(Hey everyone, Nikki here - I am so sorry for the delay of this story! It's been months, and I know a lot of you were looking forward to a longer, better chapter. But this one is short because the ideas have been running low since senior year started. But now it's already the 2nd half of the year, so expect many more updates. This chapter is so short because it's just a filler, leading up to something else that's coming soon! Thank you all!)

Chapter 15 – Play Dead

Jacob's POV:

The rest of the night went smoothly, even after Jasper left and I was alone in the room. No one came to bother me, not even Edward, which was surprising. Maybe he finally respected my privacy for once. I sighed, laying down on the bed and just staring at the ceiling. There was no way I could fall asleep, not with all that's happened. Thoughts raced through my head on what to do about the pack, whether or not I should go back to La Push and explain, or stay here and leave all the questions unanswered. Either choice would end in anger, that was just a given, but one had to be done.

It really would have been better if I turned the Cullen's down that night in the woods. If I would have just walked away, leaving them behind with their problems. I couldn't fix them on my own, so why even bother coming? Don't know what there was to accomplish. Edward hated me still, and I tried to be nice to him, yet it always got shoved back in my face.

A light knocking on the door drew my attention, thinking it was Jasper again, but when Edward opened it my heart stopped for a quick second. He didn't have that usual arrogant expression on his face, it was one of concern. His yellow eyes glowed in what was left of the moonlight, looking directly at me. I swallowed heavily, now knowing why I stayed here. Even though we did nothing but fight, I felt drawn to him somehow…

He cleared his throat, breaking me from my trance, and walked in more, standing in the center of the room.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing…"

A small smile broke out on my face, and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Better, thanks."

He nodded, looking down at his feet.

"I was wondering if we could talk." My eyes widened, not knowing if I heard him correctly.

"You want to talk…with me? What brought this on?" I asked, standing from the bed.

"I just think you should hear something." With that he walked out, and instantly I followed, curious to what this 'something' was. Edward would normally never just come in and ask to talk to me, so right now this was surprising. We went to the back deck this time, going right up to the end railing and stopping.

He sighed, shaking his head and looking at the grass.

"I would have thought this would be easier" I heard him mumble. My head turned to the side a little, this whole situation not making any sense.

"Wanna just tell me?"

The next glance I got was one of pure seriousness. When he straightened up I suddenly felt like an ant, way down on the ground, and he was towering over me. Even though I was the taller of the two, he seemed to exert dominance.

"You have to keep it between us…for now…" he whispered, not breaking the gaze into my eyes. Again, I couldn't move my body, trapped in place.

Nodding was the only thing I was capable of doing, only the tiniest of movements, and he understood. Right as he opened his mouth, the patio door slammed open, and Alice came running out.

I sucked in a deep breath as soon as he looked at her, lungs feeling like they were on fire. Why did he have that much control over me…?

"Edward, I need to tell you something!" she all but yelled, grabbing his arm. He yanked it away, glaring.

"Can't you see we're busy?"

She huffed, reaching for his hand and pulling even harder, "This is important! Whatever you're talking about can wait, can't it?"

"No. Anything you need to say, get it out now" he growled out, taking his arm away once more.

She let go, hands on her hips now, and glancing from me to him. It seemed like she really didn't want to tell Edward anything in front of me.

"You…want me to leave?" I asked her, backing up a few steps. Edwards hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"No, stay, she'll talk."

Finally Alice gave up, pacing the deck back and forth with her arms crossed over her chest.

"It's about Bella."

Both of us looked at her instantly after hearing that name.

"She's coming back, Ed. I got an email from her and that's what it said. But, once I read it, your future changed."

I had to blink a couple times while taking that in, head swimming. So Bella was coming back here…and because of that, Edward's future changed….that could only mean…I wasn't in it.

"How did it change?" he snapped, grip on my shoulder becoming tighter, though I don't think he noticed.

"It's clear now, I can see everything."