Six Weeks Later…
I've never dealt with death before. I mean, my mother leaving was basically like a death, but she's not dead. I know in my heart that she's still out there alive… somewhere.
Six weeks of wishing I could have done things differently, said things I never said… six weeks of regret have gone by. Charlie deserved more from me. And now that his daughter is here, I'm even more of a mess.
When I passed her that day I thought my eyes must be playing tricks on me, but she came crashing right into my life to prove that theory dead wrong.
I don't know why I can't stop myself from being an asshole to her. I don't want to act the way I act. I don't want to treat her that way. It's just my nature... I figure I'll make her hate me to protect myself. To protect both of us.
But at the same time, I feel this duty to protect and watch over her. It's an impossible catch 22 I find myself in. Which is why I act so motherfucking crazy every time I'm around her. My brain tells me to act one way but my instincts reflect another.
Sometimes, I want to tell her how beautiful she's become and how much her dad meant to me, how much Charlie loved her, and fuck... I just wanna smile at her sometimes,and I do... but words spill out of me that speak otherwise and I just can't help myself. Out of habit, I slide into asshole mode and protect both of us by pushing her away.
That's the way it has to be though.
I'm not good enough for her anyway... she needs someone solid, like her dad... that will stick by her no matter how much hurt she delves out. She needs someone that isn't scared to love her.
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Present time… he's just peeled out of the diner
I look in my rear-view and watch as Jake Black walks straight to Bella.
He wraps an arm around her shoulder and a foreign feeling washes through me.
This strange sensation spreads in my chest. Tightening starts deep in my lungs and radiates out, tensing all of my muscles. White knuckles grip the wheel as tires spin faster and faster, carrying me further from their view.
The word mine runs through my mind with each flash of his arm draped around her shoulder and I fight the urge to turn around, stalk back into diner and rip her from his dangerous hold.
What's she even doing with him anyway? Is she with that guy? How did I not know this?
It makes sense now.
Visions of her pulling from the clubhouse parking lot come to mind and I piece it together.
I don't know why I'm even questioning this. Works out better for me anyway. She's the one girl that could ruin me… if she is with him, it will just be easier to keep her at a safe distance.
I can't ignore the feeling of jealousy rising up in me, though. So I press the gear shift up, popping the clutch, pushing toward the speed I need.
I may not be good for her but Jake Black is the last guy that she needs. Worry etches its way through my mind as Charlie's words echo back from the past.
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A/N: Okay guys… are you ready? Because here we go. From here, it begins!
I appreciate all of you who have hung onto each chapter and stuck with me through the thick of it, despite not knowing how this will end and with questions at that. I hope through different pov's most of your questions were revealed, but fear not if you still have looming questions. All will be answered in time. And there will be an HEA. For two people, at least. For those that have asked about ages... I've put them in the chapters but I know the details are sometimes easy to miss, so here ya go: Bella is 22. Edward is 23. Jake is 27 and Briggs is the same age as Jake. :D