Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is copyright © 2012 Celestial Nightfall. All rights reserved.

Chapter 10

"Bella?" He looked up from where he sat, a slow, but huge grin spreading on to his face; it was too infectious - I couldn't help but smile along with him. He slowly walked over to where I stood still, almost afraid that he would leave again.

"Put me down!" I screamed, laughing breathlessly, as he crushed his arms around me.

When he finally complied, he said, "I'm sorry, it's just that I missed you so much! How did you convince your bloodsucker to let you come down here?"

"He went hunting, so I thought that this would be the best opportunity to come and get my answers," I said, as he grimaced.

"Don't you ever think about what he does when he's on those trips?" Jacob wrinkled his clothes in disgust.

I sighed, irritated. "Do you want me to leave?"

"No!" he almost shouted. "Please, no, I just got you back!"

"Then absolutely no nonsense, understood?" He nodded eagerly.

After a few minutes of silence, I asked the question that haunted my mind through the past week. "So . . . you're a werewolf now?"

He sighed. "It's a long story."

I plopped myself down on the steps of his porch. "I've got all afternoon, so I should be getting a thorough explanation — because, I'm going to completely honest with you, I'm so worried for you and so horrified and confused of what this world is composed of. For crying out loud, isn't one myth enough to handle for a lifetime!" I almost wailed.

Jacob barked a hearty laugh, before his voice turned grave. "All of those legends that my dad told tales of when I was younger . . . I never thought that they would ever be true," he started, unfolding into his sad tale. There were times that I wanted to cry for him, because he had to go through so much. He told me about his transformation, what he had planned out when he had tried to climb up my window, and told me many legends of the Quileutes, before stopping abruptly, declaring that he was thirsty.

"Please, Bella, can you get me a soda? I'm too tired to get up." He yawned for emphasize, and then added, "I've been patrolling the borders for three nights straight, and I'm beat!"

That's all it took for me to give in.

When I came back, I could hear some chatter and laughter. I looked up from the can of soda to see Jacob chatting animatedly with a girl — light red-gold hair, fair skin, a few gold-colored freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and nose, and eyes the color of cinnamon.

The redhead threw her head back and laughed, as I walked over to the girl and my best friend, who looked completely smitten. Did he actually . . . ? I tried to shake off the thought, but it kept coming back to me.

"I'm not your slave, Jake," I scoffed, as I playfully shoved the can of soda into his awaiting hands. Then I turned my focus to the girl, an amiable smile appearing to my face.

Jacob cleared his throat. "Bella, this is Lizzie and Lizzie, this is Bella."

"Nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand.

She grinned her one-dimple smile. "Same here."

I noticed how Lizzie's smile almost faltered. "Are you guys together?"

I widened my eyes. "Definitely not. I already have a . . . boyfriend." The word boyfriend didn't seem enough. As of now, I didn't know what to define us.

"Oh, that's nice."

"I hope he hasn't been bothering you too much," I joked, punching his shoulder.

Lizzie smiled, genuinely this time. "No, not at all. We were talking about the Wagon, of course." Her thumb jerked towards his car as a reference, as I groaned, "Another car person. Personally, I don't get it — I'm just proud I can distinguish between the symbols for Toyota, Ford, and Chevy!" We both laughed, until she and Jacob were locked into each other's eyes.

And I realized my suspicion was spot on. Jacob had really imprinted.

"Esme!" I smiled, attacking her the first second I could.

"Hello, Bella! What a pleasant surprise! Edward had told us not to expect to see you until he came back from his hunting trip!" Her arms enveloped me in an embrace, and I inhaled her comforting and familiar, sweet, vanilla scent.

"I've missed you so much," I whispered, already feeling the embarrassing tears spring to my eyes.

"Bella! Bella! Bella! You're okay! Thank goodness, I got so worried when I saw your future disappear as it did on the night Edward — "

"Alice, back up for a second. My future disappeared?"

"I - I don't know! I saw you say goodbye to Edward," her nose scrunched up in disgust as the traitor blush rushed to my cheeks, "and a while after, your future completely disappeared. It happened the other night, too." She paused for a moment, her expression calculating. "Bella," she said slowly, "tell me what you did after Edward left."

"I ate breakfast, did the laundry . . . and I went to go see my friend, Jacob."

Her crisp golden eyes widened. "As in Jacob Black? The descendant of Ephraim Black? The newly transformed dog!" she hissed.

"Alice," I started, but she would allow me to speak.

"Young werewolves are dangerous to be around, Bella. You can get yourself killed! I can't even see you around them — it seems to be that they have some sort of defense mechanism against that — so you can't be so confident that you'll be safe!"

I sighed, wrapping my arms around her. "I'm sorry, Alice. I know you're worried about me, but you have to trust me. I know Edward won't be happy, but it is what it is. He's my best friend, Alice."

"Oh, Bella!" she sighed, her arms tightening around me. "I know you didn't mean to get me worried, but you don't know how it feels to see you after such a long time. After you told Edward that you didn't want him anymore, after realizing how dangerous we are, he had stopped us from saying goodbye - but then again, who could blame you, after all we're not human . . . " Alice rambled on, but I was no longer paying attention.

I froze.

"Alice?" I said, my voice cracking, pulling away from her. "I never told Edward anything like that . . . he was the one who lied and said that he didn't love me any - " I broke off suddenly, my hand suddenly splaying on the wall, trying to maintain my balance. "He . . . told you that I . . . " I trailed off.

I seriously am blown away with the alerts, traffic stats and reviews I have received for this story. Wow. Thank you, thank you so much for the incredible (to me at the least) response!

Oh, and since I won't be updating for a while since I have to study for and take my finals, here's a little taste of the next chapter ;)

I wanted so badly to close the far distance between us, but my desire was crushed when I saw his harsh glare directed towards me, when I saw his jaw taut and his fist clenching. When my vision hazed red with anger.

My desire was crushed by not only his fury, but my own.

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