You've GOT To Be Kidding Me.

I really hadn't expected it. Never saw it coming. Completely caught off-guard. But, damn.

The others said Imprinting was the best thing that could ever happen to you. For both you and your, erm, partner. So, you know, I'd sort of really expected to have the experience of a lifetime. Too bad I wasn't disappointed.

Of course, I'd heard about Edward Cullen before I'd met him. The taboo of his name had made him more mysterious than ever. And then, when Bella - of all the people I knew, it had to be her - told me she'd started dating him, I was at my wits end to see this guy for real. In the fle- uh, granite skin.

The day it happened was a relatively normal day in Washington- i.e., overcast and oh-so-toasty. It had been weeks since I'd last seen Bella, and I was going out of my mind with longing. She'd claimed that exams were keeping her at home, so I didn't really want to disturb her, truth or not. But Sam had "suggested" (read: Alpha commanded) that I pop over, simply because he was so tired of "hearing" me whine about it. Ha. Poor dog. I'm sure if he'd only known what was coming next, I would've been forcibly restrained to La Push for the rest of my miserable lif- that is, eternal duration of my existence.

As I crossed the border leaving La Push on my bike, I found myself wondering self-conciously if I should've called first. What if hewas there? Bella hadn't mentioned anything about his aversion to wolves, but I figured it couldn't possibly be worse than our hatred for his kind.

Plus, she was kinda sensitive about that sort of stuff.

As I drew closer to her neighborhood, a piercingly sweet burn began filtering through my sensitive nostrils. Along with it came a sudden full-body tingle, obviously an instinctive wolf response to the sickening smell. Ugh. Bloodsuckers reeked.

I pulled up to her vaguely familiar house, eyeing the shiny silver Volvo parked in the drive beside Bella's truck. It was all for show of course, both our vehicles. Suspicious questions would have come from Charlie if Cullen or I had gotten here without means of transport. Well, Cullen, anyways.

Idling on the bike against the curb, I saw a curtain twitch and heard low murmuring from inside the house. I wondered, as I cut the engine, would he come out or she?

My question was not long unanswered. After a few more seconds of fierce muttering, the white door opened and Bella stepped out, pushing forward the net screen and closing both doors behind her. I climbed off the bike as she walked briskly toward me, tucking strands of hair behind her ears, a half-guilty expression on her face.

"Jacob," she greeted, and I easily picked up the forced enthusiasm in her voice. Odd. "Um. What are you doing here?"

"Ouch." I mock-stabbed myself in the chest, sighing dramatically. "And here I thought you'd be dying to see me."

She took a step back, looking hurt. "Jake! Of course I am!" She meant it this time, and she hugged me tightly to get her point across. I wrinkled my nose even as my skin still tingled. She really stank. "It's just..." she mumbled into my chest, "I wasn't expecting you, not at all."

"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" I questioned, grinning widely down at her. "The party can finally begin!"

Bella looked uncomfortable. I frowned, letting her go.

"Did I miss something, Bells?"

She bit her lip, shaking her head. "It's just not exactly good timing," she whispered, and her eyes darted almost imperceptibly to his car. Well, d'uh.

"Oh." My frown deepened. "I see. You're dumping me for the leech."

I heard him snort and sent a meaningful glare at the window where I knew he stood behind a curtain, observing us calmly. My skin itched pointedly.

"Jake... It's not like that. I don't- he doesn't... I just-"

"- don't think we'll get along very well. Is that it?"

She nodded mutely. I don't quite remember if I had become sub-consciously aware of the strange pull before, but I had definitely felt it then. Starting out as as the tingle, then developing into the itch and then the subtle tugging, the invisible force lured me forward. We had arrived at the steps, and I glanced again at the window, this time a bit nervous. Was he doing this? Did he have some sort of other freaky power besides his little vampire extras? Summoning, perhaps?

The pull was struggling determinedly at my legs now, and I stumbled forward involuntarily, trying to play it off as a meaningful trip towards the closed door.

"I want to meet him," I said suddenly, and Bella looked at me, surprised. He snarled inside and I shot the curtain another annoyed glare.

"You do?" The question sounded disbelievingly hesitant, but Bella's voice trembled with what I hoped was suppressed excitement.

"Yeah, sure," I grinned, leaning against the door frame to play off my weak legs. "I mean, I know he stinks, but I can deal."

The smile that lit up her face nearly split me in two. "Okay, okay. Hold on. Let me just tell him."

You don't need to, I almost told her, he can hear every word we're saying, but she was already through the second door.

I was examining my nails with mild anxiety as they ground into the wood of Bella's door frame when I heard it.

"Why are you really here, Jacob?"

I jumped, nearly falling over in surprise, swivelling to find the perpetrator, the owner of that sinfully smooth velvet voice. "What the hell? Who the hell said that?" I decided - I was going crazy. Wasn't it a bit soon? I still had the rest of, well, forever to struggle through.

"You're not going crazy."

What. The Fuck.

"Are you always this obscene?"

I took a few deep breaths to steady myself - I still wasn't used to these damn sensitive ears - and turned back to Bella as she opened the door. She had stepped back to let me in, and as soon I had stepped over the threshold, I had regretted my decision so badly, it hurt. I mean, literally. Yearning hit me so hard in the chest, I actually staggered back a few feet before the pull dragged me forward again.

I followed it involuntarily, ignoring Bella's confused cries as I span round the hallway corner and practically ran across the small kitchen, tripping over my own feet in my haste. What in hell's name was happening!?

Bella shared the same opinion. "Jacob, what the hell!?" Bella shrieked, from somewhere behind me.

"I don't know!" I yelled back as I hurtled into the living room. "I don't know what the fuck is going-"

And then I'd suddenly stopped. And I'd looked up and seen him. Tall, pale, some strange colored hair. Completely still. The only source of movement was the delicate white curtain, rising and falling around him like snow as he stared out of the window.

I could smell Bella behind me, standing there, pick up the fear and anxiety rolling off her in waves.

Then, I could smell him, and every so often, his scent would hit me - hard - in short, strong whiffs as the breeze softly blew.

I swallowed, my heart beating ridiculously fast as I watched him. And then he turned around.

A/N: Well?

Nothing much has changed. Still have exams. Still have a ridiculous amount of studying to do. Still not sure if I can update frequently.

But I CAN update. :] I just don't know when. I don't abandon stories.

I'll try my best to update as I feel best, and I won't lie, reviews will spur me onward :D

Until then, thankyou for your continued support and I really do enjoy checking the hits on my stories! Especially the reviews (HINT.).

- I.D.