Disclaimer: Forgot to mention this earlier, so just in case you haven't figured it out yet…I DO NOT OWN any of the characters, only the plot. Thanks
Chapter 4:
The silence was beginning to become unbearable.
Edward and Bella had just left Jacob's house, and Edward was now taking her home. There was an underlying tension present that hadn't been there before. Edward couldn't figure out where it was coming from, but it was making him steadily more uncomfortable. Bella hadn't said a word since they had left. Edward figured she must have been upset at how she had been dismissed earlier so that he and Jacob could talk. There was no way, however, that he would tell her what they had discussed.
He was just grateful that Jacob hadn't decided to tell Bella about his imprinting on Edward. Awkward wouldn't even begin to describe how that conversation could have turned out.
Surprisingly he was comfortable with the agreement that he and Jacob had come too. He thought the idea of them becoming friends didn't seem as bad as he once would have thought. He hoped that it would satisfy Jacob because in all reality that was all that he could offer to him. Friendship. Nothing more. He prayed that would be enough.
Sooner than he realised they pulled into the Swans' driveway. He left the motor running because he just didn't feel like staying over tonight for some reason. He'd never felt this awkward around Bella before, and he hated it.
"You're not coming in tonight?" Bella asked.
"No, not tonight. I'm kinda tired." Only after the words had left his mouth did he realise how completely stupid the excuse was. He was a vampire for chrissakes, they don't get tired.
If Bella noticed how ridiculous his statement was, she didn't let on.
"Okay then. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a searching look.
"Yeah. Of course." He leaned over to give her the customary goodnight kiss. When he made to pull back, she grabbed the back of his neck and held him in place while deepening the kiss.
He really didn't know what had gotten into Bella. Usually she wasn't this forceful. Soon enough he reached back to pry her hands away from him and ended the kiss. The look she was giving him was feeled with a desperation he had never seen on her face before.
"You'll never leave me will you Edward?"
Well that certainly came out of nowhere.
"Of course not Bella. Why would you think that?" He really didm't know where this line of questioning was leading, and truthfully he didn't want to know.
"No reason. Sometimes I just get these crazy ideas that you'll find someone better than me."
"Well you can stop thinking that way. I only want you." He tried desperately to reassure her.
"Promise?"
"Of course." He gave her one last kiss, and watched as she made her way inside the house.
Driving home, he couldn't help but wonder what brought on her sudden doubts and questioning. There was no way she could have found out about Jacob's imprinting because they were the only ones who knew. Once again, he fervently wished he could read her mind.
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5 days.
That's how many days had passed since Jacob's birthday had passed. That's how many days it had been since he'd last seen Edward.
He had no idea how hard it would be to be away from his soul mate. Every second that passed made him want to go to him. He knew he couldn't. He'd made himself resist the urge because he didn't want to seem too pushy and ruin the tentative truce they had formed.
Edward had said that they could try to be friends. Jacob just didn't know exactly what that meant. Did it mean they could hang out and play video games like he does with Quil and Embry. Or fix up cars like he does with Paul? He didn't know what the friendship between him and Edward would be like. Edward seemed too mature to do the childish things he liked to do with his other friends. The vampire was over a hundred years old.
He desperately wanted to call and talk to Edward. He just didn't know what to say to him. He really wanted to wait on Edward to call him, but who knows how long it would take the vampire to do that.
He hadn't talked to Bella since that night either. She had called a few times, but each time he asked Billy to tell her he was out. If Billy found it odd that he didn't want to talk to his best friend he didn't say anything about it, for which Jacob was thankful. He didn't know whether or not he even wanted to talk to his dad about imprinting on Edward yet. He honestly didn't know how Billy would take it. He knew that even though the pack and the Cullens had formed somewhat of a truce, Billy still had some of his own prejudices against them.
To get his mind off Edward, as much as he could anyway, Jacob had taken to shifting and running around the surrounding borders of La Push. Being in his wolf form provided a much needed break from the constant thoughts of Edward. The basic animal insticts that he had while transformed, made him one with nature and gave him a sense of freedom that nothing else could.
That's what he was currently doing. Running along the cliffs of La Push beach feeling the salty breeze blowing through his mane. Suddenly a very familiar scent caught on the breeze and made him come to a complete halt.
Turning his head towards the trees he saw the unmistakable form of Edward, sunlight reflecting off him creating the most alluring sight he'd ever seen.
Edward approached him slowly, giving him time to shift back to his human form.
"Jacob"
"Edward….what are you doing here?" Jacob was still trying to get his heart rate back to normal after finally seeing his love after so many days apart.
"I was just wondering how you've been. I was going to call you, but I thought it might not be a good idea just in case Billy answered." Edward was looking at him so intensely that it took Jacob a few moments to process what Edward had just said.
"You were going to call me?" He could have smacked himself for sounding so hopeful.
"Yes. Just to make sure you had recovered okay." Edward saw the crestfallen look on Jacob's face so quickly went to correct himself. "I mean not just that…I wanted to see if maybe you wanted to hang out or something. Try out this new friendship thing you know." Edward gave him a slight smile.
Well that certainly brightened up Jacob's day. He couldn't believe Edward was making the effort to establish their new friendship.
"Really? That would be great. I mean we could hang out. If you want to" Jacob thought he sounded very much like a schoolgirl with a crush, with how enthusiastic he sounded.
"Yeah I do. Bella's going out of town next week to visit her mom, so we can get together then."
Oh. That's why he'd decided they could hang out. Bella wasn't going to be around. Suddenly Jacob felt like he was a dirty little secret Edward had to keep from Bella. All his previous joy and enthusiasm suddenly died away.
Edward must have been reading his mind because he suddenly got the look of someone who'd just put their foot in their mouth.
"No Jacob. It isn't like that at all. I just thought it would be good to get to know each other then because I'd have more free time to be with you. Bella's been around a lot more this past week, which is why I haven't been able to contact you. That's all. I won't try to hide our friendship. From anyone." Edward stated vehemently.
This made Jacob feel a little better.
"Okay then. I'm sorry Edward. I know this is hard on you too. We'll do this however you like."
"Don't say it like that Jacob. We're in this together. Don't just think about me. I want this to be easy for you too."
God how he loved him. He was so thoughtful and amazing. He suddenly noticed the awkward look on Edward's face and realised he'd heard that.
"Sorry" Jacob said shyly
"It's okay, I know you can't help it."
"Yeah"
"Umm…well I better get back now. I'll call you sometime next week so we can get together."
"Yeah okay. See you."
He watched as Edward ran back in the direction of Forks. He shifted back to his wolf form and headed back home. Thinking about how even that small interaction with his love could hold him over until he got to see him again in a few days. If anyone could see him now they couldn't fail to notice the smile on the wolf's face.
A/N: Well there ya go! Hope you liked it. Read & Review!!!!