Regardless how hard I tried Alice refused to give any information as to what she meant by her statement. Alice is normally the chatter box, but maybe growing up had changed her a little. Rose had gotten in her car and she and Alice left at the same time. I waved to the both from the porch and I felt myself smiling. All in all things could be worse, and I refused to think about what may be to come.

Coming home I felt a sort of useless energy and I didn't know what to do with it. I puttered around the kitchen a while, washing the few dishes that were in the sink and wiping down the counters. When that was done I decided the downstairs bathroom could use a good scrubbing. I was hoping all the cleaning would help burn off some energy. It was going to be a long day at the store tomorrow, and I would need a good night's sleep tonight. Once the bathroom was complete I went through the living room dusting the end tables and TV stand, and folding my throws for the couch. I was standing behind the sofa, punching up one of my pillows and I noticed the moon casting a glow over my back yard. After I had adjusted the pillow back on the sofa I made my way through the kitchen and out the back door. It was crisp outside and I wrapped my arms around my torso for added warmth as I padded over to my back porch swing. I loved them so much I had one out front and one out back. There was just something very soothing about the rocking motion, and my yard was so peaceful and quiet. I seated myself and brought my one knee up to my chest and pulled my sweatshirt over my leg. My mother used to scream at me for doing that, declaring I would stretch my clothes out. With my other foot I pushed gently and began to rock myself slowly. Instantly my nerves started to calm and my restless energy began to ebb. I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the birds of the night call to each other. I opened my again and stared out across the lawn and into the dark forest that stretched beyond it. Here I was alone, and here I could think clearly.

"No honestly it's not so bad!" I told Jacob for the millionth time. I had been in Forks for three weeks now, and he was convinced I had to be going crazy.

"I wish you could come down to the res, and go to school with me."" He said. I sighed. This was not the first time he had mentioned this, and I was starting to feel there was something more behind it. Jake was a good friend, no, a great friend, and I had very little experience with boys, so I wasn't sure if I was interpreting things wrong. I didn't have the heart to tell him I would have never chosen the reservation schools, even if they were an option, for one simple reason; there was no Edward Cullen at that school. I suppressed a smile and reminded myself I was in a conversation with Jacob. Too often I had a tendency to daydream.

"I know, Jake, but you know they don't allow us pale-faces there." I joked and elbowed him in the ribs. We were walking back through the woods behind my dad's house. We had spent a few hours hiking, well Jake hiked, I mostly tried not to fall and break my neck. But I enjoyed the outdoors, and with Jacob I didn't have to worry about making a fool of myself. I found it helped me relax. Beside me, Jake sighed. This was what I meant. He seemed discontent sometimes.

"Yeah, I know, Bells. I just keep thinking that now that you're here, it'd be awesome if we had class together." "Jake, would we even be in class together? I'm an old fart, you know." I teased him. We had reached the edge of the woods and were now walking through my dad's back yard. "Bella, I'm one year younger than you, which hardly makes you old. Plus all the classes in our age are together. There aren't as many kids." He threw his arm around my shoulders jokingly. I smiled at him and started to respond but before I could say anything I heard a voice that never ceased to send shivers down my spine. "My dear Miss Dashwood, are you hiding back here?" I heard Edward call as he came around the side of my dad's house.

I could feel Jake's are tighten on my shoulder and I felt the childish impulse to dash it away, but I maintained my control and just kept walking. The minute Edward appeared I felt like running and leaping into his arms. Obviously not a notion I would be acting on. Our friendship was very new but I felt as if I had known Edward for years. He and I had managed to just fall in sync with each other. Not something his numerous girlfriends seemed to be fond of. And trust me, there seemed to be a never-ending stream of them. But none of them were quite as mean as the infamous Tanya, so it wasn't anything I couldn't deal with. Edward had had a wonderful smile on his face while he was calling my name, but I noticed his smile had fallen and he was eyeing Jake's arm wrapped around my shoulder. What was that about? Of course apparently Jake noticed too and only squeezed tighter. As gracefully as I could manage, I slipped out from underneath Jake's arm and crossed the distance between Jake and Edward, with Jake close on my heels.

"Hey what's up?" I asked Edward smiling, stopping myself before I could do something foolish, like wrapping my arms around him…..maybe my legs too…hmmm…Geez Bella! I mentally slapped myself, hormones much?

"Hey yourself" He replied, a small shadow replacing his scowl. "I was gonna run to the diner and grab some dinner, and I saw Charlie wasn't home from the station yet, so I figured I'd see if you want to eat. " I smiled big; this was the second time Edward had done this. He did the same thing last week, and while the dinner was nothing but friendly conversation I had enjoyed myself thoroughly and liked that he felt comfortable enough to invite me out to dinner. Even if it was just as buddies.

I was about to tell him yes when I heard a throat clear behind me. CRAP I had forgot Jake was even there. Edward had that effect on me. I turned around and motioned to Jake.

"Edward, this is my friend Jake, our families have been friends for a long time. Jake this is Edward. We go to school together." I hoped Edward didn't notice how my voice faltered on his name. Edward held his hand out to Jake, and Jake took it, both of them nodding to each other. I thought I saw Jacob wince a little at the contact. "Um..." I wasn't really sure what to say. I didn't want to just abandon Jacob, but I really, really wanted to go with Edward.

Thankfully Jacob answered before I could say anything. "I was gonna head out anyway Bella, so I'll see you later, right?" "Yeah, sure."I replied nodding. And then He surprised me, by leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. Jake had I had always been friendly but not that friendly. I could feel myself blushing tomato red as Jake walked away. "Nice meeting you Edward." He called over his shoulder. I didn't hear Edwards reply, I was too busy being mortified.

"Bella, you get any more red, and I'm gonna take you to my dad to make sure you're not having a heart attack. " I shook my head at Edward and gave him my best mean look, which wasn't really hard. After the embarrassment of Jacob's actions ebb, anger made its way to the surface. Who in the hell did Jake think he was pulling that kind of stunt? And in front of Edward no less! Fan-freaking-tastic!

"Aw Bella, don't get embarrassed." Edward said to me as we started walking around the front to his car. "Your boyfriends jealous." "What?" I practically shrieked at him. "He is NOT my boyfriend for one, and there's nothing for him to be jealous about for two!" Edward stopped me with his hand on my elbow before I could walk directly into his car in my fit on anger. "Whoa, Bella-roo ! Calm the hell down. I was just teasing you!" he said to me. I huffed and blew the hair that had fallen over my eyes off of my forehead.

"Whatever. That just pissed me off. That wasn't like him." Edward opened the passenger door for me and I plopped myself into the seat without an ounce of grace. Edward walked around the front of his car and got in and turned the car on.

"Bella, it's pretty simple. Boys do stupid things for pretty girls. It's that easy. We're not that hard to figure out. "

"Ha!" I said back to him "That's a crock of shit Edward. He's been acting weird all week and that was just the icing on the cake." Edward just laughed at me and shook his head and put the car in reverse. He placed his arm on the back of my seat as he looked over his shoulder and backed out of my driveway. "For someone so smart, you sure can be dumb sometimes, Bella." He said laughing at me. I just scowled at him and crossed my arms over my chest "Right back at ya Cullen, now shut up and take me to dinner. " "Yes ma'am." He replied still laughing and put the car in drive.

Sighing I came back to the present. I smiled to myself as I got up from the porch swing. Edward would inevitably be in my dreams tonight. But unlike nights in past, I would welcome them tonight. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to fix this. Trouble was I would have to tell him of all the things that had been broken first.