LVII. The edge.

It was already late when I arrived at the cliff. I wasn't sure what my plan was when I climbed out of the truck. It was getting dark, but I was still able to see around me. My heart was pounding and my body was trembling as I slowly made my way over to the edge of the cliff. I let out a shaky breath as I looked down into the water. The waves were crashing roughly against the cliff, responding to the grumbling weather that was pulling over La Push.

Step back. Edward's voice demanded harshly inside my head, and I flinched at the sudden invasion in my head.

I wasn't even sure if it was my own mind or if I was just going crazy, but a part of me believed it was him, even if it didn't make sense. "No." I responded as I shook my head, taking another step dangerously close to the egde.

Ana, step back. Edward demanded again. My eyes pooled with tears, and my heart ached. Now suddenly, just hearing his voice wasn't enough anymore. I so desperatly wanted him here with me, to see him again. But I couldn't, because he left. He just left me.

"Leave me alone, Edward." I snapped with sudden anger in my heart as the tears slipped from my eyes, running down my cheeks. "If you cared enough, you'd be here." I muttered as I took another step close to the egde.

Stop this now, Ana. Edward demanded, his voice louder in my head now. He was angry with me. And I was angry with him. I was so incredibly angry with him. Or I was just crazy, having a one-sided argument with the voice of my ex-boyfriend that was somehow in my head. Could Edward even be inside my head if my mind blocked him?

I shook my head as I sniffed. "This is the only way I get to hear you." I whispered as I wiped my tears from my cheeks. "I read up on soulmates. They're tied together forever, and when they're ripped apart, it's the most painful thing they can ever experience. Because they're not meant to be apart." I rant to absolutely no one—just the voice in my head. He didn't reply, and then I wondered what would happen if I did jump. Without thinking, I made the decision that I would jump. I took a deep breath as I stared down at the rough water. Maybe just not today.

Suddenly, dread filled me. This is the type of feeling you get when you know someone is staring at you. I glanced around, my eyebrows furrowing. I spotted the curly red hair tucked away between the trees. My heart sank when Victoria's head tilted, revealing her face from behind a tree.

"No." I gasped as I stumbled back. My feet slipped as there was no more cliff left underneath my feet. I let out an ear-piercing scream as I fell. The fall felt excruciatingly long. It's like everything slowed down in that moment. I stared up at the darkening skies, but my eyes immediately squeezed shut when my back hit the water and I was pulled down. The waves were rough, and I was struggling to reach the surface.

I lost consciousness for a second before I was pulled out of the water. A hard slap against my back knocked the water from my lungs and woke me up. My eyes shot open as I coughed the water up. My nose, throat, and lungs were burning, and my back was aching.

"Ana? Can you hear me?" Jacob asked as he cradled me in his arms, pushing my soaked hair out of my face. I could only nod, my throat aching too badly to even attempt to speak. I was so shaken up.

"... Jake?" Sam's voice called out as he jogged over to us. I let out a shaky breath as I glanced over at Sam. He stared at me with his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes looking concerned.

"She'll be alright." Jacob assured as he still cradled me in his arms, holding me close to his warm chest as I tried to catch my breath. Everything still burned and ached. Jacob sat me up on the sand of the beach and turned me to face him, taking my face between his hands. "What the hell were you thinking?" he asked angrily as he raised his eyebrows.

"Clearly I wasn't." I croaked out as I shook my head. Everything still felt so painful and hazy that I couldn't gather myself enough to inform them that I saw Victoria. Did I even see Victoria? Did I see her like I heard Edward? Alice would surely see if Victoria was going to kill me. She'd come safe, wouldn't she?

"Get her home." Sam ordered Jacob as he pointed towards me. "I'm heading to the hospital. I'll meet you there." He told Jacob, who nodded in agreement. Sam ran off, and it was just me and Jacob. I could feel Jacob's angry stare on me.

"Why would you jump? Didn't you notice it's like a hurricane out here?" He asked me angrily as he stared at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"I didn't jump." I defended myself as I wiped my runny nose with my arm. I was on the verge of crying, having a complete breakdown. How did my life turn into this? My heart was aching so badly. "I thought I saw Victoria, and I slipped." I explained as I patted my chest, desperate to get rid of the terrible ache.

"But you were going to jump, Ana." Jacob replied, almost sounding disappointed. He was acting like I was trying to kill myself. His eyebrows furrowed, and he looked up at the cliff, shaking his head. "We didn't see Victoria, but her smell is all over her," he muttered softly.

My eyebrows furrowed, and I looked around. The vampires seemed scared of the wolves. Laurent ran from them, and he had a reason to be scared, seeing as what happened to him. Maybe she ran too when Jacob and Sam showed up. The thought of Sam struck something in me, and I turned to Jacob. "Sam said hospital—someone's hurt?" I asked in confusion.

Jacob's face fell a little as he lowered his gaze onto the sand. "Harry Clearwater had a heart attack," he informed me softly.

My eyes widened as I let out the softest gasp. I silently stared at Jacob for a second before slowly shaking my head in utter disbelief. "Will he be okay?" I asked softly.

"I don't know." Jacob admitted as he shook his head, hesitantly meeting my gaze. His eyes were filled with tears, and I felt horrible. Instead of being with his family at this time, supporting the Clearwaters, and being there for Harry, he had to be here with me because I wanted to hear my ex-boyfriend's voice in my head. "Come on. I'll find you something dry and drive you home."

Jacob helped me onto my feet. My legs were wobbly, and he wrapped an arm around my waist to support me as he led me towards where I had parked my truck on the cliff. My eyes were darting around, searching for any sign of Victoria.

Jacob put me in the passenger side of the truck before getting in the driver's side. Luckily, I had a jacket in my truck and pulled it on, but I was still cold and started shivering. Jacob looked over at me and sighed. "Come here," he insisted as he spread one arm out. I stared at him wearily, my eyebrows furrowing. "I won't try anything, Ana." He muttered as he rolled his eyes. "Hundred and eight degrees over here," he reminded me.

As another shiver ran down my spine and I reluctantly scooted closer to Jacob. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side. He was so extremely warm. For once, warmth was something I accepted in the face of possibly losing a toe or finger due to frostbite.

"Must be nice, never getting cold." I muttered softly as I wrapped my arms around myself. Jacob's warmth was nice, but it felt awkward and unnatural to be in his arms. I was only used to one man's arms, no matter how cold they were.

Jacob chuckled softly as he nodded his head. "It's a wolf thing," he explained as he shrugged his shoulders. "There are other cool things about all this, like—I heal fast," he informed me and I glanced up at him, raising my eyebrows in surprise. "Wanna see me stab my hand?" he asked with a grin.

My eyes widened in horror. "Do you want to traumatize me?" I questioned him as I raised my eyebrows, and he laughed me off. I was silent for a second, staring down at my lap. "So... this wolf thing's not all bad?" I asked him as I returned my eyes to him.

"It's better. Now that you know," he explained softly as he slowly shugged his shoulders again. "But... " he whispered as his eyes diverted, and he never finished his sentence as he stared out the truck's window.

"But..." I repeated as I questioningly raised my eyebrows at him, my head tilting to the side.

Jacob sighed deeply as he lowered his head, his eyes turning down to his lap. "It just... comes so easily to me." he whispered as his eyebrows furrowed and he slowly shook his head. "More than the other guys," he added softly.

I pulled out of his hold, now warm enough so that my body could build up heat on its own. I turned to face him, my eyebrows furrowing. "That's a good thing, isn't it?" I asked softly, staring at him in confusion.

"Maybe." He replied unsurely as he shrugged his shoulders. He was silent for a second as he stared down at his lap, nibbling on the inside of his cheek. "Or maybe it makes me less human than the others." He suggested softly as he hesitantly met my gaze. "Sometimes I'm scared I might... disappear, you know? Who I really am," he explained softly.

My eyebrows furrowed deeply, and I vigorously shook my head. "Jake, that's never going to happen." I insisted as I reached out to place my hand on his arm. I couldn't relate to what Jacob was feeling—losing yourself in such a way—and I wouldn't even pretend to understand, but I was sympathetic to his fear. "You're still the old Jake to me." I assured him. "And you always will be." I insisted. Jacob offered me a small smile, thankful for my words and trust in him.

I insisted Jacob drive to the hospital so he could be with his family, and then I drove myself home. The second I stepped into the house, I saw my mother sitting on the couch, blankly staring down at her lap, her eyes red and teary. Harry Clearwater has been a friend to her for as long as Charlie and Billy have, even if they weren't as close.

"Mom?" I called out softly to her as I peeled off my jacket. My hair and clothes were still relatively wet, but at least water wasn't dripping everywhere. I kicked off my shoes, leaving them by the door, before walking further into the house.

My mom looked up at me as she sniffed. Her eyebrows furrowed when she noticed how wet I was. It wasn't raining outside, but a storm was brewing. "Why are you soaking wet?" She asked me softly.

"Doesn't matter." I replied softly as I shook my head. I approached her. I knew better than to sit on the couch with my wet clothes and instead crocuhed down in front of her and took her hand in mine. "I heard about Harry Clearwater." I whispered, and she lowered her head. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She whispered as she slowly nodded her head, sniffing again. "Charlie's heading this way now to pick me up, then we're going to go to the hospital to see what's going on." She explained it softly.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" I asked as my eyebrows furrowed, giving her hand a soft squeeze when she briefly closed her eyes and a few tears ran down her cheeks.

"I don't know." She admitted it as she shook her head, wiping her tears away. "I hope so." She whispered before going silent for a second. Her eyes turned to me, and her eyebrows furrowed again. "Ana, why are you wet?" She asked me again.

I pursed my lips as I stared at her. "Beach accident." I lied as I shrugged my shoulders. "I fell into a tide pool." I clarified my lie as my head tilted to the side.

"Go dry up." She insisted as she nodded her head in the direction of the stairs. Just as I stood up, we heard a car pull up the curb, and through the window, we could see the police car. I let out a shaky breath. "I'll see you later." She said it softly.

I wanted to give her a hug, but my clothes were still very wet, so instead I took her hand again and gave it another squeeze. "Goodluck." I whispered, and she offered me a thankful smile.

While my mom was out, I took an extremely long and warm shower before getting changed into some warm pajamas. I stayed up, waiting for my mom and Charlie to come back. It was nearing midnight when I heard a car pull up to the curb, and I rushed downstairs to meet the two as I entered the house.

Immediately, a terrible feeling settled inside my chest when I noticed the heartbreaking looks on their tear-stained faces. "Mom?" I questioned her softly as I stared at her with furrowed eyebrows, but she only shook her head, sniffing as she began crying and went to sit on the couch. "Charlie?" I questioned him as I turned to look at him for answers.

"Harry's gone." Charlie whispered as he lowered his head.

"Oh no." I gasped softly as my eyes widened and my heart ached for the sake of all his loved ones. I didn't know Harry that well, but I knew he was a good man and loved by many. I immediately rushed to the couch and sat down next to my mother, wrapping my arms around her. "Mom." I whistled as she cried on my shoulder.

"I'm going to go make some tea." Charlie muttered softly as he walked over into the kitchen. The house was silent as Charlie made three cups of tea. My mom only lifted her head from my shoulder when Charlie returned with the tea.

"I'm sorry." I whispered as the two of them sat there, silently sipping on their tea. "I know you were both close with him." I said as I glanced between them. My mom was still unable to muster up enough strength to utter a word.

"It's going to be hard all around." Charlie whispered as he nodded his head, looking over at my mother with a look of concern.

The following morning, Jacob insisted on taking me to La Push for the day, as my mother excused me from both school and work for the rest of the week. She was also at La Push with Charlie, supporting Harry's family.

Jacob's car was completely silent as we drove down the quiet street. The air was heavy between us. No matter how much I protested that right now I was everyone's last worry and they had to grieve and be there for Harry's family, Jacob insisted I be where he could protect me.

"Holy crap!" he suddenly called out as his face scrucnhed up in disgust and the car swerved a little. Immediately, my head snapped in his direction, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "There's a bloodsucker out there." He said.

My eyes widened in horror, and my mind immediately went towards Victoria. Was she out here somewhere? I looked around at everything that the car passed. "How do you know?" I asked as I looked over at him with confusion.

"I can smell the stink." He explained as he began driving a little faster, but his car could only go so fast. "I'm getting you out of here," he insisted.

My eyes widened when a familiar black Mercedes passed by us. "Stop!" I gasped as I turned around in my seat to watch the Mercedes speed off towards my house. "It's not Victoria," I tried to explain as I looked back at Jacob.

"Forget it." He refused with a shake of his head as he continued driving.

"It's Carlisle's car!" I yelled at Jacob as I turned in my seat again to watch the car disappear down the road. I'd regonize that car anywhere. Maybe Alice had seen something, and they knew Victoria was a danger to me. My heart wanted to leap out of my chest at the thought of seeing them again. "They're here. Go back!" I demanded, and when Jacob shook his head in refusal again, I reached out and tried to grab the steering wheel.

"It's a trick—Stop," he called out as he tried to push my hands away from the steering wheel, and the car swerved around the road before it came to a screeching stop. The second the car stopped, I was out, walking in the direction of my house. Jacob got out and stormed after me. "Ana! You gotta come with me," he demanded as he grabbed onto my arm.

I turned around to face him, a scowl on my face as I stared at him. "It's okay." I assured him as I pulled my arm free from his grip, and he scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "They're my friends." I tried to argue with him.

"Don't you get it?" he snapped at me, rudely cutting me off. My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at him. "If a Cullen is back here, this is their territory. The treaty says we can only defend our own lands," he explained.

I shook my head in confusion. This fight wasn't between the Quileute pack and the Cullen family. They were on the same side here. The enemy was Victoria. "It's not a war-" I began to voice my thoughts.

Jacob knew exactly where I was going, and he shook his head at me. "It is," he snapped, cutting me off once again. "And you'll only be safe in La Push. I can't protect you here anymore," he explained, his voice growing harsh.

"I don't need protection against the Cullens." I snapped back at him as I shook my head, defending the Cullen family. I hated how he was acting. I hated how he had gotten since his change. "Stop being a-" I began to angrily rant, aiming to insult him as I insulted Paul before.

"You're about to cross a line." Jacob warmed me as his jaw clenched and he glared at me, pointing a finger in my direction.

"Only if you draw one." I replied as I glared back at him, shaking my head at him.

"I'm not letting you do this." He gritted out with a shake of his head as he reached out to grab onto my arm.

I ripped my arm out of his reach, not letting him grab me. I knew he was stronger than me, and if he got hold of me, he could easily take me to La Push. "You don't have a choice." I snapped angrily at him as my eyebrows furrowed. "I don't belong to you." I reminded him through gritted teeth.

My words hit Jacob hard and he blankly stared at me for a second ebfore nodding his head. "Bye, Ana, I hope you don't die." He muttered bitterly before returning to his car.

I glared at his car as he drove away. I didn't let my anger towards him simmer too long as I turned around and rushed back home.

----

And welcome to the fall of Jacob and Ana's friendship.