Thanks for your continued support everyone. I'm glad everyone likes the story so far!
So, this chapter...not sure if anyone noticed the secret that this chapter will reveal in previous chapters...one person on JBNP caught it a few chapters back, but this chapter will answer one question, but will more than likely leave you with others. But, fear not...I have the next few chapters or so planned out and the big reveal is coming very soon.
Oh, and one more thing...this is the longest chapter of the story, yet! Yay!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot. All else is SM's...even though part of me wishes it could be mine. I only own my OC's Haley and Bridget.
Chapter 10
Jacob insisted on taking me to La Push so that I could explain all about the leech they were hunting after finding out about Victoria being back in town, and realizing that she's after me, which makes total sense...sort of. Edward killed Victoria's mate, James. Therefore, Victoria wants to kill me thinking that I'm still Edward's mate. If only she knew the truth. She was walking into a death trap without knowing it. And, it wasn't because of the pack. It was because of me. I could already feel the satisfaction beginning that I knew I'd have when Victoria found out the truth. She was the only one I really wanted to reveal the truth, too, because I could honestly care less about how she'd react. She'd be dead, anyways, so what exactly would it matter how she reacted or not?
Just before we left for La Push, Bridget returned. It was only a little passed 2:30 in the afternoon. I hadn't expected Bridget back until tomorrow. After introducing Bridget and Jacob properly, I had pulled Bridget aside while Jacob went to wait for us in the car and I asked her why she was home so early. She told me that it was because she had felt like I would need her tonight. It made no sense because I couldn't figure out any reason that I'd need her tonight, but I decided in the end not to question it. Bridget always knew before anyone else whether I'd need her or not. It was her job, after all. To look after me and be there for me. She had to whether she wanted to or not, which is why I was so happy that we clicked instantly and became very good friends.
And, now Bridget and I both were sitting at the kitchen table at Sam and Emily's. Surrounded by the entire pack. Emily, of course. And, Haley. Fuck my life at times. And, this was one of those times. I really didn't see any reason for Haley to be here. She was only causing a distraction on my part. I couldn't stop thinking about her visit earlier. And, I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I felt like bashing her face into something. No, no, Bella. That's not you. Stop thinking like that. She's not a vampire. You don't hate her enough to do something so harsh. Besides, Jacob would probably hate you if you did anything to Haley. Whether she deserved it or not. Which, if you ask me, she really and truly did deserve it. It just wouldn't be me to give her what she deserves. It couldn't be me.
My recalling of the afternoon and other thoughts were interrupted by Sam's alpha voice causing the room to go silent.
"Why don't you tell us everything, Bella?" he suggested.
I nodded. "Alright, so where to start."
Oh, god. Was I about to tell them every little detail? Or should I cut some parts out? Or maybe I'll just cut to the chase. Alright, maybe I'll leave some things out. I was in a small house filled with wolves after all. Certain things would probably set them off. Well, actually there's no probably to it. Certain things would most definitely set the wolves off. One, in particular. So, shortened to the point version of the story it is.
"Alright, so straight to the point...the leech you've all been hunting is Victoria. And, she's after me." Yep, straight to the point version. There it was.
"Why am I not surprised you're the reason she's here," I heard someone snarl from the corner of the room. I didn't have to look to see who it was to know that it was Paul. He always did have a bigger problem with me being a leech lover...past leech lover...than most.
"Paul," Sam hissed forcing Paul to shut up while he was ahead.
Paul glared at him and then at me, but backed off, despite himself.
"Why's she after you?" Jacob suddenly asked reminding me he was there, but a lot closer than I remembered him being.
I looked over and saw him sitting in the chair next to me that moments ago had been vacant. Knowing that he was this close made me freeze up a bit. I was almost afraid to say why Victoria was after me. Especially with how much Jacob already despised Edward. Telling Jacob that Edward was partially the reason why Victoria was after me...yeah, I was expecting the worst from him when that part came to the surface.
"Well, a year and a half ago or so when I was first started...umm...dating...Edward..." I paused when Jacob growled as I said his name. Yep, this situation was awkward and intense already and I had barely said anything yet. I knew it was going to happen. "Is me telling you this going to make you mad?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow.
He shook his head. "No, continue."
"Okay, as I was saying...when we first started dating there was this other vampire. Well, three vampires, actually. They came across the Cullen's and I and after realizing that I was human...one of them decided to make me their new prey, for lack of better words. Except he made it a game."
Another growl.
I glared at Jacob.
"Continue."
"Anyways, one thing led to another and I won't go into anymore details because I don't think you'll be able to handle them..." I looked straight at Jacob when I said the last part. "Edward killed said vampire. And, he just so happened to be Victoria's mate and now Victoria's out for revenge. Apparently, in her head she's thinking a mate for a mate," I sighed. Then added a second later, "I take it she hasn't exactly gotten the memo yet that Edward and I are no more."
~CCC~
As soon as I had finished filling the pack in, Jacob had quickly gotten up and stormed out. The pack had followed. I had already prepared myself for said reaction, so it didn't bother me too much. I'm just glad he didn't say or do anything around me. It was a small bit of weight taken off of my shoulders. And, for that I was extremely grateful. But, there was something else to add the weight right back. Jacob had left and the pack had followed, which left me, Emily, Bridget, and...Haley all alone in the house. Awkward. And, frustrating seeing as if I still couldn't get over Haley's visit from earlier.
I held onto my hot cup of tea tightly. Bridget and I shared a few knowing glances. This was not how I had planned to spend the rest of my afternoon. Here, in a small house with my biggest enemy at this point in time in my life. And, it didn't help matters any when Haley started speaking to me. My grip on my cup of tea tightened immensely to the point where I was surprised that the cup hadn't broken into pieces in my hands.
"Bella..." Haley started.
I looked up at her trying to put on my best, "I don't hate you," face. Even though, I sort of did.
"I wanted to apologize for earlier," she said causing me to spill my tea all over my shirt. "Shit!" I exclaimed jumping up as the heat of the tea seeped through my shirt to touch my bare skin.
Bridget's eyes widened and she bit her lower lip. I knew her well enough to know that she was trying not to laugh.
"Oh, gosh," Emily said getting up from the table to grab a cloth from the kitchen. She came back moments later with a damp dish rag. "Here," she said handing it to me. "You can go in the bathroom and clean your shirt up."
I smiled at her and took the dish rag from her. "Thank you," I smiled at her before quickly making my way to the bathroom.
Holy crow! What the hell? That was not at all what I had expected?. She wants to apologize to me? What? I had not at all expected an actual apology from her. Wow. Well, this was going to be interesting. That is if I decided that I really wanted to sit around and hear her apology and whatever else she had to say.
Once in the bathroom, I closed the door behind me. I placed the dish rag on the sink and took off my shirt. I looked over myself in the mirror just long enough to shutter at the state that my arms were in. They brought back so many memories. Memories that I wanted so badly to forget. Memories that no matter how hard I tried to forget, I never would be able to. Memories that would take center attention in my mind every single time I saw my bare scarred arms. This was all just so unfair.
I was just picking up the dish rag to wipe it on the tea stain in my shirt when there was a knock for the door. I froze instantly. Then, I heard the door knob turning. Oh, shit! Then, I saw the door opening through the mirror. Oh, damn! The, I saw Haley's shocked face as her eyes instantly went to my arms. Oh, fuck! No. This was so not happening. I was dreaming. I was having a nightmare. Please, be a nightmare. Please. I instantly turned around quickly and placed my hands behind my back. Just in case this was truly reality instead of just a hopeful nightmare on my part.
"I'm sorry," Haley said quickly before turning on her heel and slamming the door shut behind her.
Why did this always happen to me?
~CCC~
It took me about 15 minutes to regain the courage to leave the bathroom. When I did return to the kitchen table, I sat down, turned to Haley, and forced myself to hear her apology. Anything was better than having to explain myself to her about what she saw. It wasn't really any of her business.
"You were saying before the whole tea incident," I spoke hoping she'd continue was she was going to say before everything else had happened.
Haley hesitated for a moment as if she wanted to ask about what she had seen instead. I held my breath the entire time before she spoke and caused me to breath out a sigh of relief.
She nodded. "Yeah, I was going to apologize. I shouldn't have come by and said what I said earlier. I was just..." she trailed off.
I said nothing and just waited for her to continue. All the while, jumping for joy that she wasn't going to ask me about what she saw. Thank you God!
"I'm just really protective of Jake." She paused. "I'm just afraid of seeing him hurt again." She paused again. "By you again," she said rather bluntly.
I nodded in understanding. I knew exactly how she felt.
"I may be his imprint, but I do know enough about you and Jake's past to know that I will never be able to fully compete with you."
Well that was unexpected. "What do you mean?" I asked her shocked at what I was hearing.
Haley sighed. "I mean, I know that Jake will never be able to love me like he loves you."
"You...he..." I honestly couldn't find the words to speak.
Why was she telling me all of this? Why couldn't she have just stayed as the Haley that I hated? God, why? Why, oh, why is this stuff always happening to me? What the hell had I done that was so wrong that I deserved any of the shit I've been through in the past year?
"I just want to start over and see if we can try and be friends," she informed me.
My eyes widened? Friends? Holy crow! WTH?! WTF?! "Umm...uhh...why?" Really, Bella? Why? What kind of question is that in a situation like this?
"Because I know how much you mean to Jacob. And, since Jake and I are together, we should be friends for his sake. That way he won't lose either of us and he won't get hurt again," she answered me.
Oh, god. This was not happening. No, no, no. Please wake me up. Let me wake up. Tell me this is just a dream. A nightmare. Yeah, that's what this is. Oh, god. Oh, god. Oh, god. Why me?! God?! Why me?!
"Okay," I surprised myself by saying.
What the hell, Bella?!
Before either of us could say another word, the pack returned. I watched as the entire pack one by one reentered the house. Jacob walked in last.
~CCC~
Another 10 minutes or so passed while the girls and I were informed about what the pack had talked about outside. I'm not sure which part made me snap first, but I did snap before long. I suddenly felt guilty about pretty much putting them in a position where they were willing to possibly give up their lives to save mine. No, that's not me. The old Bella would've had no choice, but to go along with everything. But, this new Bella...I could handle anything...well, almost anything that life and/or the supernatural threw at me.
"You know what, no," I said standing up as I felt something inside me snap.
"Bella..." I heard Bridget say from one side of me as she stood up, too.
I shook my head and cut her off. "She's here for me...and since it's me she wants...it's me she'll get."
"Bella..." Bridget tried again.
"Just not in the way she expects," I assured her.
"So, you want to willingly add to your already huge bite mark collection then?" Haley asked suddenly.
I froze. Oh, god. Nightmare. Please, say it's a nightmare. God let this be a nightmare for real. No she did not just...then, Jacob spoke up...damn it all to hell, anyways. She really did just say that.
"What are you talking about Haley?" Jacob asked.
I tried to make a run for it, but I was frozen in place.
"Bella is a walking, talking bite mark cushion," Haley told him putting it precisely.
Jacob's eyes instantly were instantly on me. "Bella, what is she talking about?" he asked me.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I couldn't have answered even if I tried with every fiber of my being to.
"I saw them, Jake," Haley said much to my dismay. "They're all over her arms as well as her shoulders."
"Bella..." Jacob took a step towards me.
My eyes widen as I realized then that everyone was looking at me. Move, feet, move. Please. Just then, I wasn't frozen anymore. I turned and made a quick beeline to the door. But, Jacob got there before I could. He stood in the doorway blocking my way from leaving.
"Let me see them," he demanded in a fearful tone.
I shook my head and swallowed hard. "No."
"Not now, Jacob," Bridget warned from behind me. "This isn't the time. She's not in the right mind enough to relive it yet."
Yes, Jacob. Bridget is right. Please listen to her.
Jacob ignored her. "Bella, let me see them now," he demanded again.
Of course, it was just my luck.
"No, please..." I said trying not to let the tears fall from my eyes.
"Bells," Jacob said, his voice softening a bit, knowing how his nickname for me made me react a lot of the times.
"Please, Jacob, don't," I tried again to make him let it go and let me leave.
"Now!" he demanded, this time in a tone that I had never heard from him before.
I can't figure out why, but the sound of his voice that I wasn't at all used to from hi, had convinced me to show him what he wanted to see. Slowly, I lifted up my shirt sleeves to show the faded, but still very noticeable when up close and personal, bite marks all up and down my arms. For now the ones on my shoulders were safe from being seen. But, I was sure he'd see them all before long. Just not now.
His eyes grew wide with shock as well as complete and utter disgust. Oh, god. He hated me now. Didn't he? He had to of. I disgusted him now. I tried to get passed him, but he grabbed my covered shoulders and held me in place. Then when I stopped struggling against him, he reached down for my wrists lifting them up to see the bites all over my arms better.
"How did this happen? Why do you have so many? And, how the hell are you human?" he asked question after question, all of which I was not at all ready to answer. Him finding out about the bite marks was already too much for me to handle. And, him, too.
I shook my head and yanked my arms out of his grips, quickly pulling down my sleeves. "Don't make me tell you, please," I begged him.
"Why can't you tell me?" he asked and I could tell he was trying to keep his composure by the way his whole entire body was shaking.
"Because, I can't," I whispered looking down at the floor avoiding eye contact with him at all costs.
Jacob turned to leave, then. "Fine, then," he said as if he had given up. It's like he knew I'd react how I did.
"Damn it, Jacob! Why are you being like this?!" I exclaimed after him.
"Being like what, Bella?! I deserve the truth!" he hissed at me when he spun back around.
My voice softened again. "I know you do, but..."
"But what?" he asked walking back to me.
"If I tell you, then...I'll have to relive it," I told him finally breaking down, not being able to contain the tears anymore. "It was awful. Don't make me relive it. Please, don't make me," I begged and pleaded tears now cascading down my cheeks. "Oh, god. I have to go!" I exclaimed pushing past Jacob and dashing outside.
"Damn it! See what you did. I told you not now!" I heard Bridget hiss as I was sure she had gotten up and rushed after me. I was proven right when I fell to the ground and felt her arms instantly wrap around me. "Calm down, Bell. Everything's okay. It'll all be alright. You don't have to say a word," Bridget said rubbing soothing circles on my lower back.
How in the world had this day really just gone from bad to worse?
So, there you all have it, Chapter 10! Thoughts? I bet that revelation leaves you all wondering just what Bella went through. Review, please?
Next chapter; More Jacob and Bella interaction. They have a talk about a few things they've needed to discuss for a while now. And, Jacob does something out of the blue that shocks Bella.
Also, I can't help but do some shameless pimping right now...please, forgive me...anywho...if you haven't already, and you don't mind a villain Edward story, then please check out my new story Going Under. It'd mean so much to me. Thank you all!