Chapter 17 – Scared

Alice wasn't happy that I went home the next day, but I told her I wasn't going to school. I would stay in bed, resting. While sleeping, I heard my bedroom door opening. "Hey, Bells." I smiled, "Jacob. What are you doing here?" "Sam asked me to check on you. He doesn't trust the vamp-doc." I shook my head, "Well, he's never been wrong so far." Jacob sat on my bed, "How are you feeling?" "Still stiff, especially in my neck." "What about your truck?" "Totaled. My dad and I are going to try and get me a new one. As for my mom, she's practically demanding that I move back with her." Jacob looked at me, "Are you?" I sat up slowly, "No, silly. I'm almost done with school here. And my mom is just being a mom. She's worried about me. Now she is requesting that I call her as soon as I get home from school every day and every Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon." Jacob chuckled, "I'm just used to taking care of myself. It must be nice having a mom." I smiled, "Try having two. Esme is calling Alice every hour asking how I am. She's terrified that something is going to happen to me." Jacob opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut. I looked at him and he smiled, "Sorry, old habits. But I am glad they were able to help you when I couldn't. I practically had a heart attack when Sam told me what happened."

I grimaced, "I almost had a heart attack when I saw his teeth near me." Jacob blinked, "He was that close to you?" I cringed at the memory, "He was right at my window and he was reaching for me. It was like he was toying with me." Jacob exhaled deeply, "He's toying with all of us. Why is he coming after you?" "Well, he was with Victoria. Maybe he's mad because she's dead." Jacob looked at me, "You think so?" I looked at him, "You know how vengeful they can be." Jacob stared off into space, "You could be right. That would explain a lot." I turned my head away from him, trying to fight back tears. His hot hand cradled my chin, "Bella, we are going to get rid of him. You don't have to be scared." A tear escaped and fell down my cheek. Jacob brushed it away with his thumb, "Bella, this will be over soon." A whimper left my lips, "Jake, he won't stop. You know how Victoria was. She didn't give up. She almost got me. And so did this one." Jacob's other hand pulled me into his body, "Bella, this will be over soon and things can go back to the way they were."

I wrapped my arms around Jacob and cried. I was really scared for myself, but even more so, for the wolves and the Cullens. They were all putting themselves in danger because of me. More tears spilled out, soaking Jacob's t-shirt. Jacob's hot arms held me close as I cried. "Jake, I don't want you to be in danger." "Bella, you're the only one in danger. We can handle ourselves." It was effortless for him to slip into the pack plural. "I'm just worried about you." He held my face, "Bells, its one vampire. That's hardly enough to keep us entertained." I looked down and sniffed, "Fine, if you say so." I cleared my throat, "I'll be right back." I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. In the mirror, I saw my eyes and they were getting red. I splashed cold water on my face and sighed. This was becoming harder than it needed to be. This vampire wanted me and I believed it was because of Victoria. Jacob's legends and Edward has mentioned that vampires are very vengeful creatures. Victoria wanted me to die slowly and painful, as Laurent warned me. Sighing, I dried my face and headed for the stairs. "Jake, what do you want for breakfast?" His footsteps were so quiet, that when his voice was behind me, I jumped. "Sorry. You don't have to make anything." I snorted, "Right, I know you're hungry." I fried us some eggs and toast. I would have to replace the eggs; Jacob was really hungry. "I was patrolling. Jared relieved me and I came here." I looked at his face more closely and it was showing his fatigue. I knew if I said something, he would object. I made a quick plan. "Ok. Let's watch TV in the living room." I cleared our plates and the two of us lounged on the couch.

My plan worked. Before an hour passed, Jacob was passed out, snoring loudly on the couch. I got up and spread a blanket over him. While he slept, I cleaned the kitchen, caught up on my homework, wrote an email to my mom and got ahead on some of my studying. Soon, I gave up on it, because Jacob's snoring was so loud, even from the kitchen. I went into the living room and sat next to him. I noticed small beads of sweat dewing up on his forehead, so I took the blanket off him. I found myself watching Jacob while he slept. While he was asleep, he was so much more peaceful. There was no hard mask, no smug behavior or sarcasm. When he slept, Jacob was the young Jacob I knew before he became a wolf. Soon his breathing became hypnotic and my eyelids were getting heavy. I leaned on my elbow, on Jacob's body. He huffed in his sleep. I got off him, but his hand pulled me down and held me against his chest. After a few minutes, I was beginning to sweat. I wiggled out of his hold and put on the air conditioning. I sat next to him and once again, Jacob pulled me onto his chest. He kissed my hair and drifted back to sleep.

I didn't dream during this nap. Having Jacob here, it felt like he was keeping them away; at least the bad ones. The sound of his heartbeat was very different for me to listen to while I slept. When I slept in Edward's arms, all I heard was his breathing. A beating heart was different, but just as soothing. When I woke up, I lifted my face from his chest and my hair was matted with sweat. My cheek felt clammy from his body heat. I held my cheek and it was on fire. Jacob's body temperature was perfect for a winter's night. I slipped out of his hold and let him sleep longer. I sat on the floor by his head and watched TV. Soon, he woke up, muttering to himself. I smiled; is this what Edward went through every morning with me? I went to make a quick lunch for Jacob. It could only be a matter of time before Sam called for him. I hated that Sam was running the pack around, trying to find this vampire who wanted to kill me. I stared out the window, looking at nothing. Not the trees, not the road or my own reflection. Why couldn't my bad luck focus on me? Should I let this one just have me, so all this would end? No, I yelled at myself. Letting this one win will not solve anything and it will not stop the Cullens or the wolves from hunting him.

Warm hands held my waist, pulling me into a hot embrace, "What is it?" I blinked, coming back to the kitchen, "Why couldn't this just end with me? I'm so tired of being the reason for so much turmoil." "Bella, it's not your fault. Don't hate me for saying this, but vampires just don't know when to stop. This one saw how we got that red-head and he still trying to get through us to get to you. He cannot be that smart if he's trying that." I sighed, "Jacob, he could be smarter than you think. He knows how to get around Alice's visions and the exact layout of the line. He knows that the Cullens cannot cross onto your land and that the pack cannot defend themselves in town. Victoria must have told him so much. Not even Victoria got that close to me more than once and he did. He won't stop until he's gotten me." I covered my mouth, trying not to cry again. Jacob turned my body around, making me look at him, "Bella, I promise I'll keep you safe." His arms wrapped around me, crushing me into his chest, "This will be over soon." My face was pressed into his neck. Jacob kissed my cheek and sighed. My eyes opened, afraid of what Jacob might do. He released me, "Don't worry, Bells. Come to La Push next weekend." I made a face, "I can't. I'm in Esme and Carlisle's wedding." He sighed and closed his eyes, "Well, have fun." I looked up at him, "Thank you for trying."

He snorted, "It's not easy. But being in a bloodsucker's wedding? Aren't they already married?" "Renewing vows. They do it every few decades or so. So, it's a good thing I'm telling. There may have a lot of vampires there. They already know about the treaty and are not going to hunt anywhere near here." The hard mask came back on Jacob's face, but it faded, "Thanks for warning me. I'll give Sam the warning." I hugged Jacob again, "I know this is hard for you." He sighed, "Bella, we were getting so close, then they…" I placed my hand over his lips, "I know." Jacob held my fingers and kissed my palm, "This is just frustrating. You were happy again." I smiled, "I was. I am now, but I was getting better." "Then tell him to leave." I blinked, "It's not that easy." He held my cheek, "I know. I saw it back then, you were so affected by him and it's coming back now. I just hope you make the right decision." I sighed, how did Edward enter this conversation? Must we always talk about him? Jacob was walking past me and I grabbed his wrist, "Today, let's forget about Edward. We were having fun." He smiled, "Sure. I'd love nothing more to forget about that bloodsucker." Jacob threw his arm over my shoulder and we went back into the living room.