Folktale

Chapter 12

Bella's P.O.V

One Week Later...

"Jacob, you're going to have to understand that I can't be tied to the hip to you every single day. I also have a life to live." I lower my voice a bit as I go through the long aisles of the supermarket. No need for everyone at the supermarket to know what's going on in my relationship.

"Look, I'm not asking you to be tied at my hip. All I'm asking you is to come over tonight to the bonfire. When was the last time you came?"

You really want to ask when was the last time I came? Well, it's been a while.

"Jacob, you know I'd love to but I-I can't tonight. I have a lot of homework to do and I need to get it done before the weekend, so please can we just drop it? Tell Billy I'm sorry, I'll go next time."

Jacob sighs. "That's what you said last time."

I pull the phone away from me and groan. "This time I promise, cross my heart, I'll go-I'll even spend the night when we go to La Push for the field trip. Does that sound good?" I ask, hoping that'd be enough. "Just you and I after everyone leaves."

"Are you sure Edward isn't gonna need any babysitting?" He asked, bitterly.

I stop with my shopping cart, ready to tell him off. I knew he did the whole friendship thing with Edward to please me, but I stop myself when I see Alice with her mother, Mrs. Brandon. Alice immediately notices my tense posture and walks over to me.

"You know what, Jacob? I got to go, bye." I hang up the phone and toss it in the shopping cart, my nose flaring with anger.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked.

"Do you have any idea of inconsiderate you have to be to be bitter against someone who has suffered way more than you have? Like, how could he even ask me if I'll be-ugh, I can't even say it because of how much it angers me!"

Alice nods slowly. "I take you're talking about Jacob."

"Yes!"

"And he said something about Edward that was inconsiderate?" She arced a brow.

"He's been going on about how we don't spend enough time with each other and asked me to spend the night tonight after a bonfire with his family, but honestly I don't have time!" I run my hands through my hair, almost ripping from the roots. "I promised him I'd spend the night the day of the field trip and then he goes and asks if I'm sure Edward isn't gonna need babysitting? Who asks that about someone who has lost everything? Who is alone? Is it that hard to understand that all I want is to help the guy?" I don't realize I'm almost screaming when I notice some people have stopped to hear my rant. "And what are you all looking at?" I snap.

Alice wraps her arm with mine. She gives everyone a apologetic smile and even I smile apologetically to her mother as she leads me away from the scene with my shopping cart.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," I sigh.

"You said all you want to do is help Edward," she says, looking down at our feet and then looks back at me. "But are you sure that's what you really want?"

"What do you mean?"

Alice sighs. "Bella, I'm your best friend and I know you better than you think. I've been watching you these last couple weeks since you've found Edward and I just... Are you sure you don't have feelings for him?"

I laugh nervously. "What? You're asking me if I have feelings for Edward?"

"You don't have them for Jacob," she points out bluntly. "If you did, you'd understand how he feels. Bella, Jacob is a guy and he's human, he's going to act like any guy would in this situation. It's obvious he's going to be jealous when this guy appears out of the sudden and then all your attention is focused on him." She takes a pause as her words sink in. I avoid looking at her, fearing she'll see right through me. "I've seen the way you look at him... Edward, I mean. You look at him like he's your salvation, you gravitate toward him the moment he walks in the room. It's the same with him. You move, he moves, like magnets. And the way he looks at you... So protective, like he'd take a bullet for you... It's... You have to understand, this is more than just a friendship you're forming with the guy."