Storming Sky

SILVER LINING

Breathe, Dani," Jasper mumbled a few moments after they left. I glared at him. I didn't move from my spot. It was light out now, and I was exhausted, but I didn't move. On the other hand, neither did Edward, so that was slightly comforting.

"They'll be back soon," Edward mentioned, although, I didn't know if that was meant for me or for him.

"It's what's best for Bella," Jasper reminded us. I glared at him even more.

"Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say, brother," Edward warned him, even though I was pretty sure Jasper got the message. Wherever Jake was concerned, using Bella was never a good argument.

"They'll be back soon," Edward repeated. I rolled my eyes. "Jasper, you should start trying to track them."

"Of course," Alice came over as well and they took off. Alice smiled at me before they left, but it didn't change how I was feeling. There was a time when I wouldn't mind if Jake and Bella were by themselves. These days, I wasn't so sure. I was trying to trust him, but it was a lot harder in practice than in theory.

"Any minute now, Dani," Edward told me. "I can hear Jacob. If it's any help, he's only thinking about you."

"Thanks," I whispered, trying to look for Jake in the trees. Eventually, I could see Jake and Bella emerge and he ran her over here.

He put her down and Bella looked about as disgusted as I felt. I hoped that Jake hadn't given her a hard time. I ran over to him and he wrapped me in a hug.

"See, was that so bad?" Jake asked, kissing my forehead.

"It was awful," I nodded. He laughed and shook his head.

"You two are so annoying," Bella rolled her eyes. Edward laughed in agreement. I stuck my tongue out at them.

Within minutes, Alice and Jasper were back.

"Well?" Bella asked him.

"As long as you don't touch anything, Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent," Jasper confirmed. For what it was worth, the plan worked. "It was almost completely obscured."

"A definite success," Alice wrinkled her nose. I thought by now they would be used to the scent, but I guess I was wrong.

"And it gave me an idea," Jasper added.

"Which will work," Alice confirmed before we even knew what the idea was.

"Clever," Edward agreed, reading Jasper's mind.

"How do you stand that?" Jacob muttered to me. I giggled.

"You get used to it, babe," I kissed his cheek, smiling. It was annoying as hell, but I wasn't going to give Jake more material.

"We're – well you're – going to leave a false trail to the clearing, Bella," Edward explained. "The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work. When they catch our scent, they'll split up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest, where her vision suddenly disappears..."

"Yes!" Jacob hissed, and a jumped at the sudden excitement. Edward smiled at him, a smile of true comradery, which made me smile in return. I never thought I would see this day.

"Not a chance," Edward said suddenly, directed towards Jasper. My head shot up at his change in tone.

"I know, I know," Jasper said quickly. "I didn't even consider it, not really," Jasper defended. Alice stepped on his foot.