Forever
Author: Krys Yuy
Summary: AU. Usagi is blissful in her strange new relationship, but sometimes happiness isn't meant to last forever. Can her lovers prove otherwise? Threesome. Established relationship.
Pairing/Characters: Alice/Usagi/Jasper, Edward/Bella
Fandoms: Sailor Moon/Twilight
Warning: Possible OOCness.
Rating: R/T
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used. This fic is purely for entertainment purposes only.
Author's Notes: Set post-Sailor Moon Stars and sometime post-New Moon. So, some of you are actually reading this! Yay! And it turns out this isn't a two-parter after all. Some of my usual readers are perhaps not surprised by this development. XD And fair warning ahead of time – there's a lot of talking in this chapter. In fact, it's mostly talking. I'm sorry in advance if it bores the crap out of you. But I promise the next chapter will be much more exciting. It will also answer any questions regarding Mamoru. And I'm not trying to make him the bad guy, though it'll seem like it in this part. Remember, there are two sides to every story.
Thank you very much to each and every person who reviewed Part 1: Fire Dolphin, Cutelilchika, Daphne Tomorrow, Angel of Serenity88, Eternalmoonprincess, Trinity Tomoe, Sesshy's Mistress, princess moon shadow, First Lady Lestat, ally0212, Hellbunny21, Mou-chan, SailorVengeance19, Cpt-J-Ss-bonnielass, Andy, DJFireHawk and TsukinoGoddess! Thank you for taking the time to review. I read and treasure each one. If you leave a review and you have a FanfictionNet account, I will respond to you. However, I can't respond if you don't have private messages enabled, so please keep that in mind if you want a reply.
Also, two special shout-outs go to Eternalmoonprincess and ally0212 for being generally awesome all around and for their lovely reviews. It was a pleasure reading them.
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter. I want to conclude this story in the next part, possibly, so we'll see how that goes. Wish me luck. If you are so inclined, please leave a review. Thanks!
Part 2: Inevitable
Bella's truck rumbled to a stop outside Jacob's house. She sighed in relief when she saw his black Harley parked right by the porch. She slipped out of the truck, locking it, and hurried to the front door as fast as she dared. Knowing Billy wasn't home, she entered without knocking and proceeded down the hallway.
"Usa! Jake!" she called out.
No one answered her.
"Hey, you guys…" Bella opened the door to Jacob's room to find her two best friends sprawled out on the mattress. Jacob was perched near the edge of the bed, but his massive frame still took up most of the space. Usagi slept on her side, head tucked underneath Jacob's.
Bella closed the door behind her as she approached the bed. "Hey." She nudged their legs with her sneakers.
Two snores sounded in response.
Rolling her eyes, she climbed onto the bed to join them and claimed what little space there was left. She scooted close to Usagi and inadvertently pushed her friend closer to Jacob. Jacob, however, was immovable, which meant Usagi half-climbed on top of him with Bella nestling against the blonde's back.
Bella spoke against the back of Usagi's neck. "Usa, wake up."
Usagi groaned, reaching behind with her hand to grasp Bella's right one. "I don't want to."
"They're worried about you."
Usagi stiffened before she deflated a moment later. "They know?" she whispered.
Bella squeezed her hand and then threw her arm around her. She felt the fabric of Jacob's wife beater underneath her fingertips. "They know something's wrong," she explained. "Did you think you could hide it from them?"
"Not all of us are immune to them, Bella," Usagi said, her voice muffled as she turned her head towards Jacob's neck. "I just wanted time to think."
Bella rubbed Usagi's arm. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked quietly.
Before Usagi could answer, Jacob stirred and sniffed the air. "Yuck." His nose scrunched up. "Now the smell is even stronger. Jeez, Bells…"
She pounded her fist once against his chest, even though it must have felt like nothing more than a pinprick to him. "Oh, shut up. You have to get used to it, anyway," Bella said, clenching her sore hand.
"I'll never get used to it." Jacob sounded both bitter and resigned, and Bella's heart ached. Still, she couldn't say she wasn't grateful when he said nothing more on the subject.
"My two best friends stink. What does that say about me?" Jacob asked, his tone turning light.
"You have unique and superb taste," Bella replied airily, determined to not have the situation become awkward.
"I guess it helps you're both unbelievably beautiful."
Bella blushed and she knew Usagi had to be doing the same.
Jacob yelped and Bella lifted her head to look over Usagi and saw Jacob rubbing his hair. "What was that for?" The question was obviously directed at their blonde friend.
Usagi tugged his hair again. "Trying to be all sweet, smooth talker."
Jacob sat up, bringing Usagi with him. He wrapped an arm around her. "I forgot to add abusive to the list as well," he added wryly.
Bella sat up too and rested her chin on the part of Jacob's arm that was slung over Usagi's right shoulder. Her head tilted to lean against Usagi's. "Please tell us," she whispered.
"I don't like to think about… before," Usagi said. She shivered and Jacob's hold tightened on her. Bella wrapped her own arm around her friend from the other side.
"Usa, we're your family now," Bella said quietly. "And family is always supposed to be there for each other. Let us be here for you."
Jacob didn't say anything, only kissed the side of Usagi's temple.
Usagi placed one hand on Bella's knee and the other on Jacob's knee, squeezing slightly to show her gratefulness for their support. She took a deep breath. "My life in Japan was very different from the one I have now. I was such a kid… I only cared about sleeping, shopping, and video games. Oh, and eating…" There was a mocking note in her tone. Bella wanted to intercept then so she could remind her friend there was so much more to her, but Usagi continued, unperturbed by her own words.
"Even when responsibility was thrust upon me, I clung to my childish ways. I didn't want to grow up," Usagi confessed in a whisper. "I did though. You can't have the weight of the world resting on you and not grow up, even a little."
Bella always knew there was something more to her best friend. When Usagi had first come to Forks, the blonde seemed so out of place. More so than she herself had been. Bella had been surprised when Charlie said the daughter of his longtime friend would be moving in with them. Her father was a more compassionate man that she had given him credit for. Usagi's family had all died in a tragic accident and she had no else, Charlie had said.
So, Bella wasn't surprised when Usagi arrived, depressed and quiet. Bella remembered her crying the first few nights before there was only silence. She and Usagi rarely talked in the beginning. She had been too preoccupied with Edward. But then James happened. Usagi had been surprisingly unflustered by her kidnapping and subsequent discovery of the existence of vampires.
Bella let it go, as did Edward when he couldn't discern the reason either. Though Bella assumed her insistence he do so played a large part in his decision. Ironically, it was that very life-threatening event that brought her and Usagi closer together. They had gotten to know each other so well to the point that Bella couldn't imagine anyone else being her best friend, aside from Jacob.
Despite that, there was always something Usagi held back. But Bella had never pushed.
Now, though, it looked like Usagi was opening up the part of her past she had locked away.
"But with that responsibility came every little girl's dream…" Usagi's lips twisted into a sad, nostalgic smile. "I got my prince. Though he didn't have a white horse. Just a tuxedo." She chuckled, but it rang false.
Bella began to have a faint idea of where her best friend was going with this.
Usagi reached to her side and grabbed Bella's hand. "See… I had my very own Edward."
Jacob made a choking sound and his hold on Usagi tightened. Bella could hear his teeth grinding together from her side of the bed.
Usagi, however, didn't let Jacob's displeasure sidetrack her. She barreled on, wanting to finish the story. "We were supposed to be forever," she whispered. "We were going to have that stupid, clichéd fairytale ending." She started to sound teary, and Bella wanted to ask her to stop, but Usagi kept going.
"He broke my heart."
Her voice cracked, revealing all the desperation and pain she had tried to hide from them. Bella quickly hugged her blonde friend and when she felt Jacob's hands on her shoulders, she knew her male best friend was doing the same on Usagi's other side.
"It was never the same after that," she said. The pain was fading from her voice, only to be replaced with a certain emptiness.
It was all bitterly familiar to Bella. Except in her scenario, she was able to reunite with Edward. But it could have easily gone another way. She was glad to have Jacob's familiar touch so close. He still had the amazing ability to calm her. She definitely needed it too, if she wanted to approach Usagi about this sensitive issue.
Bella tentatively asked, "And this guy… is he the one who left the voicemail message?"
Usagi turned to give her a puzzled look. "Angela told me," Bella answered Usagi's unspoken question.
"Oh." Usagi nodded, subdued again. "He wants to see me."
"You're not going to, are you?" Jacob asked roughly.
Bella's heart dropped when Usagi remained silent. "Usa… what about…" she started hesitantly. "What about –"
"I don't know!" Usagi cried, pushing against their hold. She broke away and stood up, beginning to pace the room. "I want him to leave me alone!"
"But?" Jacob growled. His hands curled into fists, digging into his sheets.
Usagi stopped near his bedroom window, looking out at the tree line behind the house. Her gaze turned far away. "I remember being so happy… before."
It seemed like she was drifting away from them. Bella hated it. "Aren't you happy now?" she asked.
Her answer was immediate. "I am! But his message reminded me…" She leaned her forehead against the cool glass of the window. "Happiness isn't meant to last forever."
"Okay, what have you done with the real Usagi?" Jacob demanded, standing up.
"What?" Usagi turned to look, her sad face becoming confused.
Jacob waved his hand up and down. "This isn't you! 'Happiness isn't meant to last forever'? What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Jake!" Bella stood, reaching out to him, but he flinched away. "Leave it alone."
"Leave it alone?" he repeated incredulously.
"You're making it worse!" Bella snapped, narrowing her eyes.
"Stop!" Usagi shouted. She put her hands over her ears. "Stop fighting."
Bella quickly ran over to her and hugged her from behind. "Please. Whatever you do, know that we love you," she whispered.
Jacob joined the hug seconds later and Bella felt his chin rest atop her head. "I'm sorry," he said. "I can't bear you being so sad. Either of you."
Bella rested her cheek against the back of Usagi's head. "Your pain is our pain," she said.
"Thank you." Usagi closed her eyes. "I'm so confused," she admitted.
Bella squeezed her waist. "Come home with me," she said. She and Usagi both knew she didn't mean their house either.
Jacob sighed, but made no protest.
"I need a little more time," Usagi said. She turned and Bella and Jacob released her from their hug.
Bella looked at Usagi worriedly, but Jacob reached out and gripped her hand. "I'll take her home later, Bells," he said. "Promise."
Bella was reluctant, but when Usagi looked at her imploringly, she acquiesced. "Okay," she said. "I'll see you later."
Usagi nodded and said nothing more. She hugged herself and went back to looking out the window.
Bella frowned, but went over to give Jacob a hug. "Bye, Jake."
Jacob breathed her in. Bella moved to pull away, but he held on a little longer than necessary. "Bye, honey." He kissed her temple.
Though her insides were shaking, Bella didn't let it show on her face. She pulled away and left the room, taking only one look back. The indecision on Usagi's face was seared into her memory as she drove away, and for the first time, she feared for Alice and Jasper.
–
Usagi waited until she heard the rumble of Bella's truck fading in the distance before she opened her eyes. She turned to Jacob, who was studying her quietly.
"Can I sleep over tonight?" she asked. She sat down on his bed and traced patterns on his sheets with her index finger.
He nodded. "Sure, if that's what you want," he replied. "Dad won't mind, but you'll need to tell Charlie."
"Okay," she said softly.
Jacob frowned, reaching out to her, but seemed to think better of it. "Usa. I'm here."
"I know." Usagi smiled, but it held none of her usual warmth. "Thanks."
There was a moment of silence before Jacob offered, "I'll make us some sandwiches."
Usagi stared out the window again, aware of his footsteps growing fainter as he left the room and headed to the kitchen. She gripped her cell phone tightly.
–
"Something's wrong."
Alice poked her head out from the closet to find her husband staring out the window. "What is it?" she asked.
Jasper looked at the forest as if it would allow him to see where their lover was. "I can feel it," he whispered. He clutched at his chest. "She's hurting."
"Jazz. It'll be fine," she said. "She'll come back to us." With no visions to guide her, Alice could only believe in Usagi.
Jasper, however, picked up the thread of unease slowly making its way through her body. "Alice, you can't deny that something bad happened and she didn't come to us. What does that tell you?" he retorted.
The worry and anxiety Jasper was skimming from their other family members wasn't helping his state of mind. Alice went to him and grasped his hands. "She's confused and scared," she said, squeezing. "And knowing Moonshine, she doesn't want to trouble us."
"Stupid girl," he hissed, but the ache in his eyes showed he didn't mean it. "Then she shouldn't run away."
Alice focused on her absolute conviction that their lover would return. If there was one thing Usagi taught her, it was that simply having faith went a long way. One didn't necessarily have to be gifted to believe that everything would turn out all right. Alice's steady feelings helped keep her husband rational.
"She and Bella share that pesky martyr complex," she commented. Alice wrapped her right arm around Jasper's waist, and leaned against his side. "But if we push her, she'll push right back."
Jasper sighed. "Why can't she listen to us like Bella does Edward?"
Alice laughed, knowing Jasper didn't actually want Usagi that way. "She wouldn't be our Moonshine," she said, voicing what her husband already knew.
Jasper pounded the bottom of the windowsill with his right fist and the force shook the frame. "Please. Tell me what you see," he said.
Alice closed her eyes. Blurry images raced through her mind again and the calm she had achieved organizing her closet threatened to break. She tightened her grasp on Jasper's button-up shirt, but not enough to tear. "Our future is clouded, Jazz," she murmured. "The most I can make out are vague shapes – shapes that don't make any sense. And colors." She opened her eyes. "Shapes and colors."
Jasper sensed her honesty and annoyance with herself. "I'm sorry you can't see more," he said sincerely. He kissed the top of her head.
Alice hated being blind. Faith was all well and good, and it worked especially well for Usagi, but Alice could admit she was still getting used to it. Staying several steps ahead of everyone else was her gift. The gift she employed to keep her family together. "Jazz –"
She cut herself off.
Jasper looked down to find her eyes had gone blank. "Alice?" he prompted, worried. He knew a vision happening when he saw it. He took her hands and gently led her to the king-sized bed that was added after their relationship evolved with Usagi.
Jasper had just sat her down when Alice gasped, pitching forward. He steadied her quickly and placed his hands on either side of her face, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs. He tried to look into her eyes but she was looking past him, though obviously out of her vision.
"What is it?" he asked.
He heard the front door open and close and the sound of running steps up the stairs. Bella's heartbeat grew louder and louder. Before she reached their room, Alice let out a low groan. "No," she whispered.
Jasper couldn't question her because Bella burst into their room then, panting. Her worry and fear swamped him and his knees buckled. Alice drew him down to sit next to her. Normally, he would have been able to withstand Bella's emotions, but they were so poignant and only added to his own chaotic state.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced his eyes to meet Bella's. "What happened?" he asked, even as dread crept on him. "What did you find out?" Alice's grip on his hand tightened.
Bella's gaze was teary and sad. "I didn't think it was possible. But I found out about the one person who could take her away from you."
–
"Usagi-hime, it's so good to hear from you. Are you all right?"
The gentle and silky voice of her guardian from another life triggered a rush of nostalgia. "I'm fine, Setsuna. I'm sorry for calling at this hour," she replied quietly. "And you don't need to call me princess anymore. That was a long time ago."
"Old habits, your highness," Setsuna replied, her voice somewhat amused. "And don't apologize for the time. It's good to hear from you."
Usagi sat on the edge of Jacob's bed, facing his window. She heard the faint sounds of him moving around in the kitchen. "How are you?" she asked, thinking of all her friends scattered around the world.
"I'm wonderful. Meiou Designs is flourishing," the older woman said, "but you already know that." She paused and Usagi knew what was coming next. "What do you need?"
Usagi steeled herself. "Where's Mamoru?"
"The last time we talked, he mentioned a medical conference…" Setsuna paused. "… in Washington."
No. Why now? Usagi had been hoping the phone call had been a bad dream.
"Oh, Usagi." Setsuna's voice turned concerned. "Did he contact you? Do you need us to come?"
"I'm a big girl. I can take care of it myself," she said, though there wasn't much confidence behind the words.
"Princess…" Setsuna managed to convey her worry and apprehension in only one word.
"Mamoru wouldn't hurt me," she replied. Liar! "He can't touch me. Not anymore."
Lies, lies, lies. Usagi was glad Edward was nowhere near. Everything she had ever hidden from her past would be open to him now if he was in the same room.
"What did he ask of you?"
She paused for a long moment before answering. "He wants to meet me," Usagi said, closing her eyes. "He says he misses me."
"Perhaps… perhaps you should," Setsuna replied. "Meet him."
That was precisely what was torturing her. "I don't know," she said. "I don't know if I can."
"Princess, you say he can't hurt you… but he obviously still can," her guardian said softly. "You should talk to him."
Usagi had gone so long without thinking of him. It was difficult to have him in her head again. "I was finally moving on, Setsuna," she said, opening her eyes. "Why now? What's changed?"
"You'll have to ask him that," Setsuna replied, her voice soft but firm.
Even though she really, really didn't want to, she knew her friend was right. There was no way out of this. The heartache she had buried so deep inside herself had emerged with one measly phone call. Old feelings, good and bad, swamped both her heart and her head, and she knew there was no ignoring it. Not anymore.
"Thank you, Setsuna," Usagi said. She looked out the window at the drab sky, the atmosphere matching her mood. "I appreciate you lending me your ear."
"Any time, day or night," her guardian replied, voice kind and comforting in its familiarity. "Good luck, Usagi."
"Thank you," she repeated sincerely. She had never wished so much to see her old friends again. "Bye."
"Goodbye, princess."
Usagi heard the click of the other line before she could protest at the use of her old title once more. She sighed and lowered the phone from her ear. The small screen taunted her, though, until she scrolled to the number on her Missed Calls list.
She stared at it, her thumb hovering over the Send button.
"Hey."
She yelped and jumped off Jacob's bed to her feet, only to find him chuckling at her in amusement. She glared at him. "So not funny, Jacob Black!" she exclaimed, walking up to him and poking him in the chest. "This is not the time."
He raised his hands in surrender. "I just came to tell you the sandwiches are done."
"Oh." Her annoyance faded. "Sorry."
Jacob patted her head and she batted his hand away. "You not hungry? If you want, I can take you home if you changed your mind." He grimaced. "And I mean Charlie's house, not their house."
"No, I still want to sleep over," Usagi said quickly. She couldn't go home, to either home. Even if she didn't go to the Cullens', her lovers could easily come to her. But in La Push, she could avoid the inevitable for a while longer.
The inevitable? her mind parroted back at her. What inevitable?
She ignored her treacherous line of thought. She couldn't think about them. "I'm gonna take a walk."
"I'll come with."
"Actually, Jacob…" She took her best friend's hand in hers and squeezed. "I need to be alone right now."
"That's not a good idea," he protested immediately. "That other bloodsucker is out there and she doesn't care about the treaty."
"How about this? I'll be right outside and I won't go farther than the garage."
Jacob looked torn and she sighed.
"I'll stay on the porch," she said. He brightened, but she was quick to add, "But you have to stay in the kitchen."
"Sure, sure." He hugged her. "As long as you're close. I don't want anything happening to you."
"Thanks, Jake." She went on her tippy-toes to kiss his cheek, though she was only able to graze his chin. She muttered something about the unfairness of ridiculously tall werewolf genes, and quickly dodged Jacob before he could tickle her. She ran out to the front porch laughing, but her giggles died down as she remembered why she wanted privacy in the first place.
Usagi wandered down the steps and stopped a few yards in front of the house. Werewolves had stupendous hearing and she wanted to keep her conversation as quiet as possible. She hated lying, but an overprotective werewolf was just as bad as overprotective vampires. In either case, they always won out if it was a matter of safety. It was times like these she was tempted to tell her secret.
But she hadn't used her powers – not consciously, anyway – since she had arrived in Forks and she planned on keeping it that way. That was another life.
She stared at her phone, Mamoru's number blinking back at her. And that life had come knocking on her door again.
Usagi pressed Send.
–
Jasper froze and in that moment, he couldn't tell if the fear he felt was coming from him or Alice. "Explain," he said.
It was only when Bella flinched and Alice squeezed his thigh a little too hard that he realized he had growled it. He tried to visibly calm down so Bella would relax. She stood uncertainly by the doorway, leaning against the hardwood with her hands behind her back.
"Bella, please," Alice whispered.
Jasper instinctively sent a wave of love and comfort Alice's way, and she didn't protest. She leaned her head on his shoulder and linked her arm through his.
Bella took a deep breath and Jasper aided her with a flow of calm. "Usagi's ex left a voicemail that really shook her up," she said, the tension leaving her slender frame.
"The mystery man who hurt her," Alice said, her tone icy. She straightened and locked eyes with Bella. "What did he want?"
"He wants to meet her," Bella answered, biting her lip, "and Usa doesn't know what to do."
"Doesn't know what to do?" Jasper echoed. "What the hell does that mean?"
Bella shrank back a little and Alice admonished, "Jasper! Bella has nothing to do with this. Don't take it out on her."
Jasper knew his wife was right. "I'm sorry," he bit out. The anger in his voice was meant for himself and not his brother's girlfriend. "Bella, I don't mean to be rude, but this– This situation is driving me crazy. We just found her." He turned and met Alice's topaz eyes. "We can't lose her."
"I know, Jazz," Alice replied, cupping his cheek.
He relished in the solace of her touch. "What did you see, sweetheart?"
"I saw our future," she replied, and for the first time, her voice broke. "I saw it clearly for the first time in a long while. And we were alone."
A sharp pain lanced his heart. "What?"
"No, that's not right!" Bella burst out, shaking her head. "That's not right at all!" She rushed over to Alice and knelt by her side. "Usagi loves you. She wouldn't not choose you!"
"Like you said, she doesn't know what to do," Alice replied. She reached out with her free hand to clasp Bella's. "My vision isn't set in stone. It keeps flickering. First, it's clear. And then it's not."
"We have to talk to her," Jasper said, the ache in his chest growing. He felt Bella's uncertainty and hesitation. "What is it, Bella?"
"I think… I think this call brought on a lot of Usagi's insecurities," she answered, not brave enough to look him in the eye. She looked down at the carpeted floor instead. "Insecurities I didn't know she had."
"None of us did," Alice commented, regretful.
Bella hesitated before plowing on. "I think she thinks that your relationship is temporary," she said.
"What?" Jasper and Alice exclaimed at the same time.
"Happiness isn't meant to last forever," Bella replied. "That's what she told me and Jake." Sadness crossed her features, and the weight of it added to Jasper's own apprehension. "And when she said it, I saw the truth in her face. She believes that wholeheartedly. Whoever this guy is, he hurt her badly."
A vicious streak of bloodlust almost took hold of him then, but Alice was quick to placate him with a soothing kiss. "That's not what she needs, Jasper," Alice murmured, too fast for human ears to catch.
"She also…" Bella never looked more uncomfortable with their conversation than she did in that moment. "She compared him to Edward." Her eyes stayed attentively on the carpet. "This guy… he was the other half of her fairytale before he broke her heart."
Alice breathed in sharply as Jasper grit his teeth.
"Oh god," Alice said as the ramifications of that revelation sunk in. This wasn't just some random ex-boyfriend. Bella was right. Whoever this mystery man was, he had the power to take away everything from them.
"We need to see her," Jasper said. The fear he had kept at bay now swamped him, aided by both Alice's and Bella's raw emotions. "Now."
–
When half an hour went by without any sign of Usagi returning, Jacob sought her out. He didn't have it in him to be angry when she wasn't on the porch. She was only a few yards away on the grass and she was rubbing her cheeks. He walked over to her slowly; his suspicions confirmed when he saw the redness around her eyes and the tracks of dried tears that her rubbing had missed.
When she finally noticed him, she was quick to pocket her cell phone. She rubbed her eyes again and laughed shakily. "God, I'm such a mess," she said.
"You called him, didn't you?" His voice came out flat instead of compassionate, and he winced internally, but damn it, what was she thinking?
Usagi looked away. "I'm going to see him."
"Just a few hours ago you were telling Bella and I about how this bastard broke your heart," Jacob said frostily. "You shouldn't even be giving him the time of day!"
His blonde best friend seemed resigned. "Believe me, Jake, I don't want to, either," she replied, "but I have to do this."
"You're setting yourself up," he warned. The idea of her hurting hurt him, too, and he suddenly understood Bella's bizarre need to comfort him even when she couldn't offer what he wanted most. When his best friends hurt, he hurt too, no matter the reason.
"I thought you'd be ecstatic," Usagi said, not unkindly. In fact, her voice was rather emotionless. "Mamoru isn't a vampire. And once upon a time, he made me happy."
"The leec- vampires," he amended when she shot him a look, "are good to you. As much as I hate to admit it, they haven't hurt you." Yet. "Plus you're not willing to die for them." She opened her mouth, presumably to protest, but he cut her off. "You know what I mean."
She ignored his references to her lovers. "I only agreed to a meeting to see what he wants, face to face," she said. "Nothing more than that."
Jacob glowered. "I hate this."
"His conference is in Port Angeles." The wry smile on her lips was out of place on her usually bright countenance. "It's fate."
Jacob rolled his eyes. "Ugh."
"Promise me something."
He regarded her doubtfully. "What?"
"Don't tell them where I'm going," she said, looking in the direction of the Quileute border. "I'll explain it to them when I come back."
"Wait – you're just going to leave without telling them?" Jacob asked. He frankly didn't care either way, but he had a feeling that wasn't going to go over well.
Usagi winced. "I'm… putting it off," she said. Jacob stared at her. "I will tell them! Just… after." She twisted strands of her right ponytail around her finger. "So? Promise?"
Jacob smacked his forehead. "Like I could deny you or Bells anything." He held his hand out. "Promise."
She hooked her pinky with his and gave one good shake. "Thanks, Jake." She smiled at him, and despite his objection to her decision, he smiled back.
The phone rang inside the house and his gaze broke away from hers. "I better get that." He pointed his thumb towards the door and she nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you. I think I'll have one of those sandwiches now."
"You better! They're delicious!" he called over his shoulder, as he made his way quickly inside. He picked up the phone receiver in the kitchen. "Hello?"
"Jake! Is Usa still there?"
He frowned at the panicked tone. "Bella? Did something happen?"
"No, I just really need to talk to her. Did you drop her off at my house already?" Bella replied.
"Actually, she decided to sleepover," Jacob answered, turning to see Usagi walk in the kitchen. She tilted her head inquisitively. He cupped his hand over the receiver and made sure to whisper very softly. "It's Bella."
Usagi shook her head. "I'm not here," she whispered back. She came closer to him and he bent down, holding the receiver out so they could both hear.
"Sleepover? Let me talk to her!"
"Uh, no can do, Bells," Jacob replied as Usagi shook her head even more. "She's… sleeping already. She had a long day."
That didn't deter their best friend at all. "I'm coming over right now!"
Usagi shot Jacob a wide-eyed and pleading look. He frowned, but took a deep breath as he covered for her. "And then what? You're gonna wake her up? Tomorrow's a Saturday – and you know what Usagi plus Saturdays equal. Hibernation."
Usagi punched his shoulder, but grimaced at the pain. She shook her hand out and scowled as he grinned impishly.
Jacob poked her forehead as he commented, "Bells, you missed your window of opportunity. She's out."
Bella was silent for a long while, and there was rustling in the background. "… fine. When she wakes up, tell her to call me. I'm picking her up tomorrow whether she likes it or not."
"Okay, I'll be sure to pass that along," Jacob said, looking over at his blonde friend. Usagi shrugged helplessly.
"Night, Jake."
"G'night."
The drone of the dial tone reached them, and Jacob hung the receiver back on the wall.
"You're one smooth liar when you want to be," Usagi commented.
"Yeah." Jacob ran a hand through his short locks. "Who knew?" He leaned back against the counter and assessed her carefully. "When are you meeting him?"
"Tomorrow."
"That's fast," he said. "I assume you want to go alone."
"'Want' to?" She laughed, sounding hollow and not at all like herself. "I have to or I'll never be rid of him." She walked over to the kitchen sink and looked out the window at the woods. "His ghost."
"Usa…"
"I'm leaving first thing in the morning, and I'm taking Bella's motorcycle," Usagi said, her eyes not moving away from the deep shadows of the forest.
Time to stop running from the past.