Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 29

I headed downstairs to see who it was.

It was Jacob, of course. Even blind, Alice wasn't slow. He was standing about six feet back from the door, his nose wrinkled in distaste, but his face otherwise smooth—masklike. He didn't fool me; I could see the faint trembling of his hands. Hostility rolled off of him in waves.

Jacob's Rabbit idled by the curb with Jared behind the wheel and Embry in the passenger seat. I understood what this meant: they were afraid to let him come here alone. It made me sad, and a little annoyed. But I knew it must have been hard on both sides—after all, a deep hatred for someone doesn't disappear overnight.

"Hey," Bella finally said when he didn't speak. I was a few paces behind her, leaning against the wall with my arms folded.

Jake pursed his lips, still hanging back from the door. His eyes flickered across the front of the house.

"She's not here," I told him. "What's up?"

He hesitated. "You guys are alone?"

"Yes." Bella sighed.

"Can I talk to you guys for a minute?"

"Of course you can, Jacob. Come on in."

Jacob glanced over his shoulder at his friends in the car before he marched—there was no other way to describe the way he moved—up the sidewalk and shrugged past Bella into the house. Soon he caught sight of the mess of blankets in the living room. "Slumber party?" he asked, his tone sarcastic.

"Yeah," Bella answered with the same level of acid. "What's it to you?"

He wrinkled his nose again like he smelled something unpleasant. We all moved to the kitchen. "Where's your 'friend'?" I could hear the quotation marks in his tone.

I rolled my eyes, getting sick of this. "She had some errands to run. Jacob, I know that it's hard like this, okay? I know you guys are enemies, and I don't exactly respect it, but I am acknowledging it. But that doesn't mean you can come inside our house and just be unpleasant the whole time, alright? Tell us what you need."

Jacob hesitated, then his face smoothed into a serene mask. He leaned against the kitchen counter beside the phone. "One of the Cullens is staying here with you," he stated.

"Yes. Alice Cullen."

He nodded thoughtfully. "How long is she here for?"

"Not sure," I told him. "Probably just another day, maybe."

"Do you think you could...please...explain to her about the other one— Victoria?"

"I told her about that," Bella said.

He nodded. "You should know that we can only watch our own lands with a Cullen here. You guys will only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore."

"Okay," Bella said in a small voice, but I wasn't too worried. Once Alice left, then Jacob would be able to come over again. This was a temporary arrangement.

He looked away then, out the back windows. He didn't continue.

"Is that all?" Bella asked.

He kept his eyes on the glass as he answered. "Just one more thing."

We waited, but he didn't continue.

"Yes?" Bella finally prompted.

"Are the rest of them coming back now?" he asked in a cool, quiet voice. It reminded me of Sam's always calm manner.

"No," I said, not wanting Bella to have to answer that. Even just mentioning it would take a toll on her.

His expression didn't change. "Okay. That's all."