Chapter 6:
The next day when I woke up Alice had breakfast waiting to Bella and I. I was grateful but Bella just pushed hers around a little. I could tell she didn't get much sleep by the bags under her eyes.
Alice drove us to school me in the back seat, Bella in the front as she stared grumpily out the window.
"Tonight we'll go out to Olympia or something," Alice promised. "That would be fun, right?"
"Why don't you just lock me in the basement," Bella suggested, "and forget the sugar coating?" I couldn't blame Bella for being annoyed, so I didn't bother arguing. Alice frowned.
"He's going to take the Porsche back. I'm not doing a very good job. You're supposed to be having fun."
"It's not your fault," Bella muttered. I could tell she felt guilty by her words.
Alice pulled up at the school and parked the car.
"I'll see you at lunch." Bella was out of the car and walking away without a glance. Alice sighed
"Don't blame yourself Alice." I said, leaning forwards
"He'll take it back." she muttered
"Alice, I don't think Edward would be mean enough to do that. He knows how much you love that car." I reminded her. She gave me a smile before we both got out.
I followed after Bella towards our english class.
"Alex." I smiled
"Hailey." I greeted, high-fifing her.
"So, you wanna go something this weekend?" she wondered
"I'd love to, only I can't." I frowned
"What you doing?" Hailey wondered
"Four day sleep over with Bella and Alice." I shrugged "Something to keep Bella happy with while Edward's away."
"Where is he?"
"Some camping trip with his brothers, it's just us girls." I smiled.
"Damn, we haven't done anything for ages." she sighed
"I know, and I'm sorry, it's mainly my fault." I frowned guiltily. She shook her head
"You can make it up to me," she smirked, I shied away a little
"How…?" I wondered, not sure if I was going to like this.
"Well, we were all planning on spending a day together, you, me Val, Oliver, Jordan, Adrian."
"What's the favour?" I wondered
"Convince Adrien to spend the weekend with me," she winked. I rolled my eyes at her
"Really?"
"Yep." and she turned to walk away as everyone moved to their class. I rolled my eyes, her and her hormones.
I walked towards my first class and walked in to sit next to Bella.
"You alright?" she just nodded and I rolled my eyes and her lie. Poor Bells.
Throughout the entire first period Bella just sulked. She wasn't really listening so I fed her the answers when she was called on, keeping the teacher off her back.
When the bell rang Mike held the door open for the two of us and we walked out into the light rain, making our way to the next room.
"Edward hiking this weekend?" Mike asked sociably
"Yeah." she said simply, not really in the mood to put up with him obviously.
"You want to do something tonight?"
How could he still sound hopeful?
"Can't. I've got a slumber party," Bella grumbled. He gave her a strange look as he processed her mood. He looked at me and I just smiled
"Who are you —"
Mike's question was cut short as a loud, growling roar erupted from behind us in the parking lot. Everyone on the sidewalk turned to look, staring in disbelief as the noisy black motorcycle screeched to a stop on the edge of the concrete, the engine still snarling.
Jacob waved to us urgently.
I walked straight over to him
"What are you doing?" I questioned
"Getting her out of here." he said. I looked at Bella
"Run, Bella!" he yelled over the engine's roar. Bella was frozen for a second before she seemed understood.
"Bloodsucker can't see me right? Thought I'd get you out of here."
"You can only take one." I reminded him "And I'm not a captive."
"I know, but who are they going to send after her?" he asked with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and grinned as I looked at Bella, she looked at Mike quickly. She only had a few seconds if Alice was to stop her.
I wonder how far would Alice go to restrain her in public?
"I got really sick and went home, okay?" she said to Mike, her voice filled with sudden excitement.
"Fine," he muttered. Bella pecked Mike swiftly on the cheek.
"Thanks, Mike. I owe you one!" she called as she sprinted towards us.
Jacob revved his engine, grinning. Bella gave me a high five as she jumped on the back of his seat, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
"Don't have too much fun." I smiled
"See you later." he grinned. I rolled my eyes before seeing Bella's grin disappear. I turned around to see Alice, frozen at the edge of the cafeteria, her eyes sparking with fury, her lip curled back over her teeth.
Then the two were racing across the blacktop I jumped back quickly
"Hold on," Jacob shouted.
Bella hid her face in his back as he sped down the highway.
"Why did you do that?" Alice asked furiously as she appeared next to me.
"What? I had nothing to do with it."
"But you didn't stop her?!"
"Alice, I'm not the one holding her captive." I reminded her
"Do you have any idea how much trouble I'm going to be in?" she hissed
"Want me to go and make sure she's okay?" I wondered, Alice narrowed her eyes
"What? Isn't that one of the reasons why I'm here?" I wondered. She clutched her teeth to prevent a snarl before sighing. The bell rang and everyone began to disappear into the school.
"Now's your chance," I warned handing her my things.
"Fine." she agreed taking my books. And I was gone.
I crossed the highway, too fast for anyone to see me as I weaved in and out of the cars till I was in the safety of the trees. My run didn't stop there though. I passed the boarder, running past Paul who growled for a second before realising it was me. Then I heard a huff before I was out of range. I just smirked.
I hardly felt the rain as it began to pelt down and by the time I reached my house, my hair was a little damp.
I walked in to the empty house, not at all intending on going to Jacob's house yet, no way was I immediately going to interfere with their free time. They didn't get enough alone time, couple or not.
I knew Jacob wouldn't be impressed if I barged in, the days when he wanted to spend time with the both of us were long gone. But that's alright, I wouldn't want a third wheel interfering either. Nor would I like to be one.
So I dithered around the house before heading to Jacob's house. When I got there, Billy was the only one home.
"Hey Alexis." he greeted with a smile, rolling out of the way to let me pass.
"Hey Billy." I answered
"What are you doing here?" he wondered "Shouldn't you be in school?"
"You're worried about school?" I asked with a smirk "After the pack never goes?" he sighed and shook his head
"Guess this wont help, but they do have other responsibilities."
"You're right it doesn't." I smiled "No, I was sent on watch duty." I sighed
"Watch duty?" he questioned
"Bella been around?" I asked
"Yes. She and Jake left with the bikes a little while ago." I smiled "You're watching Bella." he realised
"No. I'm pretending too." I shrugged, he smiled at me deception.
"They'll be back soon." he promised
"Thanks Billy."
I walked out to the garage, it'd been a while since I'd been in here, Jacob hadn't had the joys of spare time to enjoy his mechanics. I looked at the rabbit, sitting here happily, and ran a finger over it. The days when Jacob and I spend hours working on it.
I missed those.
The laughter with Embry and Quil when they turned up. The insults I received for knowing to much about bikes.
I sighed. Easy times.
I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of motors. Not two seconds later, Bella and Jacob walked in, wheeling their bikes, which were naturally covered in a heap of mud.
Jacob grinned at me
"You took your time."
"Naturally, I don't need to be out in the rain while you whiz around on the death machines." I smirked, he rolled his eyes.
"I'm hungry, there any food out?" he asked me
"Didn't know you wanted me to make any." I rolled my eyes "My master." I bowed and he just sighed at me as I grinned.
"Why are you here Lex?" Bella asked
"Alice." I shrugged "I'm supposed to 'watch' you." I rolled my eyes
"She sent you?" she looked worried
"Well, I asked her if she wanted me to come. She agreed, I left a second after you guys."
"Where have you been?" Jacob wondered
"Home." I smirked. Jacob grinned "Wasn't going to ruin your fun."
"So Alice thinks your watching me?" Bella asked
"As far as she's concerned, I never left your side." I nodded, Bella smiled.
"Food." Jacob interrupted and walked out of the house. I rolled my eyes
"That's all you think about."
"Not true." he disagreed. Jacob made a heap of sandwiches, probably eating about ten to himself while Bella and I had at least two each, before we went back to the garage.
I helped the two clean their bikes of the mud as the rain poured outside.
It was nice, the three of us hadn't been in the garage together in months. It felt like old times again, before things got weird.
"This is nice," Bella commented when Jacob pulled the warm sodas from the grocery bag after we were done. "I've missed this place."
"You and me both." I agreed, my eyes closed. Jacob smiled, looking around at the plastic sheds bolted together over our heads.
"Yeah, I can understand that. All the splendour of the Taj Mahal, without the inconvenience and expense of traveling to India."
"To Washington's little Taj Mahal," Bella toasted, holding up her can. Jacob and I touched our cans to Bella's.
"Do you remember last Valentine's Day? I think that was the last time you were here — the last time when things were still… normal, I mean." Jacob admitted. Bella laughed.
"Yeah, he gave you cheap candy." I smirked and Jake sent me a look
"Just cause you spent lots." he muttered
"Of course I remember. I traded a lifetime of servitude for a box of conversation hearts. That's not something I'm likely to forget." Bella confessed. We laughed with her.
"That's right. Hmm, servitude. I'll have to think of something good." Then he sighed. "It feels like it was years ago. Another era. A happier one."
I glanced at Bella as she stared through the opening at the murky forest. I knew she didn't agree, Edward was her happiness.
The rain had picked up again, and the sound of it hitting the roof filled the silence.
"Things have really changed." Jacob mumbled
"Yeah," Bella said, and then she reached out and patted the back tire of her bike. "Charlie used to like me. I hope Billy doesn't say anything about today…" she bit her lip.
"He won't. He doesn't get worked up about things the way Charlie does. Hey, I never did apologise officially for that stupid move with the bike. I'm real sorry about ratting you out to Charlie. I wish I hadn't." Bella and I rolled our eyes.
"Me, too." Bella agreed
"I'm really, really sorry." He looked at her hopefully, his wet, tangled black hair sticking up in every direction around his pleading face.
"Oh, fine! You're forgiven." she allowed
"Thanks, Bells!" I sighed, she gave in too easily. But, I guess this was better. They grinned at each other for a second, and then his face clouded over.
"You know that day, when I brought the bike over… I've been wanting to ask you something," he said slowly. "But also… not wanting to." Bella held very still.
"Were you just being stubborn because you were mad at me, or were you really serious?" he whispered.
"About what?" Bella whispered back. She and I shared a look, knowing where this was going and I frowned.
He glared at her.
"You know. When you said it was none of my business… if — if he bit you." He cringed visibly at the end.
"Jake…" Bella couldn't finish. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Were you serious?" He was trembling just slightly. His eyes stayed closed. Bella looked at me but I just looked back at her. I wasn't sure what to say, I guess the truth was all there was.
"Yes," she whispered. Jacob inhaled, slow and deep.
"I guess I knew that." We both stared at his face, waiting for his eyes to open.
"You know what this will mean?" He demanded suddenly. "You do understand that, don't you? What will happen if they break the treaty?" I took a deep breath. Both my friends all in a war?
"We'll leave first," Bella said in a small voice. Jacob's eyes flashed open, their black depths full of anger and pain.
"There wasn't a geographic limit to the treaty, Bella. Our great-grandfathers only agreed to keep the peace because the Cullens swore that they were different, that humans weren't in danger from them. They promised they would never kill or change anyone ever again. If they go back on their word, the treaty is meaningless, and they are no different than any other vampires. Once that's established, when we find them again —"
"If you find them again." I corrected, he looked at me "If they leave, how will you know the treaty's broken?" I wondered. He narrowed his eyes at me and I looked away.
"But, Jake, didn't you break the treaty already?" Bella asked, grasping at straws. "Wasn't part of it that you not tell people about the vampires? And you told me. So isn't the treaty sort of moot, anyhow?"
Jacob didn't like the reminder; the pain in his eyes hardened into animosity.
"Yeah, I broke the treaty — back before I believed any of it. And I'm sure they were informed of that." He glared sourly at Bella's forehead, not meeting her shamed gaze. "But it's not like that gives them a freebie or anything. There's no fault for a fault. They have only one option if they object to what I did. The same option we'll have when they break the treaty: to attack. To start the war." He made it sound so inevitable. Bella shuddered.
"Jake, it doesn't have to be that way." she muttered. His teeth ground together.
"It is that way." The silence after his declaration felt very loud.
"Will you never forgive me, Jacob?" she whispered. It seemed as though she didn't really want to hear his answer.
"You won't be Bella anymore," he told her. "My friend won't exist. There'll be no one to forgive."
"That's a bit harsh." I muttered and he looked at me as I stared at the can.
"Would you?" he asked harshly
"Definitely." I whispered. He ground his teeth.
"That sounds like a no, " Bella whispered. They faced each other for an endless moment.
"Is this goodbye then, Jake?" He blinked rapidly, his fierce expression melting in surprise.
"Why? We still have a few years. Can't we be friends until we're out of time?"
"Years? No, Jake, not years." Bella shook her head, and laughed once without humour. "Weeks is more accurate." Neither of us were expecting his reaction.
He was suddenly on his feet, and there was a loud pop as the soda can exploded in his hand. Soda flew everywhere, soaking us, like it was spraying from a hose.
"Jake!" Bella started to complain, but she fell silent when we realised that his whole body was quivering with anger. He glared at Bella wildly, a growling sound building in his chest.
I stood up and stood between him and Bella. Bella froze in place behind me.
The shaking rolled through him, getting faster, until it looked like he was vibrating. His shape blurred…
"Jake," I warned seriously, I might be fast, and strong, but could I take on a transformed wolf and protect Bella? I'd never had to think about that before.
And then Jacob gritted his teeth together, and the growling stopped. He squeezed his eyes tight in concentration; the quivering slowed until only his hands were shaking.
"Weeks," Jacob said in a flat monotone. Bella didn't seem to be able to respond; she was still frozen.
He opened his eyes. They were beyond fury now. He looked from me to Bella and I moved slightly out of his line of vision, but still stood between them.
"He's going to change you into a filthy bloodsucker in just a few weeks!" Jacob hissed through his teeth. Too stunned to take offence at his words, she just nodded mutely.
His face turned green under the russet skin.
"Of course, Jake," she whispered after a long minute of silence. "He's seventeen, Jacob. And I get closer to nineteen every day. Besides, what's the point in waiting? He's all I want. What else can I do?"
She'd meant that as a rhetorical question. Jacob's words cracked like snaps of a whip.
"Anything. Anything else. You'd be better off dead. I'd rather you were." I raised my eyebrows as I looked at him, absolutely stunned he'd said that. Bella was suddenly on her feet.
"Maybe you'll get lucky," she said bleakly. "Maybe I'll get hit by a truck on my way back."
She grabbed her motorcycle and pushed it out into the rain. I moved out of her way, but Jacob didn't as she passed him.
As soon as she was on the small, muddy path, she climbed on and kicked the bike to life. The rear tire spit a fountain of mud toward the garage and I moved to dodge it.
I turned to Jacob as the motorbike's engine sounded until it was out of range.
"What the hell was that?" I questioned lightly, but the shock and disappointment was in my voice. He didn't answer me.
"Didn't you just make up with her?" Silence.
"How could you say something like that?" I whispered quietly.
"Why aren't you outraged?" he changed the subject. I pressed my lips together and didn't answer. My silence was a bad idea, his frame started shaking again and his eyes were all out furious as he realised why I didn't answer.
"You knew!" He raged "And you're allowing it?!" he shouted at me I didn't even wince, just watched him cautiously. I took a step back and he took one forwards.
"You know about the treaty, you know about the rules. And yet you're not going to stop it? YOU'RE ALLOWING IT?!" I didn't answer his rage
"HOW COULD YOU BE OKAY WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND BECOMING A MONSTER?! HOW COULD YOU BE OKAY WITH HIM KILLING HER?!" This was the first time Jacob had gotten so angry at me before. I was usually the one yelling and shouting.
I continued to back away and he continued to proceed forwards, his body blurring. He was silent for a minute. I only had one answer and I knew what it would do, it would push him over the edge.
He waited for my answer. I took a deep breath and prepared myself.
"Because it's best for her." I moved immediately as Jacob burst, his clothes ripping and russet fur exploding from his body.
He stood there and growled at me, his teeth baring angrily, his eyes holding more rage then I'd ever seen in them.
He suddenly launched towards me, his teeth baring. I ducked as he swiped his claws at me. A sharp pain appeared in my arm. A searing pain followed and I jumped away from him, doing a one handed flip before standing straight and looking down at my arm.
My jacket and top were ripped and stained with blood.
There were three long gashes in my arm, from my shoulder down to almost my elbow.
I took a deep breath before placing a hand over it and wincing. Jacob stopped immediately, a few feet from me as I placed pressure on it, trying to stop the bleeding. I winced and sucked in a breath of air as the pain got worse.
I suppressed the tears that were coming as Jacob whined, he crouched down onto his belly and covered his face with his front paws.
I took a deep breath and turned around, running off.
I knew he was sorry. I couldn't blame him. For some reason, I expected it. I knew everyone was going to be all out pissed, especially my brother. But no one could make Jacob feel any worse then I knew he already did.
As I ran the pain slowly disappeared, the blood ran over my fingers but it was slowly stopping.
I reached the Cullen's house and stopped before walking in. I removed my hand to look at it, there were three deep gashes down my arm, too big for my whole hand to cover. The blood had stopped by was still staining my clothes. The smell was strong and over powering, making me want to hold my nose, if only one hand wasn't covered in blood and the other I could actually move.
"Alexis!" I looked up to see Alice standing at the front door looking horrified. I placed my hand back on the would and hissed as it stung a little.
"Esme!" Alice shouted before she was at my side, Esme appeared and gasped, worry written all over her face. The two of them carried me into the house and to the kitchen bench.
I hissed as I took my jacket off, but the pain was subsiding quickly, almost like it was healing. Alice grabbed a pair of scissors and they cut my top off to get to the wound. I wasn't as embarrassed as I thought I'd be. Maybe it had something to do with only standing in a towel around my musketeers so many times.
Esme had some rubbing alcohol and cotton and a bandage as well as water.
"What happened?" Esme demanded
"Jacob was pissed, Bella confessed about becoming one of you guys." I explained "At first he was fine but when he found out that it was happening in a few weeks, he got angry. He was fine, calmed himself down. He pissed Bella off and caused her to leave, and then he turned to me. He shouted at me… more like bellowed. He wanted an answer as to how I could allow this and I knew my answer would throw him over the edge." I sighed "I wasn't quick enough." I muttered as the two wiped around the wounds, cleaning it so that they could see the damage. I didn't look down at it.
"Lex!" Bella appeared in the doorway, her hair wet. Her eyes moved from my face to my arm where the vampires were working. "Oh my god!" she worried running over to me.
"No don't Bella, we both know how you are with blood." I reminded her. She ignored me. I saw her face, she looked away within the second and then to my face, trying to keep her stomach contents down.
"Jake did this." She realised
"It's alright, he feels down right guilty, that'll serve as punishment for a bit." I couldn't even feel any pain as the two girls prodded me with cotton.
"Uh… Lex…" Alice began, I looked down at her, she was staring at my arm, so was Esme. I looked at the cuts, only, there was hardly anything there anymore. The blood around the wounds had been cleaned, the blood had stopped and they were no more than flesh wounds now.
I gapped as I watched the cuts slowly heal up the last bit till they became a few pink puckering lines.
"What the heck?" I questioned. I'd seen Emily's scars way to often, I knew how they were meant to appear when healed, they were meant to be huge scars forever, trenches in my skin. There was barely anything left now.
I moved my arm, no pain. I bent my elbow, nothing. I poked my arm, nothing, just that feeling of pressing a bruise. It was completely fine.
"Holy…" I couldn't finish as I poked the line that was left.
"How did you do that?" Alice muttered
"Does it look like I know?" I asked still staring at my arm. "This is…" I muttered
"Seems like you can heal…" Alice muttered as Bella and Esme continued to stare at my arm.
"How?" They shrugged. I just sat there, gapping. This was weird. Sure I'd never been injured like this since I'd gained all my other knew 'upgrades', but now I could suddenly heal like the werewolves? Why?
I jumped down from the bench and Alice disappeared, coming back with one of my tops. I pulled it back on easily, no pain getting in the way.
We stopped when my phone began to ring and I picked it up to see the Black's house number. I hit decline and put it on vibrate. I wasn't talking to him. Not yet anyway.
They all gave me a look but I ignored it.
"Hope you don't mind if I have a shower." I said as I ran up the stairs, pulling on my arm on the railing just to be sure I wasn't being soft on myself. Still no pain.
I stripped off my clothes in Alice's bathroom and looked at my arm in the mirror, the pink lines were fading quickly. There was probably going to be nothing left by the end.
I turned on the water, boiling hot, and let it run over me.
I sat on Alice's bed when I was done, fully clothed and my hot temperature drying my hair quickly. I stared at my arm when Esme walked in.
"You're got fifteen missed calls sweetie." she informed me, my phone in her hand.
"Don't worry, there'll be more in the next five minutes." I assured her, looking up at her beautiful face.
"You sure you're going to ignore them?" she asked sitting next to me. I looked at her
"If I answer, I'm just going to shout. I spend the majority of my time shouting at Jake for his behaviour. You want me to make it worse?"
"Well you can't avoid it forever, you're going home tomorrow, remember." she said.
"I can avoid it until tomorrow." I confessed.
"You need to think of another way to channel your anger." she admitted
"I'm open to suggestions." I smiled
"You need a hobbie." Esme smiled at me, placing an arm around my shoulders.
"I have one."
"Then use it."
"I do." I promised "I don't have time to do gymnastics professionally."
"Make time." she shrugged
"Unlike you Esme, I have to sleep and study. I don't get 24 hours free." I smirked. She rolled her eyes
"You just need to look at it from their perspective."
"When I do that, all I can think of is that they don't use their heads." I muttered. Esme smiled and squeezed my shoulders.
"Just give it a go." she left the phone on the beg before leaving the room. I sighed, I didn't need Esme making me feel guilty. They were meant to be feeling bad. Jacob in particular.
I woke up the next morning in Alice's bed. The first thing I remembered was my arm. I sat up and removed my sleeve, my arm was completely clear, completely healed. There wasn't even a scar left.
I got up, dressed and walked down the stairs. Emmett and Jasper were in the living room, Jasper reading a newspaper and Emmett watching the TV.
"Morning." Emmett smiled
"Hey." I greeted happily, holding up my fist. He pounded it. "How was your trip?"
"Awesome." he smirked "But it sounds like you had more fun."
"I don't think being scratched by a werewolf counts as fun." I confessed. He waved that idea away and I rolled my eyes.
"How are we today Alex?" Carlisle asked entering the room. I showed him my arm
"Healed." I shrugged. Carlisle prodded and poked me for a second before looked at me.
"Seems you were very lucky."
"Apparently." I nodded "I still don't understand though."
"Probably has something to do with everything else that's wrong with you." Emmett smiled I glared at him.
"Thanks." I sneered. He smiled. Typical Emmett.
"How's Bella?" I wondered
"She's fine. Alice took her home this morning." Carlisle informed me. I blinked
"This morning?" I asked slowly, I turned to look at a clock, it was like eleven o'clock. "Oh," I muttered "Sorry." Carlisle shook his head.
"It's perfectly fine." he promised with a smile. I sighed when Emmett's phone began to rang.
"Yo." he answered
"Emmett, someone's been in Bella's house, a visitor. I need you come and check it out." Edward ordered, his voice hard and firm. All smiles disappeared as Edward hung up. Everyone was in the room now, the entire family. Jasper got up with Emmett and the giant vampire gave him a look before the two of them left the room.
"Someone was in Bella's house?" I repeated. I didn't miss how he said visitor. And if he was this worried, then obviously it was not any ordinary person.
A vampire had been in Bella's room, with Charlie present.
What where they doing to leave Bella's father alive?