A.N.: Hope you like this one shot! More tomorrow! xoxo


The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com

Prompt: 7 – Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Pen Name: k8ln713

Pairing/Character(s): Bella/Edward/Jacob

Rating: M

I see them both arguing and I'm so sick of it. I just wish they'd come to terms that I'm not changing my mind and stop it. Goddammit! I'm Switzerland! I don't want to get involved with this. I've made my decision and I'm sticking with it.

Both of them want me, but I only know I want Edward. So I wish Jacob would see he can't do anything to make me change my mind. There may have been a time I would have chosen Jake, but since Edward came into my life, he's all I want. Jake to me is just like an older brother I never had – I'm grateful he's in my life and there to protect me when I need it.

But I don't need protection from my boyfriend. I don't need any input that he'd hurt me in the future because of his past. Yes, I know he had a tough childhood and has bouts of anger management moments. But the good thing is that he tries to work out his issues in other ways, that he loves and is loved by his adoptive parents, and that he loves me so much he'd never blow up at me or hurt me. In fact he's never hurt anyone important in his life, though he gets angry easily. Becoming angry is how he protects himself.

So I really wished Jake would see what I see in Edward. But he doesn't, and it looks like he'll never, especially since he's always having an argument with Edward about who and what is best for me.

I'd get my father involved, but I don't want either of them getting arrested or anything. Charlie knows where I stand and he knows that Jake won't give up trying to win my affection, but he chooses not to get involved in my love life. I'm fucking twenty-one years old – he doesn't get a say in who I date. His only request is that I make sure the guy is good to me and for me.

And I know Edward is not only good, but perfect for me. And he's also very good to me. Like I said, he may get angry, but he never has once exploded at me or hit me. And when we have fought, he always apologizes and promises me he'll love me and take care of me for as long as I keep him.

The argument I'm viewing from my porch is once again about me.

Edward and I were having a very nice afternoon together, just enjoying each other's company as we hung out inside, watching movies, listening to music, me melting at Edward's feet as he strummed his guitar and sang to me… fuck, he was just perfect. Sometimes I wonder how out of all the girls he chose me, but then I thank God that he did. I'm so much happier when I'm with him.

We decided we needed fresh air. It was early fall and we were cherishing the great weather we were having. Usually it's cloudy and rainy; today it was slightly chilly and sunny. We sat on the porch swing, me sitting on his lap as we watched the sun slightly set and watch the leaves falling from the trees. Edward's warm hold me tightened at one point, him whispering in my ear that he loved me. I turned my head, whispering the words back. Both of us moved our heads closer, our lips pressing together. We were never ones for extreme PDA, but that didn't stop us from kissing eachother when we wanted to.

The moment was perfect, until…

"Do you always have to maul her in public?"

Edward pulled away from me and we both looked ahead, seeing Jacob standing on my lawn with his arms crossed across his chest. He looked pissed. When wasn't he? I rolled my eyes and whispered to Edward for him to ignore Jake, that he was just trying to get a rise out of him and cause a scene, something that didn't need to occur. I didn't want my perfect afternoon ruined with a fight breaking out on my lawn.

But Edward was angry.

He gently lifted me off his lap, placing me on the swing, while he stood up and stomped down the stairs to face Jake. I dropped my head in my hands and shook it, not believing this was happening again.

I didn't really hear all the conversation, but from bits and pieces I did hear, it was the same as every other argument those two got it. It was always about me. It was always about who was best for me. I know Edward always said it was my choice, that he never forced me to choose him; I chose him because I wanted him. If I wanted Jake, I would have chose Jake.

Jake always said he believed the same, that it's my choice, but he always said I made the wrong one. So it was almost him saying I was stupid because I chose Edward over him, and it hurt. But I got tired of repeating myself that I didn't want him anymore than a friend because he still had a mission to win me.

So I just gave up, letting the two men work out their differences until one of them gave up. Usually it was Edward because he would get so worked up that he had to leave. He made the mistake before, hitting Jake and Jake had him arrested. Thankfully he never pressed charges, but Edward learned his lesson, choosing to walk away when he felt the urge to hit Jake. But he'd never leave without kissing me goodbye and telling me he loved me, also promising to call me later.

Jake would be smug and try and tell me that Edward was obviously too much of a pussy to hash it out with him, making him seem weak when he most certainly wasn't. And when he would tell me that, he'd try to convince me to hang out with him or invite himself to dinner, but always at that point I was too pissed to deal with Jake, so I'd just kick him out.

And it was a vicious cycle from there on out.

So like always, the two of them were practically having a pissing contest, arguing over me and my well being.

But this time, I feared that something bad was going to happen. I was terrified something bad was going to happen, specifically to Edward. I stood up from the swing and headed down the porch steps, and I finally heard what Jake was yelling at Edward. I knew they were trash talking, but I was stunned to hear what came out of Jake's mouth.

"You're no good for her, you sack of shit. You'll never be good enough for her. One day you're gonna hurt her and she'll come crawling to me, begging me to care for her. And I will care for her, in more ways than one, something you never do. I'll make her fucking scream my name, making her forget you ever existed."

The words that me out of Jake's mouth hurt me, like a stab wound to the heart. I never thought he'd ever think of me so degradingly. I knew he had feelings for me, but I never thought his feelings were only to get me in bed and make me scream his name as he said. It's true Edward and I have never had sex, but that doesn't mean we haven't fooled around. He's given me the best pleasure I've ever had, and it wasn't even with him inside me yet. I'll know it'll be amazing when we do take that step, but we're not ready. But to hear the words Jake said made me drop my mouth open.

Once I was just the girl who stood on the sidelines, but now I was sick of it. I wanted to scream at Jacob to just leave the matter be. I was with Edward and there was nothing he could do about it. I didn't want him. I don't love him like I love Edward. I was this close to just ridding him forever, that if he was upset with my choice, he could just go home and never come back. I wanted my best friend back, so when he returned, he could return to me. But I didn't want to see his face ever again if he only was going to insult the man I loved and degrade me, especially with me within hearing range.

I know Edward must have felt the exact same as I did because the second I went to go stomp over there and hit Jake, he did so himself. He was protecting my honor and I would love him forever for doing so. But then Jake threw his own punch, continuing to trash talk to Edward. At that moment I was so angry that I instinctively stepped it, yelling at them to quit it. I'm protective of ones I love, and someone just threatened whom I want to protect.

But it was a big mistake on my part. After Jake threw his punch, Edward once again hit him back, punching and breaking Jake's nose. I got in between them, going to push them apart and then give my speech to Jake for him to get the fuck off my property and to never come back until he changed his attitude and his view of love for me. I wasn't going to be a whore for him who put out if Edward did ever hurt me. He wouldn't be the one I'd run to. But as soon as I got in between them, Jake recovered and threw a punch meant for Edward, hitting me at my cheekbone and I go down.

It hurt like a motherfucker and there was a possibility Jake fractured it. Though it was an accident and was meant for Edward, the hit never should have happened in the first place. So I was angry with Jake. I could hear Jake yelling back that it was an accident and that he didn't know I was there, but Edward was pissed off and hit Jake again, screaming at him for laying a hand on me, even if he never meant to, and that he should have looked to make sure no one was between them, especially since they both heard me yelling at them.

Edward threw one more punch to Jake and then he pulled me away to both scold me for being a fool and trying to get in between them when I could have gotten hurt, as well as to look at my cheek.

"What were you fucking thinking, Bella?!" he hissed at me.

"I didn't want to see you getting hurt," I said. "So I went to get in between you two."

"But look what happened! You got fucking punched in the face. It's bruising and it may be broken. I love you, Bella, but you were a fool for getting in between a violent fight when you shouldn't have."

"And I love you enough to protect ones I love, even if I have to take a few hits. I love you and I want to protect you just as much as you want to protect me."

Edward cracked a smile and pressed his lips to my aching cheek and then my lips. "Well then, I love you so much for wanting to fight for me. I shouldn't be acting so much like an asshole, arguing over you like you're some toy."

"You never once said something that made me believe that you think I'm a toy. Jake does, and what he said five minutes ago made me see that his feelings of 'love' are not what I want from him ever. You love me like I want to be loved."

"Alright, Rocky… let's get you to the hospital. My dad will look at it."

I lean up and kiss his lips and then he drives me to the hospital. I'm taken care of and when I'm able to, I'll take care of Edward to show him my love for him.