Chapter X

Jacob's POV

Bella slept contently on the family room couch. It had taken a lot of convincing, but Edward had finally agreed to let her stay the night. I had offered her my bed, seeing as I ended sleep on the couch most nights anyway, but she insisted that the couch was fine.

But there was no way I was going to sleep anytime soon. Not with the pain I felt from what I had done. Not with knowing that Leah was grieving and hurt, off somewhere were I didn't know. Alone.

I had wanted to run off after her. Her scent was still fresh and I could've easily tracked her location, but Sam had forbidden it.

"She needs time alone, Jacob." Sam had told me, grabbing my arm before I could phase. "Remember what you were like?"

Those days seemed an eternity away, but I could acutely recall the pain I went through, though I often tried not to remember. I had needed to be left alone and I was glad that the pack had respected that. I knew that I needed to respect Leah in return, no matter how painful it was.

But I couldn't help thinking about what she thought of me right now. It would be nothing even remotely civil, and I wanted to make amends. Even if she needed some time on her own for a while, I at least wanted her to know how much I loved her.

Bella mumbled something her sleep, pulling me back to the present. She looked so frail and fragile, engulfed by the large blanket. I couldn't imagine her as a bloodsucker. The whole appearance seemed to contradict her attributes. I found beauty in her soft human features, and the sharp flawless vampire features would somehow ruin it.

I sighed and pulled myself up from the threadbare armchair. I began to carefully walk across the dark room to my bedroom. Suddenly, my leg hit something hard and I tumbled forward, landing on the ground with a loud thud.

"Damn," I cursed, louder than I had wanted to.

Bella awoke with gasp.

"God, Jacob," she said, sucking in deep breaths. "You scared the crap out of me. Are you okay?"

"Sorry, Bells. Yeah, I'm fine. I just ran into the coffee table," I said, rubbing my shin, which had already begun to heal.

Bella suppressed a snicker. She unwrapped herself from her twisted covers and switched on the lamp behind her. She patted the opposite end of the couch, motioning for me to join her.

"Jake," she murmured, once I was situated beside her. She patted my arm affectionately. "Everything will turn out alright. I'm sorry. I ruined everything, didn't I?"

I sighed. It was partially her fault, but I could not use that as an excuse for my actions. I didn't answer and I could see the anguish building up in her.

"I hate it," Bella whispered.

I turned to her, confused. I hadn't meant to make her upset. "What?"

"This. What life has become. This stupid treaty, these stupid prejudices…the fact we're going to be enemies. I hate it. I want to be Edward's wife, but be your best friend as well. But I know it will never be that way, at least not in sense I would like it be." A single tear slid down her cheek and a myriad followed.

I shifted closer to Bella and pulled her small, shaking form into my lap. "Shh, Bella. It will be alright."

She nodded, taking in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Jake. I'm making this all about me when I should be focusing on you."

"No, Bella, you're right. We should be like normal friends, growing up and starting our lives, but doing it together. I should've been at your wedding. You should be able to come back to visit with be threatened to be shredded to pieces. Our lives really are messed up."

We were both silent for a moment. For a second, I let my mind wander to what life might have been like if the supernatural did not exist.

"I'm really sorry about Leah, Jake," Bella apologised. "I know its partially my fault, and I'm so sorry. But if you two are meant to be together, I know it will work out. Jake, you're amazing and you are going to make someone really happy, whether it is Leah or another girl. And Leah doesn't deserve a guy as great as you if she doesn't see that."

"Thanks, Bella," I said. "I hope you're right. Leah can be really stubborn."

"We girls may be stubborn, but we always come around in the end," Bella reassured me with a small smile.

I nodded, stifling a yawn.

"Go to bed, Jacob," she ordered me. "You can worry about this in the morning."

She leaned into give me a hug. She wrapped herself snuggly back up in her blanket and I turned off the light. I carefully headed to my bedroom, avoiding all obstacles.

Once in my room, I collapsed on my bed and drifted off within seconds.

"Jake, wake up," a voice hissed at me.

I groaned and rolled over in my sleep.

"Five more minutes," I mumbled.

"Jacob," the voice became louder, more persistent. "Jacob!"

The person grabbed hold of my shoulders and began to shake me. My eyes flew open. I saw Bella standing above me. Her hair was tangled in disarray and her eyes were red and puffy, as if she had been crying. The events from the previous night flooded my mind.

"Jacob, Edward just called me. He's ready to go and he promised we could visit Charlie before we left," her voice cracked as she said the words.

"What time is it?" I asked, sitting up and shoving the blankets away.

"Seven thirty," Bella mumbled, a sheepish expression crossing her face.

"Damn it! Can't that bloodsucker ever take a break?"

"For him, this is reasonable. Knowing Edward, he counted the seconds until it was a late enough to call," Bella smiled. It was a sad smile that did not reach the rest of her face. It made my heart hurt to see her this way.

I climbed out of bed and slipped on the first pair of shoes I could find. "Do we have to go right this second?"

"Jake, we can't keep prolonging it. It will only make it worse. Come on."

Bella took my hand in her and led me out the door. We walked through the forest in silence, knowing that if we tried to speak, it would probably end in tears. I smelled the bloodsucker long before I saw him. He was waiting right at the border, as close as he could get without crossing the invisible line.

"I guess this is goodbye," Bella whispered, turning to face me. The tears that she has been holding back began to stream down her face.

I leaned into hug her, ignoring the bloodsuckers snarl. "I'll miss you so much, Bella."

"Maybe we'll see each other again. Goodbye doesn't have mean forever." She was sobbing now.

For us, it did. "But the treaty," I started. "Oh hell with the treaty. I'll see you again, Bella. I promise this won't be the last time we see each other."

"Jacob, you'll always be my best friend," She told me.

The tears I had been fighting broke loose. "Bella, I'm so glad I met you, and no matter what you are, vampire or human, I'll always love you."

I gave her one final hug before she crossed over the border, the line that separated our lives. Edward took her hand and I watched as she disappeared into the distance, leaving a part of her life behind to start another.

I couldn't make myself go home, so instead I headed for the beach and collapsed on the campfire logs surrounding the fire pit.

I held my breath to keep from crying again. I had solved the conflict with Bella only to have the one with Leah still left to resolve. My heart ached for her and I cursed my stupidity for letting her go.

"I thought I might find you here," the voice pulled my away from the thoughts.

I turned to see Emily standing a few feet away. She walked forward and sat down on the log beside me; he rounded belly was just beginning to show.

"Now I know what Sam said, and he's right to an extent. Everyone needs time alone now and then. Men tend to like to resolve their conflicts alone without confiding in anyone else. They like to be independent. But girls, on the other hand, often need someone, though they don't always want to admit it. They like it when someone shows they care."

I stared at her, taking in her words. She smiled and patted my arm.

"Thanks Emily," I said, smiling back. "Tell Sam I won't be back until later. There's something I have to do."

Emily nodded and rose from the log. As soon as she was out of sight, I took off my clothes and tied my shorts to my ankle. I phased into my wolf form and sniffed the air for Leah's scent. As soon as I found it, I began to run.