Okay, so in the vote, you guys chose to have less updates, but longer chapters. So that's what I'm going to do. =) So I'll try to update every Friday. I'm actually leaving for vacation today. ^.^ I know I won't be able to update next Friday, because I'll be getting back from my vacation then. But yeah, unless there's something going on that causes me to not be able to update, I will update every Friday, possibly every other Friday. If I don't, feel free to message me and scold me. Haha. Okay. Enjoy!

The Flower Called Azalea

9. Explanations

Jake POV

"Jake? …Hello…?" Bella called over the phone. "Are you there?" she asked.

I shook myself and remembered Azalea being only a few feet away, so I went outside and forced myself to speak. "Yeah, Bells, I'm here."

"Ok, good. For a second there, I thought you'd hung up on me," she chuckled.

"No. I wouldn't do that to you."

"I know," she sounded as if she were smiling. "So what do you say? Can I come over?" The grin she sported was audible in her voice, and I couldn't shoot her down when she seemed so excited to see me.

Oh, boy. Azalea was not going to be too happy with me over this…. "Sure, Bells, come on over. I need to talk to you anyway."

"Great!" she exclaimed. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes!"

I laughed. "Bella, it takes twenty minutes to get here. And that piece of crap truck you drive won't go over fifty five."

"Hey. Don't knock the truck. You fixed it and you're calling it a piece of crap? Hmm… I may be starting to doubt your mad skills."

"Fine. I won't knock the truck. But you didn't address my other point. It takes twenty minutes to get here, and your… truck won't go over fifty five."

"…I haven't seen you in a while," she admitted.

I smiled at that. "I miss you, too, Bells. Ok. I'll see you in fifteen minutes."

"Yes you will," she grinned again and then hung up.

I turned around and walked back into the house and was bombarded with the sweet aroma of baking chocolate chip cookies. I grinned and walked into the kitchen to see my imprint singing and dancing as she moved cookies off the pan onto a plate to cool. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her to me. She leaned into me, placed her arms on mine, and sighed contentedly.

We spent the next ten minutes like that, without having to say a word to each other. We still didn't have to, but Azalea broke the silence.

"Why can't we stay like this all the time?" she murmured.

"We can," I told her, completely forgetting about everything except for her in that moment. I wanted to give her everything she'd ever wanted, and if she wanted us to stay like this all the time, then we would.

She chuckled lightly against me. "No, we can't. We've got too much responsibility around the rez and with the pack. And with school. And in about thirty seconds, if I don't get those cookies out of the oven, I'm gonna burn more than tasty, delicious, chocolaty treat. I'll burn the house down."

I opened my eyes and looked at the timer on the oven, and sure enough, there were only twenty seven seconds left before the timer would go off and she would need to leave the sanctuary of my arms to retrieve the cookies. Then I remembered Bella. How could I tell her about this without her getting upset?

…

I couldn't. Damn.

Okay! So the answer… I just don't tell her.

"Hey, Z, I have to head home for a little bit. Billy needs me for something. He called earlier and wants me over there." I felt horrible about lying to her, but I didn't really think I had much of a choice in the matter. If I told her, she would either go batshit crazy and unleash her anger on me, or she'd get really upset. Both would prevent me from seeing Bella because, option one-I want to get back in her good graces, or option two-I stay here to comfort her and make her feel better, because I can't stand to see her in any kind of pain.

"Alright," she smiled. "I'll bring over some cookies when they're all finished."

I smiled and snuck a look at the bowl to see how much cookie dough she had left. Luckily, the bowl was full. "Ok, sounds good." I gave her a quick kiss and then left to go back to my house.

When I got there, Bella was just pulling into the driveway. She threw the truck into park and jumped out of the cab, and before I knew it, she was hugging me in a death grip.

"Jake!" she beamed. "I've missed you so much!"

I smiled and hugged her back. "I've missed you, too, Bells."

She pulled back and grinned up at me. And for once in my life, I felt nothing. Nothing but love for a friend. My heart belonged to Azalea now. Now and forever.

"Bella, I have to talk to you about something," I began.

"Oh, me first," she interjected. "Alice is throwing a graduation party, it's not really something I want, but it'd be more bearable if you were there…" she looked so hopeful; I couldn't say no to that.

"Alright," I agreed. "But I really have to talk to you."

"Okay," she grinned. "Let's just go down to the beach first. I haven't been here in forever and I miss the beach."

I sighed and resigned. Okay, we would go to the beach and then I would tell her. "Alright," I said, and we began the trek down to the beach.

We were sitting on our tree trunk, watching the waves crash into the rocks of the cliff side, neither one of us saying a thing. We just sat there for a few moments. I was trying to think of the perfect way to tell her, but nothing was coming up. Finally, I decided to break the silence.

"Bells, do you remember the legend about imprinting?" I asked.

"Uh… the love at first sight thing? Yeah, why?" she inquired.

"Well, I, uh, I sorta, kinda imprinted." I held my breath to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes went wide and she stilled for a moment before smiling faintly and gazing into my eyes. "You know, ever since I met Edward, I thought I would be with him forever. Then when he left, you were the one that was there, and you pieced me back together. If you're trying to tell me that you want to take our friendship to the next level, then I won't stop you. I'll end things with Edward if that's what you're saying."

"What? No, that's not what I-" she swiftly cut me off with her lips. My eyes wide, I was frozen for a second too long. I regained my composure and began to push her away, but she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer, shoving her tongue into my mouth.

God, just the other day, I would've jumped for joy and backwards through hoops for this. But now, I didn't want it.

I knew that I could've pushed her away if I'd really felt the need, but I didn't want to hurt her, so I just let her finish. I tried to interject some protests, but she cut me off before I could really get anything out. Needless to say, I didn't respond to her. I just didn't want to hurt her physically, so I didn't throw her off me as I probably should have.

Azalea POV

Wow. I hung up the phone and just stared at nothing. I really got accepted into the wildlife program? I'd only been dreaming about this for… my entire life, and as soon as I apply, I get accepted? Awesome. The only problem with it was that I would have to leave La Push. For a year. I would be traveling all over the world, helping specialists catch/rescue wild animals.

Now I just had to run it by Jake. I knew he wouldn't want me to leave, but I also knew that he wouldn't try to hold me back. He knew how long I'd been wanting this. And he'd always been so supportive of me.

I had the best boyfriend ever, and he was all mine. I grinned at the thought. The cookies had just cooled enough that I could put them on a plate to take over to Jake's, so that's what I did. When I got there, I was expecting Jake to answer the door, but I saw Bella's truck in the driveway, and Billy answered the door. I wasn't too worried about Bella being there, what with Jake finally imprinting on me and all, but I still wasn't her biggest fan.

"Hey, Billy," I grinned at the man who was, for all intents and purposes, my father.

"Hello, Azalea. It's been a while," he smiled.

"It sure has. It's been too long if you ask me," I said. "Is Jake around?"

"He and Bella went down to the beach a little while ago, and I haven't seen either of them since, so I'm guessing that they're still down there," he replied.

"Okay, thanks," I said, about to walk away when I decided that Billy should have some cookies before his son gets to them all. "Here," I grinned. "Have some cookies." I held the plate out to him.

"Well, I can't resist your baking. Never been able to, never will," he complied and took about nine or ten cookies.

"Kay, well I'm gonna go to the beach. See ya later, Billy!" I called as I walked away.

"Bye, Azalea!"

I walked down to the beach, not really thinking about much. There was really only one thing on my mind, and that was Jake. He was just such a great person, and I was sure that he was telling Bella about us right now. At least, I was sure of that until I actually saw them at the beach when I got a little closer.

She had her arms locked around his neck, her hand in his hair, and they were playing tonsil hockey! He had one hand on her waist, and the other on the ground, holding them up.

My heart stopped, and my eyes began to tear up against my will. I was so done with this. I was going to go home and never shed another tear over this asshole ever again. The plate of cookies fell out of my hands and landed on the ground with a clattering thud, finally causing the two to break apart.

Bella looked at me as if I had just interrupted the greatest moment of her life, and Jake looked like a deer caught in headlights as he stared up at me. I glared at him through my blurry vision, hoping he could see the anger that I harbored.

"Do you mind?" Bella asked sharply, climbing onto Jake's lap so that she was straddling him.

I shifted my glare from Jake to Bella and my I felt everything inside me shut down. "Not at all," I said and turned on my heel and walked away.

"Good," I heard Bella mutter right before going back to try to kiss Jake, but he stood up and began to come after me.

"Azalea, wait!" He tried to grab onto my wrist, but I yanked it out of his grasp before he could get a good grip and sped up.

"Azalea! Please! It's not what it looked like! Just please, let me explain!" he begged.

I turned and gave him my best death glare, causing him to falter in his steps and stop. "There is nothing you have to say that could ever possibly interest me," I spat and began walking again. It didn't take him long to catch up.

Well… I no longer felt the need to get his approval about this program.

"Azalea. I swear! I would never be unfaithful to you! I love you!" he pleaded. "I didn't kiss her back."

"You know what? I'm done!" I screamed and threw my hands into the air.

He stopped in his tracks. "Done? What do you mean, done with what?"

"This! Everything!" I gestured around wildly. "I'm done with your games and your lies! I'm done with the reservation! Even with the fucking state! But most importantly, I'm done with you," I said with all the venom I felt biting its way through my body. I began to walk away again, this time at a faster pace.

He ran to catch up, and again, stopped me before looking at me through eyes filled with love, desperation, hurt, and confusion. "Azalea… you don't mean that," he whispered, eyes flickering back and forth, trying to read mine.

"Oh yes, I do," I whispered, never breaking eye contact.

"But… but what about your family? Your friends? …What about me?" he asked, grasping at straws.

I snapped again. "What about you? You seemed pretty damn happy on that beach a few minutes ago! What? Did she offer to leave the leech for you? Well congratulations for you! You can finally have the girl that you've wanted for ten years, because I won't be here to interfere anymore. You won't have to worry about any interruptions," I spat.

"Azalea! What are you talking about? Are you really leaving?" he asked. He looked so upset, I almost gave in, but I couldn't. I was tired of being hurt by this guy, and I wouldn't stand for it any longer.

"Yes. I'm really leaving. Right before I came down to find you, the Director of Admissions from the Wildlife Program at the University of Michigan called. I got accepted, and I'm going," I stated. (I don't know if there really is anything like that there, I was just typing)

He dropped his arm and looked at the ground in defeat. "That's always been your dream," he whispered. "Congratulations. I'm sure you'll do great."

I looked away, feeling the stinging of tears behind my eyes.

"When do you leave?" he rasped.

"I don't know," I lied and thought back to the conversation I had with the woman, only moments earlier.

"Congratulations! You've been chosen as a member for the Wildlife Program here at the University of Michigan. We have selected ten students out of the twenty-three hundred applicants, and you were the first on our list, Azalea. You don't have to give me an answer right now, but-and I know it's not much time, but-should you choose to accept your place, there is a seat reserved for you on the 8:45 AM flight this Wednesday morning. If you are not on that jet, we will take that as a rejection of our invitation, and we will accept that with no ill-will toward you."

Wednesday morning? But that was only two days from now! Well… technically only a day and a half. She's right. That really isn't much time, but I strongly believed that I would not pass up this opportunity.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I exclaimed excitedly. "How long is the program?" I inquired.

"You would be traveling abroad for a little over a year. Probably about fifty-six weeks. The first stop is in Melbourne, Australia," she answered.

Wow. That was a long time to be away from my family and friends. And Jacob. I would definitely have to think about this.

"Alright. Well thank you," I said. "I'll think it over, and have my mind made up by the time that plane leaves on Wednesday."

"Great," the woman said happily. "We hope to see you soon."

I would be leaving Wednesday morning. I didn't know if I would say goodbye to Jacob or not. All I knew was that I needed to get packing.

"Oh… okay," he mumbled. "But what about the imprint? It can't be easy…"

I shrugged easily on the outside, but inside I was ripping apart. "It'll fade." I didn't know if it would or not. I could only hope.

"You don't really believe that, do you?" he chanced a glance in my eyes and must not have liked what he found there.

I shrugged again.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later then." And with that, he sulked off back to his house.

My heart ached to see him in that condition, and it was worse knowing it was my fault.

I fought back the tears as I went home and began gathering my things that I would need for my journey. I would deal with my mom and brother when they got home, though I was sure there wouldn't be much to deal with. They'd always been supportive of me and following my dreams.

Okay! This is a re-do of Chapter 9 because someone pointed out, and I agree, that she forgave him too easily. And when I read the chapter over again, this scenario played out in my head, and I decided that it should be a part of it. Let me know what you guys think! ^.^