Hello again. :)
Maybe you remember me . . . Or . . . Maybe you don't. lol (But please tell me you do!)
So, while I was writing this, or rather, re-reading my last chapter, I realized that my last update of this story was exactly one year ago to this day. And I am amazed. What is it with me and the end of the year, you may ask? I do not know. . . All I can tell you for sure is that 2011 flew by and I am very shocked to see it go. It seems like only yesterday I was ringing it in as a new year! Now, I'm ringing it out as an old one?
Wow.
Okay! So an update before the update!
I've taken a sabbatical from fanfic, hoping to work on my own writing projects, but what can I say? I've missed you all so much I can't stay away. ;) And to my unending surprise, people continue to favorite this story, so a big thank you to you all for supporting it even though I've been AWOL for a year.
That really makes me smile.
So if you're still interested in this story - which I'm assuming since you've read this far, you are - I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Thanks for reading!
~ Indian
Chapter Seven : Best Friends
Dinner was . . . interesting.
My mom asked me loads of questions about me, the baby, what I was going to do after graduation, where I wanted to go to college, everything.
It surprised me that she still thought I was going to college. I had let that go a long time ago and I thought she had too.
I couldn't go to college with a baby - Especially Edward Cullen's baby. But I knew what she was getting at.
If I went to college, someone would have to watch the baby, so, of course, in her mind, it would make perfect sense for me to go to a school in Jacksonville so she could take that job.
There was no way that was happening. I had no interest in living in Jacksonville Florida with her and Phil.
Especially Phil. I had nothing against him. He seemed pretty okay. But he was only thirteen years older than me. We could be cousins, maybe even siblings. I could never look up to him like I would a father. And I was not about to let them try to get my baby to call him grandpa or something.
I just found that wrong on so many levels.
In fact, it made me very angry.
"So Jacob, how's Old Quil doing these days? Haven't seen him in a while." Charlie asked, giving his best effort to try and change the subject.
It may not have done much good because my mom kept asking me unbelievably embarrassing questions about my pregnancy, even after he spoke up, but I put all of my focus into Jacob's answer anyway, choosing to ignore her if that's what it took.
"Actually, I haven't seen him lately either. The only time I've heard anything about him is when my dad comes back from last minute meetings and talks on the phone with Harry." Jacob's voice remained casual but his eyes revealed a bit more. He clearly found this odd, and so did Charlie.
"Hmm . . . That's strange. He's usually the most involved in the school fieldtrips you kids go on every now and then, isn't he?" Charlie asked as he cut up more of his steak.
Jacob nodded and then shrugged. "Guess he's taking some time off or something."
He clearly didn't believe that either.
Jacob hadn't spoken much about things on the reservation lately, besides how disturbed he was when it came to Sam and his 'followers' as he had referred to them once or twice, but he didn't need to say anything for me to be able to pick up on the fact that he was concerned.
He had said that things had been different but when I asked him what he meant by that, he admitted he really wasn't sure. He didn't know what was going on, but he wasn't sure he wanted to.
Frankly, I wasn't sure if I wanted him to either, because from what he had told me, everyone who knew something had disappeared, and I can't even imagine him becoming one of those people.
But still I know it must have been hard for him, not knowing. Everyone he suspected might have an inkling of what might be going on was pushing him away, and now, Embry was doing the same.
Embry . . .
Thinking about him, someone Jacob knew and trusted, someone who Jacob said had been like a brother to him ever since they were just kids, made me pause.
How dare he?
How dare he abandon him like this . . .
It was despicable. It was appalling. It was just wrong.
And I hated him for it.
He couldn't just drop out of his life like that with no explanation whatsoever. That was too vampire-like for my taste and I would try my best to make sure it didn't happen like that.
If he wanted to end their friendship then he could do it with some dignity as far as I was concerned. Jacob deserved that much. A reason. He deserved to know why, even if it was painful. Because I knew better than most that not knowing would always be worse.
Maybe I was being a little too overprotective, or maybe I was just being irrational, but that night as I said goodbye to Jacob, I made myself and him a silent promise.
I would go straight to Embry the next morning and get that explanation for him.
"See you later, Bells." Jacob said, a small smile playing on his lips, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
"Jake, it'll all be alright. I'm sure Embry will come around." I assured, giving him a big hug on our porch.
"I hope you're right." he said, his smile only faltering slightly as he pulled away.
"I'm right." I said firmly, bringing out a bigger smile in him.
"Talk to you tomorrow?" he then asked.
"Always." I promised with a smile.
"I'll hold you to that." he joked.
I grinned.
I never really thought I'd have this ever again. He and I always used to be effortless. But I thought I had lost the chance to be best friends over and over again. And yet here we were, just being us.
It felt good.
As I watched him get into his dad's truck I sighed. I hated goodbyes. But we never really said them anymore. I'm not sure why, but we just both seemed to understand that it wasn't necessary nor wanted.
Before driving away, he paused to roll down his window and look at me.
"You should go inside. It's chilly." He was always worrying about me and that made me feel safe and guilty all in one.
"You should go home before Billy calls over here to tell Charlie to drag you there." I laughed, both of my hands resting on my swollen stomach. He smiled and nodded.
"Probably should." he admitted. But then he didn't make a move to leave.
I waited, knowing he wanted me to, and watched as his brow furrowed in what I could only describe as worry, confusion and pain. All of which, I was very familiar with.
"Bells, what if he doesn't come around?" and there it was. He was more worried than he had let on. But of course he would be. Embry was one of his best friends.
The way I heard it, they didn't really become friends until after Jacob's mom died. Then it was almost like he was automatically taken in under Embry's wing since he had lived with one parent all of his life. It wasn't the same circumstance, but it was something they all of a sudden had in common and as painful as that truth was, it made things better, easier, having a new friend to turn to.
He had even told me that at first he thought Embry just felt sorry for him, but as he slowly got to know the nine year old kid, he realized that feeling sorry for anyone or anything for any reason, just wasn't in Embry Call's nature.
Embry's mom apparently also took to Jacob, and reminds him a lot of Sarah, his mother.
I vaguely remember Sarah, but I've never met Embry's mom, so I can't really make a comparison anyway.
Maybe I'll see her tomorrow though. I thought as I watched him.
"What if he really meant it?" he asked in an unmistakably broken voice.
I shook my head and walked out to where he was parked on the side of the street and placed my hand on his arm.
"Look at me." I said softly, as he stared at the steering wheel. "Come on, Jake, please." I murmured as I squeezed his arm gently.
With that, his eyes met mine.
"Okay, if he doesn't come around," I began slowly, "then he's losing the best friend imaginable. And I can't think of a bigger mistake anyone could make than giving up you." I meant it. I meant it with everything. I just hoped he knew that.
He smiled slightly, but remained down.
"I wouldn't say that's the biggest mistake someone can make Bella." he whispered softly and I knew what he was saying.
Just like that, we were back on Edward and him leaving me and the pain came back slightly, but I knew Jacob wasn't saying it to hurt me. He was saying that to heal me, and I loved him for it.
"Jacob I can promise you one thing." I said, looking him in the eye as I spoke.
"What's that?" he asked curiously.
"Even if Embry did mean it, even if he does go, you're going to be okay."
He thought on this for a moment and then looked to me again.
"How do you know?" he asked quietly, sounding hopeful, but doubtful all in one.
"Because I will make sure of it. Because I won't let you go. Because we can make through anything together." The first two things were sentences he had spoken to me in the past. The last was new and came from my heart.
He must have believed that because he placed his hand on top of mine and smiled.
"Thanks Bells."
"Don't mention it." I said with a small smile as I released him and backed away from the truck.
"Now go inside. It's chilly." he said.
"Go home, it's late." I shot back with a laugh as I reached the porch.
I grinned as I watched him laugh and put the truck in gear to drive away.
I continued to stand out on the porch until his break lights disappeared around the corner and then sighed.
"You're going to be just fine, Jacob Black." I whispered softly.
I then turned to go inside but paused one last minute in the cool air, to murmur,
"Embry Call, on the other hand . . ."
Thanks for reading! I really hope you liked it. :)
Now, before you go, I have a some exciting news!
I have entered into the 17 Magazine contest with Figment . c o m with my story, "When They Were Kids" and if you have the time I would really appreciate it if you would go and 'heart' it for me. The stories with the most hearts get considered for the final judging. :) and I need me some hearts! Anyways here is the link if you want to check it out -
h t t p : / / figment . com / books / 13 40 48 - When - They - Were - Kids
- and just like everybody else in this beautiful world of fanfiction, I love reviews and you can give them there too, so please let me know what you think with a quick shout-out.
I would really love it if you read my original work and give me your opinion! That would be so cool!
Also I have a Twitter Account now, so if you want, you can follow me at TheWriter4Life .
Well I hope everyone has a beautiful day and says farewell to 2011 with grace and a grateful heart and hello to 2012 with a new found hope and excitement for what's to come!
Love to you all!
~ Indian
PS. If you do follow me, please message me, telling me who you are on here and I will be sure to follow you back!
Thanks!
And have a very Happy New Year!
God Bless! xo xo xo xo
12-31-2011
