"I want to go to Forks High," I said bluntly, just wanting to get it over with. Small talk was only making the looming conversation even more dreaded.

My father, Billy Black, looked taken aback as he looked at me from across the kitchen. "What's wrong with your school?" he inquired, confused.

My father was an older man, probably around his late forties, with a wrinkly face. He was fit with the beginnings of a beer gut, his black hair fell to his chin, and his black eyes were unwelcoming in their blankness.

I played with my thumbs. "Nothing's wrong, exactly..." I said uncertainly, though I knew that was a lie. "I just think Forks High is... better in their education," I lied, scrambling for something better if he didn't buy that.

He raised a fuzzy eyebrow at me. "How could you say that? You've never been there- much less checked out their offered education," he pointed out.

"I did once," I said, slightly too defensive-sounding. "Just checking out my choices," I added.

He was quiet for a while, staring down at his coffee. He finally sighed and looked back up at me. "Alright, Jacob, find out when registration day is and you can go to Forks High," he finally relented and downed the rest of his coffee. "I've got work now," he grumbled and started towards the door.

I did an internal victory dance. "Thanks, Dad!" I called after him, already pulling out my cell phone to call the Forks High office for information.

I think I heard a mumbled welcome before the door shut. I heard the distant rumbling of his truck roar to life then take off towards his mechanic's shop.

I sighed, lowering my phone into my lap. I followed his car outside the window until it disappeared.

My father always seemed to be at work. He was hardly ever home and, when he was, he didn't want to talk or hang out. He simply remained cooped up in his room or out in our own garage, working on the car he was rebuilding from scratch.

I loved mechanics as well and didn't see why he didn't want to bond through that. I offer to help and he denies in some pretty rude ways.

Was it me or was it my mother? Was it stress at work or lack of a better paying job? Was it the insane price of a prosthetic leg or the fact that I required one?

I returned my attention to my phone and scrolled through the contacts. I found the number for Forks High and hit the call button.

I talked with a secretary who kindly told me her name was Ms. Cope. She informed me registration for the eleventh grade was next Monday and school started a week after. I thanked her after a few minutes of listening to her mindless chitchat, just wanting the phone call to end.

I slipped the phone back into the pocket of my jeans and slid my arms into my crutches. I pushed myself up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and peered inside, starving because I'd woken up two hours ago and had nothing to eat so far. I pulled out the eggs, deciding I'd scramble some for my mom, Lissa, and myself.

As I was whisking some up in a bowl, I heard Mom's feet padding delicately down the hallway towards the kitchen. She came in, saw I was doing something for myself like a normal human, and freaked out.

"Gosh, baby! Go sit down, I'll fix you some breakfast. You could fall and hurt yourself," she fretted, rushing over to me and gently, but firmly, tugging the whisk out of my hands.

My mom was shapely, her stomach slightly extended. She came from a different tribe, her skin taking on a lighter tone. Her hair was a light black, falling to her mid-back and her blue eyes showed her overprotective, motherly instincts.

"Mom," I whined, sighing as I held my ground. "I'm not a baby. I am capable of doing these things on my own," I said, my patience wearing thin. I'd had it up to my limits with people treating me like I was mentally disabled. I knew she was only worried, and I appreciated it, but she has gone way too far.

She lightly patted my cheek. "I know sweety. Now go watch TV," she commanded, a sweet smile on her face, like she hadn't heard a thing I said.

I gaped at her for a moment then, when the shock wore off, my anger rose. I turned and got out of the kitchen as fast as I could. I felt like I was suffocating, like some deadweight was laying on my chest.

"Don't go so fast, honey!" Mom yelled after me. "Where are you going?" she asked, sounding slightly frantic.

"Out!" I hissed, grabbing my keys from the table by the door. I swung the door open then lithely kicked it shut.

In my truck, I resisted the urge to just sit and cool down. I needed to get out of there before Mom made her way out of the house to stop me. I backed up and floored it with no destination in mind.

Once I'd crossed the imaginary line that separated La Push and Forks I realized I was heading towards the park I'd visited so many times before. There were only children and their parents there so I was free to simply sit, relax, and think.

I pulled up and parked next to a sweet Volvo. I opened my door and, as usual, it took a few moments for myself to maneuver my way out. My crutches seemed to always get stuck and then I'd have to be careful getting safely to the ground.

"Need some help, Mister?" asked a girl around six that had just gotten out of the Volvo. She was very pretty with chocolaty eyes and bronze hair that reached her waist. She had her hand sticking out just to where I could reach it.

I smiled and took her hand, something I wouldn't have done if an adult had offered help, and pretended that she helped me out of my car. "Thank you," I said sincerely and shut my car door.

"What's your name?" she asked curiously, gripping onto the edges of her dress and swinging lightly.

She was absolutely adorable. "Jacob," I told her, using that voice that is reserved for children only. "What's yours?"

"Nessie! Where'd you go?" asked a worried, male voice.

The little girl turned towards it then quickly back to me. "Renesmee, but everyone calls me Nessie. Like the lockness monster! Rawr!" She curled her tiny hands into claws then giggled like crazy.

I laughed along with her, secretly searching for her father. "That's a very pretty-"

I was cut off when a man, hopefully her father, appeared and scooped her up. "There you are!" he said, relief clear in his voice.

The man was extraordinarily beautiful. He had wild hair that showed where his daughter got her hair color. His eyes were a stunning shade of liquid green with thick eyelashes to frame them. He was pretty well built and very young-looking to have a daughter of Nessie's age.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him and he seemed to be having the same problem.

"Who's your friend, Nessie?" asked the man, not taking his eyes off me.

"Oh, that's Jacob! I helped him out of his car," Nessie explained matter-of-factually.

I flushed, breaking my gaze to look at the ground. Now this beautiful man was going to think I was some incapable cripple that needed help twenty-four-seven.

"Did you now? How very sweet of you," he said sincerely. "Now, how about you go play with Annabel? She's already over by the swings," he suggested.

"Kay!" Nessie ran off, through the open gate, and over to another little girl.

"She's a beautiful girl," I complimented after a few moments of silence between us.

Edward beamed, his eyes unconsciously glancing at his daughter. "She's my angel. Even when she doesn't act like one." He chuckled, shaking his head.

I laughed along with him, wondering what his name was. I was also extremely saddened by the fact that he was taken- and with a kid.

"Oh, yes, I'm Edward Masen," he said, almost like he was reading my mind, and hesitantly held out his hand, like he was wondering if I could shake it.

I hated when things like that happened.

I took his hand and shook it firmly. "Jacob Black."

"Wow, nice grip," Edward complimented, chuckling lightly as we walked into the park together. "Bet you're a mean arm wrestler."

I laughed along, sitting down at the bench he stopped at. "A few years of working these," I gestured to my crutches that were leaning against the back of the bench, "and you build upper arm strength quick."

He nodded. "I would imagine so. Do you live around here? I've never seen you around before," he asked curiously, his eyes closely following every move Nessie and her friend made.

I thought it was sweet he looked after her so well. "Um, no. I live in the little reservation nearby. La Push," I explained.

I couldn't help wondering if he was judging me for having only one leg. If he was then he certainly didn't show it but I couldn't be sure. Perhaps people in Forks were nicer than the people in La Push.

"Ah, yes, I've been to the beaches down there before," he mused and visibly tensed when Nessie jumped off her high-flying swing, but relaxed when she landed lithely on her feet. He turned to meet my eyes suddenly. "I'm sorry, this is the first time I've brought her here and I'm just a little worried," he apologized, though I wasn't sure why.

I brushed it off. "It's fine. I'm glad you're worried," I said sincerely, then realized that probably sounded stupid. "Ah, where's the mother?" I asked, trying to cover up the stupid remark.

His eyes wandered back to where Nessie was swinging again. "I don't have the slightest idea," he said in a faraway voice.

I immediately felt bad because this was obviously a tough question for him. "I'm sorry. I didn't..." I trailed off, wondering how else I could apologize.

He looked back at me and smiled beautifully. "Its fine. You didn't do anything wrong," he quickly assured and leaned back onto the bench for the first time. He laid his left arm across the back to where his hand lightly brushed my shoulder.

"What brings you here?" he asked casually, like the little brush of his fingers on my shoulder was no big deal at all.

"Um, I-I like coming here. I like to watch the kids playing..." That sounded like a stalker. "I love kids," I added, then realized that also sounded like a stalker/child molester. "Um, well, its-its peaceful watching-"

He cut me off by laughing. "My God, you're cute," he purred and crossed his legs in a way that angled his body towards me.

I flushed, looking down at the ground. I had just sounded like a blubbering fool and Edward thought it was cute. "Uh, thanks," I said in a gruff voice, unsure of what else to say. "So, are you going to Washington University?" I asked, unsure if he was in college or not but wanting to change the subject.

He looked embarrassed by my question. "Ah, no. I'm going into..." He mumbled something else.

"Sorry, I didn't hear ya," I said curiously, leaning closer.

He cleared his voice and looked into my eyes. "I'm going into the eleventh grade," he said, slightly louder. His cheeks turned red.

My eyebrows knit together. It didn't seem possible that he could have a child of Nessie's age and be seventeen.

He must have recognized the confusion on my face. "Um, I'm really twenty-one... it's a long story," he said, thoroughly embarrassed, looking away again.

I shrugged. "You can tell me if you want but I'm not prying," I offered and turned to watch the little kids playing.

We lapsed into silence as we each watched the kids. It was comfortable and easy being around him. I was thoroughly enjoying just his presence. I wondered if he was enjoying mine as well.

I jumped when an old fashioned ringing started up.

Edward seemed surprised as well. He dug into his pocket and I guessed it was his cell phone going off. He glanced at the number on the tiny screen in front and frowned before flipping it open.

"Hello, Mr. Wilson," he greeted politely, shooting me an apologetic look. "Uh, caller ID... yes sir... no sir... but... sorry sir... alright, yes sir." With a sigh, he flipped shut his phone and ran a hand through his hair. "Dammit," he cursed softly, dropping his head into his hands.

Concerned, I couldn't resist leaning towards him and rubbing his shoulder soothingly. "Hey, something wrong?" I asked quietly, unsure if he wanted to tell me.

He shook his head very slowly, paused, then nodded and raised his head to look at Renesmee. "That was my boss... he says he needs me to work today," he explained. "And... And I promised Nessie that we'd have this whole day... just the two of us..." He stood up suddenly and started pacing. I think he muttered something about being a terrible father.

I watched him, my whole head moving left to right as he paced in front of me. When I was certain he was muttering how horrible of a father he was, I gathered up my crutches, stood up and planted myself right in front of him.

"You, my friend," I pointed at him once I got his attention, "are nothing close to being a terrible father. If you were a terrible father, you wouldn't even have her right now, being a single dad. If you were a terrible father, you wouldn't have to go in to work. If you were a terrible father, you wouldn't have brought her and her friend up here to the park," I said, very seriously, gesturing to where the two girls seemingly set up a game of tag.

He glanced over to the girls and smiled lightly. "Thanks, Jacob." He looked back at me. "I needed someone to tell me that." He looked at me for a while. "Are you free tomorrow? Around lunchtime?" he asked, giving me a beautiful lopsided grin.

I nodded, trying not to fist pump the air.

"How about coffee?" he invited.

I nodded, smiling like I'd just won the lottery. "Yeah... that's grawesome..." I frowned, my eyebrows knitting together, wondering what word had just popped out of my mouth. "Wait... that was supposed be great... and awesome," I explained, flushing bright red. I sounded like a teenage girl.

He started laughing like there was no tomorrow. "Like I said. Very cute." He pulled out a pen from his back pocket and took my hand. "Here's my number," he mumbled, scribbling down the numbers. "Call me when you're free." He gave me his crooked grin then left to gather up Renesmee and her friend.

Still in something like a state of shock, I plopped back down onto the bench. A guy that I was really beginning to like had just asked me out and gave me his number.

It had been a dream of mine to have guy write his number on my hand.

Then I remembered Renesmee. How could he possibly be gay and have her? Did he just fuck a girl to test the waters? Did he not like it then get stuck with her after the mom couldn't take responsibility? Was he even really asking me on a date? He could just want to be my friend... Well, if he just wanted a friend then I could most definitely do that.