***Twilight is Stephenie Meyer's sweet ride.***
The next two days passed agonizingly slowly, both for Bella and Edward.
Bella understood the message from her dream, loud and clear as though someone had shouted it from the top of the space needle. She knew what had to be done. The question was how to go about it? Would everything work out in the end? It was these and other equally gloomy thoughts which occupied her mind most of the time. Although she was polite to Edward, they did not discuss anything outside of school work. Bella knew he was in pain because she felt it too. But she ignored it, and when she couldn't hide she pushed it away.
On day 56 Edward handed her a stack of papers. Confused, Bella looked down at them. She realized it was their creative writing assignment that was due the following day. That night she read over their intermingled version of Catherine Earnshaw Linton's death scene with Heathcliff. Sniffling at the end of it, she made a few minor corrections and retyped it on her computer. The next day she handed it to Mrs. Daae, somehow made it through her classes with Edward, and rushed home after school. Bella spent the weekend preparing herself to see Jacob on Monday.
Late Sunday night, Bella was puttering around her room. She was anxious about the next day. 'What am I going to say to Jake?' She thought miserably. Several different scenarios went through her mind, but each of them had the same conclusion. Bella knew it wasn't going to be easy. Sighing loudly, she slipped under her comforter and prayed that she would be able to sleep.
Bella wasn't unconscious for long before she heard a loud thump at her window. Thinking she'd imagined it, she closed her eyes again. A few seconds later the same sound made another appearance. She got out of bed, rubbing her eyes, and walked to the window, opening it widely. There in the tree outside her house was none other than a smiling Jacob, beckoning her to move so he could swing into her room. Bella's stomach knotted uncomfortably.
Once he was safely in the room, Jacob opened his arms widely. "Come here. It's been too long since I held you." Bella walked toward him and wrapped her arms around his muscled torso as Jacob enclosed her in a tight hug.
"I missed you Bells. More than you know." He whispered in her ear. At length Jacob pulled away and sat on her bed, patting the space beside him.
"Come and sit with me. Tell me everything I missed." He grinned.
Alarm bells screamed in Bella's head, but she managed to squeak out "Not much."
Jacob laughed and shook his head. "I know that look. Something big must have happened." He watched her, looking for a reaction. Bella knew she had to turn away before she revealed too much. This was not the time to have a serious conversation. She walked to her dresser and picked up the small wolf carving she had received on her birthday. Turning around with a fake smile plastered on her face, Bella gushed, "I got your present. It's absolutely perfect. How did you get it to me without anyone seeing you?"
Jacob's grin got wider. "I had some help from Charlie. He's much better at keeping secrets than you are."
Bella rolled her eyes and smiled at Jacob. "Thanks."
Jacob chuckled in response.
"How did you get here? I thought everything was finished tomorrow." Bella asked, confusion lacing her voice.
"As soon as the clock chimed midnight, I ran out the door and came straight here. It's been a long couple of months." Jacob replied. Bella noticed for the first time that his eyelids were heavy and dark circles framed his eyes.
Nodding, Bella sat down next to Jacob, the mattress sagging under their combined weight. She was suddenly overcome with an intense weariness that seemed to permeate every cell in her body. Leaning on Jacob's strong arms, Bella's eyes closed. She felt at peace.
"Maybe I should have waited until tomorrow," Jake said, "You look as tired as I feel."
Shaking her head, Bella replied, "No I'm awake. I just need to rest my eyelids for a few minutes."
Again Jacob chuckled. "Sure you do. Come on, lay down." Bella allowed herself to be placed reclined gently on the mattress as Jacob pulled her comforter over her.
"How have the nightmares been, Bells? Do you need me to stay?"
Bella shook her head, her eyes still closed. "That's okay Jake. They haven't been so bad lately."
Surprised, Jacob simply kissed her on the forehead and walked to the window. Raising the glass carefully, he said, "Alright then. Good night sweet Bella. I love you." Bella mumbled in her sleep as Jacob climbed out the window, closing it behind him.
The next morning Bella woke up late after having had a deep and dreamless sleep. Stretching her stiff muscles, she actually felt relaxed. She lay in bed, staring at the patterns in the ceiling, until realization hit her: Jacob was here last night. He saw right through me. Could he possibly know? 'No, that's impossible,' Bella told herself, trying to calm the anxiety now coursing through her veins.
All Bella wanted to do was bury herself under her comforter and never show her face again. It took a Herculean effort to get out of bed, but once she did, she got through her morning routine in record time. Even Jasper noticed.
"I thought I'd have to drag you out of bed this morning after your late night visitor." Jasper raised his eyebrows suggestively at Bella.
Bella's eyes narrowed at her little brother. "He wasn't here long. He just wanted to say hi."
Jasper smiled. "Don't worry, I won't tell Dad." After a brief pause, Jasper continued carefully. "How was your long awaited reunion?"
Bella sighed as she put away the breakfast dishes. "Not what I expected."
Jasper hesitated, choosing his words carefully, before asking. "Did you mention Edward?"
At the sound of his name, Bella's head shot up and her gaze turned fierce. When she saw Jasper was legitimately concerned, her eyes softened, then filled with fear. "How did you know?" She said barely above a whisper.
"Bells, it's pretty obvious there's something going on. You two practically walk around with fireworks going off above you. But I didn't know there was anything more to it until just now…" Jasper eyed his sister, gauging her reaction. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Bella slumped down in a chair at the kitchen table, pressing her forehead against the grainy wood surface. "There's not much to tell. He kissed me. I have a boyfriend."
Jasper sat in the chair beside her and grabbed her hand. "That's a lot to tell. How did it happen? What did he say afterward? And most importantly… how do you feel about it? And about him?"
Bella sighed. "Those are loaded questions I've been trying to answer for myself since it happened."
"Was this shortly before that dramatic talk after school that one day?"
Bella raised her head and nodded, feeling overwhelmed.
As always Jasper sensed her mood and didn't push her. "It's okay, you don't have to talk if you don't want. Just keep in mind I'm always here if you need me."
Jasper moved the chair to get up, but Bella grabbed his arm. "I know what I have to do Jas. But it's so hard. I don't want to hurt either of them. They both mean a lot to me." Bella's eyes watered.
It was Jasper's turn to nod. "I know. But whatever you do, someone has to get hurt. But you know whatever you decide, I got your back."
Bella grinned. "Thanks Jas."
"Anytime. Now shall we get to school?"
"Just one more thing. Since we've brought in the Spanish inquisition, what's going on with you and Alice?"
The look on Jasper's face was like nothing Bella had ever seen before. Her brother had always been happy-go-lucky, rarely letting unpleasant situations getting the better of him. But when she mentioned Alice by name, it was like he was a kid on Christmas day all over again. His eyes lit up, his smile widened, and his whole frame seemed to relax.
Bella continued to grin at her brother. "I'll take that reaction as a good sign."
Jasper laughed. "I'm a gentleman. I don't kiss and tell."
"Well thank god for that. I'm happy for you Jas. She's better for you than Maria, and I can tell there's some intensity happening there."
Jasper scoffed. "Who uses the word 'intensity' anymore? Really Bella, we have to get going or we'll both get in trouble."
"Sorry, you're right on both accounts. Give me two minutes to brush my teeth and we're outta here!" Bella replied, feeling enthusiastic. Jasper always knew how to lighten her spirits.
School passed by in much the same way it always did. Three classes, lunch with her friends, listening to Jessica drone on about mindlessly unimportant things. Bella's sense of serenity stayed with her all morning, right through to her English class. She was glad to have something to distract her from the inevitable conversation with Jacob.
Students shuffled in to the class room where Bella was already seated, waiting for the lecture to begin. There was an electricity in the air as groups of teenagers talked excitedly about the Halloween dance this upcoming Friday. Bella rolled her eyes thinking it comical that dressing up in costume was the most excitement to happen around here all semester.
Mrs. Daae entered the classroom like a tornado, her arms full of papers and books. Immediately the class fell silent, waiting for her to begin.
"Good afternoon everyone. I had the opportunity over the weekend to go through your assignments. There are some very good pieces of work, and some excellent examples of why we have grammatical rules in the English language. But overall the quality was above average." The class applauded as Mrs. Daae bowed dramatically. "Now let's begin our section on poetry. Please open your texts to page seventy one…"
After class had been dismissed, Bella was putting her things away in her backpack when Mrs. Daae approached her. "Bella, I'd like to talk to you and Edward after school. Please meet me here. I promise it won't take too long."
Bella nervously replied, "Yes Mrs. Daae."
Bella couldn't concentrate in biology. Mr. Banner was lecturing about human anatomy, a topic which Bella normally would have found interesting. Edward was beside her, writing furiously, his brow wrinkled in concentration. When Mr. Banner stopped to answer a few questions, Edward looked at Bella and saw the fear in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He whispered.
"Did Mrs. Daae talk to you?" Bella whispered back, pretending to pay attention to class.
"She told me to meet her after school. What's that about?"
Mr. Banner piped up, "Mr. Cullen, do you have something to share? Perhaps you can tell me which is the only human bone not articulated to another bone?"
Clearing his throat, Edward replied, "The hyoid."
Mr. Banner frowned at him. "Correct."
Bella and Edward didn't have a chance to continue their conversation. Mr. Banner reprimanded Edward after class while Bella had to run to gym.
After school, Bella and Edward met in Mrs. Daae's classroom. The teacher had not yet arrived, so they were left alone in awkward silence. It was only a few minutes before Mrs. Daae burst into the room in her usual eccentric manner.
"Edward, Bella. Thanks for coming. I wanted to talk to you about your assignment."
They looked at each other nervously.
"If it had been any other format, yours would be the unquestioned winner of the contest for the school newspaper. Instead, I was hoping you would be willing to act out the scene together at the Christmas talent show. There's no money involved unfortunately, but I will give you a five percent grade bonus if you agree."
To say they were shocked would be the greatest understatement of all time.
Blushing, Bella said, "That's a great offer Mrs. Daae, but I'm not an actor."
"It's actress dear. Feminine adjective. And that doesn't matter in the least. Do you have any other objections?"
Hesitating, Bella replied, "I'm not exactly good at speaking in public. I get all nervous, and forget what I'm saying."
Mrs. Daae smiled. "Bella, did you know I did my undergraduate degree in drama and education? I am very well informed about how to train young actresses. I will be happy to coach you." Sensing Bella's hesitation, Mrs. Daae added, "Alright, if you agree I'll make it a ten percent bonus. But that's as high as I go."
Bella looked at Edward. His face was unreadable. Thinking about her university applications, and how an excellent English grade would boost her average, Bella acquiesced. Mrs. Daae did a short but energetic jig around her desk.
"Oh thank you so much. You know, we haven't had many entries for the talent show, and I'm very excited to finally have something worth watching being performed in our little school." Mrs. Daae gushed.
Edward finally chimed in. "Thank you Mrs. Daae, this is a great opportunity."
"The pleasure is mine. Now here are the rules. First, we begin rehearsing after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays next week, from four o'clock to six o'clock. I will teach you everything you need to know. Second, during those hours you may call me Christine, but only during those hours. During school I'm still Mrs. Daae. Third, wear something comfortable enough to move around in. No jeans, no heels, and definitely no spandex."
Edward and Bella nodded in unison.
"Unless you have any questions, that's it."
Saying goodbye, Bella ran out of Mrs. Daae's classroom before Edward could say a single word.