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Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

I forgot that you existed

And I thought that it would kill me, but it didn't

And it was so nice

So peaceful and quiet

I forgot that you existed

It isn't love, it isn't hate

It's just indifference

Song by Taylor Swift ‧ 2019

Chapter One

Bella had the sense that she been asleep for a very long time – her body was stiff, like it hadn’t moved once all night. Her mind was slow, filled with strange, colorful dreams – dreams that would normally turn her pale skin a rather unflattering shade of scarlet if she was to recall them in the daylight hours – swirled dizzily around the inside of her head. They were so vivid. The heavenly and bizarre all mixed together into a confusing swirl in her befuddled mind. There was a sharp impatience, a huge feeling of frustration that she couldn’t return to them, especially those which featured her best friend in various states of undress. Not that Jacob Black wore very much these days anyway….

It was hard to let the dreams go and wake up. She was reluctant to shove them in the vault sealed in the back of her mind. She struggled as her mind became more alert, focusing on reality. She couldn’t remember what day of the week it was, but she was sure that Jacob or school or work or something was waiting for her. She inhaled deeply, preparing her waking self to face another day.

Something cold touched her forehead with the softest pressure.

Bella squeezed her eyes more tightly shut. She was still dreaming, it seemed, and it felt abnormally real. She was so close to waking…any second now, and it would be gone.

It was only as the seconds continued to tick by that she understood that it felt much too real, like an ice cube being rubbed on her chilled skin. Then as she slowly continued to resurface, she became aware of the stone arms wrapped around her. They felt too substantial for a mind trick. With a resigned sigh that reached all the way to her toes, Bella wrenched back her eyelids to face her worst nightmare.

“Oh, fuck!” She swore, the expletive falling between rigid lips. She threw her fists over her eyes in a futile attempt to delay the inevitable.

Letting another few seconds pass to steady her rattled nerves, Bella opened her eyes again – and Edward was still there, his perfect face just inches away from hers.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice was low and anxious.

This was awful. And so damn annoying. The face, the voice, the scent, everything – it was just too, too much. She had hoped to never see him ever again!

Edward’s irises were pitch black, with bruise-like shadows underneath them. This disturbed Bella – even more than finding him beside her in bed – for it meant he was thirsty. She cowered away from him, muttering under her breath,

“Crap, crap.” She croaked. Her throat was thick with sleeping.

“What’s wrong, Bella?”

Bella frowned at him in disbelief. “What’s wrong?” She echoed sharply. “Crap. Crap. You can’t be real. Perhaps I’m dead. That would explain it.”

Edward frowned, too. “You’re not dead.” He confirmed flatly, obviously rattled by her lack of reaction upon seeing him beside her again after an absence of six months. He had been visualizing their emotional reunion since making the difficult decision to return after pining for her for so long. To see her so distinctly underwhelmed bit at his ego.

Bella shook her head in denial. “I must still be dreaming.”

“You are awake, Bella. I am really here. I’ve come back to you.”

Bella shook her head again. “This is awful. It’s like a nightmare. Charlie will go apeshit. And as for Jacob…” She couldn’t complete her sentence and shuddered, thinking about her best friend’s reaction.

“I can see why you would confuse me with a nightmare.” Edward’s expression was grim.

Bella’s head was getting clearer. Her eyes flickered away from his face for one second, to the dark, open window, and then back to him. “You came through the window?” She checked, though she already knew the answer.

Edward’s frown deepened. “Yes. I don’t think I would have been very welcome if I had tried using the front door. I am certain your father will be less than pleased to see me.”

“And what makes you think I am?” Bella snapped as she sat up abruptly, her long brunette hair falling in tangled curls around her heart shaped face. Her eyes were mad, her disbelief at his unwanted intrusion into her private space melting into fury.

Edward’s eyes tightened at the ferocity of her tone. “Bella, I – “

“Why are you here?”

Edward’s face turned wary in an instant.

“Why are you making that face?”

Edward sighed heavily. “I was just hoping that there would be a tiny part of you that might be happy to see me.”

“Fuck that!” Bella said scornfully, pleased to see the glimmer of disapproval in his dark eyes at the expletive. “More hoping that I would never have to set eyes on you again, more like.”

Edward hesitated, and then spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. Every line of his body registered his hurt.

“I – “He took a deep breath. “I owe you an apology. No, of course I owe you much, much more than that. But you have to know” – the words began to flow so fast out of his mouth, showing his agitation, forcing Bella to really concentrate to catch them all – “that I had no idea. I didn’t realize the mess I was leaving behind. I never wanted to hurt you. For you to suffer so greatly while I was gone. I feel sick, sick to my core, even now, when I can feel you safe in my arms. I am the most miserable excuse for – “

“Oh, just shut up!” Bella interrupted him testily. Edward stared at her with agonized eyes, and she tried to find the right words – the words that would free her from the obligation of sparing his hurt feelings. They were hard words to say. She didn’t know if she could get them out without coming across as too blunt and uncaring. She wasn’t a malicious person, but then again, he had hardly spared a thought for her feelings when he had broken up with her in the cruelest way possible. He should be happy that she was willing to be the bigger person and spare him the same anguish and despair she had suffered.

Shrugging and rolling her shoulders to ease the tension, Bella got ready to end things as quickly and cleanly as possible. Drawing on her poor acting skills, she fought to keep her face smooth.

“Edward.” She said. His name burned her throat on the way out. She had been hoping to never utter it in this lifetime again. “This must stop. You can’t think about things that way. You can’t let this... your guilt or whatever it is… rule your life. I have moved on. I suggest you do the same.”

Bella was on the edge of losing it. She could feel her impatience growing that he had put her in this impregnable position. She stopped to take a deep breath, hoping to calm herself. She wanted him gone. She had to make sure he never darkened her door again.

“Isabella Marie Swan.” Edward whispered, the strangest expression crossing his face. He almost looked mad. “Do you not understand the depths of my feelings for you?”

Bella could feel the growing heat in her face as she groaned internally. He was willfully misunderstanding her, as usual.

“You seem to be under a misapprehension.” Edward continued, shaking his head back and forth with half a smile on his beautiful face. “Bella, I cannot and will not live in this world without you.”

Bella’s stomach dropped. With a great effort she forced her eyes not to roll in their sockets. “You seem to be the one under a misapprehension.” She countered.

Edward stared deep into her eyes with his sincere, earnest gaze. “I am a good liar, Bella. I have to be.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed as comprehension dawned. She felt her muscles locking into place. Her hands curled into angry fists by her sides.

“I’m a good liar.” Edward repeated, oblivious to her growing anger. “Still, for you to believe me so quickly.” He winced, playing the victim for all he was worth. “That was…. excruciating.”

Bella felt the indentations of her nails biting into her palms.

“When we were in the forest, when I was telling you goodbye – “

Bella remained mute, her lips drawing together in a thin line.

“You weren’t going to let go.” Edward whispered as if he was speaking to himself. “I could see that. I didn’t want to do it – it felt like it would kill me to do it – but I knew that if I couldn’t convince you that I didn’t love you anymore, it would just take you that much longer to get on with your life. I hoped that, if you thought I had moved on, so would you.”

The gaslighting bastard! Bella’s inner rage knew no bounds. The egotistical asshole really thought that she would be wallowing in her despair all these months later. Was he really daring to turn his despicable behavior back onto her by blaming her for believing his own cruel words?

“As I have already said, Edward. I did move on. So, you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done.” Bella hissed through gritted teeth. “It was a clean break for both of us.”

“What?” Edward finally seemed to hear what she was saying. “I think you’re misunderstanding me again, my love. My feelings never changed. I thought it would be next to impossible – that you would be so sure of the truth that I would have to lie through my teeth for hours to even plant the seed of doubt in your head. I lied, and I am so sorry – sorry because I hurt you, sorry because it was a worthless effort. Sorry that I couldn’t protect you from what I am. I lied to save you and it didn’t work. I’m sorry.”

Bella gazed at him quizzically; wondering was he as dumb as he was coming across. She was beginning to wonder if he had always been this stupid, that he was so used to reading people’s minds that he was blind to people’s facial expressions. It would only take Jacob one look at her face to understand that she was on the verge of smashing his face in, that her simmering anger was about to boil over. But Edward was completely unaware of what was plainly written all over her face.

“I still don’t understand how you could believe me?” Edward carried on, his expression mournful as he continued to play the victim for all it was worth. “After all the thousand times I’ve told you I love you, how could you let one word break your faith in me?”

Bella didn’t answer. Instead, she decided the best way to deal with his histrionics was feign boredom. She yawned widely, stretching her arms above her head in an exaggerated manner.

“Oh, are you still talking?” She said rudely when she saw his jaw tighten. “I was drifting off then.”

Edward stared at her, gauging her reaction warily. He was having difficulty disguising the frustration on his face. “Am I boring you?” He asked sourly.

“Well, yes.” Bella answered with an indifferent shrug. “You seem to think that I have been grieving your absence all these months when in fact I forgot that you even existed.”

Edward’s mouth popped open slightly, his eyes darkening further. “I don’t believe that.”

“Oh, believe it, Edward.” Bella confirmed with another nonchalant shrug. “I felt nothing but relief when you broke up with me. I had been trying to find a way to do it myself. I was tiring of your overbearing ways. And after that horrific party where I nearly became worm food because Jasper couldn’t control himself over a small papercut, well that sealed the deal for me.” She shrugged again, painting a bemused smile on her face. “I agonized about what to say for days, not wanting to hurt your feelings and all that. But thankfully, you took the words right out of my mouth. So, that’s why I was confused when I woke up today to find you here in my bed, where you were not invited, once again intruding on my personal space.”

Edward lifted his face to lock her gaze with his. Pain and disbelief glinted metallic in his black eyes. “You’re lying to me now?” He questioned. “You’re lying to hurt me. I understand. I deserve it.”

“No – not lying.” Bella shook her head. “I mean every word. You ceased to exist for me the day you left. And now I would like you to leave again and never come back. Goodbye, Edward.”

Edward flinched. His whole frame trembled at the verbal slap. He seemed to shrink in on himself. “Bella, please?” He whispered, his tone begging. “Give me another chance. I promise I will prove to you that I – “

Bella grimaced. “Be serious, please. I would hate you to embarrass yourself anymore than you have already.”

“You don’t mean it. You are trying to punish me. You wouldn’t throw away everything that we shared together. You’re not serious.”

“Oh, I am.” Bella insisted, glaring now. “Will you please try to hear what I am telling you? I don’t love you. I never really did. It was a brief infatuation. That was all. When you left, I thought it would kill me, but it didn’t. It was so nice. So peaceful and quiet. I forgot that you even existed.”

Edward stared at her, his eyes shining with something akin to tears. They were large, glossy, and black. Of course, he was a vampire, he couldn’t cry, but he looked close to breaking.

“So, you no longer love me? You hate me now?”

Bella studied his face to make sure he was really listening when she delivered the killer blow. “No, Edward, what I feel for you isn’t love, it isn’t hate. It’s just indifference.”

Edward remained frozen like a marble statue, his black eyes unmoving, quiet pained gasps leaving his lips.

Bella held her ground as she looked back at him dispassionately. “You should leave now.” She repeated. “I have nothing left to say to you. We are done here.” She turned her head away, and like a whisper in the wind, when she turned back, he was gone.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Light pink sky up on the roof

Sun sinks down, no curfew

Twenty questions, we tell the truth

You've been stressed out lately? Yeah, me too

Something gave you the nerve

To touch my hand

It's nice to have a friend

(Ooh)

It's nice to have a friend

(Ooh)

Song: It’s Nice to Have a Friend Taylor Swift 2019

Chapter Two

The loud sounds of growling and snapping were the first things that greeted Bella as she parked the old iron Chevy truck at the end of the narrow lane that led to Sam and Emily’s tiny house. By the time she swung open the driver’s door and jumped onto the muddy ground the snarling and snapping was beginning to fade into the distance.

“Hey, Bella, what are you doing here so early?”

Bella nearly jumped out of her skin as Embry Call suddenly appeared in her line of sight without warning. It often aggravated her how the wolf boys were able to move so silently even when in their human forms.

Embry laughed at her disgruntled expression.

Bella turned to glare at him irritably. “Do you guys always have to creep around?” She complained.

Embry grinned devilishly as he bounded over to her side and swept her up into a bear hug. “Got out of the wrong side of the bed again this morning, Bella?” He teased with a quiet snicker.

“Oh, put her down, Em.” Jared grumbled from further down the lane. “If Jacob saw you doing that, he’ll lose his shit again. And that will be twice in the space of an hour. Sam will be royally pissed if he has to calm him down for the second time.” He ran his fingers over his shorn black locks and nodded at Bella. “Hi, Bella.”

“Hey, Jar …. Oof!” Bella’s air was cut off mid-greeting as Embry gave her a hard squeeze before dumping her unceremoniously back onto her feet.

“Aww…Bella….you’re breathless at the sight of me.” Embry taunted her again, clearly getting a kick out of winding her up.

Not for the first time Bella wondered what had happened to the shy, quiet introverted boy she used to know. Since turning wolf Embry had become as cocky and overconfident as Quil Ateara. Almost.

“What’s that about Jacob losing his shit?” Bella directed her question to Jared as she dusted herself down. When Embry made as if to help her, she gave him such an icy stare that it sent him into a quick retreat with his hands raised.

Jared sighed heavily as he bent down to pick something white up off the ground. He held it up to show Bella. It dangled in limp strips from his hand. It was the remains of a sneaker.

“Ooh, totally shredded.” Embry winced. “Billy will not be happy. That was the last pair that he could afford – guess Jacob’s going barefoot now.”

“This one survived.” Jared said, holding up the other white sneaker. “Maybe Jake can hop.” He added wryly.

Jared started collecting various pieces of fabric from the dirt. “Make yourself useful, Em, and get Sam’s shoes, will you? All the rest of this is headed for the trash.”

Embry rolled his eyes and grabbed the shoes and then jogged into the surrounding trees. He was back in a few seconds with a pair of cut-off jeans draped over his arm. Jared gathered the rest of the torn remnants of Jacob’s clothes and wadded them into a ball. He glanced up at Bella and looked at her carefully, assessing.

“I guess you know why Jake went wolf?” He inquired drily.

Bella paled at the implication. “He knows Edward is back.” She surmised in defeat. “Damn!”

“Not just him – the whole fucking coven.” Embry’s good humor quickly vanished when he referenced the Cullens.

“All of them?” Bella gasped in shock. She had thought Edward had come back to Forks alone to reunite with her. The fact that the whole family had returned with him had taken her completely by surprise. “But why?”

Jared looked at her in concern. “We don’t know…yet. Hey, you’re not going to faint or puke or anything?” He demanded.

“I don’t think so.” Bella closed her eyes as she fought to regain her composure.

“You don’t look so good. Maybe you should sit down.” Embry slipped his arm around her waist and she sagged against him, grateful for his support. “We only found out ourselves early this morning. Sam was planning to pay them a visit to warn them to stick to their own territory and abide by the treaty, but had to deal with Jake when he kicked off when he found out that they were back.” His voice tailed off as he gazed at Bella’s wan complexion.

“I woke up to find Edward in my room this morning. I sent him away and came straight here to warn you guys.” Bella confided. Her eyes widened in alarm as something occurred to her. “Don’t tell me that Jake’s gone off to confront the Cullens on his own?”

“Well, the wolf’s out of the bag now.” Jared sighed. “Way to go, Em. If she wasn’t freaked out enough before. She is now. Idiot!”

Bella raised her eyes to stare at the two boys. “Why aren’t you out there helping Sam stop Jacob instead of bickering here? Aren’t you worried at all?”

Embry blinked once in surprise. “Worried? Why?”

“Jake could get hurt if he decides to confront – “

Embry and Jared guffawed with laughter, cutting Bella off mid-sentence.

“What’s so funny?” Bella straightened up, slapping Embry’s arm off her waist. “Jake will not be thinking rationally. Anything can happen.”

Embry rolled his eyes for a second time. “Bella, Sam is the Alpha, remember? One word from him and Jake will be on his ass.”

Bella felt her skin burn. She felt stupid for not thinking of the obvious. The guys were going to tease her about this forever. Still, there was a small part of her that worried for Jacob’s safety. She couldn’t drive the brutal image of him fighting the Cullens all alone out of her head. Her stomach churned, sore and empty because she had skipped breakfast in her eagerness to get to La Push, her head ached with worry.

Embry seemed to pick up on her distress. His expression turned serious as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Jake will be fine, Bella.” He reassured her. “He and Sam have probably gone on a long run so Jake can burn off his anger.”

“Yeah.” Bella mumbled.

“Let’s go see Emily.” Embry continued kindly. “She’ll have food waiting. You look like you could use some. When did you last eat?”

“Can’t remember.” Bella rubbed her stomach as she followed behind Embry and Jared as they led the way toward Sam and Emily’s home.

At the end of the lane was a tiny house that had once been gray. There was only one narrow window beside the weathered blue door, but the window box under it was filled with bright orange and yellow marigolds, giving the whole place a cheerful look.

Embry helped Bella up the one step and shoved her gently into the house in front of him without knocking.

The front room, like Jacob and Billy’s house, was mostly kitchen. A young woman with satiny copper skin and long, straight, crow-black hair was standing at the counter by the sink, popping big muffins out of the tin, and placing them on a paper plate.

And then she asked “You guys hungry?” in a melodic voice, and turned to face them all full on, a smile on half of her face. “Oh, hi, Bella.” The half smile quickly disappeared as soon as she spotted Bella loitering behind Jared and Embry.

“Hi, Emily.” Bella greeted her curtly in return.

The right side of Emily’s face was scarred from hairline to chin by three thick, red lines, livid in color though they were long healed. One line pulled the corner of her dark, almond-shaped right eye, another twisted the right side of her mouth into a permanent grimace.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Emily said, equally as curtly. “Muffin?” She offered, her posture stiff and unfriendly. “Though of course mine are not as delicious as yours.”

Bella sighed inwardly. Emily Young was good at holding a grudge and it was all the guys’ fault. As a thank you for all the help the wolf pack had given her in trying to protect her and Charlie from Victoria, and knowing that a wolf’s stomach is never empty, Bella had spent days slaving over a hot stove, baking a wide variety of treats. She had presented her feast on one of the pack’s monthly cookouts, where they would all retreat to First beach late of an evening to regroup and relax, and where they boys would demolish whatever food Emily had cooked.

On this occasion, Emily’s treats were ignored in favor of Bella’s. Salivating over the array of delicious desserts and snacks on offer, the boys had gorged themselves on Bella’s cheesecake, chocolate brownies, chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, apple pie, banana pudding, fudge, home made ice cream, and most of all the softest, fluffiest, most deliciously buttery blueberry muffins. Topped with a crunchy cinnamon brown sugar streusel. The boys were practically drooling and singing Bella’s praises.

“These are the best muffins I’ve ever tasted.” Embry had declared with his mouth full. The nodding heads of his brothers were in full agreement, sending Emily into a jealous tailspin and Bella to the naughty corner.

Weeks later and Emily was still frosty about the whole incident, no matter how many times Bella apologized for stepping on her toes.

“Thanks, Emily.” Bella said stiffly as she took the muffin and retreated to the counter and leaned against it.

“Humph!” Emily muttered as she waltzed off. She picked up a big yellow bowl and started mixing a humungous batch of eggs. She whipped them hard, the yellow sleeves of her lavender shirt flapping as if in a sharp wind, taking her resentment out on the eggs instead of directly on Bella.

The front door banged open, and Paul Lahote barged in. He immediately spotted Bella lounging against the counter and flashed her a mocking smile. “Ah, I see the vampire girl has decided to grace us with her presence.” He sneered.

Bella glared at him, giving him the finger. “Fuck off, Lahote. I am NOT a vampire girl.” She tore a chunk of her muffin out with her teeth and chewed hard, imitating biting his head off.

“Oooh, burn!” Embry chuckled.

Emily gave Bella a reproving look at her bad language as she gestured for Paul to sit down at the big round table with Jared and Embry. She pushed the paper plate of muffins towards him, and smiled triumphantly in Bella’s direction when Paul picked up two simultaneously and shoved them whole in his mouth.

“The best muffins I’ve ever tasted.” Paul announced, giving Bella the side-eye, being fully aware of the friction between the two women.

“Thank you, Paul.” Emily simpered.

Bella rolled her eyes in disdain. Paul was such a douche. When Emily’s back was turned, she gave him the finger again, causing a scowl to erupt on his face. Embry and Jared mocked him mercilessly until he got so heated he flung back out of the house in a strop.

Mere seconds after he had left the front door opened again, and Sam stepped through.

“Emily.” He said, and so much love saturated his voice that Bella wanted to gag. She saw similar expressions cross Jared and Embry’s faces as all three of them watched Sam cross the room in one stride and take Emily’s face in his wide hands. He leaned down and kissed the dark scars on her right cheek before he kissed her lips.

“Hey, none of that.” Jared complained. “I’m eating.”

“Then shut up and eat.” Sam suggested, kissing Emily’s ruined mouth again.

“Ugh.” Embry groaned.

Bella agreed with Embry’s sentiment. Imprint love was not real love in her book. It didn’t sing out with joy or life and true, romantic love. Imprinting was a werewolf's involuntary, romantic fixation on someone, which Bella considered problematic due to its inherent lack of consent and potential for coercion. It effectively overrode the imprinted individual's free will, forcing them into a relationship with someone who they had never looked at twice before. Before Sam had imprinted on Emily, he had been in a loving relationship with her cousin Leah. Now because of some stupid cosmic fuck you, Leah was left bitter and nursing a broken heart, while Emily got Sam’s complete undivided attention. Not that she hadn’t paid a price for that – the permanent red scars she bore on her face were a testament to that.

Bella put what was left of her muffin down and folded her arms across her chest. She stared into the middle distance, trying to ignore Sam and Emily’s loved up display of manufactured affection.

She was grateful for the diversion when Jacob finally appeared. Paul was trailing him, wearing a mutinous look on his face. Bella felt relief flood through her at the sight of her best friend in the whole world. She had been so worried about him. She saw Paul slyly punch Jacob while he was distracted looking in her direction. His smile was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens when he spotted her.

“Hey, Bells.” He greeted her cheerfully as he nonchalantly jabbed Paul hard in the kidney, making him choke. Ignoring his pack mate, he grabbed two muffins as he passed the table and came to stand beside her.

Bella felt better as soon as Jacob was beside her. Even more so when he automatically reached out and enclosed her hand in his warm one. “How are you holding up?” He muttered under his breath.

“I’m okay. You?”

Jacob’s face got serious. “Bells, I need to tell you something.”

“I already know the Cullens are back, Jake.” Bella cut in grimly. “I woke to find Edward in my bed this morning.”

At this proclamation all heads whipped in Bella’s direction. Their keen wolf hearing had caught the whispered exchange.

“Here we go again!” Embry sighed as Jacob hastily let go of Bella’s hand and punched his way out of the house. “Way to go, Bella!”

“I didn’t….” Bella spluttered.

“Think?” Embry finished for her. “Jeez, girl, that was the one thing you had to have known would set him off yet again.”

Sam looked extremely irritated. “I’m not going after him again. You go.” He ordered Embry and Jared. “And drag his sorry ass back here pronto.”

“Will do.” Embry and Jared said in unison as they ran out of the house after Jacob.

“Well done, vampire girl.” Paul taunted Bella as he reached for another muffin.

Bella’s answering retort was to lift the paper plate of remaining muffins and dump them over his head.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

And I ain't trying to mess with your self-expression

But I've learned the lesson that stressin'

And obsessin' 'bout somebody else is no fun

And snakes and stones never broke my bones

You Need to Calm Down Taylor Swift 2019

Chapter Three-Jacob’s Vow

Too keyed up to stay at Sam and Emily’s house, Bella and Jacob had retreated to First Beach to enable Jacob to walk off his simmering resentment toward his Alpha. Sam had decided it was too much of a risk to allow Jacob to accompany him when he went to confront the Cullens directly. So, he was taking Jared and Embry instead. Infuriated, Jacob had tried to argue his case, but Sam just told him to calm the fuck down and ordered him to stay put.

“You’ve already shown you can’t control yourself. My word is final. Don’t make me have to issue an Alpha order, Jacob.” Sam had warned sternly.

Jacob was practically vibrating with anger as he walked beside Bella. He was struggling to hold his shape together. Bella had to remind him sharply to get his shit together. He was in danger of wolfing out in front of the public if he continued to wind himself up into a frenzy.

“Yes, you’re right.” Jacob muttered, taking a deep breath. “Calm. Right.”

“Let’s go somewhere less crowded.” Bella suggested as they ambled past the back of the general store and shoved through the thick scrub that ringed the far edge of First Beach. Thankfully there was much less of a crowd here and they felt able to relax and talk through all that had happened.

“So, what’s the story, anyway?” Jacob asked Bella, kicking a piece of driftwood out of his way with too much force, imagining it was Edward Cullen’s marble head. “I know you woke to find the leech in….in…. you know.” He struggled for the words. The thought of the bloodsucker anywhere near Bella made him feel sick to his stomach. He took a deep breath and tried again. “What I’m asking is…did he do anything? Did he hurt you?”

Bella emitted a weary sigh, not willing to think about her difficult conversation with Edward. “Apart from invading my privacy – no. It was actually the other way around. I hurt him.”

She wanted to skip this part, the betrayals, the accusations, but she knew they had to talk it through before they would be able to move on to anything else. So, with great reluctance, she recounted to Jacob exactly what went down between her and Edward. How she had refused his attempts to reconcile, and how she had been forced to harshly reject him before he got the message that nothing was going to change her mind and get her to take him back.

Jacob didn’t hide his satisfaction when Bella quoted the exact words she had said to Edward to put the final nail in the coffin of their relationship.

“What I feel for you isn’t love, it isn’t hate. It’s just indifference.”

Feeling his hostility waning now that he knew how clear and forthright Bella had been with the leech, he found he felt a smidgeon of pity for the pathetic creature. Bella’s damning indictment of her feelings toward Cullen were enough to send anyone spiraling.

“I did feel bad afterwards.” Bella admitted bleakly. “But it had to be said.”

“You were harsh but fair. You have nothing to feel bad about.” Jacob reassured her.

“I know that.” Bella replied irritably. “It doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty, though.”

“Hey, I’m on your side, remember.” Jacob pointed out.

“Sorry.” Bella muttered.

Jacob stared at her for a minute, and his posture relaxed for the first time that day. He gazed toward the horizon thoughtfully.

“Now you know the whole story.” Bella concluded with a heartfelt sigh. “I can only hope that the Cullens return is temporary and that they’ll leave again once Edward tells them there will be no reconciliation like he hoped.”

“I think you’re being a bit naïve, Bella.” Jacob said as he bent over to pick up a rock from among the millions of pebbles at his feet. With a casual flick, he sent it flying a good hundred meters out into the bay. “The whole coven wouldn’t have come back just on a whim that you might take his sorry ass back. I think they’re here for another reason.”

“Why?” Bella studied him critically, trying to follow his line of thought.

“The red head.” Jacob explained. “Isn’t it obvious? They must know.”

Bella shuddered. She had been trying to put Victoria out of her mind. She hadn’t factored that into one of the reasons which would prompt the Cullens to relocate to Forks again. It made sense, though. Maybe Alice had seen something.

Jacob didn’t seem to notice her reaction. He was staring across the waves with a troubled expression on his face, his broad lips pursed.

“What are you thinking about?” Bella asked after a long, quiet time.

“I’m thinking about what you told me and how things are going to change now.”

“I know.” Bella agreed sadly.

“You know we’d probably be in my garage right now, like any other Saturday. There wouldn’t be any vampires in Forks, and you and me….” He trailed off, deep in thought.

Bella felt disconcerted at the loss of the peaceful picture he painted. He was right, nothing was going to be the same again. Her heart thumped unevenly at the thought of what this would mean for them now.

“I never thought he would come back.” She said bitterly. “He was so adamant for me to forget that he existed. I did exactly as he wanted me to do. And now he comes back and says he never meant any of it and ruins everything.”

Jacob started to say something, his anger returning at the reminder. He stopped himself, took a deep breath and shook his head to clear it.

“You’re worried about how Sam is going to deal with all this. He was quite mad at you.” Bella guessed. She could read Jacob like a book.

A wry grin lit up Jacob’s face. “There’s nothing I can keep hidden from you, huh?”

“Nope.” Bella returned his grin with one of her own.

Jacob leaned down to scoop up another rock. He turned it over and over in his fingers, his eyes riveted on the black stone while he spoke in a low voice.

“Sam and I have been butting heads for a while. I don’t always agree with the way he does things. He’s too cautious. I think if we’d been a bit more proactive than we would have caught the red head by now.”

Bella squinted up at him. She hated to be reminded of Victoria. “I didn’t know you were questioning Sam’s leadership.”

Jacob’s eyes flashed up to her concerned face. “Oh, so you don’t know everything I’m thinking?” He joked.

“Jacob, be serious, please.”

“Sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology. I just want to know what you think Sam is going to do.” Bella said acidly.

“Look at that.” Jacob interrupted, pointing to an eagle in the act of plummeting down toward the ocean from an incredible height. It checked itself at the last minute, only its talons breaking the surface of the waves, just for an instant. Then it flapped away, its wings straining against the load of the huge fish it had snagged.

“You see it everywhere.” Jacob said, his voice suddenly distant. “Nature taking its course – hunter and prey, the endless cycle of life and death.”

Bella didn’t understand the point of the nature lecture. She guessed he was just trying to change the subject. But then he looked at her with dark humor in his eyes.

“And yet, that fish could have saved itself if it had just changed its strategy.” He grinned mockingly. “But Sam refuses to change his.”

“I see.” Bella finally understood. “You think Sam is being too rigid.”

“Yes.” Jacob confirmed with a tight smile. Then his eyebrows pushed together angrily, and his eyes were black in their deep shadow. “He’ll abide by the treaty. He’s just gone to make sure that the Cullens do the same. He won’t force them to leave Forks, I know it. If they stick to the rules like they did before, then he won’t see them as a problem.”

Bella flinched back and bit her lip. She could understand why Jacob was mad at Sam. If the Cullens did know about Victoria already, which was a possibility, if Sam was soft on them, then they would take that as a sign that they could stay for the foreseeable. Her stomach dropped at the thought.

Jacob frowned deeply. “They shouldn’t be allowed to resettle here. Their very existence just draws more of their kind here. More of their kind just means more trouble. As if we didn’t have enough of that already. That and I don’t want to take the risk that the leech could try his luck with you again.”

Bella stared at him incredulously. “Edward wouldn’t. Not after what I said. I was very clear.”

“Bells, he’s never respected your boundaries before, has he? What makes you think he will now?” Jacob argued. “Sam’s lax attitude will just make things worse. It just means the whole coven will have an excuse to stick around, which means more opportunity for him to get to you. I can’t be everywhere all at once.”

“Fuck.” Bella muttered. She turned her back on Jacob to hide her distress and paced away.

“Hey, Bells.” Jacob was right behind her; he caught her wrist and spun her around. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. I’m sorry. I don’t want you to worry. I will be there to protect you. I promise.” He said earnestly.

“That’s impossible. You just said so yourself.” Bella fretted. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Bella.” Jacob said, his voice slow and different. Aged. She realized he sounded older than she did – like a parent or a teacher. “What I am is born in me. It’s a part of who I am, who my family is, who we all are as a tribe – it’s the reason why we’re still here. I can protect you. I know I can. You believe me, right? You believe that I would never let anything happen to you?”

He picked up her hand and pressed it to his fever warm chest. Through his borrowed t-shirt, Bella could feel the steady beating of his heart under his palm and believed him.

“Well normal humans can’t throw motorcycles around the way you can. I’m sure you can deal with one obsessive vampire.” She surmised with a faint smile.

“And don’t you forget it!” Jacob grinned.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Trying to find a part of me you didn't take up

Gave you too much but it wasn't enough

But I'll be all right, it's just a thousand cuts

Death By A Thousand Cuts Taylor Swift 2019

Chapter Four-A Thousand Cuts

It was with great reluctance that Jacob and Bella returned to Sam and Emily’s to find out about the outcome of the former’s meeting with the Cullens. As they walked into the small house they were greeted with the strong aroma of baking bread. The huge yellow mixing bowl that had formerly hosted the whipped eggs was now placed center stage on the round table in the kitchen with a shower cap covering it.

Bella stared at the covered bowl in bewilderment, wondering what the shower cap was for. She exchanged a questioning glance with Jacob, but he just shrugged, clearly as confused as she was.

Emily was at her usual post by the stove. As soon as they entered the kitchen, she was giving Bella the side – eye. Noticing her wordless exchange with Jacob, Emily was immediately on the defensive.

“It’s how I keep the dough moist and rising.” She said archly. “It was a trick my Momma taught me.”

“Oh.” Bella smiled faintly in response. “Great tip.”

Emily just sniffed and muttered something unintelligible under her breath as she returned her attention back to the stove, which had several pots boiling on it. Sam, sensing the sudden frigid tension coming off his imprint in waves, quickly decided to take control of the situation before any of the others seated at the table commented on it.

“Hey, guys, listen up!” He said in a loud voice, interrupting all the conversations going on in the small room. He moved closer to Emily as he spoke and put a comforting hand on the small of her back, an unconscious gesture. “Now Jake and Bella are here we can get this meeting started.”

Paul’s head swung around when Bella’s name was mentioned and he grimaced. “Oh, joy, vampire girl is back again!” He announced scathingly.

Immediately Jacob’s hand shot out and cuffed him hard on the back of the head. “Quit it, douchebag!” He warned with narrowed eyes.

The hard slap brought a scowl to Paul’s face. He leapt swiftly to his feet, shoving his chair backwards, and with fists clenched at his sides. “You want to fight, Black. Bring it on!” He threatened. “I’ll kick your ass!”

Jacob laughed mockingly. “In your dreams!”

Paul lost his cool completely and he lunged, his punch aiming for Jacob’s face. Before the punch landed, Jacob caught Paul’s fist in his palm and deftly twisted the arm it was attached to at an awkward angle. Paul cried out in pain and fell to his knees.

“Fuck.” He swore.

“Idiot!” Embry commented, trying to stifle his laughter. Paul lost against Jacob every time, especially when it came to defending Bella against his potty mouth. “You never learn, Lahote.”

“Oh, man!” Jared wailed in resignation, interrupting the impromptu fight.

Bella looked over at him curiously as Jacob finally released Paul from his chokehold.

Paul rose slowly, rubbing his sore arm. “You asshole, you could have dislocated it.”

“Boo Hoo!” Jacob sneered.

Embry and Jared were examining a fading purple bruise on Paul’s forearm. Embry was grinning, exultant.

“Fifteen dollars.” He crowed to Jared. “Pay up, Cameron.”

Jared huffed irritably as he dug his hand deep in the pocket of his denim shorts and pulled out some folded dollar bills. He flicked them at Embry and shot him a sour look.

“Sore loser.” Embry laughed as he counted the money to make sure it was all there. “Don’t make bets if you don’t like paying up.”

“You made a bet with each other?” Bella demanded incredulously.  

“Of course.” Embry shrugged nonchalantly as he pocketed the money. “Paul is nothing if not consistent. We knew he would open his big mouth when you walked in, like we knew that Jacob would punish him for it.” He grinned slyly in Jacob’s direction. “Cool move, man.”

Jacob grinned back, earning himself an irritated dig in the ribs from Bella for his troubles.

“Enough!” Sam commanded, tiring of their childish behavior.

Jacob’s face got serious, as did the others. Paul, Embry, and Jared settled back down at the table, while Jacob caught Bella’s hand in a tight grip and pulled her closer to his side as if wanting to protect her from the news that Sam was about to unleash on them.

Sam directed his gaze toward Jacob and Bella when he spoke next. Embry and Jared already knew what had gone down as they had accompanied him on the mission to the Cullens crypt.

“We’ll be changing our patterns.” Sam said casually.

“What does that mean?” Jacob asked, his brow furrowing. “In what way?”

Bella could sense the rising tension growing within Jacob. His grip on her hand had tightened, his posture turning rigid. Like she did, he seemed to realize they were about to be shafted.

“After intense negotiations with the coven leader, it was agreed that we would adhere to the treaty and our previous boundaries. Forks will remain neutral territory just like before. The Cullens will patrol those areas for any sign of the red head going forward. We will stick to our borders and protect tribal lands only. We’ll try leaving a few holes, and see if she falls for it should she venture past our borders again. We’ll have to split up, and I don’t like that. But – “

“You can’t be fucking serious!” Jacob cut in angrily. He marched forward, dragging Bella along with him as he was still holding her hand in a death grip. “You agreed to let the leeches have free rein of Forks – which includes Bella’s house - what the hell were you thinking?”

Now everybody looked strained. Embry and Jared exchanged a long look, while Paul had his head cocked to one side. Even he appeared pissed at Sam’s lame negotiations, which put him on the same side as Jacob for once.

“You told the bloodsuckers about the red head?” He asked in disbelief.

Sam showed no sign of his own anger, other than a faint flush of red on his cheeks. He stared at Paul in his usual stoic manner. “It was the right approach. They were the ones responsible for bringing danger to our door. It’s their responsibility to help end it. We are being stretched thin as it is…”

“Quil’s got to be close to joining us.” Embry pointed out, interrupting Sam again. “Then we’ll be able to split evenly. Surely that will make a difference.”

Everyone looked down. Bella glanced at Jacob’s face, and his simmering anger had now turned to hopelessness. No matter how comfortable they seemed to be with their fate, here in the wolf hub of Sam and Emily’s kitchen, none of the werewolves wanted the same fate for their friend.

“Well, we won’t count on that.” Sam said in a low voice, and then continued at his regular volume. “Paul, Jared, and Embry will take the outer perimeter, and Jacob and I will take the inner. We’ll collapse in if we manage to trap her.”

Bella noticed that Emily didn’t particularly like that Sam would be in the smaller grouping. For once she felt an affinity with the other girl, her worried gaze travelling to Jacob in concern. Seeming to sense her worry even though his stare was directed at Sam, she felt him squeeze her fingers gently in reassurance.

“That’s not good enough, Sam.” Jacob argued, trying to keep his tone steady. “We’ll be leaving Bella exposed in Forks if we stick to the old boundaries. Her house is smack bang in the middle of the Cullens territory. The bloodsucker has already snuck into her bedroom uninvited once already. I won’t leave her unprotected in case he tries to do it again.”

Exasperated Sam caught Bella’s eye. “Jacob has made it clear what he thinks, but I disagree. The Cullens have made a solemn promise to adhere to the treaty. They have always done so in the past. I understand that you made it clear to Edward Cullen that you no longer want a relationship with him. Carlisle Cullen promised that your wishes will be respected. However, if you feel you are in danger….” He emphasized the word feel with an irritated sigh.

Bella knew what Sam was intimating. He wanted her to shut Jacob down. For her to assure him that she believed that Edward would not pester her again. Deep down he still probably blamed her for getting into a relationship with Edward in the first place - that said relationship being the catalyst for Victoria’s perilous presence in their lives.

Jacob glared at Sam and spoke before Bella had a chance to. “Don’t put the blame for your shitty negotiations onto Bella. You should never have agreed to anything. They shouldn’t even be here. Now you’ve given them a good excuse to stay.”

“Watch your tone, Jacob!” Sam snapped, holding up one hand. “I am the one in charge here. Not you. I am not going to argue about this anymore. I have made my decision and it is final.”

“Well, then, if that’s how its going to be Bella will just have to move onto the res for her own safety.” Jacob challenged. “She can stay at mine.”

Sam’s glance flickered to Emily and then over to Bella. His lips thinned, his dark eyes momentarily showing his pain. Then they glazed over and he was back in control.

“Jacob may think that is best.” He said to Bella. “And I can’t stop you. But you need to decide for yourself. You should weigh the risks of both options very seriously. You know how easily things can get dangerous here, how quickly they get out of hand. If you choose to stay with Jacob, I can’t make any guarantees about your safety.”

“I won’t hurt her!” Jacob practically yelled. “I’m NOT you!”

There was a collective gasp from the other members of the pack. They glanced at each other nervously. Emily shrank back against the kitchen counter, one hand covering her mouth as she tried to hide her livid red scars behind a swathe of her hair.

Sam locked eyes with Jacob, breathing heavily. The air was suddenly so brittle it could snap, and if it didn’t, Bella felt like she might. No-one dared break the tense silence, after all what was there to say? The faucet dripped into the kitchen sink, each one reverberating around the room like a cymbal, yet no-one blinked or moved to stop it.

Bella could feel the fear in her chest waiting to take over. It sat there like an angry ball propelling her towards an anxiety she just didn’t need. She had never seen Jacob like this – so confrontational. He had picked on Sam’s greatest hurt and taunted him with it. She felt responsible. After all it was the argument about her safety that had started it all. She wished she had spoken up before Jacob did. Maybe things wouldn’t have escalated the way they did.

The silence was suddenly broken by the sound of a quiet sob from Emily. Sam seemed to come back to life. He let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen his body movements. He broke the stare, walked over to Emily and put a comforting arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

“You go too far, Jacob.” He said grimly. “Go now. We’ll talk again when you’ve calmed down.”

Jacob’s dark eyes moved with the alertness that comes from heavy stress and his free hand clenched as if from subconscious demand. Bella could tell he was regretting his outburst. She bit her lip, wondering where she could go that wouldn’t put someone else in danger? She recoiled again from the idea of bringing Renee into this – pulling her into the circle of the target she wore…

And worse she was creating division among the wolves….

“I don’t want to lead Victoria anywhere else.” She whispered. “But Charlie will never go for me staying at Jacob’s without some valid explanation. I will stay at home and trust that Carlisle has everything under control. He had never given me reason to mistrust him before. I am sure Edward will leave me alone.”

Sam glanced over her at her again. “I think its best.” He agreed, relaxing more.

“Bella…” Jacob protested, but she shook her head at him fiercely to silence him.

“Let’s give Sam and Emily some space.” She said quietly as she pulled him toward the door.

“The rest of you can clear out, too.” Sam ordered wearily. “It’s almost time for patrols anyway.”  

To the sound of many chairs scraping on a wooden floor, the boys left the house in a tight huddle, all of them disturbed by the growing tension between the Alpha wolf and the one who had always been destined to lead.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

And in plain sight you hid

But you are what you did

And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive

The smallest man who ever lived by Taylor Swift 2024

Chapter Five-The Smallest Man

Bella was not surprised to see the lights still on when she pulled up in front of her house in Forks – she knew that Charlie would be home from work by now.

“Do you want to come inside for a minute?” Bella asked Jacob hopefully.

The corners of Jacob’s mouth twitched, fighting a smile. He knew that Bella wanted him to act as an intermediary while she told Charlie about the unexpected return of the Cullens. He could only imagine the police chief’s reaction. The older man hated Edward Cullen almost as much, if not more, than he did.

“Normally I would, but I’m due out on patrol. Sorry.”

“Right…patrol!” Bella muttered glumly. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”

“Sure, sure.” Jacob laughed at her disconsolate expression and dropped a light kiss on top of her head. “I’ll check on you later when Charlie’s away with the fairies.” He quickly exited the truck and ran off into the surrounding woodland, Bella’s eyes following him until he was out of sight.

The TV was loud when Bella got inside the house. She briefly tried sneaking past her father, half hoping to put off telling him the difficult news until the morning.

“Could you come in here, Bella?” Charlie called out, sinking that plan.

Bella’s feet dragged as she took the five necessary steps into the living room.

“What’s up, Dad?”

“Where have you been, Bella?” Charlie asked. He seemed ill at ease. Bella looked for hidden meanings in the words before she answered.

“In La Push hanging out with Jake.” She explained hesitantly.

Charlie hit the mute button on the TV – an unusual action. This must be serious.

“Look, there’s something I need to say.” He frowned, looking very uncomfortable.

Bella sank down into one of the armchairs, waiting for him to get to the point. Charlie met her gaze for a second before shifting his eyes to the floor. He didn’t say anything more.

“What is it, Dad?”

Charlie sighed. “I’m not good at this kind of thing. I don’t know how to start….”

Bella waited again, her expression turning pensive.

“Okay, Bells, here’s the thing.” Charlie got up from the couch and started pacing back and forth across the room, looking at his feet the whole time. “I had hoped to never have to bring up the asshole’s name again…but…needs must.” He paused, scratching the back of his neck agitatedly.

Bella knew where this was going. It seemed the local gossipmongers had beat her to it. Charlie obviously knew that the Cullens were back. She wondered irritably who had spilled the beans.

“I know you’re an adult now.” Charlie continued, unaware of her inner musings. “But you’ll always be my little girl no matter how old you get. I will always do my best to protect you.”

“I know that, Dad.”

Charlie glared at the floor. “I am your father. I hate having to be the one to tell you this, but – “

“Edward and his family are back in town.” Bella finished for him flatly.

“You already know?” Charlie finally looked directly at her, his expression screaming astonishment. “How? You said you’d been in La Push most of the day.”

This was beyond the seventh circle of Hades, made worse as she was forced to think about Edward Cullen again.

“Billy told me.” Bella lied.

“Billy?” Charlie was more astonished than ever. “How does he know?”

“A friend of a friend told him.” Bella shrugged. “Does it matter? You know how he feels about the Cullens. He’s never liked them. He made sure to warn me as soon as he saw me.”

“Well, you might think it would have occurred to him to pick up the damn phone and warn me too.” Charlie huffed irritably.

“But you already knew.” Bella pointed out. “How?”

Charlie sighed. “Karen Newton swung by the station and told me.”

“Of course.” Bella replied drolly.

Karen Newton – the mother of the one and only Mike Newton – lived for tittle tattle. She loved any type of scandal. When Edward had brutally broken up with Bella the first time, she had gleefully spread the news around the town, on the surface pretending to be sympathetic, but secretly enjoying the fact that the police chief’s daughter had been dumped by the local rich boy. She had always resented the fact that Bella had rejected her own son when Mike had made romantic overtures when she first moved in with Charlie.

“And how did Karen Newton come by this fascinating bit of news?”

“Oh, she was volunteering at one of the coffee mornings at the hospital – you know the ones they have when they’re trying to raise money for charity – when one of the administrator’s let it slip that Carlise Cullen had reapplied for his old position. They were ecstatic that it hadn’t worked out for him in L.A. and eagerly accepted his application.”

Bella shot a glance at her father, and was grateful to see that Charlie looked more relaxed now that the hard part was over. She watched as he sank back down onto the sofa, sighing with relief that she seemed to have accepted the bad news with nothing more than quiet resignation. He was probably expecting her to break down into hysterics or something.

“What now?” She asked.

Charlie met her questioning gaze with his own. “Bells, you know that as Dr. Cullen has got his old job back, it means that the family intend on settling back here. It will mean that boy” – he couldn’t bring himself to say Edward’s name out loud – “will be attending school again, along with his siblings.”

Bella slumped lower into the cushions of the armchair, her complexion turning paler than normal. It just simply hadn’t occurred to her that Edward and Alice would be coming back to Forks high. It should have been obvious. They would want to blend in again like before.

Charlie winced at her stricken expression and shifted forward, one hand reaching out toward her. It hovered near her shoulder in readiness to offer comfort, when he saw Bella straighten up again in her seat, her face hardening.

“I don’t care.” She said with conviction. “He means less than nothing to me. It should be easy enough to avoid him. I’ve got my friends. He won’t have any.”

“There’s my brave girl.” Charlie grinned. “But if you would like me to come in and speak to the principal, I can.”

“No, Dad, I’m fine. Honestly. Edward Cullen does not exist as far as I’m concerned.”

“Okay.” Charlie was much reassured by her show of courage. He reached for the remote and turned up the sound again on the TV. Bella could tell he would keep up with the game for a while. “If you change your mind, or he does try and bother you, just let me know, kiddo. I would enjoy nothing more than putting that little prick back in his place.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Bella stood up and swept her hair over one shoulder. “I think I’ll turn in then. It’s been a long day.”

“Night, Bells.”

“See you in the morning!” Bella sprinted for the stairs.

Bella knew that Jacob wouldn’t check in with her until Charlie was asleep – she had a feeling he was probably nearby, keeping watch on the house in case Edward tried to sneak in her room again – so she was in no hurry to undress for bed. She also wasn’t in the mood to be alone, but she certainly wasn’t going to go back downstairs to hang out with her dad, just in case he asked her anymore questions about the Cullens. She was anxious and wound up enough.

She could call Angela, she supposed.

Or maybe, even better, she could drive over there and visit. It had been too long since they had hung out together.

Decision made, Bella grabbed her jacket and shoved her arms through the sleeves as she ran down the stairs, tripping on the last step in her haste to be gone. She managed to save herself by grabbing onto the handrail.

Charlie looked up from the game and gazed at her curiously. “I thought you were going to bed.”

“Angela called. She needs me to drop a text book over to her. Can I?” Bella asked breathlessly. “I won’t stay long.”

As soon as she said Angela’s name, Charlie relaxed. He liked Angela Weber and her parents. “Sure, kid. No problem. You can stay as long you like. You don’t need to ask my permission.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Bella said as she darted out of the door.

Even though she didn’t really think Edward would dare to intrude on her privacy again after their last painful interaction, Bella couldn’t help looking over her shoulder a few times when she jogged to her truck, but the night was so black that there really was no point. She had to feel her way along the side of the truck to the handle.

With her eyes just beginning to adjust as she shoved her keys into the ignition, she twisted them hard to the left, but instead of roaring deafeningly to life, the engine just clicked. She tried it again with the same results.

And then a small motion in her peripheral vision made her jump.

“Fuck!” She gasped in shock when she saw that her worst fears had been realized.

Edward sat very still, a faint bright spot in the darkness, only his hands moving as he turned a mysterious black object around and around. He stared at the object as he spoke.

“Alice warned me this might happen.” He murmured.

“What?” Bella exploded.

Damn Alice! Of course, the little pixie would be watching her. Probably on Edward’s orders.

“You just have no sense of danger, do you?” Edward accused.

Bella’s eyes, wide with indignation, narrowed.

“She can’t see the wolves, you know.” Edward continued in the same scathing tone. “When you decide to mingle your fate with theirs, you disappear, too. You couldn’t know any of that, I realize that. But you must understand why that might make me a little…. anxious? Alice saw you disappear halfway on your journey to Angela Weber’s – which means you must have been intercepted by one of them – she couldn’t even tell if you got home or not. Your future got lost, just like theirs.”

Bella stared at him incredulously as he carried on talking, oblivious to her rising anger.

“We’re not sure why this is.” He said thoughtfully. “Some natural defense their born with?” It was almost as if he was talking to himself now, still looking at the piece of the truck’s engine as he twirled it in his hands. “That doesn’t seem entirely likely, since I haven’t had any trouble reading their thoughts. Carlisle theorizes that it’s because their lives are so ruled by their transformation. It’s more an involuntary reaction than a decision. Utterly unpredictable, and it changes everything about them. In that instant when they shift from one form to the other, they don’t really even exist. The future can’t hold them….

Bella listened to his ramblings in stony silence.

“I’ll put your truck back together in time for school.” He assured her after a minute. “I will always be here to protect you, Bella. You know that. Even from yourself. The werewolves are dangerous. You must stay away from them – especially from one in particular.”

He was talking about Jacob! The bastard!

“Get the fuck out of my truck.” Bella hissed.

“Bella?” Edward appeared shocked at the ferocity in her tone.

“I would be dead without Jake and the pack. They are not the dangerous ones. You are. Now give me that engine part you stole and then fuck off!”

Bella held out her hand, waiting impatiently for him to hand over the part. But Edward stayed obstinately in place, his lips thinning as he stared at her.

“You’re not going to leave, are you?” Bella snapped.

“No.” Edward confirmed with a stubborn frown. “Not until you hear me out properly.”

“I see.” Bella muttered darkly. “Then you leave me no choice.” She warned, thankful that Edward couldn’t read her mind.

Then with one sharp movement she leaned her palm on the truck’s horn – the loud sound piercing the quiet night like a warning siren – and screamed for help.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

And you'll poke that bear 'til her claws come out

And you find something to wrap your noose around

And there's nothing like a mad woman.

Taylor Swift- Mad Woman 2020

Chapter Six-Anger

“Bella!” Charlie yelled as he stormed out of the house, cradling a torch. The bright beam blinded Bella momentarily as he flashed it into the truck, his eyes showing alarm. “Are you okay?” He asked breathlessly when he saw her sitting alone on the bench seat, clutching the big steering wheel.

Bella bit her lip, eyes everywhere but on her father. The flood of light coming from the torch revealed what she already knew – Edward was long gone.

“Bells, speak to me!” Charlie demanded, peering into the passenger side of the old chevy in confusion. “What happened?”

Oh crap, what was she supposed to say?

“There was….an emergency.”

Charlie raised his eyebrows in expectation of her brilliant explanation. However, before she was able to provide one, Jacob came barreling out of the nearby tree cover, hopping on one leg as he tugged on his cut-off denim shorts.

Double crap!

Bella filled her cheeks with air and then blew it out noisily. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dad.” She said desperately.

Charlie glared at her irritably. “The truth would be good. Why did you scream blue murder and honk the horn?”

“Bella!” Jacob called out, startling Charlie so much by his sudden appearance that he nearly dropped the torch. He ran on silent feet to the driver’s side of the truck, yanked the door open, reached in, and pulled her out of her seat in one smooth motion.

“Where did you come from?” Charlie’s face turned bright red when he noticed Jacob’s lack of clothing. “Just what is going on here?” He waited with a distrustful expression.

“See, I came out to the truck….” Bella was scrambling frantically to make some sort of sense, to keep it as close to the truth as possible so that her usual inability to lie would not undermine the excuse, but it was proving difficult to think with Jacob turning her this way and that as if inspecting for injuries.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked in a harsh whisper so Charlie wouldn’t overhear. The leech stink had burned his nose as soon as his feet hit the tarmac. The sly bloodsucker had managed to escape detection by sneaking up on the Swan house by keeping downwind.

“I’m fine.” Bella hissed in response. “And you need to calm down. You’re shaking.”

“Yeah, calm!” Jacob closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“WILL ONE OF YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?” Charle bellowed to get their attention. His complexion had now turned to an angry shade of puce.

Triple crap! As if she wasn’t already toast.

“I guess I got spooked.” Bella choked out. “It was nothing. It was probably just a shadow.” She shrugged, desperately hoping that her father would be so distracted by Jacob’s half-dressed state that he’d miss the brilliant explanation she had provided for waking up half the street.

Charlie’s face was frozen with suspicion as he eyed Jacob with a practiced eye. As he did so, more light spilled out onto the road as their closest neighbors came out of their houses to find out what all the yelling was about.

“Don’t take me for an idiot, Bells?” Charlie seethed as he shot an annoyed glare at the curious onlookers. “Took you long enough to come out and see what was going on, didn’t it?” He yelled at them. “My daughter could have been murdered by the time you lot dared to poke your noses out of the front door. Lucky for you there is nothing to see here. So, you can just move your cowardly asses back inside.”

This statement was followed by a lot of resentful huffing and puffing, mixed with a few angry mutterings. But soon, except for the pool of light provided by Charlie’s torch, the night blanketed them all again as their neighbors moved back inside and closed their front doors.

“Nice one, Dad.” Bella mumbled in embarrassment.

Charlie’s skin heated up – from frozen to hot with fury. “I’m not in the mood to be messed with, kiddo. You nearly gave me a heart attack screaming like that. I thought you were being attacked by an angry bear” – his eyes suddenly narrowed, as if a horrible thought had suddenly occurred to him – “or were you attacked by something else?” He flashed the bright beam of the torch directly in Jacob’s face, causing him to blink. “What are you doing here, Jake? And only half dressed? Bella was supposed to be on her way to Angela’s, or was that a lie, and instead you two were meeting up for a secret little romantic rendezvous? Did you go too far?”

Bella emitted a resigned sigh. “Dad, really? Its Jake!”

Charlie’s face flushed again. “Alright, I didn’t really think that. So, what’s he doing here?”

Jacob held up his hands to shield his eyes as he squinted in the police chief’s direction. “I heard Bella scream. So, I came to check on her.” He confessed without thinking.

“What all the way from La Push?” Charlie barked at him; his suspicions aroused all over again. “You’ve got good hearing. Did you fly here? Are you superman in disguise?”

Bella groaned in disbelief and put her hand over her face. “Idiot!” She muttered in an aside to a contrite Jacob.

“No, of course not.” He chuckled. “I was already on my way here. I thought it would be nice to hang out with Bells, that’s all.”

“What again? You’ve spent most of the day together already. Forget to put on your shirt and some shoes when you had this brilliant idea to hang out with my daughter, did you?” Charlie interrogated him, losing what was left of his patience. “I’ll give you both one last chance to tell me the truth – “  

“It’s all a misunderstanding.” Bella interrupted him.

“This should be good.” Charlie gazed at Bella critically as he waited for her marvelous explanation.

This time it was Bella who flushed red. She didn’t really know what to say. Nothing that she came out with would sound remotely believable, so she just went with what she had already said. “I got spooked, okay. End of.”

“Not good enough, kiddo.”

“Its all I’ve got.” Bella replied obstinately. “Take it or leave it.”

“And Jake?”

“Was on his way to see me like he said.”

“You don’t expect me to believe that?” Charlie demanded.

“Its all I’ve got.” Bella stared him straight in the eyes challengingly. “I’m an adult, Dad. I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

“You will while you’re living under my roof.”

“Fine, I’ll have no choice but to leave and move in with Jacob and Billy then.”

Charlie’s eyes bulged, his expression darkening. Bella’s resolve wavered as she started to worry about his health. He was no younger than Harry Clearwater, who’d recently had a near miss when his heart almost gave out. His wife, Sue, now had him on a strict diet, something Bella was also trying to incorporate with Charlie…

“Dad, I don’t want to move out.” She backtracked hastily. “I love you. I know you’re worried, but you need to trust me on this. And you’re going to have to ease up on me if you want me to stay. Its dark. I got spooked. Jacob has told you why he was here. And you need to stop being judgmental about the way he dresses. Do you want me to live here or not?”

“That’s not fair, Bella. You know I want you to stay.”

“Then be nice to Jacob. He was only looking out for me, just like you were.” Bella said with confidence. It was the conviction in her voice that finally made Charlie back off…. for now.

“Fine.” He agreed through gritted teeth.

Bella smiled faintly. “Good. Now an apology to Jacob wouldn’t go amiss.”

“WHAT?”

“That’s not really necessary.” Jacob muttered.

“It’s is – you did nothing wrong.” Bella said with her eyes locked on her seething parent.

Charlie’s face was a strange shade of purple now. “Sorry, kid.” He said curtly to Jacob, before spinning on his heel, and walking back into the house and slamming the door behind him.

Bella turned to face Jacob. She had to tilt her head right back to look up at his face. He was so darn tall now – almost six five. “Sorry about that.” She apologized.

“Uh-huh.” He said with a grin. “So, you’d move in with me?”

“In your dreams, wolf boy.” Bella tapped him lightly on the chest.

“You know it would probably be the safest place for someone like you.” Jacob joked.

Bella’s jaw tightened. “Very funny. I am not a danger magnet.” It was something Edward always threw at her, it pissed her off now, just as it did then.

“You might not be a danger magnet, but you are definitely an Edward Cullen magnet.” Jacob’s grin turned into a scowl. “I warned Sam that the leech would take advantage. And I’ve just been proven right. He’s way out of his depth.”

“You know you really don’t believe that.”

“Oh, don’t I?” Jacob fumed.

“No. You don’t.”

Jacob glowered at her and started to speak, but Bella cut him off.

“If you really believed that, you’d take control. And we both know why you won’t do that.”

“Do we?” He challenged.

“Yes, we do.” Bella stepped close to him, feeling the intense supernatural heat pouring off his body and warming hers. “Are you going to make me say it?”

Jacob fell silent, a stubborn set to his mouth as he gazed back at her.

Bella shook her head and backed off. She was tired. It had been a long day, and an even longer night. She didn’t want to get into a fight with Jacob. Not about this. Not now.

“I’m tired. I’m going in now.”

Jacob nodded curtly in acknowledgement. “I’ll stick around until the morning. Then at first light I’m going to pay Sam a visit.”

Bella looked at him thoughtfully, before stretching up onto her toes so that she could press her lips lightly onto his.

“Just be careful to keep your temper in check when you speak to him.” She advised. “You don’t want to start something you’re not prepared to finish. Goodnight, Jake.”

Then she ran toward the house, closing the front door gently behind her.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Who's gonna tell me the truth

When you blew in with the winds of fate

And told me I reformed you

When your impressionist paintings of Heaven

Turned out to be fakes

LOML Song by Taylor Swift - 2024

Chapter Seven-Discussions

By dawn’s early light Jacob decided it was safe to leave. There had been no sign of the leech. As he stood, stretching each limb in turn, opening his jaws in a wide yawn, he shook his wolf body like a large dog shucking water. The canopy of trees he had been resting under while he kept his silent vigil over the Swan house was hugged with the warmest rays that stretched out in every direction. The sun was so strong that the dawn sky was not blue, but a honey-peach.

With weariness from lack of sleep descending on him as soon as he moved, it took Jacob longer getting back to La Push than it normally would have. According to the treaty the pack were not officially responsible for Forks, and it restricted them from the Cullens’ territory, so he had gone off-piste by patrolling the Swan house alone.

As soon as Jacob set foot on the reservation, he took off through the woods toward Sam’s house. He really should have gone straight home and crashed for a few hours, but he didn’t want to delay telling his Alpha about Edward Cullen’s forbidden foray into Forks last night. The dumb deal Sam had made with the coven leader had already backfired, putting Bella’s safety at risk.

Jacob didn’t bother knocking when he got to Sam’s. None of the pack usually did anymore as it was now treated as the pack’s unofficial headquarters. Sam had protested at first when any of the guys walked in uninvited, but Emily immediately quietened him. As always, he was forced to go along with whatever made her happy. She liked the hustle and bustle of the boys coming and going at any hour. She had announced herself the official pack mamma, treating the overgrown teenage boys as if they were her own unruly children.

Emily was at her usual spot at the stove. She glanced up from what she was doing and gave Jacob a questioning look.

“Where’s Sam?”

“He’s outside.” Emily gestured toward the back door with one hand. “You okay, Jake? You look shattered.”

“I’m good.” Jacob said curtly, not willing to feed Emily’s blatant curiosity. He knew as soon as he mentioned Bella, her face would curdle up like stale milk, and she would make her usual biting remark. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with her jealousy. It was going to be hard enough confronting Sam without losing his cool.

Lowering his head as he stepped out of the back door, he found Sam bent over the hood of his truck and cussing under his breath.

“Can I help?” Jacob offered reluctantly to kick start the conversation. He found it difficult to talk to Sam sometimes. The older guy was always so taciturn, keeping his feelings close to his chest. Even when phased Sam was like a closed fist. It was rare that he let his thoughts stray from anything other than the task at hand. He was always in control.

“No…. I’m done.” Sam responded coolly. He stood up and reached for an oily rag, wiping the grease from his hands. “What is it?”

Jacob decided not to beat about the bush and get right to the point. “We can’t leave Bella unprotected.”

Sam’s expression hardened. “We’ve been through this, Jake.” He was obviously irritated that Jacob had even brought it up. “The decision has been made. I’m not going to argue with you about this.”

“Too fucking bad.” Jacob snapped. “The so-called deal you made with the bloodsuckers barely lasted a day. Edward Cullen accosted Bella last night. It was only by her quick thinking she was able to make him leave.”

“Is that what she told you?” Sam was dismissive. “Bella had no trouble with hanging out with the bloodsuckers before. We only have her word that she didn’t want him there.”

“Are you deliberately trying to bait me right now?” Jacob lost his cool completely as his hands clenched into fists. “You know Bella wants nothing to do with him. She told him to fuck off and leave her alone, but like the obsessive creep he is, he just carries on harassing her because you let the coven leader manipulate you.”

“You go too far, Jacob.” Sam warned. “I don’t need to justify my decisions to you. The treaty let them live here.”

“No, it let them pull Bella into their mess you mean. And it stops us from doing anything about it.”

“Bella was quite willing to be pulled into that mess despite multiple warnings, if I remember. We stick to the res. Bella knew what they were, and she – “

“Fuck that!”

“Jacob, enough.” Sam warned again, a glint of rarely seen resentment showing in his dark eyes. “Our responsibility is to protect the reservation.” He turned away to close the hood on the truck, as a way of putting an end to the discussion.

“Is that it?” Jacob challenged angrily. “So, we’re gonna just let the bloodsuckers take over Forks and leave Bella unprotected?”

“No!” Sam yelled, turning around to glare at Jacob. “We can’t concentrate everything on Bella all the time. She chose this. And we can’t be everywhere all at once. We’re running on empty as it is. There just aren’t enough of us.”

“She didn’t choose anything! Just like we didn’t choose to be what we are!”

“We can’t be responsible for her. You can’t just put some girl above the pack!”

Jacob stared at Sam incredulously, his jaw tensing. “She isn’t just some girl. She’s my…. my everything!”

“Bella is not your imprint, Jacob.” Sam said in a low voice.

Jacob’s answering retort was tinged with a bitter edge. “Fuck imprinting! I’m not you. You’re a weak leader, Sam. You always opt for the safer option. You refuse to take risks. That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in.”

Sam took a step forward, like he was daring Jacob to challenge him further. His fists were clenched tight, and his arms twitched like he wanted to phase. It seemed like his legendary control was fading fast.

“You – who are nothing but a coward – have the temerity to call me weak!” He yelled. “I am the Alpha because you refuse to be!”

Jacob closed his eyes as he tried to keep his temper reigned in. He pictured Bella, letting the memory of her kissing him lightly on the lips fill his mind, with her last words to him echoing in his ears: “Just be careful to keep your temper in check when you speak to him. You don’t want to start something you’re not prepared to finish.”

Was he prepared to finish it? Was he ready? Could he really let go of the hidden fears that were stopping him from taking full control? No – it was selfish, but he couldn’t risk losing Bella.

“Well?” Sam was eyeing him skeptically, clearly thinking he had won this argument.

Jacob opened his eyes again and gazed at Sam stonily. “Then I’ll just have to move in with Bella and be her personal bodyguard. It means you’ll be down one wolf, but you’ve given me no choice.”

He didn’t wait to hear Uley’s reply. He stormed back inside the house, letting the door slam behind him. But the loud bang wasn’t enough to drown out his Alpha.

“JACOB!”

“What?” Jacob poked his head back out the door.

Sam’s fists were still balled together. He took a few deep breaths as he got himself under control, although a small part of Jacob was hoping that he would lose it, so they could fight it out, and the decision would be taken out of both of their hands. Finally, though, Sam exhaled slowly and glared at Jacob again.

“We’ll protect Bella.”

“Good.” Jacob let the door swing shut again.

“What’s going on, Jake?” Emily asked. It was clear by the look on her face that she had overheard everything, so Jacob didn’t know why she was bothering to ask.

“You must have heard.”

“I did.” Emily admitted, giving him a sanctimonious smile. “You shouldn’t rile Sam like that, you know. He’s just trying to look out for you all. He is under so much pressure. You know deep down he is right. You can’t put one girl above the whole pack – “

“Don’t go there, Emily.” Jacob cut in scathingly. “We both know you have a problem with Bella. And it’s got nothing to do with her superior cooking.”

Emily flinched at Jacob’s biting remark. He felt a slight smidgeon of guilt, but she had asked for it. He was so fucking tired of everything. He needed to sleep. Without saying another word, he slammed out of the house, phased and headed for home.

Charlie slapped Harry’s hand away as his friend reached for one of the chocolate doughnuts he had brought with him to Billy’s.

“What was that for?” Harry asked, aggrieved. “It was only one.”

“It never is with you.” Charlie remarked candidly. “One turns into two, then three….”

“Hard ass.” Harry complained irritably. “You’re worse than Sue.”

“She’s got you on that diet for a good reason.” Charlie pointed out forcefully. “You dodged a bullet, Harry. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“He’s right.” Billy chimed in as he took one of the doughnuts and bit into it. He chewed thoughtfully as he watched Harry slump miserably back in his chair. “These are good, Chief.” He said, licking the oozing chocolate from his lips.

Charlie glared at him. “You shouldn’t be eating these, either.” He snapped, shutting the box and moving it out of Billy’s reach.

“Then why did you bring them?” Harry demanded. He leaned over the arm of his chair and dug Charlie in the stomach. “You could do with losing a few inches off your own waistline. Maybe you shouldn’t be eating them yourself.”

“I didn’t bring them for you two idiots to chew on. They were a gift.” Charlie confessed with his nose in the air.

A sly grin took over Billy’s broad face. “From who?”

“None of your business.” Charlie huffed.

“It wouldn’t be from that pretty waitress from the diner, would it?” Harry teased, catching the red creeping up on Charlie’s cheeks. “She’s had a thing for you for a while. It must be the uniform, can’t imagine what else would attract her.”

“Yeah, definitely the uniform.” Billy agreed, chuckling.

“Very funny.” Charlie grumbled irritably. “I came here seeking advice, not a ribbing.” He made as if to get up and leave.

Billy and Harry exchanged an amused glance. This was Charlie’s usual tactic to get them to stop taunting him.

To placate him, Billy raised his hands and apologized. “Stay where you are, you old fool. I’m sorry. Now tell us what was so urgent that you put off our fishing expedition.”

Charlie settled back in his chair, a worried frown taking over his face. He templed his fingers together and looked at his friends’ enquiring expressions. He had their full attention now.

“Now that the Cullens have taken up residence in Forks again, it means the youngest two will be going back to Fork’s High like they did before. It makes me uneasy knowing that Bella will be forced to be around them again. Especially with their history. She says she’ll be fine, but I know my little girl. I could tell the thought bothered her. She just didn’t want to worry me. I’m just not sure what I can do about it, other than talking to the school principal, which she didn’t want me to do. Its not like she can change schools, is it? It’s the only one in the immediate area.”

Billy exchanged another knowing glance with Harry before speaking. “Not the only one, Chief.”

Charlie looked confused. “Are you suggesting I pull Bella out of school and she work from home? It seems hardly fair that she should be forced out because of them.”

Billy shook his head. “No, I’m suggesting that Bella move school entirely. She can transfer to the tribal school and finish out her education there.”

Charlie’s face lit up at the thought. “Is that really a possibility?”

“Leave it with me, Chief.” Billy grinned widely. “Now pass me another one of those doughnuts.”

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

I Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

“And no one here's to blame

But what about your quiet treason?”

Fortnight song by Taylor Swift 2024

Chapter Eight-Alice Cullen

Bella was collapsing under the weight of the box of groceries. With Charlie out for the day fishing with Billy and Harry - and Jacob catching up on some much-needed Z’s - she was taking the opportunity to catch up with the household chores. With more fish about to be added to the freezer, she had driven to the local store to stock up on some ingredients for a fish pie.

The sky had darkened considerably, the early morning sunshine swallowed up by the morass of black clouds. Dragged down by the weight of the groceries, Bella hefted the heavy box further up into her arms, concentrating carefully on her feet to make sure she didn’t trip on her way to the house. She had only taken a few steps when the heavens opened, and rain, thick and fast, pelted down like an ugly mood.

“Dammit!” She cussed under her breath. She glanced back at her truck, almost invisible now with the heavy rain. She considered backtracking and sheltering inside the cab, but as she was already soaked through to the skin, she decided to just make a run for it.

Thankfully she made it to the front porch without incident, though her hands were shaking with the effort of carrying the heavy box. Muttering obscenities under her breath, she tried balancing the groceries on one arm, while simultaneously shoving her key in the lock. She jerked the key to the left and grabbed the doorknob, sighing in relief when it twisted easily under her hand. She let the doorway fall open. The hallway was black.

The foul weather had made day almost like night. Bella took a step inside and fumbled for the light switch. It was so black – like black water… where was the fucking switch?

Her fingers traced the wall, still searching, still fumbling –

The light flicked on, though her frozen hand had still not found the switch. She blinked in the sudden light, and saw that someone was there, waiting for her.

The heavy box of groceries fell to the floor with a dull thud.

Unnaturally still and white, with her large black eyes intent on Bella’s face, Alice Cullen waited perfectly motionless in the center of the hall, beautiful beyond imagining.

Bella’s knees buckled, and she nearly fell. Reaching out to the wall for balance she glared at Alice.

“I am sick and tired of this!” She cried in frustration as she slammed her clenched fist against the wall. “You are as bad as your brother, thinking you can just invade my privacy when you feel like it!”

“Bella?” There was a strange mingling of shock and disapproval in Alice’s voice at Bella’s bad language. She approached Bella cautiously, suddenly engulfing her in a tight embrace. “I’ve missed you.”

Bella tried to hold her breath, gasping and trying not to inhale any of the strong scent coming off Alice’s icy skin. It was so cloying – not floral or spice, citrus, or musk. No perfume in the world compared to the overwhelming sweetness. It was vomit- inducing. How had she not noticed that before?

Without asking permission, Alice dragged Bella to the living room couch and pulled her down so they were sitting side by side. The chill coming off Alice’s stone body was making Bella shiver. It was like being shoved up against hard concrete. Alice was rubbing her back in a gentle rhythm, as if attempting to offer comfort.

Bella shifted away from Alice, color rising to her cheeks as she glared at the petite vampire. “What the fuck are you doing here, Alice? I did not invite you!”

Alice blanched at her sharp tone and she looked a little confused. “Its okay, Bella. Everything’s okay. I forgot how exuberant you can be.”

Bella looked at her incredulously, angered by her condescending manner. “Are you for fucking real?” She spat through gritted teeth. “You broke into my house and have the damn cheek to call me exuberant!”

The look that Alice directed at Bella was an impatient stare. “Those dogs have been a bad influence on you. Edward was right to be worried. You never used to use such foul language before.”

“Oh!” Bella was having trouble keeping a tight reign on her temper. If she had been physically capable, she would have kicked Alice out of the house. Unfortunately, it would be like trying to move a block of cement. “Don’t you dare belittle Jake and the pack like that. Without them protecting me, I would have been toast by now.”

Alice shook her head, sighing heavily. “We didn’t know about Victoria, Bella. If we had, we never would have left.”

Bella pursed her lips in annoyance. “You did me a favor when you all left. It was a relief. Jasper nearly turning me into worm food was a wakeup call. I was hoping never to set eyes on any of you ever again.”

“Jasper was so sorry about that.” Alice said, aggrieved. “And do you have any idea of the agonies Edward is suffering because – “

Bella cut her off then, as soon as she said his name. She was so weary of trying to make herself heard. She was beginning to think the whole coven was dense.

“Alice, I don’t give a crap about how your brother is feeling. Or you for that matter.”

Alice eyed her dubiously, as if still trying to convince herself that what Bella said came from a place of deep hurt. “We both know you’ll forgive him eventually. Why drag it out, Bella? This is not like you to hold a grudge for so long.”

Bella’s expression hardened. “Saw that in one of your dodgy visions, did you?”

Insulted, Alice cocked her head to the side, studying Bella acutely. “There is no need to be cruel, Bella. I believe Edward explained to you how the wolves hinder my ability to see clearly.”

“Oh, thanks for the reminder. I must make sure to tell Jake.” Bella sneered.

Alice glowered at her. “Jacob Black! A young werewolf!” She scoffed. “The worst thing out there apart from Victoria herself. Edward was right – you are a danger magnet.”

“There is nothing wrong with werewolves!” Bella snapped.

“Until they lose their tempers.” Alice shook her head sharply from side to side. “Leave it to you, Bella. Anyone else would be better off when the vampires left town. But you have to start hanging out with the first monsters you can find.”

“GET OUT!” Bella leapt to her feet and pointed a trembling finger at Alice. “I WON’T HAVE YOU SAYING SUCH WICKED AND AWFUL THINGS ABOUT JACOB AND HIS BROTHERS!”

“Oh, we should never have left!” Alice lamented in a quiet voice as if speaking to herself.

“Oh, just get out!” Bella demanded again, losing control completely. She laughed once – it was a slightly hysterical sound. “All you and your family have done is bring danger to my door. I was never the danger magnet, you all were. So, if you have a scrap of decency left in those cold, dead hearts of yours, you’ll all piss off and never come back to Forks ever again!”

Alice scowled up at Bella. “I can see you’re still angry and not quite yourself. I guess I acted impulsively today. I shouldn’t have intruded.”

Bella could feel the heat flood her face. Hope flared. “So, you’ll tell the others to leave?” She asked fervently.

Alice’s eyes opened wider. “Oh no, Bella.” She said, enunciating each word with slow precision. “We are not going anywhere. It’s clear that you can’t be left to your own devices. Look at the state of you, how easily you’ve let yourself be influenced and manipulated by those despicable werewolves. And Victoria is still out there. You need us more than ever to take care of you.”

“FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!” Bella screamed in frustration.

Alice was not fazed in the slightest. “You can yell all you like, Bella. It won’t get you anywhere. And by the way you could do with one of my makeovers. You look like hell.”

“You – “

The phone rang.

“I expect that’s Charlie.” Alice declared smugly. “See my visions are working perfectly.”

Bella’s nostrils flared as she spun on her heel and marched to the kitchen to answer the phone. Alice floated silently behind her like she was on wheels.

“Dad.” Bella barked into the phone when she picked it up.

“No, it’s me.” Jacob said.

“Jake!” Bella sobbed in relief at the sound of his voice.

Alice scrutinized her expression, her own marred with worry. She tapped the side of her head as if trying to fine tune a malfunctioning radio.

“Just checking in.” Jacob yawned. “I’ve been trying to sleep, but the olds have cracked open the beers and are having a drunken karaoke session in the living room.”

“They didn’t go fishing?”

“Nah. It was your dad’s fault. He brought a load of chocolate doughnuts with him. I was going to nab a few, but they refused to share.” Jacob complained good naturedly. “Anyway, I’m hoping they’ll run out of steam soon. I’ll see you later, Bella, honey.”

“Jake, do not hang up. I need -” Bella cried desperately.

Alice caught hold of the phone and hung up before Bella could complete the sentence. She put her arm around her and steered her back to the living room.

“Edward would never forgive me if I let you hang out with the werewolf. So, I’ve decided to stay.”

“No!” Bella struggled to escape Alice’s grip, but it was a pointless exercise. “You have no right to keep me hostage here!”

Alice just smiled brightly. “You do exaggerate, Bella. I wouldn’t call it holding you hostage – more like a girl’s night in. It will be fun. I promise.”

Alice leaned against the doorjamb, trapping a livid Bella inside the living room, as she asked nonchalant questions about their old high school friends and what they had been up to since she had left.

“They are my friends. Not yours.” Bella said curtly. “You don’t have any.”

Alice’s face registered disapproval. “That’s not very nice, Bella. When are you going to drop this hostile act?” She whined. “We were always like sisters. We can be like that again, if you just let go of your hurt and forgive. I’ve missed you.”

Just as she said this, the doorbell rang.

Bella looked to Alice at once, to find her expression was perplexed and worried. It seemed whoever was at the door had taken her by surprise.

“Don’t you dare answer that, Bella.” Alice warned with a trace of frustration in her voice. “I have a fairly good guess who that is.”

“Guess?” Bella questioned, feeling an egregious sense of hope. “Ah ha, so you’re having another one of your lapses in foresight, which means only one thing – come right in Jacob!” She yelled, grinning smugly at Alice.

A/N-thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

I Forgot You Existed

Disclaimer: All characters and Copyright belong to SM.

“… So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street

Crash the party like a record scratch as I scream

"Who's afraid of little old me?"”

Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? Song by Taylor Swift- 2024

Chapter Nine-Standoff

The front door was thrown open and Jacob charged in. His nose was wrinkled in distaste, but his face was otherwise smooth – masklike. However, his stoic demeanor didn’t fool Bella. She could see the faint trembling in his hands.

Hostility rolled off him in waves as he quickly sidestepped, shielding Bella from Alice’s view. His thick, black brows pushed down at a furious angle as he regarded the petite psychic with intense dislike.

“What are you doing here, bloodsucker? Why do you keep harassing, Bella?”

Alice stood motionless a few feet away, her eyes turning black with animosity. “You’re treading on dangerous ground, dog. I am doing nothing wrong. Just simply visiting a friend.”

“Likely story!” Jacob accused, his fingers twitching slightly as he fought to keep his temper in check. “Bella doesn’t want you here. She told that brother of yours to fuck off. And I bet she told you too. But, like him, you’re too dense to know that you’re not wanted.”

“Calm down, Jacob Black.” Alice ordered as she regarded his shaking arms. “You don’t want to do that so close to her.”

“Don’t you dare lecture me, leech!” Jacob warned. “I won’t have any trouble keeping my focus.” He retorted.

“Alice.” Bella stepped to one side, gripping onto Jacob’s arm for balance. The intense warmth emanating from his hot skin was oddly soothing. At her touch, the trembling in his arms ceased. “I suggest you get out, before Jake throws you out.”

“I would like to see him try.” Alice sneered. She was pulling a small silver phone from her bag as she spoke. Her fingers dialed numbers so fast that they were a blur.

“Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle now.” Her voice whipped through the words. “Fine, as soon as he’s back. No, I am not hunting with Jasper. I am with Bella. Look, have you seen or heard anything from Edward? I have a situation here, and I – “

Her voice was cut off as Rose interrupted her sharply. Bella had no idea what was being said, but Jacob did. He smiled grimly as he listened to the verbal tongue lashing the blonde ice princess proceeded to give the interfering little pixie.

Alice paused, listening with an expression that grew increasingly wrathful. Her lips thinned into an angry line, and the phone shook in her hand.

“Keep out of it, Rosalie!” She snapped. “No! Don’t you dare! I’m telling you. No! Why would you do that?”

Whatever the answer was made Alice’s jaw tighten in anger. Her eyes flashed and narrowed as she darted a resentful glance in Jacob’s direction. Bella looked in confusion between them. Jacob’s grim smile turned smug as he watched with glee as the annoying little bloodsucker became increasingly livid.

“What’s going on?” Bella whispered to Jacob.

Jacob was completely relaxed now. He threw one heavily muscled arm over her shoulders and grinned. “The little leech is about to get her ass kicked.” He laughed.

“Oh, you always think you know best. Well, you don’t, Rosalie.” Alice hissed acidly. “There is no way that you would dare to come here and drag me back home. What?” She paused again, her expression turning sour like curdled milk. “Bella? She’s absolutely fine – well – as fine as one can be when they’re hanging out with smelly werewolves. The smell of wet dog is revolting.”

“Ugh, you’re one to talk!” Jacob huffed irritably. “At least I don’t smell like something that’s just crawled out of a sewer.”

Alice ignored him. She was practically vibrating on the spot. If she could have reached through the phone and slapped Rosalie, she would have. She listened as the feisty blonde continued to promise to make good on her threat to come to Forks and drag her back home by her hair.

“Edward will not forgive you for this! Nor will I! And once Carlisle learns what you’ve done, he won’t forgive you, either.” Alice’s voice was very hard and her lips were pulled back over her teeth. “You know how dangerous these werewolves can be. If anything happens to Bella, this will be on you!” She snapped the phone shut with a sharp twist of her fingers.

Bella’s eyes flickered to Jacob. He was still totally relaxed, his smug grin widening.

“Bye, bye, Pixie.” He jeered.

Alice glared at him before turning her penetrating gaze onto Bella. “You are placing yourself in unnecessary danger. Edward will be upset. You know how much he worries. I don’t know what he’ll do once I tell him about this.”

Bella gazed at Alice indifferently. “When is it going to sink into your stone head that I don’t give a shit about Edward’s feelings? Just leave before Jacob kicks you out.” Her nails dug into Jacob’s arm as she spoke, but he didn’t even flinch.

Alice let out a strangled gasp. “He really has got his hooks into you, hasn’t he?” She whispered. “I did not foresee this. I cannot allow it.” She suddenly flew toward Bella, imprisoning her face between her icy hands, her fingers flexing sporadically to emphasize her words. “We will find a way to help you break free from the dog’s diabolical influence, Bella. I promise.”

Bella stared back with her jaw clenched tight in frustration as Jacob wrested Alice’s hands off her face and shoved the petite vampire back by about six feet.

“Get the fuck out of here, you little witch!” He snarled.

“You might control yourself on occasion, dog, but we both know what you’re capable of!” Alice accused.

Jacob growled, and a shudder rippled through his torso.

“Stop that!” Bella shouted at them both, wild with impatience. She put a calming hand on Jacob’s chest, and once again his shaking ceased. Then she turned her cold glare onto Alice. “You heard what Jacob said – get the fuck out of here!”

Alice matched Bella’s cold glare for a minute. “I will go now. But this is not over.”

Then she disappeared.

Bella felt totally drained. A sob broke from her chest. She threw her arms around Jacob’s waist and hugged him, burying her tear wet face against his chest. He put his big hand on the back of her head, holding her there.

“Am I never going to be free of them?” She cried in frustration.

Jacob cupped his hand under her chin and made her look at him. “You will, Bella, honey. I’ll make sure of it. I made Sam promise to give you full protection. They won’t be able to get at you again without us knowing about it.”

Bella sighed in relief.

They stared at each other for a long moment. Jacob’s hand smoldered against Bella’s skin. Her expression was full of wistful sadness as she gazed up at him with glossy eyes. She was so longing for the day when she was finally free of the cursed Cullens. At first Jacob’s face reflected hers, but then, as neither of them looked away, his expression changed.

He released Bella’s face, lifting her his other hand to brush his fingertips along her cheek, trailing them down her jaw. She could feel his fingers tremble – not with anger, with something else much more provocative. He pressed his palm against her cheek, so that her face was trapped between his burning hands.

“Bella.” He whispered.

Bella held her breath in anticipation. She knew what was coming. Everything had been building up to this moment. She gazed in wonder up at his beloved face. She did love him. In so many real ways. He had always been more than just her best friend. It had taken longer than it should have to admit it. He was her comfort, her safe harbor. He belonged to her. They belonged to each other.

The Cullens might be back. Victoria might still be on the hunt, but that didn’t mean she had to put her life on hold, did it? True love was right here, if only she would lower her defenses and let it in. Really, what was stopping her anymore?

As Jacob hesitated, gazing at her, assessing, Bella daydreamed what it would be like to hold him, have his arms around her, his burning lips on hers. She could imagine the inferno. Her skin blazed at the thought.

Keeping his eyes on hers, Jacob began to bend his face toward her. Bella closed her eyes in anticipation.

The shrill ring of the phone startled them both, but it didn’t break Jacob’s focus. He took his hand from under Bella’s chin and reached over her to grab the receiver, but still held her face securely with the hand against her cheek. His dark eyes did not free hers. Bella was too muddled to react at all. Her focus remained on him.

“Swan residence.” Jacob said, his husky voice low and intense.

Someone answered and Jacob altered in an instant. He straightened up, and his hand dropped from Bella’s face. His eyes went flat, his face blank, and Bella had the sinking feeling that she knew who it was on the other end of the phone.

“Its Edward, isn’t it?”

“Don’t you threaten me, leech.” Jacob warned, and his voice was menacing.

Bella held out her hand for the phone. “Give it to me.” She ordered.

Jacob looked like he was going to ignore her request as an obstinate frown took over his face.

“Give me the phone, Jake.” Bella repeated, her sharp tone indicating that she was losing patience.

“Filthy bloodsucker.” Jacob muttered under his breath as he reluctantly gave in and passed her the phone.

“Edward?” Bella said curtly. “Why are you calling me? You just interrupted something important.”

“Oh, Bella, my love, I just spoke to Alice – “

“Oh, shut up, Edward.” Bella cut him off abruptly. “I was just about to have sex with Jacob on the kitchen counter before you rudely interrupted. So, piss off.”

Then she hung up the phone.

A/N-thanks for reading!