A/N: Hey everyone! Gosh, I know, it's been YEARS. I know. I'm sorry. I feel like I should finish this story, so here you go if you're still into it. If not, totally fine. Haha!
Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to the queen, Stephenie Meyer. Still love Edward though, guys. Still love Edward. Haha!
Jacob POV
James was in prison, and I felt horrible for what he kept doing to that nice girl. Bella. Lauren was ready to help, but they weren't really friends. Lauren wanted to make things right after their strained relationship from middle school, but I didn't think she knew how.
I had just gotten the mail, thinking it was from completing my AA classes(I was sober now), but it was an unknown address. I opened the card inside, and it read:
Good luck keeping her away from me. Ha.
You know who this is.
Well, I would still try, and I figured Lauren would still help.
Bella POV
The stress was wearing on me. I knew it, but I didn't know how to alleviate it. I was hardly sleeping, and when I did, I had nightmares. In a way, they were less frightening than the one I'd had at the Cullens, but in other ways they were worse. Much worse. At least to me. I was no longer fearing for myself in these dreams, but for my friends and family. In these nightmares, I was being pursued by James of course, however, my friends and family kept fighting in between us to guard me, and continuously getting killed. I would wake up screaming when this last part happened, especially when it was Edward who died. It seemed extreme, but this was my greatest fear. Losing the ones I loved most because of my own demons. One particular night was especially bad, and Emmett had to come in and calm me down. All of them (Alice, Rose, Emmett, Jasper, and Edward) had charged James all at once...and they all ended up still and pale on the floor in front of me, James laughing with a certain triumphant gleam in his eyes as he looked at me. I had woken up with tremors and tears that I couldn't shake off of myself. Emmett heard my hysterics, which I was barely aware of in the moment, and came to calm me down. He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed his hand in my hair.
"Bella, you have to stop worrying about James like this. He's in prison, and dad has every police force from here to Seattle on high alert. It's highly unlikely he'll make it back here. He's not going to get to you, anyways. Not with us here to protect you."
I was glad that he didn't know my nightmares weren't about me not being protected, as that would torment him more. However, I felt like I needed to see him; knowing he was still in his cell would probably put my mind at ease. Or it wouldn't. I truly didn't know, but I didn't know what else to do. It was an endless cycle in my mind, and I knew everyone I knew would be opposed to this plan. The turmoil I had bestowed upon them all seemed to just keep building.
"I know, Em. I'm sorry I keep waking you up." I started crying again, knowing I was keeping him from sleeping, from the pressures I was facing, and pure exhaustion for myself as well. "Please don't tell Alice or Edward. They are worried about me as it is."
Emmett's eyes softened as he said, "Bella...it's okay to let people care for you. They want to, and they won't hurt you the way your previous friends did."
I sighed. "I know you're right, but what if they realize I'm really not worth the trouble? Eventually, they are going to walk off because I'm not worth all of this nonsense."
Emmett gave me a look that seemed very close to anger. "Psh. Do you even hear yourself? Besides, I'll just make sure they need wheelchairs before that happens. No one is walking away though, so just relax." He winked at me and went back to his room as I fought back a smile at his morbid joke.
I lay back down in my bed, listening to the songs Edward composed for me on the iPod I'd transferred them to, and did my best to relax so that I could fall asleep.
Edward POV
I could sense that Bella was rigid with the pressure she kept putting on herself, but nothing I said would help to calm or comfort her. She really did need to relax, but this was Bella, after all. She needlessly blamed herself for things that weren't in her control to handle. I asked Emmett how things were going at home one day after school, and that conversation only placed more doubt into my mind. I waited until Bella was in my car before I addressed him. She looked like she was trying to hide her fear as I faced her brother.
"Hey Emmett! Do you have a minute?"
"Sure, Edward. What's up bro?" He punched me in the arm and smiled.
"I was just checking to see how Bella was doing at home...she hasn't talked much about it to me. I'm really getting worried here." I was trying to look casual so Bella wouldn't worry.
"Oh. Well maybe she'll talk to you when she's ready. She doesn't share much with me either." He looked like he was reluctant to share something, and I put my hands on my hips, impatient. "She just needs to rest and relax, I think." He shrugged.
I nodded and hopped into my Volvo and starred the engine.
"What was that all about?" Bella looked cross. I had noticed the dark circles under her eyes, and I didn't miss Emmett's note about her needing rest. I rubbed the circles under her eyes with my thumb, and she blushed. I smiled and said, "Nothing of consequence. Mainly that you need to sleep." I shrugged. She looked horrified.
"What did Emmett tell you?" She was angry when she said this.
"Nothing! Just that you need rest." I intertwined our hands and pulled out of the lot. She let out a deep breath, and looked utterly relieved. Hmmm...so she wanted to make sure I didn't know something? But she smiled up at me, and placed the side of my hand on her cheek. I felt my heart pound at the touch, and I smiled to myself. As dire as the situation seemed, I was thankful that I was in Bella's life. I could help her know she was safe and protected, and that was the most important thing right now. I still thought about that internship though. Taking classes at their institution while learning on the job training seemed like something worth trying. The problem was their expectant commitment. I suppose I could have asked for a different location, or a summer program to try first? Now that I was more confident in my relationship with Bella I believe we could make a temporary situation work...but I wouldn't want to force her from being where she wanted to be, either. Ah well. I am sure my father would help me find answers to these questions. We had a strained relationship after I ended up staying, but we patched things up shortly after. I still remember the conversation like it was yesterday.
"Dad? Can I talk to you?"
His face softened, and said, "I should be asking you that question. Can you give me a chance to apologize for my abhorrent behavior towards you?"
I was stunned. I mean the manipulative measures he had taken had been out of character for him, but I wasn't expecting this.
He continued. "I know there is no excuse for how I spoke to you, or how I completely disregarded what you were thinking and feeling. However, I was under a particularly precarious situation at work, and I was becoming very anxious for you and your future. I was also seeing how you were with Bella, and how good she is for you...seeing you grow up. I just wasn't prepared to deal with the fear and excitement of watching you become your own man, Edward. I am extremely sorry, and I am more proud of you than I can say for the man you are becoming."
I stared at him, speechless. Tears were flowing down my cheeks by the end of his speech, and I wiped them off with my sleeve.
"Wow. Uhm, thank you, dad," I choked out. He walked over to me and wrapped me in his arms. "Of course I forgive you. I know you have a lot of pressure as a dad and a doctor. I just hate disappointing you."
We pulled out of the hug, and my dad said "Son, you have never disappointed me. I have disappointed myself. Thank you for your forgiveness. I love you, son."
"Love you too, dad".
Then I went to play Bella's song on the piano.
I pulled up to her house and walked her to the door. I held her face in my hands, and whispered, "You're safe, love. You're more important to me than you know. Please believe that." The look on her face was so peaceful and calm. She pressed her lips to mine, and I wrapped my arms around her waist to pull her closer. She had her hands around my neck, and she was flushed when we pulled away.
"Can you stay? I really don't want to be alone..."
My heart clenched like a fist as she asked me this. Her fear made me want to go after James myself and take this burden from her. However, Charlie and Renee wouldn't be home for a while, per usual, and I didn't want to put us in a precarious situation. Plus, I told Alice I'd spend the evening playing board games with her. She especially wanted to play checkers
"How about I take you to my place? I owe Alice a game of checkers anyways. I smiled at her, and she nodded. We walked back to my car, and we headed down the road to my place of residence.
Bella POV
I was so thankful to have Edward in my life. As I rode in the passenger seat to his house, I marveled at how thoughtful he truly was. I really shouldn't have let my fear get the best of me like that, but I realized it was better to not be left alone at my house. He was so kind to me. He didn't even berate me for being scared. Of course, I tried not to think about my heartache if James harmed him.
"Thanks for bringing me to your house, instead of leaving me alone-" I choked on that last word, and realized I may have been more afraid for myself than I had even understood. I shook my head. "Jasper should be here with Alice and Esme. Emmett said he had plans with Rosalie." I shrugged, but I smiled at him. Hopefully that would ease the tension I felt emanating from him as I had my moment of anxiety.
"Of course, Bella. I just want you to know that you're loved and you're safe...and just how worth protecting you are. I don't think you understand just how incredible you truly are, Bella. Inherently, as a person. You do so much for others without thinking twice about yourself. You help others reconcile friendships. You make me want to be better. You're like no one else."
I had no idea what to say to that as we parked in his driveway. I just looked at him, not understanding why these things made me, as he called me, incredible. I was breathless, speechless, at his declaration. He placed his hand in my hair and pulled my lips to his. He was gentle at first, but became more urgent as I responded. My hands were tangled up in his hair as I pulled myself closer to him. He pulled away, much too soon, and looked at me with a smile that made my breath hitch.
"Let's get inside," I insisted, as I opened the car door and reluctantly, but swiftly, pulled myself out of the vehicle. Of course, I was dazzled by Edward, so I stumbled as I got out. Edward laughed and caught me with an arm around my waist. I knew I felt safe and protected with him beside me like this, so I decided to enjoy the time I had with him and his family.
James POV
What in the world happened? I felt heavy and groggy, like I had taken too many sleeping aids without sleeping enough. I opened my eyes, and I realized I was on a gurney type of bed surrounded by white walls. There were straps around my arms. Fluorescent lights from the ceiling lit up the room, and I could not see a way in or out. I seemed to be alone for the time being, however, so I would think and figure out how to get out of here. That stupid guy upset about almost running his daughter over caused me this inconvenience. Maybe I could get my revenge on him before I finally captured Bella.
"I see you're awake." Thank you, captain obvious.
"Hardly. What did you do to me?"
"Sedated you. It's harmless. You seem to be mentally unbalanced." He looked at me warily.
"Isn't everyone who ends up in prison?"
He laughed. "You're quite the jokester, huh? But no, not the way you seem to be."
"You're like a prison shrink?"
"Not exactly." What was I doing here, then?
I glared at him, but he only looked amused.
"Where am I?" It came out like a growl. I was getting angry without answers.
"Why you've been transferred to Phoenix, Arizona. The Seattle prison doesn't have the resources that we do to treat inmates with your type of temperament." Phoenix? Did they tell me this and I just didn't remember? I was livid. I just stared hard at the doc.
"Tell me, James, who is this Bella you kept mentioning?"
"She got away from me, and I need to have her. If her stupid boyfriend wasn't ruining everything…" Now, there was a tactic I hadn't thought of. Destroy him, or better yet, threaten to destroy him...she'd do anything for me. Ha.
"Don't get any crazy ideas now. Has she harmed you?" I laughed. "She couldn't harm a fly." The doctor almost looked scared. He should be. I had to figure him out to get out of here. Being in Phoenix was going to make this a lot more complicated. Unless he was lying to me. I glared at him, and, suddenly, the world went black again.