A Potter Secret

The Return of One

Jacob drives. Bella wears a fleece jacket but still shivers. He pulls her close, wrapping an arm around her. "Hundred and eight degrees over here," Jacob hints.

She tucks herself into him. "Must be nice, never getting cold," Bella notes.

"It's a wolf thing."

"It's a Jacob thing. You're just warm."

"Like the sun," Jacob grins.

"Like the sun."

"Which always comes back. You can count on me." She nods. Awkward silence. He fills it. "There are other cool things about all this, like I heal fast. Wanna see me stab my hand?"

"Yeah, 'cause that would be fun," Bella says sarcastic.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The truck pulls up to the curb. It's pitch black outside. Jacob's still holding her close as he shuts the engine off. "So, this wolf thing's not all bad?" Bella asks.

"It's better. Now that you know. But," Jacob stops.

"But," Bella urges.

"It just comes so easily to me. More than the other guys," Jacob says.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Maybe. Or maybe it makes me less human than the others. Sometimes I'm scared I might disappear, you know? Who I really am."

Bella faces him, looks directly in his eyes. She knows exactly how that feels right now. "I won't let that happen," Bella assures. We'll keep each other grounded. Their faces are close and stay close for an intimate beat. They could kiss, their lips near but Bella blinks herself back to reality and pulls away. "Thanks for driving- for everything."

As she pushes open her door. Wind wafts in. Jacob reacts to a repugnant smell outside. "Wait." He abruptly pulls Bella back into the truck, slams her door shut and starts the truck. "There's a bloodsucker out there."

"How do you know?" Bella asks.

"I can smell the stink. I'm getting you out of here." As Jacob whips the truck around, the headlights illuminate the driveway. A black Mercedes is parked in front. Bella spins to the rear window as Jacob floors it.

"Stop! It's not Victoria," Bella replies.

"Forget it," Jacob says.

"It's Carlisle's car! They're here. Go back!"

"It's a trick." He's still flooring it. Bella cracks her door open while they're moving he slams on the brakes. She jumps out. "Damn it, Bella." Bella hurries up the road toward her house. Jacob's suddenly standing in front of her, furious. "Stop. You gotta come with me."

"It's okay. They're my friends," Bella insists.

"Don't you get it? If a Cullen is back here, this is their territory. The Treaty says we can only defend our own lands."

"It's not a war."

"It is. And you'll only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore."

"I don't need you to-"

"You're about to cross a line."

"Only if you draw one." She starts to move past him, but he stops her.

"I'm not letting you do this."

"You don't have a choice. I don't belong to you."

Her words are a knife to the heart. She sees that, but can't take them back. He hands her the keys. "Bye, Bella, I hope you don't die." She flinches at the stinging remark. He disappears into the darkness, leaving her alone on the dark road.