Chapter 7
BPOV
My hands were slick with sweat and shaky with nerves. Why am I so nervous? I kept asking myself. Maybe because except for his simple text—Today and every day-I hadn't talked to Jake since our fight. But he responded, so obviously he wasn't still mad, right? God, these last few days had really turned my world upside down. Everything before I saw Jake at that bar seems blurry and fuzzy, inconsequential, like I can't even remember my life without him.
"Come on, Bella. Let's go!" Rose hollered. I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time, smoothing my long brown hair and trying to take a few deep breaths to calm myself. I slipped on the beautiful ring Jake had given me this morning and walked out my bedroom door. I was kind of hoping Rose and Alice wouldn't notice the new gem on my left ring finger. I hadn't exactly told them about the engagement yet. Even though they seemed happy and supportive, I knew they might be a little apprehensive about such a quick change. Hell, I was a little worried too. But not because it felt too fast. I was terrified because it didn't. It felt more real than anything I'd ever felt, more right, more natural… just more.
I mean, something had to go wrong, right?
"Bella!" Alice's chipper, squealing voice exclaimed the minute I grabbed my purse—with my left hand—from the hook by the door. Shit. I froze for a moment, then she yanked my hand towards her, holding the pretty diamond and sparkling black stones to her face.
"Bella, what is that?" Rosie said slowly. I looked up to see both their faces contorted with a mixture of worry and surprise. I cleared my throat nervously before speaking.
"Um… look, I know it seems a little fast—" I began, but was quickly cut off.
"A little fast?" Rosalie exclaimed, exchanging a quick glance with Alice. I rolled my eyes, suddenly feeling very impatient and annoyed. I wasn't a child, and they needed to calm down.
"Okay, so maybe it's really fast. And I don't expect you guys to understand, but…" I took a deep breath, searching for the right words to ease the worries of my two best friends, who were more like sisters. Truthfully, I didn't have much family except for Charlie and Renee—my mother, who lived across the country—and now that the Cullens were out of my life, they were all I had. And thinking about the way I felt about Jake, trying to put that emotion, those wonderful, all-consuming feelings into words, caused a warmth to bubble up inside me and spread through my limbs. I could feel the tears collecting in my eyes, my heart swelling with affection and love and my voice catching as the emotions were literally caught in my throat. "I-I love him, guys. I mean, I don't even think that word can really describe it. I've never felt this way, never even imagined I could feel this way. You'll see, he's just—"
"Bella, if you say perfect, I'm going to scre—" Rosalie started, teeth clenched, no doubt remembering me describing Edward. I held up my hand to stop her protest. At one point, I had thought that Edward was the perfect guy. The kind of guy every good American girl was supposed to fall for, supposed to swoon for, supposed to want to take home to mom and dad… but maybe I just wasn't that girl. I wanted Jacob, the hunky, sweaty mechanic that had been my childhood and high school crush.
"He's not perfect. But god, he's perfect for me. It just feels so… right." I sighed, kind of like a teenage girl swooning over her crush or the latest teen heartthrob. But that's just how Jake made me feel. Like a virgin. I laughed sarcastically at myself and the bad eighties music that my brain was conjuring up. God, it was like I was in high school all over again. "I love him, girls, and I'm going to marry him," I finished, my voice stronger and surer than it had ever been before. They exchanged one more glance with each other, and then I saw both their shoulders visibly relax.
"So…" Alice began as we all made our way outside. I looked over at her as I opened the back door to Alice's car and quirked an eyebrow up at her.
"Yes, Alice?" I said patiently.
"Do his friends look like him?" she asked curiously, unashamed and not hiding the fact that she was hoping they were as drool-worthy as my Jacob. I laughed.
"Well, I haven't really seen them since high school, so I don't know," I answered honestly. I had already told them that Jake and I knew each other back then.
We were laughing and talking as we drove across town on the rain-slicked streets. I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, and a smile spread across my face as I looked to see it was Jake calling.
"Hey," I said softly, meeting Rosalie's eyes as she twisted in her seat. She rolled her eyes at my tone.
"Hey, honey. I'm so sorry about this morning. I love you so much," he said sincerely.
"I know, baby. I love you too. I'm sorry too," I replied, and I could feel my lungs finally expanding fully at the sound of his voice and reassurance.
"Are you and your friends on your way?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure, sure. We just left a—" I was cut off as I looked up to be blinded by a bright yellow light. A scream erupted from my throat as the sound of screeching metal, shattered glass, and squealing breaks filled the night air. The scream died in my throat as the car flipped and the phone fell from my hands. My head slammed hard back onto the side of the car, causing my vision to become spotted. The sickening smell of rust and salt filled the air. My stomach churned violently, and I heard Jake's frantic voice shouting through the dropped phone, calling my name, as I slipped into darkness.
