Seventh chapter. Duh.
It couldn't be...
No. It couldn't be. It just couldn't.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Jake asked, gripping my shoulder. I couldn't answer him- I didn't know if I was all right, or not.
He went over and picked up my phone from the floor where I had dropped it- was he still on the phone? Or had he realized that he was calling me and hung up after I had dropped the phone?
Jake put the phone to his ear, and said "Hello? Who is this?"
I heard someone talking on the other line, and Jacob stiffened.
"Edward."
I hissed as Jake said his name, and he looked over at me worriedly.
I smiled, or tried to smile, at him, but my facial features felt frozen, and I was sure it had looked odd and stiff. I wrapped my arms around myself, like I had done so many times before.
Jacob's eyes looked sad now.
"I'm sorry," he half-whispered into the phone, "She doesn't want to talk to you."
The other voice- I couldn't think of it as Edward, or I'd break down- sounded angry.
Jake's eyes hardened, and he growled out, "No, I am not making that up. She's barely normal at the moment- because of your abrupt phone call, I might add."
I heard him speaking low and fast, and I thought he might be accusing Jake of keeping me from the phone.
I uncurled one of my arms from my abdomen and extended it to Jake, signaling I wanted the phone. Jake's eyes darkened slightly, but he gave me the phone.
As soon as I was sure my voice was presentable at least, I said, "Hello?"
I heard an intake of breath on the line, and a velvety voice that made me cry and smile at the same time said "Bella? Is that you? Who was that, and why did he say that you couldn't speak to me?"
I barked a short laugh. "Too many questions." I managed, though my voice cracked slightly.
I heard a short burst of silence, then a "Are you alright, Bella? What's wrong?"
I took a shaky breath, and looked at Jake, who was trying to give me strength with his eyes. I smiled tightly at him, trying to thank him.
"What do you think's wrong?" I asked, and marveled that my voice was steady, although slightly higher-pitched than normal.
I heard him sigh. "Oh. I am so sorry, Bella," he said. I wondered what he was sorry about- I was the one who wasn't good enough for him.
"I didn't think that it would hurt so much," he continued.
"What do you mean?"
"Leaving you," he seemed surprised that I didn't know that.
I sighed, and my eyes closed. I let the phone drop down from my ear. I must be hallucinating- he would never say that in real life. I must have hit my head really hard on something while I was cliff-diving, or something.
"Bella?" He was still there- why? He should get on with his life- without me.
"Bella, are you all right? Should I come back?" No, I wanted to say. Go on without me as a burden.
But my throat was too tight from trying to stay together to say anything, so I just closed the phone and carefully set it down. Before I could wrap my arms around myself, I found that Jake's arms were around me, keeping me together.
I leaned on his shoulder, and started crying quietly. I felt his head in my hair, and I felt him breathe deeply.
That is how the pack found us three hours later- me still crying, and Jake still with his arms keeping me whole.
Gosh, I feel empty now. Next chapter, ahoy!
This short ANs is really working!!!