This week TOC made a huge milestone with 100 reviews! Thank you to every single one! Let's hope for a hundred more!
Chapter 1's up! Thank Finals week and an extreme thirst for procrastination. As you probably just realized, I will be continuing the story from here. This was supposed to be two chapters but here's a double-feature. Woo! Let's get our angst on!
JPov
It hadn't started out bad.
It was such a simple, human activity. Why did being supernatural have to affect something like this?
I'd spent all afternoon helping my aunt decorate and wrap presents. I wanted to make her birthday special since I knew she was unhappy about getting older.
It was my present she cut herself with. I'd wrapped it myself. Was I to blame?
He was so unhappy. With Uncle Jasper. With himself.
We didn't know he hadn't hunted.
Everything moved too fast to see. I was moved to the back room. Boulders collided together. Glass shattered. There were angry snarls. Dad and Grandma were pulling Jasper outside, trying to get him to calm down.
"Mom?" I asked.
"Shh, it will all be okay," Mom said, but there was a fear in her voice.
She allowed me to talk Bella through the stitches. I tried to make her feel better like I always did. She was very upset. Aunt Alice got her some new clothes before disappearing outside again. Then Edward took her home.
After that, when Bella was gone and everything was cleaned up, I expected things to calm down.
But they only got worse.
Uncle Jasper never came back from the woods. Everyone was tense.
"Jacob, go to bed," my mom said calmly.
"No," I said shakily, "What's happening?"
"We just need to talk, honey."
I stood my ground.
"He's old enough to be part of the discussion," Grandpa said. There was an accident. What was there left to discuss?
"We'll wait until Edward is home before we do anything," Grandma said firmly.
Aunt Alice came in. Her tiny face was pinched up, and her mouth was set like she'd just eaten something sour.
"We're going to Alaska," she announced, "I don't know when we will come back. Jasper wants to apologize."
"If that's what you think is best," Grandpa said sadly. Grandma embraced her daughter in a tight hug and then let her go. Aunt Alice ran upstairs. A few minutes later, she came back dressed in sturdy clothes with a large duffle bag over her shoulder.
We waited hours before Edward came back. I was fighting sleep as best as I could. Mom rubbed circles on my back. Everyone else was still as statues.
When he finally came back, it was near midnight. His face was sad and angry.
"Where is Jasper?" he asked tensely.
"Denali," my aunt answered, "I'll join him…later. He's very sorry, Edward."
Uncle Edward nodded tightly and took a seat on the big white couch. Everyone else was seated around the living room or standing. It didn't make a difference to them.
"I've thought it through. We need to leave Forks," Edward said.
"No!" I yelled.
"Don't be rash, Edward," Grandma said.
"Take some time, Edward, think about what you're saying," Grandpa said.
"I was a fool to think this would work and selfish to put Bella at that kind of risk," Edward said. His head was hung in shame. This was ridiculous.
"We can't just leave," I said, "What about school? Where would we even go?"
"We've had to move before. We'll find someplace."
"You can't leave Bella. We can't. She's family," I said, "This would kill her." If he cared about her at all, he would stay. I won't let him hurt her.
"She will be upset," Edward admitted, "But she's human. With time, she'll heal."
"She's Bella. She'll never get over you," I said.
"I'm not right for her. She'll find someone better. Someone who can love her without hurting her."
"Well I'm not leaving," I said, "Not again. I like it here. My best friends are here. You gonna make me hurt them too?"
"Jacob…" Mom said, "We can't go without you."
"Mom?" I asked, betrayed.
"You'll make new friends," she said, "Do this for Bella. Now she'll be safe."
"I think Bella's already made it clear that she doesn't mind the risk."
"She's deluded herself into thinking that. I'm sure she would seriously mind being killed," Edward said.
"Edward, you're the one who's deluded if you think she'll be fine with this," I said. He snarled at me. Mom stood up in front of me and snarled back at him.
"Watch yourself," she warned.
"You more than anyone should know how dangerous a vampire can be," Edward said to me.
"So you're saying you should abandon me too?"
Now Edward was stuck. He couldn't say yes without garnering disapproval from everyone, and he couldn't disagree without being hypocritical.
"Your blood is nothing like Bella's," Edward reasoned.
"Why don't you change her then?" I said. I didn't want Bella to be a vampire, but I didn't want her to be heartbroken for the rest of her life. "It's what she wants. She asks you all the time."
"Neither of you know what you're talking about," Edward said, although it came out in snarls.
He took a deep breath and his face became a calm mask. "We have to leave her. She will heal, find someone, be happy again. If we can give her a clean break, it won't be so bad."
"So you're saying I'll never be able to talk to anyone from Forks again?" I asked, shocked, "We can't just disappear, pretend this year never happened. People will remember us."
"We can try," Edward argued.
"So what are you going to do?" I challenged, "Live forever alone? You will never forget her."
"Jacob!" Grandma scolded. I didn't care. I'll use any weapon to keep us here.
"As long as she's safe, I'll be fine," Edward said tersely.
"How will you keep her safe? It takes more than human defenses to protect her."
"Don't you get it?" he roared, "By leaving Bella, I am keeping her safe. There is nothing worse for her than me."
"We have to do this," Mom said sternly to me, "It has to be this way, Jacob. I know it's not fair. If Edward wants to cut her off from vampires, that is his choice. I'm sorry it's affecting you."
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. I had expected Mom to be with me. I knew she was happy about leaving Bella behind, but I didn't have the heart to call her out on that. So I closed my mouth and stormed upstairs.
I woke up with the feeling of dread in my stomach. It had been an awful night. My head had been filled with flawed escape plans and anticipative dread. I didn't need a psychic to tell me today would be awful.
I got dressed in a black t-shirt and dark jeans as a symbol of my protest. Maybe they changed their minds while I was sleeping. I laid a white shirt out too as a sign of last hope. I was feeling symbolic today.
I trudged down the flights of stairs. I was tired from staying up to argue with Edward.
Mom put a hot bowl of oatmeal at my place at the table. She sat down next to me.
"Carlisle found a hospital job in Ithaca."
"Already?" I asked. I had hoped for some time to make a game plan.
"They had made the offer recently. You know how he's always getting those."
"And we're going with him?"
"Yes, it's back in New York. We could spend Christmas at the home in Rochester if you want. We picked New York because there's a school for you. It's a great opportunity."
I knew which school she was talking about. They contacted us in July through a letter and a cooler of steaks. They were pretty desperate for a good football team, and I was one of the best football players for my age. My mom wanted me to go a lot, but I preferred tiny, rainy public Forks High with all my friends than-
"St. Francis Academy? Remember the one? It's one of the top high-schools in the country. So many of its graduates have gone on to Ivy Leagues. They had their first game already and well, they're willing to overlook your belated entrance after that. The academics are what really set it apart though."
Mom kept rambling about St. Francis. In a way, the stuffy, private school would be my perfect punishment. I deserved it for leaving Bella in Forks.
I told myself that one day I would find a way around Edward and my family, to see Bella. To apologize for abandoning her and for the pain we were about to put her through. To try and help her any way I could. The thought of seeing Bella again would be the light at the end of the tunnel.
I got a drive from Mom to school since Aunt Alice had left last night. I was going to use my last hours, days, whatever in Forks wisely. Mom and Grandma were packing up the house. Mom worked quickly, but I saw Grandma linger over the boxes. Forks was where she had watched her lonely son fall in love and gained a daughter. She was hoping Edward would think this through and change his mind.
I started off with Bella. I didn't owe anything to Edward. She came up to me and smiled sadly. I tried to smile back as real as I could. I knew Edward was being a jerk to her already.
"Jacob, is Edward angry with me?" she asked me.
"Of course not," I said. I should tell her that we're leaving. Warn her. Come up with a plan with her.
"Oh, thanks Jacob. I have to go. I'm glad I talked to you." She walked past me and down the hall.
Piss.
Okay, I'll move one down the list. I'm going to tell my best friend, Devon. Edward wouldn't want me to let the word get out, but like I said, I owed him nothing. Plus, I was only human. He couldn't expect me to break off all my ties and disappear in a moment.
We had World History together, right before Lunch. Luckily, there was a sub which meant "quiet" work. She let us work with partners so we naturally paired up.
Devon was shocked but not entirely. He knew my family was weird and prone to sudden change. I told him we would be leaving in a few days and asked him to keep it quiet. He agreed but asked me what I was doing about Gwen. I shook my head.
It wasn't like I was in love with Gwen. We said "love you" and stuff, but only meant it in the way teenagers did. She's a big person of my life but not the biggest.
That's why telling Bella would be ten times harder. Edward was the only thing that truly mattered to her. The one thing she couldn't do without. How does one tell her that the planet she orbits around was gone?
During lunch, I was quiet. I often looked over at Bella and Edward. He wasn't even trying to hide it. I realized I was angry with him for doing this to her. Couldn't he see the pain in her eyes or how she hunched in on herself? They exchanged a few words. Bella laid her head down on the table, her brown hair in knotty disarray. I winced. My stomach twisted in pain.
The afternoon was long but passed.
After school, I walked Gwen home. Now would be when I have to tell her.
As soon as the annoying kid who always walked with us had turned on to his street, I began.
"Gwen, I'm moving," I blurted. Smooth, Jacob. Gwen stopped short and tugged my sleeve. She looked at me, confused.
"Excuse me?"
"I really don't want to, and I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you sooner, but it was decided just a few days ago, and we had to accept it quick." My words were jumbled and came out in one big run-on.
"Okay, Jake. Slow down and rewind."
"My dad got an offer in this hospital in New York. He had to accept it soon. My family's leaving any day."
"Oh," was all she said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you like two weeks' notice or something."
Gwen chuckled darkly. "I always kind of expected something like this. Your family's so mysterious. You show up out of the blue. They'll disappear for a few days without notice."
I didn't know what to say to that. She was right on target though.
"I really like you, Jacob," she said, a little sadly.
"I like you too-a lot," I said.
"But we can't do long-distance," she said.
"That's probably for the best," I agreed.
"Where are you going, like for school?"
"This crap private school."
"The one who sent you those yummy steaks?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"I think you'll be fine," she said-did I hear a tease?
"Oh do you?"
"You came to Forks from across the country and just conquered it. I think you'll do the same thing at a school that's already desperate for you."
I laughed. I was going to miss Gwen.
"Are you gonna be okay?"
Gwen looked me in the eye. "I'll be fine, Jake. I'm going to miss you a lot. I'll be sad. But I'll be fine with time."
"Always friends?" she asked.
"Always," I promised.
"You gonna be falling for some girl from the big city now?" she asked.
I laughed and shook my head. "St. Frank's is an all-guys school."
Gwen started cracking up. "Oh, Jake, that sucks. Maybe you'll be falling for a whole other kind of competition."
I put her in a headlock, but she was giggling too hard to fight back. I was laughing too. I might as well get used to the jabs every all-boys school got. I eventually released her, but I held her hand. We hadn't said good-bye yet.
"What about you? Time for you to make your move on another Forks guy?"
"Oh, yes. Maybe one of those giants in La Push my sister's always drooling over. Tall, dark, and handsome."
I laughed a little, but I didn't really get it.
"Am I ever going to see you again?" she asked.
I shrugged. "We're leaving whenever we're ready so I don't know. I want to come back..but I really don't know what to expect from my family."
Gwen nodded with understanding. That's why she and Devon were great. They knew my family was freaky and unpredictable, but they accepted it. With a reputation like ours, people who looked past that were hard to find.
We reached her house.
We embraced tightly, and she pecked my cheek. Gwen went inside, and I continued down her street. Someone always picks me up. I felt a serenity inside me. That had been so simple. We just transitioned from couple to friends. It's not like we were ever in true love, but Gwen was exceptional.
I prayed that Bella and Edward's break-up could be a fiftieth that simple, but I knew the hope was useless. They were twisted together so tightly it was slightly unhealthy. Edward once referred to himself as Bella's drug, but I don't think he understands that she's his drug too. But if they are addicted to each other, shouldn't I be encouraging them to get clean, so to say? The withdrawal would be difficult, but in the long run, beneficial.
That seemed cruel though. And Bella and Edward separating didn't seem like something they could heal from. Would it really be better for them to continue the addiction?
These confusing thoughts jumbling in my head were making my brain hurt.
I was unpleasantly surprised to see the shiny silver Volvo pull up next to me. Piss. Edward was my ride?
If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. I feel like I shouldn't get in, but I didn't want to make him angrier.
I climbed into the backseat. It's the safest part of the car. I wonder if anyone counted furious vampires into that statistic.
He never looked at the road as he sped down the wet Forks streets. His topaz eyes were solid and hard and were staring at me through the rearview.
Just before the silence became unbearable, Edward spoke.
"Why would you do this, Jacob? Can you imagine the hurt you would put Bella through if one of your little friends was loose-lipped?"
"You're making me leave every friend I have. I'm going to do it right though. They won't tell anyone," I said, "And if I were her, I'd appreciate a heads-up."
"You fail to understand that this is not your decision."
"Why can't it be Bella's?"
"Her reason is...clouded." He swerved into the driveway.
"Why can't we just stay? Please?"
"I can't put my wants before Bella's safety."
"Why can't you do one thing to make yourself happy?" My entire life and almost a century before Edward was lonely and miserable. A man in purgatory, waiting for something divine.
Edward literally growled at me. I raised my eyebrows. That was a first.
"Get out," he snarled. I fumbled for my backpack on the floor and jumped out of the car. My jacket flew up in the wind of the speeding Volvo.
"You know I'm right!" I yelled after it. I lifted my hood and ran up the driveway through the rain.
So pumped for Book 2! The canon path is taking a turn from here on out, and the scene a lot of you've been waiting for since chapter one is on its way. (; Want to make my day? Review!