A/N: So a mermaid shifter! I'm excited to see where this goes! As always reviews are apprecieated, infact I've enabled anonamyous reviews, so if you don't have an account, you can still review (of course I will quickly disable it if spam occurs). Anyways, enjoy!


Chatting with Jake

Carlisle just stared at me for a few moments, and then shrugged his shoulders and smiled, "Mermaid, hmmm, I'd love to see that."

"I'd be happy to show you, but not today if you don't mind," I replied.

"Jacob's here," Edward announced.

"Excellent, I'll go down to greet him," Carlisle said. "I'll be right back," he put his hand on my shoulder for a brief moment and then made his way out of the room.

Then the inquisition started.

"Can you only breathe salt water or fresh water as well?"

"Either, I do better in salt water though."

"Is it only women in your tribe that can shift?"

"Yes, the shifter gene is dormant in males."

"How do you communicate when you are," he hesitated and smiled at me again, "a mermaid?"

His eyes caught my attention for a few moments, the pure amber color that reflected the harsh light. I could stare into them for days and be happy to have lost myself there.

"Bella?"

I was brought back to reality and flushed with embarrassment, "We can communicate telepathically like the wolves, but there really isn't a need."

"Have you ever shifted involuntarily? Lost control? I've seen it happen to the wolves."

I paused, considering my answer, "No, I have never shifted involuntarily."

"There's more to that, what are you not telling me?"

He was getting alarmingly good at reading me. Luckily Jake rushed in at that moment to save me from further questions.

"Bella! We were so worried!" Jake rushed up beside me as Edward took a few steps back. Carlisle walked in behind Jake.

"Carlisle has brought me up to speed- you look like you're doing okay. Can't believe you told them! I was all prepared to sing the National Anthem repeatedly in my head to keep the nosy one out."

Edward rolled his eyes, I knew Jake's plan wouldn't have worked either. Edward nodded his head in agreement.

"Thanks Jake, now would you mind telling me why you are friends with these vampires?"

"Ohh yeah, sure! We had some new born vampires in town last week, killing on our lands. Turns out the Cullens here were hunting them as well and the terms of our treaty where really getting in the way. So we worked out this awesome plan and lured out the newborns into our trap while still keeping the treaty in tact. I was able to take one down all on my own, you should have seen it Bella! He was huge!" Jake made motions indicating the size, "But a stray got its arms around me, cracked like three ribs, right Carlisle?" Carlisle nodded in response as Jacob continued, "anyways the doc brought me back here, this very room in fact, I had a punctured lung, he totally saved me. So relations between the pack and the Cullens have improved of late, the pack feels in debt to them for saving their Alpha."

"And you didn't think to call to tell me any of this?" I asked him.

"I figured we'd talk about it when I saw you! Heck I had even planned to give you the opportunity to meet them for yourself."

"Alright Jake, speaking of calling, can I borrow your phone? I should probably call my folks and let them know I'm ok."

"I called them on my way over and let them know you were safe," he said as he handed me the phone. "We've been combing the Olympic Peninsula all week."

I found the number in his recent contacts and hit dial. Edward and Carlisle stepped out to give me some privacy. Jacob stayed, he didn't have any sense of manners, it was part of what made him endearing.

"Hi mom…. Yeah I'm fine…. Big misunderstanding…. Forks…… no Jacob is here, we'll get my car in Port Angeles tomorrow and I'll drive home from there…… Yes, I'll be fine to drive… No, just stay there, I'm fine really… I'll explain more when I get home…. Love you to, bye!"

As soon as I hung up Jacob was at it again, "So you were really starving yourself to death? That's impressive Bells! Impressively stupid and not like you at all."

"Let's drop it, I was in a bad place and thought I might compromise the tribe. I didn't know what else to do."

"Alright, just don't do it again," he said rubbing his fist in my hair. "Hey have you told Carlisle? Maybe he can help!"

I knew exactly what he was referring to, "No, and I don't intend to. I have troubled the friendly vampires enough. He wouldn't be able to help anyways, what could he figure out that our medicine men couldn't? Hundreds of years of history, science and mysticism studied relentlessly by our best, and still no answers. No, there is no purpose, after tomorrow I'll be gone."

"Bella, he's been a doctor for centuries, maybe a fresh perspective would be good, why not try anything and everything?"

Every so often Jacob would surprise me with his hidden wisdom, this was one of those instances. "Alright Jake, I'll think about it, but please let me be the one to ask?"

"Fair enough, so," he paused, "It's good to see you Bella, it's so good!"

Jacob made a big yawn and then I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, "Jake, you're exhausted! When did you last sleep?"

"About two and a half days I guess."

"Jake, ohh I'm sorry!" I replied as Edward walked back in.

"Jake, I made the bed in a spare room down the hall, you looked pretty tired earlier, you're welcome to stay" Edward offered.

"Ok, yeah, I'll take you up on that. Bella you get some more rest to, ok?"

"Sure Jake, I'll get right on that. It's only 4:00 in the afternoon! And I've been sleeping for days straight. You on the other hand look like you're ready to pass out!"

Jake mumbled something as he left. Then Edward pulled up the chair beside my bed, "how are you doing, anything I can get you?"

Well this was going to be awkward, "Umm yeah, I really need to go to the bathroom, but well," I looked down at my useless leg. "If you could just get me to the door."

"I'm so sorry, I forgot, of course!" He rushed to the door and called, "Alice."

Two seconds later a new vampire snuck in behind Edward. She was a small, delicate girl with short pixie cut black hair. She looked pretty harmless, but then again looks can be deceiving. She pranced, literally, over beside me and held out her hand to me, "Hi, I'm Alice, we're going to be great friends!"


A/N: Alice see's another chapter in the near future, but before that happens, would you mind sharing your thoughts with me by clicking the green words below. Much apprecieated, thanks!