Chapter 9: Telling It All

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight


"Didn't you bring any transportation?"

"You're lookin' at it, honey. I'll phase and you just hop onto my back, set your sassy little self down, and off we'll go."

"Um … no, we won't."

"Oh, c'mon, Bells, where's your sense of adventure?"

"It fled when you suggested I ride bareback on—of all things—a wolf!"

I made a point of sniffing the air.

"What is it?"

"A gang of nomads headin' our way."

"Oh my gosh, you've got to phase right now."

I laughed at the look of panic on her face. "Nah, just kiddin'."

Now that we were outta danger, I couldn't help focusing on the non-Bella-like outfit she had on. She was decked out in jeans that were ripped at the knees and other places, with heavy chains hangin' from her belt, and a furry vest coverin' a black t-shirt with a neon-green skull plastered across it.

"Hey, before we book on outta here, I gotta ask … What the hell are you wearin'?"

"Oh, this." She pulled at her shirt and pants. "These belonged to Victoria."

I tipped my head down so we'd be eye to eye. "And she is …?"

"James' mate, or ex-mate I guess."

"Well, it's just not you at all. I mean, you're not gonna sing a duet with Sid Vicious anytime soon, huh?"

She slapped at my shoulder. "I'll change when I get home."

"Good, 'cuz you smell bad too. Full of stinky, vamp stench"

"Gee, thanks, Jake. I wonder though, if I do make it home. I'll probably fall off your back and end up on my butt, in a river somewhere."

I clicked my tongue. Tut, tut, oh ye of little faith. Ah, well, time to saddle up."

Bella groaned.


After she cautiously mounted my back, and flanked by my two packmates, we zipped on back toward Forks, Quil and Embry branching off to La Push. When we reached her house, she climbed down while I went around the back to phase and pull on my cutoffs.

Charlie heard us on the doorstep and rushed out, arms outstretched to hug his daughter. He pulled back a second, wiped tears from his eyes, and clasped her to his chest a second time. After exhalin'—reeeeaaaally loudly—he stared at me. "Thanks, kid. You kept your word."

"Sure, sure. You can always depend on me, Chief."

While Bella showered and changed out of that freaky outfit, Charlie and I talked.

"So, do you wanna tell her, or should I?"

Charlie shifted his weight in the Lazyboy, and with a grimace, said, "I'm not the greatest with words, but you, kiddo, are a regular motor mouth. You tell her, but not just yet. After all she's been through, I don't want anything more upsetting her."

Shrugging, I told him, "That's understandable. I won't spill unless she actually asks."

Damn—Murphy's law. Those words no sooner left my mouth, than Bella walked right into the room. "Asks about what?"

I shot her my best Jacob Black grin, and replied, "Hmn, you smell better."

Lookin' back and forth between us, she demanded, "Don't change the subject. I want to know what you two were discussing."

I wiped the grin off my face, and looked up at her sheepishly. "Uh … I was hopin' to avoid this conversation 'til a later time—a much later time."

"Okay, now I've got to know what you're hiding from me."

Charlie butt in. "Not so much hiding, as protecting you."

Her eyes rolled around like a pair of dice. "I just survived being kidnapped, Dad."

"By a vampire. Yes, I know."

She swung her head around, glarin' at me with accusin' eyes. "You told him?"

"I made the decision. He had to be in on the big secret."

"We're getting off the subject here, guys. Now, what aren't you telling me, and where is Edward? Did he send you? Why wasn't he the one to rescue me?"

Lollin' my head back against the chair I was seated in, I deadpanned, "Bingo!"

"What?"

"Geez, you better sit down again, Bells, 'cuz it's comin' atcha. And here it is: Cullen and his whole family moved away."

She gasped, and plopped down on an ottoman. "Moved away? Why? I don't understand."

With a quick peep at Charlie, I started in on the tale. He leaned forward, takin' in each word, sippin' at a can of Pepsi every now and then.

"Look … he found you at the cabin, and you sent him packin'; broke it off clean as a whistle. You told him you were in love with that James, creep, and he believed every freakin' word."

Her eyes narrowed, trying to understand. "You're absolutely sure. He was there—at the cabin?"

"Yep."

That cute little line popped up between her eyebrows. "I don't remember any of that. But, wait, did I say the same thing to you too?"

"Sure, sure, only, I wasn't buyin' it."

Tears began fillin' her eyes. "I can't believe this. They just left?"

"Yep."

"Where did they go?"

"The tall blonde said they moved to Maine. She didn't say what part exactly."

Bella's voice began to rise. "Rosalie called you?"

Man, she had a boatload of questions.

"Yeah, she's the one who let me know where the nomad had you stashed."

She nodded, hope in her eyes. "They're coming back though."

"Didn't sound like it. Their house is up for sale."

"Oh … I see." She nearly choked on the words.

Bella stood, and excused herself. "I'm really tired. I think I'll go up to my room.

Turning to me, she said, "Thanks, Jake." She then glanced at Charlie. "Goodnight, Dad."

I reached for her elbow, "Bells …"

Charlie placed his hand on my wrist to stop me, whisperin', "Let her go, kid. I'll talk to her."

When I left the house, I could hear her cryin' over that filthy leech. Damn … couldn't I ever catch a break?"


Charlie softly rapped on her bedroom door. "Bells, is it alright if I come in?"

"If you want."

Bella sat cross-legged on the bed, and looked up as he walked inside the room. He sat on the edge of her mattress, and nervously cleared his throat before uttering a single syllable. "I'm sorry if we got you upset. We didn't mean to throw this at you so soon after your ordeal."

"S'okay."

"The fact of the matter is, Edward is gone, he and his whole family, and there is nothing you can do to change that."

"I know." She looked down at her hands, avoiding his eyes.

"Maybe you don't want to hear this, but Jacob was my link to sanity while you were gone. Your disappearance made a maniac out of me. I wasn't eating or sleeping. I'm ashamed to admit that I even turned to the bottle. Then, when Jacob finally told me what the score was, I at least had a glimpse of hope.

"Now, this is the second time Edward has left you, but Jacob is here; he never gave up and you know he'll never leave you either. What I'm saying is, he warrants a little bit of your appreciation."

"I guess."

He took her hand, and said, "Alright then, come with me to the lodge, and we'll have some lunch."


I lay on my midget-sized bed, and stared up at the ceiling. Fat chance that Mr. Sandman would come to me tonight. What a glutton for punishment I was. But, what did I expect, really …? I was back to good ol' dumb Jake, in love with Miss Clueless. Geez, there were too many thoughts crammed into my brain.

I began to wonder if she'd been under Eddie-boy's thrall. Hmn … What would've stopped him from doin' the same as the nomad. After all, they both shared the same species. My only hope was that Charlie could pound some sense into that stubborn head of hers. Oh, hell, no use thinkin' about it. I needed to get some shut-eye. I had dawn patrol with my pack. I was actually lookin' forward to it this time, anxious to rip the head off one of those stinkin' bloodsuckers. I'd pretend it was Cullen. Yeah—that would give me some satisfaction, alright.


After a sleepless night, Bella was still feeling tired, and a smite guilty. Jacob had risked his life to free her, and how did she repay him—by asking about the Cullens. She didn't for a second think about his feelings. Intentional or not, she'd been cruel. To make up for her lack of consideration, she determined to visit him today. She'd bring along a plate of his favorite cookies: chocolate macaroons. She was sure there was a bag or two of chocolate chips and coconut flakes in the cupboard. No way would Charlie be using them for anything, he could barely boil water.

While she puttered around the kitchen, making up the dough, she thought about how much she enjoyed cooking and baking. Jacob especially appreciated it. Here skills in the culinary department were wasted on Edward. Speaking of Edward, her temper started to heat up. Why wasn't he the one to rush to her aid? And why hadn't he been the one to phone Jacob? Was he just going to sit back and let her pass her days, living with that bloodthirsty nomad? The more she thought about it, the madder she got.

Now that the Cowardly Lion had left Forks, she had to wonder if he had her under his thrall just like James had. Jacob had explained it all to her on the ride back home. She felt like such an idiot falling for him like that. Maybe it was a good thing that they all moved away. So what if he was good-looking, and had money to burn. He and that stupid, shiny, silver Volvo. She'd bet her bottom dollar that he couldn't even change a sparkplug if it needed one. Jacob, on the other hand, could tear the whole engine apart, and reassemble it … blindfolded.


What the hell …? The rumble of her ol' beat-up truck sounded in our driveway. Bella was actually here. What brought that on? Did Charlie get thru to her? Nah—it was probably guilt. That's it. This was literally a guilt trip. Oh well, whatever it was, I'd take it.

Droppin' the wrench I was holdin', I trotted on out to the rust bucket. As she got down, I scooped her into my arms, swingin' her in a circle. "Hey, Bells, what's up?"

"Cookies. I baked your favorites. They're on the front seat. If you'll just put me down, and allow me to breathe again, I'll get them for you."

"Oh, sorry." I put her down on terra firma, gently.

Hot-damn. Bella's macaroons were da bomb. I took another bite, then said, "You sure are one good cook, Bells. My taste buds are applauding."

She smiled at the compliment. "Thanks."

I grabbed a couple more. No sense lettin' them get all stale, right? "So … what made you decide to come all the way out here to see poor ol' Jacob Black?"

"Do I have to have a reason? Gosh, Jake, you make it sound like it's a chore. Can't I visit my best friend if I want to?"

"Sure, sure, it's just that … well, I hate to say this, but, you know I heard you cryin' over that lousy tick, don'tcha?"

Uh-oh. I must've hit a nerve, 'cuz she didn't answer. I waited, swallowin' what I had in my mouth.

Finally, she huffed, and spit out, "If it's any of your business, I was in love with that tick as you refer to him."

"Were you? Or were you under his thrall?"

"What are you talking about? I wasn't under any kind of spell. I loved Edward of my own free will."

"But you can't really be sure of that, can you?"

Bella looked away from me for an instant, and blurted, "You're such a know-it-all, Jake."

"Aha—so the thought has crossed your mind too. Admit it."

Her face turned fire-engine red. "No, I'm not going to admit that."

"Your words say no, but those rosy cheeks say otherwise. Sorry, but all that blushin' is tellin' a tale on you."

She burst out with, "Why do you always do this to me?"

"Do what?" I bit into another cookie.

"Put me on the defensive."

"Well, what are you gettin' so defensive for?"

"Because … oh, gosh, I don't know."

"Don't gimme that, 'cuz yes you do. Deep down, you know the truth, and you don't like feelin' stupid."

She shook a finger at me. "Okay, so maybe I do feel a little stupid. That doesn't give you the right to be so mean about it."

"Just bein' honest here. Cullen left you, Bells. If both of you were really in love, he would have fought for you, but he didn't. He turned tail and ran."

"And you didn't. Why is that?"

"Do I need to say it? It's obvious. I'm in love with you, Bells. I've been in love with you since forever, and if you think hard enough, you'll come to the conclusion that you're in love with me too. You just need to find a place in your heart for me."

Her face fell. "What am I supposed to say to that, Jake?"

"You don't havta say anythin' right now. I'll wait for the day when you do."

Bella rushed outta the Taj, sobbin', and I rushed after her.


A/N: I realize that Edward hadn't actually left her by this time in the original, but it worked for me, so I changed the timeline. Hey, it's fanfiction, so anything goes.