So this chapter had me up at night. I wasn't too sure where to go with it. I took it a total different direction than I had originally planned.

Hmmm...

Oh well, it happens sometimes.

Ok so, just so everyone knows,

It's could HAVE instead of could OF.

Are we clear?

I learned the hard way. A verbal lashing I guess you could say.

Thanks Nobi for your wonderful mind while you beta this. But you still didn't take the 's' off of links.

But I need you like never before. This chapter never would HAVE made it, if it wasn't for you.

Mwah!

Oh hey who gets to see Eclipse tomorrow.

I DO!

BPOV

I stretch, wiggles my toes and yawn. The light is streaming through the windows and I squint looking at the alarm clock beside my bed.

It's 9am Friday morning and the glorious weekend. I lie in bed for a moment with my eyes closed and replay the events of the previous day. I will admit that it did creep me out that someone was taking pictures of me.

I chew on my bottom lip as I think of some way that I can go about my business being safe and not have to think about moving in with Charlie. The thought alone sends shivers up my spine. What could someone possibly want with me? I've never been involved with Charlie on a personal level or business level. Whoever's doing this must know that. I run my hands through my hair and shake my head out of these thoughts.

I throw the covers off of me and grab my robe from the chair in the corner and fix my hair in a ponytail. I walk to my bathroom and brush my teeth and wash my face. I look into the mirror and a small ordinary girl looks back at me. I smirk at myself and put the lid back on the toothpaste.

I bet Charlie had one of his guys taking the pictures and then he showed me to scare me so I'll move in with him.

I mean what's with the whole, "I want to get to know you better", and the whole, "I've never stopped loving you." Those were the words of my father on the answering machine when I got home after that Jasper guy dropped me off.

The man has some nerve.

I walk out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. I notice that we're out of coffee cream, and milk just won't do. I pad my way to Alice's room and I can hear her snoring from the hallway. Man that girl needs to get some nose strips, how can I not hear that from my room?

I knock lightly and push the ajar door fully open. I look in and see Alice on her stomach with her head to the side and arms stretched out in front of her. The sheets are tangled around her legs and feet, and each time she lets out a breath a piece of hair flies up and hovers over her angelic face.

I walk to the side of her bed and slowly slip under the covers. She stirs a little and I snuggle in closer, missing the warmth of my own bed. The snoring stops and I know what's coming next.

"Bella, do you have to do that all time? Why can't you let me wake up for once without you next to me?" her voice is raspy and her breath smells horrible. I cover my nose with my hand and turn around in her small bed.

"Because Alice, this is the most action that you've gotten and I thought that I might help you remember what it's like to wake up with someone that you love. Though, please don't touch me in any appropriate ways. I'm just here for the reminder and the warmth." I pull the cover up around my chin and I feel her wrap her arm around my waist.

"Oh baby Bella, I love you so much, come to momma!" I shoot out of bed and slap her on the leg.

"Not funny Alice, get and brush your teeth, we're going out for coffee. She sits up and pulls the cover off, hopping around on one foot trying to put on her sweat pants.

"You mean the same coffee shop with that really cute guy? What's his name Kirk? Yeeeeaaaaah Kirk. Ahhhhh." She says as she flops back on her bed.

"Ok Alice, you're officially nuts. Come on I'll meet you in living room in 15 minutes." I turn to walk out the door leaving a mumbling Alice behind.

Alice pushes the door to the café open and the bell above the door chimes, signaling entry. I step in after her and stand off to the side looking over the menu board that's on the wall. Alice is already at the counter leaning down on her elbows talking to said Kirk. I roll my eyes and shake my head.

"Typical Alice." I say to no one but myself. I look back up at the menu selection and narrow my eyes to see the distance.

"Hmmm…" I murmur to myself…"decisions, decisions." I finally see what I want and move to stand in line. Alice is still talking to Kirk while she takes her coffee and chocolate covered croissant. She passes me in line and winks while bumping my shoulder. I chuckle to myself and a man in front of me turns around just as I'm stumbling into him. He puts his arms out to stable me and I look up at him ready to apologize only to see that it's none other than Jacob Black.

"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in?" I push off his shoulders and step back.

"Jacob, OH MY GOSH JAKE! How have you been, I mean I haven't seen you in forever. Wow you look different. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you like that. My friend Alice bumped into me and I lost my balance." I've known Jacob since we were kids, and well, as I explained before, our fathers are enemies. Him and I were close when we were younger. We would sneek out and meet at a park that was considered neutral territory. As far as I knew he also didn't want to be a part of his father's business. But him being male and all, he kind of was expected to fill the role, me being a female, not so much, but Charlie kept insisting.

"Bella, what are you doing here?" He asked looking me up and down.

"Actually Jacob, the question is why are you here? This isn't exactly the safest part of town for you. Crossing the boundaries are we?" I gave absolutely no care as to who was supposed to be on what side of the town and I don't really care. But Jacob was always the rebel.

"Well you know me, I don't care about that stuff. All I know is that this café makes a mean breakfast burrito if you know what I mean. I shrugged my shoulders and my mouth twitched to the side.

"Hey, you want to go out or something?" I look over at Alice who is sitting at the closest table to the counter.

Figures

I look back at Jacob and purse my lips.

"I don't know Jake, I'm not sure that it's a great time right now." He steps forward and leans into me. I take a deep breath as a sweet scent wafts off of him, mmmmm…he smells so good. Just like I remembered.

"Why not? Just a friendly get together." He whispers smiling his bright white teeth. He's grown into a muscular guy from the scrawny one that I used to know. He is handsome, I'll give you that, but I'm not sure what the rules were when someone was supposed to be my enemy.

Wait a minute, I'm starting to sound like Charlie. I pause for a moment to think, stepping back a bit.

It would be nice to connect with him again. I do miss him.

I look over to Alice and she sees me and waves, then gives me a thumbs up.

Yeah Alice, if you only knew who he was. I look back to Jake and put my finger up signaling a moment.

"Sure, take all the time that you need Bells." I roll my eyes again and walk over to where Alice is sitting.

"Hey Alice, what's going on with Kirk? Are you guys going out?" I ask hoping that I can tag along with Jake so I'm not alone with him. It's not that I feel uncomfortable with him, it's just easier to leave at the end of the night with Alice instead of Jake.

"Well, if you must know, he asked me out for tonight!" She jumped a little and tilted her head to the side over my shoulder.

"Who's that Bella? He looks like a juicy piece of meat, I would think he's not your type, but I could be wrong." I turned my head and looked back at Jacob and sighed.

"Yeah ummm….he's an old friend of the family I guess you could say. He asked me out and I don't want to go alone, I'm not so good at first dates." She was on her tippy toes now straining to get a better look, but I kept blocking my body so she would just answer me.

"Sure I guess that you guys could come. But you can't be tagging along at the end, what happens if Kirk wants to come back to our place and you're there? I mean we both can't be at our place." Her eyebrows were raised and she kept stealing looks over at Kirk.

"Ah yeah well, I'm not going to be inviting him back don't worry." I placed my hand on her shoulder to keep her from bobbing around.

"Oh, ok then." And just like that it was a done deal. I walked back over to Jacob who was now leaning against the counter.

"So what'll it be Bells?" he asks standing tall, calling me by my old nickname that he thought of when we were kids. We were swinging on the swings and it made this funny noise like a bell, and so the inception of the name came about. He laughed and I asked what was funny, he said that Bella swinging on the swings that sounds like bells.

Huh?

I mean I still don't get it to this day but whatever.

"Ok Jacob first, I'll go with you but Alice and her date are coming with us and second, can we not tell anyone about this? If it got back to Charlie that I was going on a date with you, he would be seriously pissed." I reached over him and grabbed a napkin and started to wipe my forehead. Gosh is it hot in here or is it just me?

"What's the matter, you scared something's going to happen to me Bella? Can't I date a beautiful woman of my choosing?" He leaned closer and I had to steady myself so I didn't fall over with the simple attraction that I held for him.

Wow, he sure has grown up. Baby face no more.

He noticed when I didn't respond right away and stepped back.

"Look, I'm sorry if I was out of line pressuring you for a date, it's just that I've liked you since we were kids. And even though our parents never knew about our secret get-togethers, I never wanted it to end, ya know?" I really felt bad that we lost touch.

We stopped meeting because I went to live with my uncle and it was too far from where the neutral park was. I never did find a way to get in contact with him secretly. Not even by phone.

"It's really good to see you Jake, I would love to go out with you, tonight good?" I smiled and I instantly felt like I had my old friend back. He wrapped my up in his arms and twirled me around. It was like he never left.

We both exchanged numbers and he promised to call some time later on in the afternoon. I hugged him again and told him bye. I walked back over to Alice and took a seat beside her. I plopped down and let out a huge moan, I covered my eyes with my arm and Alice slapped it away.

"What's the matter with you, a gorgeous man asks you out and this is your response?" She pulls on my arm and drags me out of the café. She shoves a coffee in my hand and tells me to drink.

"When did you get this?" I asked walking over to my car. Ah my beautiful car. A black Mercedes Roadster was the first car that I bought after the business started to spread. I figured that at least I could afford a good vehicle to drive around in if nothing else.

I look back to Alice and she grabbed my coffee out of my hands, took a sip then gave it back to me.

"Oh Bella, how can you not use sugar, I mean come on just cream?" She made it sound like it was the end of the world when she squealed like that.

"I ask again, when did you get the coffee?" we reached my car which I gracefully named beater.

Don't ask.

"While you were talking to the hunk back there, you seemed to lose your train of thought as to why you were actually there, so I filled in the blanks."

"Hmmmm….thank you." I press the button on my remote and the door locks pop up instantly with that little chirping noise. I loved the sound of that chirp. We both climbed into beater and took off in the busy streets.

X

"Ok so where are we going again Alice? Is it that club downtown?" I yell into the other room while I attempt to fix my hair falling down my back.

"Yeah, you know the new one, I think its call Casting Crowns!" she yells back.

"What are you wearing?" I stand in front of my closet in my robe, my arms crossed against my chest and thumbing my lips.

Alice comes bounding in my room in her underwear holding her dress. "Oh nothing that special, but I do want to make an impression." She holds up a small black dress that covers all her bases.

"Classic Alice, I like it." She trots over to my closet and starts skimming through my selection. After a few minutes she steps back and mirrors the same position as I was earlier.

"Uh….maybe you should decide, when was the last time that you went shopping?"

"Alice, I have lots of nice clothes, just not your style that's all. Why don't you go finish getting ready, we only have like 30 minutes till we have to be there." She claps her hands and turns to leave out of the door.

When Jake called me earlier he asked if he could pick me up but I suggested that we just meet there. I think it would be better for both parties if we did. Kirk on the other hand is coming to pick Alice up.

How romantic.

I take another look at my closet and agree with Alice that I did need some sort of wardrobe makeover. I pick out a pair of grey dress pants with a black dress shirt and a grey halter vest. I slip on my 4 inch black heels and walk over to the full length mirror in the corner of my room and check myself out.

"Not bad." I say to myself as I smooth out my pants and yank on my vest a little. I fluff my hair in front of my shoulders and do a little twirl.

"Oh I forgot you had that vest. It looks great. Are you ready to go? Kirk is going to be here and I don't exactly want you here to give him the Spanish inquisition when he gets here."

"Ok Alice, you're rambling." I walk over to my door and grab my purse hanging on the back, take it to my bed and dump it. Then I walk to my closet and take out my black clutch purse. I take the basic necessities with me that I need out of it.

Cell phone

Lip gloss

Driver's license

Keys

Bank card

The doorbell rings and Alice looks at me with glaring eyes.

"I'll stay here till you leave ok. He won't know that I'm here." I attach the clasp of my clutch and throw it on the bed while I cross my arms.

"Thank you Bella, I'll see you there then ok?"

"Yup I'll be right behind you." She gives me a hug and runs out the door and into the living room. I move to close my door and sit on the bed, waiting till Alice leaves.

I hear some muffled giggling and I can tell that Alice is laughing at something Kirk said. Then the door slams shut and I can hear the turning of the locks. I stand and give myself a once over again in the mirror, grab my clutch off my bed and make my way out of the apartment.

I step into the elevator and turn to push the button to the underground parking. Just as the doors were closing a man holds his arm out to catch the closing doors. The electronic doors reopen and he steps in puffing out of breath.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone else was waiting for the elevator." I push the open button even though the door is already open, out of habit I guess. Isn't that what everyone does?

"No problem." The man says in a raspy voice that sends me the wrong vibes immediately. I smile and stick close to the wall inside the elevator praying that it would reach his floor soon. Then I realize that he hasn't pressed a designated floor, shit, he must be going to the underground parking like me.

I try to push down the paranoia that Charlie has stirred in me since he showed me the photos. I chuckle to myself thinking that I need to relax.

The elevator dings and the doors open.

"After you, of course." He holds out his hand offering me the first move. I smile and thank him. I start walking as fast as these heels will allow without me tripping. I take the keys out of my clutch and unlock the beater. I climb in and lock the doors while I'm tucked safely inside. I breathe out a long breath and rest my head back against the head rest.

Cracking my neck to the side I laugh at how ridiculous this situation is. How can I go about living if I think that everyone is trying to kill me? I shake my head as I continue to laugh and start beater. She purrs to life and I close my eyes just listening to her soothing sounds vibrating underneath me. I put her in first gear, release the emergency break and peel out of there.

I slow to the opening and drive over the release mechanism to open the gate. It slowly lifts open and I take the time to look around me. I see behind me the lights of a black tinted out car as it starts. My heart starts to beat fast and I can't shake the feeling that something's going on. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel and bite my bottom lip.

"Come on, come on." I chant as I wait for the gate to open. As soon as it does I release the clutch and speed out of there. I come to the opening and slam on my brakes as a kid rides his bike in front of me. My head thrusts forward as I hit the brakes and my whole body is shaking. My breathing has increased ten fold and the kids mother is yelling something at me, but I can't make out what she's saying because everything around me seems clouded.

The kid and her mother move along and I swallow and shift the car from neutral to first gear again. I shake my head and start off slowly this time as I take to the streets making my way to the club.

I keep looking back in the rearview mirror to see if anyone is following me. Once I feel safe that I'm not, I turn on the radio and crank it up hearing the sounds of Lady Gaga's Just Dance.

"This should get me in the mood." I say to myself as I turn off of 4th and onto Broadway.

I drive straight until I come to an intersection stopping at a red light. I bop my head to the pounding beats and tap both my hands on the dashboard just over the steering wheel. I look all around at the people walking by and smile as a woman crosses at the cross walk in front of me. But she doesn't return my smile. She glares at me as she crosses and my face scrunches up to confusion.

"Man, what is it with people nowadays?" I say to myself. The light turns green and I take off down the road towards a night of hopefully fun and catching up with an old friend.

I pull up to the club and park in a spot closest to the building, which is not that close. I grab my clutch and reapply my clear lemonade lip gloss. I smack my lips together and fluff my hair again.

"Oh who am I fooling?" I open the door and step out and press the lock button behind me eliciting the chirp I so very much love. I smile and walk towards the entrance, not having to wait in line I stroll right in.

Lights are flashing everywhere and I wait for my eyes to adjust. Music is pumping loud and I crane my neck to see if I can see Alice somewhere in the sea of people. I sigh and make my way to the bar. Maybe she'll see me there if I just stay put. I lean up against the counter and the bartender comes over throwing his towel over his shoulder.

"What can I get you miss?"

"I'll have a cosmopolitan please, leave the lime out."

He nods his head and starts making my drink. I turn and lean back against my elbows and look again to see if I can see Alice. I smile noticing her on the dance floor grinding against Kirk. He seems to look uncomfortable as he moves his hips back and forth. He's not really paying attention to her as he looks around like he's trying to find someone.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I spin around to see my drink in front of me. I pull out some cash I brought and he waves his hand off.

"It's from that guy over there." He points down the bar at the most handsome man that I've ever seen. His face looks like it's been chiseled out of granite, you could cut stone with his jawbone, his eyes, well I can't really see the color, but they look intense. His hair is in full disarray and I want to run my hands through it. I shake my head clear and put the money down in front of the bartender anyways.

"Umm, you can tell him no thanks, I'm waiting for someone." Do guys think that they can buy a drink for a woman and she'll instantly be theirs? I mean if I wasn't meeting Jake here then maybe I might, but only because he's drop dead gorgeous. Ok now I'm just not making any sense.

I feel something brush up against my arm and I turn to see the guy who bought me this drink. OH. MY. GOSH.

"You know it's rude to refuse a drink once it's been paid for you." he says to me in a velvet sexy voice.

Green, that's all I see, is green.

"Excuse me miss?" I shake my head.

"I'm sorry?"

"I said that it's rude to refuse a drink once it's been paid for you." He stands there mere inches from me at the crowded bar.

Wait a minute I paid for my drink myself.

"Yeah well, I don't need someone to buy me a drink. I can do that perfectly fine by myself." I snap at him. He narrows his eyes at me and his mouth turns up into a half smile.

"What's your name?" he asks

"Why, what's it to you?" I say as I take a sip of my martini.

He shrugs his shoulders and slaps some money on the bar. The bartender comes over and he leans over me.

"Vodka tonic please, Grey Goose if you have it. Oh and leave out the lime." My eyes bug out and he looks back at me.

"What?" he asks. "I don't like lime. It ruins it." He leans back against the bar and I'm standing in front of him looking off into the crowd. I check my watch and see that Jake's about thirty minutes late.

"What's the matter, your date stand you up?" he asks. I slowly turn around careful not to spill my drink and face him. Oh man, I didn't realize that he's so close. I breathe in his scent, and mint and raw vanilla floats off of him. He moves his head to the side waiting for my answer.

"What makes you think that I'm being stood up or even waiting for someone for that matter?" I put one hand on my hip while I take another sip. He smiles and the skies light up, I try not to smile myself at the beauty of his face but fail because I feel something cold running down my chin and I pull back my martini, trying to wipe off some liquid from my chin and neck. He chuckles, "because the bartender told me." he simply says.

"Here let me help you." He reaches out to me and his thumb runs over my bottom lip brushing away the wetness there. I involuntary close my eyes and bask in the feeling this man is igniting in me.

Sparks, everywhere.

Where is this coming from?

I know to open my eyes because I can no longer feel the burning sensation on my face. I open my eyes and he's gone. Just like that, gone. I look all around me and I can see him disappear into the crowd.

"Well that's just rude." I say to myself. I huff and sit down on the stool at the bar.

"What's rude?" I spin around and Jake is standing behind me smiling with his teeth. And he looks good wearing all black.

"Jake, finally where have you been?" I swat him lightly on the shoulder and he laughs grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it. I blush and shake my head.

"Oh Jake." He stands beside me and leans into the bar.

"Hey, I'll have a Vodka martini extra olives for myself and another of what the lady is having..." he looks to me and I tell him Cosmopolitan…."cosmopolitan please."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure, Bells." He picks up our drinks and motions with his head for me to follow him. I throw back my first drink and leave it on the bar.

I trail behind him as he walks through the crowd and over to a roped off area. A burly man unhooks the rope and lets us through then re-hooking it once we've passed.

"How did you get this table?" I ask as he sets my drink in front of him.

"Connections Bella, have you forgotten who my father is?" I suddenly stiffen up and he smiles.

"Relax, I may not be interested in the family business but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy the benefits." I smile and relax my shoulders a little.

"So tell me, what have you been up to all these years?" he leans into me and I start to tell him about my years in college and all about Alice and the clothing store that she and I own.

"Wow, I never thought that you would be one to own your own clothing store. When we were kids, you couldn't care about your looks or any of that." He takes a piece of my hair, starts playing with it and I smile at the memories of our younger days. I pull my hair out of his fingers and lean back. Playing with someone's hair to me is an intimate gesture. One that I'm not sure I want to have with Jake. Don't get me wrong, he's good looking and we've known each other for what seems like forever, but people grow up and I'm not that naïve anymore.

"Well I've grown up Jake, I appreciate the fit of a good pair of pants now. And it's been almost ten years since I've seen you. What have you been doing?" I ask trying to switch the conversation on him.

"No no no, I'm not done getting to know you. Are you dating someone?"

"No, I don't really date."

"Well why not? You're a beautiful woman Bella." I clear my throat and look out on the dance floor to see Alice dancing with two guys now. Wow, she's getting her groove on. I look back to the bar and see that guy from earlier talking to a woman. Typical.

"Bella? Earth to Bella." Jake waves his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry what did you say?" I shake my head.

"Nothing, so tell me about Charlie, what's going on with him?" I snap my head up to meet his and suddenly I get a nervous feeling about all of this. Like I was set up for information or something.

"Hey Jake, what kind of vehicle do you drive?" I ask feeling investigative.

"Why?" he says. I shrug my shoulders and finish the last of my drink. He nods his head to the empty glass, "would you like another?" Somehow I don't think that I should be accepting any drinks from him.

"No, I'm good. But I'm not feeling well, all of a sudden, do you mind if we cut this short? I really think that I should get home." I stand and he stands too.

"Why don't you let me take you, you shouldn't be driving if you're not feeling well. Come in my vehicle with me."

Red flags immediately go off and I stop him as he's about to grab my arm.

"Actually Alice is here, so she can drive my car home. It was really nice to see you again Jake. Take care of yourself." I walk over to the rope and step over it and into the dance floor. I make my way to Alice and pull her over to the exit.

"What's going on, what are you doing?" she pulls out of my grip and glares at me.

"Alice we need to leave now. Something is going on and I don't feel good about it." She huffs and looks behind her.

"Yeah you see those hot guys over there, I was sandwiched between the two of them." We both look back and the two guys that she was dancing with seconds ago are now grinding up against each other.

"OH NO! COME ON!" she yells. I stifle a laugh and she swats me on the shoulder.

"Come on Alice, how could have known that Kirk was gay? He never showed any signs of it." Her shoulders slump in defeat and I take her by the arm and link them together as we make our way out of the club and back over to my car.

As we walk down the sidewalk I feel someone behind us, you know like in the movies where a girl is being followed and she's completely vulnerable and helpless? Yeah this is one of those times. Alice feels it too because our arms are squeezing each other tightly and our pace has picked up.

We're almost at the car and I reach into my clutch to grab my keys when a man steps out from behind my car. Alice and I stop dead in out tracks and I hold my keys in my hand thumbing over the 'panic' button.

"Can we help you?" I ask to the man in black walking around my car. When he walks in front of us I can see that he's holding a crowbar in one hand and slapping it into the other hand over and over again.

"Nice car you got here, yours?" I can feel Alice trembling beside me and I tap my fingers on her hand. Our arms drop and she stands behind me a little. She does this only because she knows that I'm a black belt in Karate. Just something that I learned while living with Uncle Aro.

"Yes it's my car, I'll ask you again, can I help you with something?" He chuckles and walks closer, circling us.

"Well now, let me see, your father has taken something that's not his." Both Alice and I turn as he's turning, never having our backs facing him.

"And that has what to do with me?" I ask in a monotonous voice. "I have nothing to do with my father or his affairs." He nods his head and points the crowbar at me.

"Yes true, but you belong to him. So it's only fair that we return the gesture, don't you think?" He's moving closer now and Alice is fully behind my back. I take my stance and hold my arms up in front of my chest. He throws his head back and laughs giving me the perfect opportunity to high kick him right in the throat with my spiky heels, the heel itself just missing his jugular. He buckles over and I rush him and knee him in the balls. He keels over yelling and Alice is screaming behind me as I grab the crowbar and stand over him ready to strike. I throw Alice the keys and tell her to get in the car. She does what I say and I take a moment to tell him that I'm not scared of who he works for. Ok I could be lying just a little, in fact I was scared shitless. But he doesn't need to know that. They say that half the battle is won if you don't show fear right?

Right? Hmmmm….not so sure anymore.

I can tell that the guy isn't getting up anytime soon so I run over to my now started beater and jump in. I whip the crowbar in the back and shift her into reverse, back out and then shift into first and race out of there.

"Bella you have to tell me what the hell is going on?" Alice has her knees up to her chest and is crying.

"I'm so scared Bella, what did he want with you? Was he going to kidnap us?" She's starting to hyperventilate and I put my hand on her telling her to calm down.

"We can't go home Alice. They know where we live." I knew that something was off since I left the apartment. I shook my head and pushed the pedal further down racing through the streets and out onto the highway.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

"To the one place that I didn't want to go. But at least we'll be safe there." She looks at me and hugs her knees tighter as I push the car faster.

A/N: Thanks for reviewing everyone. All 12 of you!

Come on guys you can do better than that.

Please!