Sorry for my lack of updating. Work has been my life. But now I have strep throat so I can't go back to work until I'm not contagious anymore. Giving me a chance to update this, naturally. Enjoy and please review!

It was another sleepless night for Jacob, but at least he wasn't padding on four paws around Al Howard's place. Instead he tossed and turned in his own bed, images of a certain blonde, blue-eyed girl flashing through his mind too quickly to pinpoint any certain image. It felt like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all when his alarm went off at nine Thursday morning.

He rubbed his eyes sleepily, then meandered down the hall to the kitchen, where he scrounged up some eggs and toast for breakfast. Jacob was an excellent cook. With his father in a wheelchair, his two older sisters moved away from La Push, and his mother dead these many years, Jacob had to learn how to cook in order to get by. He didn't mind; he liked to cook.

He ambled back to his bedroom, munching on his breakfast, and then hopped into the shower. He didn't know where Billy was; he didn't really care. After a quick shower, he threw on a pair of blue jeans over his swim trunks, yanked on a t-shirt, shoved his feet into his sneakers and hopped on his bike.

It only took him fifteen minutes to get from his house to Al's. He pulled up in front of the porch and turned the bike off. He was going to go to the door and knock, but Marlie was out the front door before he could even get off the bike. She was dressed in the oddest outfit he had yet seen her in. Today it was a pair of black basketball shorts, an oversized t-shirt with the sleeves and neck cut out, and her black cowboy boots. Her hair was pulled back into two French braids, the ends tucked under. She had a black vinyl bag tucked under her arm and a pair of giant black aviator sunglasses perched on her nose.

She dashed across the dirt yard and hopped onto the bike behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. "Just drive." She muttered darkly.

"What's wrong?" He asked, surprised.

"Al and I had a fight." She muttered tersely. "Drive."

Jacob complied, and the motorcycle roared away from Al's house. Marlie clung to his waist tightly, her face pressed against his back. Even through his t-shirt, Jacob could feel her lips turn up into a smile after a minute. He smiled too and turned the bike towards the La Push beach.

Though the beach was often crowded on the weekends, it was deserted today. Jacob was pleased. He pulled his bike into the parking lot and cut the engine. He glanced over his shoulder at Marlie; she was still grinning.

"Not too windy for you?" He asked, climbing off and holding out his hand to help her off.

She accepted his hand and swung one long leg over the bike. Then she patted her tightly braided hair. Not a curl was out of place. "I wore my hair this way for a reason." Then she flashed him a bright smile. "You know, that was the first time I've ever ridden on a motorcycle."

"Well you did very well for a first-timer." He complimented her, chuckling. He motioned to her and led the way down the steep wooden steps onto the beach.

It was alarmingly hot for the middle of June. The sun was bright, and the dark blue waves crashed against the brown sand, littered with driftwood and seaweed. Little white shells reflected the sunlight, making them glistening beacons half-hidden in the sand.

Marlie didn't speak as she spread out her towel on the sand. Then she balanced on one foot while she pulled her cowboy boots off. She tossed the boots down onto the sand, then pulled her t-shirt over her head. Underneath she was wearing a modest black one-piece bathing suit. The back of the suit was cut low, almost to her tailbone, and the front stretched tight over her chest. Her choice of bathing suit surprised him.

She caught him staring at her as she stripped off her basketball shorts and tossed them onto the pile of clothes. "What?" She demanded shyly, rubbing her hands on the back of her neck.

"Nothing." Jacob shook his head. "I just didn't peg you for a one-piece sort of girl."

Her eyes glittered brightly. "And just what sort of girl am I?" Then she shook her head as if it didn't matter. Either that or she didn't want to know, Jacob thought to himself. "Come on. Let's go swimming! That's what we came here for, isn't it?"

And she dashed across the sand on light feet until she was knee-deep in the cool water. She turned around, the wind whipping the waves against her thighs, and motioned for Jacob to join her. "Come on!" She shouted, waving to him.

Jacob pulled his t-shirt over his head and pulled off his jeans. He plowed into the water beside her, splashing her as he went. She squealed in surprise, then splashed him right back.

It was noon before they dragged themselves out of the water, exhausted from swimming, slightly cold from the chill Washington water. They collapsed onto their towels, laid out next to each other on the hot sand. Marlie lay on her back with her arms stretched out above her. Jacob couldn't help but admire the smooth contour her arms made, stretched up above her head. They were almost a continuation of her neck, angled the way it was. And her chest, with her breasts flattened because of the angle and the tightness of her bathing suit, rose and fell with her even breathing.

She looked over at him and caught him staring again. "What?" She demanded, propping herself up on her elbow so she could see him better.

"Nothing." He shook his head, smiling. He propped himself up to match her position. "I was just thinking about how much fun this was. I haven't had fun like this in a while."

"Me neither." She agreed. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips ever-so-lightly against his. Jacob was completely taken aback; the sensation sent a shock of electricity down his spine.

Marlie pulled back, almost afraid of what she'd done. She seemed just as surprised about it as Jacob was.

He felt an overwhelming sense of emotion towards her, and even though he knew he shouldn't do it, he closed the gap between them and kissed her again. It was a rough kiss; Jacob was a rough sort of person. He crushed his lips to hers, pulling her close. Her arms found their way around his neck, her long fingers entangling themselves in his dark hair. She opened her mouth very slightly, and Jacob ran his tongue over her bottom lip.

Then he pulled away, breathing heavily, weak in the knees. What he was doing was very wrong; he was sure of this. He was a monster, and he couldn't put someone he cared about this much in danger.

Marlie stared at him, her eyes half-closed, surprised. She licked her bottom lip experimentally, tasting him, remembering him.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this." Jacob muttered, running his fingers through his hair awkwardly.

Marlie sat back on her towel, her hands wrapped around one of her ankles. She didn't look surprised. "Is it because of Bella?"

"What? No. I don't care about Bella anymore." Jacob didn't think to wonder how Marlie knew about Bella, but he was surprised that what he said was true. He took a deep breath; why had he let it come to this anyway? "I just… well I can't really explain it." He sighed again. "I think I should take you home now." He got to his feet and pulled his blue jeans on over his wet swim trunks.

Marlie stared at him for a long moment, then slowly stood up and pulled her clothes back on. She stuffed her bare feet into her cowboy boots, crammed her towel into her beach bag, and followed him up the steps into the parking lot. She climbed onto the motorcycle behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her face into his back again. This time, there was no smile.

Jacob drove in silence back to Al's house. He pulled his bike up in front of the porch, but didn't bother to even cut the engine. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He mumbled.

Marlie climbed off the bike and gave him a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, see you around." She agreed, then hoisted her bag higher on her shoulder and went into the house.

Jacob was in a foul mood as he drove back to his place. He silently berated himself for ever allowing himself to get so close to Marlie, knowing full well what would happen.

Even Billy noticed when he stormed into the house. He was sitting in the living room, watching television, and he looked up when the front door slammed behind his son. "What's wrong with you?" He demanded, wheeling himself into the kitchen so he could confront Jacob.

"I just had a bad day." Jacob muttered, going to the refrigerator and pulling out a soda. He drained it in one gulp, then tossed the empty can into the garbage bin.

Billy frowned. "I thought you were taking Al's granddaughter to the beach today." He said.

"Yeah, I did." Jacob sighed heavily. "We sort of broke up. Or whatever."

"Why?" Billy demanded, with much more interest than a father should have. "I thought you liked her, and from what Al has told me, she likes you too."

Jacob whirled around on his father. "Are you insane?" He growled angrily, feeling his whole body quiver. "I'm a werewolf, dad! I'm dangerous! I can't be trusted around normal human beings." His voice was full of self-loathing.

Billy narrowed his dark eyes at his only son. "That girl is a lot stronger than you give her credit for." He said sternly. "She's been through more than you'll ever imagine. I think she'll prove herself to you if you just give her a chance."

Jacob had had enough. "Why do you even care?" He burst out. "You and Al aren't even that good of friends!"

Billy was silent for a moment, and Jacob thought he might not bother answering at all. But then Billy said, "Al and I used to be real close, you know, but we had a sort of falling out. It was over Annie." He took a deep breath. "That girl is better than any of us imagined she could be, and I think she'd be good for you. Understanding, you know."

Jacob left the house without another word, ripping off his clothes and pounding into the forest. He had four legs instead of two in a matter of seconds, and then nothing seemed as bad as it really was.

Sort of angsty chapter, eh? Ah well. I'm officially 11 weeks and 1 day today!