"Jacob? Where are you." he asked and I looked around slowly. Nothing stood out to me but something might to him if I explained it.
"Um, I'm not really sure. I know I'm in the woods by a river and everything smells like flowers. There's a really big rock and I think I'm on a mountain or something because the ground is sloping down." I said a little breathlessly. I let my head rest on the ground again while Carlisle spoke.
"Is there a cave anywhere near you?" I glanced around again and lifted my head. It felt like it weighed 1,000 pounds.
"No all I can see trees and the river."
"I'm going to go look for you okay, just put pressure on your wounds and try not to move. I'll find you Jacob don't worry."
"Please don't tell Sam... or anyone else." I said. I could hear him thinking it over as he left the house but after a minute the phone went dead. I breathed out slowly using my good arm to put pressure on the wound on my upper arm. I hissed out as pain shot up my arm but I kept the pressure on it. At least they'd put a pair of jean shorts on me. I wonder if the whole Alice dream thing was more like insight on what she was thinking. It's gonna suck if she really does like me then I die. Well at least Paul could tell her that I love her so she would know. She deserved to know but even if I do live though this I'm not going to want to be anywhere near a vampire for a long time. A long, long time. Even being around Alice would probably freak me out because right now I'm about to die. I'd never tell Sam or anyone else that I'm really scared right now, not scared of the vampires, but scared for myself. I don't want to die. I closed my eyes and tried not to throw up because it seemed like the whole world was spinning around me. I failed and threw up all over the ground. I rested face down in the grass and moaned. It was the venom that was screwing with my stomach.
"Jacob?" I cracked my eyes open to look at the man in front of me. I curved my lips up in relief as he looked me over leaning down to help me up but I could hardly stand so he carried me. I think I blacked out because when I woke up I was lying on an operating table. "Stay still." I glanced up and saw him stitching up my arm.
"Where are we?" I asked and my voice faded out like I hadn't used it in awhile. Carlisle kept stitching up my arm and I looked down at my body.
"You're in my private office." he mumbled. My left arm had a red cast on it and my leg was already stitched up. He had tape on my ribs, well the broken ones, and even across my knuckles from where I'd hit Jasper. An I.V was connected to my arm and I could hear my heart beating slowly. In the corner there was a bunch of wipes full of blood that was more than likely mine. I could feel a wet rag on my forehead because I was hotter than usual. I watched as Carlisle took his time doing my stitches but it only took him a couple minutes. He wiped the blood off my arm then tossed another rag in the corner.
"So how bad was I?" I asked and his golden eyes met mine, he actually looked kind of tired.
"I've never seen a person lose so much blood and survive." he commented. "You had 3 broken ribs, your left arm is broken pretty badly, you have a severe concussion and I gave you a little over four transfusions to get your blood count back up. You've got more than 100 stitches from the bites alone and you were dehydrated. Not to mention the bruises over the most part of your body."
"So I'm good?" I said and smiled but it came out like a question. Carlisle smiled at me and nodded and I let out the breath I'd been holding in.
"I'm sure you'll be fine."
"Thank you." I whispered and Carlisle looked stunned but he covered it with a smile. I started to push myself up and he helped me. I flinched when his skin touched mine but not because I don't like him. I held out my hand and he shook it.
"You're welcome." he said. I rested my back against the table as he propped it up. I looked towards the door and swallowed loudly but he just shook his head. "I have two private offices. One in my home and another in the woods a little bit South of Bella's house which is where we are."
"Okay." I said shifting my arms to see if they worked right and they did and it only hurt a little bit. I smiled as I tried out the rest of my body. Everything was a little sore but it worked. I could be running as soon as my arm healed up in a couple weeks. I wonder how long I've been gone for. "Um, Carlisle? How long have I been... missing?" I asked quietly as he started to clean up and he turned to face me slightly.
"5 days if you don't count the night you went missing. No ones really reported you missing but you know how rumors spread. I only know because of Bella and Alice."
"Alice?" I asked and he nodded slowly.
"Yes, she seems to be a bit nervous about your... absence. She's been a bit quieter trying to get visions and whenever Bella comes around she'll ask her questions but the only thing Bella ever says is that you haven't been around her at all lately. Edward only knows because of his gift and if Edward knows Alice usually gets the feeling." he smiled proud of his adopted kids and I felt my lips curve up at the fact that Alice had been thinking about me. I wish I could go see her but like this it would be to embarrassing.
"How long do you think I should rest before I actually try to go home?" I asked and Carlisle looked me over once again.
"Well seeing as you can't walk right now I'd say you should sleep on it then we can see how you are in the morning. Don't worry about anyone finding out. I know how to hide things from Edward. Now I'm just going to give you this pill to help you sleep through the night and I'll be back in the morning." I nodded slowly and he put a needle into the I.V. He injected it slowly and I felt my eyes droop. I watched as he smiled at me like my dad does sometimes until my eyes drifted shut and I fell asleep.
I yawned stretching out and I felt a tug at my arm. I glanced up at the IV and frowned pulling at it until someone gently put my hand back to my side. I glanced up at and frowned slightly. "It's best not to do that, especially if you plan on going home today." Immediately I perked up and sat up quickly. His glance warned me not to get up though so I didn't. "How are you feeling?"
"Well I'm still a little sore and my ribs and arm hurt a little bit but other than that I feel pretty good." I said and checked something.
"You seem to have gotten over the concussion but you're still not in the best condition. Your arm will take at least a few weeks to heal up and your ribs are already starting to mend. I want you to drink plenty of water and eat. Don't push yourself Jacob, these things can't be rushed." he said taking out my IV and I grinned hopping to my feet. I felt perfect even though less than a day ago I'd been about to die. "If you go straight out that door then down the hall you'll see the door leading outside. Bella's house is a little under 3 miles away."
"Thanks again Carlisle!" I hollered practically leaping out the door. I am free and on the walk back to Bella's I'm going to enjoy it. I walked through the river enjoying the way the water cooled my legs. I picked some berries and ate them on the way to Bella's. The sun seemed brighter than usual and I started to jog after a few minutes until I caught sight of her house. I slowed down to a walk and for the first time since I've been gone I thought about what I was going to tell everyone. Obviously, the red head tortured me because the Cullen's, wasn't the right way to say it. Bella would freak no matter what I told her so it'd be best to tell her as little as possible or lie. The Pack, well I guess I could tell them the whole truth but I wouldn't be able to think about it around the mind reading Bloodsucker. Well hopefully he's not here on this glorious Sunday afternoon. I knocked on the back door and glanced at my feet nervously. I guess I should find some shoes. The door opened and I glanced up to see a very stunned looking Charlie. I tried to smile at him but he just stared at me for a minute before he invited me in. "Hey, I just came by to pick up my stuff and talk to Bella."
"Well sure Jake, but are you okay? I mean your ribs are all taped up and your whole chest is bruised." I glanced down at my chest. How could I forget about the tape and the huge dark bruises!
"Yeah I was boxing at the gym and I got laid out." I said shrugging slightly. I Jacob Black am the Master of Lying. "There was blood all over my shirt so I just left it."
"Aww, don't worry Jake I'm sure you'll get him next time. Those kids from the Rez are huge! Maybe for your birthday I can convince your old man to buy you a weight lifting bench. What are you benching anyways?" I smiled at Charlie.
"225." Charlie looked amazed but he let me in. I walked up the stairs to where all of my stuff was and I grabbed a white t-shirt and pulled it on before I went to Bella's room. I knocked on the door and waited for her to say I could come in. I swear her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as she realized it was me.
"Jake!" She shrieked getting off her bed and throwing herself into my arms. I almost flinched when she jumped on me because her arms hit my rib as she wrapped them around me. For some strange reason she started crying. I gave her a hug and she tightened her arms around me. I'm glad I decided to put a shirt on. "I was so worried." she sobbed. I brushed her hair out of her face as she continued to cry. "I thought you disappearing was my punishment for getting Edward back."
"Well I'm not going to be any different than I have been lately Bella. I can't be your friend if he is. It just won't wok." I said gritting my teeth to keep from yelling at her for being so stupid. It figures she'd kill my buzz the minute I get within ten feet of her by talking about McGloomy. Now that I've been kidnapped by a Bloodsucker and tortured I guess I hate them more. If I was Bella I would be dead right now and I don't want her dead. It would've been her if I wasn't here. Bella pulled back to look at me. "We've hardly spoken ever since your Bloodsucker came back, and it's not because I don't want to."
"So you're really going to make me pick between the love of my life and my best friend?"
"No. I'm making you pick, werewolf or vampire? Team Jacob or Team Leech? I really hope you're on my team Bella but if you're not, well there's nothing else I can really do." I said backing out of the room slowly and she stared at me shocked. This was the way things were supposed to be. Either me or him. Vampires and Werewolves were not meant to be friends. Look what happened when I almost started to try with one. I'm not giving up on Alice and I owe my life to Carlisle but the rest of them, I could kill in a heartbeat. I grabbed the rest of my stuff and started walking back to La Push. The sky let loose on me and it started to rain. My arm hurt a little bit, hopefully the doc had put something on it so my cast could get wet. I glanced up as a minivan pulled over next to me and froze.
"Hey Jacob! Do you need a ride somewhere?" I squinted and made out a little figure. Long hair and pretty, with warm brown eyes, and a nice body. Jessica. I smiled and walked over to her car shaking the water out of my hair.
"Sure are you going to La Push?" I asked and she nodded getting back in her car smiling. I jumped in the passenger seat and smirked as she turned the heater on me even though I was still warm. "Thanks."
"No problem. Why are you walking to La Push in this weather? It's terrible." she asked and her eyes practically popped out of her skull when she looked at my face.
"What?" I asked self consciously and she seemed to snap back to reality when I said that.
"Your eye, you have a black eye. Did Jasper do that?"
"Uh no, I was boxing at the gym and the guy laid me out." I said calmly and she must've believed me because she said Ok. We drove quietly and she didn't even ask why I wasn't at school.
"So are you and Alice Cullen like together?" I coughed and almost laughed but I was to shocked.
"No she's with that one guy. I've got my eye on other people." I answered quickly and Jessica smiled at me. I wonder why she would ask something like that. I had her drop me off at my house and I smiled and thanked her before she left. She was practically beaming when she drove away. I hope I'm not leading her on with the whole 'I've got my eye on other people thing. I walked up to my house quickly so I could get out of the rain. I walked in and dropped my bag on the couch looking around for my dad who was apparently still out of town, or at the store. I wrote a note and left it on the fridge before I walked to the garage and got out my bike. I pulled on my helmet and started it up breathing out slowly, trying to keep my ribs from hurting. I sped all the way to Sam's house not bothering to stop at any signs as I went.
I parked my bike under the little shaded area where the roof came out some so it wouldn't get wet, and I walked in with the helmet on so my head wouldn't be drenched and I pushed the door open. I pulled off the helmet and set it down on the couch as I walked to the kitchen. When I walked in they were all eating, like always. I grabbed a muffin off Seth's plate and ate it quickly. They all turned to look at me. Seth grinned from ear to ear and lunged at me giving me a brotherly hug. I smirked at him before letting go to look at him quickly and I smacked at his back like I always do. The others were all grinning at me too. Emily gave me a hug longer than Seth's and she pushed my hair up. Jared, Embry, Quil and Leah even gave me a hug then we all sat down.
"So what happened?" Sam asked and I told them everything that happened after Paul left me and I went back to Bella's room except for the part about why Paul wasn't right beside me when I was chasing Victoria. They all watched me stunned before Seth finally spoke up.
"We were all worried about you Jake. Especially Paul and Sam. They were going crazy."
"Shut up Seth!" Paul said and his face turned red. Sam was looking at the ground and his face was pink. I smiled at both of them even though I still felt weighed down. No one was questioning me but there was still something that I needed to say to all of them.
"Paul, why exactly did you leave?" Sam asked looking up at Paul and he stared right back. Paul glanced at me and opened his mouth.
"Uh, I, uh-"
"He left because I made him mad. I want to tell all of you something that's really important." I paused and waited to get all their attention. I wasn't exactly nervous as much as I was worried about what they would say. "When I was in Italy with the Cullen's, I Imprinted, and it wasn't on Bella. I'm in love with Alice Cullen, and nothing you say can change that. I don't care if you hate me or never talk to me again but I can't change the way I feel and I don't want to."
I stared at my brothers and Leah and Emily while they all took it in except Paul who already knew. I watched as Seth's face slowly went from shocked to thoughtful, not like Jared who immediately went from shocked to pissed. "I hope that your not really serious about this. How could you even do this Jacob, she is a Bloodsucker!"
"Don't call her that!" I yelled at the same time Paul did. I glanced at him stunned as he stood up beside me. "It's not like he had a choice in the matter Jay. Think about it Sam, would you not love Emily if someone bit her?" he asked and Leah glared at us growling as she shook.
"Don't defend him Paul! It's not the same!"
"But it is." Seth said quietly and I smiled at him relieved as he stood up for me. "Jake if you love Alice like Sam loves Emily then it's impossible for you to stay away from her. If you're happy with her, I'm happy for you. For the both of you because you're my brother and what you want is important. And Alice seems like a nice girl."
"Seth!" Leah screamed at him but Seth smirked at me crookedly. "You disgust me Jacob! How you can even look at that Leech without throwing up I just can't understand!"
"Why don't you shut up Leah! This doesn't concern you because I don't care what you think! This is about me warning Sam that she is going to be a part of my life no matter what anyone says!" I yelled at her starting to shake and I felt my face turn red. Who was she to yell at me? Just because she didn't get her happy ending with Sam doesn't mean I can't have mine.
"No you're not Jacob! You will not make Alice Cullen a part of your life do you understand me!" Sam yelled letting his Alpha voice leak into his words making them orders. I glared at him shaking even harder but he was shaking to, Sam wouldn't back down but there's no way I was going to either.
"You can't stop me Sam." I said quietly trying to calm down. There was no point in trying to fight with my arm casted because then it would need to be redone if I phased. Sam advanced on me getting right in my face and he breathed on me silent for a minute just growling.
"I order you not to make that Leech a part of your life! If you do so help me Jacob I will make sure that you never make anyone a part of your life again!" He yelled even louder than before and I stared at him stunned just like the rest of the Pack. He just threatened to kill me. I shook my head slowly backing away from him and picking up my helmet. Seth and Paul watched as I walked and slowly they glanced in between Sam and I.
"Well then you'd better find someone to replace me."
