**** I apologize for this being so short. My next one will be much longer. I have big plans for chapter nine! :) Stay tuned please!*****
I was in the bedroom packing when Jacob walked in to the doorway. "Nessie." He said in a concerned tone.
"Can you think about this for a second? The Volturi want you. Your family is going to fight for you. The wolf pack is going to fight for you. By going back there you will ruin all their work and effort to keep you safe. You may end up killing yourself, and I can't let you do that." I rolled my eyes. "Jake. You don't need to be a hero. I'm going home. And you can too. It's fine-"
"No Nessie. It's not fine. I won't let you do this to yourself." I was getting frustrated and just wanted to go. He had no control over me. And I needed to help my family. "You don't own me Jacob Black." I said as I violently threw clothes into my suitcase.
"You're right. You're completely right Ness. But my job was to keep you safe. What did Edward say to you?" I sighed, balling up the shorts I was holding. "He said to listen to you. But-" "And what did you say back?" I threw the balled up shorts on top of all my neatly piled clothes. "I said I would. But-"
"Then there is no but. Instead of being sad all day, let's go out and swim and have fun, okay?" "I don't think so. Because I am going home." I picked up the shorts and folded them neatly. "No. You're not." Jake said, walking towards me.
"I can do whatever I want. I am not a baby anymore Jake. And I would rather not go home to see my family dead, sprawled across the front lawn. And I highly doubt you want to see your wolf pack dead either."
"We won't. I don't care," he seemed to have a hard time saying 'care', "what happens back home, as long as you are safe. And you are safe here. So we are staying." I wanted so badly to win this war. I wanted so badly to tell him I would go home and fight with my family. I wanted also, in part, to seem brave. Because I was. I was strong. And I could handle anything the Volturi chose to throw my way. Without thinking much I blurted, "Why did you kiss me three nights ago?" I immediately regretted asking the question the minute it came out of my mouth. A slight red flush came over Jacob's cheeks. He glanced at the floor. Heat rose in my face and I looked at the wall, suddenly it was really interesting.
After a long, and rather awkward silence Jake said, "I don't know." That was not the answer I wanted, but I also didn't want to push him anymore for answers. "Oh." Was all I said.
"I'm sorry Nessie." He said coming to sit on my bed. "I guess," another awkward pause, "I guess I didn't want you to feel unloved. Because your family, and I love you and care about you." I sank onto my bed. To hear Jake say 'I, love and you' in the same sentence was a miracle. I had nothing to say. "Are you okay?" He asked me quietly. "Yes." I replied, avoiding eye contact. I suddenly jumped up.
"Are you ready to go swimming?" I had made up my mind. Since he didn't want me to leave I wouldn't. It was that simple. Arguing about it earlier seemed really stupid. I got changed into my bathing suit, a bikini with daises on it. "The water is really warm!" Jake yelled, from the distance. I let the water lap up at my toes. It was warm. I scrunched my toes in the sand. "It is!" I shouted back. And then, leaving my worries about the Voluturi in the sand, I ran into the water. Whatever tomorrow brought, I knew that today I had the day to spend with Jacob Black. And at that moment that was all I needed. Little did I know what was going on at home...