Here it is: the hopefully, much anticipated next chapter.
JPOV
"Tomorrow's a big day for Bella and you Jacob, do you know why?" I was five when my father pulled me up onto his lap moments after Uncle Charlie had come to pick up Bella.
"Tomorrow is the first day of kindergarten." He nodded his head.
"Yes it is Jake, the two of you are going to start going to school for half of the day." He paused so he could wheel the two of us back into the house before continuing to speak.
"Uncle Charlie and I need you to do something for us Bud." My mind went through the most far-fetched possibilities of what they could need of me. I definitely wasn't expecting what my father said next.
"Can you keep an eye on Bells for us Jake? Make sure she doesn't feel lonely and that the other kids aren't bugging her."
"Why do I have to look out for her Dad?" He made sure I was looking him in the eye before he answered.
"Because Bella's a little smaller then everyone else and a little quieter and she might need a friend."
"I'm her friend." I told my father.
"That's why you need to look out for her Jake." I told my father I'd look out after Bella and the next day took my job very seriously. We were best friends after all, inseparable. Any one who wanted to even get close to her had to be approved by me first.
"My tour starts in under three months Bella, Sam keeps telling me that I need to get my ass into shape and start preparing but isn't that what I hired him for?" I've never been good with silence, finding the need to fill it in with my voice when it goes on for too long.
"He wants me to put a set list together of all the songs I'm going to perform; I don't want to do anything from my first album though. Sam wants me to; he says I have an obligation to do at least two of them." I had finally run out of things to say for the moment, not wanting for the room to be too quiet I turned on the T.V to the news.
"Four days after singer turned model Isabella Swan was hit by a distracted model, endless amounts of fans continue to gather around the Memorial hospital in a show of solidarity. A speaker for the family thanks fans for their support and reports that Ms. Swan's condition has improved over the last days although she has not yet regained consciousness..."
"Fuck Bells, I didn't know that crap would be on the T.V." I turned it off and turned back to her side. These past days since the accident she had gone through several surgeries to stop internal bleeding and other injuries that had occurred because of the crash. And that son of a bitch who had been texting and driving… He got a concussion from his airbags.
I haven't left her side since two days ago when they stopped doing surgeries, everyone else comes and goes. This shit is my fault; if I hadn't said what I had she'd be fine.
"I was supposed to protect you damn it." I muttered to her, pushing a stray hair from her face.
"Every opportunity I've had to protect you Bells, I always seem to fail." I was interrupted from my one sided conversation by a knock at the door.
"She doing any better Jake?" Charlie came right in without waiting for me to answer the door. He had been splitting his time between the hospital and helping Angela out with a distraught Eli.
"They say her vital signs are becoming better and better. The doctor said if she continued to improve like this they'd be able to pull her out of the medical coma in the next week." I still wasn't a hundred percent sure on why they had put my angel in this deep sleep but the doctors insisted she would heal better like this.
"She's a tough one for sure." I could tell seeing her like this was taking a toll on Charlie. Bella had been Charlie's only source of joy for so long and over the years the two of them had developed a tight bond in spite of the distance between them and their demanding jobs.
"Angela sent you some more clean clothes and food; she also demanded that I'm not to return without your laundry." Charlie passed the duffle bag he was holding off to me.
"Tell her thanks from me." I made no effort to move.
"Jake, go change. I'll stick around while you freshen up." Charlie spoke to me in a fatherly tone that I couldn't seem to refuse. I placed a kiss onto Bella's cool forehead before making my way to the bathroom.
"What the hell was that Bella? I'm gone for under a week and you become acquainted enough with that sleaze to let him stick his tongue down your throat?" I was beyond pissed with her, before I left I had told her to stay away from Edward. He was obviously no good and I didn't want Bella to get hurt by him.
"It's my life Jacob, if I want to date Edward then I can."
"You're dating? My God Bella, how could you be so stupid? You know he only wants one thing don't you?" She backed away from me, her face distorting in anger.
"You don't know him Edward; you haven't even said shit to him since he moved here."
"I don't need to get to know him Bella I already know enough about him. He's rich, spoiled and used to getting whatever girl he wants and let's face it, you're easy prey."
"What the fuck does that mean Jacob?"
"You know what I mean Bella, you're inexperienced and…" She cut me off.
"You know why I'm such an 'easy target' as you put it? Because every guy between here and Seattle is fucking terrified of you. I asked out Paul to the Sadie Hawkins Dance and he told me no because he didn't want to ruin your friendship."
"I'm just trying to protect you Bella."
"I'm not a little girl anymore Jacob, I don't need protecting. If you can't accept that I want to date Edward then I don't want you in my life." I was too mad at her to do anything other than walk away and hope that she would come crawling back to me.
How was I supposed to tell her that I was in love with her? Especially after we had just argued like that. We were mad at each other for a long time, too long if you ask me. Somehow, by fate we both ended up in Seattle pursuing music careers, mine in rap and hers in indie pop.
Even after the two of us finally made up, Eli was what really brought us together.
"Jake." Bella had spoken my name as casually as possible while dining with Sam and me.
"Did you finish that whole cup of tea already Bells?" She winced momentarily then shook her head.
"No, I think I'm having contractions." The glass I was holding shattered to the ground as I pulled myself out of my seat.
"Okay then come on, to the hospital we go." She just smiled before gesturing for me to sit down.
"The contractions have just started Jake; you're not supposed to go to the hospital until they're around three minutes apart. I promise this baby is not going to fall out of me here, now finish your food." I shot Sam a plea for any kind of assistance but he just shrugged.
"Bella's the pregnant one Jacob and I know well enough not to argue with her." With that I gave up and tried to finish my meal in peace, every contraction however sent me into a state of panic. This ridiculousness continued on the rest of the night since I insisted on being with Bella at her apartment.
"Jacob the baby's probably not even coming until the morning. Go home and I'll call you when I'm on the way to the hospital."
"You're planning on driving to the hospital while in labor? That's insanity." She rolled her eyes at my shock.
"Yes Jake, since there's absolutely no taxis in this very populated city I'm going to drive myself to the hospital like any logical person-" She cut off, feeling pain from a contraction and after checking my watch I realized her last one had been just over three minutes ago. With that as all the motivation I needed, I gathered Bella in my arms and headed out the door before she could protest.
Elijah Clark Swan was born at 11:55 P.M on May 1st, two hours after I rushed Bella to the hospital. The moment I saw that little boy I fell in love, just like I had fallen in love with his mother all those years ago.
"He's perfect Bells." She nodded, her face looking euphoric as she just stared at the bundle in her arms.
"Thank-you Jake, for everything. I probably would've given birth in a cab if it wasn't for you."
"Just remember Bella, I'll always be here for you."
Next up: Sleeping Beauty awakens.