A/N Hey, that's me again :) I'm so incredibly glad that you liked Paul's chapter, it was my own favorite, but I didn't know how you'd react to it, so it's a great joy for me to know that you like it, too.
About updates, for those who are eager for me to update asap - as much as I would love to do that, I'm afraid this will be it for the rest of the week, I have a big exam on Friday, and I'm planning on leaving my computer alone for a while, so that I could actually have something done, the exam's a pretty important one. But after that I'll do my best to have my pace back ;)
Chapter Seven
When I woke up the next morning, my head felt incredibly heavy. I looked at the clock and scowled – I had no idea at what time I fell asleep, so there was no way I could know how long I've been sleeping. The dreams I had definitely didn't make my awakening nicer. My sleep was full with vampires, werevolves, red spots flying around, flashes of diamonds and bronze, and deep brown eyes that kept burning into mine. I wouldn't say it was a nightmare, I never woke up screaming, I never felt terrified. I just watched the red and bronze glimpses pass me by, as the brown, very familiar orbs kept looking at me. And as much as I was trying to catch the bronze steel that kept spinning around me, I couldn't look away from those eyes that had an emotion in them I couldn't understand.
With a groan I stood up and slowly made my way to the door. Inspite of heaviness of my head, I remembered everything clearly. The cliff. Jumping. Him. Alice promising to come back. Paul almost phasing in my kitchen. Jacob taking me upstairs. As much as I tried, I couldn't help but remember the look in Paul's eyes when he stood in front of me. He freaked me out completely, I should avoid him in future, but something inside me whispered that I won't. My mind kept remembering yesterday, as I heard voices in the kitchen. Light, bouncing chuckle. Alice. I smiled; so she did come back. A rumbling bark-like laughter. Jacob. So he didn't leave my side for the whole time as well. But why on earth would those two laugh instead of growling? Then I heard the third laughter, the one I knew very vell. Charlie. They must really try hard for Charlie to feel better. As I remembered about Harry, I rushed to the kitchen; even if those two were making him laugh, I knew he needed me.
As I stepped into the kitchen, I felt three pairs of eyes concentrate on me. For a moment there I was confused, not knowing where to go. Charlie was sitting at the end of the table, with Alice and Jacob on each side. Jake must've noticed my confusion, he stood up, offering me his chair.
„Morning, sleepy-head. You've slept for about fourteen hours. I bet your head feels really light, huh?" I frowned, Alice chuckled. If they knew my head would feel twice the size, why the hell didn't they wake me up earlier?
„Feelin' grumpy, pumpkin?" Charlie did his best to smile, but I could read all of his real emotions in his eyes, the ones who held the same warm color as mine. Involuntarily, I remembered Paul's gaze again. I shook my head to get rid of that image.
„How are you holding up?" I asked as I reached out to touch Charlie's hand. It was obvious that he was trying to hold himself together with Alice and Jacob around. Fortunately, Alice noticed it.
„I guess we should give you some privacy. We'll be in the living room." She added as if specially for me. „Come on, mu.. mister." I heard Jake snort as he followed Alice out of the kitchen.
As soon as they left, Charlie buried his face in his hands. „How should I feel?" I heard him mumbe into his palms. „Loosing a friend sure is terrible, but it feels even worse to look at Sue and the kids. I can't possibly start to imagine what do they feel. Luckily, Sam is there, his fiancee is a big help, too."
„Yeah, Emily sure is nice."
„She's actually the one who sent me home to have some sleep, which I was about to do when I found those two in the living room looking like they're about to kill each other..." Boy, Charlie didn't even realize how right he is. „..while you were snoring upstairs."
„Hey, I don't snore."
„I wouldn't be so sure." Well, those two obviously did a good job to lighten Charlie's mood. „So, what are they doing here?"
„Well, uhm, I kind of had a little situation at La Push yesterday." I felt Charlie tense, so I rushed to continue. „But everything's okay, Jake took me home and we.. uhmm.. Found Alice on the porch, waiting for me. Obviously she intended it as a surprise."
„Does this mean that he is coming back as well?"
The thought of him made me flinch again. I remembered yesterday when he had called. I needed to talk to Alice as soon as possible.
„I don't think so. Dad, you should get some rest, I mean, you look really, really awful." He gave me a little smile.
„Sure, pumpkin." We both stood up, he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead, before heading upstairs.
As I heard his bedroom door close, I rushed to the living room to find 'those two' staring at each other with such anger and coldness, it almost made me shiver.
„Bella!" Alice bounced up from the couch she'd been sitting on and came to give me a hug. I heard Jacob growl from the other side of the room.
„Easy, mutt, you should've learned already that I'm not here to harm her. If I were you, I'd go home and take shower to get that impossible stink off."
„How about you getting me a paper bag, I might be throwing up from that sickening smell of yours."
I couldn't understand what they are fighting about, they smelled equally good to me. But I guess high sensitivity to smell was another bonus that I didn't get because of being just a miserable human.
„Don't make me hate myself more than I already do." With surprised looks on their faces they turned to me. I shook my head. „Never mind. Alice, I.."
„I know, I know, we need to talk. I'm just not sure that this dog being here will make things easier."
I shot a questioning look at Jacob.
„Don't even dream of it, I'm not going anywhere while she's here. Just do your damn talking. Then I'll do mine."
I didn't quite understand what he meant by that, so I shot a questioning look in his direction, but he just motioned to Alice, I followed his gaze. „So, uhmm.. you said I disappeared from your visions. Is it.. I mean, I'm I back in now?"
„Not really, and that's the weirdest thing. I can see what kind of clothes you'l choose to wear tomorrow or what you'll be making for dinner next week, but I can't see anything about your serious future. It used to be you with Edward, being one of us and now it's all blurry and uncertain." A sharp pain ripped through my core at the mention of his name. How is it possible that she saw us together if he didn't even want me?
„You should know better than to mention his name in front of her, if you're claiming to care about her, leech." I felt a little sting of guilt as a part of me agreed with Jacob. He gave me a little smile.
„I'm sorry, Bella, I really shoud've known better. It's just that your disappearance makes me really nervous, I don't know what it means and therefore I don't know what to do."
„Well, most of the time I don't know what's going to happen, and it's been okay so far, I mean, you're used to see everything, so this must be weird for you, but.. but maybe it doesn't have to mean anything bad. If I was about to die.." I heard Jake growl in the background. „..then you would see that, right?"
The pixie frowned. „I guess so. I'm just afraid that it is connected to the mutts somehow, and then there's nothing I can do; even if something there leads to your death, I wouldn't be able to see it." She sihged „And that's why you should stay away from La Push and it's content." I swear, I never thought this little angelic creature could hold so much hate and anger for someone.
It felt like someone was trying to tear my heart into two pieces. How could I leave Jacob so easily, after everything he has done for me. I want him, I need him in my life. But neither could I push Alice away. I felt like I've gotten back a part, a tiny piece of my family, and I wouldn't give it up. With Alice being here I felt better, the hole wasn't that cold anymore. Of course, it was sore, no one could fix that except for him. But he is not coming back, so I have to live with whatever I have. And right now that's Alice.
„Couldn't you two somehow be around each other. I mean, I need you both so much!" Alice looked at me with a sweet smile while Jake sighed.
„It's not that easy, Bella. I can't protect you here, you know that. Sam had to allow me to come, and today was a special occasion, it won't be happening anymore. If you want to hang out with the leech, just do so; but don't count on me being here as well. You can't have it both ways. It's either me or her."
„But I.. she.. Jacob, I can't!" Alice had her hand reassuringly on mine.
„Just think what's more important to you, Bella." I shook my head.
„I won't be choosing between the two of you. Plus, you've never even mentioned if you intend to stay, so maybe I don't even have to choose at all." I added the last comment with tears about to escape my eyes. It just now occurred to me that she might be leaving.
„I'll be here as long as you want me here. Me leaving would just make you feel worse." She looked away with a thoughtful expression. „Maybe this wasn't the best idea after all. I should've waited outside of the house, observe or something, not run straight into your arms." She sighed. „He won't be happy about any of this."
She didn't have to say his name for me to know who she was talking about. Maybe if he got really mad at her, he would come here and I would get to see him. Seeing his godlike features would make me happy for a while. I felt miserable to be moping about someone who didn't even care.
„You can't leave. Not.. not like that."
„As I said, I'll be here as long as you want me to." She smiled. „Plus, now that I've already broken his main rule, maybe the others can come visit." I couldn't believe my damn happy ears. But there was still a tiny bit of pain.
"Does this mean that he.. Is he gonna come, too?" I don't know what my voice had more in it - fear or hope.
"I don't think so." She looked away sadly. I was staring on a stain on the carpet. I haven't noticed that before. Charlie must've made a mess while I wasn't home. I was trying to figure out what kind of stain that was, trying my best to hold back tears.
„Okay, I see it's my turn to be talking." Jacob stood up with a serious look on his face, that took me out of my trance. I've never seen him look so grown up. Not physically, but mentally. On his face I could read responsibility and objectivity. „I have to remind you about the treaty. I don't know if you were there when it was made, and honestly I don't give a shit. We'll stay off your land as long as you stay off of ours. Be in Forks, have Bella, do whatever you want, but remember the treaty, 'cuz we'll be right on your ass if you don't. If any more of yours decide to come by, find a way to inform as, and we'll be cool. Well, as cool as we can be with things like you." With that he stopped his pacing across the room and headed to the hallway.
„Jake, wait!" I jumped up to follow. It did hurt a little when he told Alice to have me like some kind of old doll, but I knew he said that just because he was hurting even more than I did. „You can't just leave me like this. I need you."
„Well, this is not about what you need, Bella. While they are here, I can't be the friend you want me to."
„But what if you don't have to come to me?"
„What do you mean?"
„I mean, I could come down to La Push, right?"
„Bella, I don't think.."
„Alice, I disappear from your visions anyway, right? So, it wouldn't be much harm if I hang up with Jacob once in a while? Plus, you have to hunt, and while you do, there wouldn't be a safer place for me than with Jake."
„But Bella, he's a werewolf. You can't even imagine how uncontrollable they are." And I remembered Paul again. Yesterday he had been out of control, no one would doubt that. And he didn't hurt me. I didn't know if Jacob knew that already, and I didn't want him getting more angry with me, so I didn't say anything.
„Yeah, and you're a filthy leech." Jake snorted.
„Hey, you two managed to be in the same room for a while, even alone, without ripping each other's head off. You wouldn't hurt me." I looked at each of them. „I mean, if you two do care about me."
They hissed in unison and I knew I had my way. For once in a long time I felt a little bit happy.
„I guess I could let you go once in a while." The look on Alice's face sait the exact opposite.
„There's a bonfire on Saturday. Why don't you come then? I think I can talk Sam into letting you come."
„Why wouldn't he want me here?" I didn't expect this to hurt as much as it did. I knew I wasn't the best guest at La Push, but I didn't realize they would hate me this much.
„I think you know why." With one final glare at Alice Jake turned to me. „I'll give you a call." And without another word, without the Jacob-hug, he left.
„Come on, let's fix Charlie some lunch. And we have some chit chat to do." I followed as Alice pulled me towards the kitchen, feeling that everything might actually turn out good.
So, what do you think? I know this wasn't much of an action chapter, didn't have any Paul in it, but it was kind of important for the whole thing, so I hope you still like it :)