BPOV

Jacob had been silent ever since I'd finished my story; and that was ten minutes ago. You would think that after all I've been through with Victoria and how time had seemed endless there, ten minutes wouldn't matter. But it did. Each minute brought by another reason for his silence, and each reason was worth than the last. By that time I was hesitating between two hypotheses.

He had finally realized I was too broken and used, and he was trying to find a way to get rid of me without hurting me too much.

He had finally realized I was too broken and used, and he was thinking that maybe if he didn't say anything, I would get the picture.

Well, to some extent, I did get the picture; and I understood completely. I looked at him one last time and headed towards nowhere. Everywhere but here. I heard him following behind me; funny, because I didn't hear him, normally. He was beside me in a moment.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

I didn't look at his face. Couldn't. Wouldn't. Where was I going anyway?

"Home," I answered.

"I'll take you," he proposed. Another friendly act before the goodbye scene? Would there even be a goodbye scene?

"No it's okay. I can walk."

"No, I'll take you," he insisted.

He didn't say more and I kept silent. It was better that way. If only he knew how much I would miss him. I would miss his voice, his company and the way he would always make me laugh about the silliest things. Most of all, I would miss his kisses. Funny how I'd become used to those even after swearing never to love anyone after Edward. I loved Jacob Black. More than my own life, and I would miss him terribly. How I would survive, I had absolutely no idea. I could tell him as much, tell him everything I was feeling at this moment, but I didn't want to be ridiculous, and why put him in a more awkward position?

JPOV

I watched as Bella started to walk away. That's it, I thought to myself. I immediately walked after her. She had her head down so I couldn't read her face. Was she angry? Did she regret telling me? I needed to know. All this atrocity, it would take me hours, weeks, no, years to comprehend it. And still, to some extent, I would never, ever understand. I had to say something; I knew it, but I had practically forced her to reveal everything to me; did that make me as atrocious as Victoria? More, maybe, because Bella trusted me, and I had abused this trust. I was so ashamed of myself; she was ready to forget everything, and I forced her to tell me. I wondered if that would have an impact on our relationship. Change it…drastically?

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Home," she replied.

I couldn't make myself to tell her what I wanted to: that everything would be alright, and that I was there. Instead I told her, "I'll take you."

"No it's okay," she said, "I can walk." I was glad she had no idea how much that hurt. It was like a hundred of pieces of glass stabbing at my heart.

"No, I'll take you."

I realized, as I saw a tear across her cheek, that I had definitely broken her trust. All the way, I was fighting against myself. One part of me wanted to apologize, and the other part thought it might be better to wait. I wanted her to talk to me, to tell me that she wasn't angry with me and that she still loved me. Hell, she could even yell at me and tell me to fuck off. At least it would be something. This silence was unbearable. And yet I bear it. Before I even knew it we were in front of her house and she was entering without a backward glance. I sighed. Was she that angry?

I made my decision.

"Bella, wait," I ran after her. I couldn't let her go. I wasn't strong enough. I would plead her if that was necessary. She turned around but she wouldn't look at me. She was breathing hard and the tears were still falling. I wanted to slap myself for hurting her so much. I wouldn't ever force her again. That was another promise to keep, and that meant that I would have to go if she told me to. It broke my heart to simply think of that possibility. I closed the distance between us and took her in my arms. I was clinging to her, but hell, I couldn't care less. She was still for a moment, and then her tiny arms came around my waist, hugging me fiercely. That was good; at least she still needed me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Bella's smell soon filled my head. God, I loved her so much.

We stayed like that for a very, very long moment before I pulled back. She finally looked at me with eyes so sad that I wanted to do everything to make it right again.

"It's the end, then?" she whispered. It crushed my heart.

"It doesn't have to be," I whispered back.

"I love you, Jacob Black." I could practically hear my heart soar, and I was surprised that she didn't

"I love you, Isabella Swan."

The next thing I knew, Bella's lips were pressed to mine, and my heart was speeding up. She was kissing me like…like she was telling me goodbye. I couldn't allow it; I wouldn't live through it if she was telling me goodbye. I shouldn't let one little mistake…

I moved her hair out of her face and kissed her face everywhere. I kissed her cheeks, her chin, her eyes, her nose, and then her lips again. This kiss wasn't a goodbye kiss, but it wasn't the surrender-kiss I was expecting. It was more like she had won something. Won what? Me? Surely not. I was the one pleading her to stay. I was confused but happy at the same time. My hands moved from her back to her face and we pulled back, for air. I looked at the clock; a quarter to six. Time had passed so quickly.

"You want to stay? We could have an early dinner?" she asked me. I looked back at her and she was watching me.

"Yeah, we could watch a movie afterwards," I added quickly making plans. I didn't want to leave yet.

She nodded, "Sure."

She went into the kitchen and decided to make pasta. I helped a little, though I didn't know much. She would laugh at me when I would do something wrong, and it was so good to hear her laugh again that I would now and then make a mistake intentionally, and watch her make fun of me, with a smile on my face, without even pretending to took hurt. We finished dinner and went to watch a movie. We watched a comedy and Bella had fallen asleep by the time Charlie arrived.

"Hey Jacob," he called.

"Hi Charlie," I said, trying to keep my voice low.

"What are you two doing?"

"Watching a movie. She fell asleep, though. I think I'll take her to her room," I said as I got up.

"Yeah, okay," He murmured.

I took Bella in my arms and her arms automatically went around me.

"I'm taking you to your room, sweetheart," I told her. Her grip tightened on me.

"Stay," she ordered.

I looked at Charlie. "You can stay with her, but only for tonight."

"In her room?" I asked, surprised.

"Only for tonight; don't get ideas," he said.

I laughed as I carried Bella to her room, and settled her in bed. I climbed in and hugged her to my chest, breathing in the sweet scent of Bella.

BPOV

I woke up by someone snoring. I jumped from bed and almost fell. I closed my eyes. Where was I? I took a deep breath and opened them back. Okay, I was in my room. I looked at the bed and Jacob was lying there; and he was not wearing a shirt. The sheets covered the lower part of his body, so I couldn't know, could I? What was Jacob doing in my bed? Half-naked? Or fully? I couldn't know. Did I…no, surely not. I couldn't…I mean. Oh My God.

I looked at myself, and hopefully, I was fully clothed. I breathed a sigh of relief, but then I thought about something. What was Jacob doing in my bed, then? I hoped Charlie didn't know; he would be mad. Hell, what had I gotten myself into? I sat on my bed and leaned over him.

"Jake?" he didn't move. I shook him a little, "Jake, please."

He turned around and grabbed my waist, making me fall on the bed.

"Jacob, wake up," I urged.

He opened his eyes and looked at me lazily.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What are you doing? Why are you in my bed?" I asked. He looked around, at his bare chest, and then back at me.

"Did we…"

"Of course not," I cut him. No need to tell him I had been thinking the same thing. "So?"

"I think…yeah, Charlie let me stay," he laughed, "only for last night," he said.

"Oh," I said, surprised. Charlie should really be worried about me to let a boy sleep in bed with me. Wow. "Okay, go back to sleep, then."

"Hmm…you sure?"

"Yes, you can sleep," I assured him.

I went in my closet and made sure to take my clothes with me before heading to the bathroom. I closed my eyes when the hot water hit my skin. My thoughts went back to Jacob. He didn't seem like he would be leaving anytime soon. I wondered why that was; maybe he was sticking with me after all. I smiled at the thought. I loved him so much, and I needed him even more, though it was hard to believe. I depended on him so much, and I knew that if he left, I wouldn't survive. Yes, Jacob was staying. I don't even know why I ever doubted that. He told me endless times that he loved me and that he would always be there. I felt like jumping and screaming in joy. Jacob was staying with me. He wasn't going to leave! I smiled; maybe I had to give him a small reward for this decision. Yes. I would give him everything I had left so that he wouldn't ever have to regret giving me a chance. I opened my eyes and stepped out of the shower. This was going to be a wonderful day.

I went downstairs and poured some milk in a bowl, before adding cereals. Charlie was already at work, and I had to get going if I wanted to be in time for school. I gulped. School was going to be a nightmare. I wondered If Angela was coming today. I guessed not. The accident was pretty major, and even though she didn't look that bad on Saturday, it would take some time before she could go back to school.

I felt two arms encircling me and I jumped a bit when Jacob leaned to kiss my cheek. I turned my head so that my lips met his and kissed him with the most passion I could manage. I put my arms around his neck, and pulled him closer, but he pulled back. He looked surprised.

"God, Bella! Were you planning on attacking me?" I almost laughed at his expression.

"Yes," I said solemnly. "I admit it." I decided to tease him a bit. "I'm sorry. I mean you are underage and it would be against the law…"

His reaction was as planned. He cut me, "No, it's okay. I don't mind. You can…"

"No, that was stupid of me. I was planning on skipping school today, you know…" I couldn't finish because his lips crashed onto mine. As much as I wanted to continue kissing him, I pulled back.

"Bells," he protested.

"I've changed my mind," by that time I was practically biting my lips to prevent myself from laughing. He pouted, and he looked so much like a sulking child that I just had to laugh.

"You were making fun of me, right?" he asked suspiciously.

"Uh-huh," I nodded.

"You suck, Bells. You're going to pay for this," he threatened.

"I would love to, but I have to go to school. See you later, Jacob." I continued laughing as I walked to my truck and jumped in.

It was very cold so I put on my jacket and turned on the heater. I wondered what it would be today; stares or overwhelming attention? I didn't know what I preferred; both were annoying. I sighed as I parked my truck and saw Mike. I guess I would know now. He had already seen me and was waving. I walked to him, smiling.

"Hey Bella! I didn't know if you were coming today," hmm…yeah. That's why you were waiting for me, I thought. "Are you okay? We were all going crazy here when we heard that you were kidnapped."

We? I wondered briefly who he was talking about.

"I'm fine, thank you," I replied.

He walked me to class and asked me if I was fine over a dozen times. We arrived at the door, and he said, "Bad experience, huh?"

"Pretty bad, yeah," I admitted. "But I'm over it."

I tried to pay attention in class but it was a difficult thing to do when every five seconds, someone would glance at me. The class seemed to last longer than usual and when it did end, I dashed out of the room. I was making my way to my next class when a girl came walking beside me. It was Crystal, a girl I had almost every class with. I had never talked to her, even though she seemed a nice girl. Crystal had short, curly, blond hair, and light brown eyes. She was beautiful and didn't seem unaware of it.

"Hi Bella," she said

"Hi Crystal."

"Difficult, huh?"

"What?" I asked.

"To bear the stares," she explained. She pointed to people who were staring at me as I walked in the corridor.

"Oh yes. It's even worse than my first day here, though I would have thought that was impossible."

"I know how that feels. Two years ago there was a rumor that I was pregnant. For two weeks they kept staring at me and asking me if the father was my ex boyfriend. It took me too much time but I finally found the courage to tell them to fuck off," she smiled proudly. "No one messes with me, now."

"Maybe you should be my bodyguard," I joked, "because me, telling them to fuck off? I would never have the courage."

"Well yeah. Trust me, one week of this and you'll see if you don't get the courage."

At that time Jessica arrived and pulled me into the class.

"Well good luck, Bella," Crystal called from the door.

"Wow! Crystal Jenkins? I thought she never talked to anyone." Jessica announced. I just smiled.

"Are you alright, Bella?" she sounded truly anxious.

"Yes, I'm fine Jess. Don't worry."

"I mean being kidnapped and all. I thought that happened only in films. And Angela being hit by a car. You two were really tied to trouble that day."

"I guess," I said.

At that moment the teacher entered and we stopped talking. After class I borrowed Jessica's note for last week, and realized that I would be really busy for some time. The day passed rather quickly after that and I headed home.