A/N: Sorry for the delay.. There's just no ideal way to react to something like this because it's not exactly an ideal situation. I don't know how good or realistic it is but here it is.

Disclaimer: ha.. yeah right

Chapter Ten: Reactions

The next day I called Sam, who was James' brother and sometimes helped out at my training sessions, and told him that I wouldn't be coming in anymore. I told him fighting wasn't for me and that I was probably going to be moving soon anyways. I told my mom that I wanted to go stay with Charlie for a while to 'give her some time to be with Phil' or something.

"I moved in with Charlie about a week later and I haven't seen James since." I said coming back to the present. I finally looked up to see their responses. What I saw was enough to tear my heart to shreds.

Jake's face was flashing between anger, rage, pity, and disgust. I couldn't help but feel hurt when I saw that. I knew he would be mad at me. I knew he would pity me like the worthless piece of crap I am. And I knew that he would be disgusted with me. But it hurt so much worse to see it in person than to imagine it. I wasn't able to stop the tears that streamed down my face, but I tried my best to keep quiet. I didn't need him thinking I was even weaker and more helpless than he already thought I was. When he looked up at me, the pity and disgust faded into the background and only the pure rage was present. Without a word he stood and marched down the hall. When I figured he was far enough out of ear shot I let out a huge sob.

I felt a weight next to me on the couch and I looked up to see Edward. I had almost forgotten that he was there. I was so embarrassed at having him see me cry, but that only made me cry even harder. He pulled me into a semi-awkward hug and let me cry on his shoulder for a bit. Jake had been quiet this whole time, probably not wanting to even look at me, but just then his bedroom door opened and slammed. I heard him walk down he hall to Billy's room and heard the click of the safe. I was on my feet in a second. I ran to Billy's room just in time to see him shut the vault and pocket the magazine to Billy's Smith and Wesson.

"Jake." I warned him. "Don't do anything you'll regret." my voice was shaking slightly in fear.

"I won't regret this." his voice was dark, cold, and definately not my Jacob's.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. He spun back around, anger now aparent on his face.

"You're sorry? No, he is going to be sorry. Sorry he ever touched you."

"But, Jake I-"

"You what? No. You didn't do anything. You didn't deserve any of this. And now he's going to pay for what he did to you."

"Jake you can't do this! Jake, put the gun away!" It wasn't helping. I knew what I would have to do to smack some sense into him. I had to play the guilt card. "Jakey," his head snapped up and his eyes focused a little bit. "Jakey, don't do this. What happens after? Huh, Jake? What happens to me then? You can't just leave me like that Jake. It's not fair." His eyes re-focused and he seemed to realize what had just happened. He looked up to see my tear-streaked face and broke down.

"Bells, I'll never leave you." he said pulling me into a hug.

"You promise?" I asked, sniffling still.

"Yeah Bells, I promise."

"You were going to shoot him! That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! You go to prison, and he gets away with what he did anyways!"

"I don't care, I'd go to prison. And he would have gotten exactly what he deserved."

"What would I do when I needed to talk with my best friend? Jake, that would be one of the most painful things I would have to endure. Even worse than the incident with James."

"I just want him to pay Bells. What he did to you was not right. I want to protect you, I want to save you Bells. You just looked so empty and broken when you were telling your story. I just wanted to protect you Bells."

"I know Jake. But what you don't understand is that you are protecting me. You are already saving me. If it wasn't for you, I might not be here right now. Jake, you've helped me so much, you don't even realize. I just need you here. Please? Just be here for me. That's what I really want, that's what I really need."

He offered me his award winning, sun shining, heart melting smile. Though watered down with tears, his and my own, it was exactly what I needed.

When we walked back into the living room, Edward was gone and there was a note scribbled on a napkin on the table in the perfect script that was unmistakably his.

Dear Bella,

Don't worry. All will be well and justice will be served. Take care of yourself and Jacob. Don't come looking for me. I can't be found. I love you Bella.

Love,

Edward

When I read this I started to cry. Jake wrapped his arms around me and read the letter. His grip tightened around me and he held me, letting me cry for what felt like hours. I finally found it in me to stop and I just stayed clinging onto Jake. I finally pulled away and looked up at him.

"We need to find him."

A/N: Okay, so this story isn't playing out exactly like I thought at the beginning but the basics are still here and I think it's still a pretty good story. Sorry for the long wait and the pretty short chapter but I do have some excuses if you want to hear them. I'll post them below if anyone wants to share my sob story. Wow, I'm pathetic. Anyways reviews are always awesome. Tell me what you think.

-Jenny C

Excuses:

-Moving- I've been moving for the past two months or so and we are finally moved(mostly) into our new house and my mom is a little less psycho-stressed now.

-Drama- Tons of drama with my friends... we'll leave it at that.

-Classes- being a junior and taking two college classes is pretty difficult, so cut me a little slack please.

-Stress- All of the above. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Ideas- I had total writers block for this chapter and could not come up with a good way to have everything play out the way I wanted it to and also be somewhat realistic.

P.S. did you hear about the elderly man in Forks, WA who cancelled his camping reservations because of the 'vampire problems'? I thouht that was funny. Obviously I don't really believe that vampires are real. But maybe thats what they want you to think...... hmmmmmmm. LOL. : P

P.S.S. go check out In time by Amber 90210 it is AMAZING!