I couldn't imagine what she would possibly have to tell me that she couldn't have told me in front of Rachel, outside of the words we had the last time we had seen each other. And what she did tell me was nothing I expected.

"Please be careful with Jacob."

"Umm, what?" I knew it was early, but I was pretty sure the cold air from the short run to her house from Jacob's had my brain up and running correctly, but she was not making any sense. "What are you talking about?"

"Ok, I know you're gonna think I'm crazy, but something is happening to the guys here. They're all, changing."

"What do you mean?"

"Ok, well, you know last year..."

My heart hurt when I saw her wince whenever she thought of him.

"right before everything happened, he started changing. He would have these random fits of anger. Things that didn't normally bother him, would suddenly upset him really bad. He would spike these crazy fevers, but he would say he felt fine. There was even once when he just left, and was gone for several days, and didn't bother to tell me. I was freaking out, and I ended up finding out from Jake's dad that he went on some kind of hunting trip. He came back with all his hair cut off, and it was just, I don't know…."

"Wow. Do you think he was on drugs?"

"That's just it, it sounds like that, but he was never mean to me, and I never saw him really mean to everyone else. It was more like he had some kind of breakdown, or life change, or something."

"It sounds like one of those stories that Rachel tell us about those people that get hit in the head really hard and their whole personality changes."

"Yes! That's exactly what it was like, except his personality was the same. I don't know, it's hard to explain. All I can tell you is that something happened to him. Something changed him. And it's spreading." Now she had my attention.

"What do you mean it's spreading?"

"This past January, Paul Lahote went through the same thing. In May, Quil and Jared both followed suit, and now I've noticed Embry showing signs."

"Has anyone else noticed these things? I mean, I can't imagine everyone being ok with the boys just cutting off their hair like that."

"I know! I mentioned it to dad, and he said something about Sam really helping the boys. He said I was probably making a bigger deal about it because Sam was involved, but he stressed that they were all fine. And that's just it, everyone is saying they are fine. Like they are hiding what's really going on."

"Invasion of the body snatchers?" Leah huffed and rolled her eyes at me. "Ok, ok, I'm sorry. So why should I be careful around Jake, I mean you said they aren't mean- to-"

"You're too attached to him. You're as dependent on him as I was to Sam. You told me one time you never wanted to understand what I went through. And please believe me when I say that I never want you to go through that either. I know you and Jake are' just friends', but think about how you would feel if he even ripped away the friendship."

I just sat staring at her. Just the thought of not having him made my chest hurt and my stomach turn. She was right, even just as a friend, I was way too attached.

"That's what they've all done." She continued. "As soon as Quil and Jared started following in Sam's footsteps, he stopped hanging out with Jake and Embry. It's like they only hang out with each other. Like some crazy club."

"Or a cult."

"Oooh, yeah. That sounds about right."

"But come on, you know Jake, he wouldn't do that."

"I knew Sam too. We all did. He would never have done anything like that. Turns out I was very wrong. We all were."

"What am I supposed to do? I can't end my friendship with him, he really is my everything."

"Do you love him?"

"Of course." I brushed past the double meaning she was throwing at me.

"I don't know, just enjoy it while you can, but be prepared things will change soon."

I left shortly after, taking the long way around back to Jake's house. Running always helped clear my head, and it was definitely getting foggy up there. This had just been way too much. How was I supposed to prepare to lose Jake? He really was my everything. Maybe I should just talk to him. Maybe if he was prepared, he could stop whatever it was the rest of the guys were going through. But what was it? I hated to even think this, but drugs really seemed like the only logical answer, but from what I had always seen, that had usually been followed by some violent behavior, and according to Leah, there hadn't been any. So what then, some kind of late tribal puberty?

And how did the subject of me and Jake always seem to pop up? People had joked about it for years, just because usually one didn't go anywhere the other didn't follow. But isn't that what best friends do? If Leah and I had this relationship, would people just assume we were lesbians? But then again, I would be lying if I said I didn't feel like there was something actually there. The first time I can think of feeling it was right after Christmas this last year. It was snowing, and we were sitting in the living room with the lights off with it snowing, and I was cold so I got a blanket, and just sat in his lap with his arms wrapped around me in the recliner. I was really only being silly, using him to get warm, but it felt…..different. More than just comfortable. It felt right. We both ended up falling asleep like that, watching the snow fall. That was the first of several things that any other time in our relationship would have been no big deal, but suddenly they were turning into a big deal.

I decided to head back once my lungs started stinging and the sleet started falling. I turned and decided to take a shortcut through a patch of the forest that I was pretty sure would lead to the backside of Jake's house. The canopy kept most of the sleet and rain away, but also kept most of the light out too. I wasn't that familiar with the area, and I hopped over a fallen tree, but it was laying at the edge of a drop off that I didn't see until it was too late. I tried to grab onto the fallen trunk, but I wasn't fast enough, and I was pretty much free falling down the side of a small wooded cliff. I covered my head with my arms as I felt my body ricochet off trees and rocks. After what felt like falling forever, I finally came to a stop. I slowly opened my eyes that I had clenched shut during the fall and brought my hands down. My ribs ached badly, and my pants had been ripped up, and spattered with blood. I gingerly stood up, but fell right back down in a howl of pain. It figures I would have twisted an ankle. I tried to see where the brightest part of the sky was, to find my way back out, but it was nearly impossible through the trees and clouds. I looked up to see how far I had fallen. It didn't look far, maybe 30 feet, but it was covered with trees and rocks, and I felt like I had hit every single one on the way down. I turned to look around and decided I needed to keep going, although I didn't know how I was gonna do that on my ankle. I found the sturdiest branch nearby to use as a crutch, and had made it a few yards when I noticed movement in the bushes beside me. I kept on going, not thinking much of it, but stopped when I heard a small growl behind me. I stopped and slowly turned to see a little bear cub roll out of the bush.

Now, for anyone that isn't familiar with the habits of woodland creatures, this might seem like a cute and fuzzy picture, a little baby bear coming out of the undergrowth, toddling along like a little child. However, what most people don't realize, is that just like humans, mama bears aren't just gonna let their babies go off by themselves. And just like humans, mama bears are extremely protective of their babies. Unlike humans though, they don't care whether you truly mean harm or not, and they won't think a thing about killing you if you are remotely close enough to be a threat.

And I was well within threat radius.

I spun around on my one good foot, trying to hobble away, when I heard a low menacing growl behind me. I didn't even look, I just kept on going. I could see the tree line thinned out in the distance, and I started going faster, which caused me to lose my balance and go down. I rolled over quickly to see the very large bear stalking toward me, snarling. I screamed and started pulling myself back with my arms. The bear could have easily caught up, so she may have realized that I was injured and wasn't much of a threat, but of course all I could see at the time was death looking me straight in the face.

Until I felt two strong arms wrap around my torso and lift me up to my feet.

"Don't look her in the eyes, and don't make any sudden movements." Jake whispered in my ear. I nodded tightly, moving my eyes to the ground. He went to let go of me, but caught me again when my ankle gave out. He wound an arm around my waist and I wrapped an arm around his neck for support, and he slowly backed us away from the bear. Once we backed away enough to where the bear was no longer advancing, he spun us around and picked me up and took off toward the tree line. We came out about a half mile down from his house.

"Damn it Bella, what were you thinking? How many times have I told you not to go by yourself! You could have gotten yourself fucking killed!" He was yelling, but he was also gripping onto me tight, so I knew he was just scared.

"How did you find me?"

"I called Leah's looking for you, she said you'd left out hours ago, so I went out looking for you, I just happened to be out this way when I heard you yell." His jaw clenched and he exhaled hard.

"I didn't realize I was so far away, I thought I was right behind your house." I said in a shaky breath. My adrenaline was gone and I could now feel the pain I was in. I clenched my teeth against the throbbing in my ribs and ankle with every step he took, and did my best to hold back the whimpers from the pain. I buried my face in his chest trying to hide my tears. He didn't say anything else the rest of the way back to his house. I was suddenly very tired and just wanted to sleep off everything I had just went through.

But I don't usually get what I want.

Jake bypassed the house and headed straight for his dad's truck.

"What are you doing, where are you going?" I started panicking because I unfortunately knew the answer.

"Bells, now listen. You need to get checked out, you may have-"

"No! Jacob Black, put me down!" I was frantic. I couldn't go to the hospital, I hadn't been there since I had lost my dad, and I certainly wasn't ready to go now. Several years back when Leah had broke her leg, I tried to go visit her, but ended up having a panic attack in the parking lot.

"Bella, this is not up for discussion. You have to go." He started trying to load me in the truck, and I just started screaming like someone was trying to kidnap me, which technically he was. Rachel came running out of the house.

"Jacob! What the hell are you- Oh my God, Bella! What happened to you?"

"Please Rachel! Please don't let him take me to the hospital!" I was crying now, certainly Rachel would understand, though I would have thought if anyone would have understood, it would have been Jacob.

"Jacob, hold on a minute." Rachel said softer, and ran back into the house. I relaxed, thinking she was gonna find a way to keep me from going. Unfortunately I was wrong. She came back out with her purse. "You'll need my help." Rachel said to Jacob. I started screaming and crying again as they loaded me into the truck.

All I could think of was seeing my dad there in the ER, the front of his uniform soaked in blood, trying to gasp for whatever air he could get, his eyes focused on something far away. Something no one should ever see. Something I had fought for a long time to forget, but now I was going to relive it all. I was shaking and couldn't control my breathing, which hurt my chest even more. Rachel had hold of me, trying to calm me down, but I couldn't. It was as if I knew that as soon as I walked in that ER, dad was still gonna be laying there on that gurney, still trying to breath.

I don't remember exactly when I blacked out, but I'm sure it was best for everyone, and thankfully i don't remember a thing from the hospital. All I remember is waking up slowly in my soft, warm bed. I took a deep breath to stretch, which caused an involuntary yelp of pain.

"Bella! Are you ok? What's wrong?" Jacob appeared at my door. I shook my head at him.

"Sorry, I forgot what had happened. I'm still really sore." I gingerly moved myself to a sitting up position while he sat at the foot of my bed.

"Yeah, they said you'd be sore for awhile. The good news is there wasn't any cracked or broken bones, and your ankle isn't broke either."

I thought about giving him crap about making me go to the hospital, but logically I knew he did the right thing. He was looking down at his lap, fumbling with the hem of his shirt.

"I'm sorry." I said in a near whisper. He stopped working his hands but still didn't look up. "I'm sorry I flipped out about the hospital. I just-"

"Bells, come on. You don't have to apologize for that. I knew you were gonna flip. And you have no idea how much I hated to do that to you. I was worried you would hate me after that."

"Oh, Jacob, how could you think that? I know you were just trying to take care of me. We both know I have some really bad issues about…..that."

"I know. I just, geez Bells, you have no idea how scared I was when I saw that bear on you." His voice shook with emotion. "I mean, that could have been it, and then when I finally got you out of there, I just, I had to know for sure you were ok, that you were gonna be ok."

I motioned for him to come closer, and we both laid down together, just holding each other. And it was perfect. In that moment we were just 'us'. There was no analyzing our relationship, no picking apart every little thing trying to figure out what it meant, we were just Jake and Bella, we loved each other, and were just so thankful to have each other in our lives.