Chapter 12: Dropping the Bombshell
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Jacob was not the least bit happy during his patrol. When he took over as Alpha, he'd be more sympathetic with the guys who were mooning over their girls. When he thought about it—how focused could you be when your mind was otherwise occupied?
His pack brothers bore the brunt of his foul mood. He practically barked at anyone who invaded his brain.
Hell, man, Quil complained. I've got half a mind to kidnap the girl and drop her at your doorstep. Anything to dig you out of the hole you're wallowing in.
You just leave her out of this.
"Quil's right, snap out of it. You're gonna see her tomorrow, aren't you? So chill already.
Jacob stopped abruptly, and glared at Embry.
Okay, I'll shut up. Damn, what a night. I'll be glad when this patrol is over.
Embry and Quil shot out ahead, leaving Jacob to stare at the clods of forest debris rise in the air as the two of them rushed on by. The rest of the night was quiet, just Jacob alone with his thoughts. And of course those thoughts turned to Bella, so when his stint at policing the wooded area was over he raced to her house instead of returning to his own home.
He couldn't stand another minute of being away from her. She might still be awake, it was only around 10:30 or so. He could be there in twenty minutes. If she wasn't awake, then he could at least look at her face. He just had to see her.
He was underneath her bedroom window, and thank god it was open. He phased back quickly, pulled on his shorts and climbed the nearby tree. He jettisoned silently through the casement into her room.
Bella lay there under the covers, her head nestled into her pillow. By her steady breathing, he figured for sure she was asleep. He desperately longed to brush his hand along her cheek and wake her up. It seemed like forever since he had the sensation of touching her. He was literally starved for the feel of her skin. But would she get mad? No doubt about it, the little woman had a big temper. It was too risky.
He sat on the edge of her bed, watching her chest rise and fall rhythmically. Her long dark eyelashes fluttered once or twice, and her lips parted to let out a little sigh. It was frustrating seeing her at arm's length, knowing he shouldn't touch her. She'd get startled, and he didn't want to wake her, or did he? Crap, he might as well go home. He'd see her tomorrow.
He stood, being careful not to jostle her bed. Backing up slowly, he accidentally knocked some papers off her nightstand onto the floor. He picked them up. It was a letter and its envelope, actually. There was also a photo that had slipped out.
His wolf vision had no problem reading the return address. It was from Jacksonville, Florida, and Derek Miller. He couldn't miss the writing on the photo. It was written in black marker. It read:
D'arvit, don't forget me, Bella
All my love,
Derek
He tried to tell himself that it didn't mean anything. Bella came back to Forks, didn't she? Still, a seed of doubt was planted, and suddenly he felt like he had to get out of there immediately! He sailed out the window, landing without a sound, and phasing, ran through the woods, back to La Push.
He was so upset the next morning that he skipped breakfast. He walked around the house in a daze. He noticed the postman outside and went to the box to retrieve the mail. There was another letter for him from Bella.
It spoke mostly about the cleanup process, and the devastation that was now Jacksonville. It couldn't possibly compare with the devastation that was ripping through his heart at this minute, as he read the dreaded words, "Jacob, when I get home, there's something we need to talk about."
Bella waited for Charlie to leave for work, then went up to her room to get the pregnancy test from her dresser drawer. Taking it to the bathroom, she opened the box and read the directions. She followed them carefully, and waited for the results. The two visible pink lines only confirmed what she already knew—she was carrying Jacob's child. A feeling of numbness overwhelmed her, filling her soul with its nothingness.
Bella placed the testing apparatus and the packaging back in the box. She carried it with her to the kitchen. Pulling down her hoodie from its peg, she quickly slipped it on. The test kit got placed in her pocket, and she walked out the back of the house.
Charlie might accidentally find the box in the trash so Bella ambled out the fence gate and down the alley to one of the other trash bins. She threw the package in the plastic container, watching as it landed beside the dregs and refuse of the people who lived in the adjoining house. It seemed symbolic; her life was being thrown away as sure as that little box. The only difference was, she was dragging Jacob into the dumpster with her. What would happen to all their elaborate dreams of a promising future?
Her knees buckled, and she leaned her back against the wooden slat fence, sliding down to the ground. She lay her forehead upon her drawn up knees and let her emotions free. The alley was empty for a long while except for the poor girl who was sitting there, sobbing as if her heart would break in two.
Jacob took the Rabbit over to First Beach, and trudged to the driftwood bench, awaiting his sentence. It was way too early to be sitting there, but he was anxious to get it over with. How many more times would this little girl run his heart through a wringer? She was leaving him. What else could it possibly be?
That last letter was the clincher. There's something we need to talk about. She might as well have started the letter with the words, Dear John.
It was sheer torture waiting there—just waiting for the bombshell to drop.
Bella pulled her truck up to the edges of the beach. She noticed Jacob's Rabbit already taking up a space farther down along the road. If she wanted to escape in a hurry, she couldn't very well park next to him, so she set the truck down as far away from his car as possible. That way, she could walk along the beach; clear her head—think about how to broach the subject. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath and got out of the truck.
Jacob caught her scent before he saw her. She walked slowly toward him, when she should have been leaping into his arms. Her eyes were all red from crying. This was it then. He held his breath as she came nearer. How could she do this to him again—he felt like he was dying inside.
Here it comes, he thought as she opened her mouth to speak.
He put up his hand to stop her, his face a bitter mask. "It's just what I thought. You don't have to say the words, Bella. I was in your room last night. I saw the letter. Nice picture too." He laughed humorlessly. "I told Embry. I knew you'd fall for some normal guy, who isn't a dog, like me. You're in love with Derek, aren't you?"
She looked up at him, astounded. How could he think that? And yet she saw the shadows clouding his dark eyes; he believed it.
"What?"
Now Jacob was confused. "Isn't that what you came here to tell me?"
There was too much space between them. Jacob got up from the bench and moved closer.
His heart was still doing flip flops. The expression on her face didn't calm him any. She lowered her eyes, and placed her hand on his chest holding him back away from her.
"It's worse," she whispered.
What could possibly be worse? Oh god, please don't tell me she's moving to Florida.
Jacob leaned his head down so he could see her face. "So you're saying, you're not breaking up with me?"
"No, but . . ." she was choking on the words.
He wished he could reach in and yank the words right out of her throat. "But what?" Sometimes she could be so exasperating. "Just spit it out already. You know you can tell me anything, Bells."
"I'm . . ." she stammered and sighed. Okay, here goes. "I'm . . . I'm pregnant, Jake—six weeks pregnant."
Anything but that!
His heart dropped down into the pebbled sand. He inhaled sharply. Pregnant—so I finally get to make love to her and she goes off and gets pregnant by this other guy. How fair is that? NO! This can't be happening.
She looked up at him, the hurt in his eyes nearly killing her. His lips quivered, those eyes began to glisten with tears. He backed away; his body starting to vibrate. Before she could blink, he was running into the trees, pulling off his clothes. The wolf had taken over.
That was his answer? She guessed he didn't want anything to do with his baby. He always said he wanted to have children, but not at this moment apparently. So where did that leave her? Scared and alone, that's where. What was she going to do?
Jacob crashed through the forest, his mind racing faster than his paws. He rested his head on a fallen tree trunk, howling piteously, but suddenly, it struck him. How could she be six weeks pregnant? Derek and she would have had to get it on at their first meeting. That didn't make any sense. The light bulb lit up. Jeez, he was an idiot. The baby she was carrying had to be his. He straightened himself up and headed toward the beach, hoping that she hadn't left yet.
Bella walked back along the shoreline, staring into space. There were no more tears inside of her. Climbing up to her parked vehicle, she started up the engine. She drove forward and there was Jacob, leaning against the Rabbit, flagging her down. What more did he have to say to her?
She stopped the truck and pulled in next to him. As she approached him, she noticed . . . Wait . . . was that a smile on his face?
A/N: Yes, folks, once again our dear boy jumped to the wrong conclusions. Next chapter -make up time!
