I tried to hid behind Dad as we stood at the door. Charlie knocked again.

"Hey Billy, it's Charlie. The game's about to start, open up!" He cried. I felt embarrassed for the both of us. Even though I was only ten, I knew you don't just shout for someone to open the door at their own home.

This was the first time Charlie had ever brought me to La Push, the Indian reservation near Forks. He told me we were going to visit his friend Billy and watch baseball or what ever sport was on TV. I didn't have much interest in it.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I heard someone grumble inside. The door opened wide and for the first time I saw Billy Black. Billy's face was weathered and aged, his black hair slowly greying. He sat in a wheel chair, which surprised me. When Charlie had described his friend, he had never mentioned that he was handicapped. But I had enough sense not to stare at Billy.

"Hey, Charlie," Billy said. "Who's this?"

"This is Bella," Charlie answered. "Bella, this is Billy."

I was still hiding behind my father and mumbled, "Hi."

Billy smiled. "Hello, Bella," He then turned to Charlie. "Come in you two, the game's about to start."

Charlie led me inside the small house and into the sitting room and we took a seat on Billy's striped couch. The men chattered between themselves while they watched the game, while I stared at my hands. I felt out of place in Billy's house. There was an air of family and togetherness, which I never really felt when I went to visit Charlie.

Suddenly, I heard a loud whoop come from the other room and a small boy shot into the den. He had long, black hair and russet-brown skin like Billy's. He must have been a few years younger than me, and wore plain jeans and a small blue T-shirt with a wolf on it. The boy stopped in front of Charlie and me, eying us curiously.

"Hi Charlie," The young Jacob said. He had obviously met him before. "Who's that?" he asked, pointing to me.

"This is my daughter Bella, Jacob," Charlie said, his eyes not leaving the television.

"Hi, Bella," Jacob said to me, a silly grin on his face. "Do you wanna go explore the forest with me?"

I looked at my father, unsure. I didn't know if I should trust this boy, Jacob. He looked innocent enough. Besides, exploring the forest sounded much more fun than twiddling my thumbs while the grown ups watch TV.

"Go ahead, Bells. We'll be here for a while." Charlie said, averting his eyes from the game for half a millisecond to look at me.

"Ok," I murmured, hopping off the sofa. Jacob smiled and grabbed my hand. He lead me outside, running so quickly I nearly tripped. When he stopped, we were at the edge of the forest by his house.

I took my hand back and tried to catch my breath. The tiny Quileute

boy sure could run. Jacob smiled at me and waited for me to recover. I looked into the shadowy forest in front of us and took a step back. The dark trees loomed above me frighteningly.

"It's okay," Jacob said. "The woods used to scare me too. But it's not that bad. It can be pretty fun."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay." But the gloomy woods still made me nervous. I had never seen a forest like this back in Phoenix.

Jacob seemed to sense this. "Don't be scared," He said, taking my hand again. "Wanna play tag?"

I smiled. Tag was one of my favourite games. "Okay. I'll be It." I replied.

"Yay!" Jacob hollered. He dropped my hand and ran forward into the forest.

I watched him swerve between trees. The darkness was beginning to envelope him and I realized I hadn't started running after him. He stopped and turned to look at me, a confused smile on his face.

"Come on, Bella! Come get me!"