I walked along the empty beach. The water crashed against the rocks as I paced faster and faster. Jacob. This was my only thought. He was in the forest running with stupid children for a pack, chasing after Victoria. Victoria. Wild, ferocious and indestructible. She was chasing after Jacob who was nothing but a stupid teenager. It had been weeks since his pack of five had been chasing down Victoria, weeks of pacing up and down, covering every inch of first beach. Waiting for Jacobs' return, anxious to know if he had been hurt, anxious to know if Victoria had been caught – killed. Her pale face suddenly entered my mind. Her dark eyes were wide, excited. . . Murderous. Her lips pulled back from her sharp, white sparkling teeth. They turned up at the corners in a half scowl, half smile. Her red hair swirled around her head in a flame of blistering heat. The image had my heart racing, my stomach squirming and my hands sweating. She was after me, and no matter what, I knew she would find me and kill me. Revenge for her beloved James. Mate for mate. Only she didn't know that Edward wouldn't care. He might have been upset by the news, but nothing that would want to make him chase after Victoria and rip her to shreds. I flinched away from his name, his face, the thought of him fighting Victoria. I sank to the rocky ground and wrapped my arms around my legs, keeping myself together. I was falling to pieces all over again. How long had it been since I had heard Edward's voice? The perfect clarity of my hallucinations? I had been counting on hearing him today. No doubt jumping off a cliff would make him return. It was stupid and destructive. But Jacob had to fill in for Embry who couldn't find a way to escape his mum's angry gaze. So here I was again, on the beach, alone. Sudden anger filled my veins. Its force surprised me and allowed me to think. Why should I have to cancel my plans just because Jacob bailed? I had been counting on my hallucination, and I wasn't about to give it up just because Jacob wasn't there to see if I was alright. I turned to look at the cliff where I would soon be standing. Instead of scaring me to death, it made me more eager. Adrenaline pumped though my body as did excitement. Excitement for the sound of his voice.

I drove the truck up the rocks as fast as it would go. I didn't waste time trying to find a way to the smaller cliff. I wanted to jump off the big cliff. The higher the better. I parked my truck far from the edge, quickly hopping out and slamming the door behind me. I walked quickly to the edge of the cliff, my breathing fast with anticipation. I looked down at the dark, black waves below. The wind whipped my hair wildly around my face.

Light splatters of rain splashed against my cheeks and stuck my wet hair to my neck. I closed my eyes and let my toes lead the way, moving along the rocky earth until they hung over the edge. I took a deep breath and waited.

"Bella?" The beautiful, bell like voice spoke, his tone disapproving. I smiled triumphantly, as his perfect voice tried to caution me. "Step away from the edge, you'll hurt yourself." I sighed at the pure perfection of his voice. I edged closer, bending my knees, putting my weight into the ground so that I could push myself higher. Testing him.

"Bella?" This voice surprised me; I paused, waiting for it to speak again. "Bella!" The voice cried. Jacob. I heard his bare feet slam against the ground as he ran towards me. He had come too soon. I hadn't had enough of the sound of his voice. I wanted more. I didn't move out of my bend, instead, I bent my knees further. I felt Jacob's hand brush against my arm as I pushed myself into the air. I felt the wind blow against my face in a whirl of icy freshness. I let out a squeal of pure delight, full of adrenaline. Then, I hit the water. My veins seemed to turn to ice as I sunk deeper into the wet, ice like ocean.

"Bella!" The beautiful voice yelled. This time full of concern. A loud thud echoed slowly through the water, and bubbles of air surrounded me. Suddenly, something hot constricted itself around me and I felt myself being lifted up. Suddenly, my head broke the surface, and I was being carried to the shore.

"Bella honey, you're going to be ok.' I forced my eyes open. Jacob stared back at me. His wet hair stuck to his face. His mouth was set into hard lines of anger, his eyebrows pushed together, yet somehow his eyes were full of sadness and worry. "What were you thinking Bells, you could have been killed. Did you not notice the colour of the sky? There is going to be a hurricane.' Tears overflowed his eyes, ran down his cheeks and combined itself with the wetness on his face. 'You always pick the worst time to be reckless."

"Jake? What's the matter?" The lines of his eyebrows deepened, his expression somehow managed to become even more troubled. "I'm so sorry Jake, I don't know what I was thinking."

"It's fine Bells, let's just get you inside." His body hunched over me, protecting me from the rain, and he ran in a flat out sprint towards his house. The rain seemed to become a low echo once we were in the warm Black's house. He lay me gently on his couch before disappearing around the corner. I waited silently. He returned carrying a pair of grey sweatpants and a shirt. "I guess you need something to wear. These will be massive on you but they should do." His eyes were still distant, his face was painful to look at. "I guess I'll, er, step outside while you change."

"No wait, Jake." He sat next to me on the couch looking puzzled. "Just stay. Tell me what's wrong." Jacob closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Harry Clearwater died today of a heart attack. That's where Billy and Charlie is right now. I was at the hospital before but I came back to look for you and then, well yeah, I saw you nearly jump.'

Oh no, Harry Clearwater. Poor Leah and Sue and Seth. They must be distraught. Poor Charlie, Harry Clearwater was a great friend of his.

"Don't worry Bells, it will be ok." He yawned quietly before stretching out and sitting on the floor at my feet. "I'm so tired."

"You should sleep Jake, you need some rest.' I said quietly, still shocked by the news that had just been delivered.

"I guess a few minutes couldn't hurt." He whispered.

It only took a few minutes before Jake was asleep, filling the entire room with his loud snores. I lay deeper into the couch and let my mind wander. Here I was, with everything anyone could possibly want, yet I was still not happy. I had a beautiful man who loved me – probably more than his own life – yet I still wanted more. I wanted him. But he didn't want me. He was perfectly happy, living with his distractions, while I lay here, wet and depressed, wandering where he was right now. I shouldn't live like this. Even though Edward didn't care, I'm sure he would at least want me to move on. But with Jacob? I couldn't see why not. When I thought about it, truly thought about it, I guess I did love Jacob in that way a little. But was it enough? Did I deserve someone as good and true as him? That question had me thinking.