AN: Holy crap. 62 REVIEWS! Sorry for the delay. Super long chappie. My best friend's sick so yeah. And I have tests this week and im just so tired!.
Anyhoo. Shout out to:
My amazing beta, Steph.
THANK YOU THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!
WE'RE OVER 1000 REVIEWS!
IM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY :)
And then he lunged for Edward.
In a forty forth of a second, Jacob was pinning Edward to the ground outside, about a mile away. His right hand curled tightly around Edward's throat with enough force to make Edward wince – I winced right along with him.
"I should kill you. I'll do it. I'll do it now" he growled furiously. Then the trembling started again. It started at his hands, now his whole frame was shaking.
A second had passed.
Both, the werewolves and the vampires started towards them. Quickly, I thought this through. How would this turn out? I was sure that if we all got involved, it would not end well. In the blink of an eye, I reached for Jasper, grabbing him by the wrist. I hoped I could use my power like this… I wasn't sure because I had never used my power that much. I had no idea how powerful it really was. I really hoped it would work out.
I focused on calms. Calm and peach. Something to prevent what seemed like an inevitable fight from happening. Concentrating on everyone and on Jasper's power, I let the feeling of ease spread.
Almost instantaneously, Jacob stopped shaking, his grip on Edward loosened. Even though they were outside, they were still in my line of vision.
The change in the atmosphere was obvious and although the wolves had no idea about out special abilities, they must have known something was up.
They didn't like this much. Having their emotions controlled. Through Jasper's power I could feel the anger bottling up inside. I could understand this. I knew how frustrating it was to have your emotions manipulated- the way you can't feel mad until after.
I heard Jacob growl. In my mind, there was only one way to fix this. I'd have to do it alone. Nothing would be fixed it everyone got involved – especially the short-tempered werewolves.
I looked at everyone pleading silently, asking them for a chance to get this under control before it started a war.
"Please?" I begged.
My family looked uncomfortable with this. They knew what I wanted – the also knew it was probably the only way to end this the right way. Unsurely, they agreed and so did the Morgans.
Now it was up to the werewolves.
Though he was calm- unwillingly, thanks to Jasper's power – you could tell the black wolf – Sam? – was mad. He was beyond furious. The other two seemed fine. That was unexpected. The brown one even did that little half nod guys do to say hi, and I thought I saw him smiling. I wondered briefly who it was.
"Sam, please? I want this fixed as much as you do." I told the black wolf – Sam, or so it thought.
Wait, Sam? As in Sam Uley? He was an okay guy. Jacob and I never really talked to him, he was too busy making out with Leah Clearwater.
Reluctantly, seeing my sincere concern for Jacob and Edward, he agreed.
"Jasper?" I started – about to remind him to keep everyone's emotions in check.
"I got it." He said firmly.
I was about to leave when Sam barked. He held up his paw, as if to say wait. The brown wolf turned around and left, only to come back in two second. A fully clothed man came back. I recognized him immediately.
"Quil?" I asked, shocked. What was with these La Push kids?! Him too? Quil one of Jacob's best friends. He would try to spend time with us when I visited in the summer, but Jacob always managed to kick him out.
"Hey, Bells!" He laughed, though it was strained. "Thought you got rid of me, huh?" he teased. "Sam wants me to come with you."
I nodded - too worried about the two men outside about to kill each other – to be polite and express the right amount of enthusiasm.
I rushed out of the house – with Quil behind me – to where Jacob and Edward where at. They were standing a foot away from each other. Jacob was glaring at Edward as Edward looked at me with agonized eyes. Sigh. Edward would probably let Jacob kill him. He thought Jacob was right. That he was a murderer. The man was a classic martyr.
I took a deep breath. Even though it was completely unnecessary – it helped.
"Jacob? Edward?" I asked, keeping my voice soft. "Are you both okay?" Jacob's face hardened the tiniest bit – but I noticed.
"How the hell should I know if the freaking parasite is okay?" He growled. I flinched at his cold words. Parasite? Is that what he thought of us? What he thought of me?
"Parasite?" I voiced my thoughts, even though I knew I shouldn't. I couldn't help myself. Maybe I was masochistic.
"What else do you expect me to call that leech?" Jacob said. The words were out and they cut me deeper than I thought they should.
"Is that what you think of me? A parasite? A leech?" Pathetically, my voice broke.
Pain flickered across Jacob's face. "No!" He nearly shouted. "Of course, not, Bells." His tone was a thousand times softer and I could tell he meant it. "Not you, Bella. Him. I would never..." He trailed off, frowning.
Quil patted Jacob on the back.
Wouldn't you?" I asked. My voice was unintentionally sharp.
"No." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Bells. I'll keep the name calling to a minimum." He grinned, but I could see his troubled eyes. Yet I couldn't help the returning smile from appearing on my face.
Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all.
Quil grinned. "Yeah, Bella. Chill." He teased.
"Bells?" Jacob whispered. Edward's head turned. He was looking at Jacob as if he were crazy, probably something to do with Jacob's thoughts. Of course, Jacob didn't know that Edward could read minds, so he was confused. "Come home." Jacob breathed.
Seconds passed. Or were they hours?
"What?" I couldn't help but mentally kick myself. Gee, isn't that a genius response?
"Come home, Bells" he repeated. "Charlie needs you, Bella. He misses you. I miss you" He started trembling, but this time, it wasn't because he was phasing.
"Oh, Jake!" Before I realized what I was doing, I threw my arms around him. He flinched at first, but he returned the hug.
This was so wrong. So so wrong. My nose burned as his scent filled my nose, his hot skin felt weird against my freezing body and the difference between our skin tones was comical.
Yet everything felt right.
"Group hug!" Quil shouted and joined us. Flinching, too. But he was Quil. Jacob's chest vibrated, a growl forming. After half a second, he pulled away, muttering about something about kidding. Jeez.
"I miss you, too" I hugged him tighter – yet still being careful not to crush him. I pulled away. "But I can't. This is where I belong."
He thought this over, analyzing my words. He took a deep breath.
"Do you think we could talk?" he asked. That was odd.
"We are talking, Jake."
"Alone?" he added, throwing a quick glance at Edward who had been very silent this whole time.
I turned to look at Edward. His beautiful, perfect face was worried. He seemed to read my decision in my eyes.
"Are you sure?" He asked me – taking my hands tenderly in his.
"I'm sure." I said, looking into his eyes.
He turned to Jacob. "You take her of her, Jacob. If you hurt her…"
"I would never hurt her." Jacob said fiercely. Neither of us missed what he implied.
Edward slowly walked into the house, leaving us alone.
Except for Quil.
No privacy.
He sighed.
"We could go somewhere…" I said, thinking of places out of hearing range. "There's a pond about 50 miles that way." I pointed in the direction.
He nodded in agreement.
"Race ya?" He grinned. It was so childish – just the way we used to be.
"Ready. Set." He took off running. "Cheater!" I shouted after him. "You know, you're supposed to wait until I say Go!" I teased.
"Thanks for asking if I wanted to go! I'll just stay here." I heard Quil say.
We ran and I won. I could tell he let me win, but I let it go. Happy, anyways.
He stopped when we reached the pond. He smiled sadly and held out his hand. Without much thought, I placed my hands in his.
"What are you thinking about?" I whispered. It was odd; usually I was being asked that (by Edward).
"Nothing," He looked away.
"Tell me?" I urged.
He sighed.
"I was thinking about you." He whispered, yet I could hear him perfectly.
I decided against saying something.
Awkward silence, anyone?
"I was thinking about how stupid I was. Before coming here, I thought everything would be different, that you wouldn't be Bella anymore. I thought I'd hate you for what you are…but I don't. I can't. Everything's just the way it used to be." He paused. "If you can ignore that you stink and that you sparkle in the sun." He teased.
"Well, I'll just wear a lot of perfume and carry an umbrella to cover me from the sun." I said sarcastically.
"Bella, I was serious before. Come home." He repeated. "We can work this out, Bells. I know we can. Please. Charlie would understand. You can live at La Push with us. Please?" He begged.
"Oh, Jacob." Unthinkingly, I caressed his cheek, reaching out to tuck his shaggy hair behind his ear only to realize it was cut short. Stupid haircut. "Jacob" I sighed. I didn't know how to say it. He sounded so…hopeful.
"I can't." I whispered, but again, he misunderstood.
"Why? Because they won't let you!?" He was mad again. "'Cause we could totally take them, you know?"
"No no no." I said quickly. "They are my family, Jacob. I love them." I said softly.
He nodded, and then unexpectedly, he chuckled. "You can't blame a boy for trying." He grinned.
That conversation was over. We walked around, talked, laughed, and cried (even if the tears wouldn't come from my part) until the sun started to go down.
We decided it was time to go. We walked, instead of running, so we had more time to talk.
"Jacob? What's going to happen now?" I had been thinking about this the whole afternoon.
"I'll talk to Sam. Don't worry about it, Bells." He took my hand again. And even thought he meant the words, I couldn't help but worry.
When the house came into view I got even more nervous. Quil was leaning against a tree, muttering about someone named Claire. I bit my lip.
"Nervous? Really? How scary are we?" He laughed.
"How do you know I'm nervous?" I asked curiously.
"Biting your lip." He chuckled. "I think I know my own best friend well enough to tell when she's nervous.
As soon as we were outside the door, a wolf howled.
"Crap." Quil groaned and ran into the woods.
"Sam wants to talk. I'll be right back." He winked and ran after Quil.
I walked alone into the house just as the other wolves were walking out, probably going after Jake and Quil.
Edward's face hardened. I knew what it was immediately. A thought. Or various thoughts. His eyes were unfocused.
"Hey, what is it?" I rushed over to him.
"Listen," He said, grabbing my hand. He winced at my temperature. My hand was warm – from holding Jacob's hand.
No, Sam. Really. They're harmless! Jacob thought. Ah, so they could hear each other's thoughts. Interesting.
We did not come here for you to reunite. They broke the treaty. Sam told Jacob.
Screw the treaty! Jacob growled.
No. They broke it. Now it's a war. Sam's voice was different, it had a leader edge to it. Authority. You will fight alongside this side against the Cullens. You will take Bella, the pixie and the mother. It sounded like an order.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Surely, Jacob would not go through with this!
I panicked as I saw Jacob through Sam's eyes. He was kneeling down to Sam. What the hell was going?!
Am I clear? Sam asked.
Yes, sir. Jacob said. Why was he agreeing to this? This was crazy!
I think it works with leaders. Maybe they have to obey. Edward's thoughts brought me out of my hysteria.
I stopped hearing their thoughts for a second. They were phasing. I let go out Edward's hand, and tried to calm myself. Jacob came through the door with three other men behind him. Sam, Quil…and Embry! Embry? No way. He was Jacob's other best friend.
It surprised me that they came in their human form. Maybe they weren't going through with this.
How naïve of me to think that.
"Jake?" Even I could hear the panic in my voice. No answer. I saw the pain in his eyes, even though the rest of his face was expressionless. Dead. Determined.
"Jacob, don't do this. Come on, Jake. Please. You don't have to do this." I begged as he began to get closer to me. The other three men were closing in on the rest of the family.
No one could stop the inevitable.
Not even Jasper – they were rid of emotions. It was a demand from their leader. No one could stop this.
"Jake?" My voice cracked in anticipation. How do you fight your best friend? Someone who was like family to you? Someone you loved.
Jacob's pained eyes hardened as he sauntered towards me.
Mwahahahaa
Yeah. I'm evil. Don't hate me. Lol. So the options are:
a)Bella dies (it'd be an interesting twist)
b) Jacob dies
c) Sam dies (pick this one!!!!!!!)
d) I decide!
Review please?