I watched jealously as Emily weaved Melody's hair into a tight french braid at the back of her head. Melody smiled and laughed as Emily talked. Melody's eyes fluttered closed as Emily played with her hair. I knew it felt good to Mel because when we would sit in the garage, I would brush my fingers down her hair and she would slowly stop talking. It was cute.
"Go sit with Jacob, I know he is dying to have you over there." I could hear Emily whisper in Melody's ear. I heard her get up and trot until she was next to me. It had been a little over a fourteen days since Melody has forgiven me. So far, the only fight we had was about what car is better. She came over everyday, and we would sit in the garage talking. It was like we never ran out of things to talk about. Even when it was silent, it was like our silence was talking for us.
She plopped next to me with a giggle. Her hand rested on my knee, and she leaned against my side.
"Why are you sulking?" She giggled once more.
I turned my head and rested my chin on her head. "I'm not sulking."
She hummed. "Mhm, sure."
"I'm not-"
"Is it because Bella hasn't called you?"
My whole body tensed. "Melody..."
"It's okay, I understand."
"It's just nerve wracking. She's somewhere all alone with a vampire. She could be bleeding out, or worse." I swallowed as the lie poured out of my lips. "She could be a vampire right now."
Melody sighed as she pulled away. "It's her life, Jacob. I know you love her, but she chose this for her. You have to let her live her life, whether you like it or not."
I don't love her, not like I love you. "I know."
"So let her be. She'll call you when she can. Her and Edward are off doing honey moon type things."
I cringed and tried to keep my lunch down. I had heard from Bella, something I hadn't figured out to tell Melody. Sam walked onto the beach in wolf form. Melody took that as a sign for her to leave. Emily grabbed Claire's hand and all of them walked further down to where the car was parked. Melody turned back to wave at me. I smiled as I pulled off my shirt. She gave me a playful glare and shake of her head.
Everyone's thoughts began spewing into my head as they heard my own thoughts. Amongst their thoughts, I could hear Sam's growling. He was going on about how this thing wouldn't be able to control its thirst. Everyone jumped at the chance of saying that they were ready.
Bella is human, our protection applies to her.
She's dying anyway! Leah growled at my face. In turn I shoved her over and pounced. Melody's footsteps stopped and her heart skipped a beat. I heard the sand being kick up from underneath her feet.
We have real enemies to fight tonight.
Tonight?
You will fight with us, Jake.
My legs began to bend underneath Sam, but something inside of me fought it. I stood back against the command.
I will not! I am the grandson of Ephraim Black! I am the grandson of a chief! I wasn't born to follow you, or anyone else.
I kicked by Sam and sprinted towards Melody. Her face had gone pale at what she just saw. Me attacking Leah, then standing up to Sam. Her hands shook as she gripped my fur and swung her leg over my back. She pressed her face into my shoulder blades until we reached the Cullen house.
"Jacob, what is going on?"
Running footsteps made me push Melody behind me as I turned around.
"Whoa." Seth laughed as he swiftly ran down the small hill. "Don't worry. They're not following us."
"What do you think you're doing here?"
"I left Sam's pack."
Melody stepped out from behind me. "What?"
"Go home, Seth."
"I won't stand behind him."
"Oh, yes, you will." I glared at him. "I'm not kidding. Get out of here."
Melody placed her hand on my arm. "Jacob, what is going on?"
"Is that an order? Are you going to make me bow down to you?"
"I'm not ordering anyone. Look I'm just going off on my own here, okay?"
"Great and I have your back."
Melody shifted her feet with impatience. "Jacob."
"No, you don't! If Sam comes after Bella, are you really ready to fight your own brothers? Your sister?"
"If it's the right thing to do." Seth glared at me.
"Whatever. Melody and I are going to give the Cullen's a heads up. Do what you want."
I crouched down slightly, and Melody hopped onto my back. Seth automatically began following us and talking. Melody rested her chin against my shoulder. I knew I was going to be in trouble for ignoring her.
I paused at the sight of Edward standing on the balcony. "Be ready. They're coming for Bella."
"They're not going to touch her."
"Agreed."
New footsteps stomped where we were standing. I whipped around to see Leah gazing around. "Man, you can smell them from all the way out here!"
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm not going to let my little brother get himself killed."
Poor Seth glared at his sister. "Go away, Leah. I can take care of myself."
"The fact that you think that proves you need a babysitter."
"Both of you, shut up. Did Sam send you?"
A hurt look crossed Leah's face. "Sam doesn't even know I left."
A low chorus of howls echoed through the forest. Melody swallowed before jumping off my back. I nudged her to go to the Cullen's house. She sprinted through the light rain to the front door.
"Looks like he just figured it out." Seth said tightly.
"Jake." Leah paused. "I know what his plan is."
~Melody~
I walked into the Cullen living room and froze. Bella sat on the couch with a throw blanket draped over her lap. Her once beautiful face was sunken in. Her once rosy lips were now a dull brown. Her eyes were rimmed with bags. She looked like the life had literally been sucked out of her. I automatically knew she was dying.
"Bella..." I swallowed.
She gave me a small smile. "Hi, Melody."
All the hate I once had for Bella drained as I looked at the dying girl in front of me. I slowly walked to her then dropped to my knees. Her fingers were ice cold as they clasped around mine. I looked back on how it felt on watching Anna die those many months ago.
My heart ached for Jacob.
"What happened, Bella?"
She looked up at Edward. "Edward and I are having a baby."
I rocked back onto my heels, unsure of what I just heard. "A baby?"
"Yes. Isn't it wonderful?" Rosalie stepped over to us with a smile.
"Is that why you look so..."
"Dead?" Bella chuckled weakly. "It is killing me. But if I can make if through the delivery, Carlisle should be able to change me like he did with Edward and Esme."
"Bella…" I was incredulous at the sound of her stupid plan. "That isn't a solid plan."
"Melody, if Bella wants to have the baby, it is her decision." Rosalie snapped.
I stood up from the floor. "Why do you care so much?"
"Why wouldn't I care?"
"Bella has never been more to you than an annoying fly you couldn't get rid of."
"Things are different now."
"Yeah because she is dying."
"Melody, Rosalie. Stop." Carlisle said, softly. "Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere."
"For once I agree." Jacob walked through the door. "Besides, we need to talk about the pack."
He pulled me into his lap after he seated himself in a chair. I was ready to protest, but one look at Bella told my conscious that Jacob needed all of the comfort in the world at the moment.
"Sam's lost the element of surprise, and he doesn't want to take you on outnumbered, so he's not going to come at you head on. He's got the place surrounded and he'll wait for his opportunity."
I shivered at how evil it sounded. It didn't sound like the Sam who would go home and kiss Emily and her scars.
"We won't get through without a fight." Emmett spoke up from across the room.
Carlisle lifted his head. "No fights." He looked at Jacob. "We won't be the ones to break the treaty."
"The treaty is void, at least in Sam's mind."
Esme shook her head. "Not in ours."
"Carlisle, no one's hunted for weeks." Emmett began again, walking closer to us. Jacob pulled me tighter against him.
"We'll make do." Esme said softly.
"You've done us a great service, Jacob. Thank you."
Jacob nodded at Carlisle.
Night had fallen, and I was sleepily staring outside the windows of the Cullen house. The porcelain cup filled halfway with mint tea sat tightly in between my hands. Any sign of movement, my back would tense and I would stare it down. Esme gave me the tea in hopes of calming me down, but so far it had done nothing for me.
I set it down on one of the side tables, and began making my way to where Leah and Jacob were standing. I could feel that Leah was upset. I couldn't make out her words, but the tone she was using made it sound as if she were trying to hold back tears.
"Being unwanted isn't exactly a new thing for me."
Jacob didn't reply. I wrapped my fingers around his and stood between him and Leah. I gave her a small grin, and for the first time in forever, she replied with a small smile before exiting. She took a few steps before she slid around.
"Look, I'll stay out of your way. I'll do whatever you want, except go back to Sam's pack and be the pathetic ex-girlfriend he can't get away from." My heart went out to Leah. I understood how it felt to be the other girl. We both turned to see her looking at our conjoined hands. "You don't know how many times I wished I could imprint on someone. Anyone."
Jacob looked at me. "Just to break the connection."
Jacob sighed and nodded. "All right. I'm going to do a perimeter run. You got my flank?"
Leah nodded her head. Jacob kissed my forehead before jogging off. I slowly made my way back to the porch. Something in the air shifted, and a pulse of fear went through my chest. I looked at the forest to see eyes peering back at me. The comfort I once found in the wolves was replaced with fear.
I quickly sprinted inside with my heart beating wildly. Jacob and Edward were chuckling about something while Esme was looking down at the ground.
"Did I miss something?"
Jacob looked up with a look of glee on his face. "Just Blondie getting a taste of her own medicine."
"I don't even want to know." I said as I plopped down onto the couch across from the sleeping Bella.
Days continued to pass, and Bella continued to get weaker. No matter what she ate or drank, she was still losing weight and continued to look as though she were going to bite the dust any second. I tried to comfort Jacob any time I could, but sometimes it was hard to reach him. The comfort I was giving him helped me move away from friend zoning Jacob and moving back to being in love with him. I had given up trying to fight my feelings for him. It was more exhausting than hating him.
"If only I could see the fetus-" Alice began.
"Baby." Rosalie corrected.
"Maybe then I could see what it wants."
"I think you might be right." Edward looked over at Jake. "Jacob just had an idea."
Jake chuckled slightly. "It wasn't an idea. It was a snide comment."
Carlisle still seemed interested. "What did you think?"
"That it's probably just looking for someone to sink its teeth into."
Bella weakly joined in. "He's thirsty."
"I know the feeling." Emmett said. He gave me a playful wink, which I stuck my tongue out to.
"If it's craving, it's not gonna want animal blood."
I swallowed harshly as the room spun slightly. Carlisle began to move. "I have some O negative laid aside for Bella."
Alice pulled Jasper up. "Walk with me."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. You're going to make her drink that?"Jacob stood up.
Carlisle looked up. "It's the fastest way to test the theory."
"Only if you're comfortable with it." Edward said, looking at Bella.
She responded with, "I'll try anything."
"Just hold on."
"I think I'm going to be sick." Jacob said as he moved further down the couch. I turned around on the stool I was sitting on and closed my eyes. I tried to take deep breaths but they weren't working.
Edward spoke in the silence. "This will be easier to take."
I heard a deep breath then, "Tastes...good."
Jacob pulled me off the stool and led me outside. I leaned against the railing and his arms surrounded me. His chest pressed against my back and we began a pattern of breathing in sync. After a few seconds of silence, the light footsteps of Alice greeted us.
"Chatty, aren't they?"
"Just trying to keep us on edge."
"It's working."
Alice moved closer and I smiled at Jacob's obvious discomfort. "What?"
"I can't just stand next to you guys?" She asked innocently.
"Okay."
"See, when I'm close to you, it's like being able to shut my eyes. Everything goes away. Except for the wet dog smell."
"I'm glad I can help someone."
Alice walked away shortly, leaving Jacob and I by ourselves. We sat in silence for a few seconds before he spoke.
"I don't say it enough, Melody, but I'm really happy you came back. Even if it's just for a few more weeks."
"I'm trying to stay longer." I tilted my head back onto his shoulder. "Especially now that you and I are trying to figure everything out."
"I know, baby." His warm lips pressed against my temple. "We'll figure it out. Even if we have to tie your mom up and send her to Timbuktu."
I laughed softly. "I hope so."
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