Chapter 4: An Odd Truce

"Boy was Charlie mad. I wonder what's with him" Jacob mused.

He didn't want to be sitting here in his human form looking at the Swan's house. He couldn't help it. It was the quickest route back to La Push and with Sam's orders Jacob couldn't disagree.

When he passed the Swan's house he felt a new pang of quilt and fear and anger. This caused him to lose control just enough so he didn't have to return home.

"…and you leave!" Jacob heard Charlie shout. "I hope it's the leech." Jacob said as he talked to the trees. "He deserves it. Taking Bella away from…" At that moment, Edward walked out the door.

Edward just stood at the door. He kept his eyes straight on the road. He looked really upset.

"What could have happened" Jacob thought.

Edwards head snapped in his direction. "Shoot" Jacob thought and looked at the ground. Jacob forgot Edward could hear everyone's thoughts. Well almost everyone. Edward couldn't hear Bella's thoughts and she was always seemed happy at that fact. It's more likely that she just wanted to be more mysterious to Edward.

Then Jacob got that feeling he always had when he thought of Bella like that. Bella's not like that, he always told himself.

When he looked back up Edward was gone from the porch.

"Guess he didn't hear me" Jacob said aloud to the trees.

"Not quite." Jacob jumped. How could he not have smelled this…this… thing in the shadows.

"You know Jacob… ease-dropping is not a very fine quality."

"Ha! Ease-dropping…Right…" Jacob put on heavy sarcasm. "At least he didn't know about me getting the letter or..." At that moment, his mind thought of his whole trip.

"I see" Edward said. "But Jacob… can't you see I truly love her? Can't you see that even though Charlie yelled at me I'm still going to go into her room and comfort her…that I'm always going to try to comfort her?"

"I can see you love her but you are still going to kill her. You're going to stop her heart and I don't see how you're the good guy."

"I never claimed to be the good guy Jacob. And, I don't want to change her. You know that. I told you up in the mountains not to long ago and I already know you have a very good memory. You didn't forget."

This was true. As Edward spoke Jacob thought of the story. The four options that he had. The ones he choose and how that made things worst.

"You know," Jacob whispered "There's one thing I'll never forgive you of."

"Yes, I know you don't like that I'm taking Bella away from you but..."

Jacob shouted the next words in his head because he knew he couldn't keep his voice down. "NO! You dumb blood-sucker. I will never forgive you for forcing Bella to find me. Because you left, she needed to be healed. That, did me in. Because you left, I am left with a broken heart. Because of you I had found out what I really wanted and I can't even have it. Yes, I loved the time we had but I hate you for making me feel this way."

Jacob was breathing harder now but he was not done. When he got his thoughts under control he spoke.

"I love Bella. More then a sister and you know that bloo… Edward. But, I give up. I'm done. I hate treating Bella as a prize. I hate that she's accepted your proposal of marriage. I hate that you're going to tell Charlie and Renee and everyone else you and Bella know. Telling them that you two are going to get married. I hate myself for caring so much cause I always knew she would choose you."

The whole time Edward stood over Jacob. Watching him. His face very composed.

Edward leaned against the nearest tree and looked up at the sky.

When he spoke, it was just a whisper and even to Jacobs's great hearing, he still had to strain his ears.

"We did tell Charlie… and Renee and Phil."

"What!?" Jacob shouted in his head.

"We were on our way to tell Charlie. When we got to the house Charlie told us Renee and Phil were stopping by because Phil had a game tonight in Settle and they had a little time before their flight so they we're going to stop by."

"I told Bella we didn't have to tell them and that it was ok with me even thought it wasn't. I guess she saw through that or she really does want to marry me because she said we had to tell them."

"Wait… What do you mean by, really want to marry you." Jacob asked.

"Honestly, I don't believe it's really happening. I can't believe she took the ring and I couldn't believe it was her idea to tell Charlie tonight."

"Wow" Jacob said. "So that's why Charlie was yelling." Jacob thought.

"Yes" Edward said.

Jacob growled at Edward.

"Sorry." Edward replied. "I can't help it. You would never say your thoughts out lout and I was just clarifying…"

Edward stopped mid sentence. His face looked very pained now as his head turned back to the Swan residence.

"What's with you Vam-Pi-Er" When he spoke vampire, he made it sound like a three letter word.

"Don't you hear it?"

Jacob didn't hear anything at first and then he heard it.

"Bella" he thought. "What's wrong?"

"She's upset about Charlie. She's been crying for about an hour now."

"An Hour! We've been talking that long?"

Edward sighed. "Yes."

"You better go" Jacob growled through his teeth.

Edward turned to go but then turned around again.

"Jacob"

"What!"

"I truly am sorry for you. I know if she choose you, she could live a normal… well sort-of a normal life. She wouldn't become a monster like me. I know it's better for her to be with you but I'm too selfish to leave and tell her to go with you."

At that moment Jacob had a strong erg to go home.

"Damn it!" Jacob thought. "How did this blood-sucker make me calm down enough making me have to go back to Lu Push?"

"Because it's a truce I think." Edward said.

Then he turned away and ran into Bella's room.

Jacob stood there for a minute until Bella's crying stopped and then he turned away and ran home in his wolf form.

"I HATE THIS! Why can HE… him of all people make me feel better?"

But even as he thought this he knew why. He found what he was really looking for. He found that Bella will truly be loved and that's all Jacob really wanted for her.