Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight but I do own the OC's in this chapter.

AN: I didn't get that many reviews for the last chapter but that's okay. I understand that this story is different than what I normally do but I do have a plan. All you have to do is trust me.

Two months later

Jacob hadn't seen so many people on the soccer field behind La Push high in the entire time that he had been a studen there. Six rows of six chairs were facing the home goal and the rickety steel bleachers that had been built back when Billy was a student at the school were filled to compacity with families wanting to see their child graduate from high school. This years class of thirty-six was the largest graduating class in nearly a decade. Rachel and Rebecca's class had only had fifteen of the twenty-six people graduate from it.

Billy had been able to talk Charlie into being the guest speaker and he talked about the advantages of furthering their educations and cautioned about the dangers of celebrating that night. Bella was mentioned in his speech and how well she was doing and that they could take a page from her book and put all of their focus in school and not partying like most college students tended to do.

Jacob's attention had begun to waver until Charlie mentioned Bella. So she was doing well in school and hadn't joined a sorority; that was good to know. She had never been the partying type anyway. Something told him that Charlie had metioned Bella more for his benefit than anyone else's. He would thank Charlie later. Principal Harper came back onto the stage to pass out the diploma's and just like every year before this one, he mentioned which students were going to college and what scholorships or grants they had recieved. Quil was first and raised his diploma over his head before letting out a victory cry. He bounded down the stairs to his seat as the principal motioned for Jacob to come forward. Jacob held back the urge to laugh at his best friend as he walked up the stairs.

"Jacob Black will be attending the University of Washington on a merit scholorship and a grant from the United Way of Washington, congratulations, Jacob," he said, holding Jacob's diploma in one hand and holding out the other for Jacob to shake.

"Thank you, Sir," Jacob said with a polite smile.

His eyes sought out his dad, Rachel and Charlie in the crowd. The trio sat on the bottom row and his eyes met his dad's first. Billy was clapping and smiling proudly while Rachel whistled her approval of her little brother's accomplishments. Charlie acknowledged him with a nod and a small smile. They were more than likely thinking the same thing: They both wished that Bella could be there.

Charlie had been able to take a picture of Jacob accepting his diploma and posted it on Bella's facebook page like Emmett had shown him to do not long after she had left. 'Can't you put your pride aside for once and call him?' Was the message that he added along with the picture. He hoped that she would take his advice and call Jacob to congratulate him, it would make all the work that Jacob had done worthwhile.

The ceremony was over half an hour later and the boys made their way across the field to their respective parents. Charlie bowed out claiming that he had to be at work after congratulating the three of them. He checked his phone to see if Bella had sent him a reply to his post but she hadn't. Maybe she was taking what he had said to heart.

XXXX

Bella had been staring at her Facebook wall for the past ten minutes. She could only see one side of Jacob's face but from what she could see he was smiling as he shook his principal's hand. She griped her phone in one hand and her other hovered over her keyboard debating if she should delete the post. Her dad had stooped to a new low. She should either delete the post or close out her internet before her mom walked by and saw the picture. She shut her laptop with a silent sigh when she saw her mom hovering a few feet away.

"What's with the face?" Renee asked.

"Dad won't leave me alone," she said with a wide roll of her eyes.

"Is he still pestering you about coming to see him?"

"Not necessarily," she said with a sad shake of her head.

"Then what is it?"

"He sent me a picture of Jake."

"One of these days you are going to have to tell me the story about what happen between the two of you, because you seriously have me worried."

"Worried about what?" Bella asked perplexed.

"Did this guy try to come between you and Edward?"

"Several times," Bella said with a firm nod.

"Okay, out with it," Renee said sitting across from her.

"Jacob was my best friend from the moment I was reintroduced to him."

"Reintroduced to him? You knew him back when you were a kid?"

"He's Billy's son. He was there for me when Edward left and we got really close. When Edward came back they argued constantly and when I decided that I would rather be with Edward Jacob didn't take it very well."

"What happened?"

"Jacob nearly died and not long after that he took off was gone for nearly two months. I haven't seen or talked to him since the day of his accident."

"Do you think that you made the right decision choosing Edward?"

"I do, even now. As much as I love Jake I know that he and I aren't meant to be together," she said with a heavy sigh.

"Why?"

Bella took a deep breath before considering the ramifications of telling her mom the truth. Renee wasn't the type to pass judgement on someone for the choices that they made or because they were different, but could she handle what Bella was contemplating telling her?

"Jake is different than you and me, Mom. He's bound to protect his tribe and there is someone out there that is specifically for him," she started, choosing her words carefully.

"Like an arranged marriage?"

"Something like that, they would be his imprint. Jacob and a dozen others are members of a very special group of people who were selected to look after there tribe. There isn't an age limit and you don't get decide if you want to join them or not. It's all about genetics and Jacob's family has been a part of this from the very begining over three hundred years ago. Last year Jake joined this selected group of individuals a few months after Edward left me. There was someone after me and Jake was called upon to step up his role in the tribe."

"Someone is after you?" Renee asked with wide eyes.

"Not anymore, no. I should start from the begining, although I implicating you and now you will know something that you shouldn't."

Bella told her the story of how she had met Edward and his family and what they were. Renee listened without questioning until Bella got to the story of James, Victoria and Laurent.

"That's what happened to you in Arizona? You were almost changed?" she asked gravely.

"Yes," Bella said quietly before continuing.

After she was done Renee thanked her for being honest with her but also chastised her for not being forthcoming sooner. Bella pleaded with her not to call Charlie because he would not be able to handle it. He had known Jacob his entire life and saw him as a son and Bella didn't want that to change.

"I understand," Renee said, nodding in agreement.

"Now you see why I can't be in contact with Jacob," Bella said with a sigh.

"I don't think calling him one time is going to hurt. I think that he would want to hear from you on today of all days," Renee rationalized.

Renee stood from the table, wanting to give Bella a chance to collect her thoughts and think of what she would say when she called Jacob. After a few minutes Bella reached for her phone and scrolled through her numbers until she saw Jacob's; she hadn't had the courage to delete it. It rang three times before going to voicemail. She heaved a sigh of relief that he hadn't answered the phone, she probably would have hung up as soon as he answered. She left him a brief, thirty second message before hanging up. She just hoped that he would understand that it was a one time thing.

XXXX

Jacob had left his phone in his room since it had needed to be charged while he was outside with his friends and family celebrating his graduation. Billy, Mae and Nadine had decide to throw a joint graduation party for the boys in the Black's back yard. When he came back to his room after helping Rachel and Emily clean the house he heard his phone chirp, letting him know that he had a new voicemail. He unplugged his phone from the charger as he dialed his voicemail.

"Hey Jake, it's me. My dad posted a picture of you in your cap and gown on my Facebook wall this morning and I wanted to call and congratulate you. I hope you're doing okay. I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and that I'm proud of you," Bella said before hanging up.

He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it like God had just left him a message. Billy passed his room, seeing him stare at his phone in wonder. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion as Jacob pressed a button. Bella's voice filled the room since Jacob had turned on the speaker phone. Billy smiled before continuing down the hall so that Jacob could have some privacy. He would call Charlie in the morning to thank him. He got into bed before he realized that he hadn't told Jacob what he had meant to tell him when he stopped outside his door.

"Hey Jake?" he called.

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget you start work tomorrow. You have to be at the diner by seven."

"I haven't forgotten, thanks anyway."

Jacob had Charlie to thank for talking to Coral about getting him a job at the diner. Jacob had planned on doing odd jobs around the rez for the summer so that he could save up money to take to school with him. His dad and Rachel had given him a couple hundred dollars to go towards it and Rebecca had sent him a check that he needed to cash. Billy was glad that Jacob was being so responsible and rational when it came to going to college. He had talked with Jacob about leaving the pack again a few nights ago and Jacob didn't want to make that decision until he felt he was absolutely sure that he was ready.

He saved the message, deciding against calling her. If she had wanted him to call her she would have said so. She was missed him and was thoughtful enough to call him on the most important day of his life because she knew he would want to hear from her. He had been fighting an inner battle of wills against calling her all day and if she hadn't called him he was going to call her, just to let her know how he was doing. Charlie had stepped in once more and showed where his allegiance lied. Jacob would have to come up with some way to make it up to him.

XXXX

It was July when Bella realized that her friendship with Robert had turned a corner. They had talked at least once a day, sometimes more since school had ended. His birthday was coming up and they were discussing his plans when he brought up the fact that he wished that she could be there to celebrate with him.

"A bunch of us are going camping in Williamsburg the weekend after my birthday and I just wanted to let you know that you're invited if you want to come."

"I'm three states away Rob, I can't come up just for the weekend."

"If you drive up I'll give you gas money to get here and back," he offered.

"You don't have to do that," she said with an anxious laugh.

She wished that he would drop the subject. She didn't like that she was starting to see him as something more than a friend. It wouldn't be fair to him, Jacob or her. She still had feelings for Jacob and they were just as strong as they had been the last time she had seen him. She had yet to tell Robert about Jacob and she was sure that he would understand but she also knew that he would be hurt.

"Come on, please?"

"Acting like a five year old is not going to get you your way," she teased.

"Than what is?" he asked with a light laugh.

"Nothing, because I'm not coming. I need to spend some time with my mom. This is the longest amount of time that I've spent with her in over two years and I don't want her to feel like I'm ditching her to spend time with my friends," she rationalized.

"Are you sure you can't come?"

"I'm positive."

"You'll be coming back at the start of August, right?"

"Yeah, so I can spend a couple of weeks with Stace before going back to school."

"Do you think that I could come and see you while you're staying with her?"

"Sure."

"I don't mean to lay a guilt trip on you, I swear, I just miss you."

Had she let on that she felt anything for him than friendship? She thought back on the three months that they had known each other and drew a blank. She had never acted as anything other than a friend towards him. She would need to sort this out sooner rather than later.