A/N: Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it! And please, please review. I'm virtually begging you! :) Also, just for the heck of it I put links to pictures of Jacob Black, and Maddie and Bella's outfits from this chapter into my profile. Enjoy, Brody.

Better Days By: The Goo Goo Dolls

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again

"Life comes at us from out of the darkness. And at times we can struggle to find the courage to face it." –One Tree Hill

x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x

Bella, her father, and Maddie made their way up to the Clearwater's front door. Maddie had been a little hesitant about leaving Chowder to fend for himself, but eventually Charlie convinced her that the dog would be okay. The drive down to the Reservation had been quick and they were the first ones to arrive. Sue greeted the three of them with open arms, and excitedly introduced Maddie to Leah and Seth.

Leah came off with her usual bratty attitude. But she was able to warm up to Maddie after a couple of minutes. Unlike Leah, Seth was immediately in love with Maddie. He practically hung on her arm everywhere she went. If Maddie got up to refill her drink, Seth go up to refill his. If Maddie went to sit on the couch, Seth went to sit right next to her. Maddie found it flattering, but Leah and Bella found it purely annoying.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Sue opened it to find a very wet looking Emily and Sam Uley. Unsurprisingly, it had begun to pour buckets of rain, not that anyone minded. Sam and Emily walked into the kitchen where everyone was just sitting around and talking. Charlie was the one to introduce them to Maddie, who was relieved that they seemed just as nice as everyone else. The group sat around chatting for several minutes, until Maddie excused herself to go to the washroom.

"Second door on your left," Sue instructed.

"Right," Maddie replied as she made her way down the hallway. She really liked the house a lot, actually almost as much as Charlie and Bella's house. Everything about this place was nice and cozy. Eventually Maddie made it to the bathroom, but not before she stopped to admire all of the Clearwater's family pictures and memorabilia that lined the hallway.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, everyone continued joking and having a good time. Sam was right in the middle of a story about what happened the first time he went to meet Emily's parents, when the doorbell rang again.

Leah was the one to open it this time, welcoming Billy and Jacob Black into the house. Well, it was actually more like just welcoming Billy. Leah and Jacob had never really gotten along since they were little kids, and it was just something that neither of them could get over.

Jacob lead the way to the kitchen, followed closely by Leah and Billy, who maneuvered around the crowded kitchen the best he could in his wheelchair.

"Jake!" Bella exclaimed when she spotted her friend. She ran up and gave him a big hug.

"Hey Bells. Miss me that much already? I mean I did see you last weekend," he joked, receiving a playful punch from Bella. He looked around the kitchen for the new face, Bella's cousin, who Billy had informed him would be there.

"Where's this mysterious cousin of yours?" He asked with a grin on his face.

"Well actually mister, she does have a name, it's Maddie. And she's standing right over there," Bella chuckled as she pointed towards the doorway where Maddie was now standing.

As soon as Jacob laid eyes on her, it was like the whole room began to spin, and time just ceased. The air seemed to get thicker, and he couldn't even sort out any of his thoughts. At that moment in time, all Jacob Black knew was that she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen in his entire life. He'd never even spoken one word to her, and he already knew she was the one person he wanted to spend forever with. Jake instantly loved everything about her. He loved the way her blue eyes were so bright they almost glowed. He loved the way her blonde hair fell perfectly, framing her face. And the way she bit her lip and looked away when she caught Jacob starring.

Billy Black had been watching this entire exchange comfortably from his spot at the table. As soon he saw the look in Jacob's eyes, he knew his son had done it. He had imprinted.

"Earth to Jacob Black," Bella said, waving her hand in front of his face. That was enough to pull him out of his trance, but he kept his eyes locked on Maddie.

"Yeah, Bella, what is it?" Jake's voice was barely audible as his gaze remained on Bella's cousin. At that point in time, something in Bella's mind clicked.

"No, no, no, no," she repeated. "Jake tell me what I think happened, did not just happen," Bella practically begged. Finally, that seemed like it was enough to get his full attention.

"Umm, what?" Jacob asked as a result of his thoughts still being jumbled.

"Jake, please please tell me you did not just imprint… on my cousin," she added in a whisper. Jacob stared at her for a few seconds, before realizing that she was right. He had in fact just imprinted, and he could tell Bella was pissed about it.

"Bella, just try and understand," he prompted, his eyes pleading.

"Jacob, no. This. Is. Not. Okay," she emphasized. Bella was being torn up on the inside by what had just happened. It wasn't that she didn't want Jacob to be happy, because she truly did. For quite awhile now, since Edward came back to be exact, she'd hoped that Jacob would find the right girl, and get on with his life. But never in a million years did she expect that girl to be her cousin.

"Bella, please. You know that I couldn't have possibly helped this, but there's nothing we can do now," Jacob explained truthfully.

"I don't care. And yes, we can't do anything… But you can. Just stay away from her Jake. She's a good person, amazing actually. She does not deserve this. You have no idea what this girl has been through, and I'm not going to sit back and watch as her life goes on without her consent." Bella was really fired up now, and not about to give up arguing with Jacob.

"You won't let her life go on 'without her consent?'" Jacob quoted. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" He asked.

"Just because you want her, does not mean she will be pressured into a relationship for the rest of her life. I won't let that happen to her," Bella retorted.

"And I won't either," Jacob fired back.

"Jake, please just leave her alone. If you care about her enough, you won't drag her into this messed up world of werewolves. She's just a normal girl, and doesn't need to find out about anything even relatively close to that. I won't let her life be turned upside down anymore than it already has been." Bella was trying her hardest to reason with Jacob. Hoping that she'd be able to persuade him, and ultimately protect her cousin.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are," Jacob barked, raising his voice, "but that's not your decision to make."

"Yeah, well it shouldn't be yours either," Bella sneered. By this time, the eyes of everyone in the room were turned to Bella and Jacob, and were watching the heated exchange of their words. No one really knew what they were arguing about, but it didn't sound good.

When the blow of Bella's last comment sunk in, Jacob's eyes began to glaze over, and a couple people in the room tensed. For when Jacob began to shake violently, they knew what was going to happen. But instead, Jake kept his cool for a few more seconds as he stormed over to the front door, opened it wide, exited, and slammed it hard.

The door collided with the frame with such force that the whole house seemed to shake and the glass panes of the door shattered. A couple of people in the kitchen let out sighs of relief, they were grateful that Jacob had just managed to avoid a huge slip up.

The silence continued for a few moments, the tension in the room so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. Sam and Billy exchanged knowing glances across the table, and Seth and Leah were staring at each other intently. Emily just shook her head, and Sue was the first one to speak.

"So… Who's ready for dinner?" She offered.

"Yeah that sounds… lovely," Emily responded.

After a few hours, it seemed everyone had forgotten about Jacob's little tantrum. Not Maddie though. She actually hadn't stopped thinking about him since he left. He had definitely been one of the most handsome boys she'd ever seen. He had short black hair, and copper skin. His eyes were a beautiful deep brown color, almost hypnotizing. Thanks to the fitting shirt he'd been wearing, Maddie was able to make out the perfect form of his body. He seemed out of place in the tiny kitchen, his huge cumbersome frame massive compared to anyone else, even Sam who was a massive man. He'd been tall, towering over Bella, and no doubt at least a foot taller than Maddie. Even when he'd freaked out, she still kept her eyes glued to his face. She couldn't help but feel like she was part of the reason he took off in the fashion he did, and as a result Maddie was extra quiet throughout the remainder of dinner.

Lucky for her, Bella didn't feel like being social much either. Her constant negativity and nagging was what influenced Charlie to take her and Maddie home as soon as the table had been cleared. Charlie, Bella and Maddie said their goodbyes quickly, each of them promising they'd be back soon to visit. Bella, however, had no intention of coming back for awhile. And as long as she had her way, Maddie would be keeping her distance from La Push as well.

As soon as the trio arrived back at home, Charlie made his way upstairs for bed. He told the girls that he was planning on going on a short fishing trip with Billy early in the morning, and wouldn't be back until Monday, sometime around dinner. He kept apologizing that he'd miss Maddie's first day of school, but she told him it wasn't a big deal. Both Maddie and Bella easily convinced him that they'd be fine without him.

"Thanks girls, you make my life so much easier," Charlie told them as he headed up the stairs. Bella and Maddie also made their way up the stairs, with Chowder following closely behind. Maddie went to shower, while Bella went to send a quick e-mail to Renee.

Maddie reappeared in Bella's room after a few minutes, dressed in her pajamas. She was going through one of her bags of clothes, when the silence was interrupted.

Slow down.. this night's a perfect shade of
Dark blue (dark blue)
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?

When I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning (burning) down
Dark blue (dark blue)
Have you ever been alone in a crowded room?

Well I'm here with you
I said the world could be burning

'Til there's nothing but dark blue…
Just dark blue

It was Maddie's cell phone ringing from somewhere on the other side of the room.

"Sorry," she muttered to Bella as she made her way to find it. Finally, after looking under a pile of some books that she hadn't had a chance to put away yet, she found it.

From across the room, even in the dim light of Bella's one lamp on her nightstand, she noticed the way the color drained from Maddie's face as she looked at the caller id.

"Sorry. I've, uh, just gotta take this," Maddie explained as she practically flew out of Bella's room. Through the echo of the quiet house, Bella could hear Maddie's faint 'Hello?' Bella decided to stop being nosey, and get back to the last of her homework she had to do. But the look on Maddie's face as she checked her phone kept coming back to haunt her. It wouldn't be nosey of Bella if she went downstairs and got a glass of water, would it? You know, if she just happened to overhear some of Maddie's conversation?

Yeah, that's it, Bella told herself, I'll just get a drink of water. And with that she rose from her place on her bed and made her way down the stairs. On her first step, the stair creaked loudly, and she mentally cursed the old set of stairs.

Not that it matter's if she hears me, I'm just getting a drink of water, Bella reminded herself. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could almost perfectly make out Maddie's side of the conversation.

"No Eli, it's not even like that," Maddie said to the other end of the phone like. "I don't know, a while I guess, maybe a long time," she continued her half of the conversation. From her place perched at the bottom of the stairs, Bella was able to her what sounded like the other person on the phone raising their voice. "Elijah! Why are you yelling at me?!" Bella didn't fail to pick up on the way Maddie's voice shook a little, like she was nervous or scared. "Yeah, whatever. Don't bother asking, she won't tell you… No one will. And don't waste your time calling back," she told whoever she was on the phone with before hanging up on them.

Bella heard Maddie get off the couch, so she took of back up the stairs, afraid of being caught in the act of eavesdropping. By the time Maddie got up to Bella's bedroom, Bella was already sitting on her bed with a book open. She had already decided not to ask Maddie about who was on the phone, but tucked the conversation away in the back of her head, because she knew it would come in handy sooner or later.

"Bella, can I ask you a question?" Maddie asked.

"Yeah sure," Bella replied.

"Your friend…" Maddie started.

"Jacob," Bella filled in for her.

"Yes, your friend Jacob she emphasized his name, "why did he act like that tonight? Was it something I did?"

Bella couldn't help but feel sorry for Maddie. The way she took blame like that reminded Bella of a little kid. She seemed so innocent, and Bella secretly hated Jacob for making her feel like she'd done something wrong.

"Don't be silly Maddie," Bella told her. "You've never even talked to him, how would you have caused that?"

Maddie let out a relieved laugh. "I suppose you are right," she told Bella, "I just couldn't help but feel somehow responsible for his… outburst."

"Yeah, Jacob can be a little temperamental at times, but it's nothing to get hung up over," Bella told her.

"Okay, if you say so," she responded.

A short time later, Maddie and Bella said their goodnights, and parted ways. Maddie headed to her bed on the couch, with Chowder following her closely. Bella lay down on her bed, and tried willing herself to sleep. It didn't work well. She knew it was going to be a long night without Edward there for her, but she would see him soon enough. Eventually, Bella was able to close her eyes, and succumb to the darkness of sleep.

For the first time in a very long time, Bella's dreams were not filled with images of her, and Edward by her side, but instead they were haunted with images of Maddie; wandering around aimlessly in a dense forest before being saved by a wolf. A wolf who just so happened resemble Jacob in awful lot. Maybe it was her subconscious's way of warning her… Some things are just inevitable.

A/N: First off, let me apologize. I know this chapter was not quite as long as the previous two, but I have reasoning behind this, I swear! The original Chapter 3 that I wrote was very very lengthy. So much so, I made the decision to instead divide it into two separate chapters. I will post the second half (which is now Chapter 4) shortly, it just needs a tad bit more elaboration in certain places. Just a heads up, the first half will be a lot of Jacob, and what's going on in his head right now. The second half, well Maddie will finally be introduced to the rest of the Cullen's, lol. Take care, and thanks for reading, Bam. Btw, Maddie's ringtone was "Dark Blue," by Jack's Mannequin.