*** I do not own Twilight and these characters 3

Chapter 3:

Bella's POV:

I left the Cullen's house and was now headed over to my home. The Cullen's were very nice and welcoming, a very interesting coven. They told me their doors were always open to me and I promised them I would return tomorrow. It felt really good to see Jasper again. I missed him a lot and I'm glad he has found his mate. Alice is just what he needed.

I felt a pull towards that coven that I couldn't explain. It felt as though I belonged there and for a split second I actually imagined myself being a part of that coven. But that very thought scared me as much as it warmed me, I haven't been a part of a coven in almost 400 years.

The outcome of today's events and the familiar setting of trees and shrubs I've come to know from last time I visited Forks reminded me of someone and I quickly changed direction and ran faster due to sudden excitement.

The little red house that started to peek through the trees made me grin and I could hear the familiar clanking and such the sounded from the garage.

I stopped running when I was a mere 3 feet behind a man with olive toned skin and short black hair. Although, I do remember it being longer the last time. He hadn't noticed my presence as yet. I tapped him twice on the shoulder and he jumped. His heart rate sped up, beating franticly. He turned around.

"Jeez" He said trying to control his breathing. "Almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry Jake" I said controlling my laughter. He calmed down and a huge grin spread across his face. "Long time no see." He said pulling me into a hug.

"Yea, I know." I said gladly returning the hug.

I had met Jacob and his pack 2 years ago when I last stayed Forks. They first thought I was a threat and tried to kill me. But I explained to them what I was and that I wasn't looking for any harm. They soon welcomed me with open arms. Well, except for Sam, the leader, He still doesn't trust me.

"So what's up?" I asked sitting down on a nearby tree stump.

"Same old, same old." He said "Just working on my mustang."

"It looks great." I said taking in the details on the car.

"What's up with you?" He asked.

"Nothing really."

He chuckled. "Bells, you never do anything but chase animals all day."

"That's not true!" I laughed.

"Oh yea? What did you do today?"

"I went hunting a-" He cut me off

"Exactly, chasing animals."

"That's not all!" I laughed again.

"Okay, what else did you do?"

"I met a vampire coven today. The Cullen's. They're really nice." I told him.

He stiffened. "The Cullen's?"

"Yeah, you know them?"

"Yea I know them. Don't trust em' either." He said. His face sour.

"Why don't you trust them?" I asked, waiting for a reasonable response.

He looked at me carefully before answering. "Bella, they are vampires, that claim they don't drink human blood." He said. "It's just a matter of time before they slip and we find evidence that proves they aren't who they say they are. Then we can rip em' to pieces." He finished.

Now I was angry. There he was judging them and he didn't even know them. Typical Jacob.

"Well I'm a vampire and I don't drink human blood, are you waiting for me to slip as well?"

"No, your different." He said.

"How am I different?" I argued.

"Well you're a hybrid, you don't drink human blood. And besides, they made a treaty with my grandfather years ago to not kill humans and to not step foot on our land. If they do, we kill them."

"Okay, one I could drink human blood if I wanted to. And two, you made a treaty with them!"

"Bella" He sighed. "Just forget it."

"No, I will not 'just forget it'. You don't even know them well enough to judge them like that." I don't know why but I felt like I needed to defend them.

"Oh, and you know them perfectly fine after just a few hours with them." The sarcasm was evident in his voice.

"So what if its only one day? You know I have good judge of character."

"Their good bluffers! Of course they'll put on a show and make you think their nice." He argued. I gave up. I knew if I said something back this argument would go on forever. "You know what. I don't care. Think whatever you want to think."

"Why are you defending them anyways? You knew me longer; you should be on my side."

"I'm defending them because they seem nice." I told him.

"Key word Bella, seem. They seem nice." He said grabbing a piece of cloth to wipe his hands. "Look all I'm saying is that I don't think you should befriend them after less than a day with them." I sighed. There really was no point in continuing.

"I didn't come here to argue with you Jacob." I said hoping he would drop the subject.

"Yeah, your right. Sorry." He apologized.

"It's okay."

"Still don't trust em'." He mumbled under his breath. "Jacob!" I nearly yelled. "Sorry"

Just then we heard Quil and Embry's excited voices coming from the forests trees. Jacob rolled his eyes. "Hey Bella!" Quil yelled. He first appeared out of the forest with Embry behind him. "What's up Bella."

"I came down here to see you guys.' I replied. "What's up with you guys I haven't seen you in forever."

"Eh, same old stuff. I just wanted to come down here and ask Jacob if he could take the night shift tonight." Embry said.

"Aw come on. The night shift is supposed to be yours tonight!" Jacob complained.

"I know bro, but I made plans."

"Yeah, plans to see his girlfriend." Quil mumbled.

"Quil!" Embry yelled.

Jake chuckled. "What girlfriend?"

"None of your business!" Embry shot at him. "Your taking tonight's shift and that's final." And with that he walked away.

I giggled. "Wow"

"Anyways" Quil began, "Jake you still grounded?"

"Yea. Why?"

"Ha! Grounded at 19 years old. What are you grounded for?" I asked.

"Long story short, I have to learn how to not break things." He grinned and I rolled my eyes.

"So do you think you could come?" Quil asked.

"I don't know. I'll have to ask Billy." Jacob answered.

"Okay. And you better hope he says yes. We haven't gone cliff diving in a while." He turned to me. "You coming Bella?"

"Sure I'll come."

"Cool. So I'll see you there. And Jake you better come."

"Yeah, yeah"

"Alright guys, later." He said before leaving. "Bye" Jake and I said in union.

"So if Billy says no, will you still go." I asked already knowing the answer. "Most likely." He responded with a smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Where's Billy anyways?"

"He's out fishing with the chief."

"I'm going to ask him with you. He can't say no to me." I said.

"You'd be surprised at what he can say no to."

Yea, well, if he says no then you're still going, like you said." I told him. "I have to go home and change I'll see you in a bit." I said before turning to head home.

"Hey, Bells?" He called out when I was about to leave.

I turned around. "Yea Jake?"

"It's good to see you again." He said with a smile. "It's good to see you too." I responded returning the smile then took off.

When I got home I changed into my bathing suit, which I haven't worn in forever, and threw some shorts and a tank top over it. When I was done and ready to leave, I could hear the faint voices of a couple of humans. I sighed. You would think that having a house in the forests, far away from civilization, you would get the best of privacy. But the one thing I didn't think about when building this house was the fact tourists would wander up here.

Oh well, they just better not come near my house.

After I was done I left the house and went back to Jakes to see if Billy came back from fishing and as the little red house came into view I could smell a familiar musky scent. Billy was home.

Walking up to the front door, I knocked and waited 3 seconds before Jake answered. "He's here." He spoke.

"I know."

I walked into the house and was greeted by Billy. "Hey Bella, It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too Billy. How have you been?"

"I've been pretty good besides the grey hair Jacob keeps giving me." He chuckled.

Jacob rolled his eyes. "Yea, Yea."

"So Billy." I began. "The pack and I are going cliff diving and I was wondering If Jacob could join seeing as though he is grounded and all." I trailed.

He was quiet for a couple seconds before he spoke. "Did Jake put you up to this."

"Well I kind of offered to ask you with him." I told him.

He was quiet for a few seconds again. "Well I guess under the supervision of you Bella, he can go." He said.

"Thanks Billy." I said. "Yeah, thanks dad." Jacob spoke from beside me.

"Sure Thing."

The Next Day -

After last night's activities I went home and spent the rest of the night and the early morning finishing up decorating my house. I've put it off long enough and decided it was time to finish it up. When the clock struck 8:30am I figured it was time to head over to the Cullen's. I left early enough to spend more than enough time with them. I didn't really know what was on the agenda for today. But I guess I'll figure out when I get there.

It took about 10 minutes' tops to reach the Cullen's house and seeing that I was coming, Alice had the door opened before I came up to the front steps. "Hey Alice." I greeted as I walked up the steps.

"Bella" Alice spoke. The way she said It had me confused and the expression on her face had me worried.

"What's wrong?" I asked

"Where were you Bella?' She asked slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"Bella, you reek." came Emmett from inside the house.

"Excuse me?"

"No offense Bella, bit you smell like wolf." Alice said wrinkling her nose. "And I know I get very few visions of you, but I lost all visions yesterday around 5:30."

I laughed. "I am a wolf."

"No, you smell like the Quileute's. Have you been down there?" She asked. Then I remembered that the Cullen's and the Quileute's are natural enemies.

"Ah, I see. Jacob told me about the treaty you and the Quileute's have." I said.

"Yes, and I see you in the near future interfering with the treaty. You cannot mess with the treaty in any way."

"I understand that. Jacob made it very clear."

"Good." She said then smiled. "So what are we doing today?"

I laughed at her sudden mood change. "I don't know. I was hoping you had the answer to that question." I told her as I walked into the house. "Hey Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, Jazz." They greeted me with a hello except for Rosalie who just nodded her head. "Where's Carlisle and Esme?" I asked noticing their presence was missing.

"Carlisle went to the hospital and Esme went to go buy some wood." Alice replied.

"Wood?"

"Emmett and Rosalie need a new bed."

"Too much information already." I mumbled. They laughed.

"I'm thirsty" Emmett randomly called after hours of talking and goofing around. "Well then, I guess we'll go hunting." Jasper answered.

"I'll stay back." I said. "I'm not in the mood for hunting."

"Me too." Edward spoke from beside me. I kind of knew if I stayed back he would too. He has been caught staring at me a number of times throughout the day and I found it really interesting. What I found even more interesting was what I felt whenever I did catch him starring or whenever he spoke to me. Jasper also eyed me a couple of times. Probably because of the emotions he was getting off of me. He even smiled one time and shook his head. After that I put my shield up to stop him from getting any more emotions from me. Alice also knew what was going on. Probably Emmet and Rosalie too. So they all agreed to go hunting, even Esme, and Edward and I were left alone.

"So" I began when everyone was out of hearing range. He looked at me and smiled. "Care to tell me why you've been staring at me all day?" His smile got bigger and I laughed. He was adorable.

"I wasn't staring." He answered.

"mm yes you were."

"No. Not staring" He spoke again and turned his head away, his attention now on the T.V.

I laughed. He was trying to avoid the question but I wasn't going to give up that easily.

"Just so you know, your flirting with me by not answering the question."

"No I'm not!"

"Yeah, you are." I said. He didn't respond. I could tell he was debating on something in his head. I was about to ask him what he was thinking but he spoke before I could.

"Can I show you something?" He asked.

"Sure"

He made me follow him through the woods for about 3 minutes and stopped when we entered a meadow like area. I took in my surroundings. The sun must shine the most in this area, whenever it was out, because there was fresh grass instead of the usual soggy dirt and leaves. It even smelled beautiful, like newly grown freesias. And I could see the freesias lining the entire meadow. Someone had to have planted them there. The meadow also held a certain shine, that a small amount of dew on the grass sparkled in the dim light. It was beautiful.

"This meadow reminds me of you." He spoke from behind me in the softest voice I've ever heard from him.

"It's beautiful." I whispered, lost for words.

"Exactly."

"And I wasn't staring, I was admiring."

There was that feeing again. That feeling I've been getting all day. That feeling that made me feel something for Edward. But it was even stronger now that he said I reminded him of this meadow. I've never felt like this for anyone else before and I was starting to think deeply about it. I started to consider these feelings and I knew Edward felt the same way I did. I smiled at him. I wanted to tell him what I was feeling. "Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Never mind." I chickened out and his smile faded. Isabella Marie Swan never chickens out on anything. I guess there's a first for everything.

"Tell me." He said.

"I can't" I looked down. I couldn't push the words hard enough to come out. After all, this is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

"Tell me" he growled playfully as he crouched. I laughed. "Nope. Sorry"

He lunged at me throwing both of us on the soft grass. I laughed again. "No." I nearly yelled. He just stared at me. The same stare he gave me a number of times before. And I wondered what was going on in his head. Then I realized what he was doing as the distance between us lessened. He was going to kiss me and I wanted him to. But he was taking too long so I closed the remaining distance and we kissed.

It felt so good. I didn't realize how much I was missing out on until now. The way his lips moved against mine made me want more. The way his hands roamed my body made me melt. And the way he looked at me after made me realize, I was in love with this stranger. I was in love with Edward Cullen.