The Voice of Reason

Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.

A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews!

Chapter Seven

Edward was gone. It seemed her simple statement, effectively signalling the end of her infatuation with him, had really hit home. That and the phone call he had received from Alice seconds after the words had left Bella's mouth. Alice had told Edward that she couldn't see Bella's future clearly anymore. There was a haze around it, like it was in flux. She had never experienced anything like that before. Bella didn't think she would ever forget the look of devastation on Edward's face when his adopted sibling admitted this simple truth. If that wasn't confirmation that Bella meant what she said, this was. He had gazed at Bella sadly for a long moment, drawing in sharp pained breaths, before rising gracefully out of his chair and giving her a courteous goodbye. Bella had felt his cold lips graze her cheek in farewell before he vanished abruptly.

"Well that was unexpected." The voice of reason mused. "I expected him to put up more of a fight."

"Edward always promised that he would let me go if that's what I wanted." Bella said quietly. "Whatever you think about him he is honourable like that."

"Jeez, girl, you can be so naïve." The voice drawled. "It wouldn't surprise me if he's not with the little psychic right now plotting to pull the rug from under your dainty little feet."

Bella scowled. The voice was beginning to irritate her. "You know what why don't you mind your own business. That was a difficult and painful thing for me to do. Butt out of my head. I'm sick of your interference." She raged.

"You want me to butt out." The voice sneered.

"Yes." Bella said so loudly she startled herself.

"Fine." The voice of reason huffed. "You are on your own."

"Good! That's just the way I like it." Bella yelled to the empty air. She waited pensively for the voice to make a sarcastic rejoinder, but there was blessed silence. Bella rubbed her aching temples in relief. Finally her thoughts were her own again. Sharing head space with another sentient being was draining. Bella had begun to think of the voice in that way. Like an alien that had decided to make its home in her head. "God, maybe I am going crazy." Bella mumbled as she glanced around the room fearfully as if waiting for the voice of reason to finally materialize as an actual human being right in front of her.


Whenever Bella felt scared, lost or alone she would flee to the one place that made her feel safe, Jacob's garage, or the Taj as they had christened it. She was supposed to be at school, but she just couldn't face it. Not today. Not after making such a monumental decision about her future. She parked her old Chevy down the dirt track out of sight of the Black's house. She didn't want to disturb Billy. Jacob was off patrolling, so she would have the Taj to herself. She would be able to sit and think. And she so desperately needed to think. Setting herself free from Edward was actually quite scary. She had been under his influence for so long; Bella wondered if she could ever really figure out how to stand on her own two feet.

It was dark inside the Taj. Bella shivered as she wandered over to the light and flicked it on. The garage was suddenly bathed in brightness, making her blink in surprise. Often when Jacob worked in the Taj he would have the double doors wide open to let in the natural light. He never used the interior ones. But Bella didn't want anyone to be aware she was inside the garage by flinging the doors open. Besides she didn't have Jacob's supernatural heat to ward off the chill. The VW Rabbit was parked at the back of the garage. Bella hurried over to it and climbed inside. She fumbled under the car mat on the driver's side and retrieved the key. Jacob was nothing if not predictable in that way. He always kept it in the same place. Having the key enabled Bella to turn on the internal heater and listen to the radio. She sighed in relief when she felt the rush of warm air waft over her legs. She fiddled with the radio until she found a station playing some soft rock music. It had been forever since she had allowed herself to indulge in music. She closed her eyes and settled comfortably in her seat as she began to think.


There was a gentle knock on his door. Billy wasn't expecting any visitors so he was surprised to find Bella standing nervously on the front porch. "Is everything alright?" He asked in concern as he let her in. "I assumed you would be at school."

"I couldn't face it." Bella admitted quietly.

"I'm afraid Jake isn't here." Billy studied Bella thoughtfully as he watched her perch on the edge of the old couch.

"I know." Bella smiled weakly. "It's you I came to see."

"Oh, okay." Billy said in surprise. He rolled his chair so he was opposite Bella. She was chewing on her lower lip, her expression troubled. "What can I help you with?"

Bella sucked in a deep breath. "I ended my relationship with Edward." She blurted out.

Billy's eyebrows shot upwards in surprise. That was the last thing he expected her to say. He leaned forward in his chair and looked at her expectantly. "That was a brave and courageous thing to do. I expect you must be feeling overwhelmed though." He said in understanding.

Bella's face broke out into a genuine smile. She breathed a sigh of relief. Billy got it. That was exactly how she was feeling, overwhelmed. "Yes, I am."

"But that's not why you came to talk to me, is it?" Bill guessed.

"No." Bella's smile faded and her eyes became tight with anxiety again.

"You can speak openly. There is no judgement here." Billy paused for a second. "Even if what you tell me concerns my son."

Bella's brown eyes darted to his. She was relieved to see that there was nothing but empathy showing on his lined face. He meant what he said. She relaxed a little and the tension eased. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."

Billy reached out and patted her hand. "Why don't I make us both a steaming mug of hot coffee and then we can talk."


"Am I crazy, Billy?" Bella asked miserably as she cradled the hot coffee mug between her hands. She was glad to have something to hold onto. Admitting aloud to Billy that she had been hearing a voice in her head and that she had been responding to it was scary. But she had to tell someone. Billy had seemed the natural choice. He was a spiritual man. "She seems so real. She has a personality all of her own. She's not like me that's for sure."

"In what way is she not like you?" Billy didn't seem fazed by the weird conversation. Instead he appeared intrigued.

"Well she's very bossy and quite rude." Bella frowned. "She swears a lot. I never swear."

Billy hid his smile. That wasn't quite true. He had heard Bella swear in front of Jacob and his friends quite a few times. It was only around others she kept her bad language under wraps. She could also be quite forceful and direct with Jacob. She held her own when they had an argument. But he knew that she stifled this part of herself when she was under the Cullen's influence. "What else?" He asked instead.

"She's a troublemaker. I've never had a detention in my life until she started niggling at me." Bella scowled irritably. "Sometimes I forget I'm answering a voice in my head and people are beginning to notice." Her expression turned fearful. "Oh god, I am crazy." She said in despair.

"You are not crazy." Billy assured her easily. He blew on his hot coffee to cool it down before taking a small sip.

"But who else hears voices in their head." Bella persisted. "Other than crazy people."

"Well Jacob for one." Billy pointed out.

"Yeah, well…." Bella mumbled. She hadn't thought of that. But the voices in his head were real people who happened to morph into wolves now and again. "That's part of who Jacob is." She continued. "

"It certainly is. And for the moment this voice…or whatever it is, is part of who you are." Billy agreed.

"I don't understand." Bella was confused. She looked hopelessly at Billy. "How can this voice or whatever she is be a part of me? I never heard her before."

"Maybe you weren't ready to listen before." Billy finished his coffee and gazed intently at Bella. "Don't be afraid of it, Bella. Embrace your inner guide; she is there for a reason."

Bella felt her heart constrict. "But I sent her away." She whispered. "I told her to butt out and I haven't heard her since."

"I doubt she's gone." Billy shrugged nonchalantly. "If's she anything like you she's probably off somewhere licking her wounds."

"She's not like me." Bella persisted.

"Are you sure about that?" Billy questioned as he poured himself another coffee.


Jacob's face broke out into a beautiful smile when he saw Bella waiting for him on his front porch. It had been a long and frustrating day for him and the pack as they continued to chase the elusive red head. She always managed to stay just out of reach, but all that frustration melted away when he saw Bella return his smile. There was something different about her today. He couldn't really pinpoint it. She looked the same, but still she seemed changed. Jacob didn't wonder too much. He was just so glad to see her. He ran the last few yards and scooped her up into a bear hug. He whirled her around, his smile widening when he heard her tinkling laugh. Yes, she was definitely changed.

"I didn't expect to see you." Jacob said as he reluctantly put her down.

"I just wanted to see you. Dad's here too." Bella pointed over to the police cruiser parked outside the house. Jacob hadn't noticed. As soon as he clapped eyes on Bella everything else dissolved into the background. "Your dad invited us all over for dinner."

"Which you're cooking I bet." Jacob teased.

"Busted." Bella laughed again. Her cheeks turned rosy as she smiled up him shyly. "You know me."

"Yeah, I kinda do." Jacob said huskily. His eyes softened as he gazed down at her. She was just too adorable. "Well let me hop into the shower and freshen up and put a shirt on of course. I don't want to freak Charlie out."

Bella snorted with laughter again as she bumped her hip against Jacob's lightly. "You are too funny."

"I aim to please." Jacob began to head inside but paused when Bella didn't immediately follow. "Are you coming in?" He asked, puzzled.

"I'll be right there." Bella promised.

"Okay." Jacob caught her hand and squeezed her fingers before going inside.

Bella sucked in a deep breath, feeling much better now that he was there. Her conversation with Billy had given her a lot to think about. "Are you there?" She whispered, testing the waters.

There was a beat of silence before finally she got a response. "I'm here, girl." The voice of reason replied. "For now."

A/N-thanks for reading!