The Other Bella Swan
"Bella," he spoke softly, "Que Quowle."
I didn't speak Quileute, but I knew the language of his eyes. They said, I love you.
There were three things I was certain about at this moment. One, Jacob is beyond a friend. Second, he was an oversized boy that phased into a russet wolf. And third, he was so hot!
I hadn't remembered when I fell in love with Jacob Black. Sure, we became a couple that night after I jumped the cliff, but I had felt something before then. I guess I was blinded by the loss of Edward.
It was a week after we first kissed. We had yet to do it again, and for what reason, I didn't know why. But when Jake surprised me with his bike after school, I saw the dreaded look in his eyes. Then I remembered. Harry had died.
The funeral was Saturday. I was in the living room fitting my black dress when Charlie stepped in behind me. I looked behind me, seeing his eyes shallowed in grief. His tie was loose, so I stepped up to him and retied it.
"Dad, you want me drive?" I knew he was kind of…off today.
"Sure, Bells," he sighed. Once his tie was finished, he slumped to the door, his shoulders hung. The drive there was silent. And that was all right, if it were a normal drive.
We were parked at the ocean shore with few other trucks. There were a small group of the natives on a hillside, all dressed in black clothing. I hadn't even closed my door shut when Jake rolled up with Billy in his wheelchair. They both wore black, with Billy in a suit and Jacob in a button shirt with tie. They both wore identical sadden expressions, but Jake's eyes lit a shade of darkness when he spotted me.
"How are you?" he asked when Billy and Charlie went to speak to Sue Clearwater. He didn't make any physical contact with me, and even though I knew it would be wrong, I wished he would at least hold my hand.
"Fine. But I'm worry about Charlie."
"Same with Billy. They both practically were brothers."
We walked off to the edge of the cliff, both facing back at the group around the burial ground. Sue and her children stood together in a lump, all practically ignoring the people around them. Sue had her hands wrapped around her middle, the way I probably looked when someone mentioned Edward. Seth was leaning on her, his head titled down, hiding my view of his face. But Leah, she was separate from them. She was staring off into another world…the world before Harry had died. But her face wasn't the only thing that was different. In a stage of depression, her face had aged and her long hair was chopped to her chin. Her eyes were a terror to look at; they were dark and shadowed something more like hate then sadness.
"Bella," spoke Jacob. I turned to face him. "There is something you should know about Harry." He wrapped a hand around mine, engulfing it in heat of his skin. "The reason he had a heart attack…was because of Leah."
My eyes opened in shock, I glanced back at her across the grass, but she had vanished in the crowd.
"It wasn't really her fault—"
"Jacob, how can you say that? What happened? Did they get into a fight?"
He shook his roughly. "No. It was more like the night I…phased."
I released his hand. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Bella, when we change…it gets dangerous. The first time is the most painful, and we just… get out of control. We are in so much pain…" he stepped closer to me, but a stepped back to keep the space between us.
"You mean…Leah is—"
"—A werewolf? Yeah. We actually were expecting Seth because he is of the male gender, but Leah is an odd case. She is the first female in all of our generations."
"Why? Why didn't you say anything? The night it happened? Why?"
"Because I wasn't allowed. The pack rules, follow the alpha? I asked Sam if I could explain to you earlier, and I'm glad he finally allowed me. I hate keeping things from you."
I sighed, but I wasn't that mad at him anymore. I loved him to much for that. I closed our space, hugging him tightly. It didn't take long for him to hug me right back.
"Bella, I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
He took his hand under my chin to tilt it up to his gaze.
"If I ever have to phase with you around, promise me you'll clear away from me? And don't freak, so if you can't handle it, just look away."
"I…"
"Please. Just promise me. I don't want you hurt."
I was reluctant to agree, but is eyes reflected what would happen. A faded memory of Emily's fresh-scarred face…
"Promise."
We hugged once more, before Sam motioned us it was time for the burial.
Sorry if the chapters short, but I felt to happy to continue with a sad scene. Next chapter…
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