Chapter 15 – Attempt

Alice was becoming frustrated. She couldn't see the vampire that evaded the wolves and her family. Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie had begun to help in the search. Edward told me that Carlisle had to speak with Sam, using Edward as an interpreter. Emily told me all about their conversation. Both of them agreed that they needed to get rid of this new one and soon. This one was killing people on both sides of the line, but it wasn't many. "Sam is really being over protective now. He doesn't want me to leave La Push without a member of the pack." I smiled, "That sounds like something Edward would do. He never wants me to go anywhere without him or one of his siblings." The both of us laughed. There was a knock on the door. "I'll get it." Emily went for the door, "Leah!" I've met Leah Clearwater a few times. The first time was at Jacob's house, when she was chatting away on the phone and again, at Harry's burial. Leah came into the living room, with Emily. She looked somewhat bigger than the last time I saw her. She had a more muscular build and her hair was shorter from the last time I saw her. Leah looked at me, "Hello Bella." "Hi, Leah." I did not push try to her. The way she said my name reminded me of Rosalie. "Emmy, can I talk to you in private?"

I looked between them and stood, "I'll see you later, Em. Bye, Leah." I walked out the back door and drove to Jacob's house. Billy was out and I could hear Jacob snoring from the front door. I walked into his room and found him sleeping on his bed. His feet were hanging off the edge. I knelt down next to him and kissed his cheek. A hot hand grabbed my wrist as I was getting up, "Hey." I smiled, "So you do wake up." He smiled, "I thought you were going to spend the day with Emily?" "Leah showed up and they wanted to be alone." Jacob looked away from me, "Well, that means you're mine now. What do you want to do?" "Let you rest. I'll see you later." His hand tightened, "No. Let's watch a movie." I smiled, "I'll get the ice cream." Jacob put on a movie and I sat on the floor, by the couch. "What is this?" He sighed, "Van Helsing." I looked up at him and he smiled, "I like this movie." I rolled my eyes, "Fine." The movie began to play. "Hmm?" "What is it?" I looked up at him, "I would think you'd hate this movie." Jacob looked at me, "Why? He's doing what we do, only having more fun at it." I smiled, "Well, because Hugh Jackman makes a better werewolf than you do. I figure you would be upset about that." Jacob snorted, "Please, Bells." Jacob leaned his head closer to me, "Those vampires are better than yours." "Shut up," I shoved a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. He laughed and coughed, "Sorry. How have things been on your side?" "Same old. They haven't seen this one in few weeks. What about you?" "Same. No trails or anything. It's boring."

I leaned my head against his, "Well, maybe he'll come back, just so you could tear him limb from limb." I felt him smile, "If only." We stared at each other as the movie ended. "I really miss spending time with you." I smiled, "Look, school will be over soon." He sighed, "Not soon enough." I closed my eyes and lowered my head, "Well, this is what we have to deal with, for now." Jacob leaned his head against mine again. I ran my fingers through his hair, "Come on. Let's go somewhere." "Motorcycles." I made a face, "Not today." He glanced at me, "Your precious Cullens won't let you." I sighed, "No, because I don't want to, not today." "Since they came back, you don't want to do anything fun." I groaned, "Jacob, stop it." "What? It's true." I looked at him, "You know, Jacob, for someone trying to convince me that he's the better choice, you're not doing a good job." His eyes widened, "What do you mean?" I sighed, "You think I don't know. You and Edward are 'competing' for me," I made air quotations. Jacob was taken aback, "Bella." I sighed, "I'm just going to say this. I'm in a very difficult position. But you insulting them isn't good on your part." "What, he doesn't say anything about me?" "Not in front of me. Out of deference for me, Edward doesn't speak a negative word against you. I wish you would try it."

Jacob and I stared at each other, "I can try, Bells, but it won't be easy." "I think it's easier for him, because he's lived so long. Sometimes I think he's more mature than Charlie." Jacob gagged, "How could you be interested in someone so old?" I sighed, "You ever heard the phrase, 'You can't help who you fall in love with.' That applies here." His brow furrowed, "You still love him?" I bit my lip, "Yes. Even though I was getting over him, my feelings never changed. I was learning to put them to the side, but they were always there." "So, if he never came back…." I shrugged, "I would still love him, but I would learn to love someone else, because they loved me." Jacob brushed my hair, "That's fair. I think if you loved someone else enough, you would have let go of him completely." "I guess we'll never know." Jacob and I were getting closer to each other. His upper lip grazed mine. Before moving closer, I heard tires in front of the house. I looked back to the window, then to Jacob. His face was clearly disappointed. "I think I should go." Jacob helped me up and walked me to my truck. Billy was being wheeled to the house by Sue Clearwater, "Hello, Bella." "Hi, Sue. Bye, Billy."

When I got home, I saw a black Mercedes parked in front of the house. I walked in and heard them in the living room. Charlie was speaking with Esme and Alice. "Hi?" I was surprised to see them here. I hugged Esme and Alice. Alice was wrinkling her nose. "With Jacob again?" I lightly elbowed her, "Don't start." Charlie looked at me, "Bells, Esme wanted to ask you something." I smiled, "What is it?" She smiled, "Carlisle and I are renewing our vows in two weeks and I would love it if you were one of my bride's maids. Alice and Rosalie are doing it and it would be wonderful if you said yes." I smiled, "I would love to." Esme smiled, "Great. Come by tomorrow so we could fit your dress." I looked at Alice and she smiled sheepishly, "I knew you would say yes." I looked at Charlie and he was laughing lightly. "Charlie, of course, you should come." He had a look of guilt on his face, "I'd love to, but I'll be away that weekend. Billy and I are going ocean fishing down the coast." I looked at Alice. She had a coy look on her face. I knew she set the date for the wedding herself.

The next day, I spent it at the Cullen's house, trying on my dress. My dress was breath-taking. It was a light ice blue gown, with thin straps over my shoulders. The back of the gown formed a V along my back and the zipper was hidden. The bodice was beaded with light blue and white beads and some of the beading went down the skirt. The skirt billowed around me. Underneath the skirt, it had a satin lining. Along the hem, there was a loop for me to put my wrist through, to hold up the skirt during the reception. I would be wearing a single diamond solitaire around my neck and my earrings were dangling solitaire diamond earrings. "Alice, this dress is amazing." "Thank you, Bella. I helped designed it." I admired my dress as it hung on the hanger, "If you can do this with a dress, I can't imagine what you do with an entire wedding." She smiled, "Some day." I put my hair up in a ponytail and went downstairs with her. "I'm ordering your shoes and they should be here in a few days. This wedding is going to be so beautiful. But all of Esme's weddings are always beautiful, but she really outdid herself this time." I smiled as Esme came in the room, "Bella, wait until you see it. And my dress is arriving tomorrow. Only Alice can see it. She's the only one who can control her mind so Edward won't see it. I don't want him to see our dresses, along with the others." I smiled, "I should be getting home." Alice sighed, "Fine. I'm going hunting anyway. I'll see you tomorrow."

I drove absentmindedly down the dark road. I was thinking about the wedding and walking down the aisle in heels. That was not going to be easy. While driving, I saw something in the dark. In the middle of the road, I saw a image; it looked like a man. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make the image became more defined; it was a person, just standing in the middle of the road. I slammed my brakes, but my truck hit him. The impact threw me against the steering wheel. The impact was much stronger than I thought. My truck flipped over twice, knocking my head against the window of the door and on my seat. My truck landed on its top and I was caught in my seatbelt. My body was off the seat and suspended in mid-air, being held by my seatbelt. I coughed from the impacts I suffered. Looking around, I saw the man lying on the road. His body looked disjointed, but soon, he sat up, completely unharmed. I heard his bones cracking back into place as he sat up and his neck snapped as he turned his head to look at me. My eyes widened; he wasn't human. I tried not to make a sound, but it was too late. I tried to get out of my seatbelt as he slowly approached me, but it was locked around my body. He leaned down to my broken window and he was smiling. I could see his glossy white, sharp teeth. I let out a scream. His pale white hand reached for me and I tried to move away. Soon, his hand stopped. He suddenly looked away, into the dark and dashed off. I was breathing in short, quick breaths. I was left alone in the night, in the wreckage of my truck. I tried to look around, but my neck was hurting me. "Bella?" "AHHH!" "Hey, hey, it's me." I sighed into a sob, "Emmett." He surveyed the scene, "Looks like you're stuck." Emmett got my door open, "Hold on, I'm going to get you out of here." He put his arm around my waist and ripped the seatbelt from around me.

"Is she all right?" It was Jasper's voice. "Emmett, you get her home. I'll follow the trail." Emmett held me up, "Is anything broken?" "Uh-uh," was all I could say. He tried to let me stand up, but my legs gave way, feeling detached from my body. My head feel backwards, but Emmett's arm caught me. "Ok, Carlisle needs to check you." Emmett held me closely as he ran. Soon, bright lights were shining from behind my eyelids. "Bella, don't fall asleep!" Emmett shook his arms under me, "Emmett, stop it." "What happened?" Emmett explained how he found me and where Jasper was. My body was shook in Emmett's arms, again and I was getting annoyed. He was trying to keep me awake. "Give her to me." I felt myself being moved and air blew on my face. "Is she all right?" Edward was next to me. A bright beam of light was flashed in each of my eyes. "She's fine, Edward. Nothing's broken. And she doesn't have a concussion." Something cold and hard held my hand, "What happened? Alice had a vision, but we were too far away." "Edward, she's fine, trust me. Emmett got to her before the other one did." "Bella?" he brushed my hair. "Edward, let her rest. We've called Charlie and told him about the accident. He sent a police officer and a tow truck."

I blinked, "Mm-hmm." "Bella, he's on his way, but if you'd like, you can stay here for the night? Charlie would understand." "Hmm," my head was hurting me. "Carlisle, Charlie will be here in a few minutes," Alice warned him. "Thank you, Alice. Edward, are you coming?" "No." "Edward, you know how Charlie is going to be." "I don't care, Alice." I blinked slowly, "Edward, please. She's right." My voice was feeble and I could barely open my eyes. "Bella…." I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him, "Please," was all I could say. He sighed, "Fine." "Bella, I'll tell Charlie you're staying in my room." "Ok," I whispered. Soon, my mind drifted and I was sleeping.