A Matter of the Heart
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews. Nikki
Part Three-Caught Out
Bella felt odd coming back home to her father's house. Hardly any of her stuff was here, only a few pieces of clothing she wasn't going to wear again. But here she was, sitting on the edge of her old bed, looking around at the bare walls of her bedroom. She missed having her things around her. She supposed she could have contacted Edward and asked him to bring over some of her clothes, or Alice. But somehow she was reluctant to talk to either of them. Right now she didn't want to hear anything about weddings or honeymoons. She just wanted a little time to herself so she could figure out how she was feeling.
Visiting hours at the hospital were finally over, even though Charlie had persuaded the staff to let them all stay a little past the allotted time, eventually they all had to leave. The problem was what to do about Jake. There was nowhere for him to stay in the hospital, and Charlie didn't want him left alone. He would have had Billy's son stay with him, but both he and Billy were worried about Jake and Bella spending more time together than they already had. It concerned them to see how intimate their children were with each other, they had always had a touchy feely friendship, but now it was being taken to the extreme. When Charlie came out of Billy's room and found Jake with his head resting on Bella's lap and her hand stroking his hair, he had decided it would be best to separate them. He called Sue and asked if Jake could crash at her place until the next day as Billy didn't want his son in the house alone.
As for Bella she was still supposed to be engaged to Edward. Charlie wasn't sure whether she was planning to head to the Cullen's, and was relieved when she headed home with him instead. They dropped Jake at the Clearwater's first and Charlie's worst fears were realised when he saw how distraught Jake was to leave Bella. The boy was actually shaking as if he was going to come apart. It took a lot of soothing from his daughter, and a firm promise that she wasn't going to Edward, that he let Sue and her daughter, Leah, lead him into the house. On the short journey back to Forks, Bella had remained white faced and tight lipped, refusing to talk about Jake's overreaction. Once inside the house she pleaded tiredness and headed straight for bed.
Bella lay wide awake staring at the ceiling above her. She had dressed in an old pair of sweats and a t-shirt and retired to bed. Her mind was too full of anxiety to let her rest. She was thinking about Jake, was deeply worried about him in fact. Jake had never been clingy before. In all the time he had been fighting for her love he had never looked so vulnerable and downright sad. It was as if his strength had been drained from him. She had been worried that he was going to phase, he had been shaking so badly when she tried to say goodbye. She could see Sue and Leah were anxious too. Luckily Jake had calmed down enough when she had reassured him she wasn't planning on going back to the Cullen's for the night. What was she going to do? She fretted for a long time.
As midnight drew near she saw her curtains part a little and a silent shadowy figure enter her room. She wasn't scared she knew it was Edward, but a small part of her felt irritated he had just turned up unannounced without calling her first. Bella hid her annoyance and sat up, her long hair sweeping around her shoulders, concealing her troubled face. Edward came and sat on the bed beside her. He peered up so he could stare into her eyes with his own. His intense stare made her uncomfortable, and not for the first time she was glad he couldn't read her mind.
"I was hoping you would have come home, love." Edward said softly when she didn't speak. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. Bella flinched a little from his cold touch. It had taken her by surprise. She saw hurt flash in his eyes.
"I am home." She replied unthinkingly.
Edward frowned a little. "This was your home, but not anymore. Your home is with me." He reminded her.
"Of course, I'm sorry." Bella apologised and forced a smile onto her face. "Put it down to tiredness."
"Yes." Edward returned her smile indulgently. "You need your rest." He stroked her face again and this time Bella managed to remain still. "You lie down and I'll hold you." He reached out and picked up the blanket he used to wrap around Bella's body in order to stave off the chill from his skin when he lay next to her. But to his surprise Bella shook her head. "Bella?"
"Not tonight, Edward. I'm just…it's been a long day. You understand, don't you?" She put her hand over his and begged him with her eyes for his co-operation.
"If that's what you feel you need, then of course I will abide by your wishes." Edward stood up, his expression formal. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yes." Bella watched him lean forward and kiss her gently on the lips. She stiffened slightly but kept her cool as he whispered his love for her before slipping silently out of the window.
Bella felt guilty about pushing Edward away. She could see in his eyes that he was hurt by her lack of enthusiasm when he arrived. But her head was too full of worry about Jake to dwell on Edward's sorrow for too long. She would make it up to him; she had an eternity to do that. This thought made her pause and she lifted her left hand to stare at the huge engagement ring on her ring finger. It was very weighty, and nothing like she would have chosen for herself. It belonged to Edward's mother, so there was no way she could refuse to wear it or change it for something less old fashioned. He would have been upset if she had done that, and there was nothing worse to Bella than seeing Edward in pain. It was easier to just go along with what he wanted then try to argue her point.
She twisted the ring round and round on her finger agitatedly. Deep down she knew why she had pushed Edward to leave, it was because she had a feeling that Jake was going to come and see her. He had been so het up when she had left him at the Clearwater's. The last thing she wanted was for him to turn up in the middle of the night only to see Edward lying on her bed next to her. She had promised him she wouldn't see Edward, and she didn't want to be seen going back on her word.
It was two in the morning and Bella was finally drifting off to sleep when she heard a slight tap on her bedroom window. It startled her a little, and she had to put a hand over her mouth to stifle her cry. There was another tap, along with the sound of her name being whispered. "Bells?"
It was Jake. Bella slid off the bed, hurried over to the window, and parted the curtains. He was perched precariously on the topmost branches of the tree which grew outside her window. Edward must have closed it after he left. Bella pushed it up and Jake caught hold of the sill and pulled himself through the opening and into the room. As soon as his feet hit the floor he reached out and grabbed Bella into a bear hug. Almost as soon as he held her he let her go, sending Bella's senses reeling. "He's been here." He cursed.
Bella sighed; of course he could smell Edward. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and studied him carefully. He was trembling a little, a sure sign he was having trouble containing his wolf. She carefully touched his arm and stroked his skin with her fingers, the same electric sparks vibrating between them. "He was here." She admitted. "But I sent him away."
Her words made Jake relax. His shoulders drooped a little and he allowed her to take his hand and lead him over toward the bed. "I'm sorry, Bells. I shouldn't be here. I just couldn't rest. I just… I don't know anymore." He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He put his head in his hands to hide his expression from her. He seemed so lost and it hurt Bella to see him like this. His pain was her pain.
"It's okay, Jake. It's just me you know." Bella placed her hand on his shoulder and massaged the tension away. "I'm here for you. Talk if you want to talk, and if you don't then we'll just sit together." She smiled at him tentatively as he raised his head and rewarded her with a small smile of his own.
"How do you know me so well, Bells?" Jake whispered as he twisted round and took her hand in his own. He recoiled though when he felt her huge ring press into his palm. He dropped her hand as if it was tainted. "That thing is so fucking hideous."
Bella swallowed thickly and turned her head away. She hid her hand in her lap and refused to look at him when he apologised again. "I'm sorry." He leaned in close, his warm breath washing over her. "I don't know what I'm saying half the time. It's just seeing that thing, it hurts you know."
"I know." Bella whispered, still refusing to look at him. She stared at the ring instead and began to twist it around and around, the diamonds glittered as they caught the light from the bedside lamp. "I hate hurting you, Jake. I hate it."
"I wish I could erase every trace of him." Jake blurted out suddenly. "I hate the fact that your skin smells like him. I hate it that he's touched you. I want to wrap my body around you so that you have my scent instead. I want to kiss you and take away the taste of him on your lips…" He put his fingers under Bella's chin and forced her head up so she had to look into his expressive dark eyes. They were full of pain and despair.
"Jake, I am so sorry." Bella felt the familiar tears well in her eyes. The ring felt heavier on her finger than ever and without realising what she was doing she slid it off and held it in the palm of her hand.
Jacob stared at her for a moment before he grabbed the ring and flung it across the room. It hit the wall and fell onto the floor out of sight. Bella was stunned by his actions, but was too mesmerised by the intense look on his face to get up and retrieve it. "He doesn't own you, Bells. He doesn't. You don't belong with him, you know that." His other hand reached up and cupped her cheek and he began to stroke her skin with his warm fingers. The undercurrent of electricity vibrated between them and Jake leaned in closer, his lips hovering above Bella's. Her eyes flicked to his mouth and she had a sudden urge to lean in and close the gap between them. Their breaths mingled together as she closed her eyes and inclined her mouth closer to his…
"No." Jake cursed. He dropped his hand from Bella's face and sat back. Bella opened her eyes and looked at him in confusion.
Suddenly her bedroom door was thrust open and the room was flooded with light as Charlie switched on the overhead light. "I knew I heard voices." He snapped. "What the hell is going on here?" He glared at Jake and Bella, his eyes flicking between them.
A/N-thank you for reading!
