First off I wanna thank my reviewers: J for Jenny (the dorkiest niece in the world, i love ya girl!), TheAngelOfHope, All. Alone. In. the. World
, foxykitsuneyouko, Ida, and iNSOMNIAC-rEADER-2010. You guys all rock! Thanks for the great comments! Also a big thanks goes out to all those who have added my story to their faves or story alerts. It means a lot to know you are all anxiously awaiting updates! :)
So yeah, as promised, this next chapter is about as long as the last two, maybe a little longer, and hello, it's friday, so I made it with the once a week updates so far. YAY FOR ME! LOL!
Well, I hope you guys enjoy this next addition! Happy reading!
P.S. Reviews dazzle me as much as Edward's gaze does! ;)
I do NOT own the characters of Buffy or Twilight, just the very talented Joss Whedon and Stephenie Meyer do. I only own the characters the wannabes, and who wants to own them? ;)
Chapter 4- Tensions Run Deep
"This is ridiculous Bella," Edward stated in the car. They had just dropped Alice off at home and were now headed toward the public library.
Bella laughed. "You're being a bit over dramatic about this, don't you think?"
"I'm only being cautious. I'm deeply concerned about your safety love. You have no idea how important you are to me."
"Edward, we both know it's been awhile since you last went hunting with Jasper, Carlisle, and Emmett. Your eyes are starting to get darker."
"I can handle it," he shrugged.
"I don't doubt that. But I'm sure they want to spend some guy time with you."
He smiled his crooked smile. "Guy time?"
"You know what I mean, some male bonding or whatever you call it. Either way, I'm sure they would be disappointed if you didn't go."
"Well you are right about one thing. Emmett was thinking about trying to tackle me if I try to skip out again," he laughed.
"See, so it's settled."
"I just don't like leaving you alone, especially right now."
"Well seeing as you don't want me going down to La Push tonight." Edward winced at the notion. "I don't see any other option."
"Alice made an excellent point today Bella," Edward began. "She can't see you when you are around Jacob Black. I'd rather be close enough nearby when you ARE with him. I just want you to be safe love."
"I know. And that is why I know I'll be fine at the library while you go hunt. It will only be for a couple of hours, and Alice will see if anything bad is going to happen, she can call you and I know you'll be racing back in no time. I'll be safe."
"I still don't see why you just can't wait till I get back to work on it."
"Because if I do that, I know you will just try to write it for me, I have to do this on my own. Just because you finished your paper on WWI ages ago…"
"I promise not to write it for you," he laughed. "But, there really is no need for you to waste your time on research when you have a perfectly good source for your paper." He pointed to himself, "Lived and died through it."
Bella laughed. "I can handle it. Besides, aren't you the one that's always telling me I have so many human experiences I should well…experience?"
"I am. I just think it would be easier if…"
She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. She slowly pulled away and whispered, "I'll be fine. Now go bag a grizzly for me."
He chuckled, "Sure thing my love. Just you be careful."
She smiled back at him and got out of the car. "I will, what kind of trouble could I get into here?"
He didn't respond to her question, but stated, "Alice will be here to pick you up in a couple of hours." With that Bella closed the door and headed for the library. As she pulled the door open she heard Edward's car drive away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Done," Buffy exclaimed as she scanned the last book in her stack.
"Shh," The librarian, seated beside her, responded.
"Sorry Mrs. Torres," she whispered.
"Miss Summers, you have to remember that this is a library and people come in here for the quiet," she said, as she rose form her seat.
"I thought it was for the books," Buffy joked, under her breath.
Mrs. Torres sighed, "Listen, if you really don't want to be here, maybe you should just leave." Buffy looked at her in uncertainty. "I had another applicant who wanted the job as well, and frankly, Bernadette was a bit more enthusiastic than you were. But, I chose you because you were a bit more qualified. But if…"
"No, no," she interrupted her. "I love books! See!" She clutched a book to her chest and hugged it tightly, swinging back and forth. Mrs. Torres simply glared down at her, clearly not amused. "I'm sorry, I'll be serious now."
"See that you are," she replied. "Now, it's time for me to take my evening break. Do you think you'll be fine for thirty minutes alone?"
"Yes, I think I can hold down the fort."
"Ok then, as soon as I get back, you can go home." Buffy nodded and watched her head off to the small break room. Once the door closed behind her, Buffy turned back to the counter and the stack of books Mrs. Torres had left.
She sighed. After all that time practically living in the Sunnydale High School library, she never once thought she'd actually end up working in one. But at least it was something she knew she could handle. And with any luck, this library might provide a bit of research material; at least enough to suffice until Giles could make it into town on Friday with a fair amount of books that might prove useful, given the current situation.
She glanced at the clock. The gang would arrive shortly and as soon as she could leave, they had plans to go out and get a bite to eat before the three slayers of the bunch, Vi, Kennedy, and herself, would go out and patrol around town. There really wasn't much else they could do at this point, not until they could gather more information on the goings on in Seattle. They had to figure out if any of the vampires there had even TRIED to enter Forks, and if so, what kind of damage they have caused.
"What?!" A voice shouted from across the room, bringing her out of her thoughts. "I just got here!"
Buffy looked up to see a dark haired girl, sitting at one of the tables. She appeared to be in the middle of packing up her stuff. Beside her, stood a tall guy, who was looking very agitated. Clearly, he was the one that had shouted.
Buffy sighed again. She didn't want to get involved, but if these two didn't quiet down soon, she would have to. Some of the other patrons were starting to stare.
"Shh," the girl whispered to him.
"I will not be quiet," he shouted again.
Buffy cleared her throat loudly, to get their attention. It seemed to work because the two teens looked up at her. She shot them a very stern look, one that Giles would no doubt be proud of, and they both looked down quickly, in embarrassment. She watched as the guy pulled out the chair next to the girl and sat.
Buffy shook her head. They were still arguing, or at least he was arguing, she was pleading, but it was in hushed tones now. She turned back to her work.
She was just about to scan the 3rd book in the new stack, when she heard a familiar voice to her left, "I bet you're starting to feel right at home now, Buff." She looked to her side with a smile to see Xander along with her other closest friends.
"Hey Guys," she said quietly. After all, she had to set a good example.
"You ready to leave yet?" Willow asked.
She looked down at her watch. "Yeah, in a few, Mrs. Torres, the librarian, should be back from her break any minute actually.
"GRR!" the brown haired girl growled suddenly. They all looked in the direction of the noise.
"Someone getting a little frustrated with their homework, huh?" Kennedy asked.
"No," Buffy began to explain. "Those two are arguing about something. I had to shush them just a little bit ago."
"You didn't give them a stern talking to?" Willow chuckled.
Buffy laughed. "No, I'm no Giles, but I did stare them down and give them one of Giles' 'For God's sake, calm down' looks. He would have been very proud," she said with a smile.
"Goodbye Jake!" the girl said again. "It's been nice knowing you." Buffy was going to say something to them, but instead, they all watched as she got up from her seat and stormed out the door. The guy sat there momentarily stunned, then he too rose and followed after her.
"That was odd," said Vi.
"Yeah, not sure what that was about, but 'Jake' and whoever that girl was, better not come back in here, unless they can keep it down," Buffy said firmly.
"Bella," Dawn said suddenly.
"What was that?" she asked her.
"Bella, her name is Bella. I saw her at school. I walked to class with her boyfriend's sister."
Buffy had no time to respond, because she looked up to see Mrs. Torres, looking annoyed, and heading back to the counter now, back from her break. "Uh, I'll meet you guys out by the car."
They agreed and everyone filed out the door to wait. All silently hoping that Buffy wasn't going to lose her new job, on the first day, because they were there talking to her when she was supposed to be working.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Bella sighed and set her pen down on the table. She rubbed her tired wrist and glanced up at the clock on the wall. She had been working on her paper, nonstop, for almost two and a half hours now, and she was just about done. It was getting late, and she knew Charlie would be getting home from the station soon, and would no doubt, be hungry.
She began to pack up her things, knowing Alice would already be parked outside, and waiting to give her a ride home, as per Edward's request.
Suddenly she heard a voice beside her, making her jump.
"Hey, Bella." She looked up to see her best friend.
"Jake, what are you doing here?"
He chuckled, "It's nice to see you too Bells."
"Jake, answer me, what are you doing here?"
"Well, seeing as you bailed on me, I decided to come see you. Granted, we won't have as much fun as that bonfire at the beach is supposed to be, but hey, we can wing it."
"Jake, this report is important; it's worth a big portion of my grade. I told you this."
"You did, but seeing as a lot of the other kids from your school were going, I thought maybe you only said that to protect the bloodsucker. Hide the fact that he doesn't want you to see me."
"That's beside the point. I really DID need to finish this paper, I've been way behind."
"Then let's hang out. Come on, it's not too long of a drive back to La Push. The bonfire is only just starting now."
"I can't go, I have to get home and make Charlie dinner," she explained.
"Screw that, call him up and have him head to La Push too. My dad's gonna be there."
"Jake, I can't. And you have to go."
"What?! I just got here!" He shouted angrily.
"Shh," she tried quieting him.
"I will not be quiet!" he very nearly shouted.
Someone cleared their throat across the room and they both turned to see the blonde woman behind the counter glaring at them. They both looked down in embarrassment.
Jake pulled out the seat next to Bella and sat. "Look," he said whispering. "I'm just trying to keep you safe, unlike the leech." He stated the last part bitterly. "Where is he anyway? Out picking off a few innocent hikers for dinner?"
"He's not like that Jake, and you know it," she said firmly. "But really, you have to go. No doubt Alice can't see me right now, with you here, and has called Edward, panicking. He's probably racing back here, right this moment."
Jacob scoffed. "Let him come, I can handle him."
"Grr!" she growled in frustration. "Would you stop that?!"
"Stop what?"
"This stupid eagerness to fight; both of you do it and it's driving me mad."
"There's nothing I can do Bella. We're enemies, always have been, always will be. Nothing is going to change that."
She abruptly rose from her seat. "If that's the case, then goodbye Jacob, it's been nice knowing you." With that, she angrily grabbed her bag and stormed out the door without looking back. Slowly, the tears began to fall.
Once outside, she looked up to see Alice standing next to Edward's Volvo, looking anxious.
"What a relief!" Alice exclaimed, once she saw her. She rushed to her side and enveloped her in a hug. "You're ok!" She pulled her back and finally noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh no, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" she asked anxiously.
Bella quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alice? What are you doing here?" she asked in disbelief. She wondered where Edward was.
"I'm picking you up of course, just like Edward asked me to."
"But, didn't you lose sight of me for a bit, while I was inside?"
"Bella wait," a male voiced shouted behind them. They both looked to see it was Jacob jogging over to them. He stopped a few feet away, trying to breath through his mouth to avoid the vampire stench.
"I had a hunch I would find you here dog," Alice said bitterly. "Just be glad I didn't call my brother when I lost sight of her."
"What, are you afraid to take me on yourself?" Jacob challenged.
"Don't think I can't take you Jacob Black. I may be small, but I'm quick and much stronger than I look."
"Yeah, well…"
"STOP!" Bella shouted, stopping the two of them. "This is what I've been talking about. This whole rivalry thing has to stop! You are fighting like cat's and dogs!"
"Hey," Jacob said defensively. "I take offence to that!"
"I don't," Alice said brightly. "Cats actually are really lovely creatures. The ancient Egyptians used to worship them."
"Yeah, you would know," Jacob said under his breath.
"Will you guys cut it out?"
"I'm sorry Bella," Alice said solemnly. "I'll try, I will."
Jacob let out a chuckle. Bella glared at him. "What? You're seriously going to believe that she wouldn't fight me if she had the chance?!"
Bella sighed. "I know she'll try, and that's all I'm asking for. And if you're going to have an attitude about it and won't try yourself, then I don't see how we'll be able to get along Jake."
"Bella, I…" he began.
"Don't Jake; you'll only make this tougher for me." She looked down at the ground, not wanting to see the heartache in his eyes. It was hard enough to get through this, but she really didn't see any other option. "If you change your mind, let me know. Otherwise, I don't see how our friendship could work." She turned to look at Alice. "Let's go."
Without another word, they both turned and climbed into the Volvo.
Jacob just stood there, dumbstruck, as they drove off. He couldn't fathom how she could be so willing to throw their friendship away for a family of bloodsuckers.