Hey guys! This is the first fanfic I've posted in a long time, and I've got a pretty good grasp on where I'm going with this story. I would enjoy to have some reviews, whether it be good or bad--but if it's bad, please be gentle! I don't want any flames... Anyway, I've got the first chapter on its way, so just tell me what you think so far! Happy reading!

Prologue

Edward had his arm wrapped around my waist as he led me back out of the woods towards my house, where you could hear the angry bellows coming from my father, Charlie. The pained look on Jacob's face is permanently engraved in the back of my mind; just remembering it makes me feel sad and almost a little despondent even. When will I ever get to see him again? When will I be able to see his heartwarming smile, that which comforted me all while Edward was—No, I won't let myself think of the past. Well, that specific part of my past at least.

My best friend is a werewolf, and my true love is a vampire. I want to live my life with them both at my side, Jacob on my left and Edward on my right. My life would be far from perfect—it'd be more than that…. But who am I kidding? This is reality. The reality where the werewolf and the vampire are rivals. Although… would it be so selfish of me to want the two most important people in my life to be happy, all of us together, sharing the same space in the atmosphere?

I sighed as Edward and I reached the sidewalk in front of my house. Charlie was standing just outside the doorway on the porch. He glowered at us, his anger building visibly in his eyes.

"Bella!" he yelled. "You know what the rules are! You are to come straight home from work, no exceptions!" He paused for emphasis, or perhaps thought on what to say next. "Where were you both at anyway? Looked like you were coming from the woods…"

Edward was first to speak. "Yes, Chief Swan, you are right. We were in the woods."

Charlie waited impatiently.

I hope he's got more of explanation than that, seeing as I've got diddly squat. It's tough to think when you know you won't be speaking to your best friend for awhile, probably a long while.

"I am aware of your grounding rules as much as Bella is," he went on, "and I'm sorry we've broken them to a slight extent—"

"Just tell me what you two were up to!" Charlie exclaimed.

Edward jumped back at the sound of Charlie's tone so faintly that only I noticed because his arm is draped around my waist. But I also realized he wasn't as shocked as he used to be. Charlie hasn't been treating Edward very nicely ever since he came back, and I imagine that Edward has been getting used to his, what I believe, unjustified, but be it so, contemptible treatment.

Edward took a brief, and unneeded, breath, "You see, right when I was getting ready to slow down to park, something furry sprang out in front of the car…" he improvised with such ease, "and, we unfortunately hit the poor creature, whatever it was. The both of us got out of the car to check on it, but it wasn't there—"

"I heard a rustling in the bushes on the edge of the forest, and I thought that it ran in there," I continued Edward's story. "I really wanted to make sure that it was all right, you know, with no major injuries, and such. That's why we went into the woods, Dad."

I concluded our brilliant fake story to Charlie, and honestly, if I were he, I think I'd be pretty convinced.

He thought for a moment or two, considering our story.

"Bella," he said. "You don't necessarily care for the health of animals."

I gawked. "Yes, I do!"

"Honey, when your third pet fish died you wanted to cook him up, and eat him for dinner."

Edward stifled a chuckle. I just shook my head.

"That was a long time ago, Dad!" I retorted. "You know how upset I was!" I crossed my arms around my chest.

Well, I thought, since I couldn't keep the darned thing alive, why couldn't I have put him to use when he was dead?

"Besides," I went on, "a fish is just a fish. They don't do anything at all really, except swim, eat, and swim, and…" I couldn't think of anything else. "And well… the only thing they're good for is eating, and that's that." I finished.

Both Edward and Charlie looked at me funny. Then Charlie spoke, "All right, since you are done with your little fish…" he thought for a second, "disputation… I'm still wondering…"

He glanced over at Edward's car. "I don't seem to see any marks of an animal hitting your car, Edward, nor any blood…"

As Edward opened his mouth to say something, I said, "That's because the animal turned out to be fine!" I clapped my hands together. "I suppose it was a strong little trooper! Probably didn't even get a scratch, maybe just a tiny bruise, if anything."

Charlie look as though he was about to ask a question, and as if reading his mind, (well, he actually did), Edward answered with a wry, smile, "It was a rabbit."

I nodded, and waited for Charlie's reaction.

A minute passed, and Charlie crossed his arms. While looking back and forth between the woods and Edward's car he said, "Huh. That's interesting."

He turned to Edward and me. "I'll take it this time. But, do NOT think that you will get away with something like this again, you hear me?" He pointed his index finger at the two of us.

"Clear as crystal, Dad." I said. Edward nodded.

"Now," Charlie started, "I suppose that it's time for Edward, here, to go home."

"Of course, Chief Swan," Edward replied politely.

"I'll be inside in just a second," I told Charlie. He narrowed his eyes. "I promise! It'll only take a minute."

"All right," he said. "One minute!" He opened the front door and walked inside.

Once the door was shut, and Edward was sure Charlie wasn't eavesdropping, he looked down at me and smiled.

"'Oh, no! A poor little bunny gets hit by a big black car!'" he mimicked me in a high voice. "'We've got to make sure he's okay! Quick!'"

I glared at him. "You know, even with a high pitched voice, I still find you as attractive as ever." I shook my head. "It's wondrous."

Edward had a smug look plastered upon his perfect, white face. "And even when you want to cook your pet goldfish, I still find you as luscious as ever." He took a step closer to me and put both of his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. My heart skipped a beat.

I shook my head, embarrassed about Charlie bringing up my pet history. My eyes then drifted over to the woods again, and I felt a thump in my throat begin to grow. Edward noticed, and seemed to know what I was thinking, except, not really at the same time.

"Bella, he'll come around," he said as realistically as he could, even though he's talking about an enemy. "It may not be for awhile, but he will."

He must've known that Charlie was getting irritated, so he gave me his 100-watt smile, gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"Be safe," he whispered. And suddenly, he was gone, car and all.

I knew what Edward really meant. I know that, deep down, Jacob still cared for me, and that he was still my best friend. But considering the circumstances for the time being, it was just something that can't happen. It's not feasible. For one, he's too young; he can't control his emotions. He tends to let them get the best of him. Secondly, I'm in love with his most loathsome enemy, and I'm basically a part of his enemy's family, in a way. But that shouldn't be the end of our friendship, not at all.

I love Jacob, of course in a friendship sort of way. I love him too much to never be able to speak to him again, or hear his own, original, Jacob laugh again. I won't let this rivalry get between us. Not between Jacob and I, not between Edward and him, not between the wolf pack and the Cullens, and most of all, not between Victoria and us all.