Chapter nine. Persistent little witch, aren't I?
Bella's POV
"You don't have to do this", I said to Edward once we were inside his car. He started up the engine and it purred softly.
"Just drop me off the highway or something", I explained to him, "I'm not planning on going home."
"I didn't think so", said Edward chuckling, "but Emmett will kill me if you don't get home safely. And well, I do value my life."
"I will get home safely", I assured him, "just not yet."
"Where are you planning on going?" Edward asked. I shrugged and didn't answer. We drove in silence as I stared out of the window. I recognised Debussy playing in the background.
"I want to go see Jacob", I said softly. Edward slowed down but didn't say anything.
"I have to go see if he's ok", I persisted, and "he's my friend don't tell Emmett, please Edward. He'll flip out."
"I don't think going to see this Jacob guy is a good idea", Edward spoke through gritted teeth.
"He's my friend", I told Edward urgently, "I have to make sure he's ok. I can't just… forget him or something. He might be hurt."
"I think he plans to be a little more than just your friend, Bella", Edward said picking up speed again. I noticed he was driving towards home.
"We were just messing about on the beach", I sighed, "me and Jake are just friends. We were trying to freak out Lauren, it didn't mean anything."
"Yeah well… didn't look that way", mumbled Edward. Somehow he sounded just like Emmett when he said that.
"Can't you just drop me off here?" I asked, before he pulled into my street. Edward slowed to a stop and parked a couple of streets away from my road and sighed.
"I can't", he said turning to look at me, "Emmett's my friend and if I let you go, he won't only be mad at you, he'll be mad at me too. He cares for you Bella, he doesn't want you to get hurt."
"Hello?" I snapped pointing to my forehead again. Edward shook his head.
"No, I mean, he doesn't want anyone to hurt you emotionally", Edward rephrased, "he thinks of you as his little sister. I didn't know you were fifteen until I saw you cos every time he spoke of you he said little Bella. I thought you were five!"
"He thinks I'm five", I shot back at him, "he doesn't trust me at all. Thinking all I do is get in trouble. But I can't take care of myself. I'm a big girl."
Edward bit his lip and stared at me as if thinking over his options of what to do.
"I'll go see Jacob and come straight home", I told him, "I promise, Emmett won't even know."
"Can't you just call this Jacob guy or something?" asked Edward.
"I want to see him", I insisted, "Please Edward. Just let me go, and don't tell Emmett. I'll be fine. It'll be fine. Emmett doesn't have to know."
Before giving Edward a chance to think it over and I turned around and opened the car door pulling myself out.
"Wait", said Edward grabbing my wrist and holding me back.
"I'll… I'll drive you there", he muttered unwillingly. I smiled and closed the door.
"Thanks. I appreciate it".
Edward's POV.
She wanted to see him. She wanted to see if he was ok. She wanted to se him. Just friends, right!
I snorted aloud and Bella looked at me questioningly. I shook my head and refocused on the road. Well, I refocused on finding a way to kill Jacob.
What did she see in him anyway? He was just a… he was nothing! Nothing at all special about this stupid Jacob character.
It made my blood boil to see Bella on the towel at the beach and him on top of her. The way they were so close and touching eachother. His hands were rubbing her everywhere and she looked liked she was enjoying it too. The way she moaned his name. It should've been my name.
Wait, what? My name?
No, she's Emmett's sister. I like her as a friend. I care for her like Emmett. Well, not like Emmett. I wasn't going to go over board with the over protectiveness.
"That's his house", Bella's angelic voice said softly. This was a bad idea. I should've brought her straight home. It shouldn't have happened.
Damn, Emmett was going to kill me.
"I'll wait for you", I said firmly, "five minutes then come back, or else I'm calling Emmett".
Of course I wouldn't really call Emmett cos I would get into trouble of as well but the less time with the shaggy freak, the more time with me.
"Ten", Bella bargain, "please…"
Damn! Stupid chocolate brown eyes. I swear, I could swim in those.
"O…ok", I said breathlessly like a fool. I didn't know what I said ok to until she skipped out of the car closing the door behind her. I watched her from behind, the way her long creamy legs moved, her hips swaying softly. She knocked on the door twice and stepped back waiting.
I bit my lip and grabbed the car seat to stop myself from dragging her back into the car.
Bella's POV
I knocked on the door and waited.
"Coming…", said a recognisable muffled voice. My heart thudded and waited.
The door was yanked opened and Jacob stood in the doorway, I looked up at him.
"Hey", I whispered cautiously.
"Bella. Are you ok?" he asked staring the bruise on my forehead.
"I'm fine, Jake. Are you?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess", he shrugged. I noticed some scratches and some bruises on his left arm.
"Look, I want to say I'm sorry", I began. I looked down cos I knew I couldn't look into his eyes and say the truth, "I'm sorry that he launched at you like that. Emmett's an idiot and… and I'm really sorry. Look, if I could –"
"Don't worry about it Bells", said Jacob cutting me off. He touched my chin and pulled up my head so I had to look at him, "it's not your fault. Your brother just jumped to stupid conclusions without hearing your side of the story."
"Yeah, I know. But, Jake that doesn't let him off what he did", I said shaking my head, "I'm sorry you're hurt."
"Bella, it's ok", whispered Jacob bending down to my eye level, "don't apologise, it isn't your fault. I'm not… blaming you for anything."
"Thanks Jake", I sighed. I wrapped my arms around him and closed my eyes. Emmett couldn't push Jacob away. And he didn't. Jacob was here to stay.
"Hey, Bells?"
"Mmm?"
"There's a weird guy in a silver Volvo tapping at his watch at me", Jacob said half laughing. I turned around to see Edward looking at me impatiently.
"I have to go", I said standing back and smoothing my hair down.
"You don't have to. Stay a while, please?" asked Jacob pulling a hopeful face. I turned back to Edward and sighed.
"No, I can't", I told him, "Emmett wants me home."
"He can't dominate your life, Bella", Jacob snapped suddenly angry, "his stupid little act at the beach got you hurt, I didn't mind me but he hurt you. How careless!"
"He just over reacted, I guess", I shrugged.
"That's not a good enough excuse", Jacob shot back, "like you said, it doesn't let him off what he did. You're brother's a bastard Bella, he thinks he knows everything!"
I flinched back from the venom in Jacob's words. Ok, Emmett wasn't the best person in my book right but he was still my brother, right?
"He cares, that's all", I said to Jacob, "I need to go now though, he'll be mad if I don't go home."
"So? He's not your dad, Bella", said Jacob shaking his head, "you don't have to listen you him. Stay here with me; I'll look after you. I won't ever hurt you Bella, you know that, don't you?"
"Yeah but… I'm going to have to home afterwards, he'll get me in trouble with my parents then", I explained to Jacob.
"He's a defensive git, that's what he is", muttered Jacob, "you shouldn't have to put up with a fucking idiot like him".
The tables suddenly turned.
"Yeah, alright he's defensive but not a fucking idiot, Jake", I hissed, "He's still my brother you know."
"He got you hurt Bella! Can't you see that he's trying to ruin your life?" demanded Jacob. I stared at him, my breath raggedy and cutting.
"He's looking out for me", I shot back at him, "he's caring, like a brother should. He's doing no less than what he should be doing already."
"And what is he doing already?" he snapped, "pushing you away from everyone you want to be near? Making sure you never have fun? He's an arsehole, you have to admit it."
"No, you're the fucking arsehole", I hissed. My face went bright red with anger, my teeth clenched down, "and Emmett was right to beat you up!"
With that I turned around, fuming and made my way back to Edward who sat patiently, never saying a word.