Struggling to be Honest
JacobxBella
Rated M
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers
Author's Note: I forgot to do this before and in the last chapter, but I just want to thank sarahmichaela88 for helping me with the names for the bear Shifters, including Leah's beloved Kai. Thanks so much, hun! Now I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It will lead up to the confrontation in the next chapter. Love, SehunsBae37.
Struggling to be Honest
Chapter 19
"Bells. Wake up, honey. It's time to get ready to go," Jacob's deep voice softly called in Bella's ear, making her give a light groan before she turned over to face him. Smiling down at his girlfriend as she blurrily blinked her brown eyes open, he gave her a kiss before saying, "Morning."
Bella covered her mouth as she yawned before saying, "Morning."
She was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes when she realized what the day was. The Volturi would be arriving in Forks today! The Volturi were arriving today! Fully awake Bella sat up and looked at the bedside clock, seeing it say that it was a quarter past nine. She had less than two hours to get ready and arrive at the Cullen mansion before eleven. Scrambling out of bed she rushed to the bathroom and began to rummage through Rosalie and Emmett's things, looking for a hairbrush and a spare toothbrush and toothpaste. Once she found everything Bella set to work on brushing her teeth, reminding herself to use the toilet before leaving the bathroom completely.
Once Bella was done in the bathroom she rushed back into the guest room and began to put on her clothes from the day before. Jacob was already dressed and was sitting patiently on the bed as Bella moved finished dressing and putting on her socks and shoes. When it was obvious she was ready, Jacob pulled her to him and sat her down on his lap. Holding Bella close he bent his head and placed his ear right over her heart, listening to its steady if not slightly quickened beating.
"Jake?" Bella softly said wanting to know what was wrong.
"Just let me listen for a while, please. I don't want to think anything bad will happen, but just in case, I want to hear your heart one more time," Jacob whispered, closing his eyes as he held Bella tighter, but not enough to crush her. Bella gave a small, sad smile before wrapping her arms around his shoulders, kissing the top of his head before laying her cheek on his crown.
They both were anticipating the moment it turned eleven AM, but they just wanted to have these few more minutes of alone time. After all, this could be the day that they said 'goodbye' forever.
Leah sat in the living room of her home as she waited for her brother to finish getting dressed. Jacob had told all of the Pack to arrive at the Cullen's place fully dressed, but when it got time to meet those other leeches, already be phased and ready to attack if necessary. He had told Leah to call Kai and tell him to meet them there as well (she texted him the address) and to be ready to phase themselves if need be at the confrontation.
"Seth! Come on, are you ready to go yet?! It's a quarter till ten!" Leah called down the hall, groaning when Seth called back 'no'. Sue had left for work already, but she kissed both of her kids before leaving and told them to watch out for one another and to come back to the Reservation alive.
Just as Leah settled herself to wait for another five to ten minutes, a knock on the door got her attention. Standing up she walked over to the front door and opened it. A frown appeared on her face as she asked, "What do you want, Sam?"
Sam rubbed the back of his neck and he looked somewhat nervous. Clearing his throat he asked, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Leah regarded him for a moment before nodding and stepping outside with Sam. Once she closed the door behind her she asked, "Alright, what do you want?"
"Well, it's about that Hoh bear Shifter, the one that was with you. He said he Imprinted on you. Is that really true?" Sam said looking like he was bothered by it.
"Yes, it's true," Leah answered easily.
"And you're okay with that?"
"I'm going to have to be okay with it; it's not like I get a say in the matter."
"But do you like him? I mean, do you seriously like him?"
"Maybe! God, what is the matter with you, Sam? You're acting jealous and you have no reason to be! What do you want from me, Sam?"
Sam stood there for a moment, his eyes looking over Leah's face. It was times like this that he remembered what they had and the way he hurt her when he Imprinted on her cousin. He hadn't meant to do it, but like Leah had said, he didn't get a say in the matter. But even so, he still harbored feelings for Leah; they weren't as strong as they used to be and in no way did they surpass his feelings for Emily, but he knew they were still there. And if there was one thing he promised himself concerning Leah, it was that he wouldn't allow her to ever be hurt again.
Taking a breath he finally said, "I just don't want you to get hurt again. I've done it without meaning to and I know it took you a long time to recover. And now there is a new guy in the picture who Imprinted on you, the very same reason why we broke up in the first place. Leah, I still care about you and I just want to make sure that you're okay with this."
Leah could see the sincerity and concern in her ex's eyes as he spoke. He really did just want to make sure that she wasn't bothered and wasn't going to get hurt. In a way it made her feel good, but she knew things were never going to be the way they used to be. Letting out a sigh of her own, she said, "Sam, I'm going to be okay. I know the tension between us is unbearable and that you still care for me, but truthfully I'm over it. At this point I just want you to be happy, and it's obvious that you are with Emily."
"And what about you? Will you be happy with that Kai character?" Sam asked.
Nodding Leah answered, "Yeah, I think I will be. He said he'd wait for me to open my heart to him, so I guess we'll see when that happens."
The two of them shared a small laugh before it was silent between them again. The silence was broken when Leah said, "I'll be happy Sam, and you be happy as well. And just know that I still care about you, too."
Sam nodded with a small smile before holding his arms out slightly, silently asking for a hug. Leah rolled her eyes before smiling herself, stepping into Sam's arms and wrapping her own around them. The hug was intimate but intimate on a friendship level, and they were both glad they were able to reach this point. It was the start of the healing of their own relationship, even if it wasn't romantic anymore and they had their own significant others.
"Thanks for talking to me, Lee-Lee, and I'm still sorry for hurting you," Sam said softly before pulling away. Leah nodded before telling him it was fine. With a smirk she then told him to round up the rest of the Pack and head on to the Cullen mansion; she and Seth would be right behind them. Sam laughed as he nodded and ran off, leaving Leah standing on her porch with a small smile on her face.
"I'm ready, sis!" Seth called before he stepped outside. Leah rolled her eyes and took her car keys from him before she and him went to her car to head into Forks. Halfway to the Cullen mansion, Seth suddenly said, "I feel weird."
Leah frowned and asked, "Why do you say that?"
Seth shook his head, a confused expression on his face as he answered, "I don't know. I just feel weird, like something is going to happen today."
"Well yeah, we're about to face off against the rulers of all leeches in an hour. So yes, something is going to happen today."
"No, I mean to me. Something is going to happen to me, something big; I can feel it."
Leah looked at her brother before looking back towards the road, wondering what could be weird enough to force a feeling in him. Deciding to shake it off for the time being, she continued driving to the Cullen mansion, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.
By ten fifteen everyone was there and accounted for at the Cullen household. Everyone of course said their 'good mornings' and 'hellos', Kai immediately presenting Leah with a tight hug and kiss on the cheek, making her turn a bright shade of red and having her push him off of her, making Kai chuckle. Bella had seen the display and couldn't help but smile, happy that it seemed Leah had herself a good one that would definitely stay. It wasn't long before Carlisle got everyone's attention.
"Welcome, everyone. As you all know, we are gathered here for a common purpose. And that purpose is to stand and face the Volturi in a matter of minutes, as well as a former family member of hours," Carlisle said, swallowing unnecessarily at the mention of said family member. It was apparent that Edward's betrayal hit him rather hard. A comforting hand on his shoulder from Esme made him sigh before continuing. "We don't know what this confrontation will bring. There could be a fight, there could be a peaceful outcome; we don't know. But what we do know is that we need to stand together."
Carlisle turned to Bella and said, "I wish you did not have to be there, Bella. But if I know Aro like I do, he will wish for you to be there to speak with you directly about your decision to not marry Edward."
Bella swallowed harshly and nodded, fear creeping into her system at the aspect of meeting Aro a second time. Jacob sensed her nervousness and fear and wrapped a strong arm around her, drawing her close to him. Bella relaxed a little and remembered to breathe, wishing herself that she didn't have to be there either.
Alice stepped forward and said, "Everything is still in the same order as it was when I first saw it. The Volturi will still be arriving at eleven sharp and they will have Edward with them."
Rosalie nodded and said, "Well, let's get this freak show on the road."
Everyone agreed and stepped outside, the Pack sans Jacob taking off their clothes and phasing. Leah having dignity went around the side of the house to do so and emerged in her wolf form. Jasper asked how Bella, Jacob, and the Sleuth would get to the empty field that they were going to meet the Volturi at; they were going to be following Alice since she was the one who knew when they were coming and where they would be arriving. Esme asked the Pack would they mind carrying them, to which they looked towards Jacob for an answer. Jacob nodded and the Pack all begrudgingly bent down. Kai walked over to Leah (he had seen her walk around the house and emerge in her wolf form) and asked her if he could ride on her back, to which she growled at him, basically telling him 'no'. Jacob told Leah to allow Bella to ride on her before he, Kai, and the rest of the bear Shifters chose a wolf to ride on. Paul growled at Sebastian as he walked by before walking over to Jacob, crouching to allow him to ride. Once everyone was ready to go Alice took off running, Jasper beside her and the rest behind them.
Two minutes later they arrived in the mountains, in the same field where the newborn battle had taken place. The atmosphere was misty, a dense fog seeming to stand on the other side of the field. As everyone dismounted their wolf, Bella slid off of Leah's back and walked over to Jacob, letting him wrap his arms around her and hold her close. She didn't want to be here, it brought back painful memories. The one that stood out the most was when she finally kissed Jacob, but had thought that even so there would be no future for them because she knew she would ultimately choose Edward. And now here she was again, because of her and the choices she made. But even so, she didn't regret her decision at all. She loved Jacob and wanted to be with him and wouldn't be deterred, so Edward could go stuff it for all she cared.
"It's ten-thirty now, we have half an hour," Carlisle announced, only to be interrupted by a gasp. Everyone turned to Alice who was standing stock still, seemingly looking into space and a look of concern on her face. Jasper grabbed his mate's shoulder's and asked, "Alice, what is it? What do you see?"
Alice didn't answer, though her mouth opened as if she was going to speak. Finally she blinked, another gasp escaping her lips before saying, "They're early. The Volturi, they're here already."
Bella felt her heart stop for a moment as she and everyone else turned to look into the fog, waiting for the arrival of the Volturi. And then one by one, red and black cloaked figures stepped through the fog, coming to a stop as they looked at their waiting audience. Bella could see Edward standing within the ranks of the vampires, staring intensely at her with an almost wild expression and making her burrow into Jacob's side.
Aro stepped forward and observed the scene before him. With a laugh he said, "Well well, my old friend. It seems we have quite the conundrum, don't we?"