From the last chapter:

"You know…with Jacob."

"Right," I whispered.

I fell asleep that night wondering what it was that she knew about tomorrow's visit that I didn't. I was afraid to know.


Italic sentences are when Bella is thinking. These characters are Stephenie Meyer's: NOT mine.


Chapter 7: Just Friends

"G'morning sleepy-head" was what I awoke to as I stirred from my dreamless sleep. I cracked open an eyelid to see Alice full of energy and searching through my closet to see what clothes I should wear to school.

"Alice, what are you doing?" I groaned, as if I didn't already know.

"Looking for something cute that you haven't worn in a long time," she said, as she found a short denim skirt and held it up for me to see.

I turned over in my bed and shoved my head under my pillow. I was slipping back to sleep when Alice began talking again.

"Geez, Bella you should hear yourself when you sleep," she said.

This made me wake up fast and pay attention. "What? Why?" I mumbled. I already had the embarrassing suspicion that I probably called out Edward's name in my sleep all night long.

"Well, for one thing, I have discovered that you love Edward as you kept repeating that every, like, ten minutes," Alice said and she had a smirk on her face, "And you kept trying to snuggle up to me."

I blushed a bit and secretly wondered whether I did that too, during the night, when Edward was in my room. If I did, he never mentioned anything about it bothering him.

Alice laughed and told me to hurry up so I could go eat breakfast. I pulled on the denim skirt and a royal purple top, which she chose out for me, and I went downstairs with her. Charlie was sitting in his normal spot at the table and looked up from his newspaper when we had come down.

"Good morning girls. How'd you sleep?" he asked and then took a sip of his coffee.

"Very well, thank you," Alice said with a smile.

I laughed and I got a strange look from Charlie. Alice looked at me with faked curiousity.

"What's so funny, Bells?" Charlie asked.

"Sorry, I just woke up with the giggles I guess," I grinned.

"Well, I have to go to work now, but you girls be sure to eat a good breakfast," Charlie said, as he grabbed his coat and police belt.

"We will," Alice promised, "Have a good day at work."

"Yeah, see you Dad," I said.

Charlie waved and walked out the door and I could hear his police car drive away.

"So what do you want for breakfast, Alice?" I teased.

"Hilarious," she said and rolled her eyes, "What does the human want to eat for breakfast?"

"Fruit, I guess," I said and I began to peel open an orange.

Alice made a disgusted face as the aroma of fresh orange wafted through the kitchen.

"What?"

"How can you eat that? Gross!" Alice said while pinching her nose.

I sighed as I knew that the smell of food repulsed all vampires, not just Alice.

After I was done, Alice and I left in her car and headed to school. I yawned as I didn't really have that great of a sleep last night. I never did when Edward was away.

"Bella, we need to clear something up and don't think that I'm trying to be rude or anything," Alice spoke softly.

"Alright," I said cautiously, "Shoot."

"Alright… we have to be careful when we're around Charlie and our school friends. Sometimes we tend to make comments or laugh at things that normally wouldn't be laughed at. Like when Angela asked us to go see that 'hit' vampire movie," Alice said with a serious expression on her face.

I thought about the curious looks that we had received after we had laughed at Angela's choice of a movie. Alice was right. We did need to be more careful or eventually someone would figure our secret out. I doubt whether they would mention their findings out loud, but they would be analyzing the Cullens constantly and trying to piece bits together.

"You're right, Alice, sorry," I responded. I would feel guilty if someone did find out the Cullens' secret and then they would have to move away. Move away. I repeated that thought in my head and my chest hurt as I remembered when Edward had left me. I had thought he was never coming back. No! That can't happen again. It's not going to happen again. I won't let it!

Alice glanced over at me and she saw that I had set my jaw. "Um…Bella, it's alright. I'm not upset or anything. I'm just saying."

I nodded and we pulled into the school's parking lot. "Thanks Alice for looking out for me." I smiled and she smiled back. I got out of the car and the first thing I looked for was a shiny silver Volvo.

My breath was blown away as I saw Edward leaning against his Volvo in a black button-down shirt and jeans. He looked at me and grinned. He was waiting for me. Me. He could easily have anyone he wanted, but he chose me. I still couldn't understand why, but at this moment it didn't matter.

I ran across the parking lot and into his arms.

"Whoa, Bella I've only been away for a night, not a week," he said, but he smiled all the same and then he frowned. "If you ever run like that again across a parking lot, just because of me, and…. if you got hit…." He shook his head and I could tell he was upset with himself for being the possible cause of any injury done to me.

I breathed in his scent. His intoxicating scent….and I looked up into his eyes that were a golden liquid colour now instead of the dark colour they were yesterday.

"I missed you," I sighed, happily into his chest. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head.

"And I, you," he whispered.

Alice then gracefully walked across the parking lot after she saw that we were finished greeting each other.

"Thanks Alice," Edward nodded.

"You owe me one," she joked.

"You name it," Edward laughed.

"A T-bird?" Alice said, with one eyebrow raised.

"Done," Edward replied with a smirk.

I gawked at them both and then at Alice who danced away in the direction of her first period class.

"A T-bird? A Thunderbird? You mean like…the car?" I stammered.

"No Bella. I mean like the bird," Edward said sarcastically, "Of course the car, what else?"

He chuckled at my amazed look.

"It's no big deal," he said and then to my look, "Really, it's alright."

The school bell rang and we walked off to first period. The day went by in the same routine basically…three classes, lunch, then last period. Plans hadn't changed and the date for the movie was still set for next Friday.

Edward was driving me home when he questioned me on something that he had on his mind. "So, are you still planning to go over to the reservation today?"

I looked over at him to try to see what he was feeling or thinking, but he revealed nothing. I sighed and answered, "So far, yeah, I still plan on going."

"Good," Edward said and he looked satisfied with my answer.

"I guess, but it's not going to be easy," I said.

Edward looked worried. "Do you want me to get Alice to keep an eye on you?"

I looked surprised and whispered, "No. I'll be alright."

Edward looked unsure, but didn't say anything else regarding the topic. We pulled up at my house and Edward looked at me for awhile.

I sighed and said, "Well, when do you think I should go: before or after dinner?"

"After," Edward replied immediately, and even though I couldn't read his mind, I knew that he was thinking about my last visit to the reservation.

"Alright," I agreed. Edward then left and told me that he would meet me up in my room soon.

That night...

It took awhile to reassure Edward again that things would go alright with Jacob tonight and that I didn't need Alice watching my every move. As for Charlie, he was happy as usual to hear that I was planning on going to see Jacob again.

I had driven all the way to the reservation while forcing myself not to turn around and go back home to avoid the whole visit. I was sitting in my truck in the Blacks' driveway when I noticed the curtain to a window flicker. No turning back now that someone saw me. I slowly got out of the truck and shuffled to the door. Maybe, if I'm lucky, Jake won't be home.

I had just finished thinking my thought when the door opened before I could even knock. Jacob was standing there with a surprised look on his face as he looked at me. He was the one who had seen me through the window.

"Bella? What are you doing here?" Jacob said, but not in an unpleasant way.

"Jake, I wanted to see you about something," I said.

He didn't like the tone of my voice and frowned. He looked back into the house where I could hear the T.V on and then shut the door quietly behind himself.

"Come on, let's go somewhere else," Jacob suggested.

He led me to the beach silently and I looked up at the full moon. I glanced over at him and he looked at me before answering, "It's alright."

We both ended up sitting in the sand, facing the water. There was a period of silence and I could tell that Jacob was trying to prepare himself for the worse. He breathed in deeply and then turned to me.

"O.k. So what is it that you wanted to see me about?" He spoke softly.

I felt like I was going to burst with emotion. I felt nervous, upset, sad, worried and pained. I didn't know that it was possible to feel so much all at the same time. Jacob was looking at me intently with his worried brown eyes.

"Jacob…," I stopped to try to recollect myself, "I need to talk to you about us."

"Uh-oh," Jake breathed out, "Alright…Bella, I'm sorry that I kissed you Saturday night. I just…I think that…"

He was struggling over words and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Jake, it doesn't matter," I whispered, slowly shaking my head.

"Yes it does," he quickly pointed out and sighed, "Bella, the thing is…I think I'm in love with you."

He watched for a reaction from me. He was looking hopeful even that my feelings might have changed.

"J-Jake, I-I…..," I stammered. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't expecting for this to happen. I sat there, with my head bowed, and I quietly began to cry. I was confused of what to do. How was I supposed to tell Jacob what I had to say when I wasn't even sure now myself?

"Bella? Oh no, damn it! I made you cry. Bells, it's alright," he said and he shifted closer to me in order to put a warm, comforting arm around me.

"I-I j-just don't know w-what t-to say," I whispered.

"Then don't say anything. I just needed to tell you how I feel," Jake said calmly.

I sniffled pathetically and wiped away my own tears. I had to tell Jake what I had come here for. I still didn't understand how the conversation ended up with this way.

"J-Jake, I need to tell you my feelings now," I said, trying to sound clear.

Jake nodded and I could still see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. I felt horrible that I was going to be the one who took that away.

"Jake, I've said it before, but I really mean it when I say that I only think of you as a friend," I said as gently as I could.

"Well, friends can become more than just friends eventually," Jacob replied, without a second thought.

"Not in this case, Jake. I'm sorry," I said and I could feel my tears threatening once again.

He shook his head as if he was refusing to accept what I had said.

"Jake, I'm sorry it has to be this way," I said as I touched his arm lightly.

"Did the bloodsucker tell you to tell me this?" He said, disgusted.

I felt like I had been struck and, with hurt in my voice, said, "No Jake. I'm telling you this because this is what I think, this is what I feel."

"Bella, I know you could love me back. I know it. I can feel it. You should at least try," Jake argued.

"Jake, I do love you, but as a brother. I don't want to try to love you in any other way. I love Edward, Jake, when are you going to accept that?" I said.

"I know you could love me. At one point, I thought you really did. It was when that parasite left you like that. If he hadn't come back, you would have admitted that you have feelings for me by now," Jake spoke angrily now and I could see him start to tremble.

"Jake! Please relax!" I pleaded. "Or I'll leave right now."

He didn't speak for awhile until he regained total control.

"Maybe it's better if you did," he muttered.

I knew that he was upset and that was the only reason he had turned mean, but I still felt pained by his tone of voice.

"Fine," I spat at him, "I'm leaving right now. And, Jacob Black, I'm done crying over you anymore!"

I stomped up the beach in the direction of the Blacks' house. I heard Jake yell at me, "Fine! Go back to your precious bloodsucker! I hope you'll be happy as you obviously can't be with me!"

His words stung me and I jumped into my truck, slamming the door loudly. I looked up and I could see Billy looking out of the window at me. Go away, Billy!

I turned my ignition and carelessly backed out of the driveway. As I drove away from the reservation, I gazed up at the full moon that seemed to be following me. I couldn't run from it. It didn't matter how fast I drove. It would always be there. The moon was just like Jacob.

Oh God, Jacob! I replayed what had happened at the beach in my head. I hate him for doing this to me! And even though I told Jake that I wouldn't cry over him anymore, a single tear slid down my cheek as I kept driving into the night.


Hehe! This chapter was intense between Bella and Jake! But, wait, if you think that was intense (bwahaha) wait till later on! Please review! It's going to be my birthday on June 6th so please (with cake on top) review! Love moonlightwriter06


Preview of next chapter:

"What!? We're going to Alaska!?" I asked confused.

Edward smirked as he held the plane tickets out to me.