CHAPTER FOURTEEN
(BPOV)
I was startled from my restful sleep by a cold touch on my shoulder. The icy feel of it jolting me wide awake. I gasped aloud when my eyes fell upon Alice. Her small stature now standing next to the couch.
I jumped to my feet, nearly tripping over the coffee table in my haste to get away from her. She had startled the hell out of me and after my encounter with Edward earlier in the day, I was on edge as it was.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Well, that's what happens when you break and enter into someone's house without there knowledge... in the middle of the night no less."
My words were biting and had come out with more harshness than I intended them to. Her face now coming to show her hurt feelings over my reply and I soon became remorseful.
"I'm not tryin to be rude. I'm sorry Alice. It is nice to see you, just not under the circumstances."
"I know, my brother has mourned over you greatly." She softly replied, following me into the kitchen.
"He brought it on himself." I sighed, pouring myself some tea.
"You look well, Bella. Beautiful and happy."
"I am happy. Jacob makes me happy." I truthfully replied, taking a sip of tea, and feeling the warm liquid sooth my throat.
"I can see that. It's evident."
"I would ask you why you're here, but I already know the answer."
"Yes, I came with Edward. He wouldn't listen to reason from anyone. Not even Carlisle and Esme. They couldn't talk sense into him either. None of us have known what to do with him. I'm sorry he caused you trouble."
"He shouldn't have come." I replied, seeing her nod in agreement with me. "He's not welcome here anymore. He should have known better."
"I haven't been able to keep tabs on you lately. Seems the wolves cripple my vision. It's truly maddening..."
"I don't need you or Edward keeping tabs on me, Alice. I know you mean well but I have all the protection I need with Jacob and the pack. I'll be okay."
"Bella, you know we only do so out of care."
"I understand, but please don't anymore. Edward lost the right to knowing any details about my life, or whose in it, when he left. I would appreciate it if you both respected my request with this."
She slowly nodded and opened her mouth to say something else only to stop mid way when a knock came to the door.
I knew who it was before I answered it and was sure that Charlie would be clambering down over the stairs soon due to the ruckus that was about to unfold.
Alice placed her hand on mine as I stood to answer the loud knock. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble, Bella."
"I know, but Jacob has a right to be angry with the two of you just showing up here." I replied, walking swiftly to the door and seeing her follow me there.
I opened it just as another loud knock came. To my surprise, Sam Uley stood on the other side, in nothing but cut offs. His gaze dark and brooding when he assessed us.
"Are you alright, Bella?" He asked, not taking his angry gaze from Alice.
"I'm not gonna hurt her." Alice piped up, her tone irritated at the applied insinuation.
"I'm sure. After all, your kind are always so friendly... innocent and all." He snapped back, stepping closer to the threshold. "You're not welcome here."
"Sam-" I countered, placing a hand on his chest and feeling the quaking of the tremors he fought with her presence so near. "I really appreciate you coming to check on me. But I can handle this. Okay?"
He nodded as I removed my hand and saw him meet my gaze. "We'll be right outside if you need anything."
I thanked him again as he turned to leave, seeing him run back to the forest and hearing the silence shattered by the sound of several wolves howling in the distance.
"You really have grown close to him... Jacob? Haven't you?" Alice asked in a small voice when I turned back to face her. "Edward didn't specify. I guess I just thought."
"Things have changed, Alice. Everything. I'm not just close to Jacob. He's not a rebound or a way for me to forget about Edward. He's who I want... Who I love."
Alice's eyes grew wide with my truthful admittance. Her whispered reply evidence of her shock. "Love? You love him?"
"I do... very much. He made me see things clearly... and he was patient with me. He didn't give up on me... even when I was ready to give up on myself... he stuck it out with me and made me remember that there was way more to life than just Edward. I wouldn't have made it through all this without him... without his support."
"I had no idea. Edward made it sound so insignificant, your feelings for Jacob. Like they were fleeting or temporary. I can tell by the look in your eyes and by the tone you speak his name with... that you mean what you say. You've fallen in love with Jacob."
Her tone was full of sadness and it made me realize how this would change things for her and I as well. Alice had become like a sister to me in the time I was with Edward. It saddened me to think we may never be that close again.
"I don't want to hurt you... or upset you. That's not my intention. But you and Edward need to know the absolute truth and that's exactly what I'm offering you now."
"You will always be like family to me, Bella. I hope you know that."
"I hope so." I replied with sincerity. "But that all depends on you. And the way Edward handles things from here. He can't come barging into my house the way he did today and expect Jacob to do nothing. He's asking for trouble. If he wants what's best for me or if he ever truly loved me, he needs to leave and let me be happy. That's truly what I want, Alice. Nothing more from him."
"I understand and I want that for you, too. I wish you and Jacob all the happiness life can offer the two of you. But Bella, my brother isn't himself these days. He hasn't been in a long time. I can do my best to try and convince him to leave here without you, but it will take great effort. And more than just me to accomplish it."
"Then you need to call Carlisle and Esme for help. Jasper even... all of you can figure out a way to get him to leave Forks. That is what's best for everyone now. For him to leave and never come back here. He can start new with your help and the help of his family somewhere else."
"I will do my best." She sighed, standing and retrieving her coat.
"I hope you succeed, Alice. If you don't, I think this will get ugly and fast."
"I know it may and I will try, Bella."
She hugged me before she left and I watched her through the window as she drove away in Carlisle's car.
I stood there, reflecting on our talk and remembering that there was a time not so long ago when I would've given anything and everything to see her ... to see him... To come across any of them. All in a desperate attempt to keep my fascination and obsession with Edward going. It was borderline crazy. Now, all I wanted was for them to get through to Edward, convince him somehow to leave and never return to Forks.
I had made it as clear as I could to Alice that he was no longer welcome here and Sam showing up surely drove that point home. She knew where I stood with Jacob and what we had together was evident, even to her.
Charlie's groggy tone ripped me away from my thoughts. "What was all the noise about and what time is it, anyway?"
"It's almost three in the morning. I'm sorry... unexpected guest."
"Who would be dropping in at this hour? A little untimely and inconsiderate, don't you think?"
"Can be-" I replied, seeing his sleepy gaze meet mine."
"Bella, who stopped in?"
"Edwards sister."
Charlie's eyes bulged at my reply. "What? At this hour? It better of been important? The brunette, right? Alice?"
"Yeah, she's the one."
"What the hell did she want at this ungodly hour?" He huffed.
"To talk about Edward."
The moment his name left my mouth, Charlie's tired expression shifted to angry in record time.
"Edward? What about him? What could she have to say that was so damn important about his sorry ass?"
"She wanted to explain why he called and showed up here... before that. I told her that I was happy with Jacob now and that Edward was no longer welcome here." I continued on, hoping Charlie was still too asleep to hear everything I said if I rambled fast enough.
"Wait... wait- wait just a damn minute." Charlie huffed, his anger showing in his raised voice. "What do you mean he showed up here before? He came to this house?"
"Yes." I sighed.
"When!" Charlie yelled. "-and why!"
"I took care of it dad." I assured him.
"You took care of it? Which gun of mine did you use?" He darkly chuckled.
"Dad..." I cautioned. "Stop! I handled it."
"Does Jacob know? Did you tell him?"
"Yes I did. He knows. I'm honest with him." I replied, seeing him nod his response.
"You know..." He soon sighed, sitting down with a cup of coffee at the table. "I'm not usually one to condone violence... being a cop and all... but honestly... in this case... I'd surely look the other way if Jake wanted to teach that know it all punk ass a lesson."
I simply nodded and joined him with a cup of coffee. "Don't worry dad. I have no intention of taking him back."
"I sure hope not, Bella. What he did...- What he put you through-"
I placed a reassuring hand over his and met his reflective gaze. "That was then and this is now. I'm okay now dad. I'm better and I won't let him sweet talk his way back into my life."
"Good for you, honey." Charlie replied. "Well, since it's almost dawn now, I might as well get dressed for work. Shift starts at five anyway. Bright and early."
"Will you be home for dinner?"
"Should be."
"Any requests?" I asked.
"No, whatever you make is always good and I appreciate it, Bella. Tell you what... why don't we go out for dinner tonight. My treat? We'll head out to the diner after I get home from work? Sound good to you?"
"Sure. Yeah dad, thanks. That sounds nice. Been a while since we had dinner just the two of us."
"Great kiddo." He replied before heading upstairs to get ready for his shift.
A huge part of me was starting to wonder if I would forever be sworn to silence with Charlie, unable to tell him the whole truth even if I wanted to. I was beginning to think he needed to know about all the things that secretly went bump in the night, for his safety sake alone. Was it really better to keep him in the dark all this time?
I wasn't so sure anymore.