Chapter 10 – Complications

BPOV

Honestly, I never thought I'd be happier to hear a bell ring. I'd been watching the clock in each one of my classes, willing time to speed up. As bad as the classes were, though, lunch was the worst. I sat down at the table with my usual group of friends and was suddenly assaulted with a million questions, most of which focused on Emmett. A few however, asked about Edward. I cringed and Angela took my hand, pulling me up and away from the table. "Bella, I need boy advice." She announced loudly and soon we were in the parking lot, hiding in her car. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her. She didn't ask any questions, even though I knew she was curious. But when I heard a giggle fall from her lips, I was expecting the worst.

"Bella, isn't that Jacob Black? He's… Wow. He looks different. Good." My head snapped up and I peered out the car window just in time to see Jake pull a black shirt on over his torn jean shorts. Obviously he'd run in wolf form from the reservation. I nodded at Angela and slid out of the car, walking toward him slowly. His eyes focused in on me and narrowed. I sighed, preparing myself for a fight. "Jacob, what are you doing here?" He took my hand and pulled me toward the trees so we'd have privacy. When we were enveloped by trees he let go of my hand and looked down at me. "Well, glad to see you still have a pulse. I thought for sure your bloodsucker would have—" I cut him off, putting my hand up, my words sounding angrier than I meant them. "Jacob, I swear to God if you call him that one more time I'll… Well, I'll walk away and you can have this conversation with yourself." He shifted, folding his arms over his chest.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, pulling a bunch back and holding onto it as I thought about what to say next. "Edward isn't back." Jacob began to protest but I cut him off again. "He's not coming back either. It's Emmett. He's come back to take care of me." Jacob's eyes widened in fury. "To take care of you?! That's my job! That's what I've been doing ever since they all abandoned you and left you to die at the hands of one of their leech friends!" His fury was beyond my words and I only took a step back, threatening to leave. He shook violently and turned so his back was to me. I allowed him to have his moment and then stepped forward, placing my hand on his back. "Jake," I began, pausing when his back tensed, but pushing on. "Thank you. For saving me. In more than one way. But, just because Emmett's back doesn't mean you and I aren't still friends. You're my best friend, Jake. You know that." He hung his head at the words and I knew it wasn't what he wanted to hear. "I just—I don't love you like that Jake. I love you, but it's different."

He stepped forward, pulling away from my hand and then turned to face me. "I wanted to make sure you were alive. Had to hear your heart beating to know for sure." I nodded slowly, smiling softly. "Still got a pulse, Jake. You don't have to worry." He shook his head and turned, running into the darkness beyond the trees. I stepped out of the forest and walked back into building, going to my next class. I got there early, but I was thankful to be alone with my thoughts. When people started filing into the room, I sat up in my seat and prepared myself to count the seconds again.

EPOV

Perhaps I had jumped the gun just a little bit when I left the house to pick up Bella. She didn't get out of class for 2 hours yet and I was already bored. Sure, I could have left and come back, but I didn't have much else to do and I missed her company. I heard a bell ring in the distance and climbed down from the Jeep, sprinting across the grass to the building. I followed Bella's scent, picking up on it near the cafeteria, until I found her walking out of a classroom. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she ran towards me. I met her half way and she smiled up at me. "You're early. Does this mean you're taking me away from here?" I looked around and took her hand, pulling her through the crowd. "I'm bored, Bells. Let's go do something fun." She laughed and ran with me, trying to keep up with me even though I had slowed down considerably. I was more than aware of all the heads turning towards us as we ran from the building, her hand grasping mine firmly.

When we got to the Jeep, I lifted her up by her waist and put her in, strapping her in with a simple flash of movement. In a matter of seconds I was in the Jeep with her, starting it up. Now that we were alone together, I stopped and looked at her, smelling him for the first time. "Bella, you smell like wet dog. What did he want?" She smiled up at me and there was no denying that she was trying to dazzle me. And if she'd been a vampire, it probably would have worked. Her eyelashes fluttered softly and she placed her hand on my arm, looking up at me through her lashes. "Em, its just Jake. He's harmless. He just wanted to make sure you're harmless as well." As much as I hated the mutt being around her when I wasn't, I knew exactly how he felt. I couldn't hold that against him, even if I wanted to. She smiled warmly and I got a sudden urge to put my arm around her and pull her to me. Bad idea, though, I'd end up breaking the seatbelts. Instead, I nodded and backed the Jeep out of the parking lot.

"Before you take me somewhere to do God only knows what, can we stop by my house? I want to get some more clothes and leave a note for Charlie." I agreed with a nod and started us in the direction of her house. She sat back, a smile on her lips and I was glad I'd gone early. We had a few extra hours together before she'd have to sleep again. "So how was school?" I asked her, pointing the heater at her and turning it up a bit. She sat up and moved her hands in front of it, rubbing them slowly. "Awful. You were the only topic on everyone's mind. Well, you and Edward." She glanced out the window, but continued talking. "I couldn't wait to get out of there. Thank you for picking me up early." She asked about my day and I told her about hunting, probably with more detail than was necessary, and told her about my talk with Alice and the email to Rose.

Bella stilled in her seat and I could hear her heartbeat pick up a little. I looked over at her and she was staring straight ahead, biting her lip roughly. "Bella?" I asked and she looked up at me. "Rosalie's coming home?" She asked with that same pathetic tone I'd heard before. I shrugged, not really knowing at this point. "I don't know, I haven't heard from her yet. But hey, even if she does come home, not much will change…" I trailed off, knowing that was at least a little untrue. And apparently Bella knew it too because she rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, Emmett. Rosalie hates me. You know how she is with me. If she comes back, she'll keep you away from me." I looked down at her in time to see her sadness take over her expression. Keeping one hand on the wheel, I used my free hand to unhook all her straps, pulling her over to me. She looked confused and her body stiffened for a moment. But then she rested her head on my shoulder and crossed her arm over my body. "Don't worry, kid. I can handle Rosalie." I said it firmly and in that moment decided that I wouldn't let Rose come between mine and Bella's friendship. Maybe I needed her just as much as she needed me.

Not long later I parked the Jeep in front of Bella's house and she slowly lifted her head from my shoulder, looking out the window. I rolled down the window and took a deep breath, frowning as I did. "Charlie's home." I said and Bella sat up the rest of the way, sliding her hand across my stomach as she looked out her window. "Want me to come in?" I knew I'd have to meet Charlie eventually if Bella was going to keep staying with me, but I was sort of dreading it. I hadn't done the meet the parents routine in decades. She nodded slowly and bit her lip anxiously. "Yeah, let's just get it over with. Let me do the talking." We both got out of the car and walked up the house, me a few steps behind her. She walked inside and held the door for me while she glanced around for Charlie. "He must be slee—" Her words cut off at the sound of Charlie coming down the stairs. "Bella? You're home early. You feeling okay?"

Charlie stopped talking and eyed me suspiciously when he finally saw me. "Dad, this is—" I stepped past Bella, touching her back lightly as I did to let her know I'd handle it. "Emmett Cullen, sir. It's an honor to finally meet you." I held out my gloved hand, thankful I'd thought ahead, and he grasped it. I felt his grip tighten as he exerted his authority over me and I resisted the urge to tighten my grip as well. This was about letting Charlie know he was in control. "Cullen, you say?" Charlie's expression was firm and unwavering. "Thought you folks had moved on." It was a question, even though he didn't ask directly. I knew my role and immediately smiled my best shy smile. "Yes, sir. The rest of my family is scattered around here and there, but I decided to come back to Forks and take up residence in our old home. We hadn't sold it yet, thankfully, and I had really missed living here."

For a second I wasn't sure if Charlie would buy that anyone missed living in Forks, but then his glare broke a little. "Yeah, it's a nice ol' town. So, it's just you then? No other… Brothers have come back?" Bella groaned and I knew she was about to say something, but I spoke before she could. "No sir, just me. The rest of my family may or may not join me here, someday, but I can assure you that Edward will not be returning to Forks anytime soon." Bella's heartbeat sped up and I could hear her biting at her lip. Well, she'd just have to get used to hearing me say that. Charlie looked from me to Bella and then back again. "So what's going on with you and my daughter then? You stepping up to break her heart next?"

"Dad!" Bella groaned and stepped forward. "We're just friends. Emmett's like a brother to me." Charlie didn't look convinced and I honestly didn't blame him. "Chief Swan, I give you my word that Bella's heart is safe in my hands. I won't do what he did." I felt Bella's gaze on me and I looked down at her. She whispered low enough that only I could hear, "My heart is in your hands?" I stared at her and she blinked, flushing as she looked away. Charlie seemed unaware of what had just happened, but he still seemed concerned. "Sir," I stepped forward again. "I'd like to ask your permission for Bella to stay with me for a little while at my parent's home. My sister, Alice, you may remember her, has advised me that Bella hasn't taken Edward's absence very well and she has given me the responsibility of bringing Bella back to life."

Charlie looked past me at Bella and seemed to look at her quite deeply. Finally he turned to me again. "She looks better today. Almost more like the Bella I used to know." A sad smile crossed his lips and I felt bad for him. What must it be like to watch someone you love wither away without being able to save them? A part of me wondered if maybe Charlie would let Bella stay with me, just so he didn't have to see her in such pain night after night. "I tell you what, Emmett. Bella can stay at that house of yours, but I want to see her daily. I want to eat dinner with her every night like we always do and I'd like to speak with Alice as well. I want her word that Bella will be safe with you." As if beckoned, the Swan's telephone rang. Charlie reached around past me and picked up the phone. "Chief Swan! It's a pleasure to talk to you again. This is Alice Cullen." I grinned and felt Bella's hand brush mine while Charlie and Alice talked. I looked down to see her fingers entwine with mine as she looked up at me gratefully.

A/N: Sorry for the repost, guys. And thanks to Sinvisigoth for letting me know I'd put up a duplicate chapter.