Telling the Truth
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-Thanks once again to everyone who kindly left reviews on the last chapter. I am still struggling with this story but as always your kind feedback keeps me motivated. Nikki
Part Ten
Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself. Her hand was still shaking though when she knocked on the Black's front door. It seemed to take forever before Billy finally reached the door and answered it. His look of surprise at her presence made her heart beat faster in her chest.
"Hello Bella. Jake did not mention you were visiting today."
Bella smiled weakly. "Well it's kind of a spur of the moment visit Billy. Is he in?"
"Yeah, he is sleeping at the moment..." Billy gazed at her shrewdly. Bella felt like he could see right through her with his wise eyes.
"Oh...okay...err...I'll come back another time..." Bella's voice trailed off.
"It would probably be for the best, Jake hasn't had much rest lately so..."
"Bells... don't go. I'm awake..." Jacob's voice drifted out from the hallway and Bella finally caught sight of him. His short hair was stuck up in spikes and his eyes had dark circles under them. Her heart plummeted further at the thought of what she was here to do.
"Jake...go back to sleep. I should have phoned first. You need your rest...I'll visit another time." Bella tried to backtrack but Jacob was having none of it. He passed his dad and gave him a dark look.
"No honey, you are hardly ever able to visit. Come on we'll go for a walk on the beach or something." Jacob suggested. He grabbed hold of her hand and tugged her after him. "See you later dad."
Bella saw Billy frown and she hung her head as Jacob towed her after him in the direction of the beach.
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Jacob slipped his arm over her shoulders before she had even noticed. He pulled her close to his side as they meandered along the shoreline. Bella had been so lost in her own thoughts, trying to find the right words to say to her best friend that she was love with someone else. At the moment he thought it was her mortal enemy, but in fact it was with one of his own pack brothers.
"I am so glad you're here Bells. I am surprised the leech allowed you off the leash for five minutes..." Jacob was the first to break the silence.
Bella felt her throat close up at the mention of Edward. "I broke up with him." Her voice was a whisper.
Jacob halted abruptly and suddenly turned her to face him. He transferred his hands to her cheeks and held her face up to him. "Did I hear you right? You broke up with the leech?"
Bella nodded her head in confirmation. She watched as Jacob's tired eyes brightened at this piece of news. A big, sunny grin crossed his lips and he gazed at her tenderly."I can't believe it Bells...I really can't. You left him...I knew you would see him for what he was. I love you honey..."
Bella's eyes opened wide at his declaration of love and her heart shattered into a million pieces.
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Paul sat on one of the rocks at the cave's entrance. Sam was sitting beside him. They watched the waves wash along the shore and then retreat. Gulls flew in the air, crying raucously. For once there was hardly any wind. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts. Sam's were focused on Leah, while Paul's were filled with Bella and the fear that she would change her mind once she spoke to Jacob.
"I told Emily today about Lee..." Sam's voice broke the tense silence.
Paul was taken completely by surprise at this statement. "You what? How did she react to that bit of news?"
Sam gave out a heavy sigh. "She cried and said that she had been expecting it. Apparently it was not only me whose feelings have changed. The imprint has faded for both of us and she wants out."
"Really? Have you told Leah yet?"
"Not yet..." Sam admitted.
Paul stared at him in irritation. "Why the hell not? You love the girl. Emily has let you go without a fight, what is the hold up?"
"Because Emily kicked me out and I have nowhere to live. I need to find a place to stay before I tell Lee, otherwise she will expect me to stay at her mom's house and believe me Sue Clearwater hates my guts. I have no intention of being flayed alive by her right now."Sam replied.
Paul snorted. "Scared of your future mom in law, are you really my Alpha?"
Sam hit Paul hard on his arm but couldn't help laughing darkly at his lame attempt at humour. "Can I crash here for a few nights until I get sorted?"
"I don't own the place man...do what you want..."
Sam quirked an eyebrow."I didn't want to get in the way of you and Bella."
Paul's expression darkened at the mention of her name. "She has gone to tell Jake about us."
"Jeez...no wonder you look worried. You know he is probably gonna want to kick your ass."
"I don't care about that...my main worry is that Bella may not be able to get through to him that she is serious about us. I mean she told me that she..." Paul stopped speaking. He found it really hard to open up to anyone about his feelings. Sam and Jared were probably the only two people he could speak freely to, when he let his guard down.
Sam saw Paul fighting with himself. He decided to make it easier for him. "I take it she told you that she loved you."
Paul nodded stiffly.
"Did you tell her that you felt the same?" Sam probed.
Paul shook his head no.
Sam sighed. "You need to tell her Lahote, she won't wait for you forever...You know that Jake is not going to let her go without a fight. That kid is besotted with her."
A devastated expression crossed Paul's face and Sam's eyes widened. "My god Paul, you have got it bad haven't you?"
Paul did not answer as he turned his gaze back onto the ever moving ocean.
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The night was drawing in and Paul was still sitting outside the cave waiting. Sam had left to go and tell Leah about him and Emily. As each moment passed Paul's chest began to hurt and he felt his heart thumping madly. He refused to acknowledge that it was panic. He closed his eyes and willed himself to keep it together. The iron barriers that had begun to slip once Bella had penetrated them began to rise again as he shielded himself from any possible hurt or pain.
Another torturous hour passed before the scent of strawberries drifted his way and he heard her quiet footfalls on the sand. He did not run over to her but just waited for her to reach him. Bella appeared out of the darkness and perched next to him on his rocky seat.
"You didn't tell him about us, did you?" Paul stated dully.
Bella hid her face behind her long curtain of hair and shook her head no.
"Why?" Paul's question was wrenched from his chest and it contained all the hurt and anger that he was trying to keep hidden.
Tears were leaking down Bella's pale cheeks. Her eyes were red rimmed, she must have been weeping for quite a while. "I told him about Edward...he was so happy Paul, ecstatic. He immediately thought I had done it as I had chosen him and I tried to tell him...I really did, but..."
"But what?" Paul demanded harshly.
"He told me he loved me and...and he was literally so happy. I just couldn't do it...I..." Bella's voice choked off as a fresh bout of tears overcame her.
"What about me?" Paul's voice sounded raw, even to him. The question had burst forth without his permission.
Bella shifted over so that she was closer to him. "I love you. I told you that."
"But now he thinks that you want to be with him, do you? Are you sure there is not a part of you that thinks he would be the easier choice?" Paul demanded.
Bella suddenly stood and began to pace in front of him. "Of course Jake is the easier choice. He loves me...I know he would take care of me, but for some insane reason I only love him as a friend. I bloody well love you Paul, you know this. I know that I have been a coward but with all that is going on with Victoria and the Cullen's...I couldn't destroy him like that. You heard Sam before; he said you all needed to be united. Once the situation has calmed down Paul, I promise I will tell Jake about us..."
"Until then you will string the poor sap along...no Bella you either tell him everything or you can just stay away from me." Paul snapped.
Bella stopped her incessant pacing and stared at him. "You really mean that?"
Paul returned her stare and nodded.
"I see..." Bella turned on her heel and as she often did began to walk away. Paul did not follow her.
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Bella couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned constantly. She had been on the phone with Jacob for an hour earlier. He had been talking non-stop, making plans and the guilt weighed more heavily on her with each sentence he uttered. He sounded so happy and carefree, so much more like the boy he used to be before he phased. However all she could think about was Paul.
Another hour passed before sleep finally claimed her. Her dreams were of Paul. She actually felt his strong arms wrap around her and whisper words of love and forgiveness in her ear. She sighed happily as she felt the dream Paul's warmth seep through her tired bones and infuse her with his strength. Bella had the best night's sleep of her life...
A/N-I know this chapter was awful...thanks for reading!