Eyes Wide Open

JacobxBella

Rated M

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

Eyes Wide Open

Chapter 6

For the entire week Bella spent time with Jacob, Billy, and her father, as well as Angela when time permitted the girl. She felt it better to distance herself from the Cullens, especially Edward after what the vampire had pulled. Not to mention she was getting constant calls from both him and Alice about her visit to the school and Edward getting in trouble with the principal and by some extension Carlisle. Carlisle had even stopped by not long after Charlie had gotten home the day after to apologize on his son's behalf, to which Charlie and Bella both accepted, though Charlie said it'd be better coming from Edward, unless he found himself too proud to do so. Either way, Bella was done with it and would be taking her finals within two weeks up at the school with everyone else, something she was actually happy to do.

Currently Bella practicing her reading of Braille before Jacob came to pick her up to take her to see Ms. Opal again. She was in the middle of a paragraph when there was a knock on the front door. Standing up from the couch she made her way to the door and called out, "Who is it?"

"It's Angela, Bella," Angela's voice called out.

Smiling Bella opened the door and allowed Angela inside saying, "Hey, it's good to see you. Well, you know what I mean."

Angela chuckled and nodded saying, "Yeah, I get it. Anyway, I just decided to stop by because I wanted to know if you wanted to study this weekend and leading up until finals."

"Oh yeah, that'd be great. But it might just seem like I'm just sitting there with you. Unless we can try to make Braille notes out of yours."

"I think it might be possible if you know anybody, or I can find somebody before the weekend. Oh yeah, how is your Braille practice going?"

Bella led Angela into the living room to where she had been previously and answered, "It's going great! I think I'm picking it up faster than I thought I would. I'm actually waiting for Jacob to come and take me to the Reservation so I can visit Ms. Opal again. She's the blind woman I told you about that gave me the notes in Braille."

Nodding Angela replied, "Yeah, I remember. She sounds like a very lovely woman; I'd love to meet her."

"Maybe Jacob will let you come."

Angela smiled at Bella and said, "You know, I've been meaning to say this—and no disrespect to your relationship with Edward—but it seems to me that Jacob is someone very special to you. I'd really like to meet him as well."

Smiling Bella replied, "He is special to me. He's my best friend and I just know I can depend on him for anything, no matter what. And he's been such a help to me ever since I became blind. He gave me my confidence back, he listens to me, he doesn't try to push me into anything that I don't want to do and…and he just gets me, which is more than I can say for my own boyfriend. Jacob is just...amazing."

The bespectacled girl couldn't help but smile at the brunette. Bella didn't even realize how she sounded when she spoke about this Jacob. She sounded so smitten and she had a bit of a blush on her face. It was official, she couldn't wait to meet Jacob when he arrived. And the time came quicker than she expected when there was another knock on the door, followed by it opening and a deep voice calling out, "Bells?"

"In here, Jake!" Bella called back.

The moment Jacob stepped into the living room, Angela's eyes widened and she couldn't help but say, "Oh!"

Jacob was…exquisite. He had height, muscle, a handsome face, and a beautiful smile. And Bella called him her best friend? She might as well throw that title away and say he's her man, because that is exactly what this boy was: a man. And he was sixteen? Angela didn't like to think it, but if Bella didn't drop Edward for Jacob and soon, she had to be crazy.

Jacob looked at Angela and smiled before holding out his hand and saying, "Hi, you must be Angela, Bella's friend."

"Yes, and you must be Jacob," Angela responded with a smile and shaking his hand. "Bella's told me a lot about you."

"Only good things, I hope."

"She has nothing to say about you but good things. But she didn't tell me you had looks to go with your wonderful personality."

Bella flushed and said, "Okay, that's enough. Anyway Jake, Angela wants to know if it'll be alright to go with us to La Push. She wants to meet Ms. Opal, too."

Jacob nodded and said, "Yeah, it'll be fine. Besides, she told me she's making tea and cookies and stuff and my friends Embry and Quil be there. You can finally meet them, as well." Looking at Angela he said, "You'll have fun, I promise. Besides, Ms. Opal loves new company."

Angela smiled and said, "Great."

Ms. Opal opened her front door and smiled seeing two familiar auras, one gold and the other with a grey aura that seemed to be turning a pale yellow. However there was also a new one that was pink, making her smile and say, "Bella, Jacob, I see you brought a friend."

Jacob nodded and said, "Yes, this is Bella's friend Angela. Angela, this is Ms. Opal."

"It's nice to meet you, ma'am," Angela said in greeting.

"You too, Angela. Come inside, you three. Embry and Quil are already here and trying to eat all of my cookies."

The three of them stepped inside, Bella a little slower as she was using her white stick, before making her way to an empty armchair. Sitting down she looked around and took notice of Jacob's warm golden aura, Angela's pink one, and she had seen Ms. Opal's blue one the moment she opened the door. However she took notice of the two new ones in the room, one being green and the other orange. Looking towards the green one she said, "Hi, you must be Jacob's friend."

"Yeah, my name is Embry," Embry replied. "You're Bella, Jake's girlfriend."

"Embry, I've told you time and again, she's not my girlfriend. I specifically said she's a girl and she's my friend," Jacob said, sounding embarrassed and causing Bella to smile. "Besides, she already has a boyfriend. An undeserving one, but a boyfriend nonetheless."

"Whatever man, it's obvious you'd like to be her boyfriend," the orange aura which had to be Quil said. "Anyway, it's nice to finally meet you Bella."

Bella laughed softly and said, "You too."

Ms. Opal moved to sit down and asked, "So Bella, were those notes helpful?"

"Definitely, and I've brought them back because I'm done with them."

"I knew you would be. And did you still want to discuss auras?"

"Yes please."

"I thought so. Follow me into the kitchen and we'll talk there. Jacob, do you think you can keep Quil in check?"

Jacob chuckled and said, "Yeah, I'll give him a good smack in the head if I need to."

"Hey!" Quil exclaimed.

Embry rolled his eyes with a smile before looking over at Angela that was nibbling on a cookie, her eyes shifting towards him every now and then with a light blush on her cheeks. He smiled at her as well before looking down into his teacup, ignoring Jacob's knowing smile.

In the kitchen Bella and Ms. Opal sat down at the table and Ms. Opal said, "So last time you asked me about them and how to sense them and pinpoint them to one person. However I think you're already beginning to understand in a way."

Bella nodded and replied, "Yes, I think I'm getting it. The first time I experienced it, I was talking to Jake. It was like he suddenly started glowing and it was so warm and golden. I just knew it had to be him, even though I was already talking to him. Does that make sense?"

"Of course it does. Believe it or not, I sense Jacob's aura in being that color as well, so I'm not surprised you do as well. Jacob is a special one, so his being gold seems to be expected. But tell me, how do you see my own aura or even your friend Angela's?"

"Angela's is pink and I put this to her loving and sweet nature. Yours is blue, at least that's how I see it."

"I see. And what do you think that tells you about me?"

Bella thought for a moment before answering, "I believe it tells me that you are intuitive, helpful, calm…um…"

Ms. Opal smiled and nodded saying, "Yes, I am those things and lets you know that you can lean on me for support if ever you need to. I know being blind can be scary at times, but I am here for you, Bella. But I know, as does everyone else, that you'll get stronger and more confidence in your blindness, just so long as you don't let anyone try to make decisions for you and make you dependent on them. People like that claim to care about you, but they really try to hold you back because they can't seem to stand that you can make it on your own without their help. But that's why I'm happy you and Jacob are friends, because Jacob helps and encourages people to move forward and do their best. And I know you'll always be in good hands when he's around."

The brunette smiled a little as she took in what the older woman said, though it fell slightly as she thought about it. She had said a whole lot of things that sounded like Edward and it didn't sit well with her. Not in the way that she was offended by what Ms. Opal had said, but that it was the fact she was right and that it related to Edward. She had to admit, ever since she got involved with him she had been rather dependent on him and allowed him to make decisions for her. And each and every time he told her it was because he loved her and it was for her own good and safety. If she thought about it, she allowed him to because she thought it good to finally have someone to be dependent on rather than herself, and be taken care of rather than being the one to take care of another. And no guy had ever taken an interest in her the way Edward had, that it just made her feel special. But now…now it seemed as if the mysterious and enchanting wonder that Edward seemed to be was wearing off to her. Now he just didn't seem so special, but rather ordinary, something she thought impossible for a vampire since knowing him, the Cullens, and learning about them.

The blind woman could tell Bella was thinking hard about something and reached across the table, gently taking her hand after feeling for it and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Smiling softly she said, "I don't know what is going on in your life and you don't have to tell me, but just know that everything will be alright in the end."

Bella smiled and squeezed her hand in return before softly saying, "Thanks, Ms. Opal."

Later that night Bella lay in bed on her side, trying to go to sleep but not really sure if she was going to. Her mind was just whirling with thoughts from her earlier talk with Ms. Opal. Ms. Opal made her think a lot about her relationship with Edward and made her see it for what it was. And it wasn't all that she thought it was. In fact, she wasn't even in love with him like she thought. She realized that she just had some sort of unhealthy infatuation with him that she had mistaken for love, and the reason she had mistaken her feelings for love was because she had never really seen or understood romantic love from the people that were to be her examples to follow: her parents.

Her mother had up and left her father when she was just a baby and had hopped place to place, dragging her along and barely letting her visit Charlie. She had man after man that she claimed was the one only to have her heart broken each time. She had told herself she'd never be like Renee in the ways of love and based her perfect idea of it from the romantic story books she loved to read. The love in those books was always so perfect with the perfect man. And when she had met Edward, it was like one of her books come to life for her and they were to have the perfect romance and be in true love. But now that she thought about it and looked back on everything, it was nothing like that. In fact, their relationship wasn't good and it started off completely creepy. Edward had watched her in her room while she slept and basically stalked her everywhere, even in public while making it seem like a coincidence that he bumped into her. His mood swings had been crazy as well; she distinctly recalled telling him they were giving her whiplash. All in all, their romance or supposed romance was far from perfect and it seemed like everyone that mattered to her knew it but her. However he was her first boyfriend so she saw nothing wrong with it at the time, not like she did now.

She heard the window open and shut within a second of it happening and she knew it was Edward. A cold hand caressed her face and caused her to flinch away from the touch. Sitting up Bella looked ahead to where she assumed Edward was and said, "Edward."

"Bella, my love. I'm so glad to finally see you after a week of being kept away," Edward said. "I wasn't sure if you were asleep or not, but I couldn't stay away anymore. I needed to be close to you again. You know how much I love you."

"I'm sure you do." Bella took a deep breath before speaking again. "Edward, we need to talk."

"About what happened up at the school? Don't worry about it love, I forgive you. I don't blame you for what you did. I was out of line, though I was only doing it for your wellbeing. It's not particularly safe for blind people to move around, especially with a broken leg like you have."

Bella scowled and replied, "That wasn't what I was going to say, and I'm taking all sorts of offense to that."

Edward had the decency to look sheepish before saying, "I apologize, Bella."

"Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about was…well, us."

A frown appeared on Edward's marble face. "What about us?"

"I just don't think we're working anymore, Edward. You and I…it's just not what it once was. I think I blinded myself to the fact that we don't belong together because you can't read my mind and fight your bloodlust for me. You made me feel special in a way I've never felt before it and I didn't want to let go of that."

"You are special, Bella. And I love you; we belong together."

Shaking her head she said, "No Edward, we don't. We don't fit together and…and I don't belong in your world. I should have never gotten involved and stayed away like you tried to tell me. I'm sorry Edward, but I'm breaking up with you."

"Bella, I love you." She could hear the desperation in his voice as he took her hands in his at the realization that she was serious and about to lose her.

"But I don't love you, Edward; I'm sorry. I'll always care for you, but I can't be with you anymore."

Edward was completely taken aback and felt as if his head had been ripped from his shoulders. He couldn't believe it what he was hearing. Bella was breaking up with him. She couldn't break up with him, she just couldn't! He waited nearly one hundred years for her; she couldn't just leave him! She…she…

A sudden thought came to him. This had to be that dog's doing. He filled her head with some lies and made her think she wanted to break up with him. Jacob Black was trying to interfere with their relationship and move in on Bella, and he was not going to have it. A menacing growl escaped his lips and his hold on Bella's tightened, causing her to whimper and attempt to pull her hands away. Realizing he was hurting her he let go of her hands and quickly moved to her window to leave. Before he did he turned to look at her saying, "I'm not letting you go, Bella. You're mine and always will be, and no one else can have you."

Bella gasped as the vampire left, for the first time actually feeling scared of Edward and what he might do. When Edward had been present, he had had this cloudy mist around him, as if it was trying to determine an aura that would surround the vampire. However the mist soon turned into an aura to surround Edward and the color didn't settle well with Bella, for the color had been black. She knew black auras didn't necessarily mean evil or bad things as Ms. Opal had told her when she questioned her about earlier, but for some reason she felt as if this black aura surrounding Edward wasn't beyond evil. She hadn't felt safe in that moment and the vampire's parting words sent an unpleasant chill down her spine.

Knowing she wasn't going to go to sleep behind this, she got up and moved around her room as quietly as possible while limping, as she didn't have her boot on. She grabbed a pair of sweatpants from her drawer and put them on over her cotton shorts and a sweatshirt over her t-shirt. She put her tennis shoes on, forgoing her boot and grabbed her white stick, quietly making her way out into the hallway. She could hear Charlie snoring from his room and quietly moved towards the staircase and headed downstairs. When she reached the landing she made her way to the kitchen and towards the house phone. Running her thumb over the numbers she felt the Braille numbers on them and punched in the Black residence phone number from memory, putting the device to her ear. She waited as it rung in her ear before a deep voice finally answered, "Hello?"

"Billy, hi," Bella said. "Um, I'm calling because I was wondering if Jake is available."

"Yes, he just got in from his patrolling shift."

"Patrolling shift?"

"Um, yes. It's his job on the Reservation for the…visitors that camp around here and stuff."

Bella nodded—not like the man could see her doing it—and replied, "Oh okay. Well, I was hoping I could talk to him."

Billy told her she could and told her to wait a moment, calling for his son to come and get the telephone from him. A minute passed before Jacob finally spoke into the phone, "Hey Bells."

"Jake, I know you just got home and I'm sorry to call you so late, but I was hoping you could come and get me. I…I broke up with Edward tonight and his parting words didn't make me feel good. I…I was hoping I could spend the night with you, please. If it's alright with you and Billy, of course."

"Of course Bella, I'll be there as soon as I can. Just be waiting on the porch for me in fifteen minutes, okay?"

"Thank you, Jake. I'll see you when you get here. Bye."

"Bye Bells."

Bella hung up the phone and let out a sigh before moving around the kitchen and grabbing a pen and paper. She wrote a quick note to Charlie to let him know where she was before heading outside to wait on the porch for Jacob, being careful to quietly open and shut the door, using her house key to lock the door. She waited for what felt like forever and had the horrible feeling she was being watched. Just as she thinking she wanted Jacob to hurry, she heard the rumble of an engine and knew it was him. She heard a door open and shut and soon she was enveloped in a warm embrace.

Hugging him back she said, "Oh Jake, thank you for coming to get me."

Jacob held the brunette close before asking, "Are you alright, Bella? What did he say?"

"I'll tell you later, but I just don't want to be alone right now."

Jacob didn't know what the leech had said to Bella to make her feel scared like this, but he wasn't going to let him do anything to her, not if he could help it. Letting her go he lead her to Billy's truck that he had borrowed and helped her inside before getting in himself and heading back towards La Push. As he drove, his nose caught the sickly sweet stench of a vampire and he looked out of the window briefly and saw a quick flash of red. His eyes narrowed at the red, knowing it was the red haired leech he had been trailing for a while. He needed to deal with her soon so he could deal with Cullen. But he had to admit, he was glad Bella's eyes had finally opened to seeing the vampire she had called a boyfriend for what he really was and broke up with him. However he knew the ride was only beginning and needed to be on his toes.