Chapter 24
Max
"So now what?" I murmured. Jacob shrugged and held me close, kissing the top of my head lightly. "You're no help at all."
"Hey, if I'm no help, then you can just have a couple of puppies all on your own," he joked. I blushed and shook my head at his bluntness.
"You are a goon." He grinned and released me, grabbing his sandwich off the arm of his couch. Taking a huge bite, mayo and mustard gushed out, dripping all down his chin. He put the sandwich down quickly.
I couldn't help but laugh. He blushed and took a step back, trying to wipe the condiments off with the back of his hand. It didn't work the way he had hoped; all he did was spread the mayo over his chin and the mustard continued sliding down his neck.
"Shit!" he muttered, blushing even redder. I laughed even harder, my face switching between different shades of red, my eyes watering. "Shut up! Grab me a napkin!"
"Uhh, you could say please," I sputtered, trying to compose myself. Jacob rolled his eyes, keeping one hand under his chin to keep the condiments from getting on the floor.
"You're a pain in the ass Max," he said, walking quickly to the kitchen. I leaned against the wall and watched him scramble for a clean napkin. He couldn't find one. He ended up using the dishtowel, getting mustard and mayonnaise all over the red fabric.
"Seriously, that was not okay," he said, walking back to where I slouched. I shrugged. I mean, he had to learn at some point that I was not the housewife-type. It just wasn't gonna go that way.
"You have two hands, don't you?" I asked, glancing at him. He frowned.
"Yeah, but you could have helped me out a little."
"And you could have been a little more polite. 'Shut up, grab me a napkin'? Really? What am I, your maid?" Jacob's frown deepened.
"No, you're not my maid, but I was kinda expecting some help."
"Well, you could have asked for it." Why am I getting so frustrated over this?
"But I shouldn't have to ask for it," he snapped.
"Excuse me?" I walked to the door, my mind whirling like a mini-tornado. "I'm going home. I'm not your slave, I'm not your maid, and until you understand that, I'll be at the Cullens. Call me when you figure it out."
I walked out, closing the door behind me. Jacob didn't follow me, and I didn't turn back. I walked, the entire way, back to the Cullens house. I could have flown, but walking gave me more time to think freely.
Why am I so damn emotional? It wasn't even a big deal; I made it into a big deal. I could have just gotten him a napkin, but I didn't, because I'm difficult. He could have asked politely, but he didn't because that's the way he is with me. He doesn't treat me like his girlfriend, he treats me like his best friend.
I wasn't so sure I liked that. I loved Jacob, and I knew he loved me, but if he kept treating me like this, I'm not sure how well that's gonna go. I could talk to him about it, and let him know how I feel, but how well would he listen? I mean, it's Jacob. He isn't the best listener, and he doesn't take advice well. Maybe Bella should talk to him for me…
"Hey, what're you doing home? I thought you and Jake were hanging out all day?" I looked up and shook my head, clearing my thoughts and answering Bella at the same time.
"We kinda got into a fight," I muttered, not looking into her amber eyes. She frowned and took my arm, pulling me back into the house.
"You guys got together, what, a week ago, and you've already had a fight every day." Bella looked at me seriously. "Max, something needs to be done."
"What can I do?" I asked helplessly. I threw my arms in the air in defeat and sighed, slumping onto the white couch. "He just doesn't get it! I'm not a housewife sort of person! I'm the sort of girl who's gonna be there in the fight right beside him."
"Have you told him that?" Bella asked quietly, knowing fully well that I most certainly had not. I shook my head dejectedly. "Then start with that." She paused for a second before continuing. "So what happened this time?"
I told her, trying to be as specific as possible. It was embarrassing to speak about how stupid I acted, but Bella would understand, and she was here to help me. I was legit mid-sentence, when who walked down the white stairs, but Fang.
"So you and doggy got into a fight again," Fang said smugly. He wasn't asking, he was presuming, and it pissed me off that he was so fucking cheerful about my love-life going down those goddamn metaphorical tubes.
"Screw you," I muttered, rising. Bella stayed silent, knowing when she wasn't a part of an argument.
"So you should come upstairs to my room with me…" Fang said, hooking his thumb over his right shoulder in a gesture to go. I raised a brow.
"And why the Hell would I do that?" I asked, hands-on-hips. Fang smirked and raised his brows, as if it were completely obvious. "Oh, wow, you're a real tool, did you know that? I have a boyfriend you ass. That means back off."
I know I should be a little nicer, since we were like in love back in the day, but he was really getting on my nerves lately. All these comments and suggestions involving me and him… it was getting a little creepy, and it made me uncomfortable.
"Well, that isn't gonna stop me, now is it?" he asked, feigning politeness. I glared at him until he smirked, shook his head, and walked into the kitchen.
"Well," Bella murmured quietly from where she was still curled up on the couch. "That was…uncomfortable…" I sighed and nodded my agreement.
"He's just so…so unbearable lately," I whispered, not wanting him to overhear. He was most likely at the door, eavesdropping. He was an ass like that these days. "It's like, I don't understand where this anger and jealousy is coming from! He comes back from the dead, and immediately gets back to being the center of attention. First thing he does: screw up my relationship with Jake. Second thing: tells me that, even though he knows he's just hurting me, he's going to try to 'win me back'."
"What's to win?" Bella asked. Either she was trying to be funny, or she was making a point by saying I'm not a trophy.
"I'm not sure how guy's minds work," I mumbled. Bella covered her mouth with her hand.
"Max, no girl knows how guy's minds work. It's like their weapon over us. They don't know how we think, and we don't understand how they think." She shrugged. "It's the age old question: what the Hell is going on in his mind?"
"True," I said. She was right, obviously.
"So what are you gonna say to Jake?" I looked hopefully at her.
"I was sort of hoping that you could, I dunno, maybe soften him up for me," I said quietly. Bella smiled but shook her head.
"I wish I could be more help, but this is something that you and Jacob need to figure out for yourselves. I can't be stepping in and patching it up for you. Jacob needs to hear these things from you, Max."
I sighed. "Fine, but will you come with me at least?" She nodded to that, thank god. "Should we ask him to meet us somewhere?"
"Sure. How about the—." Bella stopped and whipped her head up. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Fang leaning against the doorframe, staring at me. "Can you give us some privacy please?" Bella asked politely.
Fang smirked. "Yeah, sure, whatever. Max, when that loser hurts you again, I'll be here, waiting." Before I could think of something to say, Fang walked upstairs, his obnoxiously cocky smirk still in place.
"Something needs to be done about him as well," Bella muttered. I nodded, my eyes still on the staircase. "So how about the clearing?" I nodded again and took my phone out.
"Can you call him please?" I begged, holding out the silver phone for her. Bella sighed and took it from me.
"Hey Jake," she said brightly after a few seconds. "Uhmm yeah. No, actually, we were just wondering if you would meet us at the clearing in ten?" Silence. "No, she— oh, ok then. Yeah, that's fine I suppose." She sighed and snapped the phone shut.
"What'd he say?" I asked, taking the phone and slipping it into my pocket.
"He says he'll come, but since I'm coming, he's bringing Quil and Embry with him. He says it's because Sam doesn't want him alone with a vampire around, but he's obviously trying to gain the upper-hand by having more back-up." I nodded. That was so Jacob.
"Should we head out now?" I asked. Bella nodded and rose gracefully. I tried to mimic her movements, but I'm pretty sure I failed epically.
We reached the clearing easily, if not a few minutes late. Maybe it was a surprise to Bella, but I wasn't fooled when I saw that we were the only ones there. I knew that Jacob would want to make an entrance at a time like this. He's a little too dramatic sometimes.
After a few more minutes, I saw three sets of black eyes staring at me from the bushes on the opposite side of the clearing. I turned to face them completely and put my hands on my hips. The eyes disappeared and a few seconds passed before Jacob, Quil, and Embry came out of the trees. They walked slowly towards us; I noticed with a barely-hid smile that Embry was trying very hard to make himself seem more muscular and buff than he was.
"Hey Bella," Quil said with a wave. Embry glared at him and bumped his shoulder. Quil rolled his eyes when neither Jacob nor Embry was watching and gave us a smile.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Jacob asked after a small nudge from Quil. He didn't sound mad or anything, but he wasn't openly friendly and receiving either. I hate when he does that. He just looks so impassive and uncaring.
"I wanted to talk about us," I said quietly, keeping my eyes on Jacob only. His brows rose and furrowed slightly. I knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking it as well: those were words people used when ending a relationship. Sucks that they're the only words that fit the situation…
"What about," he said warily. I sighed and sat down on the wet grass. I wasn't in the mood to stand for a billion hours. Jacob sat as well, but our three bystanders stayed as they were. We were barely four feet apart, but Jacob felt so far away.
"I don't like where this is going," I began slowly. Before he could jump to conclusions or accusations, I continued. "I love you, you know that. But I just can't be the kind of girl you want me to be Jacob. I'm not that girl; I'm not going to clean up after you, I'm not going to cook for you, I'm not going to be your maid or your slave. I want to be your girlfriend."
"I'm not trying to make you my slave," he said. "I want you to be my girlfriend, more than anything. I'm not used to girls like you. Bella, for instance, was fragile, no offense," he said, holding his hands up. Bella nodded. "Before she was turned, she was fragile, small, shy, and protectable, if that's even a word. You're the exact opposite. You're strong, you put yourself out there, you aren't afraid of anything, and I feel like I'm not needed sometimes." I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. "This is so stupid, but I guess I just feel like since you're so strong and everything, you don't need me as much as I want you to."
"Jake, of course I need you; I just don't need you the way normal girls would, because, clearly, I'm not normal. I have wings, I'm strong, I'm fast, I'm almost indestructible." I stopped, unable to say the rest of that train of thought with Quil and Embry standing right there.
"Hey, why don't we take a walk?" Bella suggested quickly. They hesitated but followed after Jacob turned and nodded at them.
"I want you here, with me, no matter what," I said softly, looking at the grass beneath my hand. "But I need you to understand that I can't be all girly, and frilly, and a resemblance to normal girls. That's just not me; it's not who I am. Jacob, you know my past almost better than anyone. You know why I'm not like that, and you know that I can't ever be like that."
Jacob put his head in his hands and just sat there. I was beginning to worry that he would never say something when he lifted his head up again. I waited, but he still didn't speak. Barely moving his lips, he finally spoke.
"I want you as you, Max." He met my eyes, imploring me to understand perfectly what he was trying to say. "I don't want to change you, and I don't want you to change because you feel that you need to. If you want to change, I'm fine with that, but only if it's because you want to, not because I want you to."
"So… I can change, but only if I want to?" He nodded, a quizzical expression on his face. "Well I want to change, for you. Hang on, let me finish. I want us to be able to be with each other and not have to worry about things that other couples have to think about."
"Like what?" I was glad that he was at least going along with this for now.
"I dunno, like our fight earlier. I acted stupid, I know that; I don't want us to have to tell the other to help, or whatever fits the situation, ya know?"
"I think I get what you mean," he said, nodding. "Like, if you spill something, helping you clean it should be the first thing I do, and vice versa, right?"
"Yeah," I said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"It might take a bit," Jacob said slowly. "But I want to work at this. I don't want to fight anymore. I hate fighting with you. Max, I want to do whatever I can to make us easier."
"That's all I want too," I said.
Jacob rose slowly and looked around. He must have seen one of our companions because he tilted his head to the left a little, motioning for them to get lost. I looked over my shoulder, but I didn't see anyone. They must have left already.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted," he murmured after pulling me off the ground and into his arms. I hooked my arms under his, gripping his broad shoulders.
"Me too. I'm sorry I'm so moody in general; I have no clue where this is coming from." He ran one hand lightly over my head and down my hair. Leaning my head against his chest, my right ear pressed against his warm skin, I could hear his heart beating. The rhythmic sound soothed me, practically lulling me to sleep.
"Hmm?" I realized Jacob had said something.
"I said, I think we have company," he growled in my ear. I immediately perked up, my ears alert.
"I thought you told them to get out of here?" I murmured. Jacob shifted, putting his arms tight around my waist.
"It isn't Quil, Embry, or Bella. Whoever it is, they're too far away for me to recognize them."
"Then how do you know it isn't them?" He started to sigh as if I should know the answer, but he caught himself and smiled despite the situation.
"Sorry, I'm working on it." I smiled, my lips brushing against his collarbone. "No, I would smell Bella a long way from here. And Quil and Embry are back at La Push. Sam called them back; that's what you saw me nodding at."
"Oh." Well don't I feel stupid. I should have known that Jacob would know his friends anywhere, Bella too.
We waited while whoever it was moved around. I tried to be silent, trying to make it easier for Jake to pick up their scent on the faint breeze.
He growled again. "Shit," he muttered angrily.
"What," I whispered, concerned. His lips curled back in a grimace.
"It's your BFF." I groaned and disentangled myself.
I spotted Fang in the trees, moving quickly towards us. Putting my hands on my hips, I waited while he ran towards me. I didn't recognize the look on his face at first; but then it hit me. Fang was scared. Since when did that happen?
"What's wrong?" I asked immediately. Fang almost blew right by me, but at the last minute, his arm shot out and he grabbed me. I ran beside him to keep from being dragged along the ground.
"He's after me." Fang sounded terrified! What the Hell is he so scared of all of a sudden?
"Who is? Fang, talk to me!" I barely noticed Jacob running on my other side; I was too focused on my 'BFF' and his apparent issues.
"I don't know! Whoever it was that—shit!" I ducked when Jacob growled at the exact moment Fang swore.
Pulling Fang to the ground with me, we slid a few feet before stopping on our stomachs. I gasped and started to back up, clawing my way through the tall grass. Stopping on a dime, he turned and looked back at us. Jacob put himself in front of me, hunched over, his body ready to pounce; the throaty growl scared even me.
I continued reversing, my heart racing. Fang was beside me, trying to back up as fast as he could just like I was. Jacob backed away with us, keeping a good ten feet between me and him. If he was going to shift, he couldn't be too close.
Black fabric flew everywhere when Jacob exploded out of his skin, the russet fur bursting through. He was crouched over, still facing the strange, dangerous vampire in front of us. The blood red eyes stared straight past him at either Fang or me; I couldn't really tell, we were swaying a little while moving.
"Move away," the velvety, seductive voice said softly, directed at the still-growling Jacob. "I don't have the patience to fight with you wolf; I want only them."
"Get up," Fang hissed in my ear. The vampire smiled sadly.
"There's no use in trying to escape," he said simply. Taking a few quick steps, he put himself between us and Jake. "I'm faster, stronger, and smarter than you are. Why run when you can just give in? It will certainly save me some unnecessary exercise."
Jake leapt high over his head, landing with his back to the vampire. The vampire didn't look surprised or amused. He just stared past Jacob and directly at Fang, who practically cowered beside me.
"You know who I am little human," he purred at Fang. I felt Fang cringe beside me as the voice reached his ears. I know that when it reached my ears, I thought they would start bleeding. His voice, so soft and seductive before, was now grating and ripping at the inside of my head.
"What do you want," I gasped, holding my hands to my head. I wished I hadn't because I'm pretty sure the vamp had forgotten me for the moment. Bringing his attention back to me was not fun.
"I want you and the boy to come with me."
"S'not gonna happen," I croaked; his voice was killing my head.
"And why not?" Whatever he did to his voice, it didn't happen that time. Lowering my hands slowly, tears springing to my eyes, I watched him warily.
"Because you can't have him," I said firmly. "Or me."
"And what would stop me?" I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, something else entered the clearing.
Keeping one eye on the vampire, I turned slightly and saw Edward, Bella, and the rest of the Cullen 'children' coming towards us. Emmett looked frightening and excited, most likely for the impending fight to come. Edward and Jasper both looked dangerous and lithe, like cats ready to lunge for the kill. Alice and Bella, the smallest of the 'kids', looked faintly pixie-like, but just a tad scary the way they were smiling at the sketchy vampire before me. Rosalie… ah, Rose; I shouldn't have to even mention it, but I will. The impossibly beautiful Rosalie looked absolutely, terrifyingly lethal.
"Who are you and what do you want," Jasper asked in a commanding tone, ever the army-general.
"Must I tell everyone? I want the girl and the boy, no one else. I'll just take them and then my leave, thank you." He stepped towards us again, intent on getting by Jacob.
"Why do you want them? There're plenty of other humans in the area," Jasper said calmly. I almost gaped at him. What was he thinking? He couldn't sacrifice someone for us!
"They have a sort of… sentimental value to me," he replied smoothly, the shredding-voice back. Fang and I clapped out hands to our ears and squeezed our eyes tight against the sudden intense pain in our skulls.
"What are you doing to them?" Bella asked out of turn. I could see through slits that Edward was tightening his grip on her arm, telling her to keep quiet.
"Absolutely nothing my dear," the vampire said. "It's all in their heads."
"No shit!" I screamed when the pain intensified immensely. "Make it stop!"
Jacob backed up until he was directly over me, his ribs brushing against the top of my head. He growled menacingly at the vampire and bared his long, sharp teeth. The vampire chuckled and held up his hands innocently. When he did that, the pain stopped and I practically fell forward. Breathing hard, I tried to collect my thoughts and focus. Jacob stayed hovering above me, his long fur brushing my face when I looked up.
Emmet, Jasper, and Edward rushed the vampire, staying in a triangle to surround him. Jacob started forward, his hackles raised. The vampire whose name we still didn't know turned and darted back into the forest. The guys ran after him, leaving Bella and Alice behind to stand guard over Fang and me.
"What just happened," Fang murmured.
"I have no idea," I whispered, staring at the spot where the others had disappeared. I was suddenly very worried for Jacob's safety…
