***DISCLAIMER***

I do not own any characters, they belong to Stephenie Myers. This is my first fanfic, please critique, good and bad. Thank you for reading.

Sealed With A Kiss

Ch. 1

(Bella POV)

Laying on the floor, damp, cold, and hearing the treacherous last words of Edward Cullen repeating in my mind, "I don't want you Bella, I've grown, bored. I thought I could stay, but I just can't. My world, and your world, they don't belong together. Good bye Isabella Swan."

This made the sobs come faster and more uncontrollable. The light was fading quickly, and faint cries in the distance of my name couldn't awake me from the solace. Not even, when the big warm arms picked me up from the soaking earth and took me home. Not even when I was laid on the couch in my house surrounded by people, could I be woken from the desire to fade away. The days of somber solitude turned into months, and the next thing I knew, I was passing through life instead of living it. Until one day, Charlie decided to send me back to my mom. In Florida, in the heat, with Phil, because I was a mere lump of meat.

I just couldn't leave, not yet, I needed to be here. I was drawn here. Not because of Edward, or the rest of the Cullen's. It was a need to be here. I was supposed to be here. I had always felt that, and in the moment that Charlie told me I had to leave, the felling had come back. I haven't felt this way in nearly a year. The feeling of belonging, I had had this feeling here since I was a little girl. I needed to be here, and I refuse to leave. In this moment I came out of the fog. I would argue with Charlie until he gave in.

"I just can't do it anymore Bells, you need to be a person, a living person, someone who goes outside and enjoys life. This is not living." He looked at me and sighed.

Nudging the bowl of oatmeal in front of me, I began to plea, "I can't leave dad, not because of HIM but because I belong here. I always have dad, you know that. Look, I'll find something to do, I'll hang out with friends again. Just don't make me go to Florida for longer than a vacation or a visit. I'll go after graduation to see mom and Phil, for a week or something." I got up and walked to the sink to rinse out my bowl. I sighed, "... I need a little more time dad."

Turning to face him, he frowned when he spoke, "More time Bells? A few months wasn't enough? The loss of yourself wasn't' enough? I can't take it hunny. Unless you can miraculously bounce back, I don't see you staying her for too much longer. I'm sorry kiddo, but I love you too much." Standing with his empty coffee mug, he rinsed it and set into the sink.

"Okay, here's the deal, I've invited the Black's over for dinner tonight. It's been ages since you've seen Jacob. This is a pre test Bella. True happiness, friends, and a real life or that's it. Suntans and oranges for you." We both smiled and hugged each other.

"Thanks dad, I won't let you, or myself down. I promise. Work and school won't wait all day though. We better get going. I'm looking forward to tonight." Smiling, he got his gear and headed to the from door.

When I heard the door shut I let myself go, a hard ball had risen in my throat and I'd been pushing it down since Charlie said I needed to leave. The tears, were hot and salty, and as they stained my face, I actually felt better. I took a few deep breaths and wiped the wet from my face. The tears were slowing now and I felt the weight I'd been carrying around lift slightly. What brought all this on? This day was one to be remembered. I could feel it.

Putting on my jacket and grabbing my back pack, I headed toward the door and to school. I couldn't help but think that tonight would be difficult. I hadn't seen Jacob in awhile and after the tense night at the prom, I didn't know what to say. I missed him though. I was sure of that. I missed La Push too, the beach and the smells of the ocean meeting the shore. I missed living.

School droned on as usual, no one sat next to me in my classes with exception of assigned seating, and at lunch I could only count on Angela, Ben and Mike. I had messed things so badly here that even my entering a room was cause for whispers, and cold shoulders. I let the absence of the Cullen's rule my whole life, and I ended up alienating myself from the world, on the off chance Edward might come back for me. I shook my head to clear the negative nagging thoughts and sat up in the plastic chair. The current topic of conversation was the weekend and the possibility of an outing.

"Yeah, maybe just a movie or dinner, nothing too expensive though, things have been slow lately at the store." Mike glanced in my direction and when he seen me paying attention, he did a double take.

A look of utter shock entered his face was I opened my mouth to speak, "Yeah, I got sent home yesterday, nothing to do. What movie were you planning on seeing?" I smiled and looked around the table. It felt good to have human contact again.

"Well, uh, I'm not sure. A movie might be pushin' it. I think just some dinner and hang out time would be OK. Are you down to come?" Elated, Mike smiled at me and glanced back at Angela and Ben, who immediately smiled back.

"Yeah, yes. I mean, it would definately be great." I was actually happy, not forcing the conversation, or the emotions. I wanted to be here talking with them, and I wanted to spend time with them too.

"Okay, so tomorrow at lunch we'll sort out the details, bells about to ring, see you guys in class." Ben stood and helped Angela to her feet.

She smiled, lifting her tray, she walked around the table to me, "I'm glad to see you smile again Bella. I'm looking forward to the weekend. See you in class." She and Ben dumped their trays and stacked them on the trash bin before heading out of the cafeteria.

"So, you're back Bella?" Mike asked as I stacked my lunch tray. He was smiling, not a welcome back smile, but a devilish grin.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. My friend from La Push is coming up today, I guess it made me awaken. I haven't seem him in a long time." he twitched at the word HIM. I guess Mike was hoping for much more.

"So he's in town today? That guy from the bonfire? When we all went hiking on First Beach?" his questions were more probing than friendly.

"Yeah, Jacob. I've known him my whole life." I replied as we walked in class together.

"Oh, well, that's cool." he said in mock enthusiasm. I took my seat and the bell rang.

For the first time in a year my eyes were opened, and I couldn't concentrate on school, knowing that in a few short hours Jacob Black would be at the house. Why was I suddenly nervous and worried about him being over for dinner. This was silly, I'm now worried about what to make for dinner. I haven't cleaned up around the house either. While passing through the rest of the school day, I decided to stop by the police station after school to talk to Charlie.

"Hey dad, what did you want me to make for dinner tonight?" I asked settling into the chair at the side of his work desk. He looked perplexed, like I hadn't asked him about dinner, like I had told him I was visiting the tattoo shop in Port Angeles instead.

"Uh, well, I was thinking just a pizza, but if you wanna cook that's fine too. Everything alright Bells? This isn't like you to show up here." His brow furrowed as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Everything's fine dad, I just didn't' know what to make for dinner. Jake hasn't been over in awhile and I wasn't sure about food. Pizza is good though dad. I'm going to go home and clean and take a shower before they get there. I'll see you at home."

Standing up to hug Charlie, I noticed a giant black animal in the woods across the road from the station. It looked 7 feet tall, and it was indistinguishable. As soon as I had seen it, it was gone. I pushed the feeling of familiarity away and went on my way.

I kept checking the woods as I was making my way home, but there was nothing. I couldn't seem to shake the feeling that I had seen that animal once before. My thoughts would have to be pushed aside for now, I was home and I still needed to do chores and homework. I was so stressed, worrying about Jacob being here, and having to possibly go back to Florida, and now the giant animal outside of the police station. I had such luck with the things of myths and legends, I wondered for a moment if this could be one of them. I pushed the thoughts aside and began the task of cleaning the kitchen.

I didn't go overboard with the cleaning, just the kitchen, living room, and then I gave up. I was feeling tense and cold, my shower could wait no longer. I snatched up my back pack and headed to my room. Walking inside, I noticed the uneasy quality of it. Like no on had lived there in years. Not a single item of clothing anywhere, nothing changed or moved from the last four so months. I hadn't been here, not really anyway. I trudged over to the bed and threw the back pack on it. Gathering my toiletries and and change of clothes, I checked my window just to make sure it was still locked. It was and I smiled to myself, no on would ever come through that window again. Turning to leave, I took in my room again. It was as if I had left right along with Edward only I wasn't gone, I was very much right here in Forks. A ball had risen into my throat again and I couldn't fight like I had this morning. As tears streamed down my cheeks, I gathered my things and headed for the bathroom, to wash away the sorrow.

After showering, I got dressed in my usual, jeans and long sleeved shirt. I let my hair down ad brushed it straight down, so it would dry naturally. I heard the laughing of three men in the kitchen and I knew everyone was here. Deciding to leave the bag of shower things in the bathroom, I ran out of the doorway and and down the stairs. Of course, I would trip on my own footing and fall, but I was caught by a huge warm frame. The muscles bulged from under the tight black t-shirt and as I looked up into the deep brown eyes of Jacob Black I blushed, not from shame, but from the attraction I had upon meeting his gaze. His mouth curled up into a smile and my heart warmed, I forgot how much I liked his smile. He was so radiant, and he'd grown quite a bit in the last half of a year. In his dark washed blue jeans and black t-shirt, Jacob stood tall, and lean, he'd grown mature in his face also. He didn't look like my 16 year old friend anymore, he was older in the face now, maybe 18 or 19? His hair was pulled back into a pony tail at the back of his head. His hair shown black a coal and smooth against his russet skin. The only think was, BEAUTIFUL.

"Hey, you OK? You look like you seen a ghost. Are you going to say hi or just stand there gawking at me?" Jacob smiled a toothy grin and balanced me before turning to sit at the table with what looked like half a pizza on his plate.

"Hi, Jacob, Billy. How are you guys? Its been awhile." Still feeling the heat of Jacobs arms around me, my heart raced and I couldn't look anyone in the eye. Taking a plate with a couple pieces of pizza, I sat next to Jacob and he smiled, still chewing his food.

"We're doing OK Bella, you look better. Anything new going on with you?" Billy asked as he wheeled himself to the table plate and beer wedged into his lap.

"Apparently she doesn't want to go to Florida, she hates tanning and girls with blond hair. Do you hate oranges too or is the only perk?" Charlie added quickly as I was chewing and swallowing my first bite of pepperoni pizza.

"Thanks dad, I actually just want to stay here. I'm going to college in the fall, here of course. I feel home, finally. I woke up this morning, different," I cleared my throat. "I don't want to be away from Charlie, or you two. Its time you know?" I looked down at my plate and wished I hadn't brought up this morning.

"We're glad you decided to stay, you guys are good for each other," Jacob and I looked at each other, and quickly turned away. "... Charlie, Bella. You two bring out something in each other that isn't there when you are apart. Its good to have you back Bella." Billy patted my arm from across the table and smiled at me. His touch was warm but not the lingering heat of Jacob's. Strange, I thought to myself. I smiled back and continued to eat.

"Why don't you two go hang out upstairs and make some plans for this weekend, Billy and I are going on a fishing trip with Harry Clearwater. We won't be back til late Saturday." Charlie winked at Billy, not trying to hide it at all.

"Okay, we'll keep the door open Charlie." Jacob said and smiled through his full mouth of pizza. Scam artists.

After finishing up the food, and washing the dishes, Jacob and I headed to my room and I opened the door for him to go through first. He went to the bed and sat down, moving my back pack to the floor. As I moved across the hardwood floor to sit on the bed also, my food caught something and I lost my footing. I was falling faster than I though, but just before I hit the ground, Jacob's arms found my fragile body before I fully hit the floor. He pulled me to a sitting position and laughed. Sitting next to him, I laughed also.

"Good old Bella..." His laughing stopped almost immediately. The look on his face was of curiosity. I looked at where he was staring, and I saw it.

We spoke simultaneously, "What is that?"