Chapter 1.

I hate the heat.

It's the middle of the winter, so of course Mom has the heat turned up to 80 degrees. I swear the woman is a reptile; cold-blooded. She's huddled up by the fireplace in her Princeton hoodie, with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. I on the other hand was walking about in shorts and a t-shirt. Mom gave me a look of chagrin while I sat down next to her.

"Honestly, I have no idea how you walk around like that." She took a sip out of her dark green mug. I grimaced when I saw the steam rise from the contents the mug contained. I sighed and pulled the blanket resting on the back of the couch, and draped it over my legs.

"Happy?"

She shot me a smug look and nodded. I politely declined when she offered me a sip of her steaming cocoa. I was hot enough with the blanket on right now. I'd much rather be freezing then feel like I'm in the Sahara desert.

"Actually, honey, I've been meaning to discuss something with you." She set her cup down on the end table and turned slightly to face me.

"Alright. Go for it."

"You remember Mr. Gregg, my boss, right?" No need to answer her. She'd continue anyway. "Well, he called me into his office the other day to discuss something very important. There's a job opening in my department and he decided that I was the best candidate for it. You wouldn't believe how much this job pays in comparison to the other one. I just thought that I would discuss this with you because it does affect you too, sweetie."

"Mom, you didn't need to discuss this with me. If you feel like this job is for you, then take it." I patted her shoulder. "Remember, Mom. I'm the child in this relationship. There's no point in asking my permission."

She shook silently with laughter then playfully shrugged my hand off her shoulder. She tucked her long auburn hair behind her ears and smiled at me.

My mother was shockingly beautiful. Most people notice that and tell her she looks too young to be the mother of a 16 year old daughter and in a way she is. She's only 31, she had me at 15. My mother and father, who was 17 at the time, where passionately in love. They'd known each other since they were 3 and 5 and started dating when my mom finally became a teenager. When Mom found out she was pregnant, Dad was there, unlike most 17 year old boys would be if their girlfriend had gotten pregnant. The second he found out, he had rushed to a jewelry store and purchased a ring for her and kept in secret until the day I was born.

She was holding me, in the hospital bed singing to me (very 'badly' as she tells me) when he finally pulled it out of his pocket. He told her that he knew she was only 15 but now that they had me, a product of their love (very cheesy, but that phrase was always mentioned whenever they told me the story), he couldn't wait any longer. He told her that as of right then, it was a promise to always be in the picture.

When she turned 18 it became a promise to get married, and they did. We all lived together in this very house until last year. Dad was out late at work, his job as a detective, and when he didn't come home, Mom got worried. She called his office and there was no answer. Then the hospital called and told her it would be best to come down.

She didn't wake me, and she dashed off to the hospital only to be told that he was shot; in the head and was lying in a coma, with third degree burns all over his body. Turns out, someone doused his car in gasoline and lit it on fire after shooting him. They wanted to get rid of him, destroy evidence. Butt all it did was make him suffer in that stupid coma. A few months later, he flat lined. We were devastated, especially Mom. Her first friend, first boyfriend, first love, was gone.

I shook my head at the memories that just looking at my own mother brought back to me. She stared at me and I realized I had my lips pressed together in a tight line.

"But there is a downside." I urged her to continue. "We have to… move."

I gulped down the bulge that had accumulated in my throat and stared, wide eyed, at her.

"Move?" She shook her head hesitantly. "Well, I guess, I mean." I could see the hope in her blue eyes and there was absolutely no way I could tell her no.

"Well, Mom, I say… Let's get packing." I grimaced at the fakeness I could hear in my voice. But by the way she jumped off the couch and threw me up in a tight hug, I didn't regret saying yes. Maybe moving is just what we need. Being in this house, makes it hard on her. Everything about this place is Dad.

"You really won't regret this Alyvia!" She shrieked and squeezed me again before rushing up to her room to, no doubt, call and accept the job offer.

I, however, sunk back into the soft cushions of the couch and reached for her hot chocolate. I sipped it and winced. Yes, I definitely hate heat.

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I spent a majority of the time we had left to head over to the airport sitting in the middle of my room, staring at my empty walls and floor. It looked so big and spacious, just like it had when I was redecorating it and had to clear everything out. Only, this was different. Sad.

"Come on Liv, we're going to be late!"

I picked myself up off the floor, giving one more glace around before I grabbed the door and slammed it shut. Tears dared to fall from my eyes, begging to make me let them out, but I couldn't. I squeezed back the salty water and made my way downstairs. Mom was standing at the bottom of the steps with a smile that took up half of her face.

I wanted to run back upstairs and shut myself in my room, never coming out again, but I couldn't do that now that I've seen her. She's so happy to make a fresh start in a little town in Washington called Forks, all the way across the country, much to my dismay. I trudged down the stairs with my suitcase dragging behind me and stopped right in front of her. I noticed that our heights have evened out in the past year. I've always been sort of tall for my age, but my mom had always been taller then me. Bridget, my mother, had reminded me of a supermodel for as long as I could remember. With her bright blue eyes, which I'd inherited from her instead of Dad's light, sky blue eyes, her dark auburn hair and smooth skin, she often got mistaken as one.

A lot of people say that we have similar traits, but they never actually say I look like her, because I don't. I look like an exact mix of her and my father, Aden. I'd gotten his light brown hair and his nose and face shape, but Mom's eyes, skin complexion, and mouth. I don't embrace my looks like they do though, I hardly ever wear makeup and my hair's never done.

As of right now, I was decked out in a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a black AC/DC t-shirt and my Ugg boots, while Mom was in a flowy cream colored peasant top, light flared jeans and, what looked like, painful heals. Always beautiful.

"Are you ready?" Bridget took my suitcase from me and wheeled it over to where hers was sitting. I couldn't trust my voice quite yet so I just nodded and took in the emptiness that surrounded me. We stepped out of the house and into the bright sun that made what was left of the snow, shimmer around us. Mom shivered as she shrugged on her jacket, "I will never understand how you can walk around like that without catching hypothermia." She laughed.

I shrugged in response while a smile pulled onto my face. I was like Dad in this way, he always loved the cold rather then heat, and he hardly ever felt the need to wear a jacket outside. Out of the corner of my eye I saw some snow sitting in the grass. I bent over to pick up the frozen water in my hand, relishing the feeling of it. The only good thing about Forks was that it was almost always cold. Bridget would hate that part, but I would embrace it. It's the only thing I feel like I can do to be close to Dad once again.

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The plane ride was absolutely terrible. We spent six horrifying hours on that stupid plane, just to make it to Seattle. When the humongous bird finally landed at the airport I couldn't wait to get off. I'd been cramped into my seat the whole time and could practically feel the heat of all the bodies radiating off of me and it made me shake. I couldn't stand it.

In the terminal, me and Mom grabbed our bags, got something to eat really quick, because we both refused airplane food, and then called a cab to take us to our new home. The ride took awhile but I couldn't tell how long, because I'd been spacing out, staring outside at my new surroundings and taking it all in. It was beautiful, I'd give it that. Much more beautiful then back home in Delaware. Everything here was green, despite that fact that it was winter and there was snow laying on the ground. It was an amazing difference, I concluded as I compared it to the brown grass back home.

Mom had to shake me once we'd arrived in our new neighborhood. The houses were of medium size and fairly good looking, I guess. One house caught my attention because of the girl and boy standing in the yard, staring at the cab. The boy was easily the most gorgeous guy I'd ever seen in my life. His bronze hair was sticking up, as if he'd just gotten out of bed, but in the best way possible, his skin was ungodly pale, but yet, the girl next to him was almost the same shade.

She was beautiful with her dark brown hair giving her skin a nice contrast. I consciously looked down at my own skin and saw almost the same shade of white as the girl. I laughed mentally, thinking about my friends back home who would tease me for being so pale. My all Irish background is to blame. I looked back up for a split second only to see them both smiling at me. I smile back, hoping that maybe, just maybe they could become good friends.

I felt a strange pang of sadness as I realized we had passed them and were now two houses down. Right in front of our new home. "We're here!" Bridget screamed, handing over the money to the cab driver. She pried the door open and jumped out into the cold air. I smiled in spite of myself and climbed out to join her. The freezing air hit my cheeks and I loved the feeling of it. It stung my eyes but I wouldn't close them. This was the feeling I adored, much like how athletes love the rush of whichever sport.

We gathered our bags from the trunk and stood on the sidewalk in front of the light blue house, staring up at it. It was old looking, but I felt like it fit us. Mom did her best to try and usher me inside the house, but I wasn't having it. I wanted to take a walk around the neighborhood first, so I could get used to everything. Mom looked dubious at first but I managed to persuade her, but not without her wanting me to put a jacket on first. I complied with her wish and fished out a light hoodie and zipped it in place.

As soon has she had the door closed behind her I took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of Forks, Washington. The smell was crisp and clean and it made me feel like this was a new start. I could make whatever I wanted out of this new phase in my life and I was determined to do that.

The back of my head told me to start walking to the right. The direction I'd seen the painfully gorgeous boy and girl. My Converse covered feet slapped the pavement with a light force as I headed in that direction, as a million things ran through my mind. I didn't want them to think I was coming just to talk to them, which technically I wasn't. So I decided that if they were still outside by the time I reached them I'd give a small smile in their direction and maybe wave and then if they wanted to talk, I would.

One look ahead confirmed that they were still outside of the white house, leaning up against a rusted, red truck. One detail was different though. A small, pixie like girl was standing with them. Her dramatic black hair was cut at short angles that framed her tiny, perfect face. She was the same kind of beautiful as the boy. She was obviously related, in one way or another, to him because despite the difference in hair color, they both had the same rare, gold eye color I realized as I got closer.

The guy looked away from the girls standing with him and looked straight at me, with his eyebrows furrowed. I quickly shot my eyes down to my feet and concentrated on walking faster. Hadn't he just smiled at me earlier?

I'd almost made it past them when one of the girls called out after me, "Hey!" I figured it was the tiny one, because her voice was almost too high pitched the other girl. I turned around slowly and looked at the tiny group before me. Each one of them breathtakingly beautiful, although the taller girl seemed like she felt incompetent next to them.

The little one spoke then, with the same voice that had called out to me, "You're new, right?" She seemed to bounce up and down with excitement as she talked. Her body practically gave off vibrations of happiness. Why wouldn't she be happy? She was beautiful and most likely popular because of the energy she gave off.

I nodded meekly at her question and tucked my hands into my pockets. I noticed that her and the boy weren't as bundled up as the taller girl. I wished to know their names so that I could define them more clearly. "I'm Edward," the boy introduced himself as he stuck out a gloved hand. I took a few steps forward in order to grab his hand to shake. "This is Alice," he shot a look at the pixie like creature in front of me. "And this is Bella," he announced with a pointed look at the taller girl. The way he said Bella's name was so full of love and adoration and I couldn't help but smile. It was obvious that they were together. I bet every girl at their school was clearly jealous that a guy as handsome as him was taken.

"Alyvia." I smiled at them, "But, you can call me Via."

"I like it! It's so pretty and original. I wish my name was more original, it's not even my real name. It's my middle name. But I don't really like my first name. It's so bland." Alice exclaimed talking a mile a minute. For someone so small she really made an impression. I smiled at her enthusiasm as she talked. Usually I really hate when people go on and on but I really didn't mind her talking. Her voice was calming and it flowed like velvet as she spoke. Bella, the girl I'd seen earlier in the car on my was past caught my eye and she smiled. Her slightly darker skin was clear and soft and I wished my skin looked like that. Even her dark brown eyes that were surrounded by thick black eyelashes had me wishing that my eyes looked like that, even though people complimented my eyes all the time. Stupid comments like, You're eyes are so bright! or You're so lucky to have blue eyes. For once I'd like to get commented on the depth that my eyes held. I bet she got that compliment all the time.

"So, Via, what school are you going to be attending?" I recognized the voice as Edward's. It was like him and Alice were perfectly harmonized. If they were to speak at the same time, it would probably come out sounding like music. His voice was like a tenor to her soprano and it came out just as velvety.

"Uh, Forks High School."

"No way! That's where we go! What grade?" Alice sang. I found myself wondering what Bella's voice sounded like. Was hers velvety and smooth like the other two? Or would hers be somewhat like mine; unsure and awkward?

"Uh, 10th," I noted bitterly. I really felt like I was too advanced for the 10th grade, but apparently at Forks they don't care about that. They put you in the grade you're supposed to be in, then they just put you in advanced classes if they feel like it's appropriate. Besides, they'd said, Since Alyvia has already skipped grade 8 we feel like she should be in the correct grade with advanced classes. I remember being furious when we got that letter but I guess it's better to be around people who are only a year or two older rather then three or four. Although I'd prefer being around older people.

"That's too bad. We're in 12th." Alice pouted and crossed her arms across her chest, "I mean I totally thought that you were going to be in our grade, you look old enough. How old are you anyway?"

"15," I stated in the same tone as before. Too young for you guys to want to hang out with. I sighed inwardly thinking that they really wouldn't want to be associated with me in school after knowing that I was that young, though I was going to be 16 in two months. No seniors ever really wanted to hang out with younger kids. I kicked the rocks under my feet nervously as I waited for someone to speak.

"We'll probably still see you at lunch though. You should sit with us! I'll save you a spot!"

A smile formed on my cold lips when I realized how stupid I'd just been. They were definitely nice enough people to include me like that even though I'd just met them. I felt excitement grow inside of me when I realized my worst fear, ending up sitting in a bathroom stall eating my lunch, was gone. Alice had put that fear to rest when she'd invited me to sit with them.

"That'd be great. Thank you."

We stood around talking for awhile after that. I wasn't even completely sure what time it was, but I didn't care either. I was just gracious that I'd made, I guess I could call them this, friends. They, being Edward and Alice, asked me all the questions I could possibly think of. Bella stood besides Edward quietly. I could tell she was cold because she kept bundling up in her coat and breathing against her mitten covered hands. I wondered if she didn't like me, even though we hadn't even spoken to one another yet.

"Tell me about your boyfriend!" Alice exclaimed as she set a freezing hand on my arm. I wondered why she wasn't wearing gloves or something if her hands got that cold from being outside, but then again, she could ask me the same thing.

"I…uh… I don't have one." A red blush crept up my neck and threatened to cover my cheeks. I shoved my hands down harder into my pockets and bowed my head to the ground.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just assumed, you know. I mean someone as pretty as you should have a boyfriend. Any guy who would turn you down must be -" I saw Bella nudge her in the stomach but Alice didn't flinch one bit, she just stopped talking mid-sentence. I sent Bella a grateful look and she smiled back at me. "I'm sorry." Alice apologized and I made sure to tell her that it was ok.

"Guy's just… I don't know. All the guys in my grade usually don't want someone two years younger then them. They think I'm a kid." I explained, hoping that it didn't make me seem pathetic or anything.

"Ok, so moving on to my next question!" Alice swayed her hands in the air as she talked, "What kind of guys do you like?" I stiffened where I stood and seriously thought about her question. What kind of guys did I like?

"Well, I guess this is where I let you girls get acquainted," Edward excused himself to go inside and make a phone call. He pecked Bella on the forehead before leaving us. I smiled at the loving gesture.

My response to the question was a few stammers, a few stuttered words, and a nervous cough. That only goaded Alice into more questions.

"Tall, dark, and handsome? Dangerous? Funny? Come one! Tell me something!" Alice was practically hoping all over me, clearly awaiting my answer. I was about to let out a few more stammered words when Bella burst out laughing. It shocked me because the girl hadn't even spoken a word since I'd been standing there and now she was laughing uncontrollably. Alice shot her a glare and asked her what she found so amusing about a simple question.

"You just described…," Bella's laugh died down to an angry whisper, "Jacob." I noticed Alice's eyes darken at the mention of the name and I wondered who the 'Jacob' guy was. Obviously Alice didn't like him, that much was clear but there was something else in her eyes. A faraway look. Suddenly she snapped her eyes closed once and opened them up with an unidentifiable expression.

"Oh that little…" She turned towards the street and glared down the road before running up to the house, swinging the door open and calling for Edward. I saw him reach the door and Alice pulled him down almost two feet to her level and whispered something in his ear. His expression now mimicked Alice's. He shot a look over to Bella and told her something with his eyes. I stood there feeling like I was interrupting something important.

Alice sprinted over to Bella and whispered something to her in a low voice. I casually, and awkwardly, stared at my feet and kicked pebbles, not wanting it to seem like I was eavesdropping. I felt a hand on my arm and realized Alice was looking at me with a tiny smile placed on her face.

"I'm so sorry we couldn't talk more. Edward and I have to go attend to some… family business. But I'll see you on your first day at Forks! I'll save you that seat by me at lunch." She leaned up and placed a kiss on my cheek before ruffling my hair and walking away to the silver Volvo parked by the sidewalk. I turned around and saw Edward place a chaste kiss to Bella's forehead. He whispered something to her, yet again too low for me to hear and stalked off to the driver's side of the Volvo. Alice waved at us from the window as the sped off down the narrow street.

Hesitantly, I turned back around to face Bella. She grinned at me, "Alice is a lot to handle, isn't she?"

I was glad that the tension, or what seemed like tension, between me and Bella was now gone. I laughed at her joke and smiled back at her. I couldn't help but agree. Alice was like a child on a sugar high.

"I'm guessing you start school Monday." I confirmed with a nod of my head. "Well, I think I should give you a ride." She smiled and motioned for me to come inside.

I followed her into her house, shutting the door behind me. Bella kicked her shoes off on the rug and I followed in suit. I decided to keep my hoodie on, since there was really no point in taking it off only to put it back on. Her house was very much a man's house with a slight feminine touch, most likely from her or her mother.

"We have the house to ourselves. My Dad doesn't come home for a few more hours." Oh. I nodded at her. Divorced.

She sat down on the couch in her living room and said for me to sit as well. Her couch was comfortable, much more so then the new one Mom had insisted on buying for the house. She didn't think our old one fit the color scheme.

Just as we had settled in on the couch, making conversation, the phone rang. Bella held up her index finger to show that she'd only be one minute and she handed me the remote for the flat screen TV. I smiled at her as she walked out of the room, then clicked the TV on to pass time while she was on the phone. I tried to concentrate on the pointless show that was on, but it was hard when I could hear Bella's side of the conversation.

It was definitely a guy on the other line. I could tell because of the low buzzing coming from the receiver. I turned the volume on the TV down just a bit, not to obvious, so that I could listen better.

"Really? I swear sometimes you're so arrogant. Why would you expect anything other then them being here?" I heard her say forcefully into the phone. The buzzing returned.

"Listen, the best thing for you right now would be to change your mind and not come over. I have a friend over." She paused for a few seconds, "I swear, call them that again and so help me…No! Come over and you'll face the wrath that is Bella Swan. Do you hear me?" The buzzing sound vibrated the phone again. Longer then before.

"Do not hang up on me! I swear…Jacob Black!" She growled into the phone and then slammed it down. I guess he did hang up on her. What a prick.

She stormed back into the living room and looked at me with an apologetic expression. She plopped down on her side of the couch and sighed.

"So… How do you feel about making a new…friend?" She asked hesitantly, trying to sound excited. I faked a smile right back at her. I wasn't all that excited about meeting this Jacob guy. From what I heard from her conversation with him, he sound like a total ass. We heard some tires come to a halt outsider her house and she groaned.

"Jerk called from a cell phone." She mumbled as she peeked out the window. I guessed that he didn't live all that close to her. She glanced back at me and told me to stay there so she could see if she could get him to leave before he ever even came in. I did as I was told because there was no way I wanted to meet this guy if she didn't even want him here.

Once again I eavesdropped on her conversation with him, although this time I could hear both ends.

"Hey Bells. Miss me?" I heard a deep husky voice ask from the doorway. I kept my eyes trained on the TV, forcing myself not to look back to see what he looked like.

"You really are delusional Jake. Want me to get Carlisle to check that out?" She asked in a mocking voice. I heard Jacob scoff in disgust. "Look, just leave. Please, I have company." She pretty much pleaded with him, trying to get him to leave.

"I love new people. Unless she's a blo-"

A slap echoed through the air and it startled me. I was surprised that someone could push Bella so far. She seemed like a patient person.

"Don't you dare say it. She's a new friend and I swear if you mess up our friendship by being the jerk you are, I will never speak to you again."

I pictured her pointing her finger into his chest as he stared down at her. I wasn't exactly sure how tall this guy was, but there's a pretty good chance that he's taller then Bella. I mean, she was tiny. Not Alice tiny, but tiny. I was a good three inches taller then her, but she's so petite it makes her look smaller next to me. Even though I only stood at 5'7, I felt like a giant compared to her and Alice.

"Sure, sure. That's what you said last time. Now, if you don't mind I want to come inside and meet your little friend."

I panicked. I didn't want to meet him! I didn't even want to be in the same room as him. He sounded like a cocky, arrogant jerk and I wanted nothing to do with him.

"Fine. But wait her for… a minute before I call you in." I imagined him giving her a questioning look. "Just do it." Then I heard her feet shuffle away from the door and back towards me.

"Look, it may not seem like it right now, but Jake's actually a nice guy. He's just not… okay with the fact that I'm friends Alice and Edward." Her voice was a hurried whisper.

I stared up at her and into her eyes to see if she was lying or not. Her eyes were truthful and I wondered how she could still say that about him when he hated her friends. Which in turn, were my new friends. Which made me even madder. "Come on, Jake!" Bella shouted through the thick, growing thicker, air. Heavy footsteps pounded against the floorboards as he walked into the living room. I saw him move, from the corner of my eye, into the chair that was next to my side of the couch.

I didn't look away from the TV and if I did, my gaze went right to Bella. Tall, dark and handsome? Dangerous? Funny? Alice voice repeated in my head. You just described…Jacob. For someone who hated, or just really didn't like at this point, him to say he was still good looking and funny, I kind of wanted to know if she was right. I was dying to see what this guy looked like. If Bella could still call him 'handsome' even with a boyfriend as gorgeous as Edward, this guy had to be pretty cute.

I noticed him mouth something to Bella behind my back, literally. I wasn't quite sure what it was, but I felt extremely awkward. I pushed a look strand of hair behind my ear and continued to stare at the TV. He probably thought there was something wrong with me and wanted her to confirm it.

Suddenly, I felt a nudge on my arm from Bella. "Hey, I know it's like bad timing, since we have another… guest. But I want to show you my room." I noticed that her eyes were begging me to follow her up there, so I nodded and stood up with her. I felt Jacob's eyes burn into the back of my head as he watched us walk up the stair.

"It's ok, really. I'll sit here and wait for you guys!" He called from his spot. I rolled my eyes but refused to look back at him.

I felt Bella tug at my arm harder as we reached her door. She slammed it shut behind us and we walked over and sat on her bed.

"I'm sorry if this is awkward. I told him not to come." She ran a hand through her long, curly locks and sighed. "He was staring at you…though you probably noticed."

I let out a loud laugh. "I'm used to it. Guys usually give me weird stares all the time because I don't act like normal teenage girls. I absolutely hate doing my hair and makeup so I don't even bother." To my surprise she began laughing. Loudly for the second time that day.

"That's the thing, Via. Jacob isn't a normal teenage guy. He doesn't really care about hair and makeup. He was asking me your name." I know that my eyes widened. I also know that my eyebrows furrowed after her statement rolled around in my mind for awhile.

"He what?" I nearly shouted in hysterics. Bella clamped her hand over my mouth and quieted me.

"Don't say anything louder then a whisper. He has really good ears." She chuckled like it was an inside joke. "But yes, he asked your name. He's never really shown any interest in any other girl except…" She winced, "Me." I nodded, understanding that there was a story behind all that, but I didn't pry.

"So what do I do?"

"Well, I could tell him your name and you guys could talk? Or not. It's up to you." She glanced at the door as if wondering if his ear was pressed up against it, listening.

"I suppose… we could go back down and… talk?" I flinched. I was not good at talking to any boy and this one was going to be even harder, especially if he talks to me the way he was just talking to Bella. If that's the case I'd probably haul off and hit him square in the jaw.

She nodded and we both stood from the bed and made our way to the steps. We quietly descended down the staircase back into the living room. I finally got a look at the mysterious boy. Scratch that, he didn't even look like a boy. He looked about 25 years old, but I specifically remember Bella saying he was a teenager. How late in his teens? I don't know.

From my view of him I got a quick glance at his defined jaw line that was covered in russet colored skin. His black hair was cropped short and was pulled into a tiny faux-hawk. His perfectly shaped eyebrows pulled over his deep, chocolate eyes. They were about ten times darker then Bella's, if that's even possible, but they weren't black. His nose ran down in a perfect line and his full lips were slightly parted as he watched the TV, completely oblivious to the fact that we were standing there.

His huge hands grasped the tiny remote and his fingers could hardly press down one button without pressing down another at the same time. The one thing that really struck me was that he was wearing baggy jeans with a white beater and there was absolutely no sigh of a humongous, obviously male, jacket anywhere. He seriously walked around like that in the middle of the winter.

Bella cleared her throat after a few moments of standing there in complete silence. His face turned to look at us and he smiled. He was even better looking when he was completely facing me. Suddenly I felt extremely self conscious. Then he stood and towered over us so tall, that if he even attempted to stand on the tip of his toes, he would most likely hit the ceiling.

I noticed Bella quickly glancing at me to see if I was going to speak like I said I would, but noticed I was frozen in place.

"Alright! Nice seeing you Jacob, but I think me and…her are going to spend a little girl time together. You know, get to know each other better." Bella put her hands on his broad shoulders and tried to swivel him around, towards the door. But it was really a lost cause because Jacob was so built. He smiled at her attempts and then looked back at me.

"I think we should all get to know each other better," He said pointedly at me with a smirk. My eyes widened as he jutted his huge hand out for me to shake. "Jake. You are?" I looked from his hand, up to smile, and then back to his hand again.

I stuck my shaking hand out towards his and grabbed it weakly in mine. I'd made sure not to look directly in his eyes yet, that's too intimate for me. As soon as his hand was in mine, I felt the outrageous heat coming off of it. It was almost like fire, and as soon as I thought of that, images flashed in my head. My dad's burning car that was photographed and placed in newspapers all around Delaware for weeks. His scorched body lying in that hospital bed. The doctors warning us not to touch him where any of the burns were, because they'd still be hot and they would hurt if they were to be touched. The image of my dad's grave, the day he was buried.

I quickly pulled my hand out of his and walked as fast as I could towards the door, grabbing my shoes and leaving the house as fast as possible. I wasn't going to cry in front of people I just met. It was too soon. They didn't know my past.

I heard the door swing open behind me and light feet stomping on the ground. "Via, wait!" Bella called after me. I spun around quickly on my heals and looked at her, pleading with the tears to not fall for at least a few more minutes.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just… I should really go help my mom unpack. I'm sorry. Maybe I'll see you later?" I shoved my shoes on my wet feet and looked back at her. She nodded her head, looking a little let down and then hugged me. Her cold skin sent different memories through my head. Good memories of my Dad.

I waved goodbye to her and stalked down the sidewalk, back to my house. On the walk there I'd decided that Jacob Black was my own, personal devil who came back to reprimand me for everything I'd done wrong. I was going to stay far away from Jacob Black and his fiery hands. At least… that's what I planned.

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