The next few weeks flew by quickly. I started school again, and I was thankful for the distraction. Jacob continued to be on the lookout, and it made me curious of how he was handling school.
"You've been skipping!?" I shrieked. Jacob nodded, his smile smug. "Jacob, you are going to flunk out! Do you even realize how much this could affect-" I stopped talking because there was a warm finger pressed against my lips now, and even as I glared at him, I knew that there was nothing I could do. I sighed in defeat, and Jacob grinned.
"Bella, I think I'm just going to drop out and get my GED. Same difference." He shrugged, and I felt my face burning. I slapped him across the face, but he didn't even flinch. In fact, this was hysterical to him. He burst out laughing, and I grimaced at him.
"You are ruining your future over me. Stupid werewolf," I muttered, and a strange look crossed his face. He looked like he was enjoying a pleasant inside joke, but one that I was not going to find quite as pleasant as he did. "Jacob?"
"I don't think I want to go to college." My eyes widened, and I felt my self-control snap. I felt my body shaking, and I thought I must look like I was about to go werewolf myself. I tried to control my voice when I spoke.
"You… don't want to go to college?" He shook his head, still smug.
I nodded, walking away from him. He looked after me, confused. I, however, kept walking, out of his garage, and down the path to my truck. I never heard him behind me, and I yelped when he picked me up with one arm, wrapping it securely but painfully around my stomach, and used the other to cover my mouth, silencing me. I glared at him, trying to look scary, and I felt him shake with laughter as he carried me back to the garage. It hurt how tight his grip was, so I sighed and wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to make things more comfortable. He smiled at this, and lifted both arms around me now, allowing me to talk.
"Why don't you want to go to college?" I asked, my voice still having traces of anger, but mostly worry. He rolled his eyes, as if it should be obvious.
"Bella, how am I supposed to go to college when I have to be over here saving Forks one Bella at a time?" he asked, winking at me. I pondered that. I hadn't thought of it.
"By the time you're in college, this will all be over, Jake! Victoria will be gone, you'll get to live a normal live again, everything will be okay!" He looked troubled by this.
"Maybe… but to be honest, I doubt it," he whispered. I was utterly confused, and I leaned my head against his shoulder. We were at a stop now, halfway back to his garage. "The Cullens… if that blond bloodsucker sticks around…" He shook his head. "And Victoria. And whoever else comes after her. Bella, there will always be vampires. Maybe not in Forks, but out there, there will always be. Sam
talks all the time of finding more of them after we're done here, of seeking them out. It looks like I'm in this for a while." I was horrorstruck. I felt my palms sweat, my stomach drop, and my body go cold.
"After this is done," I started weakly. "After everything is over, you guys don't have to do this anymore! You can go back to normal, you can live normal lives! Jake, you don't have to chase after what you never asked for!" I was practically screaming by the time I finished, and I was sure there were a few werewolves in the area who could hear it. I couldn't care less.
"Bella… this is what life threw at me. I didn't choose it, no, but it's my responsibility. I can't sleep at night knowing that there are innocent people being… drained every day, and that I gave up my power to save them. How selfish is that?" he asked, begging for my understanding.
"NO!" I shrieked, and I pulled myself away from him. He realized what I wanted and let me go, his eyes full of pain. "NO, JACOB, YOU WON'T LEAVE ME! I WON'T LET YOU!" Tears ran down my face now, and I walked down the path to my truck, sobs shaking my frame. Stupid fucking werewolves, who did they think they were? Who could they possibly think they were!?
I opened my truck door, sat down roughly, and slammed it in Jacob's face, locking it quickly and starting up the loud engine. I revved it once and rolled away, leaving Jake on his curb, eyes hurt. I couldn't deal with it right now, not now. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I didn't make it halfway home before I pulled over.
How could he think of leaving me, after everything with… I forced it out, Edward? How could he be so goddamn stupid? I felt my pain coming back now, and it was the forest night all over again. I could hardly breathe, and I layed across my front seat, sobs escaping me freely now.
I heard someone outside my car, and I thought I knew right away who it was. "Go away, Jake!" I whispered, knowing he could hear me. I heard a loud noise, like thunder, and my head snapped up. Outside my car I saw three werewolves and two vampires, fighting it out. My eyes widened.
I tried to get out of the car, but the russet wolf head snapped in my direction, growling at me. I stayed where I was. Victoria tried to run in my direction, but Rosalie tackled her to the ground, and stayed on top of her, slashing at her face. My eyes grew even bigger in horror. She pushed Rosalie off her, not without much effort, but got plowed back down by two very angry werewolves, the third one glaring at Rosalie, about to attack her. "NO!" I screamed, and Paul growled at me now, before what must have been Sam, came from Victoria and held back Paul, leaving Jacob alone to face Victoria.
I felt my stomach completely sink when she clawed down his chest, and blood came oozing out of her path. Rosalie now helped Jacob, but Victoria had gotten back to her feet, trying to run off again.
Everyone chased her, and I was alone.