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 24

Alice sighed as she sat in Rosalie's convertible, the backseat and trunk full of clothes bags from the therapeutic shopping she had done. She had ended her shopping sooner than she hoped and thus had been sitting in the car in the parking lot for the past hour. And in doing so, she had looked into the future of the talk Carlisle was going to have with Edward. She had seen that it wasn't going to end well and saw that Edward had basically told Carlisle that he would turn Bella himself. She hadn't thought he would go that far considering he was adamant about her staying human, so his sudden change in attitude about it was slightly jarring.

Feeling a presence next to her in the passenger seat, she turned her head and came face to face with her mate. Upon seeing him, she instantly felt calm, and not from hm using his gift. In a soft voice she said, "Jazz."

Jasper looked over at Alice and gently took hold of her hand before asking, "What's wrong?"

"It's Edward. Carlisle…he had a talk with me earlier about interfering in Bella's life and that I needed to stop it, especially with her not wanting us around her anymore." Jasper nodded in understanding, silently prompting his mate to continue. "Well, he talked with Edward about the same thing, and I couldn't help but look into the future to see what would happen."

"And I'm guessing Edward didn't take it too well?"

Alice shook her head. "Not only that, but he…Jasper, he threatened to turn Bella himself."

Jasper stared at Alice for a moment before nodding once again. He knew better than to tell Alice he told her this would happen, because he had, but he saw no reason to rub it in her face. However, this did pose a problem for not only his mate, but for the clan as a whole. There seemed to be no choice but to stop Edward, something he was kind of looking forward too, especially if he had to get dirty to stop him—he never did find Edward great anyway, just majorly spoiled.

"Okay, we'll stop him from harming Bella; don't worry," Jasper told Alice reassuringly.

"Victoria is still out there after Bella, too," Alice said.

"We'll stop them both, don't worry. For now, let's get home to see what Carlisle wants to do."

Alice nodded and allowed Jasper to kiss her forehead before she went to crank the convertible, thinking Rosalie was pissed off with her for taking her car without asking. However, as soon as she touched the key in the ignition, she gasped as she was suddenly thrown into a vision. It was brief, but it was enough to tell her exactly what Carlisle's next move was concerning Edward.

Seeing his mate go rigid—something she did when having a sudden vision—Jasper gently took hold of Alice's face and looked into eyes saying, "Alice, talk to me. Tell me what you're seeing."

Blinking Alice looked at Jasper and breathed out, "Carlisle called Aro."

Jasper was surprised that Carlisle had made that call, especially knowing it was more than likely because of Edward. If he had called Aro, then that meant that Carlisle didn't know what to do about his golden child anymore. He honestly should have done something when that restraining order against Edward was served, but he supposed better late than never. Understanding that things were possibly taking a turn for the worse—maybe, he could be wrong—he told Alice to start the car and they head back to Forks. Nodding in agreement, Alice started Rosalie's convertible and pulled out of the parking space she was in, intent on leaving Seattle and getting to Forks as quick as possible.

The next day, Bella was in Port Angeles with Angela, the two of them doing some back to school shopping. Tagging along with them was Jacob and Embry, and of course, little Shadow. Normally, the stores wouldn't allow dogs inside, but seeing as Shadow was technically Bella's guide dog, they allowed it. He was still a puppy, but at four almost five months, he had grown significantly. In fact, he was rather large for a four-month-old puppy. But as far as he was concerned, that allowed him to protect his mistress more than when he was smaller.

At the moment, they were inside of a store where Angela and Bella were picking out clothes for the new school year. Angela helping Bella pick her outfits out. Jacob and Embry, not knowing anything about clothing, gave their opinion on what they thought what color would look good on the girls. Both boys had done the right thing and drew the girls away from picking anything orange, finding it a garish color that didn't necessarily look good with anything. Bella smiled as she watched Angela's pink aura and Embry's green aura mingle together not too far off from where she was, the two of them obviously close together. She hoped that Angela would let Embry know that she liked him, but only when she felt comfortable enough to want to start dating Embry though.

Arms wrapped around her from behind and soft lips kissed her neck before Jacob's voice said, "You're supposed to be shopping, not staring at our friends canoodling."

"They're canoodling?" Bella asked surprised.

"No, but the hearts in their eyes and how they're smiling and laughing with each other might as well lead up to it."

Giggling, Bella around in Jacob's embrace and said, "I'd rather be canoodling with you, though."

Jacob chuckled and kissed Bella's lips, holding her closer as he did. Parting he kissed her forehead before suggesting that she and Angela finish shopping so they could all eat. Ten minutes later, they all left the store and headed back to Angela's car, climbing in and allowing the bespectacled girl to drive them to the nearest restaurant. Soon they pulled into a parking lot and got out, Embry holding the door open for them and Jacob helping Bella inside, Shadow leading way beside of her white stick. Stepping up in front of the podium where the hostess was, Bella asked, "A table for four, please."

The hostess turned her nose up at Shadow before saying, "I'm sorry, but we don't allow pets. I'm sorry, but we can't seat you."

"But he's not a pet, he's a guide dog," Angela replied.

"So?" the hostess said rudely.

"So that means that he helps to guide blind people and is by all means a type of service dog," Embry inputted annoyed.

"And?"

Jacob glared at the woman. "What do you mean 'and'? She is blind, damn it! Don't tell me that you discriminate against blind people and their guide dogs."

At that moment, a man in a nice shirt and blazer stepped up saying, "We do not, and I'm sorry our hostess was rude to you. Please, take a seat wherever you like. Clarissa, in my office now."

Jacob and Embry glared at Clarissa before following Angela, Bella, and Shadow to a table in the restaurant. However, as they came upon a large booth, Shadow stopped and began growling, his hackles rising as he did. Frowning down at her dog Bella asked, "Shadow, what's the matter?"

"Why, if it isn't Isabella Swan," a silky-smooth voice suddenly spoke, the sound of it sending chills down Bella's back.

Slowly turning, Bella looked at two dark auras, one with a bit of gold and the other red. With how Shadow was growling and how she felt Jacob tense up behind her—Embry probably doing the same—she immediately knew what creatures were there. Vampires, Bella couldn't help but think, she herself stiffening.

"Bella, it's good to see you," Carlisle's voice spoke, his voice causing her to calm down a little. Looking at her companions he said, "Hello Jacob, Embry. And you must be Angela Weber."

Angela smiled at Carlisle politely and replied, "Hi Dr. Cullen."

Jacob and Embry, though not relaxed in the slightest, both gave their own hellos, their voices a bit terse. Finding her voice, Bella breathed out, "Hi Carlisle. Um, wh-who's your friend?"

Looking at his companion Carlisle said, "This is my associate, Aro…Volturi."

If Bella hadn't tensed up much before, she definitely did then. She remembered Edward telling her about them and that Carlisle used to be a part of the Volturi. And to now know that one of them, one of the kings of vampires was here, it made her feel a little faint as her heart sped up in her chest.

Hearing how fast the little human's heart had sped up, Aro knew that his presence was distressing for her. And judging from the reactions of two of her companions, they did not like him there either. They also smelled horrendous, like wet dogs. Realizing who they were Aro thought, So these are the spirit wolf Shifters Carlisle told me about. He then looked at the larger one of the two with his brown contact covered eyes and saw how close he was to Bella, how he seemed even more tense than the other one. And this must be her knew lover. Well, I can definitely say the people in my dear friend's life are interesting ones.

Angela, picking up on the suddenly tense atmosphere, smiled politely at the two men and said, "It was good to see you Dr. Cullen, and it was nice meeting you Mr. Volturi. We didn't mean to interrupt your meal, so we'll be on our way."

"Actually, we'd like for you to join us if you please," Aro spoke.

"No," Jacob growled, his hand grabbing Bella's while Embry placed a placating hand on his shoulder.

"I insist. After all, it is about Isabella's…stalker problem."

Blinking in surprise, Bella asked slowly, "So…you're here to…to help?"

Aro smiled and tilted his head. "You could say that. Carlisle brought to my attention that young Edward seems to not be taking heed of the restraining order against him. He also told me that he seems to no longer be able to control him enough to leave you alone. So in a last ditch effort, he has reached out to me to help."

Angela's eyes widened. "Oh, so you're a lawyer."

"…Yes."

Turning to the brunette, Angela said, "Bella, this is great. If the court order isn't working against Edward, then just take him to court and let Mr. Volturi represent you."

The two Shifters, vampires, and Bella all knew that wasn't likely to happen, but something else instead would. And if Bella did take Aro up on his offer with Carlisle—whatever it was—then it would definitely be done outside of a courthouse. Looking back at Carlisle and Aro, Bella opened her mouth to speak, but closed it, not sure what to say. Biting her lip, Bella finally asked, "So you can really keep Edward away from me?"

"Oh, I will be doing more than that. I will make a decision where he will have no choice but to leave you alone," Aro replied. His eyes then narrowed and his voice sounded as if it was dripping knives. "And if not, there will be grave consequences."

Clearing his throat, Carlisle looked at Bella saying, "Of course, you don't have to answer now. Just…give me a call when you make up your mind. As you know, I don't like having to do this to my son, but it's about time I put my foot down and time for him to learn he can't always get what he wants."

Nodding Bella said, "O-Okay."

Standing Aro took hold of Bella's hand, completely ignoring Shadow's bark at him and the pup biting at his suit's pant-leg and kissed the back of it. Bella could feel him inhale the scent of her blood as he did, Jacob and Embry hearing it. Releasing her hand, he said, "Until next time, Isabella. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

Bella blinked before swallowing hardly and nodding, allowing Jacob to usher her to a table as far away from the two vampires as possible. Once they got a table, Angela excused herself to the restroom, allowing for Jacob, Embry, and Bella to speak about what just happened briefly. Leaning towards Jacob and Bella, Embry asked, "What the hell just happened?"

"It seems like that leech just offered to help Bella with her leech problem," Jacob answered. Looking down at Bella he asked, "Who is that leech? It seems like you know him."

Shaking her head Bella answered, "I don't know him, but I know of him, of them. That's Aro, one of the three leaders of the Volturi. He's basically like…the king of the vampires, and he and Carlisle are…friends. And one of them, according to Edward, hates werewolves."

Jacob and Embry looked at each other incredulously. The doctor leech called in a fucking king?! Was he crazy?! Jacob looked towards the two vampires who were deep in conversation before looking back at the brunette. "Has the doc lost his damn mind?"

"He's going to get us killed if he's the one that hates werewolves," Embry said tensely.

Bella leaned against Jacob and said, "I know, and that has me worried as well. But…but maybe…maybe he could be the true answer to my Edward stalking problem."

"You don't actually trust him, do you?" Jacob asked.

Bella turned to look at Carlisle and Aro once more before looking up at Jacob's golden aura. Feeling Shadow rub against her leg comfortingly, she answered, "I might just have to."