Worlds Apart

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews. Nikki :)

Part Twelve-A Meeting

Jacob and Bella spent the next two weeks reconnecting with each other. They spent time doing what they used to do in the past, before Jacob's life had been turned upside down by phasing. He serviced the bikes and they went riding again. Bella was a little unstable at first, but after a few tries she got better. Unlike the past she only suffered a few scrapes and no hospital visits. At other times they would retreat to his garage and she would sit on the old crate and watch him work, passing him the tools as he asked for them. She loved seeing the intense concentration on his face as he worked on the engine, he knew instinctively what was wrong and how to fix any problem. Sometimes he would try and get her to help him, this invariably ended in disaster as she usually ended up getting covered in grease and oil. Jacob secretly loved seeing her like this. She would laugh and her beautiful brown eyes would glow as they bantered back and forth.

Bella invited Billy and Jacob over to the Swan house a few times and cooked them a lavish meal. Billy would watch the two of them interact while he sampled Bella's cooking. He was delighted to see how much more relaxed Jacob was. His temper had improved considerably, although he sometimes had bouts of anger, usually it involved Paul Lahote winding him up about Lauren or Bella. But when Jacob was with Bella he was more like the sunny, happy go lucky boy that Billy used to know. The first time he heard Jacob laugh he had stared at him in surprise. It had been months since he had heard that sound, and Bella was the reason behind it. Charlie noticed Jacob's change in attitude too and he commented on it to Billy.

The days flew by quickly and soon Bella was faced with the fact that she needed to get a job of some kind. She was running out of the college money she had saved and she didn't want to sponge off of her dad so, with great reluctance, she started studying the local job ads. There wasn't much choice available, mostly waitressing or shop work. Bella didn't trust herself carrying trays of food around so she opted for retail instead. She filled in some application forms online and waited for a response.

"You'll get something." Jacob assured her as they lay side by side in Bella's back garden. The sun had made a rare appearance so they were taking advantage of it by going outside and having an impromptu picnic.

"I hope so. All the jobs are in Port Angeles though. I might have to look for a cheap run around. The truck won't cope with that journey every day." Bella mused.

Jacob rolled onto his stomach and looked down at her. "It will when I've finished with her, don't worry."

"My own personal mechanic." Bella smiled up at him. "At least I get the work done for free."

"Who said it would be for free?" Jacob winked at her playfully. "I expect payment."

"Oh really? What kind of payment?" Bella asked in amusement.

"Oh I think a kiss should do it." Jacob held his breath as he waited for Bella's response. He had been gently pushing the boundaries for the past few days and he was sure he was making a breakthrough.

Bella bit her lip as she gazed into his dark eyes. Was it too soon? She wasn't sure. They had certainly fallen back into their easy camaraderie the last two weeks. But other then that the big issue, imprinting, still hadn't been resolved. "It's not the right time." She said eventually.

The light died in Jacob's eyes as he fell onto his back. "Why?" He questioned her. "Things have been great recently."

"You know why." Bella said quietly.

"Are you going to let this imprinting crap come between us forever?" Jacob demanded. "It won't happen. I know it."

Bella tuned her head to look at him. "What about the others who haven't imprinted? How do Embry, Paul, Seth and Leah feel about it? I never see any evidence of them striking up a long term relationship. And why is that, Jake? And Quil? How is his life going to turn out?"

Her words were like knives to Jacob's heart. His fists clenched at his sides. Bella was right, none of the single pack members were in a full time relationship. Deep down they were scared to commit. They were all living under a cloud of uncertainty. As for Quil? Jacob couldn't get his head round how his friend was coping with his imprint on a two year old. Quil remained silent about it and closed down any discussion.

Bella could see she had hurt Jacob and she regretted her rash words. She reached out and took his hand, uncurling his fingers so she could lace hers with them. "I'm sorry, Jake. I never meant to put it like that."

"But it's true though." Jacob admitted. "I am the only one trying. The others have all but given up expecting to have a normal life. It's like we are being punished."

"Have you ever spoken about it among yourselves?" Bella asked.

"Not really. Imprinting is such a sensitive issue, especially for Leah, Sam and Quil." Jacob told her. "Jared is the only one it seems to have worked out for with no repercussions."

Bella sat up and looped her arms around her knees. "Then maybe you should talk about it." She suggested. "Hiding from it is not doing any of you any good."

Jacob sat up too. "That's easier said then done. I know that Sam would shut down any kind of discussion."

"Then don't tell Sam." Bella said impatiently. "Talk about it among the non-imprinted members first, then tell him. You can't all let this rule your life anymore. There must be something that can be done."

Jacob pondered her words for a moment. He supposed there was no harm in making the suggestion. He knew Leah would kick off right away, but maybe confronting the problem head on would make a slight difference. "Okay, I'll do it." He finally agreed.

Bella smiled at him. "If nothing else it will give you all a chance to air your feelings."

"Yeah." Jacob put his arm around Bella's shoulders and kissed her on the top of her head.

"And Jake." Bella whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I'm trying to get past my worries, I promise."

"I know, Bells. I know." Jacob kissed her on the head again as they both fell quiet.

"That Lauren girl was here again." Billy told Jacob as soon as he walked through the door. "She kept knocking and calling out for you. I tried to get her to leave but she wouldn't listen. I had to call Charlie in the end and he escorted her away."

Jacob threw himself on the couch and hit the cushions with his fist. "The girl is a freaking psycho. I have told her plainly I'm not interested but she keeps coming back. I don't know what more I can do. Charlie isn't going to tell Bells that Lauren is still hanging about, is he?"

"No, but he's not happy about it. You should tell Bella what is going on." Billy warned his son.

"Bells has been through enough. She'll freak. No, I want to keep her out of this." Jacob said stubbornly.

"Charlie suggested some kind of restraining order." Billy handed Jacob a leaflet. "This explains more about it. You have to go to the station and file a complaint."

"This is fucking ridiculous." Jacob muttered bitterly. "I've fought and killed vampires but I can't get rid of a female stalker."

"Ironic I agree." Billy replied. "Are you going to do it?"

Jacob sat back and began to read the leaflet. "It seems that I have no choice. Being direct hasn't worked."

"Charlie says he'll be there until six tonight if you want to head over there." Billy reached out and patted Jacob on the shoulder. "Hopefully getting an official warning will be enough to get her to back off."

"I hope so." Jacob sighed. "I really do."

Leah paced back and forth as she glared at Jacob. "Are you fucking kidding me? You called this meeting to talk about imprinting?"

"Lee." Seth chided his sister.

Jacob held up his hands in a placatory gesture. He had done as Bella suggested and invited the non-imprinted pack members to a meeting. They were all gathered in his garage. "I thought it was time we spoke about it. We can't keep avoiding the issue completely."

"Well I can." Leah snapped. "I have it shoved in my face every day."

"Yeah and don't you love to whine about it." Paul snarled. "We're getting sick of seeing you replay your doomed relationship in our heads."

Leah stalked over to Paul and reached out to slap him, but Seth pulled her back. "Don't give him the satisfaction." He warned her. He then turned and glared at Lahote. "Speak to my sister like that again and I'll rip your head off."

"I'd like to see you try, pup." Paul rose to his feet, his hands shaking at his sides.

"Enough." Jacob shouted loudly, causing them all to turn his way. "This reaction is exactly why we're in such a mess."

"You can talk." Paul snarled. "You've bee AWOL for weeks and when you do appear you kick off."

"Like you?" Jacob retorted. Why was it Paul always managed to rile everyone up? He took some deep breaths to calm himself.

"Everyone needs to cool it." Embry said as he looked around at them all. "Jake's right, it's time we faced this issue. I for one am sick of being on my own."

His words seemed to pierce the others anger. They had never heard Embry admit such a thing before. Jacob put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "There is the crux of the problem. How can any of us pursue a proper long term relationship with the fear of imprinting hanging over us?"

Leah leaned back against the wall as she pondered his words, even Paul remained quiet.

"I asked Julie on a date the other day." Seth admitted out of the blue. "But then I cancelled it because I thought there was no point. It's not like it can go anywhere."

Leah stared at her brother in surprise. "You never said."

Seth shrugged. "Why would I? You go ape when anyone talks about stuff like this."

"I'm your sister, Sethy. I would have listened." Leah's voice was gentle for once.

"What about the rest of you?" Jacob asked. "You all know that Bells and I are having problems. How are the rest of you handling it?"

Embry ran a hand through his hair. "I've been on dates you all know this, but like Seth said there's been no point in pursuing a relationship. None of us know what's going to happen."

"Me being the prime example of the fall out from imprinting." Leah reminded them.

"What about you, Paul?" Jacob asked. "You haven't said anything yet."

Paul looked around at them all, he was well known for being the love them and leave them type. He was with a different girl every week and seemed to revel in his bad reputation. "What can I add? I'm too young to settle down anyway."

"There must be one girl you've liked enough to see more then once." Jacob said in exasperation.

"Maybe." Paul replied nonchalantly.

Jacob rolled his eyes, giving up on getting any sense from Lahote. "This is having a detrimental effect on us all. I just wanted to see how bad it was for all of us and it seems generally we all feel the same. It can't go on. I'm going to have a private word with Sam to make him aware of how we feel. Then I will bring this up with the elders. There has to be a solution to this."

"So says the true Alpha." Leah said without a hint of sarcasm.

"She's right bro." Embry teased him.

"Very funny." Jacob grinned at them. "Does anyone have any objections to what I plan to do?"

None of them disputed him. "Well then I'll let you all know what happens." Jacob ended the meeting as he headed off to speak to Sam.

A/N-thanks for reading!