Twilight Fan Fiction ❯ So Long As You're With Me ❯ Epilogue ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Even after all this time I still don't own Twilight. Stephenie is a lucky woman indeed :)

A/N: Enjoy! ^-^

8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8

 

Really, what were the chances that I would be stuck in a house with my best friend, confess my love for him, and realize it for myself, all in the span of two days? Not a real big chance I must admit. So, I bet you're wondering just what happened between the two of us huh? Well, for all of you with your dirty minds, nothing happened.

 

Seriously.

 

There's nothing more awkward than finding out that you're destined to be with someone for the rest of your life…and then spending an entire day with them. Alone.

 

After the whole “You're my imprinted!” thing went down, Jacob and I pretty much just lounged around, acting like we always did before, save for a minor few exceptions. Like touching…and holding…and there was some kissing involved…

 

For as long as I live I don't think I will ever get used to the feel of Jacob's lips on mine. Far from being the cool marble I had become accustomed to, Jacob's were like a raging fire, an unquenchable flame that I could get used to for a good long while. But I think I should go back to where we last left off…

 

Jacob and I slept on the couch for about an hour before, predictably, the phone interrupted us. When the piercing noise rang through the house I struggled out of his death grip of a hold with a muffled groan and felt my way through the falling darkness of late afternoon. He grumbled something completely unintelligible, and as I glanced back at him from the doorway I couldn't help but smile at his thoroughly relaxed features. Eyes completely at ease, mouth slightly agape with his body still hunched around the empty space where my body had been moments before, he had never looked more adorable to me. I took another moment to fully admire what was finally mine to claim until the constant ringing started giving me a headache. Snatching it off of the hook could not come fast enough.

 

Clearing my throat, and hoping I didn't sound as muddled as I felt, I rasped out, “Hello?”

 

“Bells?”

 

“Dad!”

 

Charlie's voice was an interesting nuisance that I attempted to stamp down in my voice before he caught wind of it. The last thing I wanted to hear about was finally escaping Jacob's house when things were just getting good…

 

“Hey kiddo, just wanted to check in and see how things are going.”

 

I nearly groaned as I glanced at Jacob's unconscious form on the couch. My mouth twisted up into a wry smile as I thought of what to tell him. If he only knew…

 

“Things are going great actually. How about you? Any news on the roads?” My heart clenched painfully at the reminder that in just a day's time I could be back to my normal home, alone again with just me and Charlie. And worst of all, away from Jacob.

 

His side of the line crackled as he sighed harshly and I could practically see him rubbing his face in impatience. “We just finished up the main roads this morning and we expect to get through to La Push by tomorrow night,” he replied. “Do you think you and Jake will be okay another day?”

 

Just then a pair of arms encircled my waist, and Jacob's face was unexpectedly buried in the skin between my neck and my shoulder. I grinned and moved my head to the side, unconsciously giving him better access as he made his way down to my collarbone. A large and calloused hand stayed gripped on my waist on one side, holding me upright when my legs began to give out.

 

“Bella?”

 

Charlie sounded so genuinely concerned that for a moment I wanted to laugh. “I think that Jacob and I will be just fine dad. We've been okay so far…”

 

Jacob chuckled low in his throat and the vibration nearly had me collapsing backward against him. He laughed again and murmured, “Concentrate Bella. Charlie's still on the line you know, and it's rude to keep your dad waiting…”

 

In my mind I wanted to glare at him as my own words came back to haunt me from when he had been on the phone with his own father. Unfortunately Charlie's presence on the phone prevented my visual insult from happening.

 

“Well, if you're sure Bella. If you need anything Billy is right down the road,” I vaguely heard dad say in the back corner of my mind. It was a little hard to concentrate with a completely loving and overheated werewolf body pressed against the back of me wearing nothing but a pair of jeans (For some strange reason he decided that since we were imprinted he had every right to walk around the house half naked. Not that I complained too much after the initial shock of his six pack…).

 

“Bella? Are you still there?” Charlie continued in a rather alarmed voice.

 

I attempted to clear my throat and finish up the conversation quickly so as not to worry him any further. “What? Oh right, Billy…yeah we'll-we'll give him a call…” I managed to rasp out as Jacob settled his face straight in the crook of my neck again and sucked in an incredibly deep breath.

 

This time Charlie's voice sounded more than just a little amused. “'Kay kiddo, be safe. I'll see you day after tomorrow.”

 

Jacob's hand traveled the length of my arm as he pressed kisses first to my neck and then to the shell of my ear. I nodded before realizing that Charlie couldn't see that response and I whispered, “Okay…bye dad…”

 

“Oh and one more thing. Jacob?”

 

I froze, but Jacob laughed and barked, “Yeah Charlie?”

 

“Stop distracting my daughter while she's on the phone. Billy tells me she can cause quite the ruckus when you don't leave her alone.”

 

Of course, at this point the infamous `Bella Blush' took over my face and I practically growled, “Goodbye dad.”

 

Charlie only chuckled before finally hanging up, leaving a hilarity stricken werewolf and a thoroughly embarrassed Bella behind. I sat the phone angrily back in its cradle while Jacob continued to chuckle softly behind me.

 

“Geez Bells, you look like we've just been caught with our pants down!” He laughed uproariously, like it was the best joke he'd ever heard.

 

I merely rolled my eyes and headed back toward the couch in the living room, fully intent on going back to sleep before making the effort to fix dinner. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up dog boy…” I grumbled, plopping myself down on the couch and crossing my arms in an absolutely defiant posture that said he was getting nothing else from me.

 

For some reason his laughter was completely irritating me. I couldn't say why exactly other than that he was laughing at something that was definitely not funny.

 

Face it Bells, you're just mad because you're embarrassed. You don't want your relationship to be some kind of joke.

 

I rolled my eyes at the annoying voice in the back of my head. So far it had gotten me into nothing but trouble. The truth only sets you free if you want to hear it.

 

Still laughing softly Jacob hunkered down next to me, throwing one arm over the back of the couch so that it rested comfortably across my shoulders. “Oh come on honey, you gotta admit that was pretty funny,” he said and for a moment I thought of cracking a smile.

 

Something about Jacob's never ending energy level keeps me amazed through and through. Instead of being amazed, however, I snorted and rolled my eyes, letting him know exactly what I thought of the `funny' situation. When I turned away slightly and refused to acknowledge his presence next to me on the couch he went quiet, and for a moment I thought he might actually apologize.

 

Instead, he ran one finger up and down my arm whispering, “Bells, you're not really mad at me…”

 

I tightened my arms around my chest and tried harder to conceal the grin that was going to sprout on my face any minute. Pursing my lips I Hmphed! and steadily continued watching what was on the TV. Some cartoon with a yellow sponge, how odd…

 

Jacob pried one arm away from its prison around my middle (despite my efforts to keep it clamped to my side. Why can't I ever have a boyfriend who isn't 10 times stronger than me?), and brought my hand gently up to his mouth. He kissed it so softly that for a moment I forget exactly why weren't talking until he murmured, “Come on Bella. When was the last time you could resist me?”

 

I shrugged and tried concentrating on the TV, though it was becoming harder and harder to focus on much of anything as Jacob's attentions whittled down to making me blush. He gave a frustrated sigh but grinned as he whispered, “Alright honey, you asked for it…”

 

I turned and looked at him at the same time that his mouth descended on the pulse in my neck, and for the life of me I couldn't make a sound of defiance or even elation at his attentions. I tried pushing him away with about as much force as a feather on a rock, with about as much of an attempt as…

 

“Bella…”

 

Okay, no more metaphors…Can't…think…straight…

 

Jacob worked his way up from my throat to the underside of my jaw, gradually making his way up to my cheek and finally stopping at my mouth. Dark eyes connected with mine as he grinned and murmured in an undertone, “Am I forgiven yet?”

 

With his lips so dangerously close to mine my mind was completely muddled and I managed to sigh intelligently, “I don't know. There's still a little grudge to be had…”

 

Feeling a little like an attention hog today are we?

 

Shut up!

 

He chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my back, before finally giving in and kissing me. It was brief as I felt myself getting dizzy, but long enough that I was satisfied. When Jake pulled away the question in his eyes was more amusing than anything else I'd seen in a while.

 

“So…forgiven?” He chuckled.

 

I finally let the smile that I'd been holding back for the past few minutes to escape and laughed out loud. “I doubt that Charlie is anymore upset than me,” I told him, leaning against him in pure laziness. You'd be surprised how exhausting loving someone is; especially only keeping them happy with flirting and the occasional kiss.

 

I opened my mouth to tell him that Charlie was also probably more ecstatic than I was when my stomach gave a loud rumble and I couldn't hold back my blush any longer. Jake barked out a laugh as I told him as kindly as possible to shut the hell up while I headed back to the kitchen.

 

Glancing at the clock on top of the stove I was shocked to discover that it was well after 6 and getting dark outside. The sunset glowing in the distance bathed the beach in a golden and blood red light so that it rendered me slightly speechless. It was almost as unbelievable as my sudden situation.

 

And just as beautiful…

 

“Hey!” Jacob's voice interrupted my musings momentarily and I didn't even bother turning around to answer.

 

“What is it?” I murmured as he threw an arm around my shoulders. I tilted my head back to look into his madly grinning face as he replied, “Let's go for a walk.”

My left eyebrow shot up in what I hoped looked like the surprise I was aiming for rather than the absolute amusement I was feeling. Renee always said that I would make a terrible actress, and when I caught the look on Jacob's face I had to believe her.

 

Edward told you that too…

 

The unexpected voice caught me off guard and I nearly missed what Jacob said next. He shrugged and shuffled a little, embarrassed. “I thought that maybe, you know…I mean, girls like that kind of stuff don't they? Walking on the beach and stuff…”

 

Physically shaking my head I headed to the refrigerator tossing over my shoulder, “Jake that's sweet, really. In fact, if I wasn't starving I might take you up on that offer.”

 

I turned to the refrigerator and spotted the leftover fish from the night before. My vision swirled with white for a moment as I remembered just how the fish was made and the `Flour Incident'…

 

Jacob watched me carefully for a moment before he exclaimed, “Grab a snack and we'll eat out on the beach. Come on Bella, I just want to be with you.”

 

I turned to him in slight confusion as I replied, “Jake, we've been together for the past two days.”

 

He shrugged again before placing his hands in his pockets and murmuring, “I know but…it may not be like this tomorrow…”

 

I froze and narrowed my eyes slightly at him, trying to decipher his thoughts. For a minute I wanted to tell him that that was ridiculous, that of course I would still be with him in the morning. Where the hell else would I go?

 

And yet I understood too, just what he was trying to say, the things that lay just under his words. He was afraid, afraid that I would slip through his fingers as soon as I was out of his sight, that I would relapse back into the girl he met when I was still in love with…

 

I grimaced, both at the expression on his face and where my thoughts had suddenly taken me. I couldn't say I completely understood him, but I knew well enough what it was like to watch someone disappear and half expect that such a good thing would be gone in a matter of minutes. I forced a smile and dug around in the refrigerator for a few seconds, snatching an apple from a drawer.

 

“You know what, you're right.”

 

Jake started just as I threw another apple straight at him. Even around his suddenly confused expression he caught it smoothly out of the air before quirking an eyebrow. “Of course I'm right, but what about this time?” He smiled around a mouthful of apple and I laughed despite myself.

 

“About eating out on the beach. I wouldn't mind just hanging out with my best friend for a while…” I ducked my head to hide the rising blush on my face, but Jacob's low chuckle made me look up again.

 

“What's so funny?”

 

He shook his head and held his hand out to me which I took without hesitation, even through my suspicion. Wrapping an arm around my waist he kissed me gently on the top of my head, leading me out of the kitchen and to the front door. He finally looked down at me and murmured, “Just felt like laughing is all…”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

 

“I spy with my little eye something…blue.”

 

“…wait, let me guess. The sky?”

 

“No! The sky is red.”

 

“I dunno Bells, it looks pretty blue to me…”

 

“Jake, you're impossible.”

 

We both laughed together and I felt oddly comfortable and lightweight as Jake squeezed my hand. I had to admit that, even though it was Jake's idea, the beach was amazing. After he'd eaten his apple to the very seeds he proceeded to eat what little I had left of my own and we'd been walking hand in hand ever since, talking about the world in general and enjoying each other's company. It's a strange feeling being imprinted, kind of like having no worries because the biggest question in the universe about love is answered. It's a great feeling knowing that you'll never be alone again.

 

“Bella?” Jake's voice was so timid that for a minute I completely panicked. What was going on now?

 

“Yeah?”

 

When I caught his eye he looked nervous, and I instantly withdrew into myself on pure instinct. He motioned for me to sit on a washed ashore log with him, tightening his grip on my hand as though afraid that I would run away.

 

Such a great boost of confidence.

 

For a few seconds he didn't say anything, but I waited patiently for him to finally get it out. He was quiet for so long that I opened my mouth to encourage him when he blurted out, “You don't have to stay with me you know.”

 

It felt like I'd been slapped. I felt blindsided, so naturally the first most intelligent thing that came out of my mouth was, “Huh?”

 

Jacob swallowed hard before he lifted his head and resolutely stated, “You don't have to stay with me, you know, just because we're imprinted.”

 

Okay, totally confused now…

 

“Jake, I don't understand. Imprinted does mean being together forever, doesn't it? Soul mates and all that?” I managed to stammer out over the sound of my heart shattering into a million pieces. Was he saying that he didn't want to be with me?

 

“No, you're right that is what it means,” Jacob looked as though he was starting to panic as well, though he was trying to calm himself while I was doing the complete opposite.

 

Hyperventilating through my teeth I whispered, “Do you-do you…want to be with me Jake?”

 

Anger, fear, sadness, pity, disbelief, self-disgust: Jacob went through so many emotions on his face it was nearly impossible not to see the hilarity in it. At least, until he said, “What?! Bella-I-How could you say that? Of course I want to be with you! I've waited for…for…forever! Why wouldn't I want you?”

 

I shook my head, staring down at my hands to keep from looking up at Jake. His words were slightly soothing as I stopped hyperventilating and murmured, “Then what is it? You're not making any sense-”

 

“Are you still in love with him?”

 

What…the…is he serious?

 

My head snapped up to stare into Jacob's suddenly stone cold and upset eyes. “Jake, where the hell is this going? Where is all of this coming from?”

 

He shrugged, trying his hardest to be nonchalant though anyone could see that this conversation was costing him. “Just the other day we were arguing over the fact that you were still in love with the bloodsucker, but suddenly I imprint on you and you immediately agree? I don't mean to sound ungrateful Bella but I don't want you to be with me because you think that you can't go any other way,” he mumbled the last part, as though the thought alone was hurting him like it was hurting me.

 

I stood to my feet so suddenly my head spun and Jacob's mouth gaped open. I was suddenly angry, furious that he would doubt what I was doing. Did he have any idea what I had gone through to give up on Edward? What I had done to my heart since I'd met Jacob? Irritation was welling up so deep within me so that even my inner voice was completely silent.

 

“So, what?” I tried to keep my voice down to a shriek, but it wasn't really making it. “You think I'm just gonna run away because I care about my ex? The one who left me because he was being selfless?”

 

Jake opened his mouth to placate me when I silenced him with a fierce look. “Let me tell you something Jacob Black,” I yelled, “I'm tired of everyone always `thinking of me'! Edward left me because he thought I would be better off without him, and now you're pushing me away because you think I should be happy and be with him. I'm 18 years old and fully capable of handling myself. Damn it, can somebody let me make my own decisions for once!”

 

“Bella I'm-”

 

“ARRGH! Just-just-SHUT UP!”

 

Absolutely furious and unable to take another minute of apologies or whatever else was going to come out of Jacob's mouth I stood up and stomped off down the beach. As usual I wasn't going anywhere but away. I waited for the inevitable pull on my hand or my shoulder that he would use to stop me, but it never came. In fact, it was getting harder and harder to walk away from Jacob, as though an invisible string between the two of us was tightening tauter and tauter the further I went. I finally gave up and just stopped after a few seconds, turning to see where on Earth the werewolf was.

 

When I looked up he was about 5 feet away from the log we had originally sitting on, as though he'd started to follow me and then decided against it. For a second I was baffled. To his credit, however, Jake looked just as confused as I did. He started making his way towards me with a slightly longer gait than that of any normal human until he was about 20 feet away from me. When he stopped again my mouth dropped open in disbelief.

 

I could see his eyebrow rise up even from a distance as he shouted, “What's wrong?”

 

I shook my head as I tried to understand why it was that I was upset. I looked up and shouted back, “Why aren't you coming after me?”

 

He looked surprised again before he yelled, “Did you want me to? I thought you wanted to make your own decisions?”

 

Now it was my turn to look surprised as I took a step towards him and humphed. I was stuck and both of us knew it. Still, I wasn't about to go down without a fight. “I-I did! But we're on the beach and we got in a fight. You're supposed to be coming after me right now, begging me to forgive you on your knees!”

 

I hadn't realized Jacob was moving toward me again before he stopped about 10 feet away and replied, “Okay…” He got down on both knees and gave me a pleading look that was smothered in amusement. “Bella…please forgive me.”

 

I let out a frustrated snarl and growled, “God Jacob get up! You're doing this all wrong!”

 

He obeyed and came to me again, this time stopping only when his arms were wrapped securely around me, and the tight rope on my heart had relaxed and almost completely disappeared. Almost all of my anger melted as he whispered in my ear, “I really am sorry Bells. I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I'll never leave you, I couldn't. You know that right?”

 

I nodded in his embrace and sighed, “Yeah I know…”

 

He pulled back and took my hand again, squeezing it gently to get me to tell him what was wrong. I took a deep breath and started, “Of course I know you would never leave me Jake, it's just that…I want you to know that I did love Edward.” His eyes hardened and I quickly continued so that he wouldn't interrupt. “But he's in past now; you're with me, right now, and you always will be. I can't give my heart to Edward again, even if he did come back. There will be a part of me that will always love him. Still, I love you now and that's just the way it is.”

 

I looked away and down the beach so he wouldn't see my face as I told him, “I don't want you to doubt how I feel about you, not ever. I love you, Jacob Black. A bloodsucker's not going to get in the way of that.”

 

It was silent for a minute, the sounds of the wind the only noise around us. I started to fidget when he whispered, “Bella…look at me.”

 

I turned my head to look up at him and the sight took my breath away. The wind whipping his hair around and the air of confidence radiating from him give me pause. My dream come to life, his beauty captured my attention in a way that only Edward's had before, and yet this was so much better. His dark eyes sparkled and for the life of me I couldn't stop myself from kissing him. We stayed connected until I couldn't breathe, his warm body shuddering beneath me so hard that for a moment I wondered whether he was changing. However, it was obvious that he wasn't going to change into anything in the middle of our make-out session when he deepened it until my body was on fire.

 

Literally. My face felt like a furnace.

 

When we finally pulled away he placed his forehead on mine, grinning down smugly at me. Placing a gentle kiss on my forehead he whispered, “I love you too Bells.”

 

I smiled back and he laughed, pulling me into his side as we looked out over the ocean into the darkening sky. In the twilight of the evening, tucked against Jacob's warm body, I wondered how it was that just by moving to Forks I had fallen in love with and dated both a werewolf and a vampire, and ended up with the one I was most determined to ignore my feelings for. I giggled out loud and Jake looked at me curiously.

 

“What's so funny?”

 

I looked up at him and murmured back, “We're never going to be normal are we?”

 

He laughed and shrugged. “Nah, normal's overrated. Someone should write a book about you.”

 

I laughed for real at that thought. “Me? Yeah right. Who's gonna believe this? Falling in love with a vampire? Getting imprinted to a werewolf? Good luck getting people to read that!”

 

Jake laughed and nuzzled closer to me as he whispered, “Let's go. It's time for dinner.”

 

I turned away from the stunning vision of the ocean and followed him, arms tucked around each other as we headed back home, both our stomach's growling the whole way.