Choosing
JacobxBella
Rated M
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers
Choosing
Chapter 4
A week had passed since my return to Forks and things were still strained between Charlie and me. I was still grounded and probably would be for the rest of my life. I had no contact with Edward outside of school and he hasn't come to see me while I was home. Not to say that he hasn't tried, because he has, but it has become rather hard for him to without Charlie's knowledge. Especially now that my dad knows that Edward is a vampire. Alice had given me another phone to replace the one Charlie had taken from me and it had worked to talk to Edward for about two days. I was talking to Edward one night when I thought Charlie was asleep and he caught me with it, taking that one from me and smashing it with a hammer. Needless to say my dad was enforcing his rule about me not speaking on the phone with any of the Cullens.
I also haven't heard from Jacob ever since he told me that I was messed up. I had tried calling the Black house to at least talk civilly with Jacob, but every time I called Billy would tell me that he was out on patrol or doing other Pack duties. I didn't believe it, just like I didn't when Jacob had been "sick with mono" and it was really because he had turned into a giant wolf. I thought about just defying Charlie's rules and going to La Push today after school, but I wasn't going to try him anymore than I already have. But maybe Jacob wasn't contacting me because he was serious about what he said. He told me he didn't want to be second best or a rebound. I'm not sure where Jacob got the idea that he was a rebound but that simply isn't true. Then again, my guilty conscious let me know that he was right and that my feelings for him surpassed those for Edward, but I ignored it. They both love me, but I love Edward…I think.
Stupid doubts! Shaking my head I sat in my seat in my calculus class. Edward was in all of my classes this year and he told me he would be a little late to calculus today because he had to talk to Carlisle about Charlie now knowing about them. It wasn't long before class began and I was writing down notes and math problems to solve. Edward showed up ten minutes late, sitting beside me and began taking notes, though he really didn't need to. However halfway through the class, two girls sitting behind me began talking to each other about me. I don't think that they meant for me to hear their conversation, but I did.
"Nina," one of the girls called out softly.
"What is it, Olive?" Nina asked.
"I know you've been thinking this too, but don't you think it's strange that Edward Cullen would want someone like Isabella Swan?"
"Of course I do; everyone does. I mean, there isn't anything special about her and she's such a klutz. I mean, have you seen her during gym? Or even just walking through the halls? Every time she trips, he has to catch her."
"Right? And ever since they started dating she thinks she's the best thing to ever grace this school. You can see it in the way she proudly walks around holding Edward's hand."
"And did you see her when the Cullens moved away for a couple of months? She looked like a zombie. You'd think that Bella's life just revolved around them and unless they're here her life has no meaning. It's pathetic and sad."
"And then I saw her hanging out with that hot piece of ass from the La Push Reservation. Now what in the world could a guy like that want with her, Olive?"
"She's probably spreading her legs like some whore just to get attention. Because let's face it, if she wasn't dating Edward Cullen and hanging out with them, no one would spare her a second glance."
"True words, Nina. True words."
I listened to their words and stopped writing notes altogether. My eyes weld up with tears and I tried to blink them away when I heard Edward growl softly. I looked at him and saw he had a furious look on his face. He suddenly packed his things away as well as my own, zipping up my book bag, and grabbing me by my arm. He stood and dragged me out of the classroom, ignoring our teacher's calls and walked quickly down the hall, me stumbling behind him in an effort to keep up.
Finally Edward stopped at some stairs and he was taking deep, unnecessary breaths to calm himself. Reaching out for him I say, "Edward, it's fine." I couldn't help but notice that my voice cracked though.
Edward shook his head and said, "No, it's not. They have no right to talk about you like that. You are perfect to me, Bella; no one understands that, not even my own family sometimes."
While Edward was still calming himself and gripping his hair, my tears finally fell down my face. I had heard what Edward had said, that I was perfect to him, but I couldn't keep those girls' words out of my head. It was true, Edward could have better than me. I wasn't pretty and I caused more accidents than miracles, but he chose me because he loves me. It didn't help that I felt inferior to him and his family when I was with them, and apparently everyone could see that. Well if I think about it, he was only really around me to start off because my blood called to him; aka I was his Singer. But he controlled himself around me and fell in love with me the way I did him. But then again I couldn't even function without him or his family here. Jacob's words also came back to present themselves in my head, how he said that my love for Edward was really just obsession. It wasn't, was it?
I suddenly began wondering how Jacob was doing. I hadn't heard from him since that night I got back from Italy and accused him of selling out the Cullens to Charlie. I really needed to apologize to him for that. The moment I decided to call him and do that, my heart started to hurt. I didn't mean to, but my emotions were all over the place that night and I finished taking my frustrations out on my best friend. I really, truly, genuinely care about Jacob, but it's hard for me to be around him because it just reminds me of how much I really like him. And I can't do that to Edward, especially since I already committed myself to becoming a vampire one day in the future. But if that happened, I wouldn't see my parents or Jacob ever again. I would be losing everything important to me about being human in one fell swoop the moment I became a vampire. It would be hard but I would be alright as long as I had Edward by my side, I think.
"Bella, did you hear me?" Edward asked me suddenly. Snapping out of my thoughts I looked into his concerned golden eyes and said, "No. What did you say?"
Edward's eye twitched slightly before saying, "I didn't think so. Anyway the front office called for you, so let's go."
Wiping my tears I nodded and followed Edward to the front office of the school. Right before we entered the office Edward stopped and went rigid. Frowning I asked, "What is it?"
"One of the wolves is here," Edward answered with a scowl on his face. A moment later he said, "Bella, let's go back to class. It's not important."
"What? Edward, what's going on?" I asked trying to stop him from pulling me away from the office door. Not even a second later the office door opened and Sam Uley exited. He scowled at Edward before saying, "Let her go, leech. She needs to hear this."
Edward stopped and turned to look at Sam, glaring back at him as he said, "It doesn't concern her."
Sam scowled harder and said, "Like hell it doesn't. The school bell is about to ring; don't make me cause a scene here and expose you for the filth that you are."
I felt Edward's grip on me loosen and that was enough to slip out of his hold. Stepping between them I said, "Stop it, there is no need for this." Turning to Sam I asked, "What's the matter, Sam? Is it Jacob?"
"Yes it is, Bella. Charlie told us about the ban he put on you but he's lifting it for this," Sam answered, his hard expression turning to one of worry and concern.
Feeling a sense of dread run through my veins I step closer to the Pack leader and say, "Tell me what's wrong."
"Bella, it doesn't matter," Edward said, his tone indicating that he wanted me to go back to his side. Whirling to face him I say, "Shut up, Edward. It's about my best friend and it has to be important if Sam is going out of his way to come to Forks and tell me about it."
I asked Sam once again to tell me the news he had to tell me. Sam took a deep breath before saying, "Jacob, he's…I'm sorry to tell you this but he's dying and has been for a little over a week. The elders don't think he'll make it another week."
I couldn't believe what Sam just told me. I felt my legs buckle and he reached out and caught me. I grabbed onto his arms for support and asked, "How? Why?"
"Because he's Imprinted and that person would rather be with someone else other than him. And that person is you, Bella," Sam said, his face hard as he answered me.
Jacob Imprinted on me? What?