FAGE: Sweet 16.
Title: Golden Dusk
Written for: Rllance
Written by: 4CullensandaBlack
Rating: T
Prompt used: Twilight (Bella/Jacob) "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost
Summary: You know when Jacob answered the phone when Edward called after Bella cliff dived in New Moon, but he didn't tell Bella who was on the phone, so Edward went to Italy to be killed by the Volturi. But, what if Jacob had not done that and instead let Bella handle the situation with Edward over the phone.
If you would like to see all stories for this event head to the community page FAGE: Sweet 16. All stories past and present will be posted here. Do not forget to add the C2 to your favorite lists for all new stories as they are posted.
A/N: Thank you Meeko for editing, the edited version will be added a later date, but I need to get this up by posting date.
It's been six months since Edward Cullen and his family left town. Six months since Isabella Swan's heart had been broken by her first love, first boyfriend, first kiss, first everything, at least to her. Edward Cullen had become the center of Bella's world for the five months that they dated. Nothing and no one else had mattered but him. The only other person that had come close was her best friend. Jacob Black.
This caused her to ask the question that rang in her mind since Alice Cullen had turned up on her doorstep that night; "am I going to lose you this time, Jacob?"
Jacob looked around the small kitchen in his best friend's home making a decision that he knew would either make or break them. Pressing his hand to her cheek, they looked into each other's eyes, he searched hers before bending towards her lips.
Not pulling away from what was bound to happen, Bella let him continue to get closer to her lips. She missed him so much and needed him in her life so badly. He was, after all, her "personal sun." He shined so brightly that it was hard to look away. He had grown so much over the years since she had known him and especially in these last few months. She wanted to give him this moment. She knew that Jacob liked her far beyond a best friend and a small part of her enjoyed it.
But both of their thoughts were suddenly halted by the shrill of the ringing house phone next to them. She jumped as if cold water had been doused all over her body. The moment of truth has passed; however, Jacob kept staring at her, intensely as he reached to answer the phone.
"Swan residence," he said with an air of disdain at being interrupted and she smiled. But then Jacob's voice got cold. He knew it was him, Edward Cullen. And he knew that some vampires have powers but is his power sensing when Bella was finally, possibly moving on from him.
It takes everything in Jacob to be mature and to really look at the girl that he loves. The girl that he wished he had imprinted on. The girl whose heart has been so broken. But in this moment he realized that he can not make the decision for her, if Bella wanted Edward then she would have Edward.
"He's not here. He's at a funeral…but hold on I will get Bella for you" a gasp is heard on the other end of the phone as Jacob takes a deep breath and with sorrow in his eyes hands the receiver over to Bella.
"Hello, this is Bella" she says with worry in her eyes as Jacob backs up towards the kitchen door as if he was going to leave.
"Jacob, wait" she yelled, remembering the phone, "I am sorry, yes my dad is not here. Can I help you?"
"Be-ll-a" she almost drops the phone as she hears HIS voice.
It's him. It's Edward, what is going on? Why is he calling me now after so long? This can not be a coincidence with Alice showing up. Is he calling because he thinks that I died? That's why Alice showed up. He is only reaching out, out of guilt. Sadness takes over Bella's expression as she realizes that her head is down, looking up she sees that Jacob is still there watching her.
"Edward, yes, it's me and I am fine. Goodbye" she hangs up the phone and walks over to Jacob with a stern look on her face.
Determined she places her hand on his face and pulls him to her lips, placing a kiss upon them. She had only ever kissed one other person and outside of that one time in her bedroom, all of their other kisses were short and sweet. She always felt the passion in those kisses but she always doubted if Edward did. She was not the most worldly, adventurous, or risky before moving to Forks. But, here she had found love, friendship, danger, sadness, anger, longing, family, and so many other things that she could not describe.
Before coming to Forks, Bella couldn't say that she had friends and her family consisted of her mother and whatever flavor of the month she was seeing. Moving to Fork gave her so much, including the boy kissing her with so much passion. His kiss was like waking up from a deep sleep; it was the final piece that she needed to truly move on from her heartbreak.
A throat cleared from behind them, causing Bella to pull away and for Jacob to growl.
Laughing, she turns to stand in front of him; "Alice, Jacob. Jacob, Alice." She can feel the tension but for some reason, she knows that it doesn't matter anymore.
Shaking her pixie head in disbelief, Alice states, "Bella, how could you kiss that dog?"
Jacob starts shaking ready to pounce on the small, female vampire, but stops once Bella says, "like this Alice." She turns and plants another searing kiss to his lips, moaning a little as her tongue joins in.
"SERIOUSLY" exclaims Alice.
Jacob's eyes are still closed once Bella breaks the kiss. She smacks her lips, while turning back to her former best friend and says, "that was Edward on the phone. I told him goodbye this time. I needed that and I deserve a fresh start. Victoria is still out there and you all left. I made a friend in Jacob. I missed you Alice, I missed all of you but I was broken and Jacob put me back together."
Smiling, she walks past Alice and is now standing in front of the staircase, "Alice, I would love it if you would still be here in the morning but if not, I understand. Jacob, I know you are running late for Harry's funeral, so I will see you later. It has been a long day, and I am tired. Goodnight."
She turns and walks up the stairs, rejuvenated.
Four Years Later
It was as if that kiss in her kitchen had released Bella, she realized that she finally had the things that she had always wanted. She had friends, time for herself, family, and she did not have to be "the" adult all the time. She took the last few months of high school to just have fun. The Cullens did end up moving back to Forks, everyone except Edward. The official story was that he was sent to boarding school in Alaska, to finish out high school .
Bella still hung out with Jacob from time to time but they never shared a kiss again; however, she did end up developing a friendship with Leah Clearwater. Victoria eventually made her play towards ending Bella's life, about two weeks before graduation. Alice got a vision, it was triggered since Bella was going on a Daddy/Daughter fishing trip with Charlie; and away from the wolves.
Edward came back to Forks to work with his family and the wolf pack of the Quileute tribe, killing Victoria and officially releasing Bella from being connected to the vampire world.
It's been four years since Bella graduated and moved away from Forks and went to Florida for college. Leah joined her and they roomed together off-campus.
"Are you all packed," asked Leah as she looked over the sealed boxes of their apartment.
"Yes, you?" answered Bella as Phil loaded up the boxes that are going to be shipped back to LaPush for Leah.
Smiling, they hugged each other as they both looked around the room, "can you believe that it has been four years with no drama or near death experiences?" said Leah. It paid to room with a wolf since Leah's scent repels vampires.
"Hmm, no near death experiences, what about that time at the Beta Sigma party sophomore year" laughed Bella.
"We don't talk about that or that time you almost got beat up by that football player's girlfriend" laughing together.
"Well it is a good thing that you taught me self-defense, huh" Bella chimed in.
"Okay, ladies this train is leaving" comes Phil, Bella's step-dad from the doorway.
Bella was excited to be going back to Forks to spend the summer before deciding if she was going to continue her education in graduate school or make the move to study abroad. She was trying to decide the next phase of her life, her very human life.
"We're ready" came the girls in unison.
Landing in Forks was reminiscent of six years ago when she landed and her life changed. She was excited to see her dad and to see her friends.
"Hi Bella" came Seth's voice from behind her.
"OMG Seth, you've gotten so tall. You're like a grown man" she said as she looked him up and down.
Leah chose that moment to come out of the bathroom by baggage claim, "stop hitting on my little brother. He is way too young for you."
"Okay, one Seth wouldn't know how to ride this ride and two he is the cutest thing ever, I just want to pinch his little cheeks, " in which she proceeded to do.
Seth looked at both Bella and Leah like they were crazy after Bella released his cheeks and he went to hug his sister and then Bella.
"Come on you crazy old ladies," he finally stated as he helped them with their luggage to his dad's old truck.
"Um, Seth my house is that way" exclaimed Bella as she watched Seth turn towards LaPush.
"There is a surprise for you," sitting back in her seat, confused Bella wondered what was going on. Yet, over the years, Bella has learned to go with the flow and not question the good things that happen to her. This is her first summer back in Forks since high school graduation, Charlie, Bella's dad, actually started taking the summers off to spend time together and travel. She even started dating in college. In Forks, she and Leah were both relationship girls, where they only ever were with one guy and then magically in a relationship with them.
At the start of college, they made a pact with each other to be open to just dating but no relationships unless they have dated a few different people first. Leah ended up in a relationship a couple years ago but Bella just found herself dating a few different types of guys but never felt a connection to take it further. Not since her high school days in Forks has she felt a connection to a guy long term.
Pulling in front of the Clearwater house, they are greeted by Sue Clearwater, Leah and Seth's mom and Charlie. Leah runs to hug her mother as Bella does the same to her dad, "I am sorry we couldn't meet you both at the airport but I am so happy that you are home" states Charlie as he glances at both Bella and Leah, smiling.
They switched parents to give them a hug as well before everyone walked into the modest home on the reservation.
"SURPRISE" yelling rang out as people stood around the living room with smiles on their faces.
The room was covered in green and gold balloons and streamers, which matched the huge sheet cake that Emily, Leah's cousin, was holding as she walked towards them with a huge smile on her face.
"Congratulations to both of you ladies on graduating from college" said Emily as some of the other members of the pack came to help her place the cake on the table.
"Thank you, Emily" both Bella and Leah say at the same time before turning to each other and laughing. "Jinks, you owe me coke," said Leah.
"Damn it, Em. I told you that we would handle the cake" said Sam, Leah's ex. "You need to rest before you hurt yourself and the baby."
Bella rolls her eyes with that reveal as she turns to check on Leah. They had not been aware that Emily was pregnant. But, of course, Sam would take this opportunity to make sure that anything celebrating Leah would be about Emily and not her. Bella wanted to punch him in the face.
"OMG, Em, congratulations," says Leah as she goes to hug her cousin and then Sam. Her radiant smile was blinding. The time away from the rez and the pack helped Leah grow and release her anger and hatred towards her ex, her cousin, and the ancestors of the tribe that lead to her being the only female wolf.
Taking her cue from Leah, Bella hugs and congratulates Emily as well, but only nods at Sam. Leah is her best friend and she will hold a grudge towards Sam for the both of them. Imprinting or not, he should have been upfront with Leah, when he started developing feelings for her cousin.
"Hi Bella" turning towards the bell sound of her name, which came from her former best friend, Alice. Shocked that she was here on the rez and at a wolf pack event. After leaving Forks, she found herself talking to Alice once a month but after freshman year, it turned into every other month and then every three months. Bella found herself distancing from Alice and the Cullens in general. Then eventually Alice stopped calling, leaving the ball in Bella's court.
"Alice" she said with a smile, hugging her as she sees Jasper, Emmett, and Rose acknowledging them and then Emmett takes this moment to grab her in a bear hug, bellowing "Bella, we missed you so much."
She knew that the Cullens still lived in town and had planned to reach out to Alice and the rest of the family this summer. They gave Bella the space she needed over the last four years and she was grateful; but she had been thinking about Edward over the last few weeks. With the anticipation of returning to Forks, Bella couldn't help but wait to see him.
Smiling as she patted Emmett's back, she forgot how strong and how cold their body temperature was. "I missed you to Emmett," smiling "I missed all of you." She turned towards the kitchen where Carlisle and Esme were, they smiled and waved back.
"He's outside waiting to talk to you" came Jasper's voice, as he turned his eyes towards the back door of the house.
"Thanks, Jasper" , turning she heads for the exit.
His back was to her as he looked over the garden that Sue Clearwater maintained that once belonged to her late husband. Birds were chirping in the distance as Bella closed the screen door and looked at the back of her ex-boyfriend.
"Hello, Bella. Congratulations on finishing college. I knew that it would be the place for you" he says as turns to look at her.
Taking in his words, she frowns thinking he did not have a hand in making her decision to go to college or to even finish and graduate.
"Thanks?" she replies in the form of a question, "so what have you been…"
"Your hair is shorter" , acknowledges Edward as he interrupts her from asking about him and the last five years.
"Goodness, Edward you have not changed" shaking her head she looks at her ex-boyfriend and realizes just how much she has grown. How much she is no longer attracted to or in love with him. Admittedly, she was fearful about seeing him after all these years. Scared that she was going to dampen or diminish her light again just to be with him.
"What are you thinking, Bella?" he said, staring at her, "I hate that I can't hear what you are thinking. But, the way you are looking at me right now, I am not sure if I really want to know."
Bella chuckled in that moment, "it is always about you isn't it. It is never truly about me and what I want." Sitting down at the small table in the garden, she looks over at him, "what is it that you need to say to me Edward."
"I am sorry, Bella. I am sorry that I left you. I only wanted to protect you. I only ever wanted to keep you safe and being away from me keeps you safe," longingly says Edward. "Still love you Bella and I want to fight for you. I want to fight for us."
Exasperated, Bella answers him as she stands, walking over to him and places a kiss onto his cheek. "Edward, you are eternally sixteen and I am a grown ass woman. I love you, Edward. I will always have love for you. You were my first love but I've moved on and you should as well."
Taking a deep breath she walks away and decides not to go back inside to the party. Instead she walks around to the front of the house, focusing on the conversation that she thought she was not ready for, she didn't realize that she was not alone.
"Hey B," Bella's breath catches as she lifts her head up in shock, "Jake," she whispers as a smile comes to her face. She knew that Jacob had left town once he finished high school. Since separating himself from Sam's pack and taking on Leah as being a part of his own pack, which is how she was able to free herself from her ex, Sam and go off to college with Bella.
Unlike Edward, Jacob definitely changed. He seemed taller, bigger, and the beard on his chin was so rugged and esteemed. He was a MAN, a grown man.
"Come give me a hug, old lady" he smiles as she smiles back, rolling her eyes. "I missed you too."
Hugging each other, a feeling of warmth comes over Bella as she breathes in Jacob's scent. He smells of warmed baked cookies and early morning walks on the beach. Putting his hands on her shoulders, "Damn, girl you look good" he laughed.
"Shut up, Jake" smiling as she pulls him into another hug. The weight of him overwhelmed her but in the best way possible.
"Hey, Jake" comes the voice of Leah from the doorway, eyeing the two of them with a knowing and suspicious look on her face. "We're taking this party to the beach."
It was getting dark as Emmett and Seth finished building the bond fire, Alice and Rose went to gather sticks for roasting marshmallows, and surprisingly Edward and Leah were sitting and holding conversation.
"That is surprisingly strange. I never thought I would see Leah hanging with a lee-" Bella clears her throat before Jake could finish his thought, "I mean vampire."
Chuckling, "I never thought I would see Leah sitting with Edward and not trying to kill him. Since someone said if she ever ran into him, she would for me" comes Bella's thoughts on the subject.
"You know we can hear you both, right" came Leah's answer to their inquiries.
They both laughed as they looked away from the merging couple and stared at each other.
Paul and Jasper take this opportunity to both pull out guitars strumming in unison, "I never thought I would witness vampires and wolves actually hanging out and not trying to kill each other. I wonder what made that happen" states Bella as she rubs her arms.
Seeing that Bella was getting cold and that he lacks a jacket, he places his arm around her, "my personal sun as always" she whispers as she snuggles closer to him.
"You, B, you are the reason that we are all here" answers Jacob. Bella looked around at everyone and remembered how much they hated each other. But she also remembered how they all came together to protect her during the Victoria and newborn battle.
"I really missed you" says Jacob as he looks down, staring at her face.
Looking up she gazes into his eyes; the feeling was still there after all this time. The warmth and comforter that she secretly always hoped that she would find in someone else, someone human and normal. After a few years of dating, she realized that she didn't just want to connect to anyone, just any feeling, she wanted to find this feeling. She had it with Edward and it was growing with Jacob and maybe through time she would find it with someone else.
"I missed you too," reaching her hand up she pulls Jacob towards, "I am sorry I ran away all those years ago, but I was afraid. I know that now. I was afraid that I was going to get my heart broken like before."
She knew that everyone was listening, especially Edward but Bella couldn't worry or care about that at this moment. She needed to live in her truth and the truth was, "I love you, Jacob."
"Took you long enough," he whispers as he leans down but doesn't make the final descent to kiss her, he waits, and she doesn't take long to answer him by leaning up the rest of the way.
…sealing their union with a kiss.
FIN