"She's what? She can't be. Vampires can't have children," I argued.
"But humans can. She is still human, Ryanne. And this thing is killing her," Edward insisted. "She needs you Ryanne. She's dying and she won't listen to anyone. She's going to die." The world around me began to trembled as Jake wrapped his arms around my waist, clinging to me. His breathing was strained as he fought for control, his nails kind of digging into my skin.
"I can't Edward. You say my sister loves me, but I think that you're wrong. Charlie lost Bella when she made the decision to marry you. I've been there for her for long enough; I won't do it again. Goodbye, Edward." I could hear him protesting as I pulled the phone away from my ear. Jake's hand closed around mine, slipping the plastic from my hand and slamming it down on the receiver.
Sparks flew as the wires were ripped from the wall, Jake snarling the whole time. I ducked under his arm and went back to my painting. Jake ran out the door without a backwards glance. I continued to paint until I heard a howl and knew Jake was gone.
Why did my sister have to ruin everything? She was supposed to be gone and I was supposed to be living my happy ending. I threw the paint brush down on the plastic tarp and pulled my paint slicked shirt off. The cold wood pressed into my back as I slumped against the cabinets. My sister found ways, even on her deathbed, to ruin everything good in my life. I guess this was the other foot finally dropping.
But was right about what I had told Edward. Dad would have been told Bella died; why did it matter if it were true or not? It was wrong to try to save her. Even my bleeding heart knew it was wrong. MY sister had made her decision. And whatever was growing inside her was not natural. No; it was a parasite just like its father. A parasite that was feeding on her, killing her from the inside out. If Bella wanted to die to save this thing, that was her prerogative.
It took me a few deep breaths and some long moments to mourn the loss of my happiness again. Finally, I pushed myself up and grabbed my brush, determined to finish what I had started. Sarah had made sure that I knew that much; you always finish what you start. I had done it my entire life, even where Bella was concerned. I had protected her until she was officially Edward's.
Superchick was still playing, the CD having started over. I had an addiction to the band, to the songs that touching your soul in ways few other things could.
"My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made," I whispered along. The problem was that I wouldn't stop clinging to my dreams. I wanted Jake and a family and happiness. And I would be damned if little old Bella was going to take them from me.
"After all this has passed, I still will remain. After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain. Thought it won't be today, someday I'll hope again," I breathed.
This was what I was going to hold on to. If my sister died, everything would be over; my life would go back to normal. And if she lived... Well Edward had made it clear that the only way that would happen was if Bella became a vampire. If my sister was a leech, they would leave with their demon spawn and my life would go back to normal. After all this had passed, there will be beauty again.
I finished painting, surveying my work. It looked good, something that Sarah would have liked. But even knowing that my dreams would eventually come true, I couldn't bring myself to be happy. Bella had fucking ruined everything again. I heard the front door open, Jake's quiet footsteps echoing despite the music playing. I rolled the tarp up, making sure not to spill any of the paint that had been the source of our fun earlier.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be,"I replied with my back to him. What did he have to be sorry for? He wasn't the one messing up my life at every turn. No, Jake was the one that managed to make all the pieces fit together again.
"I get it."
"But you don't. I don't know why you think I left, but I'm pretty sure you're wrong," he said. Was he honestly worried that I thought that he still loved Bella?
"You left because it finally happened; the storm finally hit. we've been living in the calm and now we've got to batten down the hatches again. I get it, Jake."
"It's more than just that, Annie." He finally walked into the kitchen. "Everyone, including me, expects so much of you. And it's not fair to you. How could he call here and just expect you to come and help?" He started to shake again, his anger burning through his kin.
"You're working yourself up again,"I muttered, His shaking ceased when I touched my hand to his cheek. He would never hurt me.
"Jake, whatever happens happens. But we don't need to sit here and figure out a way to help Bella. We're not going to. She made her choice." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Edward can call all he wants; I won't go down there."
He sighed in relief and stepped away, helping me clean out mess from earlier. But we didn't say anything, which was always a bad sign with Jake and I. He showered while I flipped through the phone book for pizza delivery.
"Annie, Sam and I talked," He whispered from the hallway, his hair still dripping. "Bella and that thing are a danger to the tribe." I nodded; we didn't know what a hybrid like Bella's child could do. "He wants to take her out." My heart dropped.
"Jake, you can't!" I shouted at him. His eyes narrowed as his jaw dropped.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" he growled at me in disbelief.
"Jake -"
"No! I can't sit here and listen to you defend her, Ryanne. She has done nothing but cause you pain. You say bullshit like you won't help her, but you will. You just can't help it. You want to fix her," he snarled. I knew he was on edge, his eyes darkening with anger. "You're just a silly girl with the stupid idea that you can still save her."
It was the most hurtful statement I'd ever had thrown at me, but Jake had never said anything so mean to me.
"Better a silly girl with a stupid idea than a dumb boy who's too much of an asshole to let me finished," I said, grabbing my jacket and walking out the door.
I wasn't trying to save my sister; I was trying to protect Jake and the Pack. They were protectors of humanity. Killing a human wasn't something they were meant to do. Jake was too kind hearted to kill anyone. I was worried about what it would do to his head, to all of their heads. I didn't care about Bella or her offspring, but Jake and his psyche. Bella I could lose and survive. Losing Jake, any part of him, would kill me.
I kept running, knowing I was safe so long as I was on the Rez. Jake had shown me the liens I couldn't cross and no matter how mad I was at him, I would mind the rules. A trees root jumped out of no where and caught my ankle, sending me sprawling o the ground. I landed in a huff, rolling over my shoulder.
I ignored the dull throb where I had probably twisted my ankle and pushed myself back against the truck of a tree, knees burrowing against my chest. Leave it to Jake and me to fight about Bella. She just had to come between us at every point in our lives. And I could honestly say that it wasn't my fault this time. No; it was all Jake and his determination to keep me safe. This time, it had bit him in the ass.
"Annie!" Jake screamed, his heavy panting mingling with the sounds of the surrounding forest. I didn't respond; he'd find me soon enough. And I was still mad at him.
He blew past me but quickly circled back, slipping and landing gracefully on his knees next to me.
"Are you okay, baby girl? Are you hurt?" His hands ran down my neck, shoulders, arms, ribs, checking for any damage. "Are you hurt Annie?" I nodded, eyes narrowed as I stared at him. "Where? What happened baby?"
"Well, besides the fact that I was a silly little girl who got tripped by a stupid tree root," I spat at him, "you hurt me, Jake." He looked sick to his stomach.
"I'll take you to Emily's," he said, but I shoved his hand away.
"I'll get there myself. Thanks."
"Why do you have to be so fucking stubborn?" he shouted.
I turned around to glare up at him. "You already have the monopoly on pig headedness! If you could get over yourself for a minute and let me speak, you'd realize that you're wrong. Not that you care."
"You think I came sprinting out here because I don't care? It's like your personal goal is to constantly remind me how easy it would be for me to lose you."
I held my arms out akimbo and stared at him. "Then I would think you would listen to me more!" He glared down at me, his eyes still dark.
"Fine, say it Annie. Why can't we kill Bella?"
"Because I love you too much to watch it break you."