A/N: Author's notes aren't really my thing but I just wanted to say thank you for all the positive feedback and reviews. I know this OTP is kinda dead since the last movie came out and I'm glad there are still some Jakeward fans out there :)
Here's an extra long chapter as a thank you for all the kind words and encouragement.
Edward didn't return to the Cullen residence for several days. He was calling Carlisle daily for updates but he refused to return home or take any calls from Bella, Jasper, or Alice. Edward took a vindictive pleasure in the fact that they couldn't follow him into La Push, as Jasper and Alice still weren't allowed on the wolves' territory and Bella wasn't going anywhere without a Cullen escort. And while the knowledge that Jasper and Alice were probably fulfilling that role of escort was irritating, he couldn't be bothered to try to stop their interactions with Bella.
Jacob hadn't left his side once. Even when Sam and some of the pack went to the Cullen residence to confer with Carlisle, Jacob stayed put. Edward could tell that Jacob was worried about him but at the same time, both were reveling in the amount of time they were spending together—running through the woods, strolling along the beach, sitting in Jacob's room listening to tapes on the stereo that Edward had bought for him.
It was like an emotional oasis. Edward didn't have to think too much about what Bella had done, what might be going on over at the house, or even much about where Victoria might be. With all of his family and the entire werewolf pack keeping an eye out, Edward felt uncharacteristically lazy and detached from the problem. He just wanted to spend time with Jacob, and ignore everything else.
When Monday rolled around, Edward didn't hesitate to skip school. He knew he was avoiding the issue and that he would eventually have to face it. But the idea of seeing Bella was rather distasteful, and he was growing more and more reluctant to leave Jacob's side.
On Tuesday, however, a new development arose that forced Edward to leave his small paradise. Carlisle had informed him that while Bella had been at school and Charlie had been at work, Victoria had come and taken one of Bella's shirts—presumably for tracking purposes. Which was odd, since Victoria already knew Bella's scent pretty well. Carlisle suspected that there might be more at work here, possibly more vampires.
So it was with a grudging sense of duty that Edward arrived at school on Tuesday morning as a measure of added protection and extra set of eyes. He avoided Bella all day and it wasn't until that afternoon when he saw her talking with Jacob, of all people, in the school parking lot that he finally approached her.
"What's going on here?" he was immediately on high alert. Bella turned towards him, a mixture of anger and hurt on her face. Edward thought it was pretty rich that she was the one feeling wronged.
"I asked Jacob to make sure Charlie stayed away from the house for a while, so he's in La Push with Billy right now. I don't want him to be there if Victoria stops by again. I'm going with Jacob to the reservation." Bella's eyes flickered over to where Alice and Jasper were watching from their car. Edward followed her gaze and immediately picked up on Jasper's thoughts.
'What is she thinking? She better not be getting on that bike.' That drew Edward's attention to the motorcycle behind Jacob. Edward wholeheartedly agreed with Jasper's line of thought, but probably for a different reason. The determined and stubborn look on Bella's face—one that he was all too familiar with—confirmed his suspicions.
"No Bella, you're not getting on that bike. If you need to go to La Push I will drive you." As much as Edward didn't want to be near her right now, he didn't want her riding all the way to La Push with her arms around Jacob even more. Bella's eyes shone with victory, and Edward realized that he had been played. This had been a ploy to get him alone. Edward quickly changed tactics.
"Or, you could have Jasper and Alice drive you to the border and have Jacob pick you up in his car from there." Bella winced at the bite in his tone.
"Edward, I haven't even spoken to them since Friday. Please, I want to talk. Let me explain. I promise it won't happen again," she spoke softly but Edward could hear every word. And he could tell that she was being genuine but he was still so angry. And the fact that she had tried to trick him into being alone together had not put him in a very forgiving mood.
"I'm going home to discuss Victoria's movements with Carlisle. Jasper and Alice will take you to see Charlie in La Push." Edward turned to tell Jasper and Alice to do just that but stopped when he realized that Bella was trudging towards Jacob's bike.
"Bella," he made sure it sounded more like a warning than anything. She turned towards him.
"Edward you have to trust me." Edward thought that was hilarious.
"No, I don't trust you. It's him I trust," he nodded over to Jacob, who was clearly trying to pretend that he wasn't hearing any of this conversation. Edward knew the words would hurt her but he didn't care at the moment. He wanted her to hurt. Wanted her to know what it felt like to have the person you love choose someone else over you.
However, his words seemed to strengthen her resolve and she clambered onto the back of Jacob's bike. Edward locked eyes with Jacob, silently pleading. Jacob smiled softly.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. I'll see you tonight." With that, Jacob plopped a helmet onto Bella's head before straddling the bike and kicking it to life, speeding out of the parking lot and heading towards La Push.
Jacob felt, in a word, uncomfortable. He had known there was bound to be some kind of drama when his Imprint turned out to be his best friend's vampiric boyfriend. Honestly, it was like one huge soap opera. But he had never imagined this.
Trying to keep the peace between Edward and Bella while still attempting to remain uninvolved was harder than he thought. As he rode his motorcycle into La Push and towards his own house, Jacob wondered how long they would all remain in this odd limbo where Edward avoided Bella, Bella chased after Edward, and Jacob tried to play the role of both loyal Imprint and dutiful best friend at the same time.
It wasn't until he was sitting on his couch, watching Bella discreetly fret over her father's safety, that the idea of Edward and Bella possibly breaking up struck him. What would happen to this complex structure of relationships that had been established?
Jacob was pulled out of his thoughts by Bella requesting a walk on the beach. Secure in the knowledge that Charlie was safe while he was in La Push, Jacob set off towards the shore with Bella. He could tell this was all a ploy to speak to him alone. About what, he could only guess.
It took Bella quite a while to work up the courage to say whatever it was that she wanted to say. They had been walking in silence for almost half an hour before she spoke up.
"He's not leaving me," she said suddenly, sounding very sure of herself. Jacob wasn't sure how to respond, so he didn't. Bella continued. "He's mad at me now but I'm going to fix it and we're going to be happy again. So don't go thinking that you can pounce on him. He's still my boyfriend." Bella was many things but meek was not one of them, at least not when it came to people she was close to. Jacob wanted to get mad at her for her words, he truly did. And he did feel a little indignant that she was warning her off of Edward when she had been the unfaithful one. But he could also somewhat understand where she was coming from. She was feeling insecure and panicked, and probably very ashamed.
"I wasn't going to pounce on him at all, Bells. No worries." He slung a comforting arm around her shoulders. Apparently that was the wrong move to make because she jerked out from under his arm. Jacob supposed he could understand that reaction as well. Bella suddenly stopped walking before turning to face him.
"I need to ask a favor, Jake," she said, and Jacob could tell that whatever it was, the favor was most likely unpleasant. Jacob nodded for her to continue. She took a deep breath. "I need you to stop seeing Edward for a while. Make him think you don't want to be around him."
Jacob's jaw nearly came unhinged at the audacity of her request. "Excuse me?" Bella rushed to explain.
"Between all the time he's spending with you and then this latest…development—" Jacob snorted at her word choice, "—there's no room for Edward and I to work on our relationship. I need that time now. Please Jake I need this. I'm nothing without Edward." Jacob studied her face closely. He could tell she was anxious; the confidence from her earlier assurance of Edward's loyalty to her was long gone.
"That's not exactly something I can do, Bells," he explained, "Just going more than a day without being near him is hard." Bella nodded.
"I know. I'm not saying stay away completely. Sam told Carlisle that the pack would be running patrols to keep an eye out on the house. So whenever Edward's over—which will be almost every night—you can take that patrol. The proximity should help some, right?" She was wringing her hands now, and Jacob had never seen her look so nervous. Jacob wasn't sure how airtight her theory was. Could Jacob deal if he was close to Edward, without necessarily spending time with him?
Jacob took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was about to have this conversation with Bella of all people. But he thought she might be able to empathize a bit. Jacob looked into her eyes, hoping that Bella could be a best friend right now instead of a jealous girlfriend.
"You need to hear the truth, Bella," he started before he could chicken out, "That I'm in love with him."
Wow, saying it out loud was both exhilarating and terrifying. Judging from the look on Bella's face, it was mostly terrifying for her.
Next thing Jacob knew, a small fist was ramming into his face. Jacob barely felt it but Bella gasped in pain, clutching her hand to her chest.
"Bella! Are you okay?" Jacob tried to get close to examine her hand but she pulled away from him, grumbling at the pain. Jacob tried to feel bad, he really did. But the fact that punching him in the face had caused her injury was just hilarious. He managed to keep a semi-straight face, though. "Let me see your hand," he said gently, reaching out again. Bella scowled but allowed her hand to be examined.
It was swelling already. Jacob sighed. "Alright, let's get some ice on this." He turned to lead her back to the house when his cell phone rang. Jacob grimaced at the caller I.D but answered anyway.
"What is it Paul?" Jacob was not in the mood for Paul's crap right now. There was just too much going on at the moment. But he had an obligation to his pack, and it could possibly be information regarding Victoria.
"Dude, I need your help. That bike you lent me crashed." Jacob rolled his eyes.
"And by crashed you mean that you crashed it, correct?"
"Hey! The steering was off and I lost control. Not my fault," Paul defended.
"Yeah, steering can get pretty sensitive if you try to ride it faster than 120 miles per hour, meathead."
"C'mon Jake," Paul whined, "Just come and take a look? Please?" Paul never said please so Jacob decided to reward his good behavior and acquiesced.
"Alright fine. Do you have a first aid kit?" Jacob looked anxiously at the bruises that were beginning to form on Bella's knuckles.
"Uh yeah I think so, but why do you need one?"
"Not for me, it's for Bella."
"What? What happened?" Jacob was reluctant to explain for the sake of Bella's dignity but hey, she had punched him.
"She punched me in the face." There was silence on the other end and then roaring laughter. Jacob held the phone a few inches from his ear, wincing at the loud noise. Bella was glaring, clearly able to hear Paul's laughter.
"Yeah yeah yeah, it's hilarious. We'll be there in a few. Get a bag of ice ready and find me some arnica cream." Paul was still chuckling when he responded.
"Yeah sure. See you in a bit." The line went dead.
Jacob looked over to where Bella was still scowling.
"It's not that funny," she grumbled, clearly caught between the knowledge that she needed his help with her hand and the anger at his earlier confession.
Later, while Bella was icing her hand, Jacob was looking over the damage that Paul had done to the motorcycle.
"You really busted this thing up," Jacob commented as he observed the various scratches and dents. However, the most prominent issue with the bike was the fact that it wouldn't start. Jacob groaned when he realized that he would have to bring it back to his garage where he had more tools on hand. "I'm never letting you near any of my vehicles for the rest of time," Jacob commented before gripping the handles to steer it down the driveway.
"Ready to go?" Bella asked as she came over, ice still on her hand.
"Yeah, let's head on out."
"Jake wait," Paul reached out to grab Jacob's arm. He wasn't particularly forceful about it so Jacob let it slide. "Any news about the rogue leech?"
"Hasn't Sam been keeping you updated?" Jacob asked. It was true that there wasn't much information about Victoria's movements. The most promising development so far was a stale scent trail she had left behind, but it led out of Forks towards Seattle. The Cullens and the pack had come to the conclusion that the ridiculously reinforced protection surrounding Bella had warded her off.
"I know but—" Paul's eyes darted towards Bella, "—how do we know this leech isn't in with the Cullens?" Bella was outraged.
"The Cullens would never let Victoria run free through Forks," she said angrily. Paul turned on her.
"Yeah well seeing as Edward spends all his time here with Jacob I figured maybe he had called in an old friend to get rid of you." That was uncalled for and a cruel thing to say; not to mention pretty faulty logic, but Paul's brain-to-mouth filter had always been lacking and he had never been particularly bright.
"That's enough, Paul," Jacob warned. "The Cullens care about Bella. They wouldn't let any harm come to her. Or any human for that matter. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I'm just saying, man. Leeches can be pretty deceptive. It's in their nature, right? I mean, how do we know that Edward isn't using all this time on the Rez to destroy the pack from the inside. Then there would be nothing standing in their way if they wanted to start hunting humans again. And since he's your Imprint we wouldn't be able to shit. I'm telling you, that leech of yours is up to—" Paul never got to finish explaining what Edward was up to because the next thing he knew Jacob had tackled him to the ground, snarling.
"Don't you dare talk about Edward like that!" Jacob roared, cocking back his fist and landing a punch square on Paul's nose. "You better pray that I don't tell Sam you've been trash talking my Imprint." Paul was somewhat dazed from the punch but not too much. He probably could have retaliated and he most likely would have in any other situation, but Imprints were a sensitive subject for the pack. Starting a fight over a pack brother's Imprint was dangerously close to betrayal. Jacob had every right to defend Edward's honor. So Paul stayed put.
"Let's go Bella," Jacob barked as he grabbed the handles of the motorcycle and started pushing it in the direction of his house. Bella followed close behind without comment.
A little while later up the road, Bella spoke up.
"I don't get it Jake," she said quietly. "I mean, before all this Imprinting business you hated Edward and the Cullens just as much as Paul does. Maybe even more so. And now you're jumping in to defend him from your own pack. I mean I just don't understand. It's like you've undergone a personality transplant, all from a little crush." Bella probably knew that an Imprint wasn't just a 'little crush' but Jacob assumed she was trying to pretend that his declaration of love for her boyfriend hadn't happened.
"It's more than some crush Bella," Jacob tried to explain the confusing and, at times, frustrating emotions that seemed to rule his life these days. "It's uh, you know, the triangle thing." Jacob stole a sideways glance at Bella to see how she would react to that. Rather than looking angry, however, she seemed pensive. So Jacob continued, "I did hate him before. Or I thought I did. He's a vampire and your boyfriend, and at the time I thought those were perfectly justifiable grounds for my contempt. But now," Jacob let out a slow sigh, "Now it's like I can see past the monster I've been taught to hate and I can see the man he really is. And I've even come to appreciate the monster. The speed, the strength, the inhuman beauty it's all so…"
"Enchanting," Bella finished for him, nodding her head. "I know. Believe me, I know. When I first met him, I thought he hated me. But despite the avoidance and the glares and the overall dangerous feel of the whole situation, I still felt drawn to him." Bella's eyes had started to water and her voice broke when she spoke again. "Please Jake. I need this chance to make things right with him. And I just know that I won't get that chance if you're still occupying his every thought."
So they were back to this. Back to Bella's initial request—for Jacob to keep his distance from Edward. He thought the whole thing over as he and Bella entered the garage so he could put away the damaged bike.
Jacob really didn't want to leave Edward alone. But then he thought of how devastated and angry Edward had been when he found out that Bella had cheated. Maybe reconnecting with her would make Edward happy again. And even Jacob could see that Edward was feeling the pull of the Imprint more and more every day. He knew Bella was right. He knew that as long as he was there to provide comfort and support, Edward would feel no need to go back to Bella. And as much as the thought of avoiding his Imprint so Edward could strengthen his relationship with Bella burned him, all Jacob wanted in the end was Edward's happiness. There had to be a reason that Edward had chosen Bella when he had met her. A real, legitimate reason. Jacob wanted Edward. Oh how he wanted Edward. But if there's one thing that the Imprint had taught him, it was that he couldn't be selfish. He had to let Bella and Edward try to salvage their relationship.
"Alright, Bella," Jacob said quietly. "I'll try." Bella let out a relieved sigh and rushed to give him a hug.
"Thank you, Jake. Thank you so much."
Jasper was silently shaking in rage. He knew this had been coming. It was inevitable really, considering Bella and Edward's history. But knowing that it was coming did not make it easier to deal with.
Bella had ordered—not asked, but ordered—for Alice and Jasper to stay away from her. Her wording had been harsh and her tone unrelenting. She wanted to fix the chasm that had opened up between her and Edward, and that meant keeping her distance from Alice and Jasper while Edward kept his distance from Jacob. Jasper had been very tempted to try to influence her decision by adjusting her emotions but he knew that wasn't how to go about it. And she would be furious after the fact.
Still, being banished from the object of his fascination—and, if he was being honest, slight obsession—was infuriating and frustrating. Alice was handling it much better than he was, and she did her best to sooth his anger at the situation.
Eventually, the two of them had decided that they needed to get away from the house. It had been two weeks since Bella had made her demands and it was, in a word, hell. Staying away from Bella while still in somewhat close proximity to her was an issue, and there had already been several close calls. One such close call had involved Bella and Edward tucked away in Edward's room, Jasper's overwhelming jealousy, and a vase that Esme was particularly fond of winding up shattered against the door to Edward's room.
So it was with barely suppressed anger and quite a bit of hurt feelings that Alice and Jasper left. They were going to Seattle to see if they could find Victoria. It was a poor excuse of a distraction, but Jasper just told himself it was all for the sake of Bella's safety.
As Jasper and Alice were pulling out of the garage, Jasper felt a wave of longing and sadness that didn't belong to him. His eyes flickered up to the living room window to see Bella watching their car pull away. It hurt to look at her and Jasper desperately wanted to jump out of the car, run over to her and tell her everything that Alice had seen in the future. But he couldn't. During his time with Alice, Jasper had learned the importance of letting things run their course without interfering.
Bella raised her hand in goodbye and Jasper returned the gesture. She spoke, and even though there were two panes of glass and quite a bit of distance between them, Jasper still heard her words, "Be safe." Jasper gave her a curt nod and then, before he could do something crazy and stupid, Jasper peeled out of the driveway and headed for Seattle.
