Okay, so I'm super excited! I've decided Imma make a Paul/Bella story too. Not yet though. I'm going to wait until I finish this one, or else I may never finish. And that would be very, very bad. I've decided to do a Paul/Bella story because I was looking for one to read and just couldn't find one that spiked my interest (no offense to anyone out there who's written one. By the way I didn't check "In progress" so I might not have read yours if it's not done) Okay, but not the point. So they just weren't my style. It sucked. Okay, I'll start writing now. Enjoy :D

Chapter 4: Hurting Jake

It seemed as though eons passed before we arrived at Sam and Emily's house. We drove in an uncomfortable silence, as my mind continually drifted to Zayn. Who was he? Was it possible he was my secret admirer? Would I ever see him again? I grew angry at myself. I loved Jake. Jacob Black. He was my always and forever, as cheesy as that sounds. I hesitated in my thoughts. Was he? I'd have thought so before, but now it seemed as though I were second guessing myself. God, why couldn't I ever stop hurting the ones I loved?

"What's got you so quiet over there?" It was the first word spoken since we'd entered my giant metal beast of a truck.

I shrugged "I don't know, just thinking." I hated lying to him.

"What about?"

I shrugged again "You know; stuff." I was stalling and he knew it.

Jacob nodded before growing silent once more. He was hurt, but I couldn't bring myself to comfort him. I told myself he knew. If he wanted to ask he could. There was no way he could have missed Zayn's scent, that much I knew. We pulled into Sam's driveway, and Jake cut the engine. The silence was deafening.

Jake turned to me, flashing a smile before taking my hand. With a jerk of his arm I was on his lap and his lips were on mine. It was fierce, and his pain was evident in the flurry of emotions. I kissed him back, though hesitantly. It wasn't the same. The desire I'd felt to have him near me, to never stop touching me-was gone. I only felt slight desire in this kiss, and it was due to possible teenage hormones.

I hated myself. How dare I give up on him? Not love him anymore? We'd kissed for the first time, bringing us closer together, only to have him leave for weeks. He'd returned to a Bella who no longer loved him. I loved someone else. Someone I hardly knew. He'd rescued me-a damsel in distress-from the clutches of a tree and I'd melted in his arms. It was pitiful.

Jake drew back from our kiss, concern evident in his eyes. "Is everything okay?"

I smiled, though we both knew it was fake. "Yep. Let's go inside, I can't wait to see Embry again. It's been forever." My voice sounded high pitched and pathetic, even to me.

He nodded, swinging the door open and placing me on the ground before following swiftly behind. I placed my hand in his, hoping to feel some ounce of what I'd once believed as a whole to be true. We entered the house like that, hand in hand. Somewhere between the door and the living room, however, he'd slipped his away. I was hurt at the rejection, though I knew I'd hurt him more. He didn't even know why I suddenly couldn't stand to touch. Then again, neither did I.

"Bella!" Emily pounced on me, as we'd grown close when the pack was patrolling.

"Hey Emily, it's really good to see you again."

"You never come around anymore. If you don't come by more I'm going to have one of those wolves over there kidnap you just so we can hang out."

I laughed, shaking my head. "No need for that, I'll come over whenever you want."

"Great," she giggled "but something tells me you won't mind having a certain wolf kidnap you."

I stiffened, unsure of how to respond. She was talking about Jake, obviously. I settled upon shrugging. "Whatever Em." I hoped I'd played off my reaction well.

"Jacob, I need to talk to you." It was Sam who spoke, his tone rough. It was a tone one took on when delivering bad news. It was the tone Jacob had used when telling me we couldn't see each other.

I turned away from then, unsettled by the sight of Jacob's hard mask. I walked up to the pack of wolf man, suddenly aware of how much bigger they all were.

"Hey Embry, glad you joined the pack." It was weak. I couldn't help it, I hadn't known what else to say.

Quil turned to me, his eyes shining. "Yeah, we thought he'd never get around to phasing."

Embry laughed. "Oh shut up Quil, at least I took it better than you." He turned to me. "Thanks Bella, I guess you're going to be seeing a lot more of me."

"Hopefully not more than she'd like." Jared snickered, "Embry can't ever seem to keep his pants whole when he phases."

The pack laughed, though I noticed Embry was silent. Embry had always been shy, I began to wonder if he'd been insulted. I hoped not. I looked up at him, prepared to apologize for my laughter, only to realize he was staring down at me.

In that moment it seemed as though the whole world shifted. It was only me and him. He stared into my eyes, his expression one of amazement and joy. I stared back, my face red. Embry Call was beautiful. How had I not noticed before? The curve of his jaw, his full lips, the constant glow in his eyes. I felt the sudden urge to throw myself at him, clinging to his godlike body. As hard as it was, I refrained.

I hadn't noticed the constant talk in the room until it had ceased. I broke my gaze from Embry's only to see all eyes were on us. My blush grew deeper. I turned to Embry as to see how he was taking the sudden attention, only to see his stare had never left my face.

"Damn Embry, you really know how to screw a guy over, don't you?" It was only at Paul's words that Embry forced his eyes from mine.

"Shut up, Paul." Embry's voice was low; menacing.

He laughed rudely "I'm just saying, how do you think Jake's going to take it when he finds out? You are supposed to be his best friend, right? What's going to happen when he realizes you have the sudden wild urge to-"

"Paul, that's enough." Sam entered the room with Jacob in tow.

Jacob was at my side within seconds, whispering furtively in my ear. "I'm sorry Bella. Sam ordered me not to see you anymore. It was an Alpha order, I can't break it." The evidence of his breaking heart rang out in his voice.

I nodded once, slowly. So much was happening. I still had no idea what caused Paul's outburst.

Paul spoke again, his voice gloating. "Don't you think Jake has a right to know even his best friend can't keep his hands off Jake's woman?"

"I haven't touched her!" Embry shook, close to phasing. I backed up, scared suddenly.

"What's he talking about?" Jake was genuinely confused. I could blame him, so was I.

Sam muttered something, so low only the wolves in the room could hear. The heartbreak in Jacob's eyes nearly caused me to cry. I didn't like to see him hurting. I loved him, I just was no longer in love with him. Why? Why did I have to be such a horrible person? Jacob turned and was gone from the house within seconds.

I turned to Sam, my eyes questioning. "What did you say?" All was silent. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" I was yelling now, I needed to know.

It was Quil who finally spoke. "He told Jake that Embry imprinted on you."

My mind crashed. Following Jake's example I turned and fled the house.