AN: Thanks for the reviews! I'll try and update this as frequently as possible.
I figured that since New Moon just came out, everyone else would be doing New Moon fanfics, so I decided to beat them to the punch. Get ready for the swarm. ;)
The next few chapters will be Bella's point of view, but soon I'll be switching in and out between Bella, Jacob, Edward, and maybe Alice.
Chapter 1
Jacob took me home immediately then. Victoria had been to the school before, so it did not seem improbable that she'd come here. The entire way to the house, I was terrified. I'd done nothing to keep my family and friends out of danger after all. If Victoria showed up at the school looking for me, there could very well be a massacre. I shuddered.
Jacob seemed to sense my fear and so he never let me out of his sight. He kept a hand on the small of my back and glanced around ceaselessly as we walked from my truck into the house. I didn't feel like telling him that it was not my life I was afraid for. How many times had I found myself in this position? Too many times to count. I was beginning to get used to the idea of constantly having a sadistic vampire out for my life.
Still, it was nice to have the feeling of security that I felt with Jacob. We sat down on the couch and remained there all afternoon. I stared unseeingly out the window, a million thoughts running madly around my head, but I couldn't seem to capture and focus on just one.
I could, however, focus all my worry and fear on the fact that the people I loved most were out hunting a murderer. The thought of losing Edward caused a wave of cold grief to roll over me. I decided not to let my thoughts go in that direction.
"Jacob?" I said, looking for a distraction. He turned his face to me, still alert of everything around us; every drop of rain on the roof, every rustle of the tree in the yard, every sigh of the wind. Any sound that reached his ears –though it may not have reached mine—caused his ears to perk up, like a dog's. Alice's insulting name-calling came to mind. I smirked.
"Yeah, Bells?" He answered; curiosity flitted across his face at my sudden gesture of amusement.
I shrugged, not knowing what to say. I was suddenly very aware of how awkward our relationship had become; and I didn't like it. Why did I have to be so attracted to supernatural beings that were natural enemies? I sometimes wished we were all just human and could have a normal relationship. That would make things a hell of a lot easier.
"Um," I groped for a topic of conversation. What had we talked about before the whole werewolf business? Coming up with nothing, I shrugged again, saying, "Nothing. Never mind."
I looked away, kicking myself inwardly, but Jacob's gaze lingered on my face. I didn't before notice that his expression was so guarded; as if he was afraid of what I'd say. However, when I didn't say anything, it softened and he took my hand. I was only slightly startled at how warm his hand was and quickly filled with the warmth of comfort I always felt around him.
"Bella?"
I looked at him, feeling suddenly emotional at how tender his voice was. It was filled with such longing that I felt tears spring to my eyes. I quickly swallowed them back. He searched my eyes, looking for something that probably wasn't there. I waited, beginning to shake. I needed to know that we were okay. I needed him to look me in the face and smile and say to me "Bella, I think we can work this out. I'm willing to go beyond my nature and do what I want for us. I've missed you so much and it seems so stupid that something neither of us can change is exactly what is keeping us apart." But instead, I was completely knocked off track by what he really said.
"I love you, Bells."
Well, if I had suspicions before, they were cemented now. My response was a staggered, "I love you, too, Jake." I threw myself into a hug and held him tightly. I hoped he wouldn't hear it as though I was declaring myself to him, but I knew he would anyway. The boundaries I'd tried so hard to uphold were thrown out the window for the moment. It just felt so nice to have Jacob back. The old Jacob that was always happy; my sunshine.
I pulled away and looked at his face, anxious to see the sweetness that had been lacking. And there it was. So lovely.
I was startled when I heard the door bang open and Charlie's voice rang out, "Bella?"
"Oh!" I jumped. "In here!"
I realized that was probably a mistake. What was I going to tell him? That a vampire was hunting me and now Jacob, my werewolf, needed to stay with me while my vampire boyfriend and his family was out looking for her? No.
My eyes snapped over to the entrance from the kitchen to the living room and back to Jacob, panicked. "What do we say?" I asked in a frantic, hushed voice. Jacob just grinned. I wasn't sure if I felt more at ease.
Just then, Charlie walked in, looking as if he were about to say something but stopping when he saw Jake. "Hey, Jacob," he said, looking a little staggered. "What brings you here?"
I waited, wondering what he could possibly say to explain any of this.
Jacob put on a martyred look that was probably believable to Charlie, but I saw straight through it. What was he up to?
"Well," he began, "I hope you don't mind. I have nowhere else to go. I was kind of hoping you'd let me stay for a few days while I find an apartment—"
"An apartment?" Charlie cut in. "Did Billy—"
"Yeah, he. . . kicked me out," Jacob finished for him with a sheepish smile. "He was 'tired of my behavior and thought it best if I go out on my own before I did anymore damage,'" He shrugged, forcing the illusion that he was acting as though he didn't care but really did and was only hiding it. I marveled at his thoroughness, and I knew what Charlie would say next.
"Aw Jake, I'm so sorry. But I am not going to let you handle the responsibility of your own apartment. You'll stay here as long as you need to," he said with finality, cementing it with a nod. There would be no arguing. I smiled, delighted at how this worked out.
Jacob's lips twitched, but he retained the mask spectacularly. "Are you sure, Charlie? I could just stay with someone in La Push. I don't wanna intrude."
"Nonsense," Charlie scoffed. "You're staying with us and that's final." He smiled. Jacob and I laughed at his fervor on the subject, though inwardly I was amused by his story. "Bella, would you get the extra blanket and pillow from the closet? Jake, you can have the couch."
"Thanks so much, Charlie. You don't know how much I appreciate this." He shot a look in my direction. I hoped Charlie didn't pick up on the hint of a double meaning, or the look.
"Hey, no problem. You're always welcome here. He's practically part of the family, isn't he Bells?"
I grinned. "Yes, absolutely."
"I'll be glad to have you around again. We've missed you these past few weeks. Whatever fight you guys were having, I guess wasn't that important."
Both Jacob and I stiffened, I hope not too noticeably. That fight was not quite resolved yet, and the thought of it was like being pricked repeatedly in the jaw with a two-inch needle. We put on our best agreeing faces.
"Yeah, that's right. It was a ridiculous argument, anyway. I can't believe something like that split us up for so long. It was totally asinine," I put in, throwing in all of my honesty. Jake flinched, but nodded.
"Yep." He flashed a smile. "Just a silly dispute. And I've really missed my Bella."
Charlie smiled at my blushing face. "Glad you worked it out. And glad to have you, Jake." He turned to me. "Should I order a pizza?"
I gasped, snapping my eyes up to the wall clock. "Oh, sorry! I hadn't realized what time it was. Jake and I were talking. I lost track of time." I hurried into the kitchen, opening the fridge and finding the leftovers from last night's fish curry. I pulled out the container and set it on the counter. Charlie was standing in the doorway.
"That's alright, Bells. You deserve a break, don't worry about it."
"No, no," I insisted. "There's enough here, and its Friday. The pizza would take forever." Charlie seemed to consider that.
"Curry's fine with me. How 'bout you, Jake?" he called into the living room. Jacob appeared at the doorway next to him.
"Sounds great," he flashed me a smile.
"Great," I answered, removing the lid from the container and shoving it into the microwave. I leaned against the counter, looking from my considerably average father to the beautiful and huge Jacob. The contrast was almost as comical as the one between Charlie and Edward. I smiled.
"Hey, Jake," Charlie inquired, to my horror, "Did you bring any stuff with you?"
Jacob met my wide eyes with sure ones. "Yeah, I've got a few bags in my car. It's parked around the corner. I didn't want to block you guys in."
I grinned. Of course he'd have that little detail planned out. I was very impressed with his dedication to making this look legitimate. I was sure Charlie would call Billy later, probably after Jacob went to sleep. No doubt, Billy was in on this and would "explain his reasons." I was very pleased.
"Why don't we bring them in now?" Charlie suggested. "And bring your car around the front. So you finished it, did you?"
"Yeah, about two months ago. If you want, you can take her for a drive. She rides real nice," Jake said, adding in his own pride to the charm.
"Sure, if you don't mind." Charlie was elated. I'm sure I would be too if I only got to drive around in the cruiser. Jacob smirked.
"Just take care of her. She's my baby." Charlie laughed and I chuckled. That was taking it a little far. Jake just shrugged, still smirking.
As they walked toward the door, Jake glanced at me and I caught the fleeting look of the sweetness and love I'd seen before Charlie disrupted the moment. Then the door closed behind them.
