Alissa Swan

Part 75

I was lying on the sand, barely conscious.

"Breathe, Bella! C'mon!" Jacob slapped me on the back, which made me spit up water. "Alissa? Can you hear me?"

"... Jake?" I focused, finally seeing Jacob hovered over me, relieved.

Behind him stood Sam. "She'll be alright," Sam assured Jacob. Sam scanned the water, sensing something.

Jacob turned to me. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"I needed... to see... something."

"What? The pearly gates? If we hadn't heard you scream-"

"Get her home," Sam ordered Jacob. "I'm heading to the hospital. I'll meet you there."

Jacob nodded. Sam jogged off.

"Why would you jump?" Jacob asked me. "Didn't you notice it's like a hurricane out here?"

"I know. It was stupid." I realized. "Sam said hospital - is someone hurt?"

"Harry Clearwater had a heart attack," Jacob replied.

"Oh my God," I replied. "Does my dad know?"

"He and my dad are both over there," Jacob replied.

"Will Harry be okay?"

Jacob held his hand out to me. "I don't know. Come on. I'll find you something dry and drive you home." He helped me up.

Jacob drove. I wore a fleece jacket, but still shivered. Jacob pulled me close and wrapped an arm around me.

"Hundred and eight degrees over here," Jacob told me.

I tucked myself into him. "Must be nice, never getting cold."

"It's a wolf thing."

"It's a Jacob thing. You're just... warm."

"Like the sun." Jacob grinned.

"Like the sun," I repeated, meaning it.

"Which always comes back. You can count on me."

I nodded, and there was an awkward silence.

Jacob filled it. "There are other cool things about all this, like -- I heal fast. Wanna see me stab my hand?"

No! "Yeah, 'cause that would be fun."

The car pulled up to the curb. It was pitch black outside. Jacob was still holding me close as he turned the engine off.

"So... this wolf thing's not all bad?" I asked.

"It's better. Now that you know. But..."

"... but ..."

"It just... comes so easily to me. More than the other guys."

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Maybe. Or maybe it makes me less... human than the others." He started to talk quieter. He looked at me. "Sometimes I'm scared I might... disappear, you know? Who I really am."

I faced him, looking directly into his eyes. "I won't let that happen."

Our faces were close... and stayed close for an intimate beat. We could kiss, their lips near. But I blinked myself back to reality and pulled away. "Thanks for driving - for everything." I pushed open my door.

Jacob reacted to a repugnant smell outside. "Holy crap!" He pulled me back into the car. He slammed the door shut and started the car. "There's a bloodsucker out there."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I can smell the stink," Jacob told me. "I'm getting you out of here."

Jacob whipped the car around. The headlights illuminated a black Mercedes parked in front. I spun to the rear window as Jacob floored it.

"Stop! It's not Victoria!"

"Forget it-"

"It's Carlisle's car! They're here. Go back!"

"It's a trick-"

He was still flooring it. I cracked open my door while we were moving.

He slammed on the brakes. "Damn it, Bella!"

I hurried up the road toward my house.

Jacob was standing in front of me, furious. "Stop. You gotta come with me."

"It's okay. They're my friends."

"Don't you get it? If a Cullen is back here, this is their territory. The Treaty says we can only defend our own lands."

"It's not a war."

"It is. And you'll only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore."

"I don't need you to-"

"You're about to cross a line-"

"Only if you draw one." I started to move past him.

He stopped me. "I'm not letting you do this."

"You don't have a choice. I don't belong to you."

My words were a knife to the heart to him, and I saw that. I couldn't take them back. He handed me the keys. "Bye, Bella, I hope you don't die."

I flinched at the stinging remark. He disappeared into darkness, leaving me alone on the dark road. I was closer to my house then to my car. I hurried forward. The night sounds started to encroach, branches crackling, leaves rustling. I glanced behind me, where there was nothing but darkness. I faced forward again, and ran directly into a vampire!

I screamed, then realized it was Alice. I was stunned, and so was she.

"Alice!" I hugged her with tears of joy.

She hugged me back. "You're... alive." She was clearly confused.

"Oh my God, Alice. You're here."

"I heard voices - I didn't think it was you but - you're alive."

"You keep saying that."

"I saw you - a vision of you - you jumped off a cliff. I knew I'd be too late but-" she started to get angry, "Why the hell would you try to kill yourself?!"

"I didn't. I was cliff diving."

"Why?!"

"Um... fun?"

"That was fun for you."

"Until I hit the water." I thought about the horrifying experience.

"I have never met anyone more prone to life-threatening idiocy... and what is that hideous wet dog smell?"

"Oh. Probably Jacob. He's kind of a werewolf."

Alice had a horrified expression.

We were in my house now. I knew Bella was asleep, and Charlie was probably out doing some police stuff.

"Werewolves are not vicious," I tried to tell Alice.

"Until they lose their tempers."

"They saved me from Laurent, they're protecting me from Victoria-"

Alice was shocked. "Victoria? I didn't see her. I didn't see you get pulled from the water either."

"It was Jacob who saved me. More than once. I couldn't have made it without him. You have no idea what it was like."

Alice softened. "Yes. I do. I knew leaving wouldn't be good for you. I tried to tell Edward, but he wouldn't listen."

"... Does he know you're here?" I asked.

"No. He's been... away."

A/N: Hey guys! Get ready for a chapter by the character who most of you love the most! I know that he's my favorite. I don't know about you. I'm on this team forever and always. Get ready for it... 

Edward.