CHAPTER 9: CHANGES

I waited quietly in my garage for Seth. He made his way around cautiously. When he saw me, a big smile spread across his face.

"Jake are you okay?" Seth asked his smile fading.

"No." I sighed.

"What's wrong?" Seth asked.

"I have what Embry had." I said quietly, my head down.

"No Jake, you can't!" Seth cried.

"I'm sorry, little bro. It's true." I sighed.

"Does this mean you won't be able to talk to me?" Seth asked quietly.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Can you promise you won't forget me?" h e asked.

"Sure." I chuckled lightly.

"I'm sorry." I sniffed.

"About what?" Seth asked.

"About what I may be like, afterwards." I said quietly.

He gave me a hug, shocking me.

"I'll miss you," he smirked.

"See ya, Seth." I waved, as he walked away.

I got in the Rabbit, for its first run and drove it to Bella's house. When she got home I was standing there, leaning against the hood.

"No way!" she shouted. "You're done! I can't believe it! You finished the Rabbit!"

"Just last night. This is the maiden voyage." I beamed.

"Incredible," she smiled, waiting for a high-five. Instead I grabbed her hand.

"So do I get to drive tonight?" I asked.

"Definitely," she said and sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm giving up--------I can't top this one. So you win. You're oldest."

"Of course I am." I smiled, at victory.

I heard a Suburban chugging around the corner and Bella pulled her hand from mind. I scowled and stopped when she noticed.

"I remember that guy." I scowled. "The one who thought you were his girlfriend. Is he still confused?"

"Some people are hard to discourage," she sighed.

"Then again." I said thoughtfully. "Sometimes persistence pays off."

"Most of the time it's just annoying, though," she added.

I watched the kid get out of his car and I glared at him.

"Hey Bella," he said.

"Hey Mike! Do you remember Jacob Black?" she asked.

"Not really." Mike said, holding out his hand.

"Old family friend." I scowled and squeezed his hand. I even left him with fingers in pain. I chuckled to myself.

Bella went to answer the phone and I recalculated my mood. Yeah this loser was here, but this was my last night with Bella. I had to make the best of the moment and show her while I could, how much she meant to me.

"Ang is sick," Bella said. "She and Ben aren't coming."

"I guess the flu is making another round. Austin and Connor were out today, too. Maybe we should do this another time." Mike suggested.

"I'm still up for it. But if you'd rather stay behind Mike----"

"No, I'm coming," Mike interrupted. "I was just thinking of Angela and Ben. Let's go." He walked towards his car.

"Hey, do you mind if Jacob drives?" Bella asked. "I told him he could-----he just finished his car. He built it from scratch, all by himself."

"Fine." Mike snapped.

"All right, then." I said with a smug smile.

On our way to the movies, Mike got bored in the back and leaned forward.

"Doesn't the radio work in this?" he asked.

"Yes." I answered. "But Bella doesn't like music."

"Bella?" Mike asked in annoyance.

"He's right," she mumbled.

"How can you not like music?" Mike demanded.

"I don't know. It just irritates me," she shrugged.

"Hmph." Mike said in defeat.

We arrived at the theater and I handed Bella a ten dollar bill.

"What's this?" she asked.

"I'm not old enough to get into this one." I reminded her.

"So much for relative ages. Is Billy going to kill me if I sneak you in?" Bella laughed.

"No, I told him you were planning to corrupt my youthful innocence." I said and she laughed.

The movie was really gory, but also really fake. All I could do was stare at Bella's face. I was so upset; I'd have to leave her behind. It didn't seem fair. Ho w could I leave the woman I loved behind? Suddenly Mike stood up and made his way for the bathroom. Bella and I followed him out. I went in the bathroom after him and found him knelt over the toilet. I walked out and sat down next to Bella on the floor.

"Oh, he's in there alright." I said, rolling my eyes. "What a marshmallow. You should hold out for someone with a stronger stomach. Someone who laughs at the gore that makes weaker men vomit."

"I'll keep my eyes open for that." Bella chuckled.

"He sounded like he was gonna be in there a while." I said.

I decided to put my arm around her.

"Jake," she said pulling away.

"Now just hold on a minute, Bella." I said calmly. "Tell me something."

"What?" she muttered sourly.

"You like me right?"

"You know I do."

"Better then that joker puking his guts out in there?" I asked pointing toward the bathroom.

"Yes," she sighed.

"Better than all the guys you know?"

"Better than all the girls too," she pointed out.

"But that's all." I sighed.

"Yes," she whispered.

"That's okay, you know. As long as you like me the best. And you think I'm good looking------sort of. I'm prepared to be annoyingly persistent." I grinned.

"I'm not going to change," she said.

"It's still the other one isn't it?" I asked.

The whole time I was telling myself, either I could be angry or jealous. Or I could simply enjoy the time I had left with Bella. This could be the last time I saw her, so I wanted to make sure I enjoyed every minute. I watched her grimace at the mention of Edward and decided against it.

"You don't have to talk about it." I said.

"But don't get mad at me for hanging around, okay?" I smiled, patting the back of her hand. "Because I'm not giving up. I've got loads of time."

"You shouldn't waste it on me," she sighed.

"It's what I want to do, as long as you still like me to be with me."

"I can't imagine how I could not like being with you," Bella smiled.

"I can live with that." I beamed.

"Just don't expect more," she warned me.

"This doesn't bother you?" I asked grabbing her hand.

"No," she sighed.

"And you don't care what he thinks?" I asked her, meaning Mike.

"I guess not."

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem is," she said. "is that it means something different to me than it does to you."

"Fine." I grumbled. "Don't forget it, though."

"I won't. The pin's out of the grenade for me, now, eh?" I asked, poking her in the ribs.

"That's a funny scar you've got there." I said eyeing a crescent shape scar in between her thumb and index finger. "How did that happen?"

"Do you honestly expect me to remember where all my scars came from?" she asked me.

"It's cold," I murmured feeling the icy cold scar.

Mike stumbled out of the bathroom, looking all sweat y and shit. The two of us helped him to my car. On the way there I grabbed an empty popcorn bucket from the all too happy girl behind the counter. I rolled down the windows, to help Mike out and I thought to myself, he better not chuck in my car. I watched Bella curled into a ball.

"Cold again?" I asked her and put my arm around her.

"You're e not?"

I shook and my head and sighed, happy to have Bella close to me.

"You must have a fever or something," she grumbled and touched her finger to my forehead.

"Whoa, Jake---------you're burning up!" she cried.

"I feel fine." I shrugged. "Fit as a fiddle."

In disbelief she felt my forehead again.

"Your hands are like ice." I complained.

"Maybe it's me," Bella said defeated.

I heard Mike threw up in the back of my truck and I quickly glanced to make sure he missed the floor. I sighed in relief and turned back to Bella. I kept my arm around her, keeping her warm. I was gonna miss her; her beautiful face, her soft voice, her soft skin and her smile. Looking into those deep brown eyes and feeling connected on a higher level. Seeing her beautiful and feeling my cares float away into oblivion. Feeling her soft and cold skin, that makes me want to warm her and never let go. I was so glad I had met her and had the opportunity to be able to see her every day. Losing her might kill her and me, but I guess I'd never know till it happened.

Bella took Mike home and I followed in the Rabbit so I could take her home. When we got to her house, I turned.

"I would invite myself in, since we're so early." I said. "But I think you might be right about the fever. I'm starting to feel a little ……………strange."

"Oh no, not you, too! Do you want me to drive you home?" she asked, all worried.

"No." I said, shaking my head. "I don't feel sick yet. Just……………wrong. If I have to I'll pull over."

"Will you call me as soon as you get in?" she asked anxiously.

"Sure, sure." I said, feeling loss and a spasm in my right arm.

She went to get out of the car, but I grabbed her wrist. I twitched at how cold her skin was against mine.

"What is it Jake?" she asked.

"There's something I want to tell you, Bella……………but I think it's going to sound kind of corny." I sighed.

"Go ahead," she said sourly.

"It's just that. I know how you're unhappy a lot. And, maybe it doesn't help anything, but I wanted you to know that I'm always here. I won't ever let you down---------I promise that you can always count on me. Wow, that does sound corny. But you know that right? That I would never, ever hurt you?"

"Yeah Jake, I know that. And I already do count on you, probably more then you know." Bella said.

I smiled and she smiled back. Suddenly my head started pounding and I thought I should probably get home. My whole body began to ache and I cringed.

"I really think I'd better get home now." I said, grabbing my head.

"Call me!" she yelled as I pulled away.

I started driving and about halfway there, my vision blurred. I stopped along the side of the road, once I regained my vision. I stepped out of the Rabbit and I felt pain shot up my spine. I screamed and suddenly lost my foot and slid down the hill below. I knew I had to get home as soon as possible and I scrambled to my truck. I drove home as fast as I could, sweat was dripping down my face and pains kept shooting straight up my spine. I got to my house and as I slowly walked toward the front door, I felt a mysterious ball of anger begin to well up inside me. I thought of that marshmallow, Mike what a leech and what about that freak Edward and how about Sam, he took Embry from me! I could just kill him! Kill them all! Bella is mine!!!!!!!!! Mine you hear!!!! I walked into my house, quiet with fury.

"Jacob is that you?" my dad asked, rolling into the living room.

"Jacob!!" he called.

My dad rolled to see me in the door way, all beaten and covered in dirt.

"You look a mess is everything alright?" he asked.

Suddenly within me, something snapped. I felt myself over flow with anger and I lunged at my father, suddenly I felt someone grab me from behind and it was Paul. Paul grabbed my left arm and Jared my right. I growled and screamed at my father, I was crying and my father could tell I was fighting the anger. Suddenly I saw Embry stand in front of me and I cried, he looked at me, tears in his eyes.

"Jake bro, I know what I feels like. I'm here, you're gonna be okay." Embry cried and pleaded with his eyes.

"Now it will all be over soon. Just calm down." Same said

"I'll kill you, you bastard! You did this to me!" I screamed, pain ripping through every one of my cells.

"I did no such thing." Sam said quietly.

"I'll kill you!" I screamed.

Embry now grabbed my torso and suddenly I felt my vision become blurry and I blacked out.