Chapter 10
Sam and Jacob came through the trees. What did they want now? We were far from their territory, in fact we were miles the opposite way from La Push— they were on our territory now.
Edward remained quiet.
"What Jacob?"
"Don't I get a hello?"
"No you don't get a 'hello'. You get a 'Hi'," so much sarcasm lately what is getting into me? Was it some sort of rebellious stage? We watched as the vampire's mortal enemy and my best friend, approached. The two alphas, as I had said once. They looked frightening almost.
"Now Bella we don't want any trouble but I need to talk to you," he tugged on my arm, wanting me to go with him. He was strong, but I was stronger. I looked back at Edward; he was simply sitting on the ground cross-legged looking at me from under his lashes.
"Go," he finally spoke. "I'll know if there's anything wrong," he mused. He tapped his temple. I turned and followed Jacob—Sam stayed behind.
We walked to the point where we were surrounded by trees, completely alone. I could not see the family I left behind, but they could hear us indefinitely.
Jacob sighed. "So what's going on? Having a party?"
"Sort of, why do you care?"
"I was invited. I was invited by the midget." He pointed behind me.
"Hey!" I heard Alice shriek. "If I ever find that dog alone…."
"Look this is hard for me and maybe harder for you and the rest of your blood suckers. But you need to move, away. We have too many others coming through our land, and you can't go there anymore I mean look at you." He waved his hand in front of me. "I don't want you or Nessie to leave."
"I'm sorry for the trouble, but we can't do that! Charlie—"
"I know, Bella, I want you to stay. But you can visit of course, but you're too close. I won't be able to stand you or Renesmee leaving." That was the first time he said Renesmee's whole name to me since the Volturi came. "It's the pack, they're worried. They can't lose the love of their life or a brother—or sister if we're talking' about Leah." He smiled at the small joke he made.
I couldn't resist any longer. I stepped forward to hug my Jacob, the one I knew before the whole pack and vampire stuff. I felt like I would cry but my tear ducts were permanently shut down—forever. Yet his tears spilled over. I turned my head to kiss his cheek. It wasn't hard; his embrace pulled me almost two feet off the ground. He let me go and kissed my forehead. "I want to see Nessie before you leave, before every time you leave me."
"I know—she'll be devastated. I can't tell her though; she will hate me if I tell her we're leaving you."
"She won't hate you. She loves you, like I do, like Charlie does, like Edward," he was hesitant to say the last name. "Bella, it'll be fine."
"I have to go," my tearless sobs broke out, I could feel it.
"Sorry I'm such a party pooper."
"It's not your fault," I lied, he could tell, it was technically his fault but also Alice's for the party. I wouldn't begrudge her for long.
I walked back; Edward was up, arms ready for me. Everyone else was paying attention to me, they heard everything, but Edward saw more. I was ashamed of what happened. I hated the news that I had just been informed of. I did not want to leave Jacob.
Rose, Emmett, and Nessie came back to meet us once they got the right away, that everything was clear. The party continued briefly, we went up to Mt. Rainier to hunt. I got first kill, a black bear, just coming out of hibernation. Emmett went second, a mother bear, completely entertained.
I couldn't stop thinking about my moment with Jacob in the cover of the trees. The only time we had ever hugged while I was a vampire. I wanted the moment to last; we loved each other in different ways.
Where would we go anyway? Well, I did get accepted to Dartmouth. I guess it's time for college. We had a house there.
I wasn't paying attention so I didn't see someone running at me until someone else pushed me down. I heard a crash of thunder. Emmett, of course, was the one running at me, and Edward, trying to protect me, pushed me out of the way and stopped Emmett. The reason behind the sudden charge was a mystery.
I was fully focused now, trying to enjoy my party and the Washington forest while I could. I watched Renesmee catch a bear cub maybe twice her size. I did not continue hunting; the first bear left me completely satisfied.
I spotted Jacob in his wolf form on the run back. I nodded to him and he bowed his head. "Edward?" I asked when we were alone in the cottage.
"Yes, Bella?"
"I want to ask you why you were so… bleak, earlier."
"I heard what he was going to do, after I knew who was coming, and I just… I couldn't do anything—I didn't want him to be there. I just wanted us to be there, us and the rest of our family. I'm probably being rude about Jacob but, it's just…" I silenced him by touching my finger to his lips.
"It's okay, forget I said anything—I shouldn't have said anything, it's just, you were so still and oblivious. When we were running you just stopped there."
"I did see and feel everything that happened."
"You already know I love him. I don't want to leave here, and the reason has nothing to do with Jacob. It's just everyone I love is here in Forks." I paused, "Maybe we should go to Dartmouth now." He began to speak but I kept him quiet. "I said I wanted to go to college, now seems like a good time; it gives us an excuse if we have to leave."
"You're right. Let's say we start next semester. Is that okay for you?"
"Yes, but what about Renesmee? Do we leave her here—with Rose and Esme I mean—or take her with us?"
"Let's run it by here and see what she thinks, don't worry I won't mention Jacob."
I sighed.
"Edward?"
"Yes, love?"
"I'm just… stressing over useless things, but, I'm scared."
He put his arms around me and said, "Don't be. It'll be fine."
I reached up on my toes and he helped me by leaning down. I kissed him, wishing that that single kiss would just erase all of the worry and fear.
The day ended quietly, when I was alone I would sulk. When I was around others, I would put on the mask of serene as long as possible. I hoped desperately that Renesmee wouldn't see through my façade.
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