Hey again you guys! Okay, a couple of you said that my chapters needed to be longer, so I'm gonna try to work on that. Seriously I love all of y'all who reviewed my first couple of chapters, and I'll get around to reading your stuff ASAP! Also if you haven't read anything by Don Kiwi Cullen you definitely should!
Oh and this chapter is in Edwards POV btw, and there are a couple of mild little profanities. Just a heads up.
end author's note
I gripped the steering wheel so tight that, if possible, my knuckles where even whiter. How could she be hurt again? I sighed and concentrated on figuring out a way to find her and get her help without anyone seeing me. I soon gave up, however, realizing that it was practically impossible since I didn't know anything about the situation. Dammit! I told her to stay out of the woods!
Along the way Alice tipped me that Bella was probably in LaPush somewhere. What the heck was she doing there! She promised me she wouldn't do anything stupid and yet she was not only in the woods, but in woods stalked by dogs.
I drove along the edge of the forest in a mustard colored jeep, not wishing to be recognized, looking for any sign of Bella that I could find. I winced. Bella. I chuckled humorlessly at the fact that just thinking her name could still sting so much...and after all this time soon.
Snap out of it! I commanded myself. She's probably moved on by now. You need to get over this. She's safer this way. Her safety is the most important thing. DONT BE SELFISH! I told myself everything I had told myself everyday since I walked away from her. Not that any of them ever made the pain go away. No words, no matter how true, could make me miss her less.
My phone rang and pulled me out of my musings. In a second I had it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Hey." Alice's voice quivered.
"Your vision changed." It wasn't a question.
"Victoria."
I sighed and closed my eyes in acceptance, nodding as if she could see me. "Okay Alice."
"You'd better call back soon," she demanded. "And please, be careful"
"I will."
Just then I saw Jacob Black sitting on the edge of a cliff where there was a break in the woods. He looked pretty upset. I slammed on the breaks. Parking the jeep, I got out of the car and stalked over to him.
"Where's Bella?" I demanded. He reeled, but quickly recomposed himself and stood up.
"Why do you care, you leech? After what you did to her you have no right to know!" I set my jaw and let a low growl come from my throat. Apparently he was stupid enough to think that I had growled because I didn't have an eloquent enough response. He continued in a calm voice, smiling darkly. "But in the long wrong, I guess everything worked out perfectly. You realized you couldn't control yourself enough not to snap."
"You're right, I left for her safety. I loved her enough to know she was safer with a human."
My words hit home, Jacob paled. "I can control myself perfectly well." he said through clenched teeth.
"Oh yeah?" I smiled, "You don't look so calm just now." I gestured at his tightly closed fists and they shook even more. "Where. Is. She?" I asked again, drawing out every word.
"She said something about some meadow. I told her I had to leave for a while. Apparently I said something that reminded her of you, she's been crying and gasping. I agree she's safer without you. But she's been completely broken since you've been gone."
I exhaled slowly, taking it all in. I started to go back to my car, but the stopped. "Where were you going by the way?"
"What is it to you?"
"Just tell me Jacob."
"The female vampire is on the move again. In Alaska, but coming back this way. My pack and I are going to try and stop her." I nodded.
"Thank you for your help, Jacob Black."
"I'm not trying to help you. I love Bella too."
"I know..."
I drove off towards the meadow. Parking a long way off, I decided to walk the rest of the way. I hoped there was still a chance that I could help somehow without her seeing me, or getting involved at all. Though considering th nature of the problem, I knew it really wasn't possible.
I should have been driving away from the meadow. I should have been going in the opposite direction. Why was I putting myself in a situation where we would both get hurt. But as the meadow came into view, so did Bella. My Bella. Crying because I wasn't holding her.
I hadn't been in this much pain since my death. If that really was why she was crying, if that was what was hurting her, I would give in. I would be selfish. It would make us both happy. Was I really stupid enough to think that I could stay away forever? Victoria was after her, and the dog had little to no self control at all. She would be safer in my arms. In constant danger, but safer. But I would wait until I was sure. After all, she might just be upset over Jacob.
