Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my college debt and my Dooney and Bourke purse.

Stephenie Meyer owns this world and these characters.

I'm just a wannabe.


"I'm trying real hard not to shake. I'm biting my tongue,
but I'm feeling alive and with every breathe that I take,
I feel like I've won. You're my key to survival.

And if it's a hero you want,
I can save you. Just stay here.
Your whispers are priceless.
Your breathe, it is dear. So please stay near."

--Awake by Secondhand Serenade


Chapter 11: Visitor

Sunday night, I was sitting in the center of my bed with a vast array of school books and binders scattered all around me. It wasn't like me to put off all of my homework until the last minute, but due to my eventful spring break, I was currently paying the consequences. I wasn't having much luck concentrating on my calculus homework because my mind seemed to be out of my control these days. I was too busy reflecting on everything that had happened over the last several days to focus.

It was hard for me to believe that Jacob and I have only been together for four days. It seemed more like several months--maybe even years. My mind reflexively wandered back to yesterday and what a great time Jacob and I had doing absolutely nothing. I still didn't find out what he and Charlie had talked about that morning, but whatever it was it had somehow caused them to form this annoying male bond. Anytime I would ask either of them what the deal was they would just laugh at me and tell me not to worry about it. They were definitely keeping something from me.

I stood up from my bed and gathered up all of my books, putting them in my book bag. I yawned and looked over at the clock. It was only 8:30—too early to go to bed. I got on my computer and wrote a long email to Renee. It had been a while since I had taken the time to really tell her what was going on. I told her all about what had happened with Jacob and how happy he was making me. After I was finished, I grabbed my favorite tank top and bed pants and went into the bathroom to shower.

I climbed into bed around nine with my hair gathered in wet tousles around my shoulders. I shut off my lamp and lay down, escaping underneath my endless layers of covers. I was too scared to close my eyes for fear of what I would see behind them. I was in no mood to put up with Edward tonight. I already had enough to worry about with having to go back to school in the morning.

I must have drifted off to sleep because the next time I opened my eyes it was eleven. I frowned. That meant it was two hours closer to dooms day. I closed my eyes again trying to concentrate on the soothing sound the rain was making as it rhythmically pounded against my window. It was no use; sure enough as soon as my eyelids closed Edward's golden eyes were staring into mine. Just as I shot my eyes back open, I heard a loud creaking coming from outside. The creaking was then followed by an abrupt thump. I quickly sat upright as my heart started beating faster. My breath caught in my throat when I saw a shadow of a large figure appear right outside my window. My mind immediately pictured my red-headed enemy.

I flicked on my bedside lamp as I quickly got out of bed and grabbed my book bag off of the floor. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with that, but I figured it was better than being empty handed. At least it was heavy enough to hit my attacker over the head. I was being ridiculous, because if there was a deadly vampire outside of my room, I definitely stood zero chance of surviving. To my growing horror, my window had begun to slowly open. I instantly started cursing myself for forgetting to lock it. I was just about to lunge my book bag at the shadow figure, when it spoke to me in a familiar voice.

"Hey, why don't you put that down before you hurt yourself?" Jacob said as he plopped through my window, crashing down onto my floor. He was soaking wet and shirtless. His hair was thick and tangled as it dripped down his body.

I was staring at him with my mouth open wide in shock as I held the bag over my head in preparation to throw it. He stood up and grabbed it out of my hands and set it down on the floor.

"I'm sorry if I scared you, but wow, it isn't easy sneaking into your bedroom at night," he said grinning. "Besides, what exactly did you think you were going to do with that?"

"What on earth are you doing here?" I asked, ignoring his question. "If Charlie finds out, he will kill us both."

"Relax Bells, Charlie and I are tight now," he said smugly.

"You didn't answer my question," I said feeling myself finally start to relax a little after that scare.

"I just really needed to see you. Besides, I figured that maybe if I was here you would be able to sleep better," he said wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against him. "Mmm, I missed you."

I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his earthy scent. Now that my initial shock had subsided, I was very glad that he had come. It felt reassuring to know that he would be here when I couldn't sleep. "You're staying?" I asked hopefully.

"As long as that's what you want," he said in his throaty voice.

"What about B—"

"My dad won't be an issue. He knows I patrol at night," he interrupted me as he released me and walked over to plop down on my bed. "Ohhhh very comfortable, I like the purple."

"Jacob, this isn't the first time you've been in my room," I said raising my eyebrows at him. He was acting like a kid in a candy store. I walked over and stood awkwardly in front of him. There was something very tempting about Jacob sitting on my bed—wet and shirtless. I swallowed hard and forced myself to look away. We didn't need a repeat of Friday night.

"Yeah, well this is the first time I've been here as your boyfriend," he said smirking. Somehow I didn't think he was completely oblivious to the effect he had on me. "Why'ya standing way over there?" he asked taking my hands and pulling me onto his lap. What was he trying to do to me?

"Jacob I--" I started to say trying to get up off of him, unsuccessful as usual. He was holding me in place with his arms wrapped firmly around my waist. My legs were straddling him.

"What's the matter?" he asked, chuckling.

"I don't think this is such a good idea…" I whispered beginning to lose my willpower. I couldn't stop myself from glancing down at his mouth that was only inches from my own.

"I think it's a great idea," he breathed, pulling me in even closer. He brought his mouth to mine and kissed me so passionately that I nearly forgot that we were in my bedroom, on a school night, with Charlie asleep in the next room. I pulled away from him, breathless.

"You can't--I mean we can't be doing this—here—right now," I said stammering over my words, flustered by our kiss.

"And what exactly did you think I was planning on doing?" he asked grinning wryly. He was obviously getting a lot of amusement out of the situation.

"Well…I don't know...I just assumed..." I said quietly, trailing off.

"What did you assume?" he pressed.

"Nothing," I whispered looking down, feeling my cheeks redden.

I heard him laugh his throaty laugh as he gently pushed my chin back up to look at him. His eyes were boring into mine as he studied my expression for a moment. I was becoming so enthralled with him under his gaze that I almost wanted to revoke my previous objection.

"Bella, I'm not looking for that, okay?" he said, his voice turning more soft and serious now.

"You're not?" I asked timidly. I felt stupid. Of course he wasn't looking for that. It wasn't like I was that desirable.

"Well no, not right now at least," he answered. "That's not why I came here."

I felt myself relax. It's not that I didn't want him to want me, but I wasn't sure if I would be able to refuse him if he tried anything. Four days into a relationship seemed a little early to be sexually involved, even if we have known each other for practically our whole lives.

"I mean, I hope that someday we will…do that," he continued. "But for now, I just want to take things slow. I don't want to mess this up."

"Good, I would like that as well," I replied. "The slow part." I couldn't stop myself from hoping that things wouldn't go too slow, though. That was one of the things I would have changed about my relationship with Edward. Of course, slow was the only real option for us.

"You could have fooled me," he teased, grinning again. Jacob's seriousness rarely lasted very long.

"Oh shut up," I said playfully pushing him down on my bed and leaning down to gently kiss him.

Jacob rolled me over onto my side and reached up to shut off my lamp. He curled up behind me and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer against his body.

"You need to go to sleep. You have school in the morning," he said. Then he whispered in my ear, "Besides, you don't need to do anything that will make me change my mind about taking things slow."

"Goodnight, Jacob," I said, laughing and fighting the urge to turn around and kiss him.

"Goodnight," he replied.

"Hey Jacob?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Yeah?"

"I've never….done that before," I said quietly.

"Never done what?" he asked, yawning, his voice sounding very tired.

"You know..." I replied trailing off. I really didn't want to have to spell it out for him.

"Oh…that," he replied after a while, sounding a little shocked. I was hoping his shock was from my random declaration and not of the fact that I was still a virgin. "That's good because I never have either."

I smiled to myself at my newly discovered information. It's not that I thought Jacob was the type to sleep around but I could never be sure with the way most teenagers were these days. "Good," I whispered.

"Hey, Jacob," I said a moment later.

"Yes?" he asked sleepily.

"Thanks for staying with me."

"You're welcome."

"Hey, Jacob?"

"Bella..." he whined.

"Just kidding," I said smiling.

"Go to sleep," he said kissing the side of my head.

That time I complied. I drifted off into a peaceful sleep in the arms of the one I loved. My dreams that night were full of Jacob instead of the miserable alternative.

A/N: Updated June 3, 2009. Thanks for reading and continue reading on to find out who Cole is in the next few chapters!