Chapter 11:
The party drug on. I tried to put on a good front for my dad's sake, but I just wasn't interested. When Jared ran up in the middle of the barbeque I couldn't help but hope it was with something that would demand the whole packs attention.
He ran up to Sam and they stepped aside to talk. Emily drew back walking over to talk with Sue and Leah. I watched Sam and Jared waiting for a sign as to what was up. I saw Sam tense and his head shot up. His eyes found me quickly and he gave a nod. I passed my dad on the way to Sam's side. My dad looked up at me and I gave him a pointed look and he began to tell Charlie something about a team they were both following, clearly distracting him.
I was at Sam's side in four strides, "What's up?"
"The others have picked up Victoria's scent."
"Excellent!" I could really use this kind of distraction right now.
The three of us took off for the forest line, disappearing behind the trees. As soon as the party was out of sight we phased and followed Jared to where the others were. It only took us a several minutes to travel a few miles.
I smelled the sickly sweet stench moments before the rest of the pack came into view. Once we reached them you could feel the air was thick with excitement. Everyone was ready for this to be over.
Apparently she was unknowingly dancing back and forth over the boundary line. Sam gave the orders for Jared, Paul, and Embry to go in one direction, while Sam and I circled the other way. The plan was to surround her while she was still on our side before she could make it across the border into Cullen territory again.
I ran swiftly at Sam's side, my lips pulled back in a silent snarl. We moved silently through the forest on the bloodsucker's trail. We were getting close. I could hear the thoughts of the others on the other side. They were closing in, almost in position. I could feel the adrenaline singing in my veins. I wanted nothing more than to rip that leech apart with my teeth!
The rancid sweet disgusting odor of the vamp was getting stronger now. Just a few more seconds and we'd be on her like white on rice. We were careful to stay up wind so she would be without warning. My muscles tensed in preparation as we began to move in, slowly tightening our formation, bringing us closer to her.
Then I saw her. She'd paused, like she was listening. Her flame bright hair was ruffling in the soft breeze. She was crouched, cat like, ready to run at a moment's notice. I felt the hackles on my back begin to rise. So close.
Just then she took off in another direction and we gave chase as one of the Cullen vampires came crashing into our midst. Paul gave an enraged howl and lunged at the bloodsucker. He was huge but still fast. The vamp put up his arms to deflect Paul's eager mouth as he came crashing against him jaws snapping. Before the rest of us could react another of the Cullen females, a vicious blonde, came screeching out to defend the one that Paul was trying to rip apart. We all went to Paul's aid as two more of the Cullen males came on the scene. Sam ordered Paul back and he retreated reluctantly. The pack stood their ground everyone snarling and snapping. I recognized Carlisle, he and the new male hurriedly came between us and the others. I immediately felt this wave of ease wash over me out of nowhere.
By the time the dust had settled, so to speak, Victoria was gone. Damn Cullens. Why did they have to get in the way? The only good bloodsucker was a dead one if you asked me.
I started calling Bella's at six a.m. the day she was due back. I called like every five minutes. I could tell Charlie was getting sick of it pretty quick. But I couldn't help it. I was desperate. He promised that he'd have her call me the minute she got in, before she even unpacked. But I still couldn't help it. I just had to know. Was she still human? Did I still have a chance?
Plus I needed to know what her plans where for tomorrow. The pack wanted me to play messenger again. I felt the safest place to deliver that message would be on somewhat neutral ground. Someplace where I could be relatively sure the bloodsuckers would behave themselves. After all they were the ones that crossed the boundary, not us.
It was around sunset when I finally got her on the phone.
"Hello?" her voice sounded so sweet. It still sounded like her, like Bella. I felt the tension I hadn't realized was there melt away. I guess I didn't have anything to worry about after all.
"You're back," I said trying to hide my relief.
She cleared her throat. "Yes," she answered.
"Why didn't you call me?" I demanded.
"Because I just got in like four seconds ago and your call interrupted Charlie telling me you've been calling here none stop. So I haven't exactly had a chance to call you," she said clearly annoyed.
"Oh. Sorry."
"Sure, sure. Now what's going on? Why've you been hassling Charlie anyway?"
"I needed to talk to you." To see if you were still human, I thought.
"Yeah, I'd sort of guessed that part already. So what did you need to say?" She asked gently.
I paused not sure of what to say next. "Are you going to school tomorrow?" I needed to talk. Face to face with that bloodsucker boyfriend of hers. Plus I wanted to see her.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?"
I paused again.
"So what's going on Jake?" she sounded impatient.
I hesitated. "Nothing really, I guess. I …," for a moment I thought of just coming clean with her. I always wanted to be honest with her. But I decided against it. "I wanted to hear your voice."
"Yeah, I know. I'm so glad you called me, Jake. I…" At first she sounded genuinely happy. But then she hesitated. I felt uncomfortable and unsure of what to say next. It wasn't like things had magically gone back to the way they were. I wish they could. I suddenly felt like I was having trouble breathing.
"I've have to go."
"What?" she sounded disappointed.
"I'll talk to you soon, okay?" I asked.
"But Jake –"
I hung up. I couldn't bear to talk to her anymore. Besides I was going to talk to Bella again soon enough. I decided that tomorrow morning I'd be waiting for her at her school and kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.