Part 4

Bella almost changed her mind about going out with Angela, but she wasn't going to allow Jacob to have that type of control over her. He'd been a first class asshole but she kept reminding herself she was in no way innocent. If she stayed home, she'd lie around miserable or eat too much junk food.

She forgot to ask what kind of party they were going to. Bella dressed to impress and Angela essentially popped her balloon when she showed up as her ride.

"You might want to swap that skirt for jeans and those heels for boots. We're going to a beach party. Grab your hoodie, too, you're always freezing. But that top is on point, you should keep that on."

Bella turned around and trudged up the stairs. Her father was gone so she didn't have to cover up her revealing, black crop top. She kicked her heels into her closet, snatched her skirt off her body and squeezed into some skinny jeans. She also tossed "Roxanne" into her underwear drawer. She wouldn't need her fake ID at the beach. This lame party had Mike's name written all over it. He probably packed his mom's old suburban full of camp chairs, cheap beer and generic potato chips. No doubt, he promised them it would be a great time out in the fresh air, away from the stuffy crowds.

So much for showing off her midriff, she was bundle in a fleece-lined hoodie now. Angela confirmed Mike did most of the party planning. Bella complained it was still too chilly at night for outdoor gatherings. The last remnants of snow had just melted away a few days ago.

"Well, I think a couple of the guys were embarrassed last time we went to a club." Bella laughed because the bouncers didn't fall for Mike and Eric's ID's but the gals all floated past security and had their fair share of free drinks all evening.

Bella spent several more miles feeling particularly sorry for herself and her current predicament. She was hopelessly caught up in this fantasy that she could turn things around with Jake. After their latest confrontation, it was so obvious what he thought of her and it wasn't good. She finally took a second to notice, normally chatty Angela was driving them towards the reservation in total silence.

"Hey, Ang. What's wrong?"

She shrugged, "It's nothing. I've just been a little down since the break."

"Spring Break?"

"No, Christmas."

"What? That was months ago." Jeez, Bella was a shitty friend. How'd she miss this? "Turn around."

Angela looked confused.

"I mean it, let's go somewhere else, just the two of us. It's obvious we need to have a heart to heart. I'm so sorry, I've been ignoring our friendship."

"If you don't mind, I'm kind of looking forward to this and I actually had a little favor to ask."

"What?

"Would you be the DD tonight instead of me?"

Seriously, Angela normally nursed a fruity girl drink for a solid two hours and still never finished it. If she had plans to drink tonight, that was not the norm at all. "Sure, my stomach's been feeling a little funny since this afternoon, anyway." Since Mr. Black gave me laughable marks despite how I made him blow his load.

Bella tried to pick her friend's brain a little more, but she insisted there was no huge story behind her strange request about letting loose and having some fun this evening. She insisted she was over whatever had plagued her for damn near three months.

"I'm kinda sick of always being the good one, of living up to all these expectations. I love my parents and they love serving God and this community but it's a lot of pressure."

"Of course, I understand. You handle things better than most preachers' kids. If I was in your shoes, I'd already be attached to a stripper pole by now." Bella briefly considered that as a possibility for herself just for the damn hell of it.

Mike's get-together had its good and bad points. It was a good distraction. Angela stayed true to her word and promptly started drinking upon arrival. Bella kept a close eye on her but none of this bunch would mistreat her. It was a good thing they weren't at a club after all. She advised her to take it easy after the first one. She didn't want to go overboard and make herself sick. It was highly unlikely any of these wimps could carry her if she passed out either.

Lauren and Jessica showed up late. Bella thought that was the perfect time to step away from the crowd and stretch her legs. She walked a little to the north, close to the water, but not too close. She was already freezing and didn't want wet shoes. Even though Mike was a twit, she'd wanted some positive reinforcement earlier so she'd removed her hoodie to show off a bit. It worked; he couldn't keep his hands off her and his compliments never ceased. Now, Bella deeply regretted not grabbing her hoodie for the nighttime stroll. She was about to turn back, when a deep brusque voice cut through the darkness.

"Well, what do we have here? A little lost lamb away from the fold. Don't you know this region is notorious for dangerous creatures?" The voice became clearer and closer as a tall man stepped out of the shadows. Bella instinctively reached for her pockets but she'd gone out empty handed tonight. Her father would be so disappointed to know her pepper spray was in her car's console and not with her at all times.

When the moonlight shone directly in the lurker's face, she relaxed a bit. Bella didn't know the guy, per se, but she'd seen him once when she stalked the reservation's official page. He'd been in the picture with Jake. He couldn't be too sinister or Billy wouldn't pose for pictures with him, and also he was hella fine. Certainly a hunk like that wasn't a threat.

Or was he?

He circled around her like he was sizing up his prey. Bella should be calming down by now since she recognized him, but her heart was still thrumming in her ears.

"Um, my dad's police chief of Forks." It was all she could think of to say.

He laughed and told her he knew.

"Wait, what? You know me?"

"I know of you; we all do. You're kinda famous on the res, Isabella."

"Huh? And just Bella is fine. How am I famous?"

"Never mind. But I will tell you, it's not in a good way. I'm Paul, by the way."

She reached out her hand thinking she'd shake his hand, but he draped his arm over her instead.

"You're cold. I swear I could see you shivering from a mile away."

"I need to go back to my friends and get my hoodie. I forgot it. Nice meeting you, I guess."

She tried to maneuver away from him but he didn't let go. Paul told her she needed to come to the private area of the beach, off limits to tourists and townies. He said only the locals knew how to throw proper beach parties. He also mentioned he'd get her warmed back up. Bella meant to say no, but she ended up walking with him anyway. It all sounded so mysterious and she was curious. She needed a distraction like this. For the past few minutes, she'd barely thought of Jake.

Paul asked questions along the way, like who was she with and why was she trying to get away from her friends. Bella was not giving up much info, she was still trying to figure out if she should really even be hanging out with this guy.

They finally reached the spot Paul claimed his private party was. A small fire was burning in an area surrounded by rocks where several logs and pieces of driftwood that resembled seating went in a half circle around the fire pit. There was room for lots of people, but the funny thing was that no one else was there, which made it extremely private. It was just Bella and her new acquaintance, Paul. His "party" was lamer than her old high school friends. No wonder he was skulking the beaches for women. He needed some company and dammit, Bella was ready to move on and away from her current dilemma. Perhaps, they both might find exactly what they wanted for the time being.

He walked over to one of the logs and grabbed a stray blanket. "Here, I thought one of my friend's chicks left this. You can warm up. He motioned for her to sit with him next to the fire. He was wearing shorts and a thin t-shirt and didn't seem phased by the cold air like she was.

"So, Bella. Charlie know what you're up to, roaming around all alone?"

"Um, I'm nineteen and he knows that I'm out with friends. He doesn't need to know more than that. He trusts me."

Paul threw his head back and laughed at her reply. "I highly doubt that and if he does, he's a fool. You're a reckless one and crave danger. I know things."

Things. She wondered what things he meant. "I highly doubt you know shit about me other than I'm Charlie's daughter, which is all anyone around here knows."

"I know you were Cullen's girlfriend."

Ugh, really? That was what he knew? Why was that such a huge deal to so many people?

"Next, that was so last year."

"And yet, he can't quit you." Bella guessed Paul heard about the restraining order, much like half the county. She wished more than one problem of hers would simply disappear.

"Obviously, you've been watching too much Brokeback because I quit him a long time ago. I highly doubt that's what his problem is. Edward is annoying, not dangerous. You clearly have your story mixed up."

Paul looked unconvinced, but before he could talk about it further, she changed the subject, hoping to impress him just a little. "I doubt you know I'm in college studying criminal justice. My dad might be chief of police in the tiny village of Forks, but I plan to be a detective in a big city one day. I know a thing or two about taking care of myself. I can already outshoot my father at the range so in your face. I'm not a weak little woman that needs a man to take care of her all the time."

"Oh, so you're packing heat as we speak?"

"Well, no, of course, not. I only shoot at the range."

Paul wrapped her up in a bear-hug. "What if I was dangerous? How would you get free?"

Now Bella was laughing, because she had no idea. Paul was strong and big and he was so damn sexy, she wasn't sure she even wanted to attempt getting free. Bella pinched him instead of giving it her all. "You're aggravating and... "

"And what?"

"The rest I haven't decided, but I'm willing to find out, if you want to show me there's more to you."

Paul released her briefly, but this time reached his hand inside her blanket to snake his arm around her waist. His hot hand on her back did more warming up than a thin wool blanket and a campfire had done in fifteen minutes.

"Much more and the night is young, Cadet Swan."

"I'm not a cadet yet." The mention of her dream career jogged her memory and she remembered her current responsibility. She was supposed to be watching over Angela and had been gone over thirty minutes now. Crap, she was a terrible friend.

Bella told him she really needed to get back to her friend. He grumbled a little when she pulled away and stood up. She told him if he wanted to hear more about what no one else knew about her, then to give her a call.

She started to give him her number when they were rudely interrupted.

"Why are you still hanging around, Lahote? I thought you had fun waiting for you at the bar."

Bella about jumped out of her boots with Jacob coming out of thin air, barking his comments.

Paul grabbed both her shoulders. "Easy, Cadet, I'm sure you know Jake."

Bella had no choice but to face him. Yes, she knew far more than she was willing to share with Paul.

"Bella's in my class. She needs to go back to her crowd and you need to leave. I want to be alone."

What a weird thing for him to say. Bella was even more confused with every encounter she had with Jacob.

"Oh, that's cool, I guess. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that our chief-in-training also molds and shapes young minds by day. Hope this guy acts professional and didn't make you teacher's pet and all cuz of Charlie."

"Bella is not my... "

"Pet!" she finished his thought with a little too much assertion.

"Oh sure, my bad, Jake's perfect. I forgot that part, too. Well, fine, I'm going to walk Bella back. A gentleman wouldn't leave her all alone to find her way back in the dark."

Bella and Paul took about three steps before Jake flat out told him no.

She snapped, "What's your deal?"

"I don't have a deal. Paul has plans, he needs to go."

Bella was looking forward to the cocky reply her new friend was about to fire back at Jake. She knew from the start he was a little rough around the edges, no doubt a bad boy which made him all the more appealing. Apparently, she didn't know jackshit.

"Sure, Jake. Hopefully, I'll see you around again, Cadet. Maybe we can go to the range together and you can school me."

Paul trotted off in the opposite direction. What a disappointment. He didn't even manage a "fuck off." Jacob clearly deserved that because he just proved to her he was an asshole even to his friends.

Bella didn't miss a beat. She started walking back in the direction she'd come from. The fact that heavy footsteps were following distracted her more than she cared to admit. After a few hundred feet, she'd had enough.

"Stop following me!"

"I'm only making sure you get back safely. It's the least I can do since you think it's perfectly fine to wander around in the dark."

"I don't need you." That lie tasted bad on her tongue. She felt nothing but need when she was near this man.

"How are you getting home? You don't plan to get in the car with one of those drunks, do you?"

"Give me some credit. I'm driving Angela's car. I haven't had so much as a sip. Were you spying on me and my friends?"

"No, not hardly."

"Just me and Paul?"

"Stay away from him, Bella. He's my friend but he's not boyfriend material."

She did her best wicked laugh. "Who said I was looking for a boyfriend?"

Bella could tell by the look on his face, he didn't like her answer.

"Paul has a different woman practically every night. I wouldn't want to see you get hurt is all."

"I wouldn't be hurt. I think I might be exactly the opposite."

"Bella?" her name sounded like a question but she had no idea what he was asking.

"Let me guess, my behavior last week came off virtuous and sweet and that's why you think I wouldn't hook up with a sexy piece of meat like Paul? Please, Jake. You've got one hell of a nerve. I'm done. We're done. Don't take another step behind me. Go off to your dying campfire and enjoy your alone time."

She practically ran the little bit of the way back. The music was still going and the rowdiness had picked up so there were more drunks than not, apparently. Bella found Angela dancing provocatively in front of three guys so she grabbed her and pulled her off to the side.

"Ang, it's time to go." Bella really needed to get out of there as well.

Angela put up a little bit of a fight. She called Bella various party-pooper names. It was a definite role reversal for the night. She hoped Charlie was in bed by the time they got home. She wanted to spare her friend the embarrassment she'd likely feel the next morning. Bella braced Angela into her side and took slow steps through the sand. They both tripped and fell a few times until the final time Angela refused to get up. Bella was going to have a hard time dragging her to the car. It was practically uphill all the way. Part of this was her own damn fault. She'd left Angela alone when she should have been policing her intake of alcohol a little more closely.

"Come on, Ang. I can't carry your dead weight. You've got to help me."

Angela rolled a little back and forth in the sand. "I can't. Make it stop. The whole world is spinning."

"Jesus, you can't be serious." Bella was contemplating going back and asking one of the guys for help, but all of them were pretty drunk.

She should have put her foot down and taken Angela out for Italian food and a movie. This night was a disaster from the start.

He didn't say anything. He came out of nowhere once again. Jacob bent down and scooped up Angela.

Bella was relieved he hadn't listened to her. They walked the rest of the way in silence, but then Angela briefly had some coherence.

"Hey, Bella. You're not going to believe this but I'm dreaming about Professor Black and he's even dreamier than in person. I feel like a perv. Get it, dreamy and I'm dreaming." She started giggling like an idiot. Bella didn't know what to say.

"Yeah, close your eyes. The dream will fade away."

He mouthed, "Where should I put her?"

"Front, so I can keep an eye on her."

Bella reclined Angela's passenger seat as far back as she could get it and buckled her in as soon as Jacob got her situated. She mumbled something about Lauren being a bitch which Bella always agreed with, but nothing else made sense. She didn't stop there. Angela blurted out she'd been a bad girl.

"Ang, it's fine. You're still good. It was too many beers is all."

Bella was trying to get her to lie back down but Angela grabbed her top and pulled her face to hers. With her boozy breath, she practically cried to Bella. "I gave him my virginity and he dumped me. I've never been so ashamed. That's what happened at Christmas. He was so cute, dimples and tanned skin and he smelled like pizza. You know I love pizza!" She shouted the last part and then fell back to the seat and shut her eyes.

Bella stepped back completely stunned. Angela gave it up for some jerk? That was news to her. Jacob looked embarrassed that he was witness to the confession. He scooted Bella out of the way and shut the door for them. The wind picked up and she realized she'd forgotten her hoodie but she wasn't about to leave Angela and go looking for it.

"She's really drunk, please ignore her."

"Pizza?"

"Yeah, that was weird. Please don't say anything. She'd be mortified."

He assured her, there was nothing to tell. As much as she didn't want to say it, she told him thanks for the assist. He said he was happy to help and told her to drive safe. That seemed to be his pattern, that and have a nice day.

She slammed the door and turned up the radio to drown out Angela's misery noises. A few times she attempted to lift her head but Bella warned her.

"Stay still and keep your eyes closed. I doubt you want to puke in your car, but if you think you might, scream and I'll pull over."

Bella hadn't driven very many miles when bright headlights reflected in the rearview mirror. It couldn't be. No way would he realize who she was in Angela's car, but the second Angela screamed, "I'm going to throw up," Bella had no choice but to stop.

Angela hung her head out the door and barfed until she couldn't possibly barf anymore. Of course, the car stopped and it most definitely was Edward.

"Edward, it has been a really fucking bad night. Get back in your car and leave me the hell alone." Bella held up her phone. "I have Dad on speed dial."

"Where have you been, dressed like that?"

"None of your goddamn business." Bella saw Angela was passed out again so she shut her door and proceeded to head back to the driver's side of the car. "This is getting obscene. Stop following me. The next time, your fancy lawyer won't be able to manipulate the judge. Charlie will have you arrested and it will stick."

"Bella, I gave you time to grow and experience your wild days of youth. Enough is enough. It's time you hear the real truth."

"That you're a lunatic? I already know."

"No! You need to stop answering me with snide comments and really listen. Alice sees things. I know you and I are meant for greater things in our future. I would like for you to attend a meeting with my family tomorrow and we'll finally explain it all."

"Hell no! You're all a bunch of strange motherfuckers." Bella just told Paul that Edward wasn't dangerous, but this crazy act was starting to finally scare her more than annoy her. The quicker she got away from him, the better.

She reached for the door and he slammed it in front of her. He had always been hands off to the point it was laughable, but Edward completely changed his behavior. It was way worse than when she broke it off for good. He backed her against Angela's car and he grabbed her firmly on her upper arms.

"Let go, Edward! You're hurting me! I'm about to fucking scream so loud you're going to lose an eardrum."

"Go on, I like screams. They really get the blood pumping. No one's here, but your inebriated friend."

Bella let loose. She started shrieking loud enough to wake the dead. Edward squeezed tighter and didn't blink an eye. She wasn't sure if he even breathed.

"Sure about that, fucker? You're awfully close to our lands to imagine no one's here." Both Edward and Bella turned their attention to the voice. He'd found her again. She had never been more relieved to be stalked by a new person.

"Jake."

"Let her go or lose those hands."

Edward's hands came up in surrender and he immediately backed away.

"Bella and I were having a private talk. It doesn't concern the likes of you."

Bella didn't have a chance to dispute that statement. Jacob stepped in between them. She had no idea what the connection was between those two, but the hate ran deep. That much was obvious from the stares and the audible snarls they spoke with.

Jacob backed Edward towards his Volvo. They were in a heated discussion but she couldn't hear what they were saying. She normally raised her voice when she was pissed, but apparently Edward and Jacob were a bit different. At least, Jacob's presence deterred Edward from bothering her anymore. He spun out his tires and left her alone on the side of the road with Jacob.

Bella looked inside at Angela again. She was out and had no idea what was going on around them. Then she slowly felt the pull to face Jacob again. He was standing at the front of the car illuminated by the headlights. She had been prepared to leave, but she was frozen.

Jacob walked towards her.

"You followed me again."

"Good thing I did."

"But where's your car? And your clothes for that matter?" He was down to just shorts, less than what he'd worn at the beach just minutes prior.

"Some questions don't have easy answers. I'm sorry, that's all I can say. Did he hurt you?"

"No, he just grabbed my arms."

She looked down at her arms. She had red pressure marks all over them.

"That better not leave a mark."

"It won't."

"You say that like you know. Has he grabbed you like that before?"

"I should go. Angela's already been sick once."

"Bells. Wait. I'm sorry."

"Forget it, you shouldn't be. You were right, let's forget everything."

She turned around to open the door. He stepped in behind her, "I can't."

Bella had no choice but to turn right back around. She had to know what he meant, but as soon as her eyes met his, the sincerity in their unspoken language was too much for her. She dropped her gaze towards his feet, but Jacob hooked one finger under her chin and lifted her face back to him.

"This whole night's got me going a little crazy. How about you?"

"Haven't you noticed? I'm always crazy. It feels pretty normal." He smiled at her. She had never felt less normal.

"I'm going to permanently fix your problem with Cullen, but you should still tell Charlie everything."

"Fix? You sound like an assassin."

He put his finger over his lips like she'd revealed his secret.

Bella tried to hide her amusement. Maybe Jake was just trying to be macho in front of her. He reached down for her hand, straightened out her finger and placed it over her lips at the same time. Seconds ticked by with them both agreeing to keeping a secret. Bella was no longer sure the secret had anything to do with Edward or Jacob's possible murderous moonlighting. They could be quiet about a lot of things if they chose to move forward.

When he let go, she took a step back to give herself some breathing room. He was speaking with a more serious tone now, "No one should put their hands on you without permission and I look forward to driving that point home to Cullen later."

"It's not that big of a deal. Plenty of men do such things."

"Who? You mean, in general or to you? I want names."

"Easy, Professor. I meant in general, for the most part."

"You should go, I can tell you're freezing."

Bella was so cold earlier but she only felt numb currently. She thought she'd try again to get back in Angela's car, but she noticed his hand hovering over her shoulder like he was going to stop her one more time. However, he didn't make contact and she thought she knew why. It was a gut feeling she had.

"In case you were wondering, you were given permission last week." One hand came down and gently caressed her shoulder while the other hand wrapped around her waist. He was so close, she felt him breathe into her hair.

"I've been fucking this up since the beginning."

"Yep, well, at least now, we're even."

Bella turned around and launched herself into him. Her vertical leap was next to nothing, but lucky for her he caught her and brought her the rest of the way up. This mutual attraction for each other could only be denied for so long before it seeped out their pores. He was kissing her again and all the fucked up wrongs were righted.

She pulled through his silky hair. His lips met with hers again and again with an unyielding fervor. Bella would never get enough of this. She needed more, but was afraid she couldn't take more.

She gasped out a few ragged breaths while he kissed across her jaw and down her neck. "You're right. I've thought about us together every last second, every damn day."

"Me, too."

"God, Bells. Do you know what you're doing to me?" She shook her head side to side because she didn't want to be wrong and she wanted to hear him say it. He nipped the tender skin under her ear. "Truth?"

"I hope so."

"It was at least a dozen times. I swear, if I don't stop thinking about you, I'm going to rub my dick raw."

"Oh, that sounds terrible." She would love to take a look again and make sure he wasn't hurting himself.

"Yeah, hurts so good, though. That's how it feels with us."

Bella knew they had things to work out. She knew there were definite complications, but he'd just renewed her hope. She kissed him again. He uttered beautiful words she didn't understand and then pressed her against the car to resume what they'd started. Everything else faded away until Angela loudly blared the horn.

"Shit!" Jacob jumped away. No way could Bella stay out there making out against Angela's car any longer.

Bella told him to get lost before Angela realized he wasn't a figment of her imagination. She got herself straight before getting back behind the wheel. Angela was out again which was perfect. All the lights were off when they arrived home, except for her lamp which meant the coast was clear. It was a struggle but Bella finally got Angela's drunk ass in bed. She cut the lights and hoped her bed would stay puke free all night.

"Bella, are you there."

"Yes. Sleep. We're home safe and sound."

"Oh, okay. It's so weird, I can't stop dreaming Mr. Black tonight."

Bella rolled her eyes back in her head. She knew the feeling.

~Thanks for reading.