Breaking Dawn

Chapter Two: Thursday, August 10th

"What?" I ask abruptly.
He drops his head, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I puzzle.
"Because I didn't want you to choose me over him because I imprinted on you, I wanted you to realize that you love me more, but I'm running out of time!"
I stand up and walk quickly towards the road.
"Hey, Bella, where are you going?" He asks, quickly stepping in front of me.
"I'm going home."
"Why?"
"I need time to think, Jacob."
"So you might pick me?" He asks quickly.
"That's not what I said, I still love Edward, you know this."
"You love me too," he reminds me, once again. "You know I can't live without you."
"You won't have to, I'll still be around."
"You know what I mean, Bells."
I try to step around him, but he puts his hand on my shoulder holding me back. "Stop trying to leave."
"Jake, I want to go home."
"And you plan on walking?"
"If I can't get a ride, yes."
"I'll give you a ride, if you agree to stay until dinner," he tries compromising.
"I have plans with Charlie," I lie.
"When?"
"In half an hour."
"Oh really, then what time is it?"
"It's twelve," my answer comes out as more of a question.
"Wrong," Jacob looks at his watch. "It's one thirty. You're staying."
"I think this counts as kidnapping, Jacob."
"Don't be such a downer," he jokes.
"Sorry, it's not very fun being forced to stay with someone who imprinted on you."
"I get a feeling this is a first for you," Jake laughs.
"No, this is a daily thing, I've obviously had others imprint on me and force me to stay with them," I say sarcastically.
"What are you going to do?" He asks after a long period of silence.
"What do you mean?"
"Now that you know I imprinted on you, what are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe run away," I joke.
"I'll run after you."
"Go to the moon."
"I'll fly with you."
"Go to the Cullen's."
Jake glares at me. "Too far."
"I guess I'll be going too far the whole night like that, unless I can go home."
"Come on Bella," he whines.
"Just let me go home, please."
I want to go home so I can think this all over and not have to worry about Jacob kissing me again, then Edward and him tearing each other apart.
"Only if I can come."
"For an hour, during dinner time. Charlie would like to see you, I'm sure."
He starts pacing uncomfortably. "Three hours."
"An hour and a half."
"Two hours."
"Fine, two hours, that's it."
He grins, thinking he won. "I'll be over around four."
"Alright, bye Jake," I say.
"Why are you saying bye? I'm still giving you a ride."
I shake my head, but give in. It's starting to rain, and I don't find it particularly fun walking in the rain.

"Hey dad, Jake's going to be here at four."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he's coming for dinner."
"Huh." He grabs the carton of milk from the fridge. "What are you going to cook tonight?"
"I may just order a few pizzas, I'm not sure what I can cook that will be in large enough quantities for Jake," I say.
"We had pizza last night," he grumbles.
"Alright, so how about Chinese?"
"You have money for that much Chinese?"
I shake my head. "I'll cook some lasagna, how about that?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
I put together the lasagna, put it in the oven, and head up to my room.
Someone grabs my shoulders and turns me around. "You had me scared, Bella."
"I'm sorry, I was just at La Push with Jacob," I say.
"Exactly why I was nervous. I have been waiting here for you," Edward says.
"I was fine, you don't need to get so worried."
"It doesn't sound so, after the news he told you."
"How didn't you know that?" I ask.
"Bella, it is a wolf thing, I can't figure out those things by reading their minds."
"Alice can't either?"
"No, she can't either."
"What do I do?"
"Do as you please, Bella. I will not be the one to take away your happiness."
I stare into Edward's eyes. They're jet black, no design in the iris, no color. They look frighteningly beautiful, though. "You are my happiness, but I can't leave him like this," I tell him.
"So you've made your mind..." he whispers.
"I can't leave you, either."
"You can't have us both, Bella."
"I know."
I truly love Edward, with all my heart, but I love Jake too, and I can't have them both the way I want them. I've never realized until now how much I love Jacob. I love him more and more every day, but I love Edward just as much, if not more. I have never wanted anything more than to live forever with Edward, but now it seems Jacob has never wanted anything more than to be with me.
"Don't let his imprinting change your mind, Bella. You need to do as you please, not as what you think would make someone else happier."
"Well I want to make everyone happy, but I can't. It's either I make you happy, or I make Jacob happy."
"What about yourself? You really must put your own feelings first."
"You know I won't do that, I can't do that. I physically can't bring myself to do that."
"Please just try."
I can see the pain in his eyes. The pain that shows how much he wants me to pick him, but he doesn't want to alter my choice. He wants me to pick for myself, not for anyone else.
I step towards him, hugging him tightly. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Bella. But I must go now."
A dissatisfaction settles over me as my arms are empty. I slowly make my way downstairs. Why did he have to go so suddenly? Was he afraid that telling me he loves me will change my mind? I know how much he wants me to decide what I want, not what he wants or what Jacob wants.
"So you're trying to tell me that you made the pass, clear as day, and they still didn't count it?" My dad asks.
"Yeah, they're terrible referees," Jacob responds.
"Jake? What are you doing here?" I question.
"Charlie invited me over early," he grins. He pats the spot next to him on the couch.
"I need to get the lasagna." I turn back to the kitchen, and Jacob gets up and follows me.
"Was it really Charlie that invited you over early, or was it you inviting yourself over early?"
"A little bit of both," he admits.
I slip some oven mitts on my hands and grab the lasagna, setting it on the counter.
"Have you decided?" Jacob asks, hovering over me.
"I think so," I say quietly.
"And who do you think it is?"
"Edward."
I look at him, and his face drops.
"Jake, you know I love him, please don't get upset and let this ruin dinner tonight."
"This just means I have to fight that much harder."
"What happened to the whole "do anything to make her happy" part of the imprinting?"
"I would do anything to make you happy, Bella, and being with me would make you happy."
"Being with Edward would make me happy," I remind him.
"You could be just as happy with me as you could be with him."
"How do you know this?"
"Because I know I can make you happy, Bella! I can do more with you than he can! I bet he can't touch you without hurting you. A simple hug probably leaves bruises."
"It does not, and it wouldn't matter once I changed," I remind him.
"This isn't fair, Bella. I've imprinted, I can't be without you. I can't live without you. Did your bloodsucker talk you into deciding him? How much money did he offer you? Money is nothing compared to love, Bella."
"Money was not a part of my decision, and he didn't want to change my mind, so he put in as little input as he could."
"You love me more, you know this."
"Stop telling yourself that, you are hurting yourself more and more when you tell yourself that," my lip quivers slightly.
"I'm just stating the truth."
"No, you're not. You're continuously hurting yourself, Jake. It's a constant battle in your head, I can tell. Please, just let me decide on my own. If Edward is playing fair, then you should too."
"I don't want fair, I want you. I need you. I can make you happier than that bloodsucker."
"Jake," I warn him, "you know I hate it when you call them bloodsuckers and stop doing this."
"You have to trust me, I know what's best for you."
"You think you know what is best, but you don't. Just stop it already!" I slam my hand on the counter.
Jake grabs my hand, leaning in towards me. I pull my head away. "You're insane Jacob!" I pull my hand away from him, balling it into a fist.
"Bella," he says quietly.
"Leave me alone, Jacob!" I grab my coat off the coat rack and throw it on, walking out into the pouring rain, making sure to slam the door behind me. I go through the woods, hoping Charlie and Jake won't come looking for me.
"Do you want me to kill him?" Edward asks, stepping in front of me.
"No, leave me alone."
"I can't. It's pouring, Bella, how about you come to my place for the night?"
"I want to be left alone, Edward."
"I told you, I can't do that. Look at yourself, you are covered in water and in the middle of the woods. I don't want a repeat of last time, I'm not losing you."
"Then go get Alice. Edward, I really don't want to deal with this right now." I sit on a fallen tree, putting about five feet of space between Edward and me.
He pulls off his coat and walks towards me, then resting his coat on my shoulders. "I will be about 200 feet away so if any trouble arises, I will be near. Alice will be here to take my spot soon."
I silently thank him when he is out of sight. I cross my legs, trying to hide my shivers.
"I came as quick as I could, what just happened?"
"She's having wolf troubles," Edward says, drawing Alice's eyes off me.
"I could tell that, she reeks." Alice lets out a playful smile.