Billy was sitting in the kitchen as I entered and I found he was not alone. Another man joined him, hands curled around a large mug of steaming coffee. He was trembling slightly and as my eyes scanned over the leather jacket swathing his frame, I caught sight of a gleaming gold badge.

"Hey, Billy." I forced myself to smile and he nodded towards his guest. The police offer turned slowly, studying me with curiousity. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot and bleary, rimmed with an angry shade of red that was matched by large patches around his nostrils, disappearing into the greying strands of his moustashe.

"This is the one I was tellin' you about." Billy said in a low tone and my stomach lurched uncomfortably.

"Uh, hello, Officer Swann." My feet scuffed the floor uncomfortably.

This was going to be awkward.

The police officer cast me a friendly smile but it did not extend to his eyes. Before he had a chance to speak, I pre-empted him and stared at the floorboards.

"I...heard what happened. You have my deepest sympathies."

"Thank you." his voice was hoarse from crying and as he took a sip of coffee, my heart went out to him. The man was a mess, his hair dishivelled and wild atop his head, a five 'o clock shadow evident on his chin, the lines of his face thin and drawn.

Grasping at straws in a bid to offer some level of comfort to the grieving man, I took to refilling his coffee cup when it drained low, busying myself with the task as Charlie and Billy talked among themselves.

"A goose in the turbine." Billy's voice was stiff with incredality as he shook his head.

"A fuckin' goose, Bill. You couldn't make this shit up." Charlie said gruffly, a low churr of approval sounding from him as I set his coffee mug before him and joined them with my own.

"I'm so sorry, sir. Truely. If I hadn't swapped with-"

Charlie sighed and petted my hand. His face was lined with premature wrinkles, flecks of grey in his auburn hair aging him by several years. "Hey. It was no-one's fault but the goddamned bird. I'll be alright."

"If there's anything I can do to help, just say the words, Charlie."

"That. That helps. Just asking." He smiled wistfully and as small as it was, there was a delicate twinkle in his slate-coloured eyes. Reaching into the breast pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a pack of smokes and lit one up, taking a long drag, seeking solace in the arms of nicotine.

Making my excuses, I left them both to continue their conversation in peace and trekked out to the expanse of overgrown grass that served as a backyard. Jacob was inside the large woodshed, quietly grooving to some vintage LL Cool J as he busied himself with rechaining an old bicycle.

"I love this song." I said airly, sipping at the last dregs of my coffee. He looked up, smiling broadly and graciously accepted the mug of sugary tea I extended to him. "Never thought Chaka Khan and dirty rap lyrics could work so well."

"Mmm. Funny how the strangest combinations work out the best."

"Kind of like you and I, huh, Jake?"

"Harr-harr-harr!" He wrinkled his nose at me and I chuckled before sitting down beside him on an upturned fruit crate.

"So, how was your first day?" he said kindly, giving me a sweeping glance. His eye was swollen and puffed from last night and inwardly, I winced at the sight of the yellowed flesh, the makings of what was sure to be a humdinger of a shiner.

"Surprisingly dull. No-one really paid me any attention... well, except for this one guy."

"Oh-ho!" Jacob set his tools down and wiped the oil from his hands with a ragged old shirt, brows quirking with interest. "There's a guy, is there? Should I be worried?"

A sneer crept across my face.

"Urgh, no!"

"So, spill!" He scooted closer to me, tweaking my nose playfully; "What's his name?"

The knot in my stomach tightened and I frowned down at my hands, taking in the sight of my ragged, bitten nails and the callouses on my fingertips.

"Uh.. Edward."

Jacob's merry smile dropped abruptly.

"Was his last name Cullen?" his voice was rough, his brown eyes flashing with the same raw fury as that night on the reservation.

I nodded, gulping back a mouthful of coffee dregs.

"Yeah. He's a creepy little weirdo. Pretty young for a heroin junkie, to be honest."

"Junkie?" Jacob quirked an eyebrow but his lips were pulled into a thin line.

"At least, I think he's a junkie. Nobody's that skinny naturally. Besides, he acted like he was on something or at least, was going cold turkey."

"Did he hurt you?" Jacob's strong hands were on my shoulders, his eyes piercing my own. "Alex-"

"No. He just weirded me out a little. He kept looking at me like I was a particularly juicy steak. His eyes-they're just frightening, Jake. No emotion. Not even a reflection of light. I swear, he's either a zombie or in serious withdrawl."

A sardonic smirk crossed Jacob's features. "Or, y'know... he could be a vampire!" He quipped, his tone one of amusement. I rolled my eyes and lightly smacked his cheek.

"A likely theory. He did have a certain Nosferatu look to him- all bones and freakishly long fingers. But you know as well as I do, Jake. There's no such thing as vampires."

"Cullen was at the reservation last night." Jacob said softly, motioning to the shiner growing around his left eye. "He was trespassing on Quilete land."

"And that's a bad thing...why?" I queried, reaching to brush my fingertips against the bruised flesh of his brow. He hissed sharply through his teeth but did not recoil from my touch.

"It's a long story but I'll try to explain it in laymen's terms. You know I'm Native American, right?"

"With theYahoo handle of Howling-Wolf? I taught you were a furry!"

"Eeeww! No!" He stuck out his tongue, nose crinkling; "What I'm trying to get at is this. I'm a Quilete and thus descented from the main tribe that ruled over most of what is now Forks. The Cullens are descended from European settlers. The very same who slaughtered my ancestors in a bid to sieze control of the land. I know it's all in the past and I shouldn't be perpetuating a cycle of bad blood an' all but it's my family's honour at state."

"You sound like a disgruntled samurai." I mused, before adopting my cheesiest accent, mouth moving in a parody of badly dubbed kung-fu movies; "My honor! You have sullied it! Prepare to die by my blade! Oooowaaaah!"

Jacob rolled his eyes and pulled me into a one armed hug. "You're impossible. Still, to be serious for a minute, I want you to give that guy a wide berth."

"You don't have to tell me twice, dear. He gives me the heebie-jeebies."

He chuckled and rose to his full, imposing height before taking my hand as he walked us out towards the woods. Pointing towards the mass of trees at the property line, his hand squeezed mine a little tighter.

"The Cullens live just beyond those trees, over the border enforced by my great-great-grandfather. They are forbidden from crossing it but everyone in a while, they do like to provoke us. Promise me you'll never go in there alone, Alex. I know I can't stop you from wandering around but just...don't do anything stupid. You saw what he did to my face. If the guys weren't there to pull him back, can you imagine what might've happened?"

I shuddered as an image of Jacob channelling the Elephant Man flashed into my head.

"I'd rather not."

"Mmmm." He gave a slight nod and broke his grip on my hand, lifting his arm to drape it over my shoulder as we strolled back to the house.

"So, all ancient family history aside, any plans for the day?"

My hand moved to brush a stray lock of blonde from my eyes as I cast him a warm smile, the stress from the day vanishing as I basked in his unnatural warmth. "I'm thinking I might dye my mohawk but I haven't really decided on the colour yet. Maybe if you stuff me full of Twinkies, my mind might be a little clearer!"

He grinned broadly and rested his strong chin atop my head. "I'm sorely tempted to crack an off-colour joke but I think I'll spare your blushes for the time being!"

"Thank you kindly."

"Heh. Sooo, hair dye? Well, if you want to make a day of it, I'd suggest a trip to La Push. They've got a pretty big mall out there. Wall-Mart and everything!"

I faked a gasp of horror. "The source of all evil in the universe? Nooo!"

He laughed, a deep, thrilling bark of a noise and I leaned further into his touch.

"Tremble before our souless corperations with their endless variety of clearence sales! Mwahahaha!"

"Oh, lord...!"

La Push was less than fifteen miles outside Forks but for all the contrast between the two, it could've been four-thousand. Whilst Forks was a quiet, dreary town painted in shades of grey, La Push was vibrant, sunny and buzzing with life, edged with dense green forests, a wide, shimmering river running through it. Jacob explained it was called the Quillayute and seemed highly amused when I let out the odd dreamy sigh as I gazed out the truck window. The air was balmy, crisp with the scent of summer blooms.

Sunny and bright.

It was a stark contrast to the severe, grey walls of the row of large buildings sat in the middle of all this loveliness, as though dropped onto a square of black tarmac without a care or thought.

I had often wondered about the fabled halls of Wall-Mart, having heard many tall tales and urban legends of how you could buy everything and anything within it's doors plus a few things no-one had ever thought of. As I stood in the hunting aisle, I weighted the twelve-gauge shotgun in my hands, mind blown by the fact I could buy it just as easily as a stick of gum in this crazy, trigger-loving country.

It was pretty damn awesome.

Alas, I only had three hundred dollars on hand out of the sizeable allowence my grandfather had given me and my own life savings currently locked away in a bank account with a daily limit.

At the heafty price of $950, this gun was far out of my price range.

Still, a girl could dream.

Airsoft sport was a fun past-time back home on the farm and I was a pretty good shot with a gas-powered Sig Sauer pistol but to hold an actual gun, a one-hundred percent God-honest killing machine in my very hands- it was an incredible feeling.

Both frightening and exilerating in equal measures.

Still, I had no reason to justify the purchase. Jacob had warned me of the threat of bears in the woods but had reassured me the traps laid out at the land boundry were more than adequate against them. He leaned against a rack of hunting paraphenalia, watching me with a brow arched in amusement.

"Little Irish girl likes to play with shotguns!"

"Shut up!" I pursed my lips at him, placing the gun back on the rack with much reluctance on my part. "After five years of shooting pellets at tin cans, it's only reasonable I should want to upgrade."

"Easy, Bruce Campbell! There a'int no zombies in Forks! Besides, there's a three day police clearence to consider along with the fact you're a minor, fake ID or not!"

"Oh, I know..." I lamented that beautiful gun with the chestnut barrel and the chrome-plated gauges, pushing my trolley out of the hunting aisle. "But still. Boomstick. Want."

"If you like, I could try and convince my dad to let you fire off some buck-shot out back."

"Oh? You own some heavy artilery?"

"Eh, just a rifle for shooting elk when the season's open. If you behave, I might bring you along next time." Jacob smirked at me, his teeth white and pearly against the rich copper tone of his skin. I nudged him playfully, a thrilling laugh escaping my throat.

"I always behave myself, Jake!"

"Lex.." he wangled his eyebrows and I snorted with amusement.

"Well, within reason anyhow!" I pushed the cart towards the checkout and fished my wallet from the pocket of my shorts. "You wanna grab a bite while we're here or d'ya wanna polish off some of this junk on the ride home?" I said, jabbing a finger at the veritable mountain of potatoe chip bags, boxes of cookies, Twinkies, candy bars and countless other fine cavity-inducing products of America.

How he managed to stay so trim, I had no idea. It gave further fuel to the steroid theory.

"There's a nice Italian joint just a little further into town if you fancy recreating that one scene from Lady and the Tramp..." he replied, grunting as he hefted a large bag of coal onto the conveyor belt.

"Oooh, can I be Tramp?"

"All your life!"

"Jackass."

I was in the middle of changing into my newly-purchased cami-and-shorts night clothes when I felt it: that strange, curious feeling of sensing someone's presence before I saw it. As I pulled the top down over my stomach, I moved towards the window and gave the blind a sharp yank.

The white canvas jerked upwards and I emitted a cry of alarm.

Down on the street below, standing next to Billy Black's rusty old lemon of a truck, a skeleton stared up at me. Those same ruby-red eyes that I had only glimpsed the night before blazed brightly in the shadows of approaching dusk and as I leaned on the sill for a closer look, a horrid jolt of recodnition seized me.

It was Edward.

Or at least, I thought it was him.

The face below was little more than white muslin pulled taunt over spindly bones, held upright by sheer will alone. He wasn't wearing a shirt and even from two storeys up, I could count every rib jutting painfully from his chest, my eyes tracing over the line of his sternum, the hollow of his collar, the visable vertabrae in his neck.

He reminded me of those horrific images glaring up from the pages of my history books. Holocaust victims sprung to mind and I grimaced at the thought. Even they seemed almost healthy in contrast to this pitiful creature peering up at me with such frightful eyes.

Oh god, those eyes.

They looked crazed, the pupils two black pin-pricks in a canvas of shining crimson. I could see nothing of the whites, the red blaze consuming them as though his very eye-balls were bleeding.

A tiny whisp of peachy fuzz covered his head and his skin seemed at least two sizes too tight for his frame, a mixture of off-white and deathly grey, mottled with bruises and liver spots.

I tried hard to avoid his gaze, piercing as it was but like with a car crash, I could not pull myself away from the carnage that lay before me. He could sense my fear, of that I had no doubt for he smiled up at me. Deep wrinkles formed at the corners of his mouth as the sinew pulled tight and I almost screamed.

That disgusting mouth was filled with rows of long, tapered fangs, each coated with a horrid black substance that dribbled down his chin, the origin of which I dreaded to think of. He threw his head back and made a curious sound- somewhere between a rasp, a bark and a laugh.

It made my blood run cold and in that moment, I felt any semblance of bravery desert me.

My bare feet skidded on the polished wood floor as I scrambled across the room to the door.

I'm not going to scream.

I'm not going to scream.

Sweet zombie Jesus, what the fuck is that thing?

I nearly crashed head first into Jacob's door in my haste to get to it and I had to brace my hands on the knock was frantic, betraying my panicked state and as the door flew open, I launched myself at the poor boy, arms tightening with a death grip around his neck.

"Guh! Lex! Lex! Choking! Can't breathe!"

"C-Can I sleep w-with you tonight?" The words tumbled out in a terrified squeak as I trembled against the taunt line of his chest, my hands unwinding to dip beneath his armpits and clench around his waist.

"W-What?" He choked, eyes widening as a hot blush coloured his cheeks a rosy pink. I glanced over my shoulder to the open door of my bedroom, my entire body trembling.

"T-T-There's s-something outside my window! Oh, Jake! Why didn't I just grab that shotgun!"I could hardly think as hysteria threatened to devour me whole. Brows furrowing, Jacob took my hands and pried them from his frame before grabbing a baseball bat that lay next to his nightstand.

"What is it?"

"I don't know but it looks evil!" I cried, feeling hot tears flow down my cheeks.

If only I had been able to ship my Aersofts overseas. It was so much easier to feel a few shades braver with a fistful of metal weighing in my hand, regardless of it being real or not. That thing outside my window had to die.

There was no question of it.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't natural.

It was an unholy abomination.

It had Edward Cullen's face and it smiled at me- that same hungry smile he had cast me in the cafeteria.

Oh god.

My chest feels tight.

Choking.

Can't breathe.

"Easy, 'Lex. Breathe." Jacob handed me my little red inhaler, urging me to take a blast.

My hands trembled uncontrolably and I dropped the device several times, feeling crushing jaws of doom clamp down hard on my ribcage. He sat me down on the bed and pleaded for me to stay put as he raised the bat in his hands and crept towards the window.

Jacob's face was hard in the dying light and his eyes narrowed ominously as he glanced out of the window, kneeling on the seat. As soon as I had loosened the tightness in my chest, I felt strong enough to join him, peeking through my hands to the view of the street below, beyond which lay the forest.

Darkness there and nothng more.

Not even a mouse stirred in the stillness.

No breeze, no noise.

Just an empty street, silent as the grave.

"You okay?" Jacob queried, curling an arm around my shoulders as I let out a strangled sob.

"It wasn't a dream, Jake. I saw something- it was the devil himself! I'm sure of it. Oh, god, it was terrifying! All teeth and bones and evilness and-and...!"

"Slow breathes, Alex. Ssshh." He petted my hair gently, leading me towards the hallway and back into his room. "Tell me exactly what you saw."

I sat down on his bed. It was much softer than the stiff mattress of the guest room but smaller in size. Gulping back the dryness in my throat, a whimper escaped my throat as he knelt before me, his hands resting gently on my knees as he peered at me with concern in his chocolate-coloured eyes.

"Alexandra."

"It was a creature! A hungry, emaciated shell of a man. It had a mush full o' fangs and blood-red eyes-!"

"Did it do anything to you? Was it in the room with you? Lex?" Jacob's voice was steady but I could sense the panic he tried so hard to conceal. I shook my head, freshly dyed blue hair flopping in my face.

"N-no. It just stood there smiling at me. Then, it made this aweful sound. Like a death rattle or something. I... Jacob, what was that?"

He chuckled awkwardly, moving to sit beside me as his hands took to stroking my back soothingly.

"I think..." he dipped to place a reassuring kiss to my forehead; "...You need to lay off the cheese before bedtime."

"I'm not joking, Jacob!"

"It was probably something you ate. That canelloni did look kinda funky after all-"

"It was Edward Cullen!" I all but shrieked at him and his hands stopped their idle minestrations. The expression on his face was hard to read but I could see the knots of muscle in his jaw strain with tension as he struggled to surpress whatever it was he could be feeling.

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure.." I whimpered, burying my face into the nape of his neck.

He smelt of lemon soap and fire.

And sunkissed dog.

My nerves calmed somewhat and I wrapped my arms around him, fearful that if I dared let go, that wretched creature would return to drag me down to the black pits of Hell itself.

"If it was him, then he's clearly not human in any sense. I-I'm sorry. I sound like such a fool."

"It's alright, 'Lex. Sssh. Easy. Don't give yourself an asthma attack. C'mon. You can stay here tonight." His voice was soft and gentle and I felt reassured when his shoulders slackened, the tension in his jaw disipating somewhat. A low squeak sounded in the hall outside and I jumped, my raw nerves surging to the surface.

Billy rolled into the door-frame, his face grey and plastered with concern.

"Everything alright? I thought I heard a noise-"

"It's fine, Dad." Jacob said calmly, forcing a sheepish smile. "'Lex just had a night terror."

Billy's brows arched in surprise and he inched into the room slightly. I noted he was wearing Simpsons slippers beneath the hem of his sweatpants and without his trusty Steson, a bald patch the size of a euro coin shone out among the deep black sheen of his hair.

A comforting image.

Normal. Not scary at all.

"Sorry if I woke you, Bill."I found myself murmuring, my cheeks certain to be glowing with embarassment. Maybe it was a dream after all. Urgh.

I knew I shouldn't have watched Dracula before I retired for the night-

"Happens to the best of us, dear. Still, that's what dream-catchers are for." He motioned towards the large mobile dangling from the ceiling over Jacob's bed. It was larger than the one over the headboard of the guest bedroom and a touch more elaborate, the feathers sapphire blue as opposed to black.

"Guess your one must be faulty." the old brave smiled wryly and I emitted a nervous laugh, feeling as though I might suddenly collaspe from exhaustion.

"She can stay with me tonight...uh, if that's alright." It was Jacob's turn to blush.

Billy's chuckle grew in volume and he nodded, wheeling himself back out to the hallway.

"It's fine but... you know the rules, Jake." he had the same pearly smile as his son, his eyes glinting with mischief; "No bitches after ten!"

"Dad!"

"Oh, lord.." I pinched the bridge of my nose, snorting with laughter despite my frazzled nerves.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Which, evidently, a'int a lot!"

Before any of us had a chance to protest our virtue, the mad ol' Quilete's squeaking wheels faded down to a low creak until he rolled into his own bedroom, the door shutting with a click. Jacob grimaced, getting up to close over his own door before leaning against it, his expression one of utter mortification.

"I swear, he'll be the death of me one of these days...!"

"Heh. It's a father's duty to embarass his son. Comes with the job description, I suppose."

"Mmm. And what a fine job he's doing.." Jacob muttered, moving to the other side of the bed and wrenching back the covers.

I shimmied in beneath them and pulled the blankets up to my neck, watching as he clapped his hands to extinguish the light overhead before reaching towards the nightstand. Upon it, a small domed contraption sat motionless, though with a quick flick of a wall switch, it started to swirl, throwing up small light projections of constillations and stars on the ceiling.

He snuggled in beside me and I nestled in the circle of his arms, feeling safe and content in his company as I watched the tiny illuminations swirl around the room.

"Is the light show all part of your nefarious plan to seduce me?" I quipped, my nerves dying down to a few uneasy chuckles. He shook his head and wound an arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

"This? This is nothing. Just figured it might help you sleep. Works for me when my brain makes with the freaky."

"It's pretty."I pressed a hand flat against his chest. His heart-beat was steady, strong and loud as it drummed against his ribcage and I sighed, soothed by the sound of him.

"You sure you're alright? No chance of heart-attack? Bed wetting, maybe?"

I punched in in the arm, taking deliberate care to tap the cut on the bicep. He yelped with pain.

"Your sensitivity is so touching, Jake."

"Hey, I can be sensitive! I can be very sensitive if you just let me!" he squeaked, wincing as his arm stung with a dull ache. A snort of laugher escaped me and I covered my face with my hands, my nervous tremors giving way to quivers of laughter.

"Er... that came out wrong!" Jacob caught his unwitting innuendo before I could point it out and in the dim light, his cheeks glowed magenta. Shaking my head, I scooted forward and brushed a lock of silky black hair behind his ear.

"Goodnight, Howlin' Wolf." I pecked his lips gently and he gasped at my touch, his jaw slackening. He didn't trust himself to speak and instead cleared his throat, patting my head awkwardly before rolling onto his side, his back to me.

The heat rolled off him in spades and I grinned, pleased at having rendered him speechless for once.

Still, as I settled back against the mattress, my thoughts drifted to that frightful apperation outside my window. My sleep was fitful, restless as I had to contend with the sight of that horrid mouth, dripping with viscous black liquid as the creature smiled at me, stalking my dreams.

A few times during the night, I felt Jacob poke me in the ribs and at first, I rolled to my side, the action buying him a few minutes of peace. After a while, though, he just gave up trying to slow my twitches and curled into a foetal position, perched precariously at the edge with the sheets bunched around him.

It was still dark out when I woke up for the final time. The numbers on the bedside clock showed 4:23am in glowing green letters and I sighed, knowing fully well I'd be hard pressed to fall back to sleep after having jolted awake.

I glanced at Jacob, making out his huge form in the darkness. He had turned towards me in the night, one hand curled under his head while the other lay draped over his stomach, dangerously close to brushing the hem of his boxers where a tell-tale tent had begun to form.

I found myself coughing though it had little to do with the asthma that plagued me on a daily basis.

Lying back against the mattress, I moved to take his wrist, pulling his arm over my waist as I snuggled into him once more, my back flush with his front. He murmured something incoherent in his sleep and his arms curled tightly around my shoulders, effectively ensnaring me.

I was all set to surrender to the pleasent warmth that radiated from him, a curious trait, when I felt it. The slow rake of his hands along my abdomen, brusing upwards as they edged towards my chest. I bit my lip, caught between the urge to laugh as his fingertips tickled the bare skin of my midriff, to elbow him roughly and playfully chastise his daring actions or to simply let nature take its' course.

I went with the third option and sure enough, he had my small breasts cupped in each hand.

Experimentally, I wiggled my hips against him, brushing against his all too obvious state of arousal. Unless my hearing was going out of sync, I could've sworn he purred. Shaking my head, I decided to let him have his fun.

It felt quite arousing in all honesty and the slight rocking motion he made with his hips made me sigh. The purr in his throat grew louder as I hooked a leg around his, moulding myself to the shape of him. Secretly, I had long dreamed of doing things like this with him though in my less than innocent thoughts, he was usually wide awake and lavishing me with his full, unwaivering attention.

Still, I wasn't one to complain. I was certainly no shrinking violet in that respect but it had been some time since I last indulged in noctornal activities of a more pleasurable nature. I had planned all along to let Jacob have his wicked way with me this summer, to let him pop his cherry so to speak. After three years of "courting"-if you could call it that-, I trusted him enough to let him in, to feel the hard, smooth lines of his muscles envelope me, hearing him gasp above me as he trembled with carnal delight.

His breath was hot against my ear and he moaned low in his sleep, the hand at my left breast squeezing lightly. My toes curled and I felt a wave of desire wash over me. With great difficulty owing to how tightly he held me, I managed to turn and face him, hands cupping his cheeks as I leaned in to kiss him, caution flung clean out of the window as I sucked gently on his bottom lip.

It felt full and plump, warm against my own.

Billy was just down the hall and I strained my ears, alert to the tell-tale creak of floorboards under the movement of his wheelchair signalling his presence. Mercifully, it was all quiet out on the landing and I felt a touch bolder, sliding my leg up his as my fingers tangled themselves in his wild mane of ebony hair.

"Mmm... 'Lex..." he purred sleepily against my lips and I smirked, feeling his hands drop to my hips, edging me against the swelling between his own. My response was to lick him playfully, trailing a wet line up to his ear until I bit his earlobe just hard enough to hear him gasp.

His eyes flew open abruptly and he stared, blank and befuddled for a few seconds before he yelped in alarm and shoved backwards, toppling clean off the bed with a dull thump. A hand flew to my mouth, silencing the helpless cackle that threatened to betray me to the wily old Indian at the end of the hall.

Jacob gawked at me, bug-eyed and drained of colour as he leaned back on his hands.

"L-Lex! What're you-?"

"You're an awefully handsy sleeper, Jake. Not that I'm complaining or anything." I breezed, laying on my stomach to squint at him in the darkness. Even in the dim twilight, I could see the wide, deer-in-the-head-lights expression on his face. A husky chuckle escaped me and I curled my index, beckoning him near.

Whatever fear left in me from seeing that ghastly vision of death beyond my window had all but vanished, replaced with a prickly heat that raised gooseflesh on my skin for all the right reasons. There was an audible gulp in the air and I heard the swish of the rug as it crumpled under his movements.

"Geez, I'm sorry! This is so embarassing-!" he whispered sheepishly, perching himself on the edge of the bed. "Uhh...maybe I should go sleep on the floor or something. Or in the shower. With the cold tap on full blast..."

"Or, y'know.." My voice was laced with a heavy edge and I had to stifle a laugh. I was hardly a master of seduction but when rubbed the right way, there was no accounting for teenage hormones and the wonders they weaved. "...You could just come back to bed! I might even decide to sleep in the nude tonight...!"

"Jesus, Alex! You've a mind like a sewer sometimes!" His voice, though low, was rough and full of irritation. "Why didn't you wake me sooner?"

"You looked like you were enjoying it. Seemed a shame to cut things short."

"Don't encourage me, 'Lex. Please."

"Why not? You make no secret of wanting me-"

"Stop. Just...just stop." He rubbed his face roughly and let out a deep, dejected sigh. "You have no idea what you do to me. Not a single blessed clue."

My hands found his shoulders and I sat up on my knees, curling my arms around him as I felt that wave of desire recede.

Too soon.

I wanted more, to feel that little spark of delight within consume me like wildfire. Pure, raw need overrode any sense of self-restraint and I turned him towards me, a wolfish grin curling over my lips, my gaze dipping to the apex of his hips.

"Oh, I can wager a guess or two. It's fine, Jake, though if you're going to be feeling me up, I'd rather you were wide awake for it."

His hands fisted in his hair and he stood up sharply, spinning on his heels before yanking the bedroom door open. "I need a shower..." he mumbled, more to himself than I before he disappeared down the hall, his bare feet slapping the wood.

I sighed dejectedly, rolling onto my back as an arm flopped over my eyes.

I am Alexandra's Rampaging Libido.

Jacob was in the shower for an innordinate lenght of time and I knew all too well exactly what he was getting up to. That thought gave a pleasurable stroke to my ego and as I lay back against the soft coverings of his bed, I wondered how long it would be before he finally gave in and succumbed to his long-stifled urges and christened his rickety ol' bed with gusto.

Alas, we didn't share a bed for much longer so I never got a chance to find out. After four days of pushing my luck, of watching him sleep with a pillow bunched between his legs, he declared me big enough to sleep on my own and all but threw me back into the guest-room. I admit, I was disappointed to leave the warmth of his bed but I doubt it had anything to do with rejection.

Chances were, he didn't fancy having his father rolling in on us mid-liason or something to that effect.

Yet, as I watched him towel dry his hair as he stalked into the kitchen on Friday afternoon, there was something different in his stanch. I knew the look on his face well-it was one I'd worn many times in my last relationship when I was aching for a release that was staunchly denied by a man with all the drive and sexual prowness of a dead fish.

It was a maddening sensation and I felt sorry for him.

Yet as guilty as I felt for putting in that state in the first place, the smirking sadist in me got a huge kick out of watching him squirm. Sensing my gaze, Jacob quickly fixed his face in a smile but he was fooling no-one.

Billy spread out the papers before him, peering at the obituries and frowning darkly. The announcements spanned four whole spreed-sheets.

"Sam called." he said, not looking up as he directed his words to his son; "Him, Paul and Emery are bandin' together for a hunt down in Washington State. Deer season's come in early this year."

"I'd rather stay an' hang out with Lex, Dad. We were plannin' on hitting up that new kareoke bar down in La Push-"

"Jacob."

I knew that tone.

It was the same with every parent regardless of race, creed or nationality.

That unmistakable 'Don't agrue with me' tone that silenced many a cocky teenager since the dawn of civilization. I blinked at Billy's use of it. Unless I missed something, there was nothing to indicate Jacob had done anything wrong-

"But Dad-"

"When was the last time you stalked a stag with your cousins?" Billy said tensely and I found myself clearing my throat roughly as I rinsed out the dishes in the sink. It wasn't good to get involved in what sounded like the makings of an arguement yet morbid curiousity compelled me to stay put.

"..Or visited Rachel for that matter? She's been dying to see you all year. You are still her baby brother after all."

"I knooow..." Jacob whined and I could hear him rolling his eyes. "But I had plans for this weekend-!"

"You know as well as I do how much you need this. For your own sake, Jake. Go hunting."

"What am I, chopped offal?" I interjected in what I hoped was a jovial tone, unnerved by the weighted edge in Billy's tone.

He looked at me with a calm expression but there was tension in his eyes.

"I was rather looking forward to meeting the legendary Black sisters while I'm here. Not to impose, or anything."

"Uhh.." Jacob scuffed his feet awkwardly and he lowered his gaze to the floor, shoulders tensed with unease. "Not that I don't want to introduce you or anything but...well, this is kind of a guy thing."

"Oh, I see." My hands folded across my chest. I wasn't mad, just mildly disappointed. Still, it would've been selfish to assume he'd give up all his free time to be with me. "Hey, no biggie. We can horrificly butcher some Barry Manalo tracks when you get back."

"You're not mad? I know you kinda had your heart set on it."

I waved a hand at him and smiled, sitting up on the kitchen work top as I cast him my best lopsided grin. "The bar'll still be there when you get back, Jake. Besides, you've been starin' at my ugly mush for nearly a week now. If I were you, I'd be craving some man-time too."

He arched his eyebrows, hands flying to his chest in mock horror. "You? Ugly? Never!"

My eyes rolled behind the thin rims of my glasses. "Go. Have fun. Bring me back a deer skull or something equally gristly."

Billy gave a curt nod and folded his paper, resting it on the table before him as he tented his fingers and lay back with a thoughtful expression. "It'll only be for the weekend, Alex. We normally do this every month-y'know, manly bonding and what-not. The boys get pissy if he misses out, you can understand, right?"

"It's no bother, Bill. I'm sure I can find more amusing activities to pass the time."

"Well, it might not be your cup of tea but I'd appreciate it if you could maybe come with to Bella's funeral tomorrow." Billy's eyes were heavy despite his smile and my lips thinned with discomfort. I was never one for funerals but they were a necessary evil when you lived in a small, isolated little village out in the rural fringes of Dublin.

By the time I was twelve years old, I'd been to no less than twenty- most were friends of my grandparents or distant cousins twice removed but it didn't get any easier regardless of how many times my little black dress got an airing.

Still, I did not wish to seem cold and uncaring so of course, I agreeded to be Billy's escort.

I also wished to pay my own respects to the girl who had perished in that senseless catastrophe.

The old patriach nodded and he cast a glance at Jacob, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Then it's settled. Start packin'. You'll wanna get movin' before that storm hits."

"Can I at least finish my lunch first?" Jacob snapped, spearing a cherry tomato on his fork. He sighed, agitated and cast me a pleading look but who was I to argue for his sake? It was clear from the finality in Billy's voice that the discussion was over and he would have no more say in the matter.

I helped him pack, folding several pairs of jean shorts into a battered old suitcase he'd pulled from the back of the down stairs closet. He sat on the edge of the living room couch, watching as I pushed down on the lid to jam it shut before clicking the metal clasps into place.

"I really don't wanna go..." his voice was small and meek and it sounded decidingly alien coming out of his normally strong, confident frame.

"Then don't. Tell your cousins you're already busy and leave it for another time-"

Jacob reached forward suddenly, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close to him. I jumped in alarm. His forehead was hot enough to burn through the fabric of my shirt as he rested it on my navel.

"I can't."