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Thanks to Eowyn77 for the beta on this!

Crazy Old Fool by Heartbroken1

Chapter One - Such Arrogance

My friendship with Charlie had been stressed these last few weeks. His daughter, Bella, had a new boyfriend, who was a terrible danger to her.

In our phone call this afternoon, he brought up their relationship, "I think she really likes him, Billy."

My fists slammed into the padding on the armrests of my chair in hopes of releasing some of the frustration bubbling through my veins. I knew that saying something to Charlie would only cause him to get angry, but I couldn't allow Bella to continue placing herself in harm's way.

"Charlie," I paused, waiting to be interrupted. He only huffed, so I continued, "I don't think that's such a good idea. You need to discourage her relationship with that Cullen boy." I almost choked on the word.

He wasn't a boy, he was a monster, plain and simple. One incapable of anything good.

"Billy, I'm not going to discuss this with you again. The Cullen's are good people. Carlisle has done a great deal of good for the hospital and…"

A bitter laugh burst out before I had a chance to stop it. That group of bloodsuckers had done little in the way of good things for the young men of our tribe.

"I don't think we should discuss this anymore," Charlie spat.

"Yeah, probably not."

I hated that I couldn't just tell my friend what kind of trouble his daughter could be in for. Most fathers only worried about their daughter's innocence when they were dating a new boy. With this particular boy, Charlie had to worry about Bella's life.

Edward Cullen would take that from her without a second thought -- and enjoy doing it.

I'd spent the last few hours replaying my conversation with Charlie over in my head. He had no idea what was happening. And although I couldn't tell him the extent of the danger she was in, I hoped that I could convince him to protest Bella's dating a Cullen.

My mind was made up. "Jacob," I called toward his bedroom.

He came strolling out, pulling his hair up into a ponytail. "Yeah."

"I need you to take me to Charlie's."

He shook his head and rolled his eyes as though he thought I were a crazy old fool.

It hurt when he had that look in his eyes. I wasn't crazy or a fool. But I completely understood why he and his friends would come to that conclusion. My ramblings about superstitions, as Jacob called them.

Unfortunately, the superstitions weren't superstitious at all. They were fact. Facts that, I feared, were going to affect my only son. I hoped that when the time came, he would accept his fate and be proud to be a protector. My thoughts drifted to Emily and my heart prayed that Jacob would make the transition smoothly, without hurting anyone.

"Dad," he interrupted my thoughts. "Can't you just leave Bella alone? I don't like that she's dating that guy either, but what can we really do about it?"

"I don't know, but I have to try," I said, moving toward the door.

The dark clouds, filled with menace and rain were rolling in as we started our journey to Forks.

We'd been waiting so long that twilight had faded into darkness and the heavens had opened up, drizzling raindrops on our heads.

Jacob and I huddled under the awning. With each passing minute, he became more impatient and irritated. "Come on, Dad, let's leave before they know we were even here."

Headlights came around the corner followed by a familiar rumble. Jacob groaned.

I could see the silhouettes of Bella and Edward as they talked while we were getting soaked to the skin. I wished I could hear what was what was being said between them.

The longer she sat at his side, the more intense my anxiety became. Being in that confined space was adding to the precarious situation she'd placed herself in.

I narrowed my eyes, ignoring Jacob's protests, concentrating on the figures in the cab of the truck.

The leech leaned down toward her and my heart started pounding violently in my chest. My fists grasped onto the arms of my wheelchair and my mind began to spin. What am I going to do if he actually bites her right before my eyes?

He pressed his lips just below her jaw and any muscles that weren't already tensed, clenched.

Such arrogance! There was no doubt in my mind that his little public display of affection was for my benefit.

His disregard for her safety only made my resolve stronger. I would warn Charlie. Let the cards fall as they may.