Chapter 5: Fighting

Chapter 5: Fighting

Bella POV

I can feel the tension in the room when I awake about a week after Edward’s return. At first I can't figure out what's wrong. Then the voices begin.

“What are you doing here?”

That's Edward.

“What are you doing here?”

Jake. Oh God, this can not end well.

“I love her.”

“So why did you leave?”

“To protect her.”

Silence. I wish I could see them. I’m worried that they're going to do something stupid, like start fighting in the middle of the hospital. Everything Jacob told me about werewolves and vampires being natural enemies floods my mind. I have to struggle to put aside my panic so I can listen to them. Jake speaks next.

“That makes no sense.” He sounds frustrated. “If you want to protect her, wouldn't you be more useful here?”

Edward sighs. “It's not other people I want to protect her from. Well, it is, but they are people who are drawn to her because of me. I've put her in danger over and over, just by being in the same room. My brother nearly killed her on her birthday; that's what prompted our move. She's in too much danger around us. She's not safe. I just want her to be safe, and human, and happy...” He trails off.

Jacob scoffs lightly. “Two out of three. Too bad you didn't manage the last one.”

Another pause. “You think she is happy with you.” It's not a question; it's a statement of fact. Because of course, Edward knows Jacob's thoughts better than he knows them himself.

“Jesus, how did that not drive her insane? Just because you hear people's thoughts, you think you know everything!”

Edward scoffs. “I don't know everything. Far from it. And I can't hear Bella. I don't know why; I’ve just never been able to.”

“Huh.” is all Jacob says in reply. They are silent for a long time. I focus in on my surroundings, tying to figure out where they are. Something cold grips the fingers of my right hand, so Edward must be near. I think I feel more warmth on my left side, near where the door is, where the doctors voices always come from. Perhaps Jacob is standing by the door, or leaning against the wall. Yes, that must be it. Jake against the wall, by the door, arms crossed in front of him, and Edward sat in a little plastic chair at my side, holding my hand. I can see it clearly in my head.

Suddenly, there is a loud clatter as the chair falls to the floor. The cool pressure of Edward’s hand vanishes.

“You did what?” he growls. I panic. What did Jacob do? What did he think of that has made Edward so angry.

“I just wanted to see if it would work. Everything is so much like a fairy tale nowadays, I figured it couldn't hurt.” Jacob replies, nonchalant as always.
“You kissed her!” Edward very nearly shouts.

He did WHAT! I don't remember that! Why would Jake think that kissing me would help? And what does her mean about fairy tales? The answer comes as I form the question. Sleeping Beauty; the princess in a deep slumber, woken by true love's kiss.

Jacob is either completely dumb or a very poor judge of body language. Or perhaps he's just deluded himself into thinking there was something between us. Whatever the reason, he's got nerve to try something like that. He's talking now. I listen, wanting to know what the mutt has to say for himself.

“I don't see why you're getting so steamed about it. You weren't here. As far as she knows, you don't even care any more. She knows I’ll take care of her.”

Edward snarls. I’m panicking again. They're going to fight, I can feel it. One of them will get hurt, most likely Jake, and it will be all my fault, and I can't do anything to stop it. I curse whatever it is that holds me trapped in my head. Let me out! I scream, but no sound comes out. Nothing happens.

“Think you can take me, bloodsucker?” Jacob taunts him. “Think you got what it takes?”
“I have killed more than a hundred people, mongrel, many more than you have. I could kill you before you had the chance to realise that was my intention. Please don't tempt me. I have a feeling Bella would never forgive me if her 'best friend' were to die at my hand.” Edward’s voice is low and menacing, still tinged with a light growl.,

Jake laughs. “Bring it, leech.”

More growling, both of them now. I can almost see Jacob shuddering, preparing to phase. Would they really fight in the middle of the hospital? I know the answer already; yes, yes they would.

“Stop it!” Alice’s voice suddenly shouts. She must have just come in. “You're both being absurd. Fighting isn't going to help Bella, or anyone else for that matter. So how about we all calm down and talk about this like rational people, hmm?”

“He kissed her Alice.” Edward growls.

“And did anything happen? No. He tried, he failed. Now stop being silly.”

Thank you God, for putting Alice on this Earth. She has successfully diffused what could have been a violent, vicious, and potentially deadly conflict that could have exposed both the Cullens and the wolves, based on the testosterone fuelled squabbling of a pair of teenagers. She will forever have my gratitude.

“I’m out of here,” Jacob says, “Have fun talking to a corpse. If she won't wake up for us, I doubt there's anything that can fix her.”

The door slams. I feel like crying, because Jake has given up. He doesn't believe I’m coming back. Well, let him mope. I don't care. I will come back. I will wake up.

As soon as I figure out how.