Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.
Chapter Fifteen
Bella's POV!
I stared down as the waves crashed against the harsh surface of the rock face beneath me. My thoughts whirled around and around in my head, a constant buzz of denial at the news that had been so carelessly delivered to me.
Paul had imprinted.
There was no hole in my chest, no phantom pain or inability to breathe. I figured some part of me had to have known this day would come, had known to prepare for this horrid event.
What would it be like, to just throw the empty shell of my body over the ledge of this cliff? Would it hurt, dying? Would I feel it? I couldn't feel anything now and it made me doubt death's ability to cause pain. My soul was already dead. Any torment caused on my outer self couldn't touch the agony of my soul being forcefully ripped from my body.
A soft breeze lifted my hair off my shoulders and I tilted my head back to catch the rays of the sun peeking through the clouds. It seemed fitting that I should die on a beautiful day like this one. They were so rare in Forks and La Push. My last chance to feel the sun and I was left cold.
If only I had just stayed home, I could've pretended just a little while longer.
Flashback
I climbed out of the cab of my truck, intent on finally seeing Paul after nearly a week without so much as a phone call. If Sam hadn't assured me everything was fine, I would have thought Paul had given up on me. The fear of abandonment was held off only by the daily calls from Sam and Emily, keeping me informed of my wolf's comings and goings.
Still, I had missed him and I needed to see him.
I walked up Sam and Emily's front steps, hoping they would be able to track Paul down for me. I had no idea where he actually lived, having never visited his house, but I knew he spent most of his time with his Alpha.
"Hello? Anybody home?" I called as I opened the door.
Silence greeted me, which was strange. Usually Emily would be busy cooking up lunch for the pack at this time.
"Emily? Sam? Are you guys here?" I tried, walking into the house.
No response greeted me and I let my shoulders slump in defeat. I didn't know where they were or how long they'd be gone, but I didn't want to invade their house to wait for their return.
Hoping that maybe I would run into Paul while I waited on First Beach, I exited the house, coming up short when I saw Jake storming across the yard. He was huge, nearly as big as Sam, and his gorgeous hair had been trimmed close to his head. His muscles bulged as he strode across the law, trembling as he struggled against phasing.
"What are you doing here, Bella?" Jake asked harshly.
"I was looking for Paul," I answered slowly, unsure of what to do with the angry werewolf before me.
Jake snorted, sneering as he climbed up the stairs to stand in front of me.
"You won't find him around here. He's been camping out at my place. Constantly," Jake told me.
"What? Why?" I frowned, confused.
Paul hated Jake, if only because of the way Jake had treated me that day on First Beach.
"Guess it's because that's where Rachel is," Jake shrugged wiping his face clean of any expression.
"Your sister? I didn't know she and Paul were friends," I said, still confused.
Jake snorted again, giving me a pitying look that had me taking a step back.
"Yeah, I'm sure they're just friends," Jake mocked.
"Wha-what do you mean?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer.
"Well, I doubt it's possible for a wolf to be just friends with their imprint," Jake answered with a casual shrug.
"What?" I gasped, sure I had heard him wrong.
"Yeah. Can you believe it? Just my luck my sister ends up being that asshole's imprint. Hopefully Rachel can convince him to move back to Seattle with her. I sure as hell don't want to have to hear the two of them going at it. Mine and Rachel's room share a wall, you know," Jake informed me.
I couldn't answer, couldn't breathe, couldn't think.
Paul had imprinted.
On Rachel Black.
It suddenly made sense. Why he'd been avoiding me. Why he hadn't returned my phone calls. Why Sam had told me to stay away.
Because I wasn't Paul's.
And Paul wasn't mine.
I doubt Jake even knew what he'd done by telling me about the imprint. Even if he had known, he probably would never expect the news to result in me ending up here. He was blissfully unaware of the magnitude of his words, leaving me alone, abandoned, for the second time.
Completely worthless.
Just a distraction.
It would be so easy to just slip over the edge, falling into the oblivion the ocean promised. No more hurting, no more lies, no more broken promises.
"I loved you," I whispered to the wind.
I wasn't entirely sure who I was telling, Paul or Edward, but it didn't really matter in the end. Neither one was there to stop me as I stepped over the ledge.
And fell.
I know, I know. It's short and you're all pissed. Don't hate me!
Next chapter will be up on… Friday!
See you guys then!