But I suddenly knew that it wasn't Angela that I wanted to talk to. That I needed to talk to.

I stared at the blank black window, biting my lip. I don't know how long I stood there weighing the pros against the cons – doing the right thing by Jacob, seeing my closest friend again, being a good person, versus making Edward furious at me. Ten minutes maybe. Long enough to decide that the pros were valid while the cons were not. Edward was only concerned about my safety, and I knew that there was really no problem on that count.

The phone wasn't any help; Jacob had refused to answer my phone calls since Edward's return. Besides, I needed to see him – see him smiling again the way he used to. I needed to replace that awful last memory of his face warped and twisted by pain if I was ever going to have any piece of mind.

I had an hour probably. I could make a quick run down to La Push and be back before Edward realized I had gone. It was past my curfew, but would Charlie really care about that when Edward wasn't involved? One way to find out.

I grabbed my jacket and shoved my arms through the sleeves as I ran down the stairs.

Charlie looked up the game, instantly suspicious.

"You mind if I go see Jake tonight?" I asked breathlessly. "I won't stay long."

As soon as I said Jake's name, Charlie's expression relaxed into a smug smile. He didn't seem surprised at all that his lecture had taken effect so quickly. "Sure, kid. No problem. Stay as long as you like."

"Thanks, Dad," I said as I darted out the door.

Like any fugitive, I couldn't help looking over my shoulder a few times while I jogged to my truck, but the night was so black that there was really no point. I had to feel my way along the side of the truck to the handle.

My eyes were just beginning to adjust as I shoved my keys into the ignition. I twisted them hard to the left, the engine just clicked. I tried it again with the same results.

And then a small motion in my peripheral vision made me jump.

"Gah!" I gasped in shock when I saw that I was not alone in the cab.

Edward sat very still, a faint bright spot in the darkness, only his hands moving as he turned a mysterious black object around and around. He stared at the object as he spoke.

"Alice called," he murmured.

Alice! Damn. I'd forgotten to account for her in my plans. He must have her watching me.

"She got nervous when your future rather abruptly disappeared five minutes ago."

My eyes, already wide with surprise, popped wider.

"Because she can't see the wolves, you know," he explained in the same low murmur. "Had you forgotten that? When you decide to mingle your fate with theirs, you disappear, too. You couldn't know that part, I realize that. But can you understand why that might make me a little… anxious? Alice saw you disappear, and she couldn't even tell if you'd come home or not. Your future got lost, just like theirs."

I interrupted him, "Edward, stop. Please put my car back together, I need to go see Jacob."

Edward shook his head, "No Bella. I won't let you get yourself killed, you're staying home."

I ground my teeth together, "Put. My. Truck. Back. Together. Now. I'm going to see Jacob, and if you won't take me, Charlie will, or I'll get one of the wolves to come get me. Or I'll walk."

Edward sighed and rolled his eyes, "Bella, you can't walk. It's too far."

"Watch me." I jumped out of my truck and began walking down the driveway. Edward was immediately in front of me, blocking my way.

"Don't be ridiculous Bella. Go back inside, go to bed. You can shut your window tonight, I'll stay away." Edward sighed again.

I pushed him away and kept walking. "Well, I'm staying in La Push tonight so it won't matter. Jacob! Seth! Embry! Quil!" I started yelling the pack's names, hopefully someone would be around.

Edward growled, "Bella… stop it! They can't hear you."

"But they are around? Right? JACOB!" I kept yelling, walking away from Edward. I was close to the forest, so I stumbled into it in the dark. Edward gripped my arms tightly at the top. "OWW! Edward stop, that hurts!"

We must have walked really far, because the next thing I saw was a familiar road with a sign that said "Welcome to La Push", I went to step over the border, but Edward stopped me.

"Don't you DARE step over that line Isabella Marie Swan." He snarled.

But, for once, I didn't listen to him. I stepped forward 1 step, and was over the line. "Goodbye Edward. I'll see you later."

I took off running, heading for the little red house that I had missed so much. I heard a loud snarl and a tree snap. I didn't turn around, I kept going. After a few minutes I slowed and found myself standing in front of a familiar house.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the front door, shaking as I felt tears fall down my face. I knocked on the door and bit my lip, trying to stop crying, but it was just getting worse. After a minute the door opened, and there stood Jacob Black.

I fell to my knees at his feet, "Oh Jacob, I'm so so so sorry, please forgive me. Please I'm so sorry."

Jacob pulled me up so I could see in his eyes, "Bella honey. What's wrong? What happened? Did he hurt you?"

I sobbed into his chest, "No… well yes but…"

"WHAT?! What did he do to you? I'm gonna KILL him!" Jacob's body trembled.

"No Jake, just please… hold me…" He carried me to the couch and pulled me against his chest.

"Bells sweetheart, what's going on?" Jacob rubbed my back.

I wiped some of my tears away, "I, um, wanted to come see you. Alice had a vision and Edward took some piece out of my truck, and it won't turn on. And when I tried to walk here, he wouldn't let me, and when we hit the boundary line he grabbed my arms, there's probably a few bruises. Then I took off running, and well… now I'm here."

Jacob growled low in his throat, and pulled back my shirt sleeves. I looked down and saw the purplish bruises forming around my right arm, then my left. Jacob growled even louder, "Fucking bloodsucker… ever hurt my girl again and he's dead…"

"Jacob… please, can I stay here tonight? I'm afraid to go home… I'll sleep on the floor, but I… I want to be close to you…" I looked down and blushed furiously.

"Absolutely Bella. You can stay here whenever you want. You don't have to stay on the floor; we can both stay in my bed… if that's okay?" Jacob's breath hitched in his throat.

Jacob. I needed him more than I needed oxygen… oxygen, Edward… damn. Could I… be happy with Jacob? I love him, but am I… in love with him? Maybe.

"Yes, that's okay. Will Billy care?" I asked, Charlie would be hard to convince.

"Naw, he could care less. I can have him call Charlie and tell him we fell asleep. Okay?"

I smiled up at him, "Okay. I can cook you something for dinner if you want?"

Jacob shook his head, "No, I just came from Emily's. I'm stuffed, but thank you." He winked at me and picked me up.

"Bedtime already?" I asked, and then I yawned. Damn.

Jacob chuckled, "Yes, bedtime. Come on." He carried me into his bedroom and layed me down on his bed. "I'll be right back."

I grabbed his arm before he left his room, "Where are you going?"

"I have to go tell Sam I need the night off. I'll be right outside. I promise." Jacob kissed my forehead, and I let his arm go. He disappeared out his door, and I heard the front door shut behind him. I bit my lip.

Jacob came back in a few minutes later, shut and locked his door behind him, and layed down next to me. "I wrote my dad a note, so when he gets back from Old Quil's, then he'll call Charlie. I told him that you needed to stay the night here and that we'll be in my room."

I sighed and pulled myself into the warmth of Jacob's arms, "Thank you. I really mean it, thank you so much Jake. I… I… lo… ve…"

Jacob put his hand over my mouth, "No! Don't say it, until you're ready. I want you to say it when you want to."

"Jacob… you're amazing… I'm sorry. I'm just… I still love Edward, but… my whole heart doesn't belong to him. Most of it belongs to you… I can't deny that anymore."

Jacob leaned forward, as if to kiss me, but he closed his eyes, sighed, and leaned away. "I love you Bella, I love you so much…"

I cupped his face in my hand, "Jacob… what we're you about to do?"

I thought He blushed, but his skin is too dark to tell, "Nothing…" I leaned my face closer to his.

"What Jake? You can tell me anything." I leaned my forehead against his, looking into his warm dark brown eyes.

"I wanted to… kiss you… but I know you're not ready. So I backed off, you deserve better than that. I love you too much." He shook his head and mumbled, "Sorry."

I kissed his cheek, "Don't be sorry, just give me time. I'm just so confused right now Jake…"

Jacob stroked my hair, "I'll give you all the time you need. Do whatever will make you happy."

"Thank you so much Jacob." I relax in his arms and we soon fell into a deep sleep.