Chapter 4:

Unexpected Ride

"Wait! Alice, what about Carlisle and Esme?" I asked hoping to delay the start. I was suddenly nervous.

"Carlisle and Esme left for Valentine's day actually" she said matter a factly.

"Oh" was my brilliant response.

"Ok, now everyone give their first clue to your pair. We must stay in the state of Washington. When you are done, come back here and call the number one" Alice said as she handed us each a tiny cell phone.

I put the phone in my pocket. Then, Edward handed me a neatly folded piece of paper and my most comfortable pairs of shoes looking pointedly at my heels and laughing. He was probably imagining me falling. I took them both happily, thanked him, and gave him my first clue. It was on blue paper, compliments of Alice.

"Ready. Set. GO!"She said as they all took off.

"Wait!" I yelled but it was too late. I was sure to lose since the fastest way I could get around was my 55 miles per hour truck. Then something dawned on me, I could take my truck or I could ask a certain werewolf friend who could run really fast. I ran to the phone and dialed Jacob's number. He answered on the first ring

"Hey Jake!" I greeted. It felt nice to know that Edward no longer had a problem with Jacob . . . mostly. The thought made me smile.

"Hey Bella!" he said in the same tone. "Are you coming over?" he asked excitedly.

I hated to dampen his spirits but I desperately needed a "ride". I started talking quickly, too embarrassed to say it slowly.

"LookJakeweareplayinghthisgamecalledValentine'" I had to stop and take a huge breath. "AnywhereinWashingtonsoIthoughtanycar, expeciallymytruck, wouldbetooslowsoIwaswonderingifIcouldcatcha . . . Iguessyoucouldcallitalift." I told him breathless again. I noticed I was gasping.

"Wait. Slow down Bella. I only caught you were playing some type of game with your blood suckers" he told me.

I started laughing nervously.

"Bella . . . you sound embarrassed? Why?" he asked curiously.

"I was not embarrassed" I contradicted in an unconvincing tone.

"Yeah, right. I'm not even there with you and I can tell you're lying. There's no point in lying when you suck at it" he told me.

"Well, it has to do with what I asked you . . . or tried" I amended.

"Tell me what you said but slowly. Don't be embarrassed. You can ask me anything. Don't worry about it. What do you need?" he asked.

"I can't Jake. Oh my god, you don't know how embarrassing this is on my part" I told him.

"I still want to know. You can tell me anything . . . or ask me in this case.

"Well . . . here goes nothing. Jake, Edward's family and I are playing a game called Valentine's Day Dare hunt. We look for arrows and clues to find other arrows. They can be hidden anywhere in Washington so my truck . . . and just about every other car wouldn't be fast enough so I might need a . . . a . . . a . . ." but I couldn't ask him. It was just way too embarrassing. There had to be another way.

"Come on Bella" he said expectantly. "I want to know, if not, I'll just go down there and ask you personally" he threatened.

"No!" I nearly yelled at him. It's not that I didn't want him here. It's that if he asked me here, he would make me look at his eyes when I embarrassingly told him. It was better to tell him by phone. That way he couldn't see my expression.

"Fine, I'll ask you anyway" I said in a defeated tone.

He chuckled. "There there, it won't be so bad" he comforted. He had no idea of what I was asking him.

"Look, Jake, I need a ride . . . but a car is way to slow" I said. I blushed just asking.

"Bella, the only ride I can offer is my Rab " but he didn't finish as realization hit him. He did have another ride he could offer.

"Jake?" did he have a heart attack???? OH! Okay, he's aright I concluded as I heard his breathing. "I shouldn't have asked. Even though you made me, I shouldn't have. I'm so sorry" I apologized, hanging my head as if he were there.

Over the phone, I heard him cracking up.

"That's what you were embarrassed about?? Bella, I'll do anything for you. That's another upside of this life I guess. Being a wolf, I can do you special favors.

"Thank you. Oh thank you Jake. I thought it would be rude to ask . . . never mind. It is rude but thank you. Now I won't be dead last" I thanked him feverently.

"I'm happy to be of service, Bella. It's a bonus that we're competing against your blood sucker" he said cheerfully,

"Hey" I told him. "Be nice"

"I'll try but I can't promise you anything" he said as he chuckled.

"I'll take it. Your doing me a favor so the most I can ask of you is that you try. So is it a deal? Are we a team now" I asked.

"Definitely. Deal." he said.

"I'll meet you at my house" I told him.

"I'll be there soon" he said as I heard the click on the phone as the line disconnected.

I went to my house and he was there in minutes. I grabbed a sweater and put it on incase I got cold. Thank god Charlie was off fishing.

"Hey Bella" he said eagerly as opened the door.

"Hi Ja !" but my air was cut off when he pulled me into his tight bear hug

"Can't breathe!" I gasped.

He quickly let go."Ugh you smell terrible" he said.

I ran up to my room and put on perfume. I didn't really ever wear it but since he was doing me a favor, I would do him one.

"Oh much, much better" he complimented when I came down.

I finally looked him over and noticed that again, all he was wearing his grease smudged jeans. To my extreme embarrassment, I blushed. For no reason!! I guess Edward made me blush so much little things were setting off my blush more often.

"What is it" he asked lifting my chin.

"It's nothing"

For once, he let it go. I was getting pretty hot so I took off the jacket I had put on. He gasped and his mouth hung open.

"Jake?! What is it? What's wrong? I asked horrified. Was he in shock?

"BBBBBella . . ." He stuttered

"What? What is it?" I asked again.

"You look amazing" he said.

"Oh" I blushed again and looked down. "Alice got to me" I explained

"You're gorgeous and . . ." he looked like he wanted to say something else but didn't. "Never mind, let's get back to the game" he said

"Thanks, now, we are competing against vampires so they are pretty fast. Ok?" I asked

"Bella, I can run just as fast" he patted his chest "werewolf, remember?"

"Oh, right, I keep forgetting. Ok, the point of the game is to hide arrows in places that are hard to find. Then you get a clue which leads you to the first arrow and the next clue. Then, you run home if you are the first one. If you are called, that means someone won. Then they can give you a dare. Got it? I asked.

"Mostly, now let's go or we'll lose. What is the first clue?" He asked eagerly

"Under the place we first met" I said smugly. I thought I knew where that was.

"Well, where did you first meet?"

"In school"

"Where?"

"In Biology . . . I think. Maybe we met before without me knowing."

"Ok, wait here" he commanded as he went into the forest. A few seconds later, a russet colored wolf came out. He came to me and lowered down and signaled me with his muzzle to get on.

I climbed on and he took off into the woods. He was just as fast as Edward but his run was not as special. We were in Forks High School in 3 minutes. I climbed off as he ran back into the woods. He came back only with a pair of pants, chest bare. I blushed stupidly . . . again, though I was used to him being half-naked.

"Come on, it's this way" I told him quickly before he could ask. I led him to my biology class. On our way there, we saw Edward, though he didn't seem to notice us. He was headed into the cafeteria.

"Hurry up!" I whispered and pointed to Edward across the school. "I hid my first arrow here too"

We half sprinted to my Biology class. I hoped my hiding spot was good. Once inside we started to look around but couldn't find it.

"What was the clue again?" he asked

"Under the place we first met" I told him again. "Wait! We technically met at my biology table" I said excitedly. This was fun. I ran there but couldn't find it.

"Hold on" Jacob said as he reached under the table. He came up with a Golden Arrow and another neatly folded piece of paper in his hand.

"Wow. Very straight forward" he commented.

"Come on! We have to get to Edwards house before anyone else does." I said as we ran to the forest.

He made a face as he ran

"You don't have to go in. Just leave me there and come back when I call you" I ordered.

He smiled my grin. He was content with that. He changed and we ran through the woods, me on his back. I could never get used to the texture of his hair, as I ran my fingers through it. He dropped me off at Edward's house and ran off. I dialed the number 1 just as Edward ran in.