Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
"Some say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice."
Bella fought against the urge to shiver as ice cold fingers brushed along her neck, gathering her dark waves over one shoulder.
"From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire."
The same fingers eased the collar of her shirt down to expose her collarbone, frozen lips leaving a trail of kisses along her neck and just behind her ear, setting every nerve on fire. She could feel his slow, triumphant grin, and she determinedly pushed on. "But if I had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to..." his lips kissed her ear, her jaw, the corner of her mouth. She cleared her throat and refocused on her book. "To say that... that... oh fuck it."
She tossed the book aside and eagerly returned his kiss as he brought his arms around her, lowering her to the damp grass beneath them at their spot by the stream and kissing her practically senseless. Jasper broke their kiss at last, knowing that she, at least, would need to breathe, and smiled lazily down at her. "To say that for destruction, ice is also great," he quoted, giving her a soft peck on the lips, "and would suffice."
She rolled her eyes. "Show off."
"I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've been tested on that."
She shoved his shoulders and he moved back, sitting up and offering her a hand. She took it and sat up too with a sigh. "I can't believe you abandoned me."
He scoffed. "Forgive me for not wantin' to endure high school for the ninth time."
She picked back up her book. "What're you telling people? My dad, specifically."
"Finishing online. Graduating early," he shrugged, then gathered her things. "Speakin' of your dad, it's time I got you home, darlin'. Four o'clock, remember?"
"Yeah," she sighed, and handed him her book so she could put it back in her bag. "How long do you think that'll last?"
"Don't matter," he shrugged again, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her head. "I've got all the time in the world to wait."
"Four o'clock on the dot," Charlie said from the porch as Jasper walked her to the door. "Do you have a stop watch or something?"
"Dad!"
Jasper stopped respectfully at the bottom of the porch steps and nodded to Charlie. "Thank you, for letting me pick her up from school, sir."
Charlie grunted and ushered Bella into the house.
"So now he's too punctual for you?" Bella snapped, dropping her bag and making her way for the stairs.
"Hold on just a minute," Charlie said. She turned back and he pointed to the kitchen. "Let's talk."
Bella sighed and followed him to the table, sitting across from him. "I'm sorry, Dad, it's just... we're doing everything you asked."
"I know. But Bella, you were gone three days. Three. No word. Now suddenly, you and Jasper are back together, and I'm supposed to act like nothing happened?"
Bella deflated a bit. "No. But Dad, Jasper's in my life. For good. That won't change."
"I'm getting that. But having watched what he put you through... it's gonna take me some time."
"Okay. That's fair."
Charlie leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "How about this, I'll make you a deal. No more being grounded, if you use your newfound freedom to see your other friends too. Like Jacob."
Bella winced. She and Jacob hadn't really talked since the whole picking Jasper-diving head first into a vampire nest-line drawing fiasco.
Charlie noticed. "Jasper can't handle a little competition?"
She gave him a look. "There's no competition."
"Well, I'm sure Jacob would rather be just friends than nothing at all."
"Maybe he should return my phone calls then."
"His dad's worried about him, Bells. I remember when that was you. You needed a friend, and Jake was there. He might be worth another try."
"Yeah. You're right. I will, okay? Thanks, Dad."
He nodded, going back to the newspaper he'd left on the table and she headed up the stairs. When she got to her room, she reached into her desk drawer and pulled out the worn, half piece of notebook paper and unfolded it. Under the many scratched out sentences was Jacob's familiar handwriting. "I miss you too. Doesn't change anything."
Bella dropped onto her bed and absently ran her thumb over the paper. She'd only seen Jacob once since they'd been back. And it had not gone well...
She was holding onto Jasper on the back of his motorcycle, when he suddenly stopped, skidding along the road and wrapping an arm back around her so she wouldn't lose her balance. She'd followed his glare toward the familiar figure in the middle of the road. "Jacob! What the hell are you doing?"
He didn't say anything but returned Jasper's glare and walked into the woods.
"What's he doing?"
Jasper parked the bike by the side of the road and helped her off. "I don't know. But I think he wants to talk to us. Stay behind me, he ain't too happy right now."
"He won't hurt me," Bella countered, falling in step beside Jasper as they followed Jacob through the trees.
They found him waiting for them, leaning against a solid tree trunk. "So," he said, his dark eyes on Bella, "you're still alive."
"I've been calling you."
His gaze flicked to Jasper, then back to her. "Couldn't stop by?"
"Dad grounded me. I have to come straight home from school," she explained. "Which you'd know if you picked up the phone."
Jacob scoffed and rolled his eyes. Bella was about to fire back when Jasper stepped forward. "Jacob," he said, his entire demeanor calm and cool so as not to escalate the situation. "I know there's a lot you probably wanna say to me, an' I don't blame you, but, do you mind if I say somethin' first?"
Jacob just stared and Jasper took that as his cue. "Thank you. I just wanted to thank you for keepin' Bella safe. For bein' there for her. I'm glad an' grateful you were here."
"It wasn't for your benefit," Jacob sneered.
"No, I never imagined it was," Jasper nodded, "but I'm grateful all the same."
Jacob didn't acknowledge his thanks, but pressed on with his next point. "The redhead leech has been laying low. Ever since your freaky sister showed up. Guess she can't stand you guys either."
"Jacob!" Bella snapped, taking a step forward, but Jasper wrapped his cool hand around her wrist. Truly, it didn't bother him. He'd come up against far worse than Jacob Black. He was a young kid, hurt, confused, and angry. He couldn't hold that against him. After all, he'd been exactly the same.
"I appreciate y'all keepin' an eye out," he said. "Unfortunately, she'll probably come back."
"She does and she's ours. She killed on our land."
"I understand. Do what you gotta do. We'd appreciate the help."
"Alright, my turn. I'm here to remind you about a key point in the Treaty," Jacob scowled, pushing himself off the tree and standing up straight. Bella hadn't realized until just then that he had actually grown taller than Jasper.
"Which one?"
"The one that says if any of you bite a human, then the truce is over. That's bite, not kill."
Jasper was quiet, but Bella spoke up. "Wait, what? But... but if I choose it, it's none of your business!"
"If you... No! No fucking way, are you out of your mind?" Jacob shouted, his arms trembling. Jasper noticed and took a step closer to Bella. "I won't let you!"
"It's not up to you!"
"You're not gonna be one of them!"
"It's not your call!"
"You know what we'll do to you if you do," Jacob said, still angry, but Jasper could feel his fear simmering beneath the anger. Unfortunately for Jacob, and Bella, that was a dangerous combination. The kid's dark eyes were pleading. "I won't have a choice."
"You do, you don't have to..."
Realistically, Jasper knew Jacob would never hurt her. Not in his human form, at least. But Jasper knew better than anyone what it was like to lose control and have the monster lurking inside take over. If Jacob hurt her, he'd never forgive himself, and worse, he knew Bella would find a way to blame herself too. As Jacob's shaking increased, Jasper stepped in front of Bella, still tracking Jacob's emotions, and said, "Go wait by the bike."
"You don't speak for her!" Jacob growled, and Jasper felt a hot, all consuming anger rush through him, and he turned just in time to shove Jacob hard back away from Bella. Mid-air, Jacob phased into a wolf and landed on all fours.
In any other situation, Jasper may have taken a moment to admire the great, powerful wolf before him, but as it was, he crouched down, ready to fight.
"Stop!" Bella shouted.
Jasper didn't take his eyes off the wolf in front of him, but called back to her, "Bella, get outta here."
Instead, to his dismay, she ran to stand between them, her eyes ablaze, daring either of them to make the first move. "You do this, you'll be going through me."
Neither backed down.
"I swear I'm not moving!" she shouted at them.
Jasper and Jacob slowly relaxed their stance.
"Give me a second," she said to Jasper. "Please."
Jasper, slightly against his better judgement, nodded and took a few steps back. Bella turned back to Jacob. She took his huge face in her hands, running her fingers through his thick fur and leaning her head against his. "I love you. You know that. You're my best friend. But I... I can't change the way I feel. Please don't make me choose. You're so important to me, and..."
Anguish swept through Jacob as he picked up on the words she couldn't bring herself to say. Jasper winced and shut his eyes as Jacob turned and fled deeper into the woods.
In her room, cold hands smoothed over her own, gently taking the worn note from her hands. Jasper set it to the side and kissed each palm. "He'll come around, darlin'."
Bella looked up into the golden eyes that held such comfort. "What if he doesn't?"
"He will," he reassured her with a soft kiss. "Let's get you to bed. One of us has an exam comin' up."
Bella crawled into bed and snuggled under the covers. "You suck," she said around a yawn.
Jasper chuckled as he laid down beside her.
"Thanks for coming back," she whispered, moving to lay her head on his chest.
"Always, darlin'."
A/N: Here we are again! Welcome back to Forks, darlings. I can't believe I've made it this far with this series, honestly. Thanks for going on this journey with me and I hope you enjoy my alternate version of "Eclipse"!
