Troubleshoot

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Magic

Just in case Alice had foreseen her last-minute decision and tried to intercept, Bella decided to make use of the Mercedes Guardian's extra speed by putting her foot down. The car immediately surged forward without effort, seemingly pleased to be let off the reins and fulfil its full potential.

As the trees flashed by on either side of the highway, Bella recalled the last time she had made a snap decision to visit Jacob in La Push. She had been driving her ancient Chevy truck then, and had made it to the boundary line without incident. It had taken fifteen minutes, with her gunning the engine, pushing it to its limits. She remembered the thrill of excitement of doing something forbidden. It wasn't often she went against Edward's wishes, however, when it came to Jacob, all bets were off.

Bella drove smoothly down the wet highway, the windshield wipers swishing the water droplets away in a soothing motion. If it was her truck, she would have heard every scrape and squeal of the wipers against the windshield, the groaning noise of the old engine protesting all the way. Oh, how she missed that sound. It was like the soundtrack to her soul. The Mercedes was too quiet, too smooth, too damn perfect. She absolutely hated it.

Even after all this time Bella still didn't know exactly where the boundary line was, but she began to relax as she passed the first houses outside La Push. This had to be where Alice or Edward were not allowed to follow.

"I'll call him when I get to Jake's." Bella said aloud to the empty air. "Just so he knows I'm fine and doesn't overreact just because Alice can't see me. After all there is no reason for him to get mad at me-I've done nothing wrong. He's the one who overstepped by insisting I drive this ridiculous vehicle."

Bella won the argument with herself easily, putting her mind at rest that she was doing the right thing. By the time she pulled to a stop in front of the familiar red house, a lump lodged in her throat, her gaze turning wistful as she stared at the place that had once been her refuge. It had been so long since she had been here.

Even though the Mercedes engine was as silent as a grave, Jacob appeared at the door, his face blank with shock. Bella cut the engine, staring out through the tinted windows, wondering if he even knew it was her inside the sleek black tank.

Jacob didn't move from his position. He seemed frozen in place, not one muscle twitching. Bella sat in the driver seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel, thinking for the first time that she may have made a mistake just turning up without warning. What if he didn't want to see her? They had been out of contact since their last painful goodbye. She had just presumed everything would fall naturally in place like it always did when they were together. What if it didn't? What if this time, Jacob really had enough of her?

Bella tensed, waiting, biding her time, hoping that she was wrong. Praying that the Jacob she knew still had it in his heart to forgive.

"Ill always be waiting in the wings, Bella." Jacob had promised the last time she had seen him.

Bella remembered the dull, dragging sense of loss, feeling the tearing separation as she left a part of herself behind, there on the bed next to him.

"You'll always have that spare option if you want it."

That sad statement had broken Bella completely. "Until my heart stops beating." She had whispered.

Jacob had paused, before answering. "Maybe even then."

Bella's mind returned to the present, her stricken gaze still riveted on Jacob, who was still standing immobile on the porch. Another long minute passed, which seemed to stretch into eternity, before finally she saw movement.

Jacob's fingers twitched at his sides. His dark eyes were somber as he stepped off the front porch, walking slowly in her direction, his expression unreadable. His pace slowed as he approached the Mercedes, something like distaste pulling his eyebrows down as he examined the flashy car parked outside his house. Jacob loved cars. He lived and breathed them. But something about this one seemed about to set him off. His top lip curled backward, his fingers clenched into fists at his sides, his nostrils dilated. He was clearly on edge, maybe even close to bursting out of his skin.

Then it hit Bella like a punch to the gut as she realized what had triggered the reaction. The car must reek of the Cullens. They had all driven it, eager to road test the latest addition to their collection of expensive automobiles.

Hastily swinging the driver's door open, Bella tumbled out, hoping to stop Jacob shifting before he understood it was just her inside.

"Jake, hey, its me. I'm alone."

"Bella?"

"Hey, Jake!" Bella said again, standing with her hands held up in front of her. "I know I should have called. I just…."

"Bella!" Jacob yelled back, and the smile she had been waiting for stretched across his face like the sun breaking free of the clouds. His teeth gleamed bright against his russet skin.

If there was any lingering doubt left that he was pleased to see her, that was laid to rest when he closed the gap between them, yanking her up into his arms, and swinging her around until she was dizzy.

Jacob felt like-like he didn't know what. Like this wasn't real. Like he was in some Goth version of a bad sitcom. Instead of being the A/V dweeb about to ask the head cheerleader to the prom, he was the finished-second-place werewolf greeting the soon to be vampire's wife as if nothing had happened. Nice. If this wasn't proof that Bella still had in him in a choke hold nothing did.

Before he had even finished the thought, his cheerful mood dissipated. He put Bella down, releasing her so quickly that she staggered. He reached out to help her, then paused, stepping back, his whole body turning rigid. She wasn't his. She belonged to another. She had made that very clear the last time they had spoken. So why was she here? Did she just want to torture him some more? Remind him once again of everything he wanted but couldn't have?

It was so striking, how quickly elation could turn to resentment.

"Jake." Bella said uncertainly, worry clouding her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. "Is everything okay?"

No, he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't reassure her. He wouldn't fall into the same old patterns. He owed her nothing now. She had made her choice. And it wasn't him. Still, his emotions betrayed his bitter thoughts. His lips lifted into a half-smile almost against his will.

Ugh, it was so twisted and wrong. Did she think that he was going to forget all about what she had said to him the last time they met?

But he would talk to her. He would try to make her listen. To make her understand how difficult this was for him.

Would she listen? Really listen? He doubted it. Just like always she would twist what he said into meaning something else entirely.

Because she knows you too well, idiot-came the traitorous inner voice-she knows you don't mean it.

'Shut up'! Jacob thought bitingly.

Aloud, he said. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

Bella flinched at his blatant sarcasm. He wasn't going to make this easy. And why should he?

"You're mad. I guess I deserve that."

Jacob didn't answer or comment as he led the way to the house. Bella wondered if she was supposed to follow or not. She felt confused, unsure of herself. She hadn't anticipated it would be this difficult. Still, she held onto hope, remembering his initial reaction upon seeing her. Summoning up her courage, she walked a few paces behind him, giving him time to turn and tell her to go if that was what he wanted.

Jacob paused just in front of the house. Bella wondered about the place he had chosen to stop. Was he was worried about what the occupants inside would think? She had learned from Charlie that Rachel Black had returned to the family fold after graduating from college. Charlie had also let slip that Jacob's sister was supposedly 'dating' Paul Lahote, of all people. Bella knew there was no suppose about it. They must have imprinted. That could be the only rational explanation for Rachel to chain herself to someone with Paul's temperament. She could only imagine how pissed Jacob was at the whole thing. When she first found out, she had debated whether to ring him or not, to offer her sympathies. She had even considered going to see him in person, until Edward had put a stop to it.

"He won't thank you for it, Bella." Edward had pointed out in a reasonable tone. "He asked for space. You should respect his wishes."

Oh, how she wished that she had just gone with her gut instinct and ignored Edward's advice. Jacob probably didn't think she cared; he must have known Charlie would tell her about the new development. Feeling resigned, Bella came up to stand beside him.

"I heard about Paul and Rachel." She began hesitantly. "That must suck. I'm sorry."

Jacob didn't look at her, instead keeping his gaze trained on the house. "I broke his nose this morning." He revealed to Bella's surprise. "He stole a pack of Doritos. It was the last straw. Rachel has let him have the run of the house."

Bella heard the rough edge to his tone. "Doesn't Billy mind?"

"Of course, he does." Jacob answered with a sigh. "He won't say anything, though. He's just glad to have Rachel home. Anyway, he spends most of his time at the Clearwaters' these days."

"But that's not fair to you." Bella sympathized. She reached for his hand, but it was the wrong move.

"I've learned that life is never fair." Jacob snapped, snatching his hand away before she could capture it. "You taught me that."

Bella's face paled, her heart plummeting all the way to her boots. He was so much more than angry, he was hurt, bitterly hurt. As always, she felt his pain as if it were her own.

"I guess I deserved that, too."

Jacob scowled. "Stop being so understanding. I hate it when you play the martyr, Bella. Its one of your worst traits."

Bella watched him anxiously, her eyes flicked to the house for a second. Then she was watching him again. Her face turned a grayish pale, the stress of the situation making her feel worse.

"I don't know what to do, Jacob." She whispered. "I don't know how to make things right." Her eyes were glistening, her lashes wet. "If you want me to go…"

Jacob turned and glowered down at her. "You are so good at running away. Another one of your worst personality traits."

Even though she was weighed down with guilt, Bella felt her temper simmering. "You expect me to just stand here while you list all my character faults? I'm surprised we ever became friends if you disliked so much about me."

Jacob huffed an irritated sigh. "I'm not going to lie, Bella."

"No one could ever accuse you of that."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "No, I always told you the truth, no matter what it cost me."

"Okay, okay." Bella said, stricken. "I deserve your anger. All of it. I know how much I hurt you. I bring it all on myself. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you do. What're you thinking by coming here, Bells? Seriously!"

"Please don't yell at me, Jacob."

"You're on my turf. I can damn well yell if I want to!" Jacob sniped. "Though I can't figure out why I think you'd listen to me. You never have before."

Bella sighed. "You know that's not true."

"I told you – "He started to say.

"Did you know that 'I told you so' has a brother, Jacob?" Bella demanded, cutting him off. "His name is 'Shut the hell up.'"

"Good one." Jacob replied sardonically.

Bella smiled weakly. She felt stretched thin. "I can't take credit for it – I got it off the rerun of The Simpsons."

"Missed that one."

"It was funny."

They didn't talk for a minute. The silence was awkward.

"Why did you come here, Bella?" Jacob asked, his animosity draining away as his former resignation took hold.

Bella hung her head, realizing that her reason for coming over was going to sound lame. "It was my truck." She murmured.

"Your truck?" Jacob sounded confused.

"She died, Jake. I miss her. I hoped that you could fix her."

"You want me to resurrect that old Chevy?" Jacob exclaimed sarcastically. "Why not get the bloodsucker to shell out for another fancy car if you don't like that one." His gaze shifted to the Mercedes parked a few meters from the house.

Bella's hands started to shake as she followed the direction of his gaze. "Because I hate it, Jake. I hate the car. Its not me. It pretentious, over the top, and so – "

"Like Edward Cullen?" Jacob finished for her. His eyes were filled with dark amusement. "He killed the old iron monster, didn't he?"

Bella averted her gaze, heat rising to her cheeks. "I suspect so." She agreed.

Jacob didn't know what to say to that. However, he did know this-every second he spent with her was only going to add to the pain he would suffer later. Like a junkie with a limited supply, the day of reckoning was coming for him. The more hits he took now, the harder it would be when his supply ran out.

"It'll work out, you know." Bella continued after another minute of silence. "I believe that."

That made Jacob see red again. "In your world, maybe. Not mine!"

Bella laughed shakily, though his anger was so real that his hands were shaking with the effort not to phase. "Maybe." She said. "I'm not saying things will work out easily, Jake. But how could we have lived through all that we have lived through and not believe in magic at this point?"

"Magic?"

"Especially for you." Bella smiled sadly. She lifted her right hand and pressed it against his cheek. Her touch felt cool against his hot skin, like most things did. "More than anyone else, Jake, you've got some magic waiting to make things right for you. I firmly believe that."

A/N-thanks for reading!