A Potter Secret

Protection and an Arrangement

Edward paces, frustrated. Alice is stressed. Bella tries to track their fast-paced conversation with Carlisle, Rosalie, and Esme. "Who was it? Someone we know?" Alice asks.

Edward shakes his head. "Just a stranger. I didn't recognize his scent."

"A nomad passing through?" Esme suggests.

"A passer-by wouldn't have left Bella's father alive," Rosalie reminds.

Bella's chilled by the thought. She subtly makes sure her wand is still up her sleeve. "Riley," Bella whispers before trying again. "Riley's face was scratched out on that flyer dad had. It was fine before he fell asleep. Could- could it have something to do with him?"

Rosalie and Carlisle look at her, surprised at how clear she's thinking after all of this. Esme wraps an arm around Bella just as the door bursts open. Jasper enters. "His scent disappeared about five miles south of Bella's house," Jasper says.

"Someone's orchestrating this," Edward thinks.

Carlisle suggests, "Victoria?"

Alice shakes her head. "I would've seen her deciding."

"It has to be the Volturi," Edward decides.

"I don't think it's the Volturi either. I've been watching Aro's decisions, too."

"So we keep looking," Emmett realizes.

"We also take shifts, guarding Bella at her house," Carlisle decides.

Rosalie seems annoyed. "Another protection detail?"

"Rosalie," Esme starts but Bella interrupts.

"No, she's right. You can't protect me, watch my dad- And search for the intruder," Bella starts.

"And for Victoria," Rosalie reminds.

"And keep yourselves fed," Bella lists.

"I'm not leaving you here defenseless," Edward argues.

"Well, I'm not gonna let you starve," Bella says back, her tone final. "And I wouldn't be unprotected, I have-" She stops, an idea occurring. She looks at him, a tiny glimmer of optimism flashing on her face.

"What?" Edward asks.

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

Edward stands at the curb, frozen in place, waiting eyes unblinkingly watching the front door. Finally, it opens. Bella exits. Behind her, Jacob. Edward meets them halfway. Edward is cool, calculating; Jacob hotheaded, fractious. "Whoever it was, he left his stink behind. It'll be hard to miss when we cross it again. We'll handle it from here," Jacob assures.

"We don't need you to handle anything. Or anyone," Edward seethes. Jacob steps toward Edward who doesn't move.

"I could care less what you need," Jacob angrily replies.

"Alright, we're done here."

"No, you're done here," Jacob says, trying to keep himself from yelling.

Bella moves between them. "Stop. I'm tired of this. From now on I'm Switzerland, Okay?" Bella insists. Bella tries to push them apart; it's like pushing boulders. "Stop!" Jacob simmers. Edward just looks at him. "I don't expect you guys to chuck a football around together. Fine. But we have a lot of problems. And this is one temporary solution. Are you willing to at least try?" Finally, Edward nods. Then Jacob. "Alright, so you need to coordinate. You know, schedules and stuff." Neither says anything. Bella sighs, turning to Jacob. "Would the pack prefer days or nights?"

"Nights," Jacob replies.

"Will days work for your family?" Bella asks Edward. Edward nods. "Good. See? How hard was that?" They're both determined to make this truce work.

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

From above, looking down at the dark, silent forest beyond the yard. Stillness. Suddenly, we see a movement in the trees. Then two gleaming eyes peer out, belonging to a wolf skulking at the edge of the tree line. It looks up at Bella. She stands in the window, looking down at her protector.

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

"U.W. sent me and Eric our dorm assignments yesterday," Angela starts. Bella turns back to the room where Angela lies on the floor, a massive stack of graduation announcements in the "done" pile. Angela is blithely unaware of Bella's situation. "I'm in the furthest dorm from campus. Eric's in the closest, of course. Has Alaska assigned you guys dorms yet?"

Bella looks at her, missing her already. She lies next to Angela, takes up a card to address. "Not yet," Bella replies.

"Where is Edward tonight anyway?"

"Out looking for trouble," Bella says. Angela hears the worry in Bella's voice.

Angela looks at her. "Is something wrong?"

"No, why?"

"One, Edward's always with you. Two, you keep looking out that window like you're hoping he'll show up with a mariachi band."

"Angela what if Eric was like secretly a member of this- Violent gang, and- Your brother was in this other gang, and they wanted to kill each other, and you couldn't tell anybody?" Bella tries to explain. Bella's slightly odd remark just kind of sits there.

"It's okay. You don't have to talk about it," Angela tries to calm her.

"There's nothing to- I mean there is but-" Bella's not sure what to say. How can she talk about it? Bella debates, then sits up, cross legged, choosing her words carefully. "Okay. You remember Jacob Black?"

"Ah. Edward's jealous," Angela realizes.

"You say that like it's so obvious."

"Oh, it's not?"

"Edward just thinks Jacob's dangerous or something- a bad influence on me." Angela smiles, shaking her head. "What?"

"I've seen the way Jacob looks at you. Edward's seen it too, and he's only human. He's going to react like any other guy," Angela promises.

"It's more complicated than that."

"Say the words Bella; jell-oh-see."

"I've told Jacob how I feel. He accepts it. He'd rather be best friends than nothing," Bella says.

"Okay, so the words are de-ni-al."

"You're saying I'm an idiot," Bella says, changing the topic slightly.

"Just a little oblivious."

"Well, I don't want this. Every move I make hurts someone."

"They're big boys. They make their own choices. Don't worry it will work itself out. It's not life or death or anything." Bella glances back at the window at her reality.

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

Edward's silver Volvo pulls over to the side of the road. Bella and Edward emerge from the car. They see, thirty yards down the road, a shirtless Jacob leaning against his red Volkswagen, waiting. The two guys exchange a tense look. "Doesn't he own a shirt?" Edward asks.

"I'm good here, you should go."

Edward pulls her closer. "I'm not gonna be going long."

"Don't rush. You need to hunt." Then he surprises her with a particularly passionate kiss. Down the road Jacob scowls. Edward pulls away, leaving Bella a little dizzy. "Maybe you rush a little bit." He smiles. She offers a reassuring look, then walks off.

As Bella reaches Jacob, he smiles broadly. "Hey, beautiful," Jacob says.

"Hi," she replies. He pulls her into a big hug. She hears Edward's car peel out. As she watches the Volvo disappear, Jacob opens the car door.

"So, whaddaya wanna do today? Bike, hike, hang? Your call. But we're going to a party tonight."

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