Sorry this took forever to update. I'll get a few more chapters up this weekend. Reviews would be niceeee )
Disclaimer- I do not own Twilight, that is pretty obvious.
Jake:
I fought the overwhelming desire to cross the line and tear him to shreds. Him, with his pale skin, gold eyes and superior stance. God, I hated him. His arm was linked around Bella's waist and she leaned into him.
I had once longed to hold her like that, rubbing it in his ancient nose. A muscle in my jaw twitched.
Blocking out any thoughts that would give him any satisfaction- like how my heart ached just looking at Bella- I focused on not breaking down.
"Well?..." Nobody knew quite how to start, least of all Bella. I could see her trying to form the words in her head before saying them aloud… luckily-for her- her vampire beat her to it.
"As you are aware-" He glanced at Bella swiftly then back at me." We have a slight situation… we wouldn't ask for your aid-again- in this unless we thought it was absolutely necessary, but I'm afraid it is. Bella's father was…"
"Murdered?" I said bluntly and noticed Bella's flinch. Mr. Marble over there pulled her closer before glaring at me, the anger flaring in his eyes. I grinned back. Cocky was the only way I knew how to react to him.
"To put bluntly, yes. Despite Charlie being her father, we're involved in another way" He stopped speaking and I tried to fight what I knew was going to happen next.
The blood was drained completely from his body, Jacob. It's obviously the work of a vampire and we can't pinpoint who it is… for Bella's sake, please try to be sensitive with your word choice. His gold eyes bore into mine and I flinched at the details of Charlie's death. So he was there when Bella found him… and now I felt like I had been too.
I'm done caring about Bella's sake, Edward. As far as I'm concerned, Bella is gone.
"Now, why do you need a bunch of dog's help? I thought you were above that- and besides, we don't owe you any favors. Why should we jump into a mess that was never ours to begin with?" I knew I was being unreasonable and immature. This was a serious situation, Charlie was dead! But that insane jealousy, bitterness, resentment towards them- perfect together- was too hard to keep down.
"Jacob, stop it! You don't us anything- least of all me- but this isn't about Charlie anymore… it's about me, it's always about me. They'll just never leave me alone…" Bella's voice trailed off, her eyes became distant and I knew, had she still been alive, this would be the point when Bella broke down into tears.
But this was new Isabella Cullen. No tears. In an instant she was alert, glancing over her shoulder. I could still the ache in her new, gold eyes though.
"Alice saw something. Whoever killed my dad… will be coming after your's. I'm sorry Jake, I really am… this time, whoever this vampire is isn't coming straight for me- he's going after everyone attached to me. Including Billy and you" I took the news in silence, for once at a loss for words.
Billy…Dad… we had been sucked into some vampire drama just for knowing Bella. Everyone attached to her- that could mean the entire Pack. She had been friends with them once. And the kids at her school. Her mom in Florida and her step dad.
There were a lot of people attached to Isabella Swan, which also meant that there were a lot of people in danger.
"Exactly… which is why we need your help to stop this as soon as possible, before more people turn up dead" He said, and I noticed his eyes flicker over my shoulder for a split second before a hand- warm and small- slid into mine, fitting perfectly.
I looked down at Cara, who looked up at me. There was a determination in her eyes that made my heart beat unevenly. There was also a reassuring light, her smile meant only for me to see. Having her there, next to me, brought me back to life. My heart stopped shattering, sticking back together. I could breathe again.
And who is this? His voice popped up in my head and I growled, deep in my throat as I turned to glare at him, my grip tightening on Cara's hand.
You took Bella… you can't have Cara too. His eyebrows shot way up and he flinched, but he kept to his own thoughts, hopefully.
Bella's were fixed on Cara, curious and wide. Was she surprised that I could move on from her? Did it drive her crazy to see me with some one else? For a moment, a flicker of light in her eyes told me that maybe she was jealous… but it vanished as though it had never been there. She was getting good at putting on that stony mask.
Cara:
My heart thudded loudly. I was sure they could hear it as I stood there, gripping Jake's hand for support- supporting him as faced his demons, supporting me as I struggled to stay standing.
The girl who had caused all of this and broken Jacob's heart was staring at me openly. Taking in every detail- from my plain face to my plain clothes. I blushed under the spotlight. Bella was beautiful, and I envied her.
"We may be wonder dogs, but we can't exactly keep a close eye on every one in Forks. Hate to burst your bubble… besides. We have La Push to look out for now. And ourselves! Hell no, we can't hel-" Jake was about to go on a rampage and if Sam hadn't cut in, it probably would have gotten much… much worse. My fingers felt crushed as his grip got tighter and tighter.
"Why don't you let me do the talking, Jacob" Sam laid a hand on his shoulder and he deflated. He opened his mouth, then closed it… then just glared in unrest at the vampires.
Vampires. The word sent a shiver down my spine. They weren't natural- like us. Born the way we are… they were made into monsters… No. For Jake's sake, I wouldn't say that. I could tell he still cared about her. Maybe not loved- I prayed it wasn't love- but definitely cared.
"Come on, Jake…" I whispered and pulled him lightly away as Sam took charge of the situation. I had to admit, Sam was a completely different person when making plans and being "leader". He… glowed? Sam definitely stood out and took control.
Jake relented easily, his shoulders slumped and he looked ten years older. Worn out and tired. The look in his brown eyes broke my heart. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw hers follow us as we walked away. I bit down the anger I felt towards her. I realized I hated her, for hurting Jake so badly. I hated her with all I had in me.
I tugged Jacob along further into the woods, and waved Quil away when he moved to follow. I noticed that Embry and Jared were gone- sent to watch over Billy, Jacob's father.
"Stay… we'll be fine" I said and tightened my hand around Jacob's.
I felt like I was walking with a ghost. Floating along beside me, not aware- or caring- about where we were going at all. The sun had set, casting shadows all around us. I could see perfectly though, my enhanced eyes picking up things a normal human couldn't have.
My thoughts flickered back to her every once in a while and I knew his were too. He really had loved her, I realized. He loved her so much, he had run away from Washington. He told me once that he went away for a while, that he had needed a break from home and I knew now it was because of her- not loving him back.
I didn't realize where I had been leading us until it was right there, dark and deep. The alcove we had walked to that first day. When I had been so happy that he had even wanted to see me… let alone tell me he'd imprinted on me.
"Well, look at that" He mumbled, his eyes wandering from the entrance to my face. He wasn't smiling, but I saw his eyes lighten just a bit.
We sat on a huge slab of stone, raised above the ground like a natural bench or alter. I leaned against his chest with his arms wrapped around my waist. I felt his chest rise and fall with each breath. Jake placed his chin on my head and just held me.
We stayed like that for a while, deep I our own thoughts, listening to the quiet world around us. I wished we could stay like that forever, but I knew wishes hardly ever came true.
"I'm sorry" Jacob whispered in my ear. Startled, I turned to see his face and saw his eyes were closed.
"Sorry for what?" I asked, confused. What did he have to be sorry about?
"I'm so sorry… I never should have pushed you… I never should have- I'm sorry" His voice cracked on the last word and I placed both my hands on either side of his face. He was in so much pain, that was obvious and it hurt me too.
"Jacob? Jacob, listen to me… you have nothing to be sorry about" He shook his head, faster and faster. Frantic. My pulse was soaring, my heart beating faster than a hummingbird's wings. I knew my hands were shaking. This side of Jacob scared me… I didn't know what to do.
"Cara?" His eyes opened, then widened. The battle had been in his head… him against himself. He was apologizing to Bella. To Jacob, I hadn't even been there.
I stood, my heart sinking into the pit of my stomach. The blood ran cold in my veins. A lump the size of a cliff lodged in my throat. I guess the pain I felt must have shown in my eyes because Jake reached out to me.
"Cara… I'm so sorry" Apologizing again. At least he knew who he was talking to.
He loves her… he loves her. Still, even as a vampire, a cold one, an undead. So many names, but to him she was Bella. Beloved Bella. Love, love, love, love… he… loves….her.
I sat on the floor, as far from him as possible, wallowing in my own self pity. Is this how he felt? Knowing she had been in love with one too? It must be… an ant scurried along the ground by my foot, carrying a leaf twice its size. My shoe hovered above it, but in the end, I let it hurry by.
Warm arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, stroking my hair. Whispering stupid little words that didn't help. I was shutting down to block out the truth.
"Cara, I didn-" he began. I cut him off.
"You said she was dead. Why?" I asked in a flat voice. I couldn't meet his eyes, though he was trying so hard to hold my gaze. If I could just look at him, I'd know everything was alright. Why couldn't I just look?
He sighed, closing his eyes briefly before answering. "Because it was easier that way… to pretend… so there would be a reason why she never called, never came to visit me. It was easier than the truth"
The truth. That she was in love with someone else. Someone who shouldn't exist. The enemy.
"Cara?" Jake's lips were at my ear, whispering. Desperate."Cara…."
Love, love, love, love… he…loves…her…he loves her. I willed myself to look at him, the person I loved so much but had known for so little time. Was I already losing him? Please, don't let me lose him.
"Cara" He whispered once more, leaning his forehead against mine, cupping my face in his gentle, warm hands. "I love you"
Love, love, love, love…he…loves…me. And he'd finally said the words out loud.