I awoke feeling rested and refreshed. I rolled over and stretched out on the king sized bed that Edward had bought specifically for me, even though I said it was no trouble sleeping on the couch that was already in his room. Then I remembered where I was, what I was doing, what had happened yesterday and the brief moment of tranquility vanished. I leaned over to read the time on the clock sitting on the bedside table.

1 pm.

I had slept for 15 hours! I suppose I needed it though, the day's events had completely drained me emotionally.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been laying there crying when Edward appeared at my window. I made a futile attempt to wipe the tears from my eyes and slowly made my way over to the window to unlock it. Edward jumped from the tree and landed gracefully in my bedroom, despite the rearrange. He pulled me into his arms and I let him, they weren't the arms that I longed for, but they would have to do. For a while we just stood in the middle of my bedroom like that, Edward holding me and comforting me as I cried for Jacob. He stroked my hair and somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered if I should stop this, but I couldn't find the strength in me to pull away from Edward's embrace. In the end Edward was the one that pulled away first.

"Bella, we should really get back to my house." he whispered.

I sighed. "I know, I'm sorry."

"No, don't ever be sorry for feeling how you feel." he said and I was reminded of how understanding he is.

"Let me just grab some clothes, it won't take me long."

I packed my clothes into a suitcase, taking a little longer than was necessary. I didn't really want to face Charlie right now and see the hurt look in his eyes. I hated lying to him, but I couldn't exactly tell him the truth.

Hey Charlie I'm just going to stay at my ex-boyfriend's (who happens to be a vampire) house for a couple weeks because the vampire Gestapo are coming to make sure I'm turned into a vampire, but no big deal we have a plan. Oh and did I mention that my boyfriend is a werewolf?

He would probably have a coronary.

"Okay, I'm ready." I said to Edward, who was waiting patiently for me as he sat on my bed. More boundary crossing? Probably. But I had more important things to worry about right now. "Anyways you should probably go back out the window; I think Charlie just reloaded his gun."

Edward looked like he wasn't sure if this was a joke or not. But when he saw no hint of a smile on my face, he quickly jumped out the window. I trudged down the stairs, carrying my suitcase behind me. Charlie was in the living room watching some sports event or another. I stood in the doorway to the living room and cleared my throat.

"Oh Bella," Charlie said as he turned around. "You're leaving already?"

I nodded in answer, not trusting my mouth to form words for fear that I would start crying again.

He got up from the couch. "Here let me drive you to the airport."

I shook my head quickly. "No, it's okay. I have a ride."

"Oh," he said, trying to hide his disappointment, but it was clearly written across his face. "Well um, I'm going to miss you Bella." he said, seeming to have difficulty getting the words out. Neither I nor Charlie were very good at expressing our emotions to one another.

I choked back the tears. "I'll miss you too, dad. I have to go though."

I went over and hugged him goodbye and then hurried out the door before I could change my mind.

My phone vibrated and I grabbed it from the side table. 7 missed calls and a text. All from Jake. I hadn't looked at my phone since I had talked to Alice last night.

'Bella I'm sooo sorry. Please call me back. I love you more than words can explain.'

Oh shit, he thought I was screening his calls. Now that I had a solid 15 hours of sleep I was thinking more clearly and I was embarrassed by the things I had said to Jake last night. I typed in his name and was just about to press call when Alice burst in.

"Bella, you have to get up. I just had a vision, they're here in Forks."

I jumped up instantly alert. "Just tell me what to do."


I looked out the window to see a red Corvette pulling up.

"They're here," I yelled.

By the time I turned around everyone was assembled in the foyer. The perfect picture of a happy family. I went over to take my place beside Edward and he put his arm around my waist. There was a knock at the door and Carlisle broke ranks to answer it. I was so nervous my heart was beating out of my chest.

Edward turned to me and said quietly. "Calm down love, everyone can hear you." He nodded significantly towards the door.

Oh, right.

I took a few deeps breaths and felt instantly more calm. I looked at Jasper questioningly who nodded his head in answer to my silent question. Carlisle pulled open one of the tall double doors and greeted our "guests".

"Hello, welcome to our home." Carlisle said sweeping his hand out in a gesture of welcome. Jane and Marcus stepped inside and I felt Edward tense beside me. I struggled to remember what Marcus' ability was, but the memory escaped me. Jane's eyes darted immediately to me.

"Ah, still human I see," she observed coolly.

"Of course she is. We told you we weren't changing her until after graduation." Edward said, with an edge of hostility. He pulled me to him with the arm that was snaked around my waist and as close as we were I found myself wishing we were even closer.

"Oh did you? How forgetful of us," Jane replied with an unapologetic smile.

"So who's going to give us the grand tour?"

Nobody spoke for a beat, wondering if that was her idea of a joke.

"No volunteers?" she clicked her tongue in disapproval. "That's not very hospitable."

Carlisle was the first to speak up. "Of course my apologies, if you'll just follow us." He took Esme's hand and led Alec and Jane up the stairs.

Everyone looked around at each other, seeming again to be silently communicating. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something they weren't telling me.

"What is it?" I whispered.

Edward shook his head and then nodded towards the stairs. I sighed in frustration; we wouldn't be able to have a real conversation while they were in the house.

"Well I need a human minute. I'll be right back."

Edward nodded in response and I made my way to his room to brush my teeth and wash my face. I had barely had time to change out of my pajamas this morning, or afternoon I should say, amidst the chaos. Once I felt properly cleaned up I walked back downstairs, but everyone appeared to have taken off. My phone was vibrating in my pocket again. I looked around the room just to make sure, Emmett sat on the couch watching a wrestling match and periodically shouting at the TV. Satisfied that I was more or less alone, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pressed talk.

"Hello,"

"Bella!" Jacob exclaimed, seeming surprised that I'd answered. "I'm so sorry about last night. That wasn't what you needed, I should have been there for you but I was just thinking about myself as usual." I laughed at this; Jacob was the most selfless person I knew. I interrupted him to tell him as much.

I heard voices coming from the upstairs and decided I should wrap things up; I didn't want an audience.

"Listen Jake, I have to go, but I'll text you."

"Bella, wait we still need to talk." he protested, but I could hear them getting closer.

"Bye Jake," I said and hung up.

"Who was that?" Jane asked, appearing suddenly from the stairwell. I should have known that our brief exchange wouldn't escape her notice.

None of your fucking business, that's who.

"My friend Jacob,"

The words tasted strange on my tongue, referring to Jacob as my friend just didn't feel right,

"Something tells me he wants to be a little more than friends." she said with a calculating smile. It was a smile that said she was enjoying Jacob's pain and it was a smile that made me wish I was strong enough to slap it off her hauntingly pretty face.

"Yeah, he follows her around like a lost puppy." Emmett chimed in laughing boisterously, amused by his own joke.

I laughed nervously, making a mental note to get Emmett back for that later. "Yeah, what can you do?" I said with a shrug. "He knows I'm with somebody else."

"Right,"

Alice walked in before I could say anything else.

"Emmett everyone is going hunting now. Are you coming?"

"Sure, I could go for a grizzly right now." Emmett said getting up from the couch.

"Oh that's right you guys are 'vegetarians'." Jane mocked. "I have to see this. Mind if we tag along?" she asked in a way that suggested it wasn't a question.

"Of course not," Alice replied with pursed lips.

5 minutes later I was alone in the house and I took advantage of what I presumed would be a rare opportunity.

'Meet me at the treaty line in 5 minutes.' I texted Jake.

I grabbed the keys to Edward's Volvo from the table by the door and walked outside quickly. The Volvo was definitely a lot smoother than my truck. I caught myself thinking that I wouldn't mind one of these. Then I remembered what Jacob had said yesterday and I banished the thought from my mind. I would never be able to afford a car like this and that was fine, I loved my truck. I didn't need things like this, it wasn't a necessity.

Jacob was.

When I pulled up beside my truck Jacob was already waiting for me. He was pacing, skirting along the treaty line impatiently. The car was so quiet that he didn't even notice me pulling up until I closed the car door. He looked up and looked like he was itching to close the gap between us, but of course he couldn't. I ran over to where he stood and threw my arms around him and he squeezed me back with all his might.

"Jake, can't breathe." I gasped.

"Oh, right sorry." he said, releasing me.

"No, don't let go." I protested, taking his arms and wrapping them back around me. "Just a little lighter,"

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other until Jacob asked the question I was hoping he wouldn't ask.

"Bella, why is your truck here?"

"Um I left it here last night. Edward picked me up,"

He pulled away. "Why?"

I avoided his penetrating gaze. "Cause I couldn't drive,"

He looked confused. "Why not?"

I hesitated, knowing the answer was just going to hurt him. "Because I was crying too much," I answered quietly.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Fuck. I keep breaking my promise don't I?"

"It's okay Jake; I don't expect you to be perfect." I assured him. "Anyways I was crying more about the situation than anything you said."

"I really am sorry about the way I handled things." he said as he ran his hand through his beautiful hair.

"It's okay, I know this must be hard for you."

"And of course you're not a horrible girlfriend. You're the best girlfriend a guy could ask for. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that last night, you just caught me by surprise."

"Yeah I know I was all over the place and I'm really sorry for what I said last night, I didn't mean it. You always protect me." I said, moving closer to him so he would take the hint and hold me in his arms again, he had let go far too soon. But he did something even better. He took my face in between his large hands and leaned down to capture my lips with his. For a minute I forgot about the Volturi, I forgot about Edward, I forgot about everything and I lost myself in Jacob. It was a blissful ignorance and I never wanted to stop.

I pulled at his hair to bring him closer to me and I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist, not wanting any part of my body to be missing the warmth of his. Jacob planted his hands on my ass to support my weight. Somewhere in the back of my mind that was still holding on to reality I registered a noise. I opened my eyes to see some creature scurrying through the bushes and then everything came rushing back. Edward, the Cullens, the Volturi. They were all out hunting, but they wouldn't be long. I had to get back or they would wonder where I was. With extreme difficulty I pulled away from Jacob, who was now trailing kisses down my neck.

"Jake, stop,"

"Why?" he asked, stopping reluctantly.

"I have to go, they just went out to hunt but they're gonna be back soon." I said unwrapping my legs from around his waist and sliding to the ground.

He huffed in frustration. "Bella, run away with me. I can protect you, you said it yourself."

"Jake..you know I can't do that. The Volturi will kill the Cullens."

"So what?" he growled. "As long as you're safe I don't fucking care what happens to those bloodsuckers."

"Maybe you don't, but I do! They were like a family to me and just because I'm not dating Edward anymore doesn't mean I don't care if he lives or dies. You know Jake, I understand that they're your mortal enemies and all that crap-" he looked like he wanted to interrupt here, but I didn't give him a chance. "But I thought you could at least pretend to give a shit, you know for my sake."

"Bella don't make me apologize for putting your well being ahead of the Cullens'." he said, seeming to have difficulty calling them by their name.

I changed tactics. "Okay let's go then, let's run away. But what if the Volturi finds out about the pack. What if they go after them?"

Jacob's eyes widened and I knew this possibility hadn't occurred to him. "Okay, so that was a bad idea. I just hate feeling so helpless."

I kissed him lightly on the lips. "Just knowing you're safe gives me the strength to get through this."

He didn't seem appeased by this, but I was running out of time. "Jake, I really have to go. I'll try and sneak back out as soon as I can." I kissed him one last time. "I love you,"

"I love you too, Bella."

I arrived back at the Cullens and I heard talking in the distance. I hurried back inside before anyone could discover my absence. A few minutes later Jane walked in laughing delightedly.

"Oh God, that's the most entertainment I've had in decades."

The Cullens trailed after her looking unimpressed by her mocking. Edward came over to me straight away and kissed me hard on the lips. It was as if he was making up for all the times he had held back and I took full advantage of this rare opportunity and kissed him back hungrily. Wait, what the fuck am I doing? My heart knew this was wrong, but somehow I couldn't find the desire in me to put a stop to it.

"I missed you love. Come upstairs with me?" Edward said after he pulled away.

"Okay," I said, still dizzy from the kiss.

He took my hand and led me upstairs to his room. As soon as we were in his room he dropped the charade.

"Bella what were you thinking?"

"What?" I asked self consciously.

"You went to go see Jacob," he accused.

"How - how did you know that?" I asked, wondering if he could now somehow read my mind.

"Alice saw your future disappear."

Oh.

"So what? What am I not allowed to see him dad?" I found I was significantly less intoxicated by Edward then I had been just moments ago.

"Bella, what if Marcus saw you with Jacob? Then this whole thing would be for naught!"

"What are you talking about?" And then I remembered. Marcus' ability was that he could see the relationship between people. I breathed in and out quickly in panic. Why were we not busted already? He should have been able to see the relationship between Edward and I the moment he walked in the door. Unless he was satisfied with what he saw. I remember how just a moment ago I had kissed Edward with abandon as if I hadn't just been kissing my boyfriend 15 minutes earlier. Could it be that I still harbored feelings for Edward deep down? I was so fucking sure I was over him! Tears begun to form in my eyes thinking of the pain I was now inevitably going to cause Jacob.

"Bella what's wrong?" Edward asked confused.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? I have a boyfriend that I love and I thoughtI was over you, but clearly I still have feelings for you."

He looked even more confused now. "Bella, what would make you think that?"

"I wouldn't still be human if Marcus didn't see something between us would I?" I whispered fiercely.

He looked sheepish and I was sure if he were human he would have been blushing.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What?"

"Bella, Jasper has been controlling your emotions ever since the Volturi got here. We couldn't be sure it would suffice, but it was the only plan we had. It appears to be fooling Marcus though."

Yet another thing I wasn't told. "What? How could you - why didn't you -" I spluttered.

"I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily with the chance that it may not have worked."

"Fuck Edward, I'm not some delicate fucking flower that has to be protected from everything! I'm pretty fucking strong, you taught me that." I fixed him with a level gaze, daring him to take me seriously.

"Bella, I can never begin to tell you how sorry I am for leaving you. I-" he started.

I held up my hand to interrupt. "Save it Edward, I'm not in the mood. I think you should just leave before the only relationship Marcus sees between us is murderer and her victim."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but seeing the expression on my face thought better of it. He turned and walked out the door, leaving me alone in his room to process this latest development. What else were they not telling me? What else was being filed under 'things Bella can't handle'? I decided not to go crazy trying to figure that out right now. I breathed a sigh of relief at the knowledge that I wasn't still in love with Edward. That would have destroyed Jacob.

I didn't know how it was possible that I was tired after my long sleep last night, but I could feel myself drifting off. This really was a very comfortable bed, and plenty of room for a certain oversized werewolf..


AN: So this story has 85 alerts, that means 85 people want to read this story. Yet the last chapter only had 4 reviews and it's kind of disheartening. So if even like a fifth of you reviewed every chapter I would be very happy :)