Jacob and Bella Story

Chapter Eight

Bella's P.O.V

I went inside the house to sit by the phone and bite my nails. Charlie looked at me, surprised when I came. He was on the floor, a foot from the TV. It must be an exciting game.

"Movie over already?" Charlie asked.

"Mike got sick." I responded. "Some kind of stomach flu."

"You okay?"

"I feel fine now." I said.

I waited impatiently by the kitchen counter, my hand hovering over the phone for Jacob's call. I unconsciously drummed my fingers on the counter when I remembered Jacob's odd expression as he left. I regret not driving him home.

I kept glancing at the clock as the minutes passed: ten, fifteen, and then eighteen. My drive took only fifteen minutes despite driving slower than Jacob. I picked up the phone and dialed. It rang and rang. Maybe Billy was asleep. Perhaps I dialed wrong. I tried again.

On the eighth ring, as I was about to hang up, Billy answered.

"Hello?" Billy asked.

"Billy, it's me, Bella. Did Jake make it home yet? He left here about twenty minutes ago." I responded.

"He's here."

"He was supposed to call me. He got sick when he left, and I worried."

"He was...too sick to call. He's not feeling well right now."

Billy sounded distant. I understood his ambition to be with Jacob.

"Let me know if you need a hand," I offered. I can swing by to help."

I pictured Billy, immobile, and Jacob having to manage on his own.

"No, no." Billy said quickly. "We're fine. Stay at your place."

"Okay." I said.

"Bye Bella."

The line then disconnected.

"Bye." I said.

At least he made it home. I trudged up the stairs. I could go down before work tomorrow to check on him. I could make soup.

When I woke up early, I realized our plans were canceled. Seeing it was 4:30 on my clock, I ran to the bathroom. Half an hour later, Charlie discovered me on the bathroom floor, my face against the cold bathtub.

Charlie looked at me for a second. "Stomach flu," he said.

"Yes." I responded with a moan.

"You need something?"

"Call the Newtons for me, please. Tell them I have what Mike has and I can't make it in today. Tell them I'm sorry."

"Sure, no problem."

I spent the rest of my day napping on the bathroom floor, using a crumpled towel as a pillow. Charlie claimed he had work, but I suspected he wanted access to the bathroom. He left a glass of water beside me to keep me hydrated.

I woke up when Charlie got home. It was dark in my bedroom after nightfall, so he clumped up the stairs to check on me.

"Still alive?" Charlie asked.

"Sort of." I responded.

"Do you want anything?"

"No, thanks."

Charlie hesitated, clearly out of his element. "Okay, then." He said.

Charlie returned to the kitchen afterward.

A few minutes later, I heard the phone ring. Charlie had a brief, quiet conversation and then ended the call. Charlie then walks in to talk to me. "Mike feels better," he said.

Well, that was encouraging. I have eight more hours since Mike got sick eight hours earlier than I did. The idea nauseated me, forcing me to lean over the toilet.

I dozed off on the towel, waking up in bed with sunlight streaming through my window. I don't recall moving. Charlie had to carry me to my bedroom and place a glass of water on my bedside table. Dehydrated, I guzzled it despite the odd taste from it sitting still overnight.

I rose gradually, attempting to avoid another wave of nausea. Though I felt weak and tasted terrible in my mouth, my stomach was okay. I checked the time.

My 24-hour period had ended.

Eating saltine crackers for breakfast wasn't my choice. Seeing my recovery, Charlie appeared relieved.

Once I was certain I wouldn't spend another day on the bathroom floor, I contacted Jacob.

Jacob answered, but I knew he wasn't over it when I heard his greeting.

"Hello?" Jacob said.

Jacob's voice cracked, breaking, and it broke my heart to hear him like this.

"Oh, Jake." I said. "You sound horrible."

"I feel horrible."

"I'm so sorry I made you go out with me. This sucks."

"I'm glad I went. I wanted to. Don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault."

"You'll get better soon. I woke up this morning, and I was fine."

"You were sick?"

"Yes, I got it too. But I'm fine now."

"That's good."

"So you'll probably be better in a few hours."

I could barely hear Jacob's answer. "I don't believe I have the same thing you did," he said.

"Don't you have the stomach flu?" I asked.

"No. This is something else."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Everything. Every inch of me hurts."

You could almost feel the pain in his voice. Hearing how he was feeling hurt my chest, and I felt empathy for him.

"What can I do, Jake? What can I bring you?" I asked.

"Nothing. You can't come here." Jacob responded.

"I've already exposed myself to whatever you have."

Jacob ignored me. "I'll call you when I can. I'll let you know when you can come down again," he said.

"Jacob..." I said.

"I got to go."

"Call me when you feel better."

"Right."

Jacob was silent for a moment. I waited for him to say goodbye, but he stayed, too.

"I'll see you soon." I said.

"Wait for me to call," Jacob said again.

"Okay...Bye, Jacob."

"Bella." Jacob whispered my name and then hung up the phone.

It has been a couple of days, and Jacob hasn't called. When I first called, Billy answered, informing me that Jacob was still asleep. Curious, I inquired whether Billy had taken Jacob to see a doctor. Billy said he had, but I couldn't nail it down. I didn't believe him. I called again several times a day for the next two days, but no one was ever there.

On Saturday, I went to see him; I considered the invitation to be damned, but the red house stood empty. This frightened me. Was Jacob so sick that he needed to go to the hospital? I stopped by the hospital on my way back home, but the nurse at the front desk told me neither Jacob nor Billy had been in.

I made Charlie call Harry as soon as Charlie got home from work. I waited anxiously while Charlie chatted with his old friend. The conversation seemed to go on forever, with no one mentioning Jacob. Harry had been in the hospital for some tests for his heart. Charlie's forehead got pinched together, but Harry joked with him, blowing it off until Charlie was laughing again. Only then did Charlie ask about Jacob, and now his side of the conversation didn't give me much to work with; it was a lot of hmms and years. I drummed my fingers against the counter beside him until he put a hand over mine to stop me.

Charlie hung up the phone and turned to me. "Harry says there's been some trouble with the phone lines, and that's why you haven't been able to get through. Billy took Jacob to the doctor down there, and it looks like he has mono. He's exhausted and tired, and Billy said no visitors," he said.

Charlie raised one eyebrow. "Now don't you go making a pest of yourself, Bells. Billy knows what's best for Jake. He'll be up and around soon enough. Be patient," he said.

I didn't push it. Charlie was too worried about Harry right now. Instead, I went upstairs and turned on my computer. I found a medical site online and typed "mononucleosis" into the search box.

All I knew about mono was that people get it from kissing, which was not the case with Jake. I read through the symptoms quickly. He had the fever, but what about the rest of it? He had no horrible sore throat, exhaustion, or headaches, at least not before he went home from the movie. He said he felt "fit as a fiddle." Did it come on so fast? The article made it sound like the sore stuff showed up first.

I glared at the computer screen and wondered why I was doing this. Why did I feel suspicious, like I didn't believe Billy's story? Why would Billy lie to Harry?

I was worried for Jacob, and honestly, I was afraid I wouldn't get to see him anymore.

I skimmed the article's details, hunting for juicy tidbits. My eyes froze when I hit the section on mono, which lasted for over a month. A month? My jaw dropped in disbelief. But Billy couldn't enforce the rule of no visitors for so long. Imagine! Jacob would go stir-crazy, trapped in bed without a single soul to chat with.

What was Billy afraid of, anyway? The article said that a person with mono needed to avoid physical activity, but there was nothing about visitors. The disease wasn't very infectious.

I'll give Billy a week before I get pushy. A week was generous.

A week was long. By Wednesday, I was sure I wouldn't leave till Saturday.

When I left Billy and Jacob alone for a week, I didn't believe Jacob would follow Billy's rule. Every day, I got home from school, and I ran to the phone to check for messages, and there were none.

I cheated three times by trying to call him, but the phone lines still weren't working.

I was in the house much too much and much too alone. My adrenaline, my distractions, and everything I'd been repressing started creeping up on me. The dreams got hard again. I could no longer see the end coming. The horrible nothingness, half the time in the forest, half the time in the empty fern sea, where the white house no longer existed. Sometimes, Sam Uley was there in the forest, watching me again. I paid him no attention. There was no comfort in his presence. It made me feel less alone. It didn't stop me from screaming myself awake, night after night.

I was starting to miss Jacob's presence. Without Jacob, I felt incomplete. That hole in my chest that was closing was reopening another hole, and it was worse than ever. I found myself hunched over day after day, clutching my sides together and gasping for air. I wasn't handling being alone well.

The following day, I woke up screaming in bed. I felt relieved when I remembered it was Saturday. Today, I called Jacob, and if the phone lines weren't working, I was going to La Push. Today would be better than the last lonely week.

I dialed and then waited without high expectations. It caught me off guard when Billy answered on the second ring.

"Hello?" Billy said.

"Oh, hey the phone works again! Hi, Billy. It's Bella. I was calling to see how Jacob was doing. Is he up for visitors yet? I was thinking about dropping by..." I said.

"I'm sorry, Bella." Billy said. "He's not in."

"Oh, so he's feeling better than."

"Yeah, turns out it wasn't mono after all. Some other virus."

"Oh. So..where is he?"

"He's giving some friends a ride to Port Angeles. I think they were going to catch a double feature or something. He's gone for the day."

"Well, that's a relief. I've been so worried. I'm glad he felt good enough to get out."

Jacob was better but not well enough to call me. He was out with friends, and I was sitting at home, missing him more every hour. I was lonely, worried, bored, and now desolate as I realized that the week apart had not had the same effect on him.

"Is there anything in particular you wanted?" Billy asked.

"No, no really." I responded.

"Well, I'll tell him you called. Bye, Bella."

"Bye."

After Billy hung up, I stood momentarily with the phone still in my hand.

Jacob must have changed his mind about me. He probably took my advice and did not waste more time on someone who wouldn't share the same feelings. I felt the blood run out of my face.

Charlie descended the stairs, his brow furrowed with concern. "Is everything okay?" he inquired.

"Yes." I lied. "Billy says Jacob is feeling better. It wasn't mono. So that's good."

"Is he coming here, or are you going there?" Charlie asked as he poked through the fridge.

"Neither. He's going out with some other friends."

The tone in my voice finally caught Charlie's attention. He looked up at me with sudden alarm, his hands frozen around a package of cheese slices.

I looked at Charlie with a curious expression. "Isn't it a little early for lunch?" I asked.

"No, I'm just packing something to take to the river..."

"Oh, fishing today?"

"Well, Harry called...and it's not raining."

Charlie was stacking food on the counter as he spoke. He looked at me again as if he had realized something. "Say, did you want me to stay with you since Jake's out?" he asked.

"That's okay, dad." I said. "The fish bite better when the weather's nice."

Charlie stared at me, indecision clear in his face. I knew he was worrying, afraid to leave me alone.

"Seriously, Dad, I think I'll call Jessica. "We have a calculus test to study for. I could use her help."

"That's a good idea. You've been spending so much time with Jacob, your other friends are going to think you've forgotten them."

I smiled and nodded. Charlie turned but then spun back with a worried expression. "Hey, you'll study here or at Jess's, right?" he asked.

"Sure, where else?" I asked.

"Well, it's that I want you to be careful to stay out of the woods, like I told you before."

It took me a minute to understand, distracted as I was. "More bear trouble?" I asked.

Charlie nodded, frowning. "We've got a missing hiker. The rangers found his camp early this morning, but no sign of him. There were some huge animal prints. Of course, those would have come later, smelling the food. Anyway, they're setting traps for it now."

"Oh," I said.

I was glad that Charlie was in a hurry. He didn't wait for me to call Jessica, so I didn't have to put on that charade. I went through the motions of gathering my school books on the kitchen table to pack them in my bag. There was too much, which might have made him suspicious if he hadn't been eager to hit the holes.

I was so busy looking busy that the ferociously empty day ahead didn't crash down on me until I watched him drive away. It only took about two minutes of staring at the silent kitchen phone to decide I wasn't staying home today. I considered my options. I would not call Jessica. As far as I could tell, Jessica had crossed the dark side.

I could drive to La Push and get my motorcycle, but who would drive me to the emergency room if I needed it afterward?

Or I already had our map and compass in the truck. I was sure I understood the process well enough by now that I wouldn't get lost. I could eradicate two lines today, putting us early for whenever Jacob honored me with his presence again. I refused to think about how long that might be. Or if it was going to be never.

A quick, guilty thought about Charlie's perspective entered my head, but I disregarded it. I couldn't stay in the house again today. I got in my truck, got on the dirt road, and drove nowhere.

I enjoyed the breeze with the car windows down. My truck sped up rapidly, maintaining a thrilling yet safe pace. A gentle wind caressed my face, electrifying each moment. Yet, the journey seemed to take forever.

After parking in the usual spot, I spent fifteen minutes studying the little needle on the compass face and the markings on the now-worn map. When I was following the right line of the web, I set off into the woods.

Today, the forest vibrated with life, every creature basking in the dry air. Yet, an unexpected shiver danced down my spine. The air was alive with a bird symphony while pesky insects buzzed annoyingly around my head. I spotted field mice darting through the underbrush, their shadows flickering like whispers. Haunting fragments of a recent nightmare echoed in the vibrant landscape. Lost in this untamed realm, I yearned to hear Jacob's cheerful whistle and feel the joyful rhythm of his footsteps on the damp ground.

With every step deeper into the woods, unease wrapped around me. Breathing became a chore, not from fatigue, but thanks to an old foe. The relentless thrum in my chest was vexing, to say the least. I embraced myself, hoping to soothe the ache within. Each thought tempted me to retreat, yet stubbornness held me fast.

I had no clue how swiftly I was zooming along. I thought I'd journeyed four miles, but my adventure had only begun. Suddenly, I slipped beneath a low vine maple arch, brushing past ferns into a sun-drenched meadow.

The moment I stepped into the clearing, clarity enveloped me. This place felt like an old friend, its contours in my memory. Even without the trees, the undisturbed grass waved gently as if welcoming me home. A gentle stream whispered sweet nothings to the east, its bubbling song weaving a tranquil tapestry.

The scene loses its sparkle without the sun's warmth and embrace. Still, its unique serenity transforms it into a secret refuge of calm. The wildflowers have bid farewell for the season. In their place, tall grass stands proudly, swaying softly in the gentle breeze.

It was the same place, but it didn't hold what I had searched for.

Disappointment hit me like a thunderclap, shaking my very core. I sank to my knees at the clearing's edge, breath hitching in my throat.

What purpose did I serve in this empty landscape now? It felt hollow, void of life. Fleeting memories flickered like fireflies but engaging with them hurt. Pain wrapped around me like a chilling fog, suffocating and relentless. Without him, this place was devoid of magic, lacking any spark. I sought hope, searching for even a sliver of light. Instead, the meadow echoed silence, barren like my darkest nightmares. My thoughts swirled in chaotic disarray, leaving me utterly adrift.

Stepping onto the stage alone was a small blessing in disguise. Acknowledging this truth, I felt gratitude wash over me like a gentle tide. Had I stumbled upon that meadow with Jacob... My inner chaos lay bare, a secret I couldn't mask. Words elude me—my heart feels like shattered glass. Cocooning myself into a ball, I fend off the void, finding solace in secrecy. Honestly, it's much easier without an audience to witness my unraveling.

What a stroke of luck to be alone. Alone. The word echoed in my mind, a mix of grim joy and unease. Pain shot through me as I pushed myself up, wincing in agony. Suddenly, a shadow slipped from the northern trees about thirty paces away.

My emotions erupted like a shaken soda, fizzing wildly. Nestled in the wilderness, I stood alone, far from any familiar path, fate throwing me an uninvited curveball. An icy wave of dread rolled over me as I caught sight of the still figure. Laurent's deathly pallor sparked a bittersweet flicker of hope within my heart. A tangled veil of black hair concealed a shadowed visage. It wasn't the face I yearned to see. Fear curled in my stomach, twisting like a coiled serpent. Though this man wasn't the one I mourned, his resemblance left no doubt—he was no mere stranger.

My eyes pop open like a sunrise. "Laurent!" I exclaim in shock.

I first crossed paths with Laurent as a member of James's coven. He opted out of the later hunt, casting me as the target. His fear of repercussions was palpable; it painted me as prey. Yet, a more formidable coven stood guard over me. Oh, how differently things could have ended with a twist of fate! Back then, he had no reservations about feasting on me. He's turned a new leaf. Now, he's found refuge within a more refined coven in Alaska.

"Bella?" Laurent asked, looking astonished.

I grinned. "You remember," I remarked, a hint of nostalgia in my voice.

Laurent grinned. "I didn't expect to see you here." He said.

Laurent walked toward me, a bemused look on his face.

"Isn't it the other way around? I live here. I thought you'd gone to Alaska." I said.

Laurent halted ten paces off, his head c****d in curiosity.

"You're right." Laurent said. "I went to Alaska. Still, I didn't expect...When I found the Cullen place empty, I thought they'd left."

"Oh," I murmured, biting my lip as the name ignited my wound's raw edges.

I took a moment to gather my scattered thoughts. Laurent's gaze sparkled with curiosity.

"They're did," I stated simply, the emptiness lingering in the air.

"Hmm." Laurent murmured. "I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of pet of theirs?"

I offered a smile. "Well, it's something like that," I responded.

"Hmm," Laurent said thoughtfully again.

I stumbled backward, and his inquisitive dark red eyes tracked my movement.

"Do they visit often?" Laurent asked.

"Lie." I heard his voice anxiously in my memory.

His sudden voice startled me, although I should have expected it. Motorcycles, surprisingly, are safer than kittens compared to this.

I did what his voice said to do.

"Now and again." I said. "The time seemed longer to me, I imagine. You know they get distracted...."

"Hmm." Laurent said again. "The house smelled like it had been vacant for a while..."

"You must lie better than that Bella." his voice said.

I tried. "I'll have to mention to Carlisle that you stopped by. He'll be sorry they missed your visit. But I probably shouldn't mention it to...Edward, I suppose---he has such a temper...well I'm sure you remember. He's still touchy about the whole James thing." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Is he really?" Laurent asked.

I kept my reply short so my voice wouldn't betray my panic. "Mm-hmm," I said.

Laurent gracefully stepped aside, his eyes dancing across the meadow. With that subtle shift, the distance between us shrank, drawing our worlds closer together.

"So, how are things working out in Denali? Carlisle said you were staying with Tanya?" I asked.

The question made Laurent pause. "I like Tanya very much." He said. "And her sister Irina even more... I've never stayed in one place for so long before and I enjoy the advantages of the novelty of it. But the restrictions are difficult... I was surprised that any of them can keep it up for long," he said. "Sometimes I cheat."

A lump lodged in my throat. I hesitated, pulling back my foot. His crimson eyes caught my subtle shift, sharp as a hawk in flight.

"Oh," I said. "Jasper has problems with that, too."

"Don't move." His voice whispered.

I tried to do what he instructed. It was hard; the instinct to take flight was nearly uncontrollable.

"Really?" Laurent asked, interested. "Is that why they left?"

"No." I responded. "Jasper is more careful at home."

"Yes. I am too."

Laurent stepped forward deliberately.

"Did Victoria ever track you down?" I inquired, eager to change the subject.

The first question that popped into my head made me regret it as soon as I spoke the words, but the question stopped him.

"Yes." Laurent responded. "I actually came here as a favor to her. She won't be happy about this."

"About what?" I asked.

Laurent's gaze pierced through the trees, completely ignoring my presence. Seizing the moment, I stealthily slipped away from his unwavering stare.

Laurent looked back at me and smirked. "About me killing you," he responded.

I took another step back, unsteady on my feet.

"She wanted to save that part for herself." Laurent went on blithely. "She sort of.. put out with you, Bella."

"Me?" I squeaked.

Laurent shook his head and chuckled. "I know it seems a little backward to me, too. But James was her mate, and your Edward killed him." He said.

Even as death approached, the mere mention of his name reopened my still-raw wounds.

Laurent remained blissfully unaware of my disbelief. "She believed it wiser to eradicate you instead of Edward—an eye for an eye, right? She enlisted my help to gather intel for her, you know. Honestly, I never expected you to be this vulnerable. Her scheme had cracks—she must have underestimated your bond with him. After all, he left you here, exposed and unguarded," he remarked.

With every blow, my heart bore another agonizing wound. As Laurent shifted his weight, I stumbled, reeling from the impact.

Laurent frowned. "I suppose she'll be angry, all the same," he said.

"Then why not wait for her?" I asked.

A playful grin danced across his face. "Ah, Bella, you've caught me in a delightful pickle. I didn't arrive on Victoria's errand—no, I was on the prowl. "Thirsty like a desert traveler, and you smell... so good," he winked, his voice full of charm. Laurent looked at me, clearly approving, as if he meant it as a compliment.

"Threaten him." His voice ordered.

"He'll know it was you." I said. "You won't get away with this."

"And why not?" Laurent chimed, a beaming smile illuminating his face.

Laurent scanned the narrow opening through the trees. "When the rain falls, your scent will vanish. You'll become another missing person, lost to the wild, like so many before. Edward won't think twice about me—if he bothers to look. This isn't personal, Bella. It's hunger," he stated, his voice an icy whisper in the stillness.

"Beg." his voice begged.

"Please." I said, gasping.

Laurent shook his head, his face kind. "Look at it this way, Bella. You're fortunate I was the one to find you," he said.

"Am I?" I asked, faltering another step back.

Laurent followed. "Yes." he responded. "I'll be quick. You won't feel a thing, I promise. Oh, I'll lie to Victoria about that later, naturally, to placate her. But if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella..." he said, almost disgusted. "I swear you'd be thanking me for this."

Horror filled my gaze as I looked at him.

Laurent inhaled the breeze, letting it dance through my hair. "Mouthwatering," he declared, a grin spreading across his face.

I braced myself for spring, eyes squeezed shut. Edward's furious roar echoed in my ears. I flinched, desperate to escape the noise that shattered my peace. Edward, Edward, Edward; his name tore down my walls. A looming sense of disaster pricked at my senses. Yet, amidst the clamor, my heart crooned the truth. I love you, Edward.

With a sharp, piercing glance, Laurent paused, then swiveled his eyes left. Fear gripped me like an icy hand. I was so stunned that I felt frozen, rooted in place. As he retreated slowly, my hopes of escape dimmed like a fading ember.

"I don't believe it," Laurent said.

I couldn't help but look. My eyes scanned the horizon, searching for the spark that could breathe life into my existence. At first, the landscape remained still; he was retreating swiftly now, his gaze burrowing into the forest's depths.

Out of nowhere, I spotted a shadowy silhouette lurking among the trees. Like a hushed secret, it glided closer to the unsuspecting vampire.