The Painful Truth

A/N-thank you very much for the awesome reviews! I really appreciate it.

Part Twelve

Jacob heard everything. He got in Bella's path as she bolted out of the villa. Her eyes were blurry with tears, and she would have careered into him if he hadn't grabbed hold of her arms to steady her. "It's okay, Bells." He said soothingly.

"You heard." Bella sobbed as she hung her head in shame.

"Everything she said in there was bullshit." Jacob told her as he rested his hands on the top of her shoulders and rubbed them gently. Bella could feel the heat trails from his fingers through the thin material of her t-shirt and she found it soothing. She breathed deeply through her nose as she tried to regain her composure. Charlie, Billy and Phil were looking at her curiously.

"I want to get out of here." Bella whispered agitatedly.

"Then we'll go." Jacob promised her. He gestured for Charlie and his father to come over and join them. Phil stayed where he was, looking over at Bella awkwardly. It wasn't the first time he had witnessed Bella crying over something Renee had said.

"What did your mother do?" Charlie questioned as he ducked down so he could peer into his daughter's tearstained face.

"I don't want to talk about it." Bella turned away from him. She hated being under such intense scrutiny. She just wanted to be alone, but figured her dad wouldn't allow it.

"Charlie can I have the keys to the car." Jacob asked, holding out his hand.

"Why?" Charlie frowned as he kept his eyes fixated on Bella. He was fuming inside. He was regretting letting Bella see Renee. He should have known that his ex-wife would screw things up. Why couldn't she for once stop being so self-absorbed and see what her attitude was doing to their daughter. He sometimes wondered what had attracted him to Renee in the first place. She had been pretty for sure, but it wasn't until they married that he realised how vain and narcissistic she could be.

"Just let him have them, Chief. We can get a cab back to the villa." Billy interjected. He guessed that Jacob wanted to take Bella somewhere away from prying eyes. He could clearly see that she was on the verge of losing it.

Charlie slowly dropped the car keys into Jacob's open palm. "Where are you going to go?"

"We'll be fine, Charlie. I promise." Jacob put his arm around Bella to shield her from the older men. She was trembling now as she tried to contain her tears and not have a full on melt down in front of her father. "I'll call." He said over his shoulder as he steered Bella toward the sidewalk where the hire care was parked.

Renee finally came out of the house. She had reapplied her makeup before coming outside. A pair of oversized sunglasses was perched on her nose, but she had removed the ridiculous floppy hat. "What's going on? Where is Bella going?" She asked in surprise as she watched the hire car tear off down the road.

Charlie turned to face his ex-wife. He shook his head at her in disgust. "You just couldn't stop being selfish for one day, could you. Our daughter needed you and you've driven her away again. Well congratulations Renee."

"Cocktails anyone?" Phil interrupted them as he joined his wife. He held out a glass toward Charlie who glared at him so fiercely that Phil actually took a step back. "I take that as a no then." He mumbled.

"Stuff your cocktails where the sun doesn't shine." Charlie snapped. "Come on Billy, we're leaving." He grabbed the handles of Billy's chair and pushed him out of the villa.


"Where are we going?" Bella said disconsolately as she stared out at the road ahead. Her head was pounding. All she could hear were Renee's last words to her….I can help you do that baby girl, I can make you better. She had come to Jacksonville seeking her mother's comfort, but Renee had reverted to type and become hypercritical of her appearance and her personality. It had been the theme of Bella's life. According to Renee's philosophy you had to change who you were on the outside if you wanted to be accepted. No one would want to be your friend if you weren't attractive. How often in the past had she pointed out Bella's flaws? Bella couldn't remember a single time her mother had actually just accepted her for who she was. But who was she?

"Bells, you okay?" Jacob reached across and took her hand. He glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to the road.

"I don't know who I am, Jacob." Bella whispered sadly as tears filled her eyes again.

"You're my Bells." Jacob turned to smile at her, but it faltered when he saw the intense sorrow marring her pretty face. He cursed Renee in his head. He always thought Charlie exaggerated things when he spoke about his ex-wife, but clearly it had been the truth. "Please don't take any of that crap your mom said to heart, Bella. None of it's true."

Bella sucked in her lower lip as she drew in a sharp breath. She wanted to cry but didn't want to embarrass herself in front of Jacob. She was surprised he was still with her. Shouldn't he have run off screaming by now? He had to see how crazy she was. "Why do you continue to put up with me, Jake?" She turned her head to look at him. His attention was focused on the road but he squeezed her hand as he drove. The traffic was building up the closer they got to the beach. From the fresh breeze that was blowing through the opened windows of the car, that was where she assumed he was heading. "I feel really lost." She continued, speaking as if to herself. "For so long I was my mom's carer until Phil came along, then I was Edward's Bella, then he left and then you…." Bella paused as she stared at Jacob's handsome profile. He was frowning. She wondered if he had heard a word she had said.

Jacob suddenly jerked the wheel to the right as he steered the car toward the side of the road. He parked up and switched off the engine. Bella sat up straighter in her seat as she looked at him in confusion. He was breathing heavily, almost as if he had been running. He stared straight ahead, his brow still furrowed. It was as if he was gearing himself up for something. He was still holding her hand. Bella put her other hand over the top of his so she was cocooning his between both of hers. His incredible warmth seeped through her skin and she let out a small gasp.

"I'm sorry, Jake." Bella whispered as she finally allowed her tears to fall. They dripped onto their joined hands. A small sigh escaped Jacob's lips as he closed his eyes for a second before turning to face her. Bella gazed at him anxiously as she saw a determined light in his dark eyes. "What?"

"I'm gonna be honest with you, Bella." Jacob twisted around in his seat so he was facing her. He drew her hands closer to his; essentially pulling her along too so she was forced to shift closer to him. He saw the worry in her vibrant brown eyes and wished he could make it all go away. "I love you." He said simply as he kept his gaze fixed on her face. She was beautiful and she had no idea. It was her imperfections that made her so perfect in his eyes. "I've hated how things have been. You don't know how many times I've wanted to break through this wall that's come between us. But I couldn't. I was so angry at you for leaving me. I was even angrier when you came back with him, and forgave him as if nothing had happened. It ripped me up inside when you rejected me and told me that you planned on becoming one of them, that you were willing to throw your life away. That it meant so little to you…that I meant so little to you."

"Jake…." Bella's voice cracked as she spoke.

"But I didn't really understand." Jacob continued as he reached out with his free hand and gently caressed the side of her face. Bella closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch. "I do now. These last few weeks have opened my eyes a bit. I've witnessed your torment. I've seen the way you struggle to try and be what you think others want you to be. You're one way with Cullen, another with your dad, and with me."

"I'm sorry." Bella apologised as more tears spilled out from under her closed lids.

"You keep saying sorry. You don't need to." Jacob continued to stroke her face. "You don't need to be anyone other than yourself, honey. I love you for who you are. Don't you see that?"

Bella opened her eyes. They shimmered with moisture as she smiled at him tremulously. "I just don't know how to be myself." She confessed. "How can I be Bella Swan when I don't even like her very much?"

"Let me help you." Jacob tugged her closer as he leaned his forehead against hers. His warm breath ghosted across her skin as his fingers blazed a heat trail down her cheek.

"I'm not sure you can fix me, Jake."

"You don't need fixing, Bells. You just need to see yourself through my eyes." Jacob dared to press his mouth onto hers. He heard Bella gasp as she became very still. She didn't draw away from him but remained frozen in place. Their breaths mingled as Jacob gently cupped the back of her head and began to skim his lips across hers. He didn't push her; it was just a gentle kiss, a promise of things to come if only she would let him in. After a moment he pulled away and smiled. "You feel better now."

Bella's eyes slowly fluttered open and she nodded. "Much better." She agreed.

Jacob grinned as he released her and switched on the engine. "Fancy some ice cream?" He asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.

A small giggle burst forth from Bella. She put a hand over her mouth in shock. She nodded instead. Jacob laughed at her stunned expression as he pulled back onto the road and continued to drive toward the beach.

A/N-thanks for reading!