* As always thanks for your patience. I know this ones a little short but hopefully I'll have another one up in the next week or so. I'm amazed that people are still favoriteing and following this story. Thank you to everyone that has and to everyone who keeps reading even though I'm terrible at updating. I promise I will finish this story. Please leave a review, I love to hear peoples reactions. Thank yo.*
Chapter 29 - "I'll Always Save You"
"Jake I'm sorry about earlier. I love you. I shouldn't have let you leave without telling you tha…" I gasp as the figure comes into focus. The shadowy outline is too slight to be Jake. This isn't Jake. This is Bella. but this time instead of a sweet smile and shy eyes she is baring fangs and red eyes. I scream erupts from my throat but it sounds far away.
She's shaking me. Why is she shaking me? Where is Jake? Why isn't he here to protect me? I'm going to die and I'll never get to tell him that I forgive him, that I love him. I should never have let him leave.
Bella pulls my head to the side, exposing my neck and I know what she'll do next. In these last seconds I have left, with my last breath, his name falls from my lips in a sob. I close my eyes and give in to her, going still in her grip. She's shaking me again. Why does she keep shaking me?
"Alex!"
Jake! I gasp and my eyes snap open and are met with concerned and frightened brown ones. Bella's gone and Jake is here. How? I blink at him in confusion before taking in my surroundings. I'm in Jake's room again, Harper sitting next to us looking just as concerned as Jake.
I meet Jakes eyes again before sitting up in his bed, his hand falling from my shoulders. It was Jake shaking me. It was a dream... a nightmare. I draw in a shaky breath before throwing my arms around Jake and burying my face in his neck, struggling to slow my racing heart.
"It's okay Lex. It was just a nightmare. I'm here." he says softly into my hair as he smooths out my nightmare induced bed head. His skin is warm and smells of the forest. It's comforting and inviting. I feel safe again, being surrounded by him, engulfed in all that is Jake.
"I'm so sorry Jake. Never leave me."
"Never."
I let him hold me a while longer. Loving the feel of his strong arms protectively wrapped around me.
"Alex, what in the world were you dreaming about? You nearly beat me in your sleep." Harper asks, reminding me that she was still there. I reluctantly pull out of Jake's arms. He smiles tentatively at me but the worry is still etched in his eyes.
"I.. It was.." I look worriedly at Jake. I don't want to tell him about my dream. I'm embarrassed and I don't want to bring her up with him again. I want to pretend she doesn't exist but he runs a reassuring hand up and down my arm, brining goose bumps over my skin.
"I dreamt that Jake came back from his patrol.. or at least I thought he did. It was Bella.. she was a vampire… she tried.." I take a deep steadying breath. Just talking about it brings back vivd memories of the drem. "...to kill me." I stumble through my explanation, trying hard to not sound jealous or petty. "I couldn't find you Jake. Nobody was there to save me. I gave up but then you woke me."
Jake grabs my face between his large warm palms, "I will always save you." He replies as if it isn't even possible that he couldn't. I know that there very well could come a time when he cant save me but his confidence makes me believe him anyway. I don't have a response, I simply stare into his eyes and let him read my own for the answer. I trust him. I probably wont ever fully understand why but I do. We've known each other for such a short period of time yet I can no longer imagine a life without him.
"I'll take the couch tonight. I'm sure your dad will understand Jake. Try and get some sleep." She says, directing the last part at me. Jake drop his hands from my face and I nod at her.
"Thank you." Jake says for the both of us as she leaves the room. At the door she give us a quick glance back and a soft smile graces her lips. I want to return it but I'm still a little shaken from the nightmare. It was so vivid I was sure it was real.
Jake tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, brining my attention back to him. "You okay Lex?" I nod and give him a weak smile which he returns with equal enthusiasm, or lack thereof.
"I really am sorry Jake. I overreacted about Bel…"
"No I overreacted to the news about her wedding. I'm sorry Alex." He takes my bruised writ in his hands as a pained look glosses over his eyes and furrows his brow. "I hate that I hurt you. I promise I'll do bett…"
"Jake" I sigh too tired to argue but hating to see him continue to beat himself up over it. "Can we have another do over." He smiles genuinely at me and gives a gentle laugh. I smile back at him. He's so handsome when he smiles. "This day hasn't gone at all like I had hoped. Can we just pretend it didn't happen and start over." He nods and kisses me quickly.
"lets get some sleep. Its been a long day." He climbs into bed and pulls me down next him. I gladly let him pull me into his bare warm chest and close my eyes. I hear as well as feel his content sigh as we settle into the blankets. His breath fluttering the hair at the base of my neck. I feel him press a kiss behind my ear and cant help the shiver it induces. I entwine my fingers with his across my abdomen and snuggle further into him. In this moment I believe with every fiber of my being that we belong together, that he will make me happy. I just hope I will be able to make him just as happy.
" I love you Lex." He whispers and I wouldn't be able to stop the radiant smile that emerges on my face if I tried. We've never actually told each other that we love each other. With the whole imprint thing I guess it was assumed but neither of us has actually said it.
" I love you too Jake." I reply. I feel his smile at the base of my neck just as I drift off into a nightmare feel sleep, hoping that tomorrow might go a little smoother than today.
