Chapter One

No one understands. Not even Jacob.

The imprint hurts me. My feelings for Jacob are too strong. Every time I think about him my heart pulls from within my chest, yearning for Jacob. I can't even look at Jacob now. Every time I see him the love that I fell burns. I used to be able to handle the burning because I thought that was what it was like when you saw your bets friend but then Jacob told me about the imprint. That's when it started to hurt. Jacob was in love with me.

I now hide in my room. Scared that Jacob will find me because if he does, the burning will start and I can't handle it. It's too much. I can't take it.

I then heard the front door of the cottage open and I knew it was Jacob. I could smell him. My body knew he was near and my heart told me to run to him but my head told me to stay in my room.

"Nessie? Are you here?" Jacob called and the burning in my chest started.

The burning in my chest hurt so much that I started to cry silently. My tears were warm and felt like they were burning my skin. Why did it have to hurt this much to love someone?

"Nessie, I know you're here," Jacob said and his footsteps were coming towards my bedroom.

I couldn't see him. The pain would be too much. I quickly but quietly locked my bedroom door, hoping it would keep Jacob out. I didn't attempt to go back and sit on my bed because I was already leaning against my bedroom door, sighing.

Jacob then knocked at my bedroom door and I felt the vibrations on my back. The burning in my chest got worse because he was so close. I needed him to leave. I needed the pain to stop.

"Nessie, why won't you let me in? Have I done something wrong? Cause if I have, I'm really sorry," Jacob said like the sweetest guy on the planet.

I tried to hush my heart's desire for Jacob but it protested by making me let out a loud sob. The tears were still pouring out of my eyes. I thought I should have run out of tears by now but I clearly hadn't.

"What's wrong Nessie?" Jacob asked, leaning against the door. "Please don't shut me out."

Jacob was almost begging. I couldn't stand it. My heart wanted to unlock the door, hug him and kiss all of the pain away but my head said no to what my heart was saying. I wish my heart and head would agree. Just once.

"Just go away!" I shouted.

The only was to get him away was to pretend to reject him. It would hurt him but the imprint was hurting me. The burning in my chest got stronger the more I rejected Jacob.

"What did I do wrong? Please tell me," Jacob begged.

Tough love. It was the only way. Or maybe I could tell him the truth….

No. Never. He wouldn't understand.

"Being you! That's what you did wrong!" I said through my sobs.

I can only imagine what was going through Jacob's head. I can't believe I said that. But it was the only way. My heart disagreed with what I said to Jacob but my heart had gotten me into this mess and I didn't want it to get me out.

"Fine, I'll leave. But you can't stop me from calling later," Jacob said and walked away.

I heard Jacob leave but I knew he hadn't left the area around the cottage. I walked over to my window and looked out and saw Jacob. I only saw him for a second but that was enough for my chest to start burning, my head start spinning and my legs start to feel like jelly.

I stumbled over to my bed and sat up right. Jacob wasn't going to leave. I knew that. But that would mean that the burning would never cease. If I wanted the burning to stop I had to leave the cottage. I would go to Seth's house. I liked Seth and he would be able to keep Jacob away. I think.

I didn't want to keep Jacob away from me. I just want the love to go away. Jacob and me were good friends but I can't handle the love. It's too much.

If I love Jacob then I should let him go.

Two problems.

One, I love him too much to let him go.

Two, I love him too much to let him stay.

Love burns. And burns hurt.