Chapter 4

"Geez, Em, it's only me," the visitor said, laughing. "I didn't know I was THAT scary."

But Emily wasn't listening. She looked at the girl's dark hair, her beautiful eyes...

"Bella!" Emily squealed, giving her a hug.

Bella Cullen grinned as her old friend engulfed her in a tight hug.

"I knew it was you by the knock! I knew it! I knew it!" Emily said, pulling Bella into the house."I remember you using that knock when you came to tell me you'd be moving! Oh, I'm so glad you're here!"

Bella's smile dimmed. "We're not here for good, though. We can't let anyone else know we're here...well, the humans anyway."

"Oh, right, the aging thing," Emily remembered. "Ugh! I'm so jealous. Wish I could stay eighteen forever."

"You're still beautiful," Bella pointed out.

Emily rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, when you have a husband who is physically frozen at 25, well..."

"Don't worry," Bella said, laughing. "I'm always gonna be a year older than my husband...think about that!"

Emily ran into the dining room, still dragging Bella. It was quite easy since Bella was cooperating quite nicely.

"What have you been up to?" the vampire asked.

Emily pointed to the catalogue. "I'm trying to pick out a wedding dress. Sam and I are FINALLY getting married?"

"You mean you're not married yet?" Bella exclaimed in shock. "But I'm kinda relieved. When we didn't get the wedding invite, Jake got pissed. He thought you forgot about him. Too bad Alice can't see werewolves."

"Jacob Black?" Emily squealed. "Oh, how is he? Did he come, too?"

"Yeah," Bella rolled her eyes. "And Edward was being such a baby about it. We really had no choice since Nessie wanted Jake to come but really! Edward just doesn't like the fact that Nessie's fully grown now. Jake's quite smitten with her now. Kinda like you and Sam..."

Emily giggled along with Bella.

"But Jacob's actually been sidetracked," Bella said, laughing harder. "We're staying at our old house...with the Denalis. They have this dog..."

"Oh, Sam told me about that," Emily cut in. "He's so worried. By the way he's acting, you would've thought the dog was a serial killer on rampage or something."

"Well, it's no serial killer," Bella promised. "But it's certainly giving Jake a run for his money. I think Nessie is getting jealous. And if I have to see another dog-fight..."

Emily gasped. "But if the dog bites Jake..."

"If SHE bites Jacob, nothing's gonna happen," Bella told her. "She's not venomous. They named her Lady."

"Oh, I'll have to tell Sam that," Emily said out of relief. "He's been having the boys run patrols to watch the dog. Seth doesn't mind, though."

"Well, we're having a small get-together tomorrow," Bella told Emily. "Why don't you bring Sam and the boys? I'll tell Seth next time he comes over."

Before Emily could exclaim with joy, there was another knock at the door.

"Come in," Emily called out.

The door opened and the visitor said, "It's been a long time, Em."

Emily's mouth fell open.

It couldn't be...

"Jacob?" Emily gasped. Is that really you?"