From the last chapter:

"Bella?"

"Hmm?" I was almost completely asleep.

"Jacob Black does have something more to tell you."

But by the time Edward told me this I was already fast asleep.

Italics are when Bella is thinking. These characters are Stephenie Meyer's: NOT mine.

Chapter 3: An Invitation to the Reservation

I awoke with a long yawn and became startled as I no longer felt Edward holding me in his arms.

"Edward?" My voice sounded extremely groggy and unattractive. I glanced around my room and spotted him sitting on my chair watching me contently.

"Good morning, Bella." Edward's voice sounded like velvet and had no trace of grogginess in it.

I knew that he couldn't sleep so he couldn't have a groggy voice, but I never could help but wonder why he chose to be with me when I was so imperfect. He gave me a crooked smile when I sighed in relief.

"When are you going to stop doing that?" He smirked at me.

"Stop doing what?" I mumbled still feeling sleepy.

"Well, every morning you wake up and look around thinking that I left you during the night," Edward informed me.

"You do though," I pointed out as I looked at the fresh clothes that he was not wearing last night.

"Yes, but I always come back." He walked smoothly across my bedroom and sat beside me on my bed. He gazed into my eyes trying to make me see that what he said was true.

I had to glance down as I felt my face turn slightly pink. He was looking stunning today. He did everyday, but today his white jacket brought out his topaz eyes even more than his other clothes did.

"Bella? You know that I love you right?" He kept looking at me.

"Yes." I smiled. "And I love you too."

He leaned over to tease me with his lips and I eagerly placed mine on his. His lips felt cool and refreshing. He ran his fingers through my tousled hair and continued to kiss me. After a minute, when he noticed his own eagerness, he pulled away from me.

"We have to be responsible," Edward said breathing hard. He seemed strict when he said it as if he was ordering himself to behave.

I was breathless and giggly.

"Seriously though Bella. If Charlie walked in and you and I were…well, you know…" Edward tried to sound serious. I knew that if he could blush he would have then.

"True. Charlie wouldn't exactly be thrilled, would he?" I turned somewhat serious, but couldn't repress a smile. "Be right back."

Edward understood that I needed a human moment as he didn't question where I was going. When I got back, he had returned to sitting in my chair.

"I hear Charlie eating breakfast downstairs," Edward said, "You should go and eat too."

I shrugged not feeling that hungry.

"I have some business to do with Carlisle anyways so I'm not going to see you until later on. You might as well spend some time with Charlie today," he suggested.

I looked at him trying not to look worried that he might not come back. He saw my pained expression before I could try to hide it and responded quickly.

"Bella, if you don't want me to go I won't."

"No, no! Carlisle will be expecting you. I'll find something to do," I tried to sound confident.

He watched me for a second trying to decide whether I was telling the truth.

"Are you …"

I cut him off. "Really, it's alright. I'll see you tonight then and say hello to Carlisle for me," I said walking out my door, assuring him that my decision was final.

I was sure that he waited until he could hear me walking down the stairs before he left.

"Hey Bella, I didn't hear you get up," Charlie greeted me from the kitchen table. He had a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee in front of him.

"Hey Dad. Why didn't you wait for me to make your breakfast? I could have made eggs and toast," I said getting my own bowl.

"I wanted to give you a break," he replied chuckling. "You do way too much around here anyways."

I just smiled and helped myself to some cereal. It had been awhile since Charlie and I could sit down and actually talk during breakfast. During the week, he always had to go to work and I always had to go to school. I usually had some shifts to work too at the Newton's. We were always in a rush. Not today though.

It was a Saturday and a rare sunny one too. We both ate in silence for a couple of minutes until Charlie started a conversation.

"Bells, I planned to go fishing today with a friend last weekend. I hope that's alright with you," he said before taking a sip of his coffee. He waited for me to say something.

"Yea, Dad, that's alright. I'll just hang around outside and clean up the bike," I replied honestly.

Charlie gave me a look that proved to me he still hadn't totally agreed with my bike. I remembered the look on his face when he first saw it and tried not to shudder. Since then though he wasn't as bad. I knew that he probably still had nightmares about me accidentally killing myself on that thing, as he would call it, but sometimes I thought that he seemed as if he wanted to have a go on it himself. He always denied it though when I brought it up.

"Actually, Bella, Billy called this morning and asked whether you would like to go over there and join him and Jacob for dinner," Charlie said, "You should go and have a good time."

Charlie was being really enthusiastic about the whole thing. It was strange though that I didn't hear the phone ring from upstairs and that Edward didn't say anything.

"Um…yea… that sounds nice," I said. I knew that Charlie was worried about Jacob and me not being friends anymore. I was happy though that I would be able to see Jake again. It was a lot sooner than what I thought it would be.

"Oh good. I already told Billy that you would be there," Charlie smiled, obviously relieved.

That night...

"Hey Bella. Glad you could make it," Jacob said while holding my truck's door open for me.

"I'm happy to be here," I grinned. I had parked my truck in the small driveway of the Blacks' house and before I could get out Jacob was there assisting me.

In my hands, I carried a batch of fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. I knew that they were Jake's favourite.

Jacob noticed the cookies and pretended to drool. I playfully smacked him and he just laughed. He seemed happier today since there was no Edward around.

We made our way up to the small wooden house and he held the door open for me yet again.

"Hi Bella. It's nice to see you again," Billy greeted me as he rolled his wheelchair towards me. He actually did seem somewhat pleased.

"Hey Billy. Yea, I know. Long time no see," I replied.

All of us talked for awhile. When Jacob left to reheat dinner, there was a bit of an awkward silence between Billy and me. I was anxious therefore when Jake called that dinner was served. I didn't really realize how hungry I was until I smelled the leftover barbecue steaks. Jacob and I sat down as Billy rolled up to the table and tucked his wheelchair under it.

"Wow, this looks good Jacob," I complimented, "And tastes even better." I was busy chewing a chuck of steak when I realized that Jacob's steak was rare. Blood and juices leaked out of his steak onto his plate as he cut. He noticed that I was staring.

"I like 'em rare," he responded with a smile to my baffled look. He placed a piece in his mouth while looking at me.

Billy didn't comment. Dinner was followed by some conversation and dessert. I never knew that Jacob was such a good cook as he brought out some cherry pie.

I was enjoying the taste of my pie when Billy cleared his throat and gave Jacob a look. Jacob looked intensely into Billy's eyes as if he was communicating quietly somehow. This made me feel uncomfortable and I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to pretend that I didn't notice what they were doing.

"Jacob, it's better to," Billy spoke to his son and ignored that I was in the room.

"Not now," Jacob responded in warning.

"If not now, then when?" Billy responded and his temper was rising.

"I don't know. Just not now," Jacob said with his temper rising too.

"Bella, we need to talk," Billy said and I had a feeling that I already knew what, more like who, he wanted to talk about.

I was feeling even more uncomfortable now. Jacob glared at his father with an expression that proved that they already had this argument before in private.

"You are still friends with the Cullens, correct?" Billy pressed.

"Yes, I am," I responded a bit more forcefully than necessary. When was Billy going to accept that I liked the Cullens for who they were and that it didn't matter to me whether they were vampires or not?

"I assume that you are aware of the dangers that are involved with their kind?" Billy asked.

"Billy, I am fully aware of the 'dangers' that are involved with the Cullens. It's my decision to whether I want to spend time with them; not yours." I was becoming angry now and rude.

Jacob began to stand up from the table, but Billy barked for him to sit back down.

"Bella, I believe that it's time that Charlie becomes aware of what you are involved with.

It's not safe for you to be around the Cullens and you very well know that," Billy threatened. "Charlie is a good friend and I'm sure that he'd want to know if you were endangering yourself."

"Endangering myself?" I shouted. "I'm endangering myself in your and Jacob's presence or have you forgotten that your son also carries 'dangers' to me too?"

I looked at Jacob and saw that my words had hurt him. I didn't want to hurt Jacob. I was outraged with Billy, not him, for bringing up the Cullens.

Billy grimaced and replied, "Charlie has the right to know about them Bella."

"Well then he must have the right to know about werewolves too!" I yelled. Internally, I knew that I would never reveal what Jacob was, but if Billy threatened me, I could also threaten him too.

"I thought about that too, Bella. I don't think it's a good idea if you and Jacob stay in contact. There are dangers with him also as you just admitted," Billy spoke more calmly.

Jacob, at this point, stood up. He was shaking and I knew what would happen if he didn't get back in control or leave.

"Jacob and I are going to remain friends," I replied firmly. "The Cullens and me too."

I stood up from the table and my half eaten cherry pie. I walked over to Jacob who was clenching his hands and grabbed his arm. I led him to the door, without caring anymore what Billy would do, and walked outside into the cool night. The moon was perched in the middle of the night sky, and shone on Jake and me, creating shadows as we walked.

Jacob was becoming more relaxed and I released my grip from his arm. He, however, reached for my hand and held it as we walked into the forest near his house. I stopped when we were out of view from the house.

"Bella, I thought that Billy invited you over for dinner because I thought he knew that things between us were alright again. I never would have agreed to have you over if I knew what he really was planning to do," Jacob sounded apologetic and flustered.

"It's alright, Jake. I know it was Billy and not you," I assured him.

Jacob still looked bothered and I remembered what I had said about him.

"Jake, I'm sorry about the werewolf comments. I was just really mad and I didn't know what I was talking about anymore. I don't care whether you're a werewolf; you're my friend and that's all that matters for us," I said quietly.

Jacob seemed to cheer up a bit, but he still looked upset. He continued holding my hand and I thought it was best that I released my hand before he got the wrong impression.

"I really should go now. Before I create anymore trouble around here for us," I said. I released my hand from his and I felt that he was hesitant to let go.

"Bella?" Jacob wanted to ask me something.

"Yea?" I thought I knew what he was about to ask and I thought that I was prepared for it. I could tell though that this wasn't what he was going to say to me last night outside of my house.

"We can't ever be more than friends, can we?" His face was serious and waiting for my answer.

"I don't know, Jake, I don't know."

His look saddened and I despised myself for being the cause of his pain. I loved Edward and that was the truth. I didn't know whether I could ever feel the same way about Jacob, even if I really tried.

In silence, Jacob walked me back to my truck.

"We're still friends, right Jake?" I wasn't so sure anymore whether he wanted to be after all that had happened tonight.

He nodded and attempted to smile. I gave him a hug and he gave me a big bear hug. Before I could stop him, Jacob quickly brushed my cheek with his lips. I was too tired to argue with him and I climbed into my truck.

As I drove away, I glanced in my rearview mirror as Jacob transformed and ran deep into the forest. I sighed.

It had been a long night.

I know, I know. Chapter three was a long one. If you like the story so far, hopefully you didn't mind. Thanks again to all of you who reviewed the last chapter. Please keep reviewing as my readers inspire me to write faster when I know there are people waiting to know what happens next. Chapter four is on the way! Review, review, review! Love moonlightwriter06