Planned on holding onto this a few more days, but I'm feeling like a little drama tonight. Who's ready for DRAMA?

Okay, trying again. I submitted the chapter and for a second, my formatting was wonky. Every single sentence was squeezed together. I deleted the chapter and am trying again. If anyone has problems let me know.

Breakup song inspiration is "Cemetery Gates" by Pantera.

Chapter 33: Call me Crazy

Jake threw his phone down again. Was she having him followed and knew about the lawyer visits? Surely, his senses were keen enough to spot any fumbling PI a mile away. Kaleigh was avoiding him like the plague. The minute he begged for a meeting, she pulled a constant disappearing act. Either, she was going to sit down and listen tonight or he was ready to pull up stakes and walk away. It was shitty to end a marriage via text, but what other choice did she give him?

He had a slew of unanswered calls and messages. Last night, after talking things out with Bells, he watched a little TV, ate a couple of frozen pizzas and passed out for the night. Kaleigh was nowhere in sight at breakfast. If Mack found out about him quitting his job, he had probably already spilled the news. That stupid prick was going to get what was coming to him.

Jacob had time to think about Mack's sudden interest in Bella from the get-go. She was a beautiful woman. He didn't imagine she went unnoticed by the male species, which made him feel a prickle of heat run through his veins. However, Mackenzie Langston prided himself on being untethered. He didn't form attachments, hated complications and preferred the easy way in almost every situation. Jacob knew that from working with him. Actually, he'd been like that all the way back in college. A single mom with an attachment to his cousin's husband was about as complicated as they came. He wasn't dumb. Kaleigh and Mack thought he was apparently, but she was far too chill about her cousin hanging out with Bella.

The sooner they got outta here, away from these people, the better. He wasn't even bringing Mack up to Bells any longer unless she had something to say. He considered him a non-issue. Bella must have given him the cold shoulder for him not to at least attempt a goodnight kiss. He was only meant as a distraction, but why? That part he hadn't completely figured out.

Jacob's cell phone vibrated... finally. Kaleigh better be on the way home or he was going to where she was. They were having this damn conversation if he had to stay up all night.

He answered annoyed, "Hello."

"Oh, hey, Jake. Sorry. You sound busy. I'm just... I was wondering..."

"Sorry about that, I didn't look before I spoke. What's up? Is everything okay with Ace?"

"Yeah, he's good. Barry and I just finished dinner. We're going to watch a movie." Jacob heard some background noise. "There, I came to my room. Some people are so nosy. I was just calling to see if you've talked to Kaleigh yet. I hadn't heard from you. I was feeling a little apprehensive."

"I'm not backing out."

"I know, or I figured, but are you okay?"

Jacob told her how Kay's assistant kept making excuses why she couldn't talk to him today. He had one message work was too busy, another that she was at her mother's and one more that she ran into an old friend and then she had to run by the grocery store.

"Sounds like she doesn't want to come home."

"Exactly."

"Um, well, I also wanted you to know, I did a little packing, which was easy since I never really unpacked except for necessities."

"That's good. Do you think we can get it all in Lahote's truck? I can rent something if I need to." She told him she thought so, but she was going to be very protective of the crib and they had to have good weather. Jacob jotted down a reminder to rent a small moving van. Knowing the guys, they'd toss it all in and go without much thought. Bella got kinda quiet, but she wasn't hanging up. He figured she was expecting him to say goodbye first. "Thanks for calling."

"Oh, sure. Well, I'll let you go. We'll see you soon."

Jacob hung up and realized he was grinning ear to ear. She sounded cute over the phone. He could tell she was unsure about making that call, but it was the best thing that happened to him all day. She was concerned. Bella genuinely cared, not just that he was going to end his marriage, but how he was feeling about it.

Dinnertime came and went and still no word from his wife. Jacob made some eggs since there wasn't much in the fridge or pantry. He guessed that's why she was going to the store, but she hardly needed to buy as much if he wouldn't be around. If Kaleigh was gone, then he was getting a shower in the master bath. He hated that guest bathroom, it was cramped. He missed the luxury of the shower he had designed especially for his size. The showerhead was in the right place, plus the wall jets were amazing. He needed something to help him relax.

He briefly looked around their old room. Nothing seemed different, but everything had changed in a short amount of time. Jacob turned the water on hot, dropped his jeans in the middle of the floor and stepped inside. He hadn't taken a shower in there more than a couple of times since she kicked him out. He even hit the aromatherapy dispenser after turning up his tunes. "Cemetery Gates" was his choice and was uniquely fitting for his mood, his situation.

Jacob rested his forehead against the glass tiles and let the water hit him from every direction. He closed his eyes and imagined a new life. It wouldn't arrive overnight, but he was willing to work harder than ever to obtain it.

There still was some residual sadness about ending the one he'd tried to start with Kaleigh. He was going to try and be as sympathetic as he could. They both invested a lot of time and energy in the years they'd been together. He honestly didn't want a huge fight; it wasn't even worth bringing up the desperate attempt to seduce Embry. He was pretty confident she would've backed down from that if his brother hadn't been so quick to turn her down.

Lost in thought, he didn't hear anything but water and loud music before the shower door clicked. Jake turned around fast. He couldn't believe what was before him, he quickly averted his eyes. She was still his wife, but he didn't want to see. It felt awkward. He angled his hips sideways. He felt exposed as well.

"Kay... what the hell are you doing?"

"Having a shower with my husband, of course. I missed this. It smells divine, but this music has to go. Who added that loud mess to our playlist?" She reached around him and put on something soft and tranquil. That was it. He was making his exit. Jacob tried to step around her, but Kaleigh purposely bumped her naked body into his.

She reached for the goods without hesitation. He grabbed her wrist. "Don't."

"Why not?"

"Because you know why. Move, so I can leave."

She puckered her bottom lip. "I bet there are hundreds of men that would be happy to be naked with me right now in a luxurious shower."

She was probably right, but he didn't admit that he wasn't one of them. No sense rubbing salt in the wounds he was opening up. He wasn't going to start the talk until they were both dressed. Jacob physically moved her out of his way. There was nothing aggressive about it, but she got the picture. He quickly wrapped himself in a towel, grabbed his stuff off the floor and walked out of the bathroom. He went to the guestroom and slipped on a pair of sweats and a snug v-neck.

He walked to the master bedroom door and listened. The water was off. He paused before knocking. He wanted to make sure she had time to dress. She didn't answer, so Jacob slowly pushed open the door. Kaleigh was sitting on the edge of the bed. She had a terrycloth bathrobe on her shoulders with her arms inside, but she hadn't attempted to close the front. She might as well still be nude in the shower. Her head was hanging low and she was already crying.

Jacob came over and sat on the corner opposite her. "I'm sorry. I never set out to hurt you."

"Was any of it real?"

"Of course. I loved you. I wanted to mean the vows, but... "

She stopped him. "Everything's past tense. She was supposed to be your past but it got switched at some point, didn't it?"

"Yes."

"Because of the baby. Is that why? You think you need to be together for his sake?"

"No, not exactly. Kay, let's talk about us instead."

"I thought when you kept trying to make contact today, you wanted to... nevermind."

He wondered if she was really being truthful about that. He hadn't led her on in a long time, pretty much since the night he brought Bella and Ace to Seattle. That was the one and only time he'd done that. Ever since then, it had felt like a chasm formed in the middle of their home. They were completely divided.

He needed to be completely upfront. "I have a lawyer. I'll give you his card. I quit my job. We'll be going back to La Push this weekend. I would like a third-party Realtor to list the property, unless you want to buy me out. I'm not sure why you ran up so many bills recently, but the lawyers are going to have to settle that financial stuff. It really would help if you could return some of it."

"Screw you and your lawyer! I can't believe you're sitting over there completely empty of any goddamn emotions! You're not even looking at me! This is our life! Our marriage, Jake!"

"I'm aware of that. If you want me to face you, put on some fucking clothes."

She changed from the sappy, crying jilted wife almost immediately. Kaleigh jumped off the bed, shedding the robe on the floor. She attempted to climb over him. Jacob grabbed both her arms. She fought him with all her strength, which was no match for his. He had to be cautious not to harm her, but she was kicking and screaming and going nuts. He was glad his house was well insulated. He never wanted Bella and Barry to hear all this craziness. Jacob pushed her on her back, got up and stepped away from the bed. He searched for something to cover her with since she was basically spread out on display.

"Make love to me again, Jake. I'll prove to you we aren't over."

She had sunk to an all-time low. There was no way. He needed to leave. He wasn't going to be able to stay there. She chased him, wrapped her arms around his waist and begged again.

He extracted her from his body, "Kaleigh, stop. It's over."

She was unable to get her arms around him again. She was trying to grab him, scratch him, anything she could do. He was always too fast and she was becoming more and more frustrated.

Kaleigh walked over to the stone fireplace and started hitting her hands and arms. He needed to stop her before she hurt herself. "I'll tell everyone you did this to me, you bastard! It will be my word against yours and I'm more credible!"

Jacob held her arms at her sides. "Please, stop, I don't want this. I know you're in pain. I'm sorry. Jesus, I'd take back so many things if I could. Can I call someone for you?"

She seemed to calm down a little, at least she wasn't attacking him or trying to injure herself. Jacob grabbed the throw blanket from the back of the sofa. He wrapped it over her shoulders and ushered her to sit down.

"This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to be coming back from Hawaii a few weeks ago and I'd be pregnant." Jacob had never planned for that to occur. She had been living in a fantasy almost as long as he had been, thinking he could live without Bells. "I still could be, you know. I haven't had a period since they came here. I thought it was stress, but what if we have our own little miracle?"

He knew it wasn't possible. Old Quil and his father had shared some information with him. Jacob would never have children with anyone but Bells. Besides, he could smell her. She wasn't pregnant and she was still taking her pills. He scented the hormones.

"You're not pregnant."

"You don't know that."

"Fine, you have a test from six months ago when you messed up your pills and we worried for a few days, go find it and take it."

"No, I don't feel like it. I'm not sure I kept it."

"You did. I saw the box in the back of the bathroom cabinet. Go get it."

"What are you going to do if it's positive?"

"I'm going to do exactly as I planned, because you won't be."

"I really think I am. It all makes sense, the mood swings, the irritability, the crying fits.

Jacob had all he could stand. "Whatever, I can't even remember the last time we had sex. If you are, it's not mine and I can say that with 100% certainty."

So much for getting her calmed down. "How dare you? You're a fucking bastard!"

He got up and headed for his room to pack up his things. He knew he couldn't get everything, but he'd clean out what was important when he rented the moving van over the weekend. She ran after him screaming all sorts of expletives, ranting and raving about her false pregnancy. The final straw was her agreeing with him.

"You're right. It's not yours. You were a miserable lover, Jake. I had to go elsewhere."

"Fine. Get out of my way, Kay. I'm leaving now. I'll be back Saturday for my stuff, it would be best if you were gone." He pulled a card out of the jeans he picked off the bed.

"Here, that's my lawyer. You can go through his office, we won't be talking again."

"Don't you want to know who my lover is?"

"Nope."

Jacob stuffed clothes in a bag as fast as he could.

"It's Embry. We've gone behind your back for a long time." He turned around and told her he knew that was a boldface lie. "No, it's not. Embry appreciates me. He loves me and he's ten times better than you ever were in the sack."

"You really should see a psychiatrist. You're delusional. My brother would never betray me like that. My family actually has respect for one another. We're not perfect, but you would never catch any of us making up terminal illnesses to get our way. I can barely stand your mother, but that was low and despicable."

"You think I made that up myself?"

"I don't know, nor do I care anymore. All I know is, it's a lie. She's not sick. She's well enough to try and buy Bella off and get rid of my son in the process."

"I had her permission. It was her idea. I never waited to tell my mother about your bastard son. I told her the first night. She said if I really wanted to keep you there were plenty of avenues I could pursue."

"I stand corrected, you're both fucked up in the brain. I can't believe I kept trying to give you the benefit of the doubt and blamed myself for you acting out."

Jacob picked up his bag to leave. Ace would be asleep. He hated to uproot them late at night but there was no other choice. He wasn't sure where they'd go. He really didn't feel like making the long drive to the reservation. He was completely spent after this fuckery. He slammed the door in her face, hoping that was the last he'd see of her.

Jacob barged inside the apartment door. Barry was stretched out on the couch. Bella walked out of the bedroom looking alarmed, "Jake, what's wrong?"

"We've got to go... right now. I'm sorry, but I can't have you anywhere near Kaleigh in her current state of mind."

Barry jumped up. Bella started telling him what to grab. Hopefully, the important stuff would fit in his SUV. Jacob promised they'd get movers to come get the rest. He thought waiting for the weekend was too long. She might come in here and trash everything out of spite. He told Bella to wrap up Ace and walk down to her car. He and Barry grabbed as much as they could carry. Jacob opened the garage to help carry the big stuff, like the pack-n-play and the bouncer.

Unfortunately, that was not the last of Kaleigh. She was standing in the driveway yelling to the heavens, still wearing nothing but that damn blanket.

Bella froze at the sight of her, "You happy, you dumb cunt? This isn't over! Jacob will have to tell you the truth eventually! He'll be back when he realizes I'm not lying about having his baby!" All the blood drained out of Bella's face.

"Bells, get in the back with Ace. Lock the door until I get back." He yelled for Barry to stand by the car. Jake had told everyone to fall back for the night because he'd thought he needed privacy. Now, he seriously regretted that decision.

Jacob blocked Kaleigh from coming any closer to the garage. "You better back up. Don't take another step towards my family."

"You have to be joking! I'm your family! You said I was first! We're not done here! Come back inside so we can talk. Let that home-wrecking bitch take care of herself for once!"

"You need to snap the fuck out of it. Go back in the house. Don't you even think about touching anything in this garage either. It's all mine, it always has been. I swear to God, I'll call the cops if you even move one screwdriver in there. One more thing... " she glared at him, but took a few steps back. He got in her face so that she would literally feel his rage, "Don't ever speak to my son's mother like that. Bella is a beautiful woman, inside and out, and I won't tolerate that sort of disrespect. I tried my best to be sensitive to your feelings, but you need serious help. You're as disgusting and bitter as your racist mother."

Kaleigh raised her hand to slap him but he stopped her, causing her to jerk her hand from his grip, screaming for him not to touch her, that she was the one calling the cops. Unfortunately, she didn't go back inside, but retreated to the front porch. The sooner they left, the better. Emotions were skyrocketing. Seriously, if they had close neighbors, someone else would've called the cops for certain.

Jake ran upstairs to grab the rest. Barry was on his phone as he stuffed more bags in Bella's trunk. Kaleigh finally stopped screeching and yelling obscenities at them, but she sat there in the cold night, shivering under the thin scrap of a blanket. She was watching him leave her, witnessing him giving up everything they'd worked for, with another woman. She never appeared to look away either.

"Collin says we can all come to his place."

"Okay, good. Follow us. Let's get the hell out of here."

Jacob climbed behind the wheel. Ace was screaming bloody murder after having his sleep disturbed. Bella was trying to get him back to sleep by talking to him softly and holding a pacifier to his lips. Jacob pulled out of the driveway. Kaleigh never moved from the spot she chose as a front row seat to observe the disintegration of their marriage. So much for not really being evil, she had sunk about as low as she could go. He stopped trying to see the wife he was leaving behind. Instead, he changed his focus on Bells in the rearview mirror. She was wiping her eyes.

"Could it be true?"

"No, absolutely not."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because the legends say the imprinted wolves will only have children with their imprints. She's not pregnant, Bells. I swear."

He heard of whoosh of breath escape her lungs, "Oh my gosh, that's a huge relief. What the hell went on in there?"

"A little bit of everything."

"She didn't have her clothes on, Jacob."

"I know."

"So you're sure there's no more little Blacks on the way? I can't forget how she said that to me, like she was stabbing me with a knife."

"Bella, you can talk to Dad about it if you don't believe me, but there will be no more little Blacks until I make you fall in love with me all over again and you decide to give them to me."

They drove for a few miles down the road towards Collin's condo. She finally whispered to their son, "Now look who's talking crazy, huh, baby?" Ace had calmed down and was cooing at her. "I can't possibly fall in love with your daddy again, seeing as how I never stopped in the first place."

~Thanks for reading.

You know I really want to hear what you think about this one...