Chapter 7:

I hoped I would lose consciousness, then it wouldn't hurt so much. I could feel the presence of people around me, so I knew that I was not totally out of it. I could not believe it, Jacob, gone. I heard a cry and then, with another sob, realized it was me. I was over Jacob. I would never be able to see him again, I knew that. What was WRONG with me? I could not react like this just because Jacob was out of my life a little early. I suddenly remembered what this party was for; my wedding, I shuddered. I heard someone in the distance say something like. "Look, she's moving." I didn't care, I was to busy thinking. I was shunning the outside world at the moment and had no desire to let anyone in. Jacob was gone. A fresh round of tears burst through me. I never was going to be whole, was I? Always, always someone went away or left me…Or I left them. It was my fault Jake had run away, MY FAULT! I banged my fist on the ground forgetting about the people around me. I suddenly heard Charlie gasp and run over, and I heard heels clicking against the floor of Edward's living room, my mom. I forced my eyes open.

"Bella! Honey, Jacob will be okay! He just went for a run!" Charlie turned my mom away and I heard him mutter something I was not meant to hear:

"For two weeks Renee? Two weeks?" Jacob had been gone for two whole weeks. Oh, Billy, and the pack. It was all my fault. I knew I would never get to see Jacob again after my wedding, I shivered at the thought of a wedding, but I guess the actual happening never actually took full affect until after it happened.

"Dad, two weeks?" My voice cracked on the word 'weeks'. How did this information slip through the cracks between me for two whole weeks? Those weeks were more solid then I was though. I decided I was not going to let Jacob rule me, he wasn't my life. I would have never gotten to see him after I was married anyways. What was the point being depressed now. I grabbed my shirt with my thumb and wiped my eyes dry. I slowly sat up, shaking my head. There weren't as many people around me as I thought there was. Just Charlie, my mom, Edward, Alice, and Carlisle.

"Yeah, Bells, two weeks, but he could be anywhere now. Plus, he's a pretty grown up kid. He can take care of himself." I did know this. I could cope without Jake. I felt a stab through my chest causing a hole; I was never going to be whole again. I knew that, never. I also knew that I could be happy, without Jake. Edward was what I had chosen; he is who I wanted to be with, forever, in the literal meaning of the word. I bounced up to my feet in a quick second, a little too quickly. I felt the room spin and me falling, of course Edward caught me, of course. I smiled to myself. I would be fine, though I knew I could never be complete, I would survive. Without Edward, I could not survive. I would be alright now.

"So what next?" I asked, slightly afraid of the sparkle in Alice's eyes when I said this. Alice danced over to a table of brightly colored boxes- presents. Wonderful. This was great, I really did hope that Edward didn't get me anything. He was all I needed, I reminded myself this. I secretly hoped that I didn't start hearing Jacob's voice in my head, that would be too weird. I focused on the party. Alice grabbed a tiny silver box from behind the pile and shoved it into my arms. I look at the tab and it read, 'From Edward and Alice,' I couldn't help the rush of déjà vu that flooded my head. I also could not help wondering if Jasper was around. I was immediately embarrassed at my thought. As I was about to slip my finger under the tap to unwrap the gift, I heard the door open, quietly, but I was able to hear it. Then the closing of the door. A brown-haired girl with a kind face appeared in the doorway to the grand dining room where the presents were stacked.

"Angela!" I ran over to her and gave her a hug. Now Angela, I had missed. The quiet, shy girl from my first days at Forks that never bombarded me with ridiculous questions. I was glad to see her. I knew she would not judge me harshly for being engaged as Jess and Lauren had, though I did not really care what Lauren thought at this point, I never had made friends with her.

"Bella!" She said in the same mocking tone, she laughed a bright, cheerful laugh, "Sorry I'm late. How have you bee-" A crash from the living room interrupted her greeting.

Edward excused himself and rushed into the living room, Carlisle at his heels. Emmett was sitting on the chair by the window with a smashed vase next to him, and several (humans) staring at him with wide eyes.

"Emmett?" Edward asked, puzzled, clearly not being able to make sense of Emmett's thoughts.

"I, well, you see, there was this… this… HE STARTED IT!" He pointed to a shame faced Mike Newton in the corner. I hadn't even noticed he was here.

"I, I, I just wanted a chip from that bowl," He pointed to the table on the opposite the side of Emmett that had the crushed vase. Edward turned his attention back to Emmett with raised eyebrows.

"He stepped on my foot. Seriously, he stepped on my LEG! This one," he pointed to his left leg, "My special leg, no one touches this leg." Was it just me that thought this was incredibly stupid? "And when I pushed him out of the way he kind of fell onto that vase there." No, I don't think it was just me. Edward's expression looked like it was switching from bursting out laughing and incredible anger. I myself almost started laughing.

"More like shoved," Mike muttered. He was angry. I really hadn't noticed he was here.

"Hey Mike! I didn't see you here, you should have said something." Though I did find it hard to find anybody in this crowd Alice so hastily invited, I did assume that Alice was the party planner. Wasn't she always?

"Oh hey, I, uh, didn't, couldn't find you…" Mike looked sad…Depressed almost. I suppose I could guess why. His biggest high school crush getting married, never even giving him a chance. I suddenly felt bad. I didn't realize what I was doing until I was up against Mike's cotton polo shirt, arms around him, hugging him. I was stunned when I realized what I had just done. Before Mike could return the hug, I backed up and pushed out the wrinkles in my shirt. Mike was beaming. Oops. "So, you're getting married, huh." He was smiling as he spoke, still recovering from the hug, I didn't mean to lead him on.

As I remembered Mike's question, I nodded slowly locking my eyes with his. I didn't want to hurt his feeling… Especially since this might be the last time I'd get to see him. I hadn't realized this until I actually thought about it. The last time? Angela too. I couldn't leave Angela, or Mike. They were the human friends I'd always had. I was caught up in a bubble of thought and was startled when Mike responded, "Oh, well, um…Good luck, if that fits here."

"Good luck works just as well as anything." I had such a startling and strong episode of déjà vu when I said the words that I almost fell over. Why was there déjà vu in those words? Oh well, I was not going to worry about my twisted mind now. Mike was looking at his feet, clearly uncomfortable. "So did you figure out where you decided to go to college?" This time he looked up and I saw a faint touch of red on his cheeks indicating he was trying very hard not to blush.

"I, well, I got accepted to the university on Alaska… And I also was acce-" I cut him off there and motioned with my hand for him to stop talking.

"Alaska Mike? Why on earth would you leave your family to venture all the way to Alaska?" I had to try very hard to control my voice and not shout. What the hell? I was almost positive I hadn't told him where I was going for college, but who was I kidding? Forks is a really small town, and how could you miss news (even though it is pretty small news) of where someone was going to college. Also, I probably knew where the whole senior class was going to college.

Mike was staring wide-eyed at me while blinking rapidly. He looked thoroughly confused. "I always wanted to go to Alaska, pus I can afford almost three semesters." I couldn't tell if he was lying to me or not. I had to guess that he was lying, even though that all could have been true.

"You're lying to me Mike." He looked up.

"No, I'm not Bella, I swear, all that stuff I said is true." He looked like a lost dog; I'd shattered all of his hope.

"Mike, don't go to Alaska just because of me, please don't. I know that you like me and everything, bu-" Mike held up his hand to stop me.

"Whoa, whoa, you knew I liked you!" He spat the words in my face. He thought I didn't know he liked me?

"How could I not Mike, you weren't exactly subtle with asking me out at every available moment." His face went red with embarrassment, and then anger. I backed up, though I could not figure out why.

"Bella! You don't KNOW how much I LIKED you! I think that I, I, I…" His face was still red from yelling and he was breathing heavily. I was frozen like a deer caught in front of a car's headlights. I knew what he was going to say, and I did not need another person that liked me that much. I also knew that Mike was only human, and wouldn't, couldn't get caught up in my magical, fantasy world. I would not want Mike to get hurt, but he was only one of my best friends, nothing more.

"You what Mike." Why'd I have to ask, I knew the answer. Was I that cruel that I had to make him voice it? I guess I was because I just waited, still too stunned to blink.

"I… thought that I might have, could have… Did…" I was ready for tears and I could tell that Mike was debating whether to run for it or not. Emmett was suddenly next to me. Oh great; where'd he come from anyways?

"Is there a problem here?" Emmett said in a real serious voice, I noticed he was wearing a tight-fitting black shirt with the word 'Security' in bold white letters across the back. I would have burst out laughing if I wasn't so upset. I shot a glance at Edward to see if he put Emmett up to this. He didn't, he was glaring at Emmett that I was sure would burn a hole in his back. I heard Jasper snickering from the top of the stairs. Where DID they come from? Mike looked up, and just walked away. I closed my eyes and waited for the sound of the door slamming; there is was. I looked up at Emmett.

"Are you mental?" Usually I wasn't so mean to Emmett, but I wasn't in the mood today. I heard the snickering at the top of the stairs stop, and I saw Emmett start to pout, but I just walked away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I was lounging on the couch talking to Angela, having fun, talking with my best girl friend, my best mortal friend. This would probably be the last time I saw Angela or talked to her face to face. I could still email her, couldn't I?

Then; I heard the door slam in the frame. Then the faint squish of wet shoes on the linoleum. Now I smelt the stench of a wet…dog. Jacob! I bounced off the couch and ran to the door with Angela close behind me, probably worrying about me. There was Jacob, with leaves in his hair and mud all over.

"Jake! Where've you been!" I heard Charlie call.

Jacob POV

As Bella jumped into my arms, and hugged me; I looked behind her. Then, gravity shifted.

Alright, it may seem like Jacob is in a pretty good position right now, but seriously; I really loath him. Don't keep reading Jacob lovers, do NOT say I didn't warn you for later things. I will tell you few Jacob lovers out there when the Jacob hate chapter will be very bad and when you should stop reading all together.

-GAHaNERD-