Change of Plans

JacobxBella; Edward

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Change of Plans

Chapter XV

Bella sat with Angela and Jessica in the cafeteria during lunch that Monday, chatting and laughing with them as they ate together. She had missed this, just spending quality girl time, even if it was only for a little bit. It made her feel like everything was normal, and not like she had a lot going on in the background that needed her attention. Currently, she and Angela were listening to the latest gossip from Jessica, gossip about herself and the latest news on Mike.

Jessica took a sip of her lemonade before saying, "I'm telling you girls, I am now officially done with Mike."

Angela and Bella shared a look with each other, both not really believing the preppy girl. They looked back at Jessica for a moment before Bella asked, "Really?"

Hearing the skepticism in the brunette's voice, Jessica sat up straight and proclaimed, "I am! I'm so done with him! I'm officially done with pursuing him to date again and trying to get him to continue to like me."

"You sound so sure," Angela said before taking a bite of French fry.

"I am." Jessica looked down into her tray, suddenly looking very dejected, an aura of melancholy coming over her. In a soft voice, she continued. "There's no point in fighting for him when he has no real interest in me, and never has. I always knew that I wasn't good enough for him, and I'm sick and tired of telling myself that he'll change his mind for real."

She looked up at her friends, a look of determination on her face. "I want someone that will want me in return, and won't take me for granted, or string me along just because I seem desperate for love. I know my worth now, and if my future man wants me in return, really wants me and accepts me for me and not as a rebound, then I'll know that it's real. What I had with Mike wasn't real, and I'm not settling for a romance like that. I will find a real romance one day."

Angela smiled and took her hand in hers, squeezing it gently as she said, "It's good that you know you want that for yourself, and that you're manifesting it. And I'm sure you'll find someone to want and love you just the way you will love and want them."

"She's right," Bella said with a smile. "You'll find your Mr. Right one day, Jess; I know you will. And just know that whoever he is, he won't be Mike."

The three of them giggled as they turned back to their lunches. Turning her attention to Bella, Jessica gave her a sly look before saying, "Speaking of Mr. Right, you sure talk about and spend a lot of time with your baby daddy. His name is Jacob, right? Is he your Mr. Right?"

Bella blushed and stammered, "W-What? J-Jake? N-No, it's not l-like that."

"Are you sure? I mean, Jess is right, Bella. You do talk about and spend a lot of time with him," Angela piped in.

"Because he's my friend," Bella replied.

"Uh-huh. No girl talks about their guy friend, sleeps with him, and has his baby and be "just friends" still," Jessica said. Giving her a knowing look, she told her, "Admit it, Bella. You totally have the hots for Jacob."

"No, I don't!"

"You do. You like him, and it's okay if you do."

Angela nodded in agreement. "I agree. And to be honest, I haven't seen you this happy before him. He's good for you, he cares about you, and he obviously likes you. What's more is that you feel the same way. You just haven't realized it yet."

"Either that, or you're in denial."

Bella stared at her friends for a moment, letting Jessica and Angela's words sink in. The girls sounded so sure that she liked Jacob in a romantic sense. Sure, they had crossed the boundaries of friendship and slept together, but they had never crossed that line ever again. Even so, she knew it was no secret that Jacob loved her. He'd made that clear to her, and though he had told her that he knew that she'd never return his feelings, she knew that he still hoped one day she would. She didn't think, let alone know if her feelings had reached that point, but Charlie and Billy already seemed to think that her feelings for her best friend had changed to reciprocate his. Now that Jessica and Angela were saying the same, it made her wonder if it was true. Did she really return Jacob's feelings? Did she like him, love him, in return? Maybe…maybe she did.

Before she could consider it more, Alice suddenly walked up to their table. Looking at Bella, she said, "I need to talk to you, Bella."

"Uh, why? And about what?" Jessica asked, a look of annoyance on her face. Ever since Edward had ousted Bella's pregnancy and the speculation that he and his family had manipulated Bella, Jessica had had it out for them, particularly Alice. When Bella had asked her why, she had told her that it was because she had seen how she had helped isolate Bella from all her friends, as well as back up her brother in whatever he wanted, regardless of if Bella liked it or not. Bella hadn't known that she had taken notice of that, and it made her glad that she had her as a friend, even if their friendship had been rocky.

Alice looked at the girl and answered, "I have to talk to her about something important."

Bella looked at the vampire skeptically, not wanting to go with her, but also having a feeling that she was being genuine.

Looking at the brunette, Alice pleaded, "Please Bella."

Reluctant, Bella sighed and nodded, telling Jessica and Angela that she'd be back. As she followed Alice out, Jessica called out to her that if she needed her, for her to just scream. Bella followed Alice out of the cafeteria and a bit outside the doors before she asked, "What do you need to talk to me about, Alice?"

Alice looked at the brunette for a moment before saying, "I just thought that I should inform you of something."

"Inform me of what?"

Lowering her voice, the Seer vampire said, "Victoria. Bella, she knows about your pregnancy. She knows that you're pregnant, and that you are by Black. Not only that, but she's been going around Forks and Port Angeles, creating newborns. We think she's creating an army of newborn vampires."

Feeling her stomach drop, Bella couldn't help but stare in shock at the vampire that she had once called her friend. Victoria knew that she was pregnant. That meant that she knew, or at the least had an inkling, that she possibly wasn't Edward's mate. Not only that, but the redhead was creating an army, and army that she was surely forming to go after her. As shocked and sick she felt about this information, something else suddenly realized something.

Frowning at Alice, she asked, "How long have you known about Victoria's movements? How long have you been tracking her movements without telling me? You know she's after me. Why didn't you tell me sooner, Alice?"

Having the decency to look guilty, Alice admitted, "I've known for a while, but I just didn't mention it. As far as her knowing about your pregnancy, that is a recent development."

"A while? You've known for a while? And you still didn't think it important to tell me?!"

"I wanted to, Bella, you have to believe that. But we—Edward and I—wanted to deal with the unexpected pregnancy first."

Bella gave Alice a horrified look before it was replaced with one of fury and disgust. Her eyes blazing, she asked, "You really thought that my being pregnant took precedence over Victoria?! Over the person that's trying to end my life?! Are you insane?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

Alice took a step back from the brunette, a very hurt expression on her face. Edward suddenly appeared next to her, a disapproving look on his face as he looked at Bella. Frowning down at her, he said, "Apologize to Alice, Bella. What you said was uncalled for."

"Go fuck yourself, Edward."

The bell then rang, signaling the end of lunch. Students began to exit the cafeteria, Angela and Jessica among them, Angela carrying Bella's bookbag. Angela looked at the Cullen siblings for a moment before turning to Bella saying, "Come on, Bella. We've got to get to class."

Bella nodded and took her bag from Angela, walking with her to their next class. Jessica gave the Cullen siblings the evil eye before turning to catch up with them, leaving the two staring at their backs as they walked away. As they headed to their class, Bella couldn't keep her stomach from flipping as she digested all that Alice had told her. This wasn't good, not at all, and she needed to tell Jacob as soon as possible after school.

Pulling into her driveway, Bella was surprised to find Paul sitting on her porch, obviously waiting for her to get home. She was honestly glad to see him, as she had been seeking a certain silver Volvo in her rearview mirror a couple of cars behind her on her way home. It had disappeared about a mile from her home, and now she knew why. Parking her truck, she turned it off and got out with her bookbag before rushing up to Paul, him standing up from his sitting position.

"Paul!" Bella said to him. "I need to talk to Jake. It's important that I see him today."

"I know, that's why I'm here," Paul replied. "I'm here to take you to the baby Alpha. Well, go on, put your bag inside and let's go."

Nodding, Bella went inside to take her schoolbag up to her room. She looked out the window and saw Paul walking into the woods, presumably to phase into his wolf form. She quickly left her room and home altogether, locking the door behind her with her key before running into the woods, not tripping over her feet for once. Slowing down, she came upon Paul in his wolf form, his silvery wolf pretty, but not at all beautiful and majestic like Jacob's. Paul crouched down, allowing her to climb onto his back before taking off for the Reservation, Bella clutching his fur tightly.

After a time of running, Paul eventually slowed down to a trot before stopping altogether. Lowering himself, he let Bella slide off his back and nudged her to the edge of the wood, her walking out and coming up to Emily's house. Walking up to it, she knocked for a moment before opening the door and stepping inside. As she did, she saw that the entire Pack was present, including Emily. Looking around, Bella quickly spotted Jacob and rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Jacob hugged her in return comfortingly, his large arms enveloping her as he asked, "What's the matter, honey?"

"Alice," Bella replied softly, though she knew the rest of the Pack could hear. She heard the door open once again, alerting her to Paul's entrance, before speaking again. "She asked to speak with me today at school and told me that Victoria not only knows that I'm pregnant but has been creating an army of newborn vampires."

"I know, Bells. Blondie informed us this morning at the treaty line."

Sam cleared his throat and began to speak. "I have been informed by Dr. Cullen about the Seer vamp's lack of information concerning the redhead and her movements. He also told me that now that the redhead is aware of Bella's current condition, it is detrimental to Bella, though he did not explain why."

Looking at Jacob, he said, "I'm assuming you already know the reason, Jacob."

Jacob nodded and replied, "I do, but I'll let Bella explain."

Bella looked around at the Pack before looking up at Jacob. He gave her a reassuring nod, his hand holding hers tightly, yet comfortingly. Taking a deep breath, Bella began to explain her history with Victoria, as well as the Cullens' involvement in the killing of James to save her life, and her quest for revenge against her. A mate for a mate was what she was after. However, Victoria knowing she was no longer with Edward and pregnant with Jacob would surely have pissed her off, as the Cullens killing James would have been for nothing.

As she finished speaking, she leant against Jacob and practically hid her face in his side, not wanting to look at the many eyes staring at her. Sam looked at her before his eyes looked at Jacob, something passing between them in silence. Blinking, he looked around at the rest of his Pack before saying, "Well, with this new information given to us, we now know what the redhead is up to and what her goal is. Dr. Cullen wants to meet with us to discuss action plans on what to do now that the Seer has come forth with vital information."

"Seriously?" Quil couldn't help but say.

"It's their fault we and Bella are in this mess in the first place," Embry said.

"Despite how you feel, it is vital that we speak with them. Dr. Cullen said it is important that we meet up to deal with a common enemy, and I agree. It is necessary that we do so. And while I don't want to or agree with what the doctor is suggesting, if we want to protect Bella and stand a fighting chance against the redhead and her newborn army, we'll have to ban together with the Cullens."

Bella looked up at Jacob and saw how his jaw tightened at Sam's words. He was obviously clenching his teeth but wasn't saying anything in protest. He had to know that joining to stand with the Cullens against Victoria was necessary despite his own personal feelings. She knew he didn't want to, but he was willing to do so to protect her. Because he cared about her and their baby, because he loved her. She could see he was willing to put his feelings of animosity aside for her, and it made her heart swell and warm in her chest.

She thought back to earlier that day during lunch, back to what Jessica and Angela had said to her. They both eluded to her liking Jacob in the same manner that he liked her. She had considered it, but hadn't been quite sure, despite the fact that she and Jacob had gotten much closer than they ever had been in the past few weeks. But as she stared up at him, and he dropped his gaze to look down at her, Bella knew the truth in that moment. Her feelings for Jacob had changed, and his feelings for her were reciprocated. She didn't know exactly when, but she knew it now.

She loved Jacob. She had fallen in love with Jacob Black.