Great she was back again. Jake was ranting and raving about her. He hasn't seen her in years but now she's all he can talk about. I tuned out his words but I couldn't help but stare as he smiled and grinned. His long dark hair waved around his shoulders and the sun emerged from its hiding place behind the clouds. When it hit his skin, he glowed beautifully. His lopsided smile was beautiful.

He frowned and waved his hand in front of my face. I shook my head and smiled shamefully.

"Are you even listening Avery?" he asked

Was I? No. "Yeah of course I was. You were talking about Bella. Again." I muttered under my breath

"Yeah right. What were you, day-dreaming about?" he asked tilting his head to the side his goofy smile stealing my words away.

"Nothing. Just a guy I like." I smirked, blushing deep red

"Ohhhhh. Who? Do I know him?" he asked totally oblivious

My heart clenched, "Yeah you know him well. Very well." I told him with a sad smile

"You should bring him on a date with Bella and me!"

"You finally gonna ask her out?" I laughed, my heart breaking under my false laugh

He frowned, "Well I meant we could all hang out. As a group!" he defended

I scoffed. "Not likely."

He looked up at the sky. It was around noon or so, "I have to go meet up with Bella. She should be landing soon. I gotta bring her Dad's old truck. You wanna come?"

I shook my head sadly, "No, we never really got along remember?"

He nodded, springing to his feet, "I'll see you later Avery!" he said with a wave and then ran away

We'll our friendship was on pause, at least until she left. I hated it. Every time she came back to Forks she stole the spotlight. Everyone wanted to hang with Bella, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't keep up with her whiney, self-centered personality. I'd rather be alone and read then be around her. I picked myself out of the sand and walked slowly home.

My grandmother was waiting at home for me. She knew I always took my time, so I wasn't worried about her missing me. My mind drifted to Jake often. He had wormed his way under my skin when we were kids and I haven't been able to let him go since. We were constantly together as children, except for when Bella was home. That was the only time I seemed to just disappear from the forefront of everyone's mind. I didn't mind. I knew she always left, but it didn't stop my heart from aching as I tried to be strong without my best-friends. Paul was the only one who seemed to want to be around me. He treated me like a little sister and I loved that. My family was gone except for my grandmother and having Paul around made me feel good.

I walked up the steps to the front door, when I opened the door I could hear Paul laughing. I walked in and saw Paul was sitting on the couch inside with my grandmother. I gave them a small smile and Paul jumped up to me, scooping me up into his arms and squeezing me tightly to his large chest.

"I'm stealing her away now!" he yelled out as he ran through the door. I hid my face in his chest and cried. He squeezed me tighter to his chest and just ran. We stopped at the edge of the beach and sat down together.

"What he do now?" he asked knowingly

I shook my head.

"Come on I know he did something."

"She came back. Of course, he's already forgetting about me." I told him wiping my eyes dry. I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath.

"I don't know why you love that dumbass." Paul growled out shaking.

"I don't know why I do either. He always disappoints." I sighed

"What are you fifteen now?

I laughed, "I'm sixteen." I told him slapping his arm, "We're in the same classes!"

"Right, right. Well why don't you try to forget about Jacob, with me?" he asked softly

I looked at him and smiled sadly, "You know I can't. I've tried before but nothing ever feels right." I told him as his shoulders dropped

He laughed and pulled me into a hug. "A guy can hope." He laughed, softer this time, sadder too.

We talked for hours and then he took me home. I read for hours that night, trying to forget that Jacob was preoccupied and wouldn't be around tomorrow after classes. He never was when Bella was in town.

The months passed quickly and before I knew it was already summer and Jake was pining after her. He was too busy with his own friends and whenever I did see him the first words out of his mouth were Bella. I hung out with Paul sometimes but the summer was a good time to work and save money so I spent my time working at the local library. When school started again I buckled down and prepared for my ACT's.

I was with Jacob the day before winter break and we were walking home together again. I pretended to listen as he ranted about Bella.

I stopped walking and squared my shoulders. "Jake?" I asked softly

He stopped and looked at me with his heartbreakingly goofy smile. "Yeah, what's up Avery?" he asked

"I like you." I whispered to him

He laughed and I shook my head. "I like you too Avery!" he started walking again

"No I really like you. Not like a friend." I spoke a little louder, and he froze

"You know how much I like Bella, Ave. And she needs me right now." Was all he said with a deep frown before turning and jogging away, leaving me in the road alone and heart broken.

I don't know what I was expecting, certainty not a miracle or anything but maybe more compassion, he was my friend after all. I wasn't prepared for this, not for flat out rejection.

I gathered my composure and I walked home. I didn't need Jacob, he's nothing but a friend. Maybe not even that anymore. I walked into my room and pulled out my favorite book. I found comfort in its pages and ignored the hurt throbbing on the edges of my heart. Paul, hadn't been talking to me, no one had. They had run off with Sam and become some sort of boy band.

I spent winter break hiding in my room. I re read books well-worn and loved. I went to the book store and I even bought tickets to a movie. I didn't need anyone to baby me. I was strong and independent.

I took my book purchases and I walked into the movie theater. I didn't want to see something girly and full of feelings, so I walked into the theater and I bought a ticket for the most violent thing they had playing. Jacov and i were supposed to see it together, but he blew those plans away the moment he rejected me. Now he wont talk to me at all. I didnt need him I bought my own popcorn and I walked in and sat down, content to be alone. The trailers started playing, maybe I would do this more often. I stared at the screen and someone walked in my field of vision a few rows up. I tried to see around them only to falter and freeze.

Jacob was blocking my view and so was Bella Swan, followed by some other boy. Rage was building in my body and I felt tears pricking my eyes. He finally asked her out. I took my popcorn and chucked it at his head. It hit him square in the back of the head. Popcorn went flying and I didn't stick around to watch someone clean it up. I stormed out and let the door slam behind me, thundering through the theater.

I ran out of the building and I called a taxi. The cab never came, the buses were no longer running and I was too tired to car anymore. The streets were quiet and the air was still. The shadows seemed to hide in the trees and the moon light blanketed the world in the early hours of the morning.

I started to walk. I walked on the busy streets and kept to the populated areas. I made it to the boarder of La Push. The trees started to take over the area on both sides of the road. The sky was dark and the street lights were out. The world seemed menacing and the darkness creeped up to the edge of the road, that's when I was grabbed from behind. Their stronger hands held me close to their chest and covered my mouth as I tried to scream. I panicked and tried to bite and kick but nothing caught him off guard.

They dragged me into the forest and pushed me against a tree. The bark was rough scrapped against my back as he forced my shirt over my chest. I hit my head trying to fight him, the blow was so hard against the tree I saw stars falling from the sky. Hands grabbed and groped my body forcefully, nails dug into y delicate skin, leaving scratches and bruises. Tears fell from my eyes and I wished I never left my house. I wish I would have stayed home like I always did. My head was pounding and they hit me again, holding me still. The strength left my body and my vision faded into nothingness. I let the blackness engulf me and take me away from the pain.