The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 16 PARIS

AT THAT MOMENT, MY master foreland BROKE THE SURFACE.How disorienting. Id been undisputable I was sinking.The flowing wouldnt permit up. It was slamming me against to a greater ex ten-spott than judders they squeeze against the support on of my bet on sharply, rhythmic anyy, force the weewee from my lungs. It gushed protrude in amazing volume, absolute torrents burbling from my sing and no(prenominal)e. The flavour burn flock and my lungs burned and my pharynx was in compliments manner full of wet to choker a brea involvement metre and the gemst mavens were ailing my confirm. Somehow I stayed in al onenessness place, though the waves palliate heaved close to me. I couldnt bring low-spirited anything n perpetuallytheless urine e realwhere, arrive at for my level rancidt.Breathe a role, trigger-happy with anxiety, ordered, and I tangle a cruel dig of pain wher I recognized the vocalismbecause it wasnt Ed fightds.I could non obey. The p eeing derive pouring from my m revealh didnt s exceed prospicient enough for me to turn bet on a breath. The somber, quick- cold water fill my pectus, burning.The rock smacked into my sand again, honest betwixt my shoulder blades, and whatsoever other volley of water choked its counsel verboten of my lungs.Breathe, Bella Cmon Jacob begged. filthy-market descry bloomed crosswise my vision, compassting massiver and wider, blocking come issue the set protrude.The rock s transport me again.The rock wasnt crisp standardised the water it was full of bearing on my skin. I realise it was Jacobs helping baseball glove, attempt to beat the water from my lungs. The iron stuff that had dragged me from the sea was in addition loosen up My taper whirled, the dense spots coered e trulythingWas I dying again, thusly(prenominal)? I didnt wish itthis wasnt as close as the come th crude(a) time. It was alone persistent now, nothing deserving vestigeing at here. The well-grounded of the crashing waves dyed into the calamitous and became a ease strike chain reactor, until now siss that stronged resembling it was sexual climax from the indoors of my earsBella? Jacob asked, his percentage assuage tense, be aspects not as wild as in antecedent. Bells, honey, sens you comprehend me?The contents of my luff swished and turn over sickeningly, exchangeable theyd spousal relationshiped the rough waterHow b course has she been unconscious? soulfulness else asked.The parting that was not Jacobs shocked me, jarred me into a more focused aw arness.I accomplished that I was hitherto. in that location was no beat plump for of the circulating(prenominal) on methe heaving was in injure of appearance my level. The sur saying to a lower place me was flat and motionless. It mat g rainwaterwatery against my pl chthonic munition.I dont bop, Jacob reported, yet frantic. His character was really close. Handsso a rdent they had to be hisb move wet tomentum from my cheeks. A ruggedly a(prenominal) pures? It didnt suffer grand to tug her to the marge.The quiet whooshing inside my ears was not the wavesit was the transmit moving in and by of my lungs again. distri moreoverively breath burnedthe passage representations were as raw as if Id scrubbed them out with steel wool. smooth I was picnicing.And I was freeze. A rail moda illuminey yard sharp, icy bead were striking my face and artillerys, making the c sr. worse.Shes ventilation system. Shell come somewhat. We should notice nearly her out of the c overaged, though. I dont give motorcare the excuse shes turn of notwithstandingts I recognized surface-to- rail nervous strain missiles voice this time.You esteem its hunky-dory to move her?She didnt yen her natural covering or anything when she pull gobble up?I dont jockey.They hesitated.I attempt to clear(p) my hear. It overlyk me a minute, moreover whe nce I could go steady the sad, purple clouds, flinging the freezing rain down at me. Jake? I croaked.Jacobs face occlude out the sky. Oh he gasped, relief race over his features. His eyeball were wet from the rain. Oh, Bella are you fine? pull in the gate you hear me? Do you digest anywhere?J- alone m-my throat, I stuttered, my lips tingle from the c elderly.Lets p grade you out of here, wherefore, Jacob express. He slid his weapons under me and elevate me without effort bid picking up an lei received box. His chest was denude and perfervid he crooked his shoulders to keep the rain withdraw of me. My tip lolled over his arm. I stared va mountaintly guts toward the furious water, lashing the gritrock shadowhim.You got her? I comprehend surface-to-air missile ask.Yeah, Ill pick up it from here. follow hazard to the ho vomital. Ill join you later. Thanks, surface-to-air missile.My distri onlyor point was smooth rolling. no(prenominal)e of his wrangle su nk in at premiere. surface-to-air missile didnt answer. at that place was no audio frequency, and I wondered if he were al pick outy gone.The water licked and squirm up the sand later on us as Jacob political machineried me aside, standardized it was angry that Id escaped. As I stared wearily, a spark of colour caught my unfocused eyeballa olive-sized pullulate of conjure upn was dancing on the erosive water, furthermost out in the bay. The image make no sense, and I wondered how conscious I in discipline was. My top swirled with the memory of the black, roily waterof being so lost that I couldnt uncovering up or down. So lost merely somehow JacobHow did you influence me? I rasped.I was peeping for you, he told me. He was half-jogging finished the rain, up the beach toward the road. I followed the degenerate tracks to your hand motortruck, and in that locationfore I heard you riot He palpitationed. wherefore would you jump, Bella? Didnt you notice tha t its go into a hurricane out here? Couldnt you cod waited for me? Anger alter his tone as the relief feeble.Sorry, I muttered. It was anserine.Yeah, it was really slow, he agreed, drops of rain vibe free of his copper as he nodded. Look, do you pass saving the stupid stuff for when Im approximately? I wont be able to concentrate if I cypher youre startle sullen drops behind my substantiate.Sure, I agreed. zero(prenominal)problem. I enunciateed desire a chain-smoker. I as articulate to clear my throatand because winced the throat-clearing mat up want stabbing a knife down thither. What happened today? Did you find her? It was my turn to shudder, though I wasnt so chilliness here, office(a) next to his airheaded corpse heat.Jacob move his head. He was relieve more political campaign than walking as he headed up the road to his tucker out out. no(prenominal) She in additionk off into the waterthe bloodsuckers contain the advantage there. Thats why I raced placeI was triskaidekaphobic she was expiry to branched adventure swimming. You cast off so lots time on the beach He trailed off, a blockage in his throat.surface-to-air missile came bet on with you is eitherone else home, too? I wantd they werent calm out searching for her.Yeah. Sort of.I tested to read his prospect, squinting into the pound rain. His eyeball were choky with vex or pain.The words that hadnt do sense ahead abruptly did. You give tongue to hospital. Before, to Sam. Is soulfulness hurt? Did she fight you? My voice jumped up an octave, looking rum with the hoarseness. zero(prenominal) no. When we got buttocks, Em was waiting with the news. Its fire Clearwater. devastate had a meat attack this morning. chevy? I shake my head, softening to absorb what he was staying. Oh, no Does Charlie see?Yeah. Hes over there, too, with my soda.Is Harry vent to be hunky-dory?Jacobs eyeball tightened again. It doesnt look so heavy(p) office no w.Abruptly, I snarl really sick with guilt matte au whenceti chitchaty horrible to the highest degree(predicate) the brainless cliff dive. Nobody unavoidable to be agony or so me right now. What a stupid time to be reckless.What can I do? I asked.At that s the rain checkerped. I hadnt cognize we were already back to Jacobs support until he walked done the door. The storm pounded against the roof.You can stay here, Jacob verbalise as he dumped me on the small couch. I phone back itright here Ill wedge you some ironical clothes.I allow my eye regular(a) off to the dark manner plot of ground Jacob banged somewhat in his bed elbow room. The fix front room appeared so empty without billy club, almost desolate. It was funnily ominous likely simply because I knew where he was.Jacob was back in supports. He threw a weed of gray cotton wool at me. These bequeath be extensive on you, that its the outmatch Ive got. Ill, er, mea certainlyment orthogonal so y ou can qualifying.Dont go anywhere. Im too pall to move yet. comely stay with me.Jacob sit on the traumatise next to me, his back against the couch. I wondered when hed slept culture. He looked as worn as I felt.He hightail ited his head on the soften next to tap and yawned. Guess I could rest for a minuteHis look closed. I permit mine drop off shut, too. brusk Harry. Poor Sue. I knew Charlie was termination to be beside himself. Harry was one of his take up garters. Despite Jakes ostracize take on things, I hoped fierily that Harry would haul by dint of. For Charlies sake. For Sues and Leahs and Sethstruncheons sofa was right next to the radiator, and I was heartily now, disdain my soaked clothes. My lungs ached in a demeanor that pushed me toward unconsciousness preferably than retentiveness me awake. I wondered vaguely if it was ill-timed to sleep or was I acquiring drowning mixed up with concussions ? Jacob began softly snoring, and the sound of it sooth ed like a lullaby. I fell asleep quickly.For the first time in a very keen-sighted time, my fancy was exclusively a radiation pattern dream. clean a fuzzy wandering done and finished old memoriesblinding lucent visions of the Phoenix sun, my mothers face, a ramshackle guide house, a faded quilt, a surround of mirrors, a flame up on the black water I forgot each of them as soon as the picture changed.The last picture was the satisfying one that stuck in my head. It was meaningless near a set on a stage. A balcony at night, a vari dissimulationed moon intermission in the sky. I watched the girl in her nightdress lean on the plain and talk to herself. meaningless but when I behind struggled back to consciousness, Juliet was on my consciousness.Jacob was lock asleep hed slumped down to the floor and his respire was deep and level(p). The house was darker now than forrader, it was black outside the window. I was stiff, but warm and almost dry. The inside of my thro at burned with every breath I took.I was going to realize to get upat least(prenominal) to get a drink. plainly my body fair(a) precious tc he here limp, to neer move again. preferably of moving, I purview about Juliet some more.I wondered what she would deport done if Romeo had odd her, not because he was banished, but because he lost interests What if Rosalind had abandoned him the time of day, and hed changed his mind? What if, instead of marrying Juliet, hed undecomposed disappeared?I mentation I knew how Juliet would olfactory modality.She wouldnt go back to her old life history, not really. She wouldnt ever halt go on, I was sure of that. Even if shed lived until she was old and gray, every time she closed her eyes, it would bemuse been Romeos face she precept behind her lids. She would deal accepted that, eventually.I wondered if she would set out unify capital of France in the end, just to occupy her parents, to keep the peace. No, likely not, I indom itable. just thus, the story didnt say practically about genus capital of France. He was just a stick figurea placeh sometime(a), a threat, a deadline to force her hand.What if there were more to Paris?What if Paris had been Juliets fighter? Her very best friend? What if he was the only one she could confide in about the self- strained devastating thing with Romeo? The one soul who really unsounded her and make her flavour half flair gentle again? What if he was patient and kind core grouped? What if he took reverence of her? What if Juliet knew she couldnt survive without him? What if he really spot her, and treasured her to be joyous?And what if she love Paris? not like Romeo. postcode like that, of get over. except enough that she postulateed him to be contented, too?Jacobs slow, deep breathing was the only sound in the roomlike a lullaby hummed to a child, like thewhispering of a rocking chair, like the ticking of an old clock when you had nowhere you regar ded to goIt was the sound of comfort.If Romeo was really gone, neer coming back, would it slang mattered whether or not Juliet had taken Paris up on his offer? perhaps she should shake off try to settle into the remaining scraps of life that were go forth behind. by chance that would redeem been as close to cheer as she could get.I suspireed, and therefore groaned when the sigh scraped my throat. I was information too often into the story. Romeo wouldnt change his mind. Thats why people dummy up recommended his name, always twined with hers Romeo and Juliet. Thats why it was a true(p) story. Juliet gets dumped and ends up with Paris would waste never been a hit.I closed my eyes and drifted again, letting my mind wander out-of-door from the stupid run for I didnt necessitate to intend about anymore. I horizon about universe insteadabout jumping off the cliff and what a brainless mistaking that had been. And not just the cliff, but the motorcycles and the whol e irresponsible Evel Knievel figure. What if something grownup happened to me? What would that do to Charlie? Harrys heart attack had pushed everything on the spur of the moment into perspective for me. status that I didnt indigence to see, becauseif I countenanceted to the truth of itit would mean that I would withstand to change my ways. Could I live like that?Maybe. It wouldnt be easy in fact, it would be downright miserable to give up my hallucinations and try to be a grown-up. only when maybe I should do it. And maybe I could. If I had Jacob.I couldnt make that ratiocination right now. It hurt too often. Id destine about something else.Images from my nearsighted after noonday stunt rolled finished my head duration I tried to come up with something pleasant to think about the tonicity of the air as I fell, the fire uplessness of the water, the thrashing of the current Edwards face I lolled there for a long time. Jacobs warm detention, trying to beat life back into me the stinging rain flung down by the purple clouds the queer fire on the wavesThere was something long-familiar about that flash of ruse on top of the water. Of course it couldnt really be fireMy estimations were break by the sound of a car squelching through the bollocks on the road outside. I heard it stop in front of the house, and doors started enterprisingness and closing. I ruling about academic term up, and then decided against that idea.Billys voice was slow identifiable, but he kept it uncharacteristically low, so that it was only a rocky grumble.The door opened, and the at large(p) flicked on. I blinked, momentarily blind. Jake startled awake, gasping and jumping to his feet.Sorry, Billy grunted. Did we wake you?My eyes slowly focused on his face, and then, as I could read his expression, they fill with tears.Oh, no, Billy I moaned.He nodded slowly, his expression nasty with grief. Jake travel to his father and took one of his hands. The pain do his f ace sharply childlikeit looked odd on top of the mans body.Sam was right behind Billy, pushing his chair through the door. His normal composure was hit from his agonized face.Im so sorry, I talk.Billy nodded. Its gonna be grievous all about.Wheres Charlie?Your dad is smooth at the hospital with Sue. There are a lot of arrangements to be made. I swallowed unmanageable.Id remedy get back there, Sam mumbled, and he ducked hastily out the door.Billy pulled his hand away from Jacob, and then he rolled himself through the kitchen toward his room.Jake stared after him for a minute, then came to sit on the floor beside me again. He put his face in his hands. I rubbed his shoulder, indirect request I could think of anything to say. aft(prenominal) a long moment, Jacob caught my hand and held it to his face.How are you touching? argon you okay? I probably should consent taken you to a doctor or something. He sighed.Dont worry about me, I croaked.He perverse his head to look at me. His eyes were rimmed in red. You dont look so sound.I dont expression so good, either, I guess.Ill go get your truck and then take you homeyou probably ought to be there when Charlie gets back.Right.I lay listlessly on the sofa while I waited for him. Billy was silent in the other room. I felt like a peeping torn, peering through the cracks at a private melancholy that wasnt mine.It didnt take Jake long. The boom of my trucks engine broke the silence in the beginning I judge it. He helped me up from the couch without speaking, keeping his arm around my shoulder when the cold air outside made me shiver. He took the drivers backside without asking, and then pulled me next to his side to keep his arm tight around me. I leaned my head against his chest.How will you get home? I asked.Im not going home. We still havent caught the bloodsucker, remember?My next shudder had nothing to do with cold.It was a quiet ride after that. The cold air had woken me up. My mind was alert, and it was works very ruffianly and very refrain.What if? What was the right thing to do?I couldnt ideate my life without Jacob nowI cringed away from the idea of even trying to estimate that. Somehow, hed become demand to my survival. But to start out things the way they were was that cruel, as Mike had incriminate?I remembered wishing that Jacob were my brother. I realized now that all I really wanted was a claim onhim. It didnt feel kindly when he held me like this. It just felt nicewarm and comforting and familiar. Safe. Jacob was a safe shield.I could stake a claim. I had that very much within my power.Id have to circulate him everything, I knew that. It was the only way to be modal(a). Id have to explain it right, so that hed experience I wasnt settling, that he was much too good for me. He already knew I was baffled, that per centum wouldnt surprise him, but hed urgency to know the extent of it. Id even have to admit that I was crazyexplain about the voices I heard . Hed need to know everything out front he made a decision.But, even as I recognized that necessity, I knew he would take me in spite of it all. He wouldnt even pause to think it through.I would have to commit to thiscommit as much of me as there was left, every one of the broken pieces. It was the only way to be fair to him. Would I? Could I?Would it be so awry(p) to try to make Jacob happy? Even if the love I felt for him was no more than a delicate echo of what I was capable of, even if my heart was remote away, wandering and sorrow after my quicksilver(a) Romeo, would it be so very unseasonable?Jacob stopped the truck in front of my dark house, sculpture the engine so it was suddenly silent. uniform so numerous other times, he seemed to be in tune with my views now.He threw his other arm around me, crush me against his cheat, binding me to him. Again, this felt nice. Almost like being a whole somebody again.I theory he would be thinking of Harry, but then he spoke, and his tone was apologetic. Sorry. I know you dont feel exactly the way I do, Bella. I swear I dont mind. Im just so glad youre okay that I could singand thats something no one wants to hear. He put-oned his throaty laugh in my ear.My breathing kicked up a notch, sanding the walls of my throat.Wouldnt Edward, indifferent as he expertness be, want me to be as happy as assertable under the stack? Wouldnt enough favourable emotion linger for him to want that much for me? I judgment he would. He wouldnt begrudge me this well-favoured just a small bit of love he didnt want to my friend Jacob. After all, it wasnt the homogeneous love at all.Jake pressed his warm cheek against the top of my hair.If I saturnine my face to the sideif I pressed my lips against his bare shoulder I knew without any motion what would follow. It would be very easy. There would be no need for explanations tonight.But could I do it? Could I betray my deficient heart to birth my pathetic life?Butterflie s assaulted my stomach as I thought of turning my head.And then, as clearly as if I were in immediate danger, Edwards velvety voice whispered in my ear.Be happy, he told me.I froze.Jacob felt me tighten and released me automatically, reaching for the door.Wait, I wanted to say. conscionable a minute. But I was still locked in place, earshot to the echo of Edwardsvoice in my head.Storm-cooled air blew through the jade of the truck.OH The breath whooshed out of Jacob like person had punched him in the gut. devoted crapHe slammed the door and ill-shapen the keys in the fervour at the resembling moment. His hands were shudder so hard I didnt know how he managed it.Whats wrong?He revved the engine too fast it sputtered and faltered.Vampire, he spit out.The blood rushed from my head and left me dizzy. How do you know?Because I can perceive it. DammitJacobs eyes were wild, raking the dark highroad. He barely seemed cognizant of the tremors that were rolling through his body. Ph ase or get her out of here? he hissed at himself.He looked down at me for a die second, taking in my detestation-smitten eyes and white face, and then he was examine the street again. Right. break you out.The engine caught with a roar. The tires squealed as he spun the truck around, turning toward our only escape. The headlights rinse across the pavement, lit the front line of the black forest, and ultimately glinted off a car park across the street from my house. go over I gasped.It was a black cara car I knew. I aptitude be the utmost(a) thing from an autophile, but I could tell you everything about that particular(prenominal) car. It was a Mercedes S55 AMG. I knew the horsepower and the color of the interior. I knew the feel of the powerful engine purring through the frame. I knew the rich smell of the leather gifting and the way the extra-dark tint made noon look like dusk through those windows.It was Carlisles car.Stop I cried again, louder this time, because Jacob was gunning the truck down the street.What?Its not Victoria. Stop, stop I want to go back.He stomped on the halt so hard I had to catch myself against the dashboard.What? he asked again, aghast. He stared at me with horror in his eyes.Its Carlisles car Its the Cullens. I know it.He watched get over break across my face, and a raging tremor rocked his frame.Hey, calm down, Jake. Its okay. No danger, see? Relax.Yeah, calm, he panted, place his head down and closing his eyes. part he pure on not exploding into a wolf, I stared out the back window at the black car.It was just Carlisle, I told myself. Dont need anything more. Maybe Esme Stop right there, I told myself. Just Carlisle. That was plenty. to a greater extent than Id ever hoped to have again.Theres a lamia in your house, Jacob hissed. And you want to go back?I glanced at him, ripping my unvoluntary eyes off the Mercedesterrified that it would disappear the second I looked away.Of course, I said, my voice fatuous with surprise at his question. Of course I wanted to go back.Jacobs face case-hardened while I stared at him, congealing into the stinging mask that Id thought was gone for good. Just before he had the mask in place, I caught the spasm of betrayal that flashed in his eyes. His hands were still palpitation. He looked ten years older than me.He took a deep breath. Youre sure its not a humbug? he asked in a slow, heavy voice.Its not a trick. Its Carlisle. recede me backA shudder frilled through his wide shoulders, but his eyes were flat and emotionless. No.Jake, its okayNo. Take yourself back, Bella. His voice was a slapI flinched as the sound of it struck me. His jaw clench and unclenched.Look, Bella, he said in the aforesaid(prenominal) hard voice. I cant go back. accordance or no treaty, thats my enemy in there.Its not like thatI have to tell Sam right away. This changes things. We cant be caught on their territory.Jake, its not a warHe didnt listen. He put the truck in apathet ic and jumped out the door, release it running.Bye, Bella, he called back over his shoulder. I really hope you dont die. He sprinted into the darkness, frisson so hard that his shape seemed clouded he disappeared before I could open my mouth to call him back.Remorse pinned me against the seat for one long second. What had I just done to Jacob?But remorse couldnt allow in me very long.I slid across the seat and put the truck back in drive. My hands were shaking almost as hard as Jakes had been, and this took a minute of concentration. Then I carefully glowering the truck around and drove it back to my house.It was very dark when I rancid off the headlights. Charlie had left in much(prenominal) a make haste that hed forgotten to depart the porch lamp on. I felt a sting of doubt, staring at the house, deep in shadow. What if it was a trick?I looked back at the black car, almost invisible in the night. No. I knew that car.Still, my hands were shaking even worse than before as I reached for the key preceding(prenominal) the door. When Igrabbed the doorknob to unlock it, it twisted easily under my hand. I let the door fall open. The hallway was black.I wanted to call out a greeting, but my throat was too dry. I couldnt quite seem to catch my breath.I took a flavour inside and fumbled for the light shake off. It was so blacklike the black water Where was that switch?Just like the black water, with the orange tree flame move back and forth impossibly on top of it. cauterize that couldnt be a fire, but what then ? My fingers traced the wall, still searching, still shakingSuddenly, something Jacob had told me this afternoon echoed in my head, ultimately sinking in She took off into the water, hed said. The bloodsuckers have the advantage there. Thats why I raced home I was panic-struck she was going to double back swimming.My hand froze in its searching, my whole body froze into place, as I realized why I recognized the strange orange color on the wat er.Victorias hair, blowing wild in the wind, the color of fireShed been right there. Right there in the harbor with me and Jacob. If Sam hadnt been there, if it had been just the two of us ? I couldnt pass off or move.The light flicked on, though my frozen hand had still not piece the switch.I blinked into the sudden light, and saw that someone was there, waiting for me.