Sam seemed really set on making Jacob Black feel welcome in Forks, so over the following weeks my family and I spent a lot of time with The Uley coven – not entirely to my discomfort. Their coven wasn't as big as ours, but they were tight as hell. They were the only group that Carlisle had heard of that consisted entirely of vampires of Native American decent, and maybe that's the reason they all went so good together; their uniqueness somehow pulled them closer to each other.

I guess that was the main reason why Jacob Black was drawn to them too. As I slowly got to know him I realized he was the sort of person who, up until that point, had just sort of drifted through life (or should I say, life-after-death) without really belonging anywhere. I never asked him directly about it, but every now and then he would recall memories that would give it away; images of him alone on the path of a long, deserted road, or of him temporarily settling in abandoned, worn-down buildings.

Somehow, I felt like I could relate. Not that I had been a drifter of that kind, but in that seemingly never-ending quest to find something – you're not even sure what – I could definitely see glimpses of my own life. The aimlessness and apathy.

Maybe I was just projecting myself upon him, but in spite of my initial hesitation, I honestly felt like there was something to this guy.

One evening when my family and I were visiting the Uley's, I went outside for a moment to clear my head and get some space. It was raining, and heavy droplets strummed against the terrace roof. As I tuned out for a moment, I thought momentarily about how long it had been since I last saw the sun. This place was so dark, so foggy.

I hardly had any time to have another thought before he – Jacob – was suddenly at my side, quietly looking out over the deserted yard. It was night-time, and silence covered this desolate part of Forks.

That was the first time we were alone together, and I was surprised at how natural it felt.

At first, we didn't talk, and I stayed out of his mind for a while, as we just stood there – then, suddenly, he asked: "So you read thoughts, huh." It wasn't really a question. "Sam told me."

"Yeah," I replied without turning to him. "Freaky, right?"

I heard a light laugh escape from his lips. I could sense a smile in him.

"Nah," he replied. "I kinda like the idea of not constantly having to explain what I'm thinking. Saves a lot of time and awkward conversations, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, well. It's a bit overrated, if you ask me."

… wonder how often people think about really embarrassing shit … totally fucked up stuff …

"You'd be surprised," I said, "at the complete lack of interesting thoughts most people have. For most of them it's just ... clothes, or family problems, or tv-shows or – god forbid – relationship issues. Just goes on and on."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'll try to think only riveting thoughts when I'm around you, from now on."

"I really appreciate that. Not a lot of people are willing to make that kind of effort."

We laughed for a moment, breathing in the moist, cool night air. Then, after a moment, the door opened behind us and Jasper stuck out his head.

"Hey Bells. We're about to take off. You wanna hang around for a bit?"

I threw a quick glance at Jacob Black, his face still smiling, and his eyes kind as ever.

… such gorgeous bone structure … the face …

"No, I'll come. Just give us a minute."

After Jasper had retreated into the house, I turned to Jacob and said: "Time for me to split."

"Yeah. It was nice talking to you, we should do it again sometime."

… I hope she doesn't find out I sometimes wear women's clothing ..."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing in a way I hadn't done for so long; a grin coming into full bloom upon my lips and the laughter finding it's way from my toes, to my gut and out into the air. He smiled and laughed too as he watched me.

"Yeah, we should definitely do that," I said, once I had composed myself slightly. "You should swing by school someday. Nothing exciting ever happens in that godforsaken place."

"Well, see, now I feel I simply cannot live without a visit to Bella Swan's high school."

So we said good bye, and I left with my family.