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 20

Shadow watched his mistress sleep soundly on the couch of her sire, keeping careful watch over her while her sire and mate were gone from the house. It had been a week since their encounter with that dreadful creature and his mistress had been sick with worry about the creature's next move. Her mate would always reassure her though, which he found admirable. He really liked his mistress's mate and was still waiting for him to claim her. Their pheromones for each other permeated the air drastically when they were together, so he didn't understand what the hold up was. But that didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was making sure his mistress was safe.

Bella shifted a bit in her sleep before settling back down, snuggling more under the blanket that was covering her small frame. Shadow moved from his position near the television to sit before her, watching her relaxed face as she dreamed. This was the second day that they had been in this house, as his mistress had moved back in with her sire, and from his understanding it was because of the summer being over and fall coming. And her mistress went to some place called 'school' in the fall, whatever a 'school' was. He didn't understand why she couldn't go to it and still live with her mate and his sire; it would be better than being in reach of that filthy creature after her.

Speaking of filthy creature, a nasty smell reached his little nose, causing Shadow to growl as his hackles raised. The smell was too strong, and it was inside of the house. A creature was inside of his mistress's sire's home, uninvited. Growling more, Shadow stood on his small paws in a protective stance, making sure to keep his mistress protected.

Having been woken up by her puppy's growls, Bella sat up slightly and asked, "Shadow, what's wrong? What is it?"

A growl was her response, but not at her. Bella frowned as she listened to her puppy's growls, recognizing them as the growls when he feels threatened or she is threatened. And so far, he had only reacted that way in the presence of a vampire. As that thought occurred to her, Bella felt her heart freeze in fear momentarily in her chest before it began to beat quickly. Gripping the blanket in her fists she called out in a shaky voice, "Who's there?"

A cold hand touched her shoulder, causing Bella to let out a scream as Shadow began to bark and growl like crazy. There was a yelp of surprise before the voice of Alice said, "Bella, please call him off! I'm just here to talk, I swear! Please, make your dog stop!"

Bella, though not particularly knowing what it was that Shadow was doing to Alice, called the little Lab to her and felt him jump in her lap before turning her head. Facing the purple and black aura, Bella panted a bit to calm herself from being scared previously before asking, "What are you doing here, Alice? And uninvited, might I add?"

Alice looked at the brunette that was glaring at her, despite not being able to physically see her, and said, "I just came to talk about what happened the other day."

"I don't want to talk about it. I was there, I know what happened."

"But Bella, you have to understand that Edward didn't mean it. He didn't mean what he did or what he said. He just really wants to work things out with you; he loves you so much."

Bella scoffed before saying, "I can't believe that you're justifying his reckless behavior. He's stalking me, Alice. I have a restraining order against him and everyone in town knows it, but because he and you are vampires, he gets an easy pass to get around it. I want him to leave me alone and he won't. I want nothing more to do with him, but now I'm in fear of my life because of him. I wish I had never gotten involved with him, but I allowed myself to be swept up. But now I can clearly see what Edward, you, your family, have done to me. You all have pulled the wool over my eyes and let me be pulled into the center of a world I don't belong, all of you except Rosalie. Now I'm looking over my shoulder constantly because of Edward. Not only him, but Victoria as well."

Alice's eyes widened in shock. "I completely forgot about Victoria."

"I'm sure, because you're too busy kissing Edward's ass and trying to make him happy, even at the expense of my own unhappiness, and I won't have it." She ignored the vampire's shocked gasp before continuing. "Luckily, Jacob and the Pack know about her and why she's still hanging around, making sure that I'm okay and that she can't get to me. If you and your family are going to be sticking around, how about helping the Pack track down Victoria and get rid of her instead of worrying about me no longer being with Edward?"

Bella had never spoken to her that way. In fact, she had never heard to speak like that at all. Then again, it was possible she was just agitated because she was still sore about Edward's sudden and unprovoked attack and she was just taking it out on her. Alice wished she could do something to not only calm Bella, but have her change her mind about Edward. However, she couldn't see her future clearly anymore, considering she had been able to just fine when she had been with her brother. It had to be because of Jacob Black. But Bella did give her an idea, one that could help Edward get back into Bella's good graces. If he could help keep Bella safe and kill Victoria like James, then perhaps Bella would be grateful to him and might possibly give him another chance.

Liking this idea, Alice told her that she would tell the others about Victoria's presence still in Forks and that she would talk to her again before leaving, leaving Bella and Shadow alone once more. Shadow began to relax with the vampire's departure and Bella suddenly found herself exhausted. Settling back down on the couch, she cuddled Shadow to her and lay on her side, wondering why her life was so complicated. She wished she could be a normal teenager, but she hadn't been normal since finding out Edward and the Cullens were vampires, and then finding out later that Jacob was a spirit wolf Shifter.

Thinking of Jacob, Bella couldn't help but smile. Now Jacob, Jacob made her feel normal, like everything in the world was okay. That no matter what they faced or went through, so long as they were together everything would be alright. Bella remembered the conversation she had had with Ms. Opal the last time she had visited her. Ms. Opal had gotten her to admit her true feelings for Jacob, and Bella hadn't spoken about them since. But she knew for certain that she really liked Jacob. She figured she might be in love with him, but she wasn't completely sure, considering what she first had thought had been her first love had just been infatuation bordering on obsession. But it wasn't like that with Jacob, she knew that in her heart. With Jacob, Bella felt free, like she didn't have to be or live up to something she would never amount to, that she was absolutely perfect in his eyes.

Maybe I am, Bella thought. Maybe I really am perfect to Jacob.

She couldn't explain the feelings Jacob evoked in her, but she did know that they made her feel warm inside and she always wanted to be wrapped in that warmth. Being in Jacob's presence, being wrapped up in his warmth, made her feel more alive than she ever had, made her see things in a way she had never before. In fact, whenever she looked at Jacob, she found she could actually see him. Yes, he was still gold like his aura, but she could actually pinpoint every single feature. His tall, muscular build, his cheekbones, his bright eyes, and his wonderfully bright sunny smile. She could see everything, she could feel everything, and it was something she always wanted. She wanted Jacob with her always and forever; she wanted Jacob.

Perhaps she really was in love with Jacob like Ms. Opal was eluding to. Yes, she had admitted that she liked him, but love? Maybe. Cuddling Shadow closer to her, Bella whispered, "What do you think, Shadow? Do you think I might be in love with Jacob?"

Shadow, who had been on the verge of sleep, made a sort of grunting noise before settling back down. Bella giggled softly and kissed his furry head before saying, "Yeah, I think I might be too. And I think the next time I see him, I'll tell him how I feel. No more hiding it or overthinking it. Jacob will definitely know how I feel."

It wasn't long after she had said that did Bella fall back asleep on the couch, sleeping peacefully despite the rude awakening caused by Alice's sudden appearance. And that was how Charlie found her when he returned home, still asleep on the couch with little Shadow snuggled up to her, the both of them sleeping soundly.

Author's Note: I'm sorry this chapter is so late. Work has been crazy, especially with Christmas being so close. But I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as short as it is, and stay tuned for more. Also, the next chapter will have Bella confessing her feelings to Jacob. Again, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and thanks so much to those that continue to stick by this story despite my irregular uploading. Thank you so much. Love, SehunsBae37.