Breaking Dawn

Chapter 15: Friday, August 18th

I run to Jacob, hugging him tightly. He pauses for a moment, then hugs me back.
"Are you okay?" I ask him, setting my hands on his shoulder and looking him in the eyes.
"I don't know," he mumbles. He looks to Carlisle, expressionless.
"Jacob is okay," Carlisle starts. "But he was bit, and even though we kept him alive, he still has some venom in him that is nearly undetectable. He will be okay."
"So I'm basically part bloodsucker," Jake says lowly.
"Wait, but I thought you tested him multiple times and each time the tests showed he was venom free?" I question.
"Yes, but there is a certain compound in vampire venom, apparently, that will remain in the body if you're bit, and require certain tests to show," Carlisle explains.
"But will it hurt him at all?" I ask.
"No, not that I can tell," Carlisle says. "He will just never age, which he never aged anyhow."
"So it doesn't matter, as long as he's going to be okay, right?" I exchange looks with Carlisle. His expression seems troubled.
"Bella," Alice says. "You don't realize what this means."
I look at her, trying to imagine what she means. Didn't we all just agree that practically nothing about Jake will change? "What does it mean?"
"Bella," she pauses drastically. "You're not going to age, you were bitten by a vampire."
I look at my bite mark, then look at everyone's expressions. They all must understand this concept by now.
"So, I'm never going to age?" I ask, even though Alice just answered that question.
"Yes," Carlisle confirms. "But a few blood tests will confirm."
I put my hand to my forehead and I feel the room spin. This is what I've always wanted, to live forever with Edward. So why does it make me nauseous and terrified to imagine? Why does the future scare me now?
I feel a warm arm pull me into a hug, and I know it's Jake. "Bella, are you okay?"
I stay silent, my mouth parted as I try to make words come out. I nod my head as a final resort to tell him that I am fine.
I pull away from the hug and look at Carlisle. "I'm ready, let's do these tests."

The results came back positive, as expected. Now I'm headed to my house with Jake, because he always seems to be the most helpful in tough situations, that and he said we need to talk.
"You realize what this means Bella, right?"
I look at him driving my truck, which I'm not so sure I should trust him doing. "What?"
"It means that if you would just choose me, we could be together forever."
I look back to the road. That gives me a small sense of comfort, knowing that if I were to choose Jake, we could be together just as long as Edward and I would be.
I step out of my truck when we get to my house, and Jake follows. We go straight to my bedroom, sitting on my bed.
"This also means we can stay best friends, forever," I say.
"Bella, you know how I feel about that."
"Jake, you know how I feel about this."
"I know you feel something for me," he says, laying down across the end of my bed. I'm sitting at the head of my bed, my toes almost touching him.
"We both know that, but I love Edward."
"And you love me," he cuts in.
"Not now Jake, it's been a long day," I sigh.
"It has been for me too," he says.
"So just because it was a long day for you means you can put me under stress?"
He sighs. "No."
I move so I'm sitting next to him. I twist his hair around gently.
"Jake, it's not that I don't want to be with you.
"Then what is it? What is it about me that's not good enough? Bella, I can change for you."
"I don't want you to change Jake," I say sternly. "You're perfect as you are. It's complicated. I committed myself to Edward, I can't just leave him."
Jake stares up at the ceiling, obviously thinking things through.
"Bella," he looks at me, "I'm better for you. I have a heartbeat, I eat normal food to live, we could have kids, the tribe can protect you."
"Do you think I haven't thought this through? Jake, he could protect me too, and drinking blood is just a different lifestyle."
"Haven't you ever dreamed of having a son someday, or a sweet little daughter?"
"Yes, I have, but now's not the time to talk about having children."
"Look, Bella, I'm sorry. I just want you to pick me and only me, I need you."
Jake grabs my hand gently. I lay down, resting my head on his chest.
"I know Jake." I sigh. "And I need you."
He wraps his arm around me, his breathing getting heavier. I make him nervous, but why?
"I love you, Bella," he says quietly.
My eyes start getting heavy, and I pull a blanket up over myself. "I love you too."