have i ever told you how much i love you guys? you're all so amazing & your reviews always make me smile, i'm so glad you're all enjoying my story. :]
this is just a little filler chapter because i hatehatehate keeping you guys waiting - i hope you all enjoy it anyways.. ;]
Bella's POV.
"Don't push me, dude." Jake warned, turning to glare over his shoulder.
"It's about to get ugly." I heard Quil hiss. Ohshitohshitohshitohshit.
"All I am asking for is five minutes, alone, with Bella," Edward said, turning to face me "That is the very least you owe me."
"She doesn't owe you a goddamn thing, you creep!" Leah hissed, dropping my hand as she began trembling.
"Oh, but I think you'll fi-"
"Shut up Edward," I yelled, balling my fists against my sides "Just shut up!"
He looked taken aback for a moment, but then, he smiled at me. No, sneered.
"Of course," Edward continued to speak as if Leah and I hadn't said a word "You'll have to send the mutts home first."
I snapped my head in his direction, glaring at him for what seemed like the millionth time. Where are the goddamn matches?! Someone start a bonfire already, I'ma burn him myself!
He sauntered forward a few steps, hands stuffed into his pockets, then froze.
"Edward," Emmett announced his presence behind him, sounding wary "What're you doing?"
Edward didn't respond, didn't move, didn't blink. He just stared at me. And, boy, do I know that stare. Jake groaned like he was in pain, trembling so badly but still fighting to hold onto that little part of his human self-control. Please hold on baby.
"Fuck you Edward." I spat, turning back to Jake "Jake?". I took a step forward, my hand reaching for his arm. As my fingertips made contact with his skin, Edward hissed and leapt forward. There was a sudden ripping noise, almost loud enough to deafen me. No! I watched the last few shreds of, what used to be Jake's jeans, fluttering down around me. No. The mass of fur in front of me snarled, baring his teeth at Edward. No. I froze, Jake's fur tickling the palm of my hand. No.
It's amazing how sometimes it seems like time is just standing still. Like you're frozen in a moment - usually a bad moment like this - watching the whole situation, that you have no control over, unfold. A chorus of ripping sounds followed, then a round of snarling and snapping. It's amazing how fast a pack of werewolves can phase and surround you, protecting you. The rest of the Cullens appeared behind Edward; hissing, glaring and trying to protect Edward. It's amazing how much noise said werewolves and a family of vampires can make when they're warning each other off.
Without warning, all hell broke loose. My brain barely had time to register Edward leaping forward and tackling Jake, my heart lurched in my chest. NO! The rest of the pack sprang forward, showing the Cullens who's boss. They weren't warning each other off, I glanced down at the shreds of clothes laying around me, They were preparing for war.
"Stop!" I yelled, barely audible above the battle "Stop it! Stop!"
Everything seemed to happen in slow-motion as I watched Jake take a snap at Edward's arm, just as his fist connected with Jake's head, before Quil and Embry tackled him; teeth tearing into his marble-like skin. Stop. I watched Sam and Jared wrestle with Emmett, growling and hissing, as he fought to get to Edward. Please. I watched Leah tackle Alice, who was punching into Leah's side, snapping at her face as Seth held off Esme. Please. I watched Paul snarling and hissing at Carlisle. Just. I watched Brady attempt to hold Jasper at bay as Collin fought with Rosealie, teeth and claws tearing into the skin on her forearms. Stop.
It hit me as Rosalie slammed into Jake's side, causing him to whine in pain. You have the power to stop this. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Do it now!
"Kwop kilawtley!"
No more snapping, no more snarling, no more hissing. Everything stopped like someone had just hit pause. I watched the faces peering back at me. Bruised but not broken. I let my eyes droop closed, taking another deep breath. Bruised but not broken.
"Wh.. what did you say?" Jake. My eyes snapped open again, drinking in welcoming sight of my slightly cut and bruised but, in the grand scheme of things, unharmed boyfriend.
"I said," I smiling at him "Kwop kilawtley, Jacob Black."
Jake grinned at me, holding his arms open. There's my smile. I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, clinging to him. Thank you God, thankyouthankyouthankyou.
"Can you see how dangerous he is, now?" Edward spoke, limping towards me.
"What?!" I scoffed, fighting the urge to punch him "You attacked him, Edward!"
"But I-" he tried, shuffling a little nervously.
"But nothing, Edward," I cut him off, sighing in frustration "You attacked my boyfriend - the only dangerous person I can see here is you."
I turned to Jake, who was still looking decidedly hostile.
"We're done here." I smiled, holding out my hand for him. We followed the rest of the pack into the forest, without looking back.
"You belong with-" Edward tried again.
"I belong with Jake!" I yelled, breaking away from Jake to turn back.
"B, stop." Jake hissed, grabbing for me. I gave up trying to dodge his hands and he finally managed to wrap an arm around my waist, holding me steady. I couldn't decide who he was trying to protect; Me or Edward?
"What do you think this is, Edward, Romeo and Juliet? Or, maybe you think we're like Buffy and Angel? This isn't some kinda fairytale!" I hissed, sneering at him "This is real life, Edward. This is my life, Jake's life, and you're not part of that anymore."
I wriggled slightly, letting Jake know that it was okay to let me go now. His hand slide down to grab mine, squeezing it tightly. I smiled up at him and squeezed back.
"Bella, please." I heard Edward call.
"Stay away from me, Edward," I called back over my shoulder "If you can't accept Jake and the pack then we can't be friends." Don't look back.
I listened to Quil, Embry, Paul and Colin chuckling about the injuries they received and dealt out to the Cullens, in relative silence.
Nothing serious, I had to remind myself, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
--
"We're gunna go run off some of this, uh, steam," Jake smiled quickly, pressing his lips to my forehead "I'll be back soon, B."
"Love you." I smiled, sliding my feet out of my flipflops. By the time I'd bent down to scoop my shoes up, he was gone. Yeah, love you too Bella. I sighed.
--
I padded down to the water's edge, wading in up to my knees. Ow, ow, OW! I back-peddled out of the waves, trying to scratch at my shin but only managing to land, in a heap, on my butt. Stupid razor. I scowled at my shin, rubbing at it furiously.
"Real smooth, Bella." Leah chuckled, plonking herself down beside me.
"What can I say," I grinned "I have all the grace and balance of a new-born pony, with rollerblades, on ice." she snorted out a laugh, shaking her head with a smile.
"Hey, what're you doing here?" I asked, glancing up at her "Shouldn't you be running some steam off too?"
"I came down here to think," she shrugged, staring off at the waves "I should be out there with them but.. I just didn't feel like it."
We fell into a comfortable silence, watching the waves crashing against the sand.
"What're you thinking about?" I asked, leaning back to prop myself up on my elbows.
"My Dad." she sniffed, glancing at me before adding "Sam."
"Do you miss him?"
"Every minute of every day." she sighed. I nodded slowly, trying not to push her.
"Y'know, you're gunna think I'm going crazy," she laughed, it sounded too forced; almost like she believed I really would believe she was crazy. "But, the other day, I coulda swore I heard him calling me from the kitchen," she glanced at me, her eyes sparkling already "Yelling that little nickname only he ever called me."
"I don't think you're going crazy Leah," I said, shaking my head before smiling "Wait, you've got a nickname?"
She nodded with a smile and I turned to face her. She copied me, tucking her legs to the side.
"He used to call me Lee-lee." she whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her right ear "Dumb, right?"
"It's not dumb at all," I whispered back, smiling "Lee-lee."
She grinned at me. Not one of those mostly forced, tight-lipped smiles that she was used to dishing out to those around her. A real grin.
"Do you miss him?" I asked, finally biting the bullet.
"Uh," she looked at me like I'd gone crazy, raising an eyebrow "Didn't we just have this conversation, Bella?"
"Har-dee-har." I smiled, rolling my eyes at her "I meant Sam."
For a moment, I watched the panic filling her eyes.
"I miss him so much." she sighed, letting her shoulders droop "It's just not fair, Bella, he was mine first." Oh, Leah.
"I mean, of course, I love Emily and I'm glad that she's happy but.." she sighed, glancing up at me "I was happy too, y'know? I love, loved, him and he loved me," she wiped quickly at her face "But he meets Emily one time and, suddenly, I'm just forgotten like I never meant a goddamn thing to him."
"I'm so sorry, Leah." I soothed as she finally broke down, the tears coming faster than she could stop them.
"I know it wasn't his fault, it's this stupid imprinting thing.. but, I mean, if you really love someone.. wouldn't you fight against it?" she sobbed, shaking her head. Oh, Leah.
"I'm one hundred percent sure that if Sam could've done anything to stop your heart from breaking," I said, patting her shoulder "He would've done it, he loves you, Leah - you can see it, in his eyes, every single time he looks at you."
"Really?" she sniffed, peering up at me.
"Really." I nodded, smiling at her.
We feel into another comfortable silence. Will I feel like that? I watched her staring out at the waves, a range of emotions flickering across her face. Will I be able to let Jake go?
No. I decided as the boys - our boys - emerged from the forest, smiling. It'll kill me.
so, what did everyone think? review pleeeeeease. :] oh & let me jus' clear it up; in my mind, when jake said 'kwop kilawtley' to bella, he was saying 'i love you'. but let me jus' throw it open, what do you guys think he was saying? :-P xx