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JACON HAD FINALLY COME BACK. Now, he stood in front of Bella, Edward, and me, tense, defensive, and clearly bracing for the fallout.
"Look, I solved the problem. You were leaving. What did you expect me to do?" Jacob argued.
"You don't realize the danger you've put him in," Bella said firmly. "The Volturi will kill anyone who knows about us."
Jacob held up his hands. "No I didn't tell him about you. Just me. I only said you were different."
"And that we have a niece we adopted," Edward added, crossing his arms.
I sighed. "Seriously, Jake, Charlie's not going to let this go that easily."
Edward's voice sharpened slightly. "Did you consider the pain you'll put Bella through? It'll be like forcing a white-hot branding iron down her throat and that's assuming she can control her thirst."
Bella shot Edward a look but said nothing.
Jacob's tone softened. "Look, Charlie's been in hell. And I know you'll be much happier with him in your life."
Edward shook his head. "Jacob, don't pretend you're doing this for anyone but yourself."
Jacob shrugged, almost unapologetic. "Sorry you feel that way... because he'll be here in ten minutes."
Bella and I froze.
"What?" we said in unison.
The Cullen house turned into organized chaos as everyone rushed to help Bella prepare.
Alice fitted contact lenses into Bella's eyes. "These will irritate your eyes at first."
Carlisle added gently, "The main thing is to move slowly."
I motioned toward a nearby chair. "Try sitting down, maybe cross your legs, look relaxed."
Bella moved too fast and crashed into the seat.
"Maybe a tad slower," Esme said, smiling kindly.
"And blink. At least three times a minute," Alice instructed.
Bella started blinking rapidly.
"Good," Alice nodded.
"For a cartoon character," Jacob joked, earning a soft laugh from me.
Carlisle continued, "Hold your breath. It'll help with the thirst."
"And remember to move your shoulders," Edward said. "It should look like you're breathing."
Bella exaggerated the motion, her shoulders rising and falling mechanically.
Rosalie sighed. "And don't sit so straight. Humans don't do that."
