Jacob had stood in the woods collecting himself for several minutes when he heard Bella yelling at him from over by the waterfall. He had considered leaving, but he needed to stay to make sure nothing happened to Edward. Edward wasn't completely safe in Quileute territory without Jacob there to keep watch. Jacob could sense if his pack came too close much earlier than Edward would be able to.

Making his way over to the… couple… Jacob didn't know how to act. The whole situation was agonizing. Bella smiled as he approached, and though he barely mustered a faint grimace back she didn't seem to pick up on anything being wrong. He must have been looking more collected than he felt.

"So, is anyone ready to jump in?" Jacob muttered, not actually expecting anyone to take him up on the offer. His insides were in shambles, his thoughts muddled, but he tried to seem normal in front of Bella.

Bella grinned, "I suspect you're on your own on that one, Jake."

Jacob could feel Edward's eyes on him, but this time he wanted nothing more than to shrivel up and disappear. Maybe that was what would make Edward the most happy. The most important thing to Jacob was to make Edward happy, so why did he still not feel like leaving him alone? There was something wrong with him, and with the imprint, and with fucking everything.

Edward was still staring at him, but Jacob turned away. Hesitantly he pulled his shirt over his head and ventured over to the edge of the waterfall. Looking back he could see Edward's wide eyes glaring at him while Bella was pulling at his arm to follow her closer to the water. Edward was unmovable, frozen like a statue, eyes not wavering from Jacob's. A feeling of panic arose within Jacob's chest, and his heart was pounding. He could barely see Bella anymore, and the wild noises of the waterfall faded into the background. Edward. Would this be the last time he could see Edward?

Edward suddenly snapped him back to reality by pulling Bella into a tight embrace. "Let's go sit by the bottom of the hill," he smiled at her, staring into her eyes lovingly. Bella didn't seem to even perceive what had just happened, the moment must have lasted only a fraction of a second, but it felt like ages to Jacob. It felt excruciatingly unfair that he had to watch the love of his life loving someone else…

As Bella started following Edward down the little hill, Jacob took a step and let himself fall off the edge of the cliff. He had needed to be in Edward's presence, he always needed to be near Edward, but at the same time it was excruciating. He needed to get away, to stop being a third wheel.

"You're a fucking mad man, Jake!" Bella yelled at him as he ascended into the deep cold water below. He really was. He was going completely mad, and the world around him kept on going as if nothing special had even happened. What would he do now? Edward hated him.

He let the coldness of the water overpower his senses as he sank deeper and deeper down into the abyss. The frigid pressure felt sublime wrapped around his aching chest, and his mind calmed slightly as the darkness of the deep blinded him. He needed the stillness, the distance from Edward's presence.

If only he could dissolve into the water he could become one with nature and maybe understand her reasoning. Why had she made him realize this important thing, how great and perfect Edward was for him, if there was no possibility of it ever becoming reality? What was the meaning? Was this imprint only there to make him suffer? Was that his fate?

As he graced the bedrock of the basin, he felt sleepy. He was tired. So tired of everything that had been happening. For a moment he let himself stay there, feeling the cold pressure envelope his body in a tight embrace. How badly he pined for Edward to embrace him.

All he'd ever wanted was for someone to love him, to choose him, but even with Bella that had been impossible. And now he'd never be able to have it. Edward hated him. Could he ever be happy? Was there a point? Was there… anything… for him… left… ?

"Jake!" Bella was screaming as he felt himself get dragged out of the water. "Oh god, Jake!" she screamed again, but his eyes were too heavy to open. He felt a pair of cold hands pressing into his chest. "Jacob, wake up," he heard, "Jacob," It was Edward, and his tone sounded desperate. His voice rang in Jacob's ears despite coming out of his mouth in a low whisper.

"Edward! Do something!" he heard Bella screaming, before he suddenly felt a cold pressure hitting his lips with force, breathing life back into his lungs. A warmth spread across his body and he abruptly burst into a fit of coughing that drained his lungs of the liquid he'd inhaled. Edward had–

"What the hell are you doing?" Edward screeched, "You could have died!"

Maybe that wouldn't have been so bad…

Edward slammed his hand into the ground with such force that the earth shook beneath them. "You can't just…!" he raged, causing Bella to take a step back. Edward seemed so angry that his body was shaking, and his hands were clenched.

"He's fine, Edward, calm down," Bella tried. Jacob was… alive… saying "fine" was maybe an overstatement…

But this wasn't Edward's problem anyways. Edward hadn't asked for this imprint to happen, and it wasn't Edward's fault that he wasn't… gay… Jacob didn't know the reason why he would ever imprint on someone who was unable to love him back. It didn't make sense.

Edward shot Jacob a troubled look, and Jacob cowered under his gaze. Without another word Edward growled and disappeared into the woods. Good. Edward needed to get off Quileute territory, Jacob wasn't alert enough to sense any dangers if they were to approach. He needed Edward to be safe.

"I–" Bella looked bewilderingly into the woods after Edward, before turning her focus back to Jacob, "Are you okay? What happened?" She squatted down and wrapped her arms around Jacob's shoulders. "Jake?" she murmured into the crook of his neck, but he was out of words.