Chapter 9

"So...did Victoria see you again?"

I shrugged "Edward...I'd like to continue on with what happened." I said "And since this is your fault..." I trailed off. I no longer considered it to be Edwards fault anymore.

*

I walked out of my house, wearing a dinner dress.

I was meeting Jake again at our monthly meets. We met at different places...sometimes the cinema, sometimes a restaurant...sometimes just La Push.

The Sons of Erebus nodded to me as I left Campus, and climbed into my car. It was a black sports car, described as "aggressive" by Jacob last month. I would have preferred to use my truck (Had it not broken down) or a cheaper car, but I didn't buy my car...It was Aelia who did, and she bought fast, aggressive cars, except that they were always black. But on these occasion, I liked that they were fast...they were slightly fasting than a vampyre could flit and a vampire run, so I could drive onto the highway quickly, out of the forest where Victoria could easily attack.

It was an hour later that we sat in our chosen restaurant. It was dinner for Jake, breakfast for me. Jake discussed how the vampire (Who was probably Victoria.) had gone south. It calmed me slightly, and they'd managed to kill Laurent. I told him of less serious stuff-the trip to Vancouver with the 4th formers, how Kian had completed the change and become a vampyre who was riding around on a motorbike with a girl called Esther Bower

"Why don't you come to La Push?" he asked.

I was uncertain, but nodded. "Okay."

We arrived an hour and a bit later. Jaocb led me into his house, Billy was asleep.

"I want to talk to you." Jacob said "Bella...have you given up on him?"

The hole in my chest opened. My fists clenched. I was no longer upset as his leaving...I was angry.

"Yes." I snarled "Why?"

I looked at me, and nodded. "I can see you want to kill him for what he did to you. I don't blame you...if someone treated me like that...showed me happiness and the wonders of love, and then in an instant, when they had you believing you were soul mates and they were yours, they took all that away. I'd hunt them down and kill them."

I turned away. "I'm angry, Jake. But I don't think I could kill him. Part of me..."

He interrupted me. "Bella, he left you. He doesn't care about you. He never did."

I felt tears brimming in my eyes. I leapt up. "NO!" I screamed "Jake how could you?"

I showed him my arm. I'd changed and was paler but the scar was still there. "See? That's where James bit me! Edward sucked the venom out because he cared about my soul...he thinks when a person becomes a vampire...his kind...they lose there soul."

He looked at me, tortured and guilty. "Oh. Sorry. Really."

I shrugged and turned away. "Bella, I didn't want to upset you about Edward...that's not why I called you here."

"Whatever." I said.

"I called you here because I want to tell you something...Bella Swan...I love you."

I spun around. "Sorry, Jake. I think I might have hearing problems...I thought you said "I love you."

"I meant it. I'm serious, Bella." He said "Look...I may not be as handsome as Edward, or have golden eyes or rich...But give me a chance."

I backed away. "No. Jake, I can't."

He looked pained. "Why do we meet every month then?"

"Because you're a friend." I said, turning away "Nothing more. I'm immortal Jake...eventually, you'll die. At least if Edward came back...."

"But I can be immortal too." Jacob whispered "Each time I phase, my age freezes for a while. If I keep phasing...we'll be together, forever."

"...he'd be of the same species, in a way." I finished "I'm a vampyre, Jake. You're a werewolf. You've said it before, The bloodrinkers and the shapeshifters are not normally friends, let alone loves. I'm sorry."

"You don't mean it." he said stepping forward. "I'll show you don't."

He had his arms around my waist, and then his lips met mine. I was stunned for a second, then I pushed him away with such force that fell to the floor. He looked hurt, defeated.

"No, no..." he said, beginning to cry tears of heartbreak.

"Stay away from me, Jacob black." I said looking away.

I walked out the house, and into my car. Jacob watched me drive away.

"How did it go with Jacob?" Rain said as I entered the professor's block. "Consider our friendship over." I said "He tried to...he declared his love for me. He kissed me forcefully."

The look of excitement and eagerness disappeared. "Oh."

"Yeah. Well. Look, I never knew he had feelings for me. If he can't control them..." I shook my head "Maybe Nyx can help me. It's the full moon ritual tomorrow."

"Maybe Nyx can." rain agreed "Night, Bella."

I didn't understand why I cried myself to sleep that night.

*

"Jacob..." Edward was furious

"Yes, we still haven't made up yet. That was to days ago. The incident with Victoria was a month ago."

He looked upset. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I said. "Don't be sad."