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 17

Life seemed to be better for both Jacob and Bella, especially now that everything concerning Jacob turning into a giant spirit wolf was out in the open between them. Jacob was used to turning into a bear-sized wolf and was getting used to Pack life. He did tell her that he hated the hive mind the Pack had, though. He felt it was an invasion of privacy that one couldn't control unless they knew how to precisely shield their thoughts. Bella had briefly thought about Edward and how he always invaded everyone's thoughts and privacy because of his ability, and yet not hers, but only for a moment. Whereas Edward's had been somewhat fascinating upon being told, but then later annoying when he would constantly tell her what her other friends and Charlie was thinking—not that she needed to know and it annoyed her that he always had to tell her what they really thought; it was their prerogative, not hers or his—Jacob's Pack's hive mind sounded cool. Jacob didn't completely think so, though. Not only that, but he was also getting to the many patrols he had to take at night or during the day. He was always tired though, which worried Bella about his health, but he insisted that he was fine. And no matter what, Jacob always made time for Bella.

Because the brunette now knew about the Pack, it made things easier between Bella and Jacob. Of course, just because things were good for them, it didn't mean it set well with others. Embry didn't mind Bella knowing, as he believed she would find out eventually. But for Sam, Paul, and Jared, they weren't too happy about her knowing. For one, Paul was still pissed that she had hit him with a baseball bat, but that was minor compared to what Jared and Sam were wary about concerning her. They weren't thrilled about her knowing, nor if they could really trust her because of her past and involvement with the Cullens, with the Cold Ones. It irked them that their Pack brother seemed to overlook that in favor of keeping his friend, but Bella had also made it clear to them that they weren't going to keep her away from Jacob or the Reservation, so there wasn't much they could do. As for Sam, seeing how close Jacob and Bella were, as well as how Jacob's face lit up whenever she showed up or he took off to see her, he quickly deduced why the boy took so long to phase: he was happy with Bella, and this happiness delayed his phasing. Jacob was aware he is supposed to be the Alpha of the Pack, but he had no interest in it and he wasn't going to make him step up. He did find it odd though that with all that Jacob shared with Bella, he hadn't told her he was the rightful Alpha.

As for Bella, she had taken to hanging out more with Angela and Jessica whenever she wasn't with Jacob. It felt good to spend some quality girl time with them, and she did have sleepovers with them from time to time, just the three of them. It wasn't just Angela and Jessica that Bella was spending more time with. She was spending more time with Charlie as well, the two of them having much overdue father-daughter bonding time. They resolved themselves to go out to eat together once a week, and Charlie even showed Bella how to use his rifle. He had taken her to an old field where he and his police team would sometimes practice shooting rather than the shooting range. That had been an experience, as the kickback had her landing flat on her back after shooting the firearm at the target her father had set up. After making sure she was okay, Charlie had then gone to the target and found that the brunette had indeed hit it. Despite the pain in her body, Bella couldn't help but grin in triumph.

Bella's life had not only gotten better socially and domestically, but also academically. Her grades that had fallen during her time being a delinquent had picked back up, Bella having been doing a few extra projects and staying after school with her teachers to work on assignments. Her teachers were impressed with the quick turnaround she had and before she knew it, she was back to being an 'A' student. One of her teachers had been so excited, she had told her that if she kept it up, she'd be considered for class valedictorian, maybe even salutatorian. Bella wasn't really interested in that but thanked her teacher anyway. All in all, things were going well for Bella. And she hoped things would stay that way.

Two weeks later, Bella walked out of her classroom with Angela and Jessica, the three of them heading to the cafeteria for lunch. She was starving and couldn't wait to eat something. However, she had to stop by the restroom first to relieve herself. Approaching the bathroom, Bella said, "Hey, I've got to use the restroom first. I'll meet you in the cafeteria soon."

"No, it's okay, we'll wait for you," Jessica said.

"Do you really want to wait for me in or outside the bathroom?"

"We're girls, Bella. We do it all the time."

Angela shook her head and grabbed Jessica's arm before saying, "We'll meet you outside the cafeteria."

The bespectacled girl drug Jessica away, causing Bella to shake her head with a laugh. Turning, she headed into the restroom and into a stall to use the toilet. Once she was done, she pulled up her pants and flushed the toilet, then left the stall to wash her hands at one of the sinks. Drying them off with some paper towels, Bella tossed them and made to leave, only to stop when none other than Mandy entered the restroom, standing in front of the door and blocking her way out. In that moment, Bella realized the other girl had her cornered, and she looked very pissed off. Bella felt wary and uncomfortable being confronted by Mandy suddenly, but she was going to stand her ground against her.

Mandy glared at her before saying, practically spitting, "Swan. I knew you were just a poser trying to be tough when you suddenly went goth. I don't know why Darren wanted you a part of our group."

"Well, I'm not a part of his group anymore, so why are you still angry about it?"

"Because he shouldn't have taken you on! I told him not to, but he didn't listen to me! And now look what you've done. You've betrayed Darren and the entire group."

Bella wanted to say she didn't understand why Mandy was so angry, but she knew the reason. When she had been a part of Darren's group, she had noticed how close Mandy was to the gang leader, and Zoe had told her that it was because they were having sex and whenever Darren wanted some, Mandy was always willing. Therefore, for Mandy to be so angry and somewhat possessive of Darren, Bella assumed it was because the girl fancied herself in love with him and believed he may feel the same about her. So, when she came about and Darren took interest in her being a part of his gang, Mandy already decided Bella was Enemy #1 to her for Darren's affections; not that Bella wanted any.

"What do you want, Mandy?" Bella decided to just ask. She hoped she could get this confrontation over with and soon.

Mandy glared at her due to the annoyed tone the brunette used before answering, "I'm here to deliver a message from Darren about what happens to those that think they can leave."

"I did leave, and I don't want the message."

"Too bad, because I'm still going to deliver it."

Without warning, Mandy pushed Bella backwards, catching her by surprise before punching her in her face. Completely stunned and caught off guard, Bella was unable to fend off Mandy and her attacks on her. The purple and blonde-haired girl hit, slapped, punched, and kicked Bella until the brunette fell to the ground. Bella cried out in pain, especially when Mandy's foot connected with her cheekbone. Mandy paused in her assault to laugh at the brunette, glad that she was putting such a beating on her. Swan wasn't a fighter, so this would be easy. Grabbing the girl by her hair, she jerked her up from the ground and prepared to punch her again, only for the punch to be blocked.

Bella growled and punched Mandy in her eye, causing the girl to let her go. Taking her chance, Bella began to fight back, punching Mandy wherever she could reach. She slammed the girl against the stalls, punching and scratching her in her face. The commotion they were causing ended up drawing a lot of attention from outside, causing a few female students to enter the bathroom to see what was happening. Upon seeing the fight between the two girls, some of them ran off to get a teacher or administrator for help, others sticking around to see the fight between Bella Swan and Mandy Holmes..

Despite Bella putting up a good fight, Mandy was able to get the upper hand. Getting a good hit in on the brunette, Mandy grabbed hold of her and drug her into one of the restroom stalls, slamming her against the toilet. Grabbing her head, she lifted the seat of the toilet and dunked Bella's head into it, holding her face there in the water for a few seconds before pulling her back up. Barely giving her time to catch her breath, she dunked her head back in. Bella floundered as Mandy continuously dunked her head in the toilet, Mandy enjoying watching her struggle. Once again, she dunked her head, and this time flushed the toilet.

Bella spluttered with her head in the toilet, needing to get up from her kneeling position. Finally having enough, Bella threw her arm back, elbowing the other girl in the stomach. Feeling the grip on her hair loosen, Bella jerked her head back, slamming it back into Mandy's chin and mouth. At Mandy's cry of pain, she quickly turned around and lifted herself off the ground, kicking Mandy in her chest and out of the stall. As Mandy struggled to catch her breath from the sudden kick to her chest, Bella practically flew out of the stall, punching, slapping, and scratching Mandy once again. Grabbing her by her hair, as well as her shoulder, Bella dragged her over to one of the sinks and began to slam her head into it. She did it about three good times until she drew blood, and then threw her into the stalls.

Mandy touched her face and looked at her hand, looking at the blood on it, as well as feeling it trickle down her face. Completely pissed off now, Mandy let out a feral scream and charged Bella, knocking her down on the ground and punching her in the face once again. Grabbing her around her neck, she tightened her grip and began to squeeze, intent on choking the life out of the brunette. As Bella choked and was grabbing the blonde and purple-haired girls wrists to try to pry her hands from her neck, she could hear shouts and see someone trying to get Mandy off of her. In a last-ditch effort to make her release her, Bella jabbed her fingers up and into Mandy's eyes, Mandy letting her go with a screech at the assault on her eyes.

The teacher that had been trying to get Mandy off her pulled her away her, holding her close as Mandy was still lunging for her. Another teacher helped Bella up from the ground and they escorted the two girls to the principal's office. As she went, Bella took deep breaths to catch her breath and couldn't help but wonder if Charlie would be mad when he was called.

The outcome of her being in a fight was actually better than Bella thought it would be. Not only was Charlie called, but so were Mandy's parents. It was decided that they both would be suspended, but Bella only for a week. Though she fought back in self-defense, the principal thought this to still be an appropriate punishment for fighting anyway. As for Mandy, she was suspended for the rest of the school year for not only starting the fight, but for still trying to attack Bella after being separated. Not only was she suspended, but also arrested by Charlie, as she had violated the restraining order against her. Embarrassed by their daughter, the Holmes' apologized to both Bella and Charlie before going back to work. Bella left school early as well, seeing as there was no need to continue the rest of the school day with her suspension. She bid her father 'goodbye' before getting into her truck and heading back home while Charlie took Mandy to the station in his police cruiser.

Making it back to her house, Bella got out of her truck and went inside her home, going up the stairs and dropping her bookbag on the floor. She then went into the bathroom to treat the wounds she had sustained on her face. She grimaced at the sight of her face, seeing a forming black eye, busted lip, scratches, bruising, and slight swelling. If she lifted her shirt, she was sure to find some more bruising on her body. Grabbing the first aid kit, she began to tend to her wounds as best she could until they were clean, bandaged, and not as bad as before, though she was sure they would probably look worse in a few hours or by tomorrow.

Going back to her room, Bella flopped on her bed, feeling tired from her fight, and wanting to go to sleep. However, her cell phone rang, drawing her attention to it. Pulling it out of her pocket, she saw that it was Jacob calling her. Answering the call, she put the device to her ear and said, "Hello?"

"Bells! Are you okay? Dad said that Charlie called saying you got into a fight."

"Oh, yeah, I'm okay."

"Are you sure? Who was it?"

"It was Mandy."

"That chick that is a part of that dude's group that threatened you? I hope you kicked her ass."

Bella couldn't help but giggle, her giggle turning into laughter Jacob told her he was sure she did. Calming down, though another giggle slipped out, she said, "I definitely have the battle scars to prove it. But I have been suspended for a week for fighting though, even if it was self-defense."

"Well, that's stupid. If anything, they should have given you detention."

The two of them continued to talk on the phone, laughing about this and that, as well as the misadventures of the Pack members. Jacob did tell her that Quil seemed to be close to phasing soon, and Bella assured him that he would help him through it. They continued to talk until Jacob mentioned he had to go, as it was time for him to go on patrol. Glancing at the clock, Bella saw that they had been talking for about an hour and a half. She didn't want to stop talking to him, but she also understood he needed to go.

"Okay, well, I'll talk to you later," Bella said into the phone.

"You too, Bella. Um, I was wondering, since you're pretty much free for a week, if I can come over to hang out. You know, if you're okay with that," Jacob said.

Realizing that he sounded somewhat nervous asking, almost afraid she'd say 'no', Bella smiled and replied, "I'd like that."

"Awesome! Okay, I'll talk to you later, Bells."

"You too. Bye Jake."

"Bye Bells."

Hanging up the phone, Bella held the device to her chest as she stared at the ceiling. It really had been fun talking to Jacob and she wished she could have spoken longer. Despite this, she couldn't help but smile and realized that she was still smiling and couldn't stop. And she swore, if just a little bit, her heart fluttered while talking to Jacob.

Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'd say Bella kicked a little ass, right? Again, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for another one of YPiMP. Love, SehunsBae37.