I am on a roll today! Here's the next chapter of CrushCrushCrush! I really hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot. All else is SM's...even though part of me wishes it could be mine.
Chapter 20
It was almost hard to believe that yesterday had actually happened. It seemed like something that would come straight out of my dreams. But, the tingling feeling that I was feeling throughout my body was all the proof I needed that yesterday had in fact truly happened. Not that I needed more proof, but the fact that I couldn't stop humming or smiling either was even more proof.
For the first time in over a year, I felt the happiest that I'd ever been. Nothing could possibly ruin my mood. Anything or anyone could try, but it or they would fail miserably. I was so happy and I felt so complete that I was so high up in the sky, I would never come down.
"Bella!" I heard a voice call from downstairs.
I quickly recognized it and ran out of my room.
From the top of the stairs, I could see that he was grinning.
I couldn't stop from grinning back just as wide. It was just so contagious.
"Guess what?" he asked, looking up at me.
"What?" I questioned, curiously.
"Bells..." he started and paused. "The imprint is broken."
With those four words, it was as if everything fell completely into place.
"What?! How?!" I asked, shocked.
"I don't know," he answered, honestly just as shocked as me. "But, it's broken!"
"That...that's..." I didn't know how to describe it.
"Great?!" Jacob offered. "Phenomenal?! A dream come true?!"
"All of the above!" I exclaimed, running down the stairs and jumping into his open arms.
"It makes no sense, but it's broken and there isn't anything separating us anymore," Jacob said, smiling against my neck.
I know it wasn't the best time, but I couldn't help but wonder.
"Wait, what about Haley?" I asked, pulling back from him as he lowered me back to the floor.
"I broke up with her," he answered without hesitation. "The other day, actually."
My eyes widened. That was definitely unexpected.
"You did?"
He shook his head. "After what happened between us the other day, I just knew that things between Haley and I weren't like they used to be."
"What do you mean by that?" I wondered out loud.
"I mean, that I would've never been able to go as far as I did with you that day if the imprint was still in effect. It would've hurt too much. Then, yesterday..." he trailed off. "The imprint broke completely yesterday. Haley said she felt different, just as I did...and it was sometime after we..."
"Oh," was all I could say when I realized what he meant. "And, she's okay with..." I started to ask.
"It's fine, Bella," Jacob assured me. "She said she understands."
I sure hope so.
With her back and forth from bitch to nice and then back to bitch, I don't know if I actually believe her.
And, then what Jacob had just said actually sunk in.
"Wait a second. You said that after we...well, that's when you felt the change..."
Jacob nodded.
Oh, wow.
"You don't think that maybe..." I paused. "Umm...that maybe...us sharing...blood...had something to do with the imprint breaking completely, do you?"
Jacob thought about it for a moment before answering, "I never thought about that. It's a possibility, I guess."
"Oh, wow," I breathed out. "I need to call Bridget," I said moments later.
"Why?"
"She'll know what's going on," I answered, confidently.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Oh, shoot!
"Umm..." I started, turning and walking towards the kitchen. "It's hard to explain."
~CCC~
The second Bridget walked into the house, she let out an eardrum shattering squeal.
"You two totally had sex!" she exclaimed, looking from me to Jacob and back to me.
I rolled my eyes.
So typical of her.
"Oh god!" I moaned. "Seriously, Bridget?!"
"Oh, I'm so very happy for you two!" she said cheerfully, hugging us both. "It's about damn time!" she laughed when she stepped back. "So, what'd you call me for?"
"Well, we need your help with figuring something out."
"Alright, shoot."
"Umm...well, umm..." I had no idea how to say what I needed to say.
I turned my head to look at Jacob.
"We're trying to figure out how Haley and I's imprint broke after we...well, you know," Jacob said, taking over the conversation for me.
I sighed a sigh of relief and smiled.
Bridget looked to be in thought for a moment before she asked, "Well, did you both drink from each other?"
Jacob and I shook our heads.
"How many times?" she asked.
Oh, god. Was all of this really necessary?
"Umm...well, a couple times," I answered, truthfully deciding that she wouldn't ask unless it was necessary to figuring out what happened with the imprint and all.
"How many times exactly, and who drank from who each time?"
This was so awkward.
"Umm..."
"She drank from me first," Jacob answered.
"Yeah, what he said," I said, shaking my head in agreement.
"Okay, go on," Bridget urged.
"Then, I drank from her to get rid of the bite mark," Jacob continued.
"And, we drank from each other at the same time when I bit him again," I finished.
Bridget was quiet and looked deep in thought for a minute before breaking out into a huge smile. "Well, then congrats!" she exclaimed.
Jacob and I looked at each other confused and then at Bridget.
"Congrats for what?" we both asked in tandem.
"You're blood bonded," Bridget announced.
Both of us went wide eyed.
"We're what?" I asked.
"Blood bonded?" Jacob asked at the same time as me.
Bridget nodded her head. "It's the strongest bond that there is in the supernatural community."
Okay, so then that meant...
"So, what exactly are you saying?" I questioned her.
"I'm saying that the imprint was broken because the blood bond between the two of you is unbreakable and too strong for the imprint to compete with," Bridget explained in a matter of fact tone.
"So, we're..." I started to say.
Bridget cut me off, knowing exactly what I was about to ask, "Bonded for life. Or eternity, depending on how you two decide to live."
Silence filled the room as Jacob and I turned to look at each other.
"Alright, well, I have to go change clothes," Bridget said, breaking the silence.
I looked away from Jacob and towards Bridget. "Why?"
Bridget shrugged and answered with a sly smirk, "No reason."
"You have a hot date or something?" I guessed, jokingly.
"Maybe," Bridget winked.
Realization dawned on me quickly. "Wait! Already?!"
Bridget grinned as her way of answering.
"But, it's only been a day!"
"Yeah, and?" Bridget asked, nonchalantly. "Your point being?"
"Am I missing something here?" Jacob cut in.
I looked at him and simply said, "Paul."
Jacob's eyes widened and he looked from me to Bridget. "Really?"
Bridget just smiled. "Why not?" Then, she turned and left the room.
Jacob looked back at me and asked, "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I honestly don't know," I answered, and it really was the truth. "I guess, we'll just have to wait and find out."
Suddenly, out of the blue, the atmosphere seemed to change again.
"Umm, Bells...why are your eyes turning golden?" Jacob asked, taking a step back away from me.
"Oh, they always do that when a vampire is near by," I answered, and then it hit me.
Why the hell was there a vampire near by?
Jacob suddenly caught a whiff of the vampire's scent and turned away, growling at the front door just as a knock was heard.
Weird. Well, it couldn't be just any vampire if they were knocking.
Jacob moved towards the door, and opened it slowly.
I was frozen in place, however. Well, my human side was. But, as more of my vampire half started taking over, I found the strength to turn around and was shocked to see a certain pixie vampire I never thought I'd see again standing there in the doorway.
I could feel my blood start to boil, not that I could control it. It's just what happens now when a vampire is around. I was truly shocked.
"Alice?"
So, there you have it, Chapter 20! Thoughts? Review, please?
Next chapter; Alice has returned. But, why? Also, Bella's control is tested. And, Bella and Jacob have a talk about their new found bond/relationship.