Chapter 4

Mike opened his eyes slowly, in too much pain to move much. Realizing who had his arm over him, Mike groaned. He turned his head to look at Jacob in adoration. He somehow felt more connected to the other male, painfully turning the rest of him to snuggle against Jacob. Jacob made an incoherent noise as one of his hands moved to stroke Mike's hair. They stayed like that for a while, not saying anything at all.

"I'll go get some food. Stay there and rest, darling." Jacob planted a soft kiss on Mike's forehead as he stood to get some clothes on and go downstairs.

The moment he came into the kitchen, the phone rang. He answered almost instantly.

"Newton residence. Mike's asleep at the moment. I can take your message."

"What the fuck are you doing at that house?! Get your ass back here this instant, Jacob Black!" Jacob cringed at the barely concealed anger in the other's voice.

"Sorry. I couldn't help it. I picked up this absolutely intoxicating scent and went to investigate. We met in the middle of the night, and things happened."

"Like what?"

"Amazing things. Anyway, I'm gonna stay here for a while. Mike needs me."

"And why would that be?"

"We're imprinted. Besides, something happened to him, and he just learned his parents are dead. He's changing into something. Or something like that. And besides, if I'm here, the filthy bloodsuckers can't get him. Judging by what it did to him, it's got to be powerful."

"... Fine. Don't stay away too long, though. We shouldn't worry the pack over nothing."

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." Jacob stared at the phone for a few more minutes, thinking about the conversation he just had. "Well, I suppose that's good. Hope Mike likes Pop-Tarts. What the hell am I saying? Of course he does. They are in his house. God, Jacob." Jacob grabbed a pack of strawberry Pop-Tarts and went back upstairs.

_ _ _

"You're a werewolf, aren't you?" Mike was studying the remainder of his second Pop-Tart, a frown evident on his face.

"... Yeah. How'd you know?"

"I dunno. When I saw you this morning, I just kind of knew.............. It's because of what happened in the basement, isn't it?" Mike looked at Mike with such an adorable expression, Jacob just couldn't help himself. Jacob leaned forward and kissed Mike gently, pulling away before anything else could happen.

"Probably. Wonder why it happened to you though." Jacob sat there for a while, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. He looked up when Mike shakily got to his feet. "Sure you should be doing that?"

"I'll be fine. I'm just going to take a shower and get into my pajamas. Could you get the mail?" Mike walked out of the room and to the bathroom with a pronounced limp as Jacob watched him.

"Anything you ask." Jacob stood and stretched before once again going downstairs.

As Jacob got the mail out, his ears picked up a noise and he curiously turned his head. What he saw intrigued him.

The house next door's front door flew open, and a red haired man was quite literally kicked out.

"What the hell, Mello? Stop being such a bitch! It's not my fault!" Matt glared at the door for a while, then realized someone was staring. "Uh.... Hey. The name's Matt." Matt got to his feet and walked over, leaning against the side of the porch.

"I'm Jacob.... What was that all about? If you don't mind me asking." Matt stared at Jacob for a few moments, apparently deciding if he was trustworthy or something.

"Things aren't going so well. You know. Mood swings, their unexplainable urges to kill you at random moments."

"Um, what on earth are you talking about?"

"Friends who become closer than that, and you end up living with them. I swear, if it wasn't for me, Mello would've died by now."

"So, Mello's mad at you?"

"Yeah. I didn't find any leads on the case. As usual, he places all the blame on me. Not like it's my fault we can't find anything." Matt pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his pocket.

"Ah. So, why'd you move to Forks? It's not very interesting."

"Investigating something. Strange things have been happeneing lately. The last people killed by it were the Newtons. Then, whatever it is made a beeline for Forks. Mello thinks we might learn something if we come here. I don't necessarily agree, but he's the boss."

"So, why did you two decide to investigate?"

"We were actually told to investigate this. By a man known only as 'L.' Anyway, we were chosen because Mello's forte is acting quickly, though most of the time, his plans are quite rash."

"And your role is what exactly?" Matt looked thoughtful for a few minutes.

"Hacker, gatherer of intelligence, and the husband who can't do anything right. That just about sums it up. Oh, and by anything I seriously mean anything. Oh, but don't tell Mello that I think of him as my bitchy wife. He has this tendency of overreacting to things. Anyway, you live here?"

"No. I live out of town a ways. Down at La Push. I'm just visiting someone."

"You friends with Mike?"

"In a way."

"Well, could you tell Mike about his parents? Don't tell anyone why we're really here, though. And could you tell us if something strange happens to or around Mike?"

"Sure."

"Much appreciated. Matt went back to the door, and resumed trying to get Mello to let him back in. Jacob went back inside, shaking his head. He dropped the mail on the kitchen table as he walked by. He was still thinking about what he had been told when Mike came down the stairs.

"You really did get it!" Mike was so happy he threw his arms around Jacob, locking their lips together. Jacob gently eased Mike off him. Almost instantly, Mike turned to the mail, tearing open the first envelope he touched. It apparently didn't contain anything important, as Mike threw it into the trashcan. Jacob watched him with a hint of sadness. "Huh? Is something wrong, Jacob?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Not very important." Jacob averted his eyes.

"Jacob, you look like something's wrong. Just tell me." Mike moved so Jacob was looking at him, hoping he'd tell him.

"You should know, anyway. It's just that……… I heard that your parents died." Jacob felt a sharp pain in his chest as Mike's expression completely collapsed and tears fell down his cheeks, almost faster than they came up. Jacob instantly moved forward, wrapping his arms around Mike.

"I knew something happened."

"Don't talk right now. Just let it all out." Jacob held Mike closer, running a hand up and down Mike's back. "I'm here. You're going to be fine." They stood like that for a while before Mike finally pulled away.

"Well, crying over it won't get me anywhere. How'd it happen?" Mike looked up at him with an expression so full of sadness, Jacob just had to tell him what he knew.

"I heard something attacked them. That's all though." Mike bit his lower lip and looked down at the floor.

"Okay." Mike stood there for a few minutes then looked at Jacob once more. "What do you want for lunch?"

"Mike, it's only 10:30."

"Well, I need to do something to keep myself composed." Mike went over to the fridge and pulled it open. "Uh-oh. I better go to the store." Mike pulled a key off one of the hooks to the left of the front door and went to the garage. Jacob was left to find something to do. Like remind Mike that he was still in his pajamas. Mike came back before Jacob could take even one step in that direction. "Forgot I was in my pajamas." Mike went up the stairs, returning a few minutes later, wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"You're seriously going out in that?" Jacob raised an inquisitive eyebrow, looking Mike up and down.

"So? It's comfortable. Besides, I'm just going to the store. Nobody's going to care." Mike once again picked up the key and went to the garage.

_ _ _

Mike was trying to remember where exactly the cookies were when he saw them. The moment he did, Edward spun around and stared at him with a strange look on his face. After a few tense moments, Edward began walking over to him. That's when the realization hit him.

"So you ARE a vampire?!" Edward paused mid-step and blinked a few times while astonishment crossed his face. In the next instant, Mike found the other's face inches from his own.

"How the hell did you find out?" Edward hissed in anger.

"I just figured it out. I've had my suspicions since before Bella got here, actually."

"I said 'how.'" Edward looked into Mike's eyes, trying to appear at least a little threatening.

"I honestly don't know how to explain it. Something happened and now I can just tell… What?" Edward wrinkled his nose and leaned a little closer to Mike, sniffing the side of his face.

"Dog. Why is Jacob's scent all over you?" Mike's face flushed red as he remembered the actions from last night, and suddenly couldn't find his voice. "Oh god! How could you stand that?!"

"Well, he wasn't that rough…"

"No, the smell!"

"He doesn't smell that bad." Mike felt an odd sensation of anger, even though he wasn't the one being insulted. By this time, Bella had taken her place at Edward's side. Her face had an expression of confusion as she looked from Edward to Mike and back again.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Mike's relationship."

"Oh. Did he get back together with Jessica?"

"No. I think maybe Mike should explain." Bella turned toward Mike and stared at him with such an innocent expression that, no matter how fake it most likely was, Mike wasn't sure he could actually tell her.

"Jacob. I'm with Jacob." A horrified expression crossed Bella's face and Mike felt a surge of satisfaction fly through him.

"You mean… You two…"

"So? Is there something wrong with that?" Mere seconds later, Bella was hysterical.

"That's so… so… How could you do that to Jessica?" Mike didn't like the tone of Bella's voice and his eyes narrowed as he stared at the dumb bitch.

"It was simple, actually. I'm not that interested, obviously. Never was, really. Last I checked, we ended up together mostly because pushed us together, and I didn't want to turn into the bad guy for dumping her right after prom. So, I waited a little bit."

"That's rude, Mike! What if Jessica really loves you? You can't just dump her and have a… a…"

"A what?"

"A disgusting relationship like that! That's wrong, Mike! You and Jacob shouldn't be-" She was cut off when Mike's hand slammed into the side of her face with enough force to send her to the floor. Mike's eyes were completely red.

"You dumb bitch! You don't have any right to say that to me! I've stayed quiet all this time and kept what I thought to myself. I've never actually said this to your face, but now I'm going to. Don't you dare comfort her, asshole! She needs to hear this without you holding her!" Edward stood straight again and backed off, raising his hands in surrender. Mike took a slightly calming breath. "At first, I thought it was just some silly crush you had on him. Until you started ignoring basically everyone else and hanging out with him all the time. I knew you were getting too close, but I stupidly kept my mouth shut. Then, he left you. Without a good reason for over half a year! When you snapped out of your daze, I honestly thought you had gotten over him. You were talking to me again, and I was so overjoyed I can't even begin to describe it. But you wanted to ignore me and spend all of your time with Jacob Black. To be honest, I was both jealous of him and angry at you. I was right there,Bella. And more than willing to help you out in any possible way. And look what happened when he got back. You welcomed him back with open arms and completely crushed what little hope I had developed over the time he was gone. What annoyed me the most, though, yes more than the fact that you once again ignored everyone but him and his family, was the fact that you didn't seem to understand why nearly everyone was annoyed with you. He left you for over half a year! And you didn't seem to care about that! In fact, you practically expected everyone to accept him back as easily as you did. That is why people were annoyed with you. And I grew to despise the both of you. Not to mention what you did to Jacob. You might think I'm dumb, or that I goof off all the time, but I'm not. I could tell you didn't want to be with me. You would rather have gone with Jacob to see that movie, right? I could tell. It was so blatantly obvious. I mean, really. Telling me that I could go home if I wanted to? I'm the one who asked you to go in the first place. Anyway. You basically led him on, and dropped him like a hot potato when your beloved Edward got back. Your relationship with Edward is wrong, not my relationship with Jacob. You act as though he's the only person in the world who matters other than you."

"I spend time with Alice and the others, too!" Bella looked furious.

"Oh wow. You should get a medal for that one. That doesn't matter. They are still Cullens, Bella. What matters is the fact that you don't pay attention to anyone outside the Cullen family. Jacob and I thought you cared about us."

"I do care about Jacob! I've already told him that I love him. Just not as much as Edward."

"That makes you sound like a whore, Bella. Of course, you're too dumb to realize that. You probably don't even realize how badly you hurt the people you did those things to. Because you don't care. All you care about is Edward Cullen, and getting what you want. I'm so sick of it! I just wish someone would kick his ass already so you understand that he's NOT the best person in the whole damn world!" Mike spun on his heel and left Bella and Edward standing there, one about to cry and the other stunned. He spent the rests of his little trip in a foul mood.

_ _ _

The moment he got back, Jacob knew something was wrong.

"I got this awful feeling earlier that something bad was going to happen to you. Did you run into Cullen?"

"Him and his filthy girlfriend. I'm fine, though. Not too sure about Bella." Mike put the bags down on the counter before sitting on the couch with a sigh. Jacob came over and sat next to him, both just needing the other's company to clear their heads. They sat like that for a long while, until Mike decided it was about time he made food.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well, there it is. I hope I didn't offend anyone with Mike's little moment. I just can't stand Bella, and thought it would be fitting for the person most hurt by her (in my personal opinion) to have a moment to say how he feels about all of it.