Your Pain is My Pain

JacobxBella

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Your Pain is My Pain

Chapter 15

Another week had passed since her confrontation with Jacob in La Push, and while she was still upset, she was no longer crying. Like Charlie had been, Bella had been afraid she was going to slip back into her depression, drinking again, and possibly hanging out with the wrong crowd. However, she did not didn't do that. In fact, she was no longer sad about what had happened. No, instead, she was angry, angry at Jacob.

Jacob had promised that he would be there for her, to help her, to not abandon her. And yet, it seemed like he was breaking his promises to her. She had tried talking to him that day in La Push, but he just evaded her questions or outright refused to answer. If he was going to break his promise, she believed she was owed an explanation from him, if nothing else. She had even sent him a text saying just as much, though there was no reply. And when she tried calling him, he still did not answer.

Bella had started having nightmares again, and was occasionally smoking, but other than that, she wasn't engaging in what she used to do. That, she found to be a good thing considering all that she had gone through, and Charlie was proud of her as well that she hadn't fallen apart all over again. The reason for this was simple for Bella. Though she may be mad at Jacob, she didn't want him to be disappointed in her if she took up all her bad habits again. Even though he wasn't around anymore, she didn't want to disappoint him after all he had done to help her so far. That, and she also didn't want to disappoint Charlie, either.

During the week following the confrontation, she had been spending more time with Angela and Jessica, having fun with the two girls like she used to. That Thursday, she decided on a whim to change her room up a bit, going to buy cans of paint after school, having the urge to paint her room from its purple walls. Charlie had been home when she arrived home with the cans, telling him what she planned on doing, as well as asking if he could have carpet installed in her room instead of the usual hardwood. As surprised as he had been, her father agreed and stated he'd have someone stop by Friday to put in carpet. And when it came time to paint the walls of her room, he had changed out of his police uniform and helped her, the two of them moving her furniture and taking down pictures and things from the walls before starting. The color she had picked to cover up the purple was a russet-like color. When the light hit the color, particularly sunlight, the hue would turn to a burnt sienna, giving the room a warm feeling. That was something she wanted, something new that wouldn't remind her of a certain vampire, as the purple walls seemed to now. When the walls had dried, they had moved her furniture back against the walls, but not where they originally had been. Bella and Charlie completely turned her room around, transforming it to no longer look the way it had. The one thing that she did that truly surprised her father was asking him to remove the rocking chair. He didn't quite understand why she would want it removed, as it was important to her, but she simply told her him she no longer wanted to hold onto it. The real reason though, was because Edward would always be in it, tainting that with his memory, and she wanted to be rid of it during her healing. And as promised, Charlie had had a cream-colored carpet installed in her room while she had been at school.

Bella found doing all of this during the week to be rather productive. All the anger she was feeling, she was putting into something else, not dwelling on it like she wanted to. Even still, she couldn't help but miss Jacob and wonder what it was that was keeping him from seeing her anymore.

That Friday evening, Bella was sitting in the floor of her bedroom on her new carpet, working on a couple of homework assignments. She was so absorbed that the first 'plink' she heard almost didn't register. When she heard it again, she looked to her window and realized that someone or something was throwing tiny rocks at her window. Frowning, she put her textbook on the floor from its position in her lap and walked to her window, looking out of it to see who was making the plinking noise. Her eyes adjusting to looking out into the dark, she noticed a figure down below, and as it came into view, it began to look familiar until the height and muscles on him made her realize who it was: it was Jacob.

Opening the window, she leant out of it a little and asked loud enough for him to hear, but not enough to alert Charlie, "Jacob, what are you doing here?"

Jacob gazed up at her for a moment before answering, "I want to talk."

"I tried talking with you before, and you blew me off. Why should I let you now?" Bella knew she sounded bitter, but she couldn't help it. She was still hurt and mad with Jacob, but her heart was already in the process of forgiving him seeing him now.

"Please Bella, I really want to talk. I want to explain everything; well, explain what I can. Please talk to me Bells, please," he pleaded with her.

Sighing, Bella nodded and was about to tell him she'd meet him downstairs, only to be shocked and amazed when Jacob easily scaled the tree outside her bedroom window and climbed into her bedroom. However, that amazement soon wore off once he was in front of her. Like she had noticed before, Jacob was taller than before, muscles more defined, and he no longer looked like a sixteen-year-old boy, but rather a man. It really didn't make sense to her how he seemed to have changed so much in two weeks' time.

Jacob moved in an attempt to hug her but was stopped when she placed a hand against his naked chest, as he was shirtless, just like when she last saw him. looking down at her feet instead of up at him, Bella shook her head and said, "No, you can't hug me. You can't just come in here and hug me and act like everything is okay, like what happened last Friday didn't happen."

She took a couple of steps back from him to put distance between them before looking up at Jacob. She could see the hurt in his eyes at her rejection of his embrace, but her eyes were holding the same hurt and she knew he could see it, too. "You said you wanted to talk, right? So then talk."

"I…I understand your anger, Bella. I understand why you're upset with me, and I'm sorry. I really am sorry for what happened last week, for ignoring your calls and texts, and for being a bad friend. I promised that I'd be there for you when you needed me, and I broke that promise," Jacob said. He ran a hand through his short hair almost agitatedly as he looked off to the side. "There has just been so much going on in my life. So much has happened, and I'm still dealing with it."

"You could have just told me that, Jake. I would have understood if you had just talked to me. And whatever is going on, you can tell me; I won't tell anyone."

Jacob gave a small, almost sad smile to her statement. "I know you won't, but I just can't tell you Bella. But…you already know what's going on with me."

Bella's eyebrows furrowed at that. She already knew? What the hell was Jacob talking about? At seeing her confused expression, Jacob took a step forward towards her saying, "I've told you before, months ago. Remember that day on the beach? I told you about the "scary Quileute stories"?"

"Yeah, you told me about the Cold Ones."

For some reason, as soon as she said that, a dark look came over Jacob's face, making her frown even further. Why would her mentioning the vampires of the stories make him look like that? However, she was baffled when he muttered, "Of course, you'd remember that part."

She didn't understand why that would bother him that she said that. Of course, she'd remember that because it helped her deduce what Edward and his family really were. But whatever the reason, he looked completely dejected. And because Jacob looked this way, it made her feel bad seeing him like that. But that didn't change the fact that she didn't know why, nor why Jacob would show up in the middle of the night to spring the question on her.

Jacob huffed a bit before closing the gap between them, reaching up to stroke her cheek, only to think better of it and drop his hand. Instead, he grabbed hold of her smaller hand and held it, giving it a gentle squeeze. Bella couldn't help but think of how warm and secure his hand was around her own pale one. Looking up at him, she saw him staring almost intently at her, his eyes pleading for her to understand, to…well, she wasn't sure, but his dark brown eyes were pleading.

Stepping closer, Jacob said softly, almost huskily, "You know the answer, Bells; I know you do. You just have to remember. Remember all the details, not just the ones about the Cold Ones. Please, remember Bells."

Chocolate brown eyes looked up at him for a moment following his urging, his pleading. Bella didn't understand why it was so important for Jacob to have her remember, but if he believed it would help answer her questions to his absence, then she would. Nodding, she said, "Okay, I'll try."

Smiling softly, Jacob nodded, satisfied with her answer. He reached his hand up again, taking gentle hold of a strand of her hair and looking at it. Her hair was growing, and was now looking more like a short, trimmed bob that the crop cut she had originally cut it to. The dye was almost completely gone, leaving her hair mostly the brown shade she had been born with. She stood still as Jacob played with her hair for a moment more before he murmured that he had to leave. He made for her window, prepared to leave her bedroom, but stopped short of doing so. Turning around, he walked back over to her and wrapped his strong, muscular arms around her in a close, yet comfortable hug. His embrace was so warm, Bella could feel herself sinking into it easily. She hugged him in return, and the two of them stood there like that for a moment longer before Jacob let her go and left, but not before kissing the top of her head.

Bella watched him jump out of her window and hit the ground without so much as a sound, and then jog off into the woods. She closed the window after Jacob disappeared, sinking down into the floor where her schoolwork was, but having no desire to continue working on it. She still didn't know or understand what it was that Jacob wanted her to remember and why it was so important that she did. His visit had shaken her up a bit, but she knew that whatever the reason, she found herself happy at seeing him once again. Because just for the moment, he was the Jacob she was so fond of once again.

The next day, Bella was still thinking about Jacob's visit and what he had told her the previous night. She hadn't slept much because she had been thinking about. She was trying to remember the stories he had told her, but unfortunately, her mind couldn't think past the Cold Ones. And because she was only remembering that part of the stories, it made her think of and remember Edward. And in remembering him, she had been prepared to spend the day crying about him again. However, she didn't. Bella thought that she should feel sad thinking about Edward, but all she was feeling instead was numb. And that numb feeling when thinking of the vampire unsettled her.

Bella didn't believe that she should feel numb thinking about Edward just yet. She was trying to get over him, and she knew she wasn't completely over him yet, so why did she feel numb thinking about him instead of sad or in despair? Yes, it unsettled her that she was beginning to feel nothing now that she thought about the vampire that stole her heart. She needed something to try and trigger some sort of emotion, despite the fact that she was trying to rid her life of any reminders of him. She knew it was messed up, but her talk with Jacob was what triggered this for her. And she knew just where to go to see if she could feel anything, the perfect reminder of Edward and their time together: the secret meadow.

The meadow wasn't really a secret, but it was somewhat hard to come across, and she liked to think of it as hers and Edward's meadow. She believed that if she went to the location of the meadow, then seeing it would make her feel something and no longer feel numb when she remembered Edward. Because if she was feeling numb thinking about him, then that meant she was moving on from him, and she wasn't quite ready to do that, even though she was trying. Yeah, that didn't sound quite right to her, but that was where her head was at.

After breakfast, Bella left on her truck and drove to La Push, as that was where it was easiest to go hiking and tromping through the woods. Once she had done that and parked her truck, the brunette began walking through the woods, intent on finding that meadow. After an hour of walking and what felt like her walking in circles, she could see an open patch of land through the trees, the light seemingly lighting her way. Hurrying, she stumbled a bit but finally broke through the woods and stepped out of its edge and into the empty clearing that was the meadow. Only, it didn't look like how she remembered.

The meadow, empty as she expected it to be, no longer was lush and green with wildflowers. Now, it was dead, the grass turning brown and not a speck of life to it like it had once had. Looking around the desolate meadow, taking slow steps into it until she was standing in the middle, Bella felt something. She wasn't numb this time around as she thought of Edward. No, that wasn't it. Thinking of him now and looking at this deserted, lifeless meadow, it made her cry. She cried because with how the meadow looked now verses what it had before, it was like it was symbolic of her relationship with Edward now: dead with nothing left behind to show for it. Like this dead meadow, her relationship with Edward was over. It was really over.

Sniffling, Bella wiped her tears away and was prepared to leave for home, only for a figure to step out into the clearing from the opposite side that she did. Finishing wiping her eyes, Bella's eyes widened at seeing that it was none other than Laurent. He sure looked more put together than the last time she had seen him. Of course, he had stopped by to warn her and the Cullens about James and Victoria, but that had been the last time she had seen him. What was he doing still hanging around Forks?

Laurent looked just as surprised to see Bella as well, his red eyes staring at her before he smiled and greeted, "Ah, young Bella. How have you been?"

"I'm…I-I'm good," Bella stammered. Clearing her throat to get her bearings, she asked in return, "How about you?"

"I have been well, thank you for asking. I have taken a mate now."

"That's nice; congratulations."

"Thank you. But I have that the vampires around here—your friends, the Cullens—are no longer here. Their absence is quite noticeable."

Bella nodded and looked down at her shoes. "Yes, they are no longer around. They left, and I have no idea where they've gone."

Laurent stared at her with a tilted head for a moment before he moved, now standing five feet in front of her. Bella blinked in surprise and took a step back, only for Laurent to close the space between them again with the step. "That is rather unfortunate, but I must say that it works greatly in my favor. You see, the reason I am here is for a favor for Victoria. You remember her, yes?"

Bella definitely remembered Victoria, and hearing he name sent shivers down her spine. She had been James' mate and had the ability of evasion, making her a formidable opponent. Was the redhaired vampire still hanging around Forks? If she was, she was so screwed.

"Anyway, Victoria asked me to help find you and kill you for having James killed. An eye for an eye, so to speak. And I do find it interesting that the Cullen child, the one that made it obvious that you were his mate, just left here without you." Laurent walked up to her, Bella's legs frozen in fear as he did and put his nose into her hair. "It makes one wonder if you really even were his mate, or just a simple plaything. After all, we vampires don't leave our mates for this long if they are true. It makes you wonder if he truly loved you like he so made us all believe. But that no longer matters, now does it? I am going to drain you of your blood, Bella. You still smell so delicious."

Bella was having a hard time taking in what Laurent had just told her. If she was truly Edward's mate, as she had believed, then Edward wouldn't have left her, or would have come back to her by now. Then, did this mean that she wasn't Edward's true mate? Was she just a fling of some sort to him? Was he only interested in her because she was his Singer and he couldn't read her mind? No, that couldn't be true. Laurent was lying. Edward loved her, he did…right?

Seeing she was at a loss for words, Laurent thought this to be a good time to put in Victoria's favor. He gently stroked the human's face with his cold finger, as if trying to sooth her in some way. Laurent grabbed hold of her face, bending his head down to her neck where he inhaled over her pulse point, as well as give her neck a small lick. As he did this, Bella discreetly began reaching into her pocket. Therefore, when Laurent was prepared to bite her, Bella thrust her hand forward and Laurent caught fire. Laurent wrenched away from the human girl, trying desperately to pat out the flames that were beginning to spread all over him. Bella always carried her lighter with her ever since she started smoking, and in that moment, all she could think of was to use it, and she was so glad that she did. Luckily, she had been subtle enough so that the vampire didn't notice she had grabbed it until he was up in flames.

Laurent was in a state of total panic, his entire body completely ablaze as he ran around trying to put the fire out. Bella, finding her opportunity, turned to run out of the meadow, only to stop short at the large creature that stepped out of the woods. Gasping in shock, Bella was looking at a large, black wolf. Behind it, four more giant wolves stepped out into the clearing, all of them different colors and all obviously a pack. Oh God, she was going to die!

The wolves however, seemingly ignored Bella, their focus on the burning vampire behind her. Well, all the wolves except one. That one wolf was the biggest of the pack, its coat shiny and a beautiful russet color. As it looked at her, its eyes were almost human-like, and it stared at her almost as if it recognized her, like it knew who she was. And she found herself just as transfixed with the large creature as it was with her.

A loud huff from the black wolf drew her attention back to it, and she saw it crouch down as if to pounce. Turning around, she saw that Laurent had just run off while still ablaze. The black wolf let out a bark before he and the rest of the wolves ran after the burning vampire, their large paws putting out the small fires that Laurent had made with his fast strides as they snarled. The russet wolf looked at her once more before running after its pack members, quickly catching up and disappearing from sight.

The brunette stared after them in complete shock, not full believing what she had just seen. And yet, she knew she had. Those large wolves, they had to be the bears the hikers claimed they were seeing. And while their sheer size frightened her, she had to acknowledge that they didn't mean her any harm just now. Even so, that didn't mean they wouldn't turn around and come after her later. Not looking back, she ran through out of the desolate meadow and through the woods, all the way back to her truck. She had to get back home, and as fast as possible. Suddenly, she no longer wanted to be anywhere near that meadow ever again.