Freezing Discussions

                                    

                                          




(ANNA POV)
I make it near the campsite and phase back.
"Thank you," Edward says when Jake sits Bella down.
"You should get back before the storm hits," Bella tells Jake.
"No, I'm staying. You'll need my connection to the pack, to keep tabs on what's going on," Jake explains.
"You're not going to fight?" Bella asks.
"Seth will spell me in the morning. He's not happy about missing the action, but it'll keep him out of trouble," Jake answers.
"Let's get you inside," Edward says. Bella and he go into the tent. I sit outside while Jake patrols.
"I should have chosen a site lower down," Edward says when the storm starts and Bella starts freezing.
"No, It's fine. I'm okay," Bella says.
"What can I do?" Edward asks even though he knows there is nothing that he can do. Jake gets tired of all the teeth chattering. He phases back and heads for the tent. I then phase, so I can patrol the area.
"I can't sleep with all that teeth chattering going on," Jake says.
"Forget it," Edward says reading Jake's mind. I mentally growl at what Jake thinks.
"She may need her toes someday. And let's face it I'm hotter than you," Jake says. "Get your hand off me." I guess Edward doesn't like what Jake did.
"Get your hands off her," Edward says. Ahh, there it is.
"Don't fight," Bella forces out.
"She gets sick, it's on you," Jake says.
"Fine," Edwards agrees.
"You're freezing, Bella. Relax. You'll warm up soon. Faster if you took your clothes off," Jake says and I growl.
"Jake," Bella says.
"Survival one oh one," Jake says jokingly. A while later Bella falls asleep.
"Can you, at least attempt to control your thoughts?" Edward asks and I can't help but agree with him.
"I really get under that ice cold skin of yours, don't I?" Jake asks and Edward doesn't respond. "What?"
"Are you doubting her feelings for you?" Edward finally says something.
"Nice... So picking through my brain's okay, but letting me into yours," Jake says.
"Forget it," Edward states.
"Look. I know she's in love with you," Jake says.
"Oh, good," Edward says.
"But she's in love with me, too. She just won't admit it to herself," Jake explains.
"I can't tell you if you're right," Edward says.
"Then let me ask you something. If she chooses me..." Jake starts.
"She won't," Edwards says.
"If she did. Would you try to kill me?" Jake asks.
"That's an intriguing idea. But no. I couldn't hurt her like that," Edward answers.
"See, you'd just turn her into a bloodsucking demon like you," Jake accuses.
"I don't want that. I never wanted that," Edward explains.
"So stop her," Jake orders.
"I tried. I left," Edward explains.
"But you gave up too quickly. If you'd stayed away another six months, I could've made her happy. Trust me. You have to consider that I might be better for her than you are," Jake says.
"I have considered that. I know you can protect her. But you can give her a life, a human life. It's all I want for her. But, I'm not... I'm not going to force her into anything, ever again. The last time I tried, it almost killed us both," Edward explains.
"Yeah, that I remember. When you thought she was gone that you'd lost her... How did you... cope?" Jake asks trying to find the right words.
"There're no words. But I wouldn't wish it on anyone, Jacob. This might sound odd, but I'm glad you're here," Edward says.
"Pretty neat," Jake says.
"As much as I'd love to kill you, I'm glad she's warm. If we weren't natural enemies and you weren't trying to steal my reason for existing. I might actually like you," Edward says.
"Well. If you weren't planning on sucking the life out of the girl I love, I might... No... Not even then," Jake says and they both chuckle. "But she could still change her mind, you know."
"Then I'd let her go," Edward says. The next morning Jake comes out of the tent to patrol. He phases and I phase back right when Seth shows up in wolf form.