Brother
Jacob phased back into human form and slumped against a boulder.
Edward was sitting with his back against a large tree. He seemed to be licking the wounds on his arms. The venom worked its magic as it closed up his broken skin. The bits and pieces of his body, torn off from the battle, were slowly making their way back to Edward as if they had minds of their own.
"God, that's gross!" Jacob cringed. "If only Bella could see this...she'd choose me, hands down!"
"You don't look so good yourself." Edward watched Jacob with amused eyes; the corner of his mouth pulled into a crooked smile.
Jacob was, literally, a bloody mess. There was the rusty smell of blood in the air. Arms, legs, chest, head...everything was soaked in a deep ruby red. His injuries were quickly healing and blood stopped flowing, but his open wounds and drenched body were a sickening sight to see. "Um...you think we can keep this just between us?"
Edward thought about it for a moment. "I suppose that would be best. Bella would be crushed to know we actually ripped each other apart."
"And enjoyed it." Jacob grinned. Edward smirked back at him. "So what now?
"We wait here until our wounds heal, I presume."
"Well, I don't have to worry about Bella seeing me. She never visits anymore," Jacob said with a hint of accusation in his tone. He placed his hands on the rough boulder. "I'm gonna go home so that I can-" As he tried to pull himself up, he almost doubled over in pain. "AUGHH!" He laid himself down on the ground near the boulder and didn't try to pull himself up again. "Yeah, I think that's a great idea."
It would have been easy for one to finish the other victim off. However, it was as if there was an unspoken truce. Nobody moved. It was quiet for a long while afterwards.
The silence was finally interrupted. Edward abruptly slammed his fist against a rock jutting out of the dirt, cracking it. "Will you stop it with the fantasies already?" he asked grumpily.
There was a glazed look on Jacob's face. "It's not a fantasy." His eyes were still distant. He suddenly snapped back and stared at Edward. "How about you get out of my head?"
Edward's face was completely smooth-not a single trace of any wrinkles or creases. It was amazing; his pale face would have enticed anyone, but when it was like this, completely emotionless and flat, it seemed rather eerie. "Sorry. Like I said before, I can't help it when your thoughts are practically screaming at me."
Looking half embarrassed and half satisfied, Jacob smiled. He looked at his new "brother." He thought back to that day when he was badly injured by the newborn vampire. Stupid Leah. The Cullens were nice enough to give him a house call. When he was conscious enough to recognize faces, he remembered seeing Edward accompanying Carlisle. The look on his face was...indescribable. He seemed genuinely worried and this was just something that stunned him. He no longer felt disgusted when he looked at Edward; however, the bitter feeling he got every time never seemed to cease.
What was destined to happen? Only one thing was clear-neither "man" could have a complete win. Jacob was sure Bella loved him. In fact, she even admitted it, he thought proudly.
"Love you, Jacob," she had said after kissing him gently on the cheek.
It wasn't what he wanted, though. It only left him craving...longing for me.
"Let me ask you something, Edward." Jacob's eyes boldly met with Edward's.
"Go ahead."
"What is love like? For you blo-for vampires, I mean."
"Our love is sincerely unconditional and irrevocable. You're still a young boy," Jacob flinched at this, "so I don't know if you are aware of this, but human love is actually very...fickle. Feelings can change in a heartbeat. This is something our love is not like. When we fall in love, it's a love that lasts forever."
Jacob was silent for a while, going over the words in his mind. "You know how werewolf imprinting words, right?" he asked hoarsely."
"Yes. I'm aware of it." Brown eyes met with gold. "You didn't imprint on Bella." Jacob nodded silently.
Jacob's eyes fell to the floor. He had put his soul into making it happen, but it was impossible. "Imprinting only works the first time you see the destined person after you phase back into human form," Jacob admitted. A flash of surprise seemed to pass through Edward's eyes. It was gone as quickly as it had come. "I'm not giving up though. I love Bella."
"I love Bella, too," he replied firmly.
"Well, you're just not right for her!" Jacob shouted. "How can you be so selfish? Bella is not supposed to become a hard, blood-sucking rock like the rest of you!"
Edward's eyes narrowed. "If I recall my facts correctly, you will eventually imprint on someone else if not Bella," Edward said calmly.
A sigh escaped from Jacob. "It's true. But I'm not going to imprint on anyone. Ever."
Edward chuckled. "How wishful."
Jacob's eyes challenged Edward's. He looked away. "You know, we're both pretty wishful. Maybe neither of us are supposed to end up with Bella."
Silence.
It was hard to believe that perhaps neither of them belonged with Bella. Edward was her fairy tale prince, and was ready to give her whatever she wanted. Well, except for one thing: eternal life. These were words humans longed to have. Scientists worked hard at finding ways to extend lifetimes. However, none of them could ever imagine of the great sacrifice involved in achieving eternal life. Although he wanted what was best and safe for Bella, a piece in the back of his mind truly wanted Bella to seal the bond-and love him mutually for eternity. Edward offered her something very precious: true eternal love.
Jacob was her prince, minus the "fairy tale." His love for her was innocent. He was willing to give her all that he could, but he was no god. A magical creature perhaps, but not the god-like creature Bella envisioned. Bella was someone prone to jumping in head first-like cliff-diving right into a dangerous current. Concerned for Bella's well-being, he wanted her to see all options before diving in. Jacob was a perfect match. His mere presence had a calming effect on her. Time seemed to stretch; it was endless when they were together. However, once the timeless day was over, it was easy to go right back into where they had left off. There was a sense of equality in their love. As much as they cared for each other, one did not place the other high on a pedestal.
And then...there were the drawbacks.
Eternal life just didn't seem suitable for Bella. She was a strong girl with great ambitions, but under her brave facade was a teenage girl with many, many doubts. Edward was her fairytale prince and she didn't want to do anything to lose sight of him. Someone as special as him will never come along ever again. But was she ready? She could never see Renée again. Likewise with Charlie. She could never truly have a child of her own flesh and blood. She would leave all of her friends behind, along with the world she was barely starting to understand.
Upon leaving that world, she was entering something she could not, and possible never, understand. The love between her and Edward was completely complicated. If it were not for her sweet-smelling blood, would Edward have even given her a second glance? They loved each other endlessly, but why? She couldn't understand it, but she never bothered to understand it. She finally found love and that was all she cared for-the reasons were unimportant.
And then there was the fact that Edward was her drug. Withdrawal was a terrible thing for her. His disappearance left her writhing in pain. It was obvious-she was entirely dependent on Edward. Was this what she wanted though? She grew up learning to take care of herself. And now she was throwing her life away, putting herself completely into the hands of Edward. Edward, the god-like creature. She was never able to shake off the feeling that he was so much more magnificent than she was. She was laden with insecurities. It wasn't healthy. She knew it.
So then Jacob had to be the ideal choice for her. No, that wasn't quite the case. The biggest issue was the fact that he did not imprint on anybody yet. As right as Jacob could have been for Bella, one simple imprint meant it would be the quick end of Jacob and Bella. Was it worth giving up Edward only to lose Jacob as well?
"Well, maybe we should give Bella to our good friend Mike?" Jacob offered. Edward chuckled.
