Chapter 3 ~ Her Protector

BTW - you don't really need to read this chapter I just wanted to put in some twilight so yeah.

Jacob Black

"Renesmee Cullen." 
No. This can't be happening. I scan the crowd, searching frantically for her. I finally spot her, and call her name. She meets my eyes, and I can see the fear. She's too young. She won't survive. 
I glance over at Edward, who's sitting a few seats over from me. He's staring into the girl's section but he isn't looking at Renesmee. He's looking at Bella. She's sobbing silently. I know she would volunteer if she could, but Edward and I made her swear not to. No matter what.
We know she wouldn't be able to control herself in a place like that. She could easily win, of course, but she wouldn't be able to live with the guilt. Carlisle said even if she was able to live with it, controlling her thirst when she returned would be almost impossible.
Bella looks at me, her eyes pleading. She knows what I want to do, and she knows I'll do it. I know she'll be mad, but I have to do this. I may not be able to keep Renesmee out of the arena, but I can make sure she stays alive. So when the male tribute's name is called, I stand up.
"I volunteer as tribute."
Everyone seems surprised. Volunteers are rare in 12. But I don't really have a choice. I am her protector. I will get her out of that arena alive, or I'll die trying.
The guards lead me onto the stage, where I stand right next to Nessie. She reaches out to grab my hand. I take it willingly, and look deep into her eyes. I can see how scared she is, but I hope she can see how confident I am. Confident that she will win, and come home to her family.
We're led to separate rooms, where we will wait to say our goodbyes. Bella and Edward come in first.
They must have been to see Nessie already, because Bella's crying and Edward looks more upset and angry than I've ever seen him. I really don't want to talk to her, because I know she's mad at me. She saves time by speaking up.
"Why, Jake? Why did you have to do this?"
I groan internally. Girls can be so annoying like that. "You know very well why I did it. I can protect her, Bella! I can help her win!"
Bella shakes her head. "I can't lose both of you, Jake."
"You won't lose both of us. Renesmee is going to come home!"
She starts sobbing. Edward tries to comfort her, but nothing works. He finally looks towards me. I'm expecting some harsh words, so what he does next surprises me.
"Thank you, Jacob. I can't tell you how much this means to me. I know we've had our differences in the past, but...." He's close to tears. I stare in disbelief as he reaches out to shake my hand. I take it gratefully, glad that the tension between us is lifting.
Bella, on the other hand, looks betrayed. "How could you side with him?" She asks, "how could you choose your rival over your own family?" The way she says "him" offends me. Why can't she see that I only want to help her?
Edward tries to defend himself. "I'm not choosing him over us! I'm choosing him for us. Jake knows what he's doing, Bella. He put himself in this situation voluntarily, just to protect our daughter! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
She sighs. "Of course it does, I just...." She trails off, probably trying to hold back tears. I feel so terrible doing this to her, but it's necessary to save Nessie's life. Edward just stands there, comforting Bella.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, and me trying not to cry, he finally speaks up. "So, um, we should probably go..." I really want to say more to Bella, but Edward's here. So I do the logical thing.
"I'm sorry, Bella, I really am. But you need Renesmee more than you need me. Don't say it's a lie, you know it as well as I do."
She hesitates, then answers. "I'm sorry too, Jake, I overreacted. Thank you for everything."
She tries to hug me, but I stop her. Then I caress her face and kiss her one last time. "Goodbye, Bella."
Edward glares at me before taking Bella's hand and leading her out the door.
There are cameras everywhere as the soldiers lead me to the train. I spot Nessie through the crowd, and wave. I know all of this is being broadcasted to the other districts, so I'm on my best behavior. It feels so weird to be wearing clothes for this long. I'm taking my shirt off the second we get on that train.
The servants point the way to my room, but I follow Nessie to hers. I toss my shirt into a trash can. Hopefully I won't be needing one for a while.
She doesn't notice me until she turns around to close the door. "Jake, I....."
I take her hand and pull her over to the bed. Maybe making out will take her mind off things? Doubtful. But hey, its worth a try. I smile playfully and grab her arm, pulling her down. I start to kiss her but she pulls away.
"I'm really not in the mood, Jacob."
That was new. She had never called me Jacob before. Ever. Something is obviously wrong. Other than the fact that she's in the Fandom Games, of course.
"What's the matter, Ness?" She likes the name 'Nessie' about as much as Bella does. So, we finally agreed on Ness.
She sighs. "You know what's wrong, Jake. What's wrong is that you volunteered. Why would you do that?"
At this point we're just stating the obvious. "You know the answer to that. I have to protect you, Ness. You are who I live for. I'm nothing without you. I just wouldn't be able to go on living if you were gone."
She shakes her head. "But what good is my life if you aren't in it? I don't want to live without you!"
"You have an amazing family, Ness. Your parents are some of the best friends I have. The Cullens are good people. It's not like that with me. I don't have anything like that."
She gives me a look. "You have my mom, my dad, your pack. Isn't that enough?"
She really doesn't understand what I'm saying here. Girls can be so thick sometimes. "It's not enough without you. Dying to save your life will be so much better than watching you die and knowing I could've done something."
"Why do you say that like it's unavoidable? We can still find a way to save you!"
Seriously! Some people just can't take a hint! "I don't want to be saved. I want to die for you. I will die for you, because I love you. That's how it always has been, and how it always will be."
I think Nessie is finally starting to understand. "I love you, Jake. And I guess if your so set on dying, we'd better have some fun while you're still alive."
I just have one problem with that. "Look Ness, I'd really love to. But when your parents did that, it didn't turn out so well."
She looks confused. Fuck. They didn't tell her.
"What do you mean, it didn't work out so well?"
I guess I have to tell her everything. She was bound to find out someday.
"It all started on your parent's honeymoon....."

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