Moonlight
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Forty-Confrontation
Somehow Bella knew that Jacob would be waiting for her outside when she left the security of Angela's company. Their connection swirled between them like invisible ropes binding them together. She knew that Jacob must have felt her distress and immediately come looking for her. As she bounded down the path toward him, she already felt lighter of heart. There was something about Jacob that excited and calmed her all at once. The attraction between them becoming a tangible thread before either spoke a word.
As soon as Bella reached Jacob they began kissing. His hands sank gently in her hair, hers rested upon his chest. The usual rain was falling, it beat upon the blacktop sidewalk, but they hardly cared about the wet weather. They were bound in a kiss that was so tender it was like the world about them stopped on its axis, taking note of their love.
When the kiss was over, they walked hand in hand toward the truck, droplets beading their hair. Jacob opened the old Chevy's door and helped Bella into the passenger side. Bella turned to smile at him half-heartedly when he took his place behind the wheel. Every time she looked at his handsome face, her heart pounded strongly in her chest, as if taking its cue from him.
Bella knew she was totally besotted but didn't care. She slid closer along the bench seat, clutching his arm. "I'm sorry I left the res. Thanks for not being angry with me."
"Why did you?" Jacob asked as he pulled the truck onto the main road. "When I confronted Emily, she pretended to know nothing about it."
"Typical." Bella's voice was tight with strain. "We had a fight. I called her out on her bullshit and she didn't like it." She glanced up at Jacob, recognising the expression on his face. He was not going to like what she was going to tell him next. "I was wound up tight, Jake. I was on the verge of exploding. I had to get away for my own sanity."
"But to leave the res…." Jacob ventured, his brow furrowing.
"It was reckless and stupid. I know that." Bella confessed guiltily. "I should have just chucked Emily out. I wasn't thinking rationally. I needed someone to vent to… you were gone and Angela was the next best option."
"I like Angela." Jacob took a deep breath, smiling slightly in understanding. "I get why you felt the need to run. I understand. I do. In any other circumstances going to your friend would be a good choice. But with Cullen loitering about…"
Another pang of guilt tightened Bella's throat. "He followed me here."
"WHAT?!" Jacob exploded; his hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.
"Jake, please calm down." Bella pleaded.
Jacob's eyebrows pulled down and he clenched his teeth in an effort to remain focused. "Right, calm." He muttered. It took a lot of effort, but the slight tremor in his hands and arms dissipated and he was able to breathe easier. "He didn't hurt you?"
"Other than giving me a scare." Bella wilted against Jacob, closing her eyes briefly. "I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble."
"Now I understand why you were so distressed. It tore me apart when I felt it. I left right away without any explanation, although I'm sure the pack felt the fear inside of me. Sam didn't try and stop me, either. I would have killed him if he did." Jacob frowned at this admission, his expression turning troubled. "Things are not so great between me and him right now. It's affecting the cohesiveness of the pack. I'm not sure what to do about it."
"And my stupidity has just made things so much worse." Bella lamented.
"Stop blaming yourself, Bella." Jacob was so focused on her; he was barely paying any attention to the road ahead. It was only when he rounded a steep bend that he was suddenly confronted with Edward's silver Volvo blocking the road. With precision timing he slammed on the truck's brakes, bracing Bella against him as the old Chevy came to a grinding halt a few meters away from the Volvo.
Bella felt the lack of breath throughout her body as the shock of the Volvo's sudden appearance slowly wore off. For as her lungs worked to bring in the much-needed oxygen, even then she felt as if she was drowning in the air. Jacob was a burning ball of fury beside her, his whole frame quivering with tension. His face was hard and bitter, he was desperately fighting the urge to shift. Bella was too close; they were on a public highway. Any moment another vehicle could pass. Edward had chosen his spot carefully-not too close to town to attract attention, but close enough that there would be witnesses if a stranger was confronted by a gargantuan red wolf stalking along the road in broad daylight.
Bella couldn't believe Edward's audacity. What was his endgame here? What point was he trying to prove? She would never have imagined that Edward would behave like this, she didn't deserve any of this. It was just plain infuriating. Angry tears sprang, smarting, into her eyes. She was suddenly so angry that her head throbbed like it was going to explode. She imagined that she was channelling Jacob's anger, actually picturing herself phasing into a wolf in her minds eye, she was so mad.
And, before Bella even realised what she was doing, she jumped out of the truck. She launched herself in Edward's direction, with her hands already balled into fists. She imagined smashing them in his smug face, the full force of her fury knocking him on his stony ass.
But before she had gone far, Jacob had caught her around the waist. "I know you're pissed." He said quietly close to her ear. "But this is what he wants. He's trying to provoke a reaction out of both of us."
A car was already rounding the bend from the other side. It was only then that Bella noticed that Edward had moved the Volvo over to the verge. When had he done that?
"Just give me one round with him, Jake. I swear I'll knock his block off." Bella hissed, struggling futilely against Jacob's tight hold on her.
"And I bet you could, too." Jacob managed a grim smile as he looked down at her. "But right now, you need to calm down. We're being watched."
Bella glanced across at the other car, it had slowed down, the driver and passenger stared agog out of the windscreen at the tense standoff being played out right before their curious eyes.
"Damn him!" Bella cussed as she stopped fighting and sagged against Jacob.
"He wants to talk to me." Jacob said in a low voice. "I'm guessing that's why he's doing this. In any other setting he's knows I wouldn't hesitate to rip him to pieces."
That stopped Bella cold-took the fight right out of her. "What does he hope to achieve?"
"Who know what goes through a vampire's twisted mind?" Jacob smoothed Bella's hair back from her face. Then he turned his body, shifting Bella so she was behind him. Bella leaned around him to glare at Edward-accusing him with hate filled eyes.
"Bella." Edward called out a greeting, nodding once in her direction without looking away from Jacob.
"Why?" Bella couldn't keep her mouth shut. She ignored the gawking audience coming from the car which had halted on the other side of the road. Another was already pulling up behind it, adding yet more onlookers. "How could you do this, Edward?"
Edward's face remained hard and rigid. "Its for the best."
"What is that supposed to mean? What are you trying to prove here?"
Jacob's eyebrows drew down into a deep frown as he hushed Bella. His eyes sparked with hate as he glowered at Edward. "You wanted to get me in trouble. And you thought confronting me here would set me off enough that I would risk phasing in a public place to finish you off." He spoke quietly so the occupants of the other cars wouldn't be able to overhear. He knew that Cullen could hear every word.
"It would show Bella just what type of individual she has become involved with." Edward said, his voice throbbing with suppressed jealousy. "You had to have known I wouldn't just sit back and do nothing, dog. You are a danger to her as well as others. I own my mistake in leaving her, I should never have done it. But I won't make the same mistake twice."
Edward's golden gaze broke away from Jacob and landed on Bella. She felt herself becoming immersed momentarily, before she caught herself slipping. She forced herself to break free from Edward's gaze and shook her head to clear it. She knew what he was trying to do, and it just added more fuel to the fire of her anger.
Jacob kept his eyes fixed firmly on Edward. "You arrogant bloodsucker. The only thing stopping me ripping your throat out right now is those nosy assholes watching us from the cars. You've broken the treaty-not only by coming onto the res, but by molesting Bella." His dark eyes glittered almost black with hate. "And for that alone you deserve to die. And I promise I will be the one to end your miserable existence after what you've done to her."
Jacob's accusations brought on a strong reaction from Edward. His nostrils flared, his fists pressing hard into his sides as he tried to control himself under the scrutinising gaze of the audience, he had attracted to witness the whole affair.
"How dare you accuse me of such despicable things?" Edward snapped. "What happened between me and Bella happened because we both wanted it!"
Jacob's arms began to shake. He scowled at Edward with pure hate. "You sick bastard."
A low hiss escaped Edward's lips while Jacob clenched his fists reflexively. It was only then Bella glanced toward the cars. The driver of the lead vehicle had his cell pointed in their direction, filming the whole confrontation. His passenger had her cell phone glued to her ear and was talking rapidly into it.
The blue and red lights were little more than smudgy illuminations in the slanting rain, the piercing wail of the sirens signalling the arrival of two police cruisers. It didn't take much guessing who had called the authorities. Bella felt her heart rate increase as she watched her father step out of one of the cars.
"BELLA!" Charlie's roar echoed loudly in the sudden frigid silence. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"
A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.