Chapter 12: Heartaches
Bella was sitting outside with Jacob, his arm wrapped tightly around her. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise," he told her, kissing the side of her head. Bella sighed as she reached over and held her boyfriend's hand. "It's okay to be scared Bells," he told her.
"It's not the threats of Edward's former coven that are bothering me Jake," she answered.
"Then what is it?" He asked.
She shook her head slowly. "It's nothing," she assured him. Jacob kissed her forehead with a sigh.
"I will be staying by your house tonight, wolf form of course," he informed.
"What does your dad think of that?" She asked, moving her fingers over his arm.
"Bella, when it comes to your safety, my dad doesn't think twice about fighting me about protecting you," he answered.
Bella smiled a little and Jacob entwined his fingers with hers, kissing her forehead again. "I love you Bells," he told her.
"I love you," she answered.
She rested her head on his chest and bit her lower lip.
Later on after Jacob went home to talk to his dad, Bella snuck out of her room and went out into the forest, wrapping her jacket tightly around herself. She bit her lower lip and looked around. "Edward?" She called. She gasped when someone jumped down behind her.
"Bella why are you out here alone? It's not safe," Edward told her.
"I wanted to talk to you," she replied.
He stuck his hands in his jacket pockets as they started walking through the forest together. "Bella I don't want you wandering the forest alone, especially since my old coven is after you," he told her.
"I just wanted to see you," she answered.
Edward moved his fingers through his hair. "Why?" He asked.
"Edward, I need to tell you something," she answered.
"What?" He asked.
He stopped and looked at her. Bella bit her lower lip and sighed. "I--" she started but trailed off. She stared down at the ground, kicking up the dirt. "Did you mean what you said in my room? Because if it were true, wouldn't you say something about my relationship with Jake?" She asked. Edward sighed and they started walking together.
"You don't think it makes me ill to watch him touch you and kiss you in ways I only wish I can?" He asked.
Bella looked at the ground. "It makes me want to tear him apart whenever I see him touch you, when I smell him on you. I want nothing more than to be with you, live a human life with you," he explained. Edward stopped and he held her warm hands in his ice cold hands. "It is impossible," he added.
"Nothing is impossible," she answered.
"You have a boyfriend that can give you everything that you could ever want. A family, a life, growing old with someone. I can't do that Bella, never," he told her.
"I'd give it all up for you," she answered.
"And that is exactly why I have to leave once James and the rest are gone, I won't let you give up your human life for me," he told her.
Bella stared up into his eyes and noticed something different, they weren't bright red anymore. "Edward…" she said quietly. He pulled his hands away and backed up from her.
"Go home Bella," he told her.
She stood there. "As much as I want it Bella, as much as I would give anything for it to happen, it won't. Don't try to make sense of how we can do this, because we can't, it can never work," he insisted.
"I want to be with you," she said quietly.
Edward looked up to hear someone calling for Bella. "Jacob is looking for you. Go home Bella and leave me be," he told her. She bit her lower lip and watched as he jumped into a tree.
"Bella, what are you doing all the way out here?" Jacob asked.
"I was just trying to find Edward, see if there was anything new about his coven," she replied.
Jacob looked around. "Come on, let's go home," he told her. She nodded and held his hand, but then looked back at the tree Edward jumped in, only to see that he wasn't there anymore.
Edward was watching her go and closed his eyes tight as he tried to fight the hurt that he was trying to deny for the last several months. He moved his fingers through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. "Edward?" A voice called. He lifted his head up and looked down to find Alice standing at the base of his tree.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"To talk," she replied.
Edward sighed before he grabbed a hold of a branch and swung down, landing in front of her. "What?" He asked.
"No matter how hard you try to push her away, Bella will never forget you," she replied.
"How do you know?" He asked.
Alice walked over and touched his face.
(Flash)
Bella was standing in the middle of a forest, her arms wrapped around herself as she cried. It was clear that Edward was gone.
(Flash)
Bella was sitting outside with a little boy in her lap, who was jabbering about anything and everything. She had a smile on her face but her eyes were empty.
(Flash)
Bella was lying in her bed, her hands over her face as she was crying.
(Flash)
Bella was older, standing at the edge of a cliff looking down. "Edward…" she whispered.
(End Flashes)
Edward pulled his head away from Alice. "Stop, stop!" He growled, putting his hands on his head. "Don't show me anymore!" He exclaimed.
"Do you see what I mean?" She asked.
"She wouldn't not if she lived a human life," he answered.
"She needs you," Alice insisted.
"Why are you doing this?" He asked.
"I'm just showing you that Bella will not forget you," she answered.
Edward stared at her. "So if I leave her she will live that human life but she'll live it in misery?" He asked.
"The visions change with every decision, it depends if Bella would want to live a life without you," she replied.
Edward closed his eyes, pushing his fingers through his hair. "What do I do?" he asked.
"You do what you think is right, I'm just the messenger," she replied.
She sighed. "Edward you should come back to the coven," she added.
"No, not if it will endanger my father," he answered.
"How will it endanger him?" She asked.
"It's none your business! Go back to your mate and leave me be!" He snapped.
He growled and took off through the forest, ignoring her shouts for him. Alice stood there, crossing her arms over her chest. She sighed and saw Jasper standing there. "He'll tell us when he's ready, that part of the vision is so blurry," Alice told him. Jasper nodded and took his wife's hand as they walked back home.