Chapter Thirty One: In Passing
You'd think after hurting your 'best friend' in the worst way possible and then him retaliating by getting you in trouble with your dad, Bella would have gotten the hint that Jake was mad and that he wanted very little to do with her at the moment, but no. Bella wasn't taking the hint and since she couldn't get Jake on the phone, had started using Charlie and I as carrier pigeons to carry notes to Jake like they were still elementary school.
Even though Jake was mad I could still see the disappointment ever time he got a note, the disappointment that unlike while the Cullens were gone, she wasn't just going to drive her to talk to him like she had the last time that had been put in separate corners. Despite being mad that she choice Edward over him, he was still waiting for her to come to her senses. Bella was adamant that they could still be friends, even with the vampire vs werewolf feud going on around her, but Jake had been equally adamant that it was one group or the other.
The Cullens seemed to think I was the one poisoning Bella to continue her relationship with the pack as Edward and Alice tried to befriend me and on more than one occasion tried to keep me from traveling to La Push. I had told them with no uncertain terms that I was going to La Push and I wanted nothing to do with them. Edward had retracked like he was burned when I thought about how his very existence and his relationship with Bella was nothing short of repulsive.
The Cullens were more than put off about my relationship with the pack and it only took one more jab at them before they made sure to stay away from me. I asked Bella if she realized that her relationship with Edward was the same as necrophilia. Bella became very upset at the thought and after Edward and Alice made sure to keep the two of us as far away from each other as possible. My influence in Bella's life was declared toxic and I couldn't be happier for it.
The pack had been worried at first about my living in a house frequented with vampires, but after explaining that the Cullens wanted nothing to do with me and why, they were still nervous, but less apprehensive of letting me go home. When I had mentioned the necrophilia comment I thought Paul was going to pee himself, he laughed so hard. Embry hated that I was practically taunting the vampires and made it his mission to have me in La Push as much as possible, even talking to Leah to convince me to practically move in with her family.
This afternoon Charlie had come home early to caught Bella before she disappeared into her room. He wanted to talk to her about not forgetting her other friends, he was terrified of having what happened in September repeat itself and wanted to make sure she wasn't put in the same isolated situation again. He took the chance to practice his speech on me before I slipped out to head to La Push.
Since Bella's return everything started to become a new normal, a mix of before the Cullens left and what life had been like before Bella learned about the pack. I continued my Quileute lessons with Billy and cooked like I had for old time's sake. Every now and again Embry would join us for dinner or I would go to Embry's when Tiffany demanded my presence.
When I walked into Billy's I could feel Jake's expectant eyes on me as he waited for the note he thought I was bringing for Bella, but I just walked past him with a smile and a 'hello' before getting to work. Jake didn't know it, but I had told Bella I wasn't going to be taking her notes to Jake anymore, each note made him feel worse and I wasn't going to be apart of that, If she wanted to talk to Jake she was going to have to tell Edward to screw off and drive to La Push herself.
Despite trying to ignore him, I could feel Jake's eyes on me as I cooked. The silence was awkward as I tried to focus on what I was doing and Jake pretended to do his homework. When I glanced back at him Jake was still one the same math problem he'd been on when I came in. Giving up I sighed and leaned back against the counter.
"Something on your mind, Jake?" I asked and crossed my arms over my chest.
"What does she see in him?" Jake asked. I sighed again as I pulled out the other chair and took a seat.
"Jake, honestly I have no idea. Quite frankly I think she's a little too much like her mother. Of all the people in this town, who's most likely to get her out of here? Bella has always hated Forks, she only came here because she felt awkward living with Renee and her new husband and she only stayed here after Edward left because she knew he was more likely to come back to her here than to Florida. I think Bella just sees Edward as her way out." I said and Jake looked hurt.
"You really think that about her?" He asked and I quirked a brow at the question.
"It's the only logical conclusion I can come to. Edward can take her away, literally give her eternity with anything and everything she wants. For her it's like a fairy tale." I explained and Jake nodded though I could see he was hurt. I waited a moment to see if he was going to say anything else. When he didn't I stood back up and went back to work with the chicken soup I was making for dinner.
It was silent for a long time before I heard Jake pick up his pencil again and start working on the homework he had abandoned. Not much was said through dinner and Jake disappeared for a while as Billy started my next Quileute lesson. When I yelled a good bye Jake showed back up and walked outside with me. Even though he hadn't said anything I could see the wheels turning in his head, he was thinking and he thinking hard.
"I think I'm done." Jake said in barely a whisper and I looked at him curiously.
"I don't want to be her second best, her back up plan. I don't want to settle for the 'we can still be friends' card." Jake said and his voice was getting stronger as he spoke.
"I'm putting out the white flag. I'm not going to continue fighting a losing battle if she can't even be bother to look in my direction. Her decision has been made for a long time. It's time I made mine." I smiled at his declaration and wrapped my arms around him.
"We just want you to be happy Jake. Find someone that wants you to be happy, too." I said and Jake gave me a tight squeeze.
"I'm sorry for all the shit I said and did to you. It wasn't fair. You're a great friend, Anna. I know I wouldn't still be here if you had said what I had to you." Jake said and I smiled though my eyes started to tear up.
"I just kept telling myself that you didn't understand, that in time you would. I knew you were just angry and were lashing out at me because you didn't get the chance with Sam and Embry. I missed you though." Jake gave me another tight squeeze before stepping away.
"Thank you, Anna." Jake said seriously and I nodded.
"I knew that thing between your ears would start working someday." I teased and Jake smirked.
"You calling me dumb?" Jake asked, pretending to be offended.
"Nah. Just a little slow." I said with a laugh before getting in my car.
When I got back to Uncle Charlie's he was sitting in the living room with a beer and the TV on to some baseball game. I squinted at the screen to make out who was playing and the score, but I had to move closer before I could make out either.
"You know squinting like that probably means you need glasses." Uncle Charlie said and I took a seat on the couch.
"Yeah, probably, but I only have to squint at the TV." I shrugged
"Wouldn't hurt to have an eye exam. Don't want you hurting your eyes, just because you don't want glasses." Charlie said and took a drink from his beer.
"It's not that I don't want to wear glasses, it's just that I don't need them. I can see everything expect the TV fine." I argued and Charlie nodded.
"I'll call and set you up an appointment tomorrow." Charlie said without looking at me. I rolled my eyes and stood up from the couch.
"Fine, it'll make you happy." I retorted.
"Thrilled." Charlie called after me and I shook my head. I went upstairs and got ready for bed, I was just about to climb into bed when my phone started ringing on the dresser.
"Hey, babe." I answered seeing Embry's name on the screen.
"Hey, mom wanted me to bring something up to you." Embry started.
"Bring what up to me?" I asked as I climbed into bed.
"Apparently the school mailed out reminders about prom with the reminder of the deadline for buying yearbooks. She's pushing we go to prom this year." Embry said and I had to laugh at his enthused tone.
"You sound like you really want to go." I said sarcastically as Embry chuckled.
"I don't mind if we go, I was just wondering if you wanted to go. Because if you don't I can just tell mom that you don't want to go and then she starts nagging you instead of me." Embry said with a laugh.
"I wouldn't mind going to prom. When is it?" I asked.
"Next month." Embry answered.
"Wow, she's really pushing this isn't she?" I asked, surprised that it was that far out.
"Yeah, I guess she didn't go to hers and she wants to make sure you go to yours because she knows Charlie not going to bring it up."
"Well she's got Charlie pegged." I joked.
"Yeah, but get this… this year's theme is tribal." Embry said and I laughed.
"They're really going all out then."
"I'm sure the elders are going to love seeing all of us running around in war paint and feathered head bands." Embry laughed and I hummed in agreement.
"I think you'll make a great tribal warrior." I said with a broad smile and Embry chuckled again.
"And I'm sure you'll be a gorgeous Indian princess. Love you, Anna."
"Love you, too, Embry. I'll see you later." We hung out and I was actually excited for the dance. Somehow in all the chaos of the last couple months I had completely missed all the fliers and I didn't even remember Ashley or Maggie talking about prom during lunch. It was something I was definitely going to have to remember to look for tomorrow.