AN: This story is rated M for a reason. Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story.
I don't own Twilight.
I just like to play around in different worlds with them :)
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Bella completely forgot about her phone until she was about to cross the treaty line that Emily had explained earlier in the day. She reached for it snatched it off the seat and turned it back on. It began to ding with message after message and she frowned at it as it kept going off. She blinked her eyes for a moment as she ignored the phone and focused on the road. She closed her right eye and everything became darker around her. Then she switched eyes.
Her right eye gave her perfect vision as if it was daylight outside. She could see the owl in the tree a mile down the road, perched on a branch as it watched a mouse scurrying below it. She felt the gasp before she heard it. She had perfect eyesight in her right eye. She could see the dust particles circling in the air around her in the cab of the truck. The small oil stain on the floorboard she thought she had gotten out of it when she first got the vehicle. A snake slithered along the roadside in the moist dirt as it stalked the same mouse the owl was intent on.
She blinked rapidly as she tried to understand what she was seeing. Her chest tightened in pain and she frowned at the feeling as she parked in the driveway. She felt as if she was supposed to be somewhere but couldn't remember where she was supposed to be. She slid out of the truck and walked tiredly inside, only to be met with an angry father.
"Where the hell have you been?" he snapped. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
She shook her head, "My phone died but I was down with Sam and Emily on the Rez. I'm surprised Billy didn't call you. I was looking for Jacob there first."
His anger instantly disappeared, "Oh. No, he didn't call."
She frowned, "I'm sorry dad. I really did think that he would have called when I went over to Emily's."
He shook his hand in the air, "No don't worry about it. Did you have a good time?"
She smiled, "Yeah I really did."
He grinned, "Good. Well, it's after midnight so you better get some sleep." She started on the stairs as he said, "Oh and Laurent has been looking for you."
She froze halfway up the stairs, "Did he call or come by?"
"Both."
She grimaced as she took another step, and then another. She was hesitating because she knew he would be angry with her, especially since her phone had been off the entire day. She forced her body to move and stopped in the bathroom first to shower. She had been keeping an extra pair of sweats and a muscle shirt in the bathroom just for reason's like this since Laurent had become a more permanent fixture in her life. She knew how much he hated the wet dog smell and she knew that she was going to be in enough trouble.
As she entered her room however it was not Laurent that was waiting for her. Carmen's eyes were black and Eleazar looked even more disheveled than the last time she had seen him. Carmen was the first to blur to her, except she was able to follow every movement the vampire made with her right eye.
"Where have you been? Do you have any idea what the family has been going through? Alice said your future disappeared and then none of us could get a hold of you. Do you know how hard it has been to sit and do nothing? Do you know what could have happened to you?"
Bella felt her heart almost burst in her chest as the vampire went mother bear on her. This she expected from Esme but she was too soft spoken for it. This woman clearly was not.
Eleazar took a step forward, "What do you have to say for yourself young lady?"
Bella couldn't help the smile that crossed her face, "At least I don't smell like wet dog."
Two vicious growls echoed around the room and a small chuckled carried in through her window. "Kate!" Eleazar snarled.
Bella sucked in her bottom lip to keep from laughing, "Where is Laurent?"
Carmen turned black eyes to her, "Hunting. He has been so worried about you."
"Though not as much as Tanya." Kate said as Bella watched her come through the window from the corner of her right eye.
"Katrina!" Eleazar snapped again.
Carmen shook her head, "Go to bed right now and we will talk about this tomorrow."
She guided her to the bed and actually tucked her in for the night after hugging her tightly. As Kate huffed and slipped out the window followed by Eleazar, Carmen turned to her, "Try two washes to get the smell out dear. It's close but not quite gone."
Bella chuckled as she laid back. She could still feel the pain in her chest and slowly rubbed it before she drifted off to sleep.
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The next morning she jerked upright in bed as Laurent gripped her arms, "It's okay Bella. It's just a dream."
She could feel the sweat coating her body as she shook violently. She stared at him and frowned, "I expected you to be here last night."
"I would have been if Irina hadn't been trying to keep me from crossing the line and going after you." He glared at her, "What were you thinking?"
She shook his hands off and stood, "I was thinking about saving my family. Sam has agreed to include you in the treaty with the Cullen's. You and the Denali's are free to come and go to Forks as you like."
She got a shower and dressed for school before returning to her room but he was still there, "Why do you think we are here?"
She shrugged, "No idea. Maybe because the Cullen's are returning."
He shook his head, "So you give those dogs a chance but you still have reservations about us."
She glared at him, "I have reservations about all of you at times. Why don't you go home so I can go to school?" she spun on her heel and headed downstairs.
She stepped off the last step and saw him blur down the stairs. She grabbed her keys and stepped to the side before he could grab her arm. He stared at her wide eyed as his hand missed its target. "How?"
"I noticed last night when I was driving home that it looked like daytime, that's why I didn't know how late it was. I can see you move as long as it's on my right side." She shrugged confusedly at him.
He followed her out the door, "You feeling okay?"
She shrugged at him as she started the truck, "I don't know. I feel like I should be somewhere but I have no clue where and I can't shake this pain I have in my chest."
His smile lit up his face, "Really."
She glanced at him as she pulled on a pair of sunglasses, the light being too bright for her right eye, "What's with the shit eating grin?"
He shook his head, "Nothing." But the smile remained.
"Either tell me or get out."
He glared at her, "Are you really going to make me jump out of a moving vehicle in the middle of the street?"
"Get. Out." She snapped.
He sighed, "So moody."
He disappeared from the truck and a moment later she pulled into the school parking lot. She found her usual group surrounding Tyler's van and Angela waved her over, "Bella you have to see this."
She walked over as Jessica nodded over her shoulder, "Take a look. The Cullen's cousins are finishing the year out here."
She glanced over and spotted Tanya, Kate, and Irina standing near their Mercedes. Tanya's eyes were on her as she quickly turned back to the group, "Wonderful."
"Do you know them?" Lauren asked.
She shrugged, "Sort of. I've only met them once before."
Jessica jumped in with the gossip as Bella looked back over at Tanya. The warm fuzzy feeling that entered body made her frown as she watched the strawberry blonde lead her sisters into the building. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something as she followed Angela into their first class.
At lunch she was still trying to figure out whatever she was missing that she didn't even see Mike until she ran into him. She looked up at him after she was already on the floor, "Sorry."
He laughed, "Same old Swan." He held his hand out to her, "You doing okay Bella?"
She nodded, "Yeah sorry I was just lost in thought."
She took his hand as the doors opened and the Denali sisters entered the room. Stares followed every move they made as the gorgeous blondes strode across the cafeteria. Mike pulled Bella up just as they approached them.
"Bella, good to see you." Irina smiled at her.
Bella smirked at her, "You too Irina."
Mike stared at her as the blondes took a seat across the room, "You know them?"
She could feel Tanya's eyes on her as she nodded, "They are the Cullen's cousins from Alaska."
Lauren pulled her jaw off from the floor, "I didn't think anyone could run against Hale."
Bella frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Just that she was the Ice Queen but I bet that Tanya Denali could beat her for the crown."
Bella felt the anger rise in her chest before she could stop, "Not everyone can be a gossip whore. That title is still safe with you."
Mike and Tyler cheered as Bella spun around and left the cafeteria with claps following her. She shook her head trying to get rid of the anger she felt as she walked casually to her truck. A cool hand gripped her wrist and she was spun to face Tanya.
"You didn't have to do that." Her sparkling eyes met her own.
She nodded, "Yes I did."
"Why?"
She didn't have an answer. Why had she gotten so angry with Lauren for that? It wasn't like she was defending… Her eyes widened as it hit her. She pulled away from the blonde before she turned and ran for her truck. There was no way. She sped to the house and slammed her bedroom door behind her.
It couldn't be.
She couldn't go through that again. She could not be mated to Tanya. That was absurd. The vampire had her choice of any creature she wanted and she would not choose a silly clumsy human. She shook her head as she dug through her closet then dashed downstairs to the closet under the stairs. Finally she found the guitar and took it back up to her room.
She sat on her bed as she stared out the window as she began to play. Her fingers moving across the strings with perfect clarity, the acoustics filled the room beautifully as she played and she closed her eyes. Playing always gave her a little peace when she was upset or anxious and right now she was both. She let her worries flow into the instrument in her hands as she focused on the sound and nothing else.
When she did finally open her eyes it was dark outside and she smiled as she glanced at the person in her doorway, "Been a long time since you played." Charlie smiled at her.
She shook her head and placed the guitar in its cradle in the corner of the room, "Been a long time since I needed to."
He nodded as he left and a moment later she heard the TV flip on downstairs. She sat at her desk doing homework until her eyes burned. She felt a little sad that Laurent hadn't shown up but she really didn't expect him to since he was back with his mate.
The word made her shutter a bit. How could she have believed that Edward was her mate? She never felt the way she does when she just looks at Tanya. She missed Tanya but at the same time she didn't know if she could handle another situation where she was just left behind. It had nearly killed her before and that was when she only thought she was Edwards mate. What would happen now? With an actual mate.
Even the thought of Tanya leaving hurt beyond anything she could remember ever feeling before. It felt as if someone was trying to rip her chest open and claw out her still beating heart. She couldn't think when the blonde would look at her and she felt this warm happiness spread in her body when they touched, and that was only three times so far.
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She slept very little that night and when she awoke the following morning she was alone in her room. She moved around the room as she tidied it up before heading downstairs. Charlie was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee as she poured herself a cup.
"So you didn't get to tell me about your trip to La Push."
She shrugged, "It was good to finally talk to someone who understands what I feel."
He frowned at her, "You okay Bells? You don't look so good."
She shook her head, "I'm going to skip school today."
He nodded, "Get some sleep okay."
She took her cup as she stood and kissed him on the cheek, "Be safe."
She climbed the stairs tiredly and sat at her desk. She couldn't get her mind off of Tanya. She hated feeling like her happiness depended on someone else, but what could she do? She finished her coffee before falling into bed. She knew she had to face it but today she was going to act like a child and refuse. Her head was pounding as it was and thinking hurt to much.
She wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep or how long it had been but she felt the cool breeze on her face alerting her to a presence in her room. She sat up still trying to pull herself out of dream land when something touched her. She screamed and fell out of bed in her startled state. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to slow her breathing.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs and a moment later her bedroom door burst open. Charlie frowned down at her, "You okay Bells?"
She nodded as she looked up at her father, "Yeah. Just a dream."
He frowned as he helped her up, "I thought those were gone?"
She shrugged, "Just left overs I guess."
He grimaced at her, "You're bleeding Bella."
She glanced down at her shirt and frowned. She crossed the hall to the bathroom while Charlie disappeared. He was good at many things but blood was not one of them. She used to be that way but after everything she had gone through with James and then her wounds from Jacob she was okay with it.
She pulled her shirt off and frowned at the bandage on her chest. It covered the right side of her chest, the bright red color slowly spreading on the white gauze. She gritted her teeth as she pulled the tape off of her skin while trying not to yank a staple out when it would catch on the gauze. She felt the sting as she pulled a little too hard and she held her breath against the pain while gripping the sink tightly.
She felt the tear slid down her cheek before she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Frustration was winning tonight. She shook her head and closed her eyes tightly as she pulled the rest of the bandage off painfully. Tears streamed down her face as she took slow deep breaths trying not to let the nausea escape. She finally looked on the mirror and frowned at the blood that was oozing from some of the staples that held her skin together on three separate claw marks.
For a moment she wished Carlisle was around. He would be able to help her because Charlie couldn't. She sat carefully on the edge of the tub as she cried silently. How did her life get so complicated? One moment she was normal and then she moved to Forks and everything had changed. Vampires and werewolves were real, and she was caught in the middle. She let her mind drift to another place as she cleaned the wounds as best she could.
A place where she was normal and everyone was human. Then again what excitement would she have if everything was normal? She would probably end up with Mike Newton. The thought alone had her shaking her head in disgust.
She put clean bandages on the wounds and washed her face before returning tiredly to her room. She jumped in fright as Laurent sat in the rocking chair. She put her hand over her heart as she closed her door quietly, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
He shook his head, "No. I'm sorry about startling you too."
She frowned, "Why are you sneaking around my room?"
"Tanya wants to speak to you. She's worried because you weren't in class today."
She sighed as she sat on the bed, "I had a headache and I'm exhausted."
He nodded, "You can't run from her forever."
She glared at him, "I can if I want to."
He shook his head, "I heard you in there Bella. If you won't let me help then let her."
She looked away from him, "I can make it on my own." She slid under the covers and turned her back to him.
"No one said you couldn't but ask yourself this. If you cry yourself to sleep every night, how will you ever get better?"
She rolled to look at him but she was alone in her room again.
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The following morning she arrived early to school and found the Denali's already there. Tanya's eyes landed on her as soon as she pulled into the parking lot. She could feel them on her as she slid stiffly out of the pickup. Her chest was on fire but she was tired of the medication making her feel dazed. She pulled her book bag over her left shoulder as she made her way across the parking lot towards the building.
Tanya fell into step beside her, "Morning Bella."
"Morning."
Tanya frowned, "How are you feeling?"
She sighed, "Didn't Laurent tell you?"
"No. He is a very private person when it comes to you."
Bella scoffed, "Laurent is anything but private."
"I did not mean to upset you Bella." Tanya caught her arm to stop her.
Bella felt a slight pull on the staples and quickly jerked her arm away. She saw the hurt in Tanya's eyes, and she stopped moving, "I'm sorry. You didn't upset me. I just have a lot going on and I haven't been sleeping very well."
Tanya nodded, "I'm sorry I bothered you Bella."
Bella watched her walk away as an ache grew inside of her chest. She knew Tanya was hurt by the rejection, but it wasn't like she was completely rejecting her. Was she? She frowned as she continued to her class. Did she want to reject Tanya? Could she reject her?
She shook her head as she sat at her desk. No, she couldn't reject her. Was she afraid Tanya would learn more about her and then decide to reject her? Yes, she was afraid of that but Tanya had done nothing but try to get close to her. She was the one pushing Tanya away.
The bell rang pulling her out of her thoughts. She grabbed her bag and hurried out of the room. She scanned the groups and found Kate walking away from her. She knew she wouldn't be able to catch up to the blonde, so she covered her mouth and turned to the lockers next to her before she said, "Kate?"
Kate spun around and she nodded once as she stood next to the water fountain.
"I'll talk to Tanya at lunch."
Kate nodded again. She grinned as she headed off to her next class. She barely payed attention in her next few classes as she counted down the time until lunch.
As she made her way to the cafeteria she ran into Angela, "Hey Bella. Did you start the history homework yet?"
She shook her head as she walked beside her, "No. I had to do some catch up work from yesterday." A shoulder slammed into her right side and she gasped in pain, dropping her bag. She felt the pop and the pull of her skin as a staple jerked free of her wound.
Lauren glared at her, "Watch where you're going Swan. Other people have to walk here too ya know." Jessica laughed as Lauren kicked her book bag and papers scattered across the floor.
Bella turned towards the lockers, hiding the tears that were brought to her eyes, as she felt a warm liquid slowly begin to trickle down her chest.
Angela shook her head, "They need to get over themselves."
Bella nodded as she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She took a breath and said calmly, "I'll catch up to you in the cafeteria."
Angela nodded still glaring at the two retreating girls, "Okay."
Once Angela was gone Bella quickly gathered up her papers and rushed to the closest restroom. She unbuttoned her shirt with shaky hands and gently pulled it open while she looked in the mirror. Bright red was spreading across her bandages again and she placed her hands on the counter, trying to take slow deep breaths. The pain was excruciating as her chest began to throb and she regretted not taking the pain medication before school.
The door closed and she spun around to face Tanya. She quickly wrapped her arms around herself, pulling her jacket closed at the same time. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and shook her head. Tanya's eyes were pitch black as she walked to her, gently taking her wrists in her hands. Bella looked down at the floor as Tanya carefully pulled her shirt away from her body.
"I'll take you home."
She knew she couldn't argue. Honestly, she didn't want to, not this time. She buttoned up her shirt and let Tanya lead her out of the bathroom. She didn't have the strength to pull her hand away as Tanya held it tightly, pulling her towards the parking lot. Once at her truck Tanya opened the passenger side door for her before she blurred to the drivers' seat.
They were silent as Tanya drove and they parked in the driveway. Bella stared at her hands, "Thank you."
"Let me help you." Tanya said softly.
Bella nodded. She was tired. Too tired to fight. She led the strawberry blonde upstairs and into the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the tub as Tanya opened the medicine cabinet. She gently pulled Bella's shirt down her arms and sat it on the edge of the sink.
Bella would have felt uncomfortable being topless in front of someone she didn't know if she wasn't in so much pain. Tanya made her feel comfortable, completely at ease. She grimaced and closed her eyes tightly as Tanya pulled the bloody bandage off her chest as gently as she could.
Tanya's eyes were pitch black and she felt bad for putting her in a difficult position, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Tanya asked as she worked carefully but quickly.
"I know this has to be hard." She quickly balled up the bandages.
Tanya shook her head as she knelt in front of her, "It doesn't bother me."
Without thinking Bella reached up to touch Tanya's face, tracing the light purplish color under the blonde's dark eyes, "Your eyes are black."
Tanya nodded, "My mate is injured and bleeding. I would have killed someone if you had not agreed to let me bring you home. To get you away from everyone, including my own family."
She frowned as she let her hand fall, "Why?"
Tanya finished with the bandages before she spoke, "When a vampire's mate is injured the need to protect is overwhelmingly powerful. You being a human makes it even worse."
"Because of the blood?" She asked curiously.
Tanya nodded, "Only because it means you could die. I could never hurt you Bella. You are mine and I want to claim you as such, but I could never hurt you. Everything in me right now is in protection mode."
Tanya disappeared suddenly but reappeared just as quickly, "Drink." She held out a bottle of water and two pills from the bottle in the cabinet. She drank all the water before tossing the empty bottle in the small trash can behind the door.
She stood, dizziness catching her off guard. She swayed but Tanya instantly pulled her closer, steadying her. She grabbed a black muscle shirt off the back of the toilet and was grateful when Tanya helped her get it on. She led the vampire to her bedroom across the hallway and sat on her bed as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"Sleep my Bella." Tanya said as she crouched down in front of her.
Bella shook her head, "I wanted to talk to you."
Tanya smiled, "I know. Kate told me. We can talk when you get awake."
She felt Tanya push her gently back on the bed before pulling her shoes off. She mumbled, "How did you know?"
Tanya ran her fingers through her hair, relaxing her even more, before she answered, "I smelled your blood."
She opened her mouth to respond but instead she drifted off to sleep.
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She jerked awake as she was shaken gently. Charlie smiled down at her before he sat on the edge of the bed, "I was told you missed your last few classes."
She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "I'm sorry dad."
He shook his head, "I knew it was too soon for you to return to school."
She chuckled, "I'm fine really. I'm just tired."
"Your body is healing Bells. You're going to be tired for a while. Angela brought your homework over to the station for you. It's on your desk." He smiled at her, "Go back to sleep."
She nodded, "Thanks dad." She scrunched back down under her covers as Charlie shut the door.
She grinned, "Laurent?"
The closet door slid open, "Yes?"
She chuckled, "Just checking." She dozed back off as his quiet laughter met her ears.
Her alarm clock blared the following morning and she threw it across the room. Laurent laughed, "Now what did that clock do to you?"
She groaned and threw her pillow at him.
"Now, now." He blurred to the bed as she rolled over to face him. "It's a school day Bella."
She jerked her covers up over her head. When he didn't say anything she pulled the covers down just as Charlie opened her door, "I was just coming to check on you. You going to stay home today?"
She nodded, "I'll go next week dad."
He nodded, "Okay. I'll call the school. Get some rest Bells. I just got you back."
She smiled at him, "I promise."
Once he was gone Laurent appeared next to her, "Just got you back?"
She sighed and sat up, leaning back against her head board, "James." She spent the morning telling him all about James and what had transpired since he hadn't been around.
He shook his head as she paced back and forth, "Have you seen Victoria since?"
She nodded, "I was cliff diving a few months ago. I was pulled under by the current and Sam pulled me out of the water. I always wondered how he had the strength to get to me but now I know." She shrugged.
He frowned, "She won't give up that easily."
She nodded with a sigh, "I know."
"And you didn't think to tell me?" He glared at her.
She threw her covers off, "You weren't supposed to stay, remember." She threw her door open and headed downstairs.
His growl followed her and she saw him blur into the room, "This is need to know information Isabella."
"Don't call me that Old Man." She snapped. "If you haven't noticed I've been preoccupied with other things."
"What is more important than a sadistic, and believe me she is just as sadistic as James, vampire that is out to kill you?" He snarled.
She grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, "Oh I don't know. How about an Old Man that won't leave me alone for unknown reasons? Or the vampire that just happened to show up because of that same Old Man, who now claims that she's my true mate? Or the fact that the only person I considered my best friend has turned on me and nearly killed me? If you haven't fucking noticed Laurent, my life has fallen apart in more than one way and I'm only seventeen."
She stormed out of the room and slammed her bedroom door shut a moment later.
He took a deep breath. She was right. He wasn't giving her credit for the amount of troubles she's had to deal with in the past year, and she still managed to survive a viscous attack from a vampire. She was the oddest of humans but also the strongest he'd ever seen.
She sat at her desk for an hour and eyed the homework that Angela had gotten for her. She shook her head at it. She was doing the best she could given her circumstances and maybe she was making some mistakes. Tanya for example, was the biggest one. She couldn't keep pushing her away. She knew she was better off just accepting the mate bond, in fact it would probably make her life easier.
But she was never about the easy way. She has always made choices that were better for everyone else. Why couldn't she finally make the choices that were best for her? Then again, what if Tanya was the best choice for her? She stood and threw her bottle of water across the room in anger.
Why did everything have to be so complicated? She stared out her window and spotted the figure just inside the tree line. She really did not want to do this right now. She pushed her window up and stood back.
Jacob frowned at her as he crawled through the window, "It reeks in here."
"What are you doing her Jake?" She backed away from him.
He stared down at the floor, "You wouldn't see me any other way."
She shook her head, "You nearly killed me. I needed time."
He nodded, "I know. I just wanted to know how you're doing?"
She glared at him, "You don't get to be a part of my life anymore Jacob."
"Bella you know I would never hurt you on purpose." He pleaded.
She shook her head, "Tanya would never hurt me but you Jacob, you would if I don't do what you want."
His body began to shake, "Bella they aren't good for you."
"You aren't good for me. Get out and don't come back Jacob." She crossed her arms over her chest.
He glared at her as he grabbed her arm roughly, "You'll regret this Bella."
She shoved him backwards, "Get. Out." She felt the anger begin to boil under her skin.
He took a step towards her before he was suddenly tossed across the room. He crashed into her desk and sent objects flying across the floor as the wood snapped and broke under the force.
"The Cullen's have a treaty. I don't." Laurent said with a growl as he stood in front of her protectively.
His dark eyes were glued to the boy as he picked himself up off the floor. His body shook uncontrollably as he glared at the vampire, "She belongs with me."
Laurent shook his head, "Not a chance in hell mongrel."
She gripped Laurent's arm, "Don't do anything stupid."
Jacob took one step before there was a howl in the air. He glanced at the window before looking back at her, "I will get you to see it my way Bella."
She shook her head, "I'm with Laurent on this one. Not a chance in hell."
Laurent kept himself between her and Jacob as the boy moved to the window. Jacob took one last look at her before jumping out of the window and disappearing into the trees. Laurent slammed the window shut before turning to her.
"Now do you believe me?"
She rolled her eyes at him before turning to her broken desk. She knelt on the floor as her hands shook. She didn't know if she was angry or sad. Jacob was her oldest friend, but he had changed so much over the last few months, she didn't even know him anymore.
"Bella?" Laurent called softly.
She shook her head, "Please go."
She felt the breeze as he left, and the silent tears rolled down her face as she mourned the loss of her friend. You could say she was being dramatic, but she knew that she would never get the old Jacob back. The one that had long hair and was happy just being her friend. That Jacob was gone and that was who she mourned for. She sat on the floor with her back against her bed as she cried.
After a while she began to clean the mess up, sitting items on her bed and carrying the broken bits of her desk downstairs. Two hours later she threw the last piece of her desk in the trashcan outside and she turned to find Sam watching her. She shook her head at him, unable to speak as a lump formed in her throat. He walked to her and hugged her tightly, while being careful not to hurt her. He sat with her in her room as she tried to understand why Jacob was being the way he was.
"So, when he thought he had a chance he was still my Jacob."
Sam nodded, "When the Denali's came in he knew he had lost you for good this time because he didn't feel the pull to you like he did before."
She sighed, "Why does it have to be so complicated?"
He chuckled, "I've been asking that same question since I was a kid."
She smirked at him, "How's Emily and the others?"
He grinned and sat back in the rocker, kicking his bare feet up on her bed, "She's good. She'd like if you came for dinner again. She and Kim are enjoying not being the only two with a secret."
She nodded, "I'd love to."
"Good I'll let her know that I'll be driving you there."
She laughed. She glanced at her closed window, "I don't know what to do about Tanya."
He nodded, "It's a lot to take in. When I told Emily, she didn't speak to me for a month. I thought for sure she was going to go back to college and I'd never see her again."
"What brought her around?" she asked curiously.
He shrugged, "I'm not sure, she never told me exactly."
A few hours later Charlie arrived home and smiled when he saw her and Sam on the sofa, "Hey Bells. Sam." He nodded at him.
Sam smiled, "Chief Swan. Emily would like to have Bella over for dinner tonight if that's alright with you."
"How are you feeling?" Charlie asked as he sat on the edge of the armchair.
She smiled, "Better."
He grinned, "It's fine with me if you're up to it. I just stop by to check on you and let you know I'm pulling a double tonight."
She nodded, "Okay dad. Be safe."
"You too kiddo." He left quickly.
Sam drove the truck while they talked about different things on the way to their house. Once there Kim parked beside them as she exited the truck.
"Hey Bella." She hugged her gently.
"Kim, how have you been?"
She chuckled as Jarrod kissed her cheek before following Sam inside, "Stressed."
Bella chuckled, "I'm right there with ya."
Kim laughed as she wrapped an arm around her left and they walked inside together. Emily handed them both a glass of wine and Bella was relieve that Sam wasn't protesting. It helped take the edge of while she, Emily and Kim cooked dinner. It felt good to have a girls night where she didn't have to hid anything. They already what Jacob had done and they were angry with him.
"He needs a good beating." Kim said as she poured her third glass of wine.
Emily chuckled as she pulled the green bean casserole out of the oven and Bella stirred the gravy on the stovetop, "I agree he needs to learn boundaries but I don't think a beating would do any good for that think head of his."
Paul entered the kitchen shyly and leaned on the counter, "I wanted to apologize for the other day Bella."
She nodded, "I shouldn't have smacked you. I'm sorry."
He shook his head, "I have an anger issue Bella. Lets just agree to talk first next time."
She smiled at him, "I agree." She held her hand out and he took it with a smile.
He pulled her against him and hugged her, managing to not hurt her with his strength. She laughed and pushed on his shoulder, "Stop trying to steal a French fry."
He grinned at her, "I can't help it. It smells so good in here."
The three of them shooed him out of the kitchen with laughter. Emily and Kim started carrying the food to the table while she set it with plates and silverware. Sam, Jarrod, and Paul were laughing as they sat around the table waiting for the food to arrive and she couldn't help but smile at them.
Dinner was filled with talk of events that did not have to do with the supernatural. It felt good to talk about other things, like what was happening in other parts of the world. They were shocked at how much of an adult she was, and she took pride in the compliments about her intelligence.
Throughout dinner she noticed Paul was sitting closer to her than he had when they started eating and every so often, he moved closer to her. She could feel the heat radiating off him as they ate dessert. As she cleared the table Emily and Kim dragged their imprints into the other room for a private word.
Paul smiled at her as he picked up some dirty plates, "How are you feeling Bella?"
She glanced up at him, "Fine. How have you been Paul?" She carried the dishes into the kitchen with him right behind her.
"Better now. I wanted to talk to you about something actually."
She began to fill the sink as she frowned at him, "You're making me nervous."
He shook his head, "It's nothing bad it's just… I know how much you have on your plate and I don't want to add to it but this is getting harder to keep from everyone and I want you to be the first to know before it gets around and we-"
She put her hand over his mouth, "You're rambling Paul and it's not making this easier. Just say it."
He nodded and took a deep breath, "I imprinted on you."
Her eyes widened in shock. She really did not need this right now.
He held his hands up in defense, "It's not like Sam and Emily. I promise. You already have a mate."
She backed away from him. She could feel her heart beating faster in her chest.
"Bella, I swear it's not what you think." He frowned at her.
"You moron!" Emily rushed into the room, "How dare you three keep this from us."
Kim quickly pulled Bella into the living room while Emily continued to yell at the three boys, "We could have eased her into this but no. You just go running head long into something that you don't understand."
"Dear," Sam started.
"Do not start with me. Go patrol. I'll deal with you later." Emily hurried into the living room.
Bella sat on the sofa trying to slow her breathing and calm her heart. How could she have a mate and an imprint all within a few weeks? Why her? Was she being punished? She would have twice the baby sitters now. She stood and began to pace back and forth.
"Bella, are you alright?" Kim asked gently.
She not only had to deal with her feelings for Tanya, which were weighing heavily on her enough but now… Now she had to figure out to tell her about Paul.
"What exactly does this mean?" she turned to Emily causing the young woman to jump, startled.
She exchanged a look with Kim, "We don't know exactly. Sam and Jarrod are our fiancés. They want us to be happy."
Kim nodded, "I had a boyfriend when Jarrod told me. He was so sweet and patient with me. He said he could be just a best friend or a brother figure." She shrugged, "But we didn't have a mate that we were destined to be with."
"So Paul could just be my friend or a big brother?"
Emily nodded, "We would have figured it out with you if we had known, but they just dumped it on you during the worst possible time."
Bella collapsed in an overstuffed armchair, "How am I going to tell Tanya that I have a puppy?"
The girls burst into laughter and Kim said breathlessly, "I hope she doesn't make you keep him outside."
Emily couldn't breath as she laughed, "Oooh, we should get him a dog box to put in the back yard."
Bella struggled to keep her laughter from pulling on her wounds as tears streamed down her face. Happy tears this time and she was relieved. For over an hour they made dog puns while laughing hysterically.
Sam was grinning and shaking his head as he stood just out of sight of the house with Jarrod and Paul. Jarrod stared at him in horror, "How long have they been saving those puns?"
Sam chuckled, "Probably since they found out."
"Bella seems okay now." Paul smiled towards the house.
Sam nodded, "Emily is right. We shouldn't have just sprung it on her like that. Not with everything else going on."
Paul nodded, feeling slightly guilty. Sam gripped his shoulder reassuringly, "Let's give them some girl time. They all could use it." They shifted and ran deeper into the woods.