I slammed the door of the silver car, the very same one I swore not to get in. Edward peeled off of the curb onto the slick wet road slipping and sliding around the corners. The threat was very real, Victoria had a personal vendetta against me and she would not stop until my heart stopped beating. My thoughts suddenly went to Jake.
"We have to warn Jacob!" I screamed staring out the window into the woods.
"We don't have time. Jacob will be fine, he and the pack can handle her if she comes their way, but she shouldn't. For all we know she doesn't even know that they exist." Edward glanced over at me. "I'm sorry about earlier I just couldn't bear the thought that you could be hurt."
I kept my eyes out the window into the woods worrying sick about Jacob's safety.
"What's the plan?" I finally asked.
"Well so far she still thinks that our family is no longer in Forks. She visited the house but Alice must have evacuated my family before she arrived. She is staying in the area though and she hasn't been able to pin point your scent. She is not even sure you are alive or still in Forks. Jacob's scent is all over you so it's confusing her I believe. We are going back to the house to talk with Carlisle and see what he thinks we should do."
"We need to find Jake. He needs to know what's going on."
"Bella the most important thing right now is your safety. I cannot allow that to be compromised with unneeded impracticalities."
I finally snapped, I could no longer hold in all of my feelings.
"What is wrong with you? You promised me that you would give me time to think and time to talk with Jake, but you did everything in your power to make that not happen."
"My first priority is your safety."
"Bullshit, God shut up with the safety shit," the gloves were off and I was not going to play little miss backboneless Bella anymore. "Jacob is not a threat to me and you know that! You just can't stand that I may choose him over you. You are so self-absorbed that you don't care about anything but yourself and mask it with your concern of my safety. I never thought that you of all people would stoop that low."
"Bella you are angry and afraid, you probably feel a bit helpless. You are not in your right mind. You will make the right choice, you just have to open your eyes."
"I already made the right choice before, but Mr. Right abandoned me." I replied in pain.
"Bella, I left you be-"
"Shut the hell up! I already heard your excuses and I am done! Stop being so self-righteous, you aren't fooling anyone!"
I let it out, I let it all out all of my pent up emotion was spewing out of me and it felt so good. After my wave of relief I felt regret, although most of the things I said was true I never truly wanted to hurt anyone in this situation. I somehow hurt both of them in the process. Was I horrible person, am I just meant to be alone. I was afraid to look over at Edward, I did anyway. His eyes were focused on the road no expression he looked lifeless. I could tell my words had upset him. I would have apologized but it would have made it worse because I wasn't sorry about what I said, I was just sorry that I hurt him. The speedometer creeped it's way over 100. Usually I would protest but I was exhausted, exhausted from crying and screaming. I just wanted to go home and sleep and be by myself, but of course that could not happen not in these circumstances. Victoria had a knack of showing up at the absolute worst time. On top of all this hurting the two people that cared for me the most a dangerous vampire wanted me dead. I wanted to nap but just as the thought popped in my head we rounded the corner to the driveway of the Cullen's house. Edward parked jerkily and flew to my side of the car, opening the door for me. I didn't budge. I did not want to face his family.
"Bella?" he asked, politely.
"Just give me a second. I'll be in soon." I replied.
"Fine."
He left the door open and walked into the house. I didn't want to follow I wanted to see Jake. I grabbed the small silver phone in my pocket that I barely used and dialed his number. It went straight to voicemail.
"Jacob," I paused I wanted to tell him so much, but I didn't want him to do anything rash. "Call me asap. Victoria is back, I'm sorry how things left off. I'm at the Cullens." I snapped the phone shut. I reopened it and tried again, this time it rang but it was only a tease. I finally dialed his house phone. Billy answered.
"Hello?"
"Billy? Is Jake around?"
"No, I thought he was with you?"
"He was but he took off. Can you just tell him to call me. It's important."
"Okay Bella. Are you okay? Do I need to call Charlie for you?" Billy noticed the edge in my voice.
"No , I'm fine, I just need Jacob to call me."
"I'll let him know as soon as he gets back."
"Thanks."
I hung up my phone hoping it would ring and Jake would be on the other line, it didn't. I looked up to see Alice sitting on the top step of the porch watching me, making sure I didn't take off probably. She smiled at me and motioned me to come out of the car to her. I complied. Alice was still my friend she couldn't help that her brother is an ass.
"Hey." I finally spoke to Alice.
"I don't know how you attract so much danger Bella. You are like a ticking time-bomb." She joked. She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck giving me a slight hug. I looked in the doorway and noticed that no one was there.
"Where is everyone?" I asked curiously.
"Hunting, we haven't fed in a while and we need to be our strongest if Victoria comes back around."
"Why aren't you hunting?" I probed.
"Someone has to watch you." She said matter of factually. "And besides I can see if Victoria changes her mind and heads back."
"She left?" I asked in shock. I turned away from her to stare into the woods. "Why?"
"I don't know. I think she figured out that I saw her coming to the house. She is being very careful to not make decisions. She's playing smart."
I didn't reply instead I kept scanning the woods looking for any indication of Jacob. Nothing, of course, he didn't even know where I was if he was looking for me which I doubted. I just wanted to fix things I was tired of all the brokenness. I longed for a way for us all to be happy whether I was with Jacob or Edward I didn't want to hurt anyone. I seriously considered Edward as an option, but that option was diminishing. Edward was too controlling and over-protective. Jacob could protect me and still let me be me. However I could not ignore the impact that Edward made in my life. Edward and I were perfect, too perfect in fact. Everyone dreams of the perfect life, but what they don't tell you is that a perfect life is a rather boring life.
"Are you hungry?" Alice finally broke the silence.
"Uh, I guess I could eat." I replied following her into the house.
"Okay, Chicken Parmesan good?" She asked while gracefully leaping over the counter.
"Sure."
Normally I'd prepare it for myself, but I wanted some time to myself and try to get a hold of Jake again. I started to walk towards the door to the back porch.
"Don't even think about taking off now, okay?"
I didn't reply. I was already aware that I was on lock down, the Cullens personal prisoner. I turned the knob to the door that led to the expansive back porch and took a seat on a chair. I dialed Jake again, nothing. Alice joined me on the back porch.
"Food is in the oven."
"Thanks." I replied plainly.
"I'm sorry you are stuck here, but it's for your own good. We all care about you Bella." Alice added sounding sad.
"It's not your fault I'm upset," I replied guilty. I did not want to upset Alice too.
"I know, I just don't want you to blame Edward either."
"I don't."
"I'm not trying to tell you who to choose, but have you ever considered the fact that Jacob hasn't imprinted in you?"
I paused for a moment. I actually have never thought of that. I started to doubt mine and Jacob's relationship once more.
"I just don't want either of you to end up hurt in the end. Edward is my brother and I want him to be happy, but I also want you to be happy. What if somewhere down the road, if you choose Jacob, he imprints on someone and you're kicked to the curb?"
I remained silent. Almost half of his pack has imprinted it was very likely that Jacob could imprint on someone else and almost have no choice in the matter to leave me. My thoughts lingered to Leah, she was always angry and bitter; she used those feelings to mask her sadness. Her and Sam were the perfect couple and all of a sudden Sam imprinted and Leah was left alone. I did not want to go through that pain. I don't know if I could bear something like that once more. I could feel tears building up in my eyes. I blinked them away.
"Jacob can't promise you his heart forever."
The loud ding of the oven knocked me out of my stupor.
"Sounds like the food is ready, I'll go prepare it for you. I'll see you inside."
"I'll be in soon." I replied.
"Take your time." She smiled back at me.
I was almost certain about my decision to be with Jake, but now I was unsure. I was still angry with Edward, but my feelings for him remained deep inside buried underneath. I sighed loudly and put my head in between my knees. Why was this so hard? I heard a crackling in the woods and my head snapped up. I slowly got to my feet and took a step off the porch.
"Hello?" I asked into the woods.
Alice was right I was attracted to danger like a moth to a flame. I inched my way closer to the edge of the forest. I heard it again. Like something or someone stepping on a branch.
"Hello?" I asked again.
Suddenly a large brown figure appeared in front of me. I screamed loudly and stumbled backwards my foot catching a branch in the process causing me to fall back.
"Bella!" I heard Alice scream. I heard a whir of wind as Alice stood over me.
"What are you doing here?" Alice asked into the woods.
Alice reached down and picked me up with her icy hands. My gaze finally met what had startled me. It was Jacob.
"Jake!" I yelled in excitement and tugged to get free of Alice's hands. She let go reluctantly, she knew he wouldn't hurt me.
I crashed into him and was engulfed in fur. It was strange hugging him while in wolf form but he still felt warm and like Jacob. I detangled my hand out of his long unruly fur and looked up at him. He was almost 2 feet taller than I while in his wolf form.
"Well…" I trailed off gesturing to his body.
"Aren't you going to change? I want to explain everything." I was still unsure about Jacob's feelings toward me. I wasn't sure if he was still angry and it was difficult to read him.
He grunted and nervously dug at the ground.
I became annoyed. "Seriously, Jake? You aren't going to talk to me? Why did you even come then?" I asked angrily.
A low growl emitted from Jake. He looked frustrated. He still made no attempt to leave and change. He was still digging at the ground and acting frantic. I looked down to the dirt. He wasn't digging he was writing. In big smears of mud read 'I can't'.
"You can't what? Change?"
Jacob nodded.
"How peculiar," Alice noted.
"What happened? Who did this to you?" I started blurting out questions, but stopped realizing Jake had no way of communicating with me.
"It's useless." Alice added. "If you want to talk to him you will have to wait on Edward. He will be the only one that can hear him."
Jacob growled in protest, but Alice was right the only way to regain communication with Jake was through Edward. Terrific.