Worlds Apart

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks for the awesome review. I really appreciate it. Nikki :)

Part Four-Desperation

Jacob fell onto the floor of the garage, his breathing coming in sharp pants as he put a hand over his heart. It hurt, it hurt really bad. He felt like his chest had been ripped open and someone had placed his heart in a vice. She was leaving? She couldn't leave! Why wasn't she fighting? When he had first phased into a wolf, she hadn't abandoned him then. She had fought hard to stay together. That was the Bella he loved, that was the girl he wanted back; the one who spent hours with him in the garage as he fixed up the bikes, the one who joked around and teased him, the girl who gave him those shy smiles and looked at him as if he was the center of her world. Where did she go? How had he lost her?

He rolled onto his back, not really aware of his surroundings. Jacob's mind was spinning as he replayed scene after scene in his head. He saw himself working on the Rabbit, Bella sitting on the old upturned crate, passing him the tools he needed. He saw a smile cross her lips as she inadvertently passed him the wrong one. Sometimes she would do it on purpose just to tease him and he loved the glint in her eyes as she tried to act innocent. The image changed and they were both sitting in the front seat of the old Chevy, mere moments before their lives were turned upside down by the return of the Cullen's. Bella was nestled into his side, her large brown eyes looking up at him as she assured him she didn't think of him as a monster and that she would never let him lose himself because she would always be there to tell him how important he was to her. Why did she have to break that promise? He needed her like he needed air to breathe. Bella had thought it was always him who had held her together but in truth it was a two way street. His life had fallen apart after he phased, and having her support and love had held him together. Without her he had begun to fall apart, and he had lost his way and headed into darkness. Now she was leaving...

Embry hadn't revealed when she was going, maybe there was still time, time to tell her he was sorry. That he hadn't meant to push her away, but he had been so hurt and lost. The shock had brought the real Jacob to the surface, his resentment melted away as fear that he would never see her again overrode anything else. Jacob scrambled to his feet and looked down at himself. He was a mess, his feet were dirty and his shorts mud splattered. He needed to change and put on some shoes. Adrenaline coursed through him as he ran out of the garage and back to his house. He didn't want to see his dad and explain himself, he just wanted to change and get on his way. So he went round to the back of the house and climbed through his bedroom window.


Bella and Charlie waited in the driveway for the taxi, it was late. Charlie glanced at his watch. "This is ridiculous. We'll be late for checking in if this driver doesn't get a move on." He huffed.

"I'll ring them again." Bella said calmly. She pulled out her cell and dialed the taxi firm, after speaking to the operator she ended the call. "Our cab broke down."

"What?" Charlie blustered.

"Don't panic, they're sending another one out to us now. It will be here in twenty minutes." Bella tried to hide her amusement at her dad's impatience. Usually it was her in panic mode, it seemed odd seeing him fulfill her role.

Charlie crossed his arms. "Well they better give us a discount after this delay." He grouched.

"I wouldn't say that to the driver until after we reach the airport." Bella joked.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Maybe you're right, kiddo."

"I usually am." Bella replied with a smile.


Jacob quickly changed his clothes and put some shoes on. He ran a hand through his hair and glanced in the mirror. He was shocked to see the wild light in his eyes, the pupils were ringed with yellow, a sure sign his wolf was clawing to get to the surface. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm his desperation. He couldn't afford to lose it now. Slipping out through his bedroom window he sprinted to the garage and headed over to the Rabbit. He patted the hood of the car as he climbed inside and put the key in the ignition and turned it...nothing! It was dead. He tried again and again but the engine refused to turn over. He hit the steering wheel hard with his fist, a growl ripping from his throat as the wolf once again tried to take over.

Jacob rested his forehead on the steering wheel for a moment as darkness threatened to overtake him. He felt like fate was conspiring against him. His breaths became ragged as tears welled behind his closed lids. Why was everything in his life so fucking hard? After a while he lifted his head and stared through the windscreen, the tracks of tears glistening on his tan skin. Jacob's eyes rested on the motorbikes which were covered in tarpaulin. They hadn't been used in months, not since the bloodsucker came back and ripped Bella away from him. Would they even work? Jacob quickly got out of the car and strode over to them, pulling the dirty tarpaulin off them in one quick movement.

The black metal of his motorbike glistened dully in the dim light. Jacob lifted his leg and straddled the bike, praying in his head for the beast to start. He kick-started the engine and it sparked to life. A small smile crossed his lips as he revved it a few times, the loud noise like music to his ears. Jacob cast one last glance around the garage as he sped away, mud splattering the wheels as he headed toward Forks.


"This is beyond a joke now, kiddo." Charlie stared down the road. It had been forty minutes since Bella had made the call to the taxi firm and been assured another was on it's way.

Bella sighed, she was sitting on one of her cases. She was desperate to get away and it felt like fate was against her. The unnecessary delay was wearing on her nerves. Every moment she kept expecting to see Jacob appear, parading another of his floozies in front of her. The thought made her feel sick. It increased her desperation. "I'll ring them again."

"Pass me the phone. I'll do it this time." Charlie took the phone from her. "Perhaps a note of authority will get their asses moving."

Bella watched as he dialed the taxi firm and began yelling at the operator. He announced that he was the Chief of Police, although from what she could hear the operator didn't sound impressed. Charlie's face turned increasingly red as he threatened to arrest the driver when he finally decided to turn up, but it seemed the operator wasn't happy with this threat. She coldly informed him that she was cancelling the taxi because of his attitude, before ending the call.

"I don't believe it." Charlie said in disbelief. "She cancelled it."

"Are you surprised?" Bella took the phone back off of him. "Issuing threats of physical violence don't go down too well with most people. You're lucky she didn't report you. How would that look if your own deputy had to come and arrest his superior officer?"

Charlie and Bella looked at each other for a moment as they both processed what she had just said. Almost at the same time they burst out laughing, the tense atmosphere dissipating. "Mac would love that." Charlie gasped out.

"It might even make the local rag." Bella held her stomach as she tried to get her breathing under control.

"Well it seems we might have to take your truck, kiddo." Charlie said as they both looked over at the old metal monster.

"It seems so." Bella agreed. "Although it will take us twice as long to get there and you'll have to pay parking fees."

Charlie grimaced. "Yes, but we have no choice."

Bella patted him comfortingly on the back. "Don't worry, dad. You'll have a nice, long relaxing holiday to make up for it."

"It better be." Charlie muttered as he began to load the cases into the back of the truck. Bella headed inside the house to collect the keys.


Jacob leaned forward, the wind whipping his hair back from his face. It had grown out a bit since he first ran away and he hadn't bothered to cut it. The long fringe hit him in the eyes and he batted at it in annoyance. For such a short journey it seemed to be taking him twice as long. He increased his speed, swerving to overtake the vehicle in front. He passed the invisible boundary that separated La Push from Forks. It gave him some relief as it felt like he was making some progress. The car in front of him slowed to a crawl and he growled impatiently as it forced him to brake hard. What the hell was the driver playing at? Jacob changed direction and slipped past him, throwing the male driver a menacing look as he passed. He watched in satisfaction as the man recoiled in fear.

He wished he had managed to get some more information from Embry and regretted taking off so quickly before finding out more, but it had been such a shock to his heart when he heard Bella's words replayed in his head that he had instinctively phased back, making his way to his house on two legs which had slowed him down. He sped up again, bypassing more traffic as he did so. He was on the outskirts of Forks when the bike began to splutter. Jacob glanced down in alarm as it suddenly slowed and he had to pull over to the side before the car behind collided with him. The engine then died completely. He cursed under his breath as he tried to kick-start it again. It wouldn't start. It was only then he thought to check the gas, the needle pointed to a big fat E, the letter taunting him. It was empty, just like his heart. Anger and despair washed over him, this couldn't be happening.

Jacob dumped the bike by the side of the road and began to run. He couldn't phase, there were too many people about. He began to regret not phasing in the first place, but he had been worried that the wolf would take over like it had before when he ran away. He was having a hard enough time keeping control of his own mind. Lately he had felt like he was going crazy. Passers by, especially the women, watched in wonder as they saw the well built young man sprinting down the road. He ignored the stares, he was just desperate to reach Bella. Jacob made it to the main high street, he wasn't far from the diner. His boots pounded on the turf as he ran. He was so intent on reaching his destination that he didn't notice the white convertible pull alongside him. It was only when he heard Lauren shouting his name that his steps faltered and he turned to look.

"Jacob." Lauren got out of her car and stepped toward him. "Can we talk? I hated how we left things yesterday."

Jacob stared at her, not really recognizing her. "I can't. I have somewhere to be." He began to move past her.

Lauren moved in front of him and put a hand on his chest. "Please, Jake. I didn't mean what I said yesterday and I don't think you did either. Look I admit I lied. I enjoyed our time together. Come out with me?" She begged him.

"No." Jacob stepped back but she followed him.

"Don't be like that." Lauren begged him, tears welling in her eyes. "I can be what you need me to be."

Jacob closed his eyes in frustration. He wanted to shove Lauren out of his way but he had to be careful, their little scene was already attracting interested onlookers. He clenched his fists by his sides and glared at her instead. "Just leave me alone. I don't want you."

"Why?" Lauren began to sob in earnest. "What's wrong with me? I'm pretty, I have money."

"Money has nothing to do with it. You're not my type." Jacob retorted.

"I was your type the other night." Lauren was beginning to get hysterical, her skin turned red as she hit out at him.

Jacob had to catch hold of her flailing hands in case she hurt herself. "Stop it." He told her.

"You are just a user." Lauren sagged against him as she tried to get closer.

Jacob put his hands on her shoulders to push her back, that's when he saw Bella's Chevy pass him out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and gazed in Bella's direction, he watched as the truck slowed down and she swerved a little. He could see the hurt in her huge brown eyes as she stared directly back at him. He noticed that Charlie was sitting beside Bella. Charlie managed to get Bella to pay attention to the road again. Bella's father shook his head in disgust as he saw Jacob with his hands on another girl. As if in slow motion Jacob heard Bella rev the truck's engine and speed up as she tore her eyes away from him and drove away.

A/N-thanks for reading!