Well, dahlings, here you are. I will be updating a lot more... my play is over. saaad I am still lacking a voice, though... that's never fun. Anyway, enjoy!
"Remind me why we are going to see your dog friend." Jasper and I were in the car, heading towards La Push. We would have broken the treaty if we hadn't all those years ago. He slowed to a stop in front of the old Black house.
"It looks exactly the same," I murmured, ignoring his suggestion.
I got out of the car and walked slowly to the front door. I could feel Jasper right behind me.
I knocked on the door. "Jacob?" I called.
I knew he was there by the look on Jasper's face. I couldn't smell what he did, though. I had to remember to ask Carlisle about that.
"Jake, I know you're there." He was going to be difficult.
"Let's leave?" asked Jasper. He wanted to be anywhere but there.
"Jacob Black, you open this door right now!" I exclaimed. I had to explain myself to him.
The door flung open.
"What, Bella?!" Jacob yelled. He was inches away from my face. Jasper growled, despite his promise that he would stay calm.
Jacob's eyes flashed to Jasper's for a moment, assessing the risk.
"Try it," snarled Jasper, reading Jake's emotions. Jake took a step towards Jasper.
"Stop it!" I yelled. There wasn't going to be a fight if I could help it.
Jake closed his eyes. "Why are you here?" he spat.
"I'd like to talk to you." I could be just as stubborn as he could.
He took one last glare at Jasper, and then opened the door wider to let us in.
Jasper's face was twisted into a mask of disgust. We sat on one of the couches squeezed into the small space.
"Why did you do it, Bella?" asked Jacob, his tough guy exterior melting away.
"I had to," I whispered.
"You could have chosen me. I was a much better match for you, and you know it." People had to stop telling me what I knew. "I could have protected you just as well as those filthy bloodsuckers." His eyes didn't leave mine, even for a moment.
"It was you I needed protection from, Jacob." The whole reason I went to Italy in the first place was because he tried to kidnap me. Jasper took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Jacob leaned back and closed his eyes. "I've regretted it every day since. I hate myself for it, truly hate myself."
"Why didn't you want to grow old?" I asked. My voice was hardly audible, even to my own ears.
"I needed to wait. I needed... closure. I had to know what became of you, Bella. You were my life. I never ever wanted to give you up.
"I convinced the rest of the pack to get on with their lives. The first to comply was Sam. He knew I needed my head to myself, and he wanted to grow old with Emily, too. His son is about ten years out of college, has a family of his own. The wolf gene hasn't made another appearance yet.
"The rest of them followed later. It took the younger ones awhile to control themselves enough to be able to choose not to phase, but they did it. Eventually, they all grew old. Sometimes, one would phase just to check on me. I was always okay, though. They stopped even that after awhile." He opened his eyes, his explanation over.
I felt horrid. Jacob had chosen an empty, boring life, and it was all because of me.
Jasper knew how I was feeling. A moment later, I felt a calmness settle in my veins, beating through me like a pulse.
I took a deep breath. "I am so sorry, Jacob." To think, even for a moment, that I caused Jacob pain, made me want to cry. Just because he was a little annoying sometimes didn't mean that I hated him completely, even if he was a werewolf.
"I'm sorry I drove you away. I'm sorry I was such an obnoxious jerk. I'm sorry, you shouldn't be," said Jacob in a rush.
"I have to go," I breathed. I had to get out of the house, it was closing in on me.
I stood up and rushed to the door. Jasper was right behind me. Jacob stayed seated.
When we were safe in the car, Jasper took my face in his hands.
"Are you okay, love?" There was worry in his eyes.
I nodded. I was glad that I got to see Jacob again, but the conversation we had was still mulling around inside my head. I had a feeling it would be for quite a long while.
I could tell he wasn't appeased. He gave me a quick peck on the lips and started the car.
I looked at the clock, it read twelve-thirty. We had school in a few hours, and oh was I dreading it.
"Do you want to go home, or no?" asked Jasper. I knew that he would take me to the edge of the Earth if I wanted him to.
"Let's go home. I have to ask Carlisle about something." In my book, Carlisle always had the answers.
"About what?"
"I can't smell Jacob. I know I probably should. I can tell that you can smell him, but I just can't. I don't know why!" I threw my arms in the air.
"That is odd, but then again, so are you," he grinned.
I shot him a death glare. "Oh, I mean that in the most loving way possible," he amended.
"Dungeon," I murmured, looking out the window. He laughed.
When we got to the house, I found Carlisle in his office.
"Come in, Bella," he called.
I opened the door and stepped into the room.
"I'm having an issue." I said.
"You're having quite a few issues today, aren't you? Have a seat." He gestured to the same chair I sat in earlier. "What's wrong?"
"I can't smell Jacob," I sighed.
"Well, I can't exactly say I'm surprised," replied Carlisle.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Well, you seem to have very... strange powers. You aren't attracted to blood, like most vampires, so maybe your not revolted by the smell of a werewolf." I knew he would have an answer.
"That makes sense." Maybe I was only a vampire in the strong and beautiful sense, and not in the bloodthirsty werewolf-hating sense.
"You know, Bella, we haven't really developed your powers. Perhaps we could schedule a little... practice session," said Carlisle. It was true, we really hadn't focused a lot on my powers. It was not very often that you needed to block a vampire attack when all the vampires you were with didn't eat people.
"That sounds nice." If I practiced I'd be better at it whenever I needed it. It was always nice to be prepared.
"I'll gather the troops." He smiled. I got up and headed towards my room. Might as well change into clothes that don't cost a billion dollars. It would probaly be a good idea before going out to practice. Alice was the one who bought most of my clothes, the idea of shopping didn't appeal to me at all. And, if Alice buys it, it costs a fortune.
There ya are! Review please.