to be in private. "What's wrong, Bella? All of us, and especially Edward, are worried about you. Even Jasper can't seem to raise your spirits. You should be floating in the clouds. You're marrying my brother in exactly nineteen days.

"I've been debating whether or not to send out the wedding invitations. Are you getting cold feet? Should I wait a while? Reset the date? Tell me what you want me to do."

Still thinking about the look on Jacob's face as I told him goodbye, the last thing I wanted to talk about were those stupid invitations. "Can you hold onto them a little longer? I think maybe I should postpone the wedding."

"I can do that, but what should I say to my brother?"

Panic—panic. "Oh my gosh, Alice, don't tell him anything. I want to explain to him, myself. I don't want him reading your mind. Can you recite a play or something in your head?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Anything but Romeo and Juliet."

Alice's golden orbs circled inside their sockets. "How long do I need to keep that up?"

"Do you think you could hold on for four days?"

She suddenly stiffened. "Four days? Bella … I'm a vampire, not a magician. Geesh!"

I dreaded having the conversation with Edward. It would hurt him just as much as it had hurt Jacob. Hemming and hawing, I decided to spill the beans on Friday. That was also the day I planned on calling my wolf boy since he hadn't taken the initiative to phone me. I couldn't really blame him. After all, I was the one who said goodbye, and I was sure he took me at my word.

Friday came—finally. I'd been miserable all week. My chest ached, and there were constant flutterings in my stomach. I needed to get this over with. As soon as I got home from school, I dialed Jacob. Billy answered.

A whole week had passed, and not one single peep from the girl that shredded my heart! Then at three fifteen that Friday, the phone rang. Dad was sitting right there next to it, so he picked up. I watched as his eyes got big and round. I knew who it was instantly. He held the receiver up over his head, pointing to it, a question written on his face. I waved him away; I wasn't prepared to speak to her yet. I turned and walked into my room. Let her suffer a little more; stew in her own juices.

I overheard him say, "Jacob's not here right now. Maybe you should call back later."

The sound of the phone being replaced on its cradle reached my ears, then the squeak of Dad's chair as he wheeled through my door.

"Jacob, I realize how hard it is for you to talk to her, but if you think I'm going to lie to the girl each and every time that ringer goes off, well, that's not going to happen. So, I'm leaving it up to you. I am not answering the phone until this situation has been hashed out. Now, you can let it ring off the hook, or hang up, I don't care. But I'm not doing your dirty work for you. Do you understand me, Son?"

"I hear you, Dad."

"Good." He nodded his head, and maneuvered his wheelchair back the way he came.

The phone rang again at five thirty—I ignored it—and again at seven. I forgot that she was being a pest today, and accidentally answered that time, "Black residence."

"Jacob?"

Fortunately I remembered in the next instant. Click. I hung up on her. She should get that message all right.