A.N: I can't believe you guys pushed this story over a hundred reviews. Thank you all so much for all for reviewing, specially you who I can't reply to in person. You're too sweet:) Creds to Kallmecrazy for putting up with my sloppy mistakes and betaing this story. You're spoiling me big time.

Stench

I drove the familiar road over to Forks, excited about meeting Bells again and a little bit worried. Bella and hammers weren't such a good match. It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't wait for me at all, stubborn as she was. I might have been driving a bit faster than what was strictly legal. One day I'd surely get a ticket. I snickered at the thought of Charlie waving me in.

About ten minutes later I reached her house, and parked at the side of the road. As I locked the car I strained my ears to hear if there was a sound of hammering, or even the sound of hammer-meeting-Bella, but it was all quiet. I walked over to the driveway and knocked on the door. The house was completely silent, except for the sound of her heartbeat coming from upstairs. I let myself in.

"Bells?"

She didn't reply. Sweet mother, she didn't manage to hit herself in the head with her toolbox did she? I'd talked to her only ten minutes ago! I called her name again as I got into the hallway and peeked up the stairs. Nothing. I climbed the stairs in only three strides, and then peeked into her room expecting to find a Bella-wreckage swimming in a pool of blood.

She didn't, thankfully. She was sitting on the floor with her back to me, the loose floorboard in front of her. She was holding a few items in her hand.

"Hey, you started without me!" I accused her, as I got into her room and closed the door. "What are y..?"

I stopped short when I saw Edward Cullen's face swim up at me from her hand.

It was so unexpected and so uncalled for that even if it was way out of proportions, it actually took me a couple of seconds before I accepted that it was only a photograph. Then I got angry. Was she wallowing in old photos? Before she saw me, even? Being nostalgic, huh? The floorboard was lifted aside in front of her, revealing a little hiding place right under her floor. Had she hidden some old boyfriend-treasures under her floorboard when they were dating, and forgotten about them? I felt my whole brain sour at the thought. She couldn't have done that. She wouldn't. Besides, it didn't seem likely. I tore my eyes away from the sickening photo and turned to look at her. Then I noticed how still she was. Too still.

I hesitantly walked over to her. When I walked up to her side and saw her face, my heart sank in my chest. She was staring down on the photo in her hand, her expression frozen in surprise. It looked like she'd been sitting like this for a while. How ever this image had gotten under her floorboard, she hadn't been expecting to find it. Maybe she'd forgotten that she ever put it there, or... Or maybe she didn't put it there at all. I crouched down beside her on the floor and then carefully removed the image from her frozen hands. Her eyes didn't waver, but kept staring blankly down in her now empty lap. What was happening to her? I put the image away behind me, carefully laying it face down. For the brief second I looked at it, I realized it was a picture of both of them together, only it had been folded in two down the middle.

Just as it should be. She was too good to even be on the same page as that monsterdouche.

I reached for the other item as well, and moved it out of Bella's range of vision. It was a CD, and it looked like a home-made one. I decided I didn't want to think about that right now. I moved closer her. It didn't look like Bella acknowledged my presence at all.

"Hey," I said, before I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into loose embrace. Bella drew a shaky breath against my shoulder, and I held her tighter too me. She finally seemed to realize she wasn't up here alone any more.

She leaned into me for a long time, and I listened to her uncontrolled breaths against my shirt. This was the second time I came here only to find her in a heap over him. Even when he wasn't here, he was breaking her down. Her cheeks were dry and pale, so luckily she hadn't been crying this time. After a while her heartbeat settled some, and her face was no longer frozen in surprise.

I was just about to pull back so that I could look at her more closely, when I felt her lips press against my shoulder. Just over the hem of my shirt. Cold, soft. And then she did it one other time. I tilted my head down to look at her. She was resting her cheek against my chest, peering up at me. Her eyes met mine. I couldn't make out the expression on her face, it was simply a mixture of several emotions.

I don't know who did what and who moved forward first or who made what happen. But suddenly we were kissing, her lips soft and hungry. She moved her slim hands up to frame my face and then dragged them through my hair, all the while kissing me. There was a desperate edge to her lips that I didn't like, but also was somehow thrilled about. I kissed her back, both eager and surprised, and let my hands slide down to rest around her waist. She moved closer to me, and slid her legs up so that she was sitting over my lap. It didn't last long before my mind became that familiar incoherent wreck again. She was almost straddling me, and it didn't take me long to realize that this position was a bit compromising and highly dangerous. There was a great risk of exposure and at the most wrong timing. I was very sure she wouldn't like that, but just then she deepened the kiss and I forgot to care.

Just a small part of me understood that this maybe wasn't right just now. She wasn't herself. She was way too vulnerable. But the majority of me didn't think about that at all. I don't think I was able to at the moment. My hands started roaming her body as hers did mine, and I held her as close to me as I could. It wasn't before her lips disconnected from mine so that she could draw a deep, shaky breath, that I got a little more clear view of things.

Bella buried her face in the corner of my neck, and I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. This was too much, now. She clung to me, clutching my waist tightly. When her breaths steadied some, I lifted her up as I got up from the floor and on to my feet. I placed my hands gently under her thighs, and she held her self up with her arms around my neck, still hugging me. She weighted nothing. I carried her over to the bed, and put her down on the very edge. I sat down on my knees on the floor in front of her. Then carefully I removed her arms from my neck so that I could look at her face. Her eyes were closed.

"Bells?" My voice sounded huskier than normal. She opened her eyes, and we stared at each other for a few moments. I had a feeling she deliberately didn't move her eyes in the direction of what was laying on the floor behind the bed. I couldn't blame her. "Are you okay?"

She didn't answer immediately, but drew a deep breath while staring into my eyes. She looked fine, a bit shaky perhaps, but fine. After a few seconds, she nodded slowly.

I was debating with myself if I should ask about what she'd found or just let it be, but she beat me to it.

"It was just there," she said, and I knew she was talking about the photo and the CD. "Under the floorboard. I'm sorry. I don't know how it ended up there. I'm sorry you found me like this, it was just...I just... Sorry." She was rambling.

"Bells," I said, stopping her. I reached up to wipe some hair away from her forehead. "Will you please stop apologizing?" I leaned in to rest my forehead against hers and she sent me a shaky smile. I held her gaze, and watched for the while it took for her eyes to turn calm. Or calmer rather. Deep inside I was spitting angry, but not with her. It would only make things worse if I took it out on her. This was everything but her fault.

Bella drew another deep breath and closed her eyes briefly as if to settle herself. When she opened them again, her expression was more sincere.

"I should go and make dinner. Charlie will be home soon," she said, and leaned back a little. I could hear she was slowly returning to normal. Or pretending very hard. One of the two.

"Okay," was all I said. With a last look at her I got back up on my feet to let her pass. Bella smiled to me, a little strained, before she got up from the bed and walked out without another look back.

I turned to look at the items on the floor. This was all starting to freak me out. Sick, sick, sick. If he'd left in the first place, why couldn't he just stay away? But oh no. He calls her, and pretends to be his father. He says he needs to see her. And then, tam tam, big surprise, he hid some stuff in her room before he left. Unless Bella had hid this herself while sleepwalking, something I really doubted. The douche had probably put it here himself. Which made me even more worried that he intended to come back. Maybe he'd planned to return eventually all along, and maybe this was the great excuse. Or maybe he didn't intended for her to find it at all, but of course she would eventually. I didn't know. Either way it was just creepy.

I quickly bent down to pick up the CD and the photograph. It still reeked. I folded out the photo so that I could see both of them at once. They were standing close, too close, smiling. It stung a little to see the two of them together like this. To see her with him.

I had only met him three times in my life. I didn't know he was a vampire then. The first time when me and my dad went over here to watch a game. I'd noticed his great car, and realized he was here to see Bella too. The second time I met him was when he kissed her neck in the car. It was when dad had insisted on coming over to warn Charlie about the superstitious stuff and the first time I realized they were dating. The last time I'd seen Cullen was at the prom with Bella. To pass on the message from my dad. Back then I'd thought my dad was ridiculous and senile. Guess he wasn't so after all. My nose wrinkled in disgust as I stuffed the photo and the CD into my back pocket. I'd burn them later or something.

I put the floorboard back in place. It was easy to fix. When I was done, it looked just like the other floorboards. I briefly wondered if there were more treasures around here, if the leech had more secret hiding places in her room. I quickly dismissed the thought. There couldn't be. But if there was... I didn't want to find out.

I got up on my feet, trying to be content that Bella didn't ever get the opportunity to nail her hand to the floor.

I found Bella in the kitchen peeling vegetables. She turned to look up when I entered, and smiled when she saw me. Her smile was almost back to normal by now. Just the slight frown on her forehead proved there had been something wrong. Bella turned and walked straight over to me, dropping the peeler and a carrot in the sink with a loud cluck. It didn't look like she even noticed. When she reached me, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down toward her lips. She kissed me sincerely, ignoring my astonished stature and numb lips. I couldn't help but get surprised every time she did this. I quickly got over it though. This was easy to get used to. I placed my hands around her waist and she pulled back to look at me.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes were dead serious and I knew she was talking about what just happened up in her room. For getting her out of there, maybe. Or for taking the problem off her hands.

"Are you okay?" I asked her again.

Bella smiled a little, her lips tight, and nodded rapidly. "Yeah." Translation: I will be.

I smiled at her, and she returned it. I would do my best to make her okay as soon as possible, then. I framed her face with both of my hands before I leaned down and kissed her again. Yes, I could get used to this pretty fast. Her lips were unbelievably soft against mine. I think I might be addictive already.

Way too soon she pulled away, smiled a little before she resumed to the dinner. I followed her over to the sink like a lovesick puppy. Bella just kissed me, Bella just kissed me. I'd kissed her. I could kiss her now if I wanted to. Could I? I looked over at her and she sent me a tentative smile. I think I could.

"Wanna help?" She handed me the peeler.

"Sure."

"Here." She handed me the carrot too, before she turned her back to me to stir in a casserole.

"Wow, thanks!" I grinned and took a bite of the carrot. That girl needed some cheering up. Or to just let out some emotions. Whatever. I volunteered. I started chewing loudly and watched with delight as Bella slowly turned back to look at me, her eyes exasperated.

"You were supposed to peel it, not eat it," she pointed out, nodding toward the soon non-existent carrot in my hand. She was trying to stay annoyed, but didn't quite manage.

"What? This?" I asked her innocently and took another bite, chewing loudly. My crunching filled the kitchen.

"No, you nutcase. Peel."

"Did you just call me nutcase?" I raised my eyebrows.

A grin threatened to break through her serious mask. "What if I did?" she dared.

"If there's a nutcase in here, you're the best match."

She smacked my arm at that, and then shook it up and down when it hurt. I couldn't stop laughing at her after that, and as punishment she set me to peel potatoes in stead.

When Charlie arrived about half an hour later, there was no trace of sadness or shock in Bella. He found us in the middle of a peeling fight. She seemed to have forgotten everything that happened earlier, at least for now. After I'd casually thrown potato peelings at Bella for about five minutes, she'd finally exploded and tipped the hole bowl with peel over my head. Charlie just took in the scene in front of him before he noted dryly that Bella missed a spot over my right ear. Then he turned and disappeared into the living room. His steps were suspiciously light and I suspected that he was only happy to come home and find Bella in such a good mood. 'Good' as in revengeful. That the kitchen was to pay, didn't seem to trouble him at all. Not that he was in position to protest either. Bella seemed to be in charge of both the food and the cleaning in this house. Charlie didn't really have much of a say.

After cleaning up the kitchen, (yes, I helped) and eating dinner (still helping) and doing dishes (helped there too), it started to get darker outside and it was time for me to head home. Bella followed me out on the front porch and this time didn't hesitate when I leaned down to kiss her goodnight. It felt like an enormous freedom to be able to just do that. Not wonder if or whether or how, just do it. Kiss her. Without getting any fists in my face.

"I'll see you soon, right?" she whispered when we broke apart. The concerned frown was back. "Be careful," she added.

"Of course," I assured her. "Don't worry so much, Bells."

I got over to my car and was really floating on a happy wave, but of course the wave had to reach the shore sometime. I got in behind the wheel and was about to get the engine going, when I felt something pointy poking me in the thigh. What the...? I fumbled under me before I realized what it was. Anger returned to my before spotless mind, and I had to stumble a bit to get the effing CD and photograph out of my back pocket so that I could sit properly. I'd forgotten all about them. Bloody leech just couldn't leave my mood alone, could he. And now the stench filled my car too. Wonderful.

I drove straight home intending to empty it all in a trashcan out of Bella's reach. Immaculate the photo. Maybe chew a bit on the CD too. But when I got home, the photograph in my hand, trash bin ready and pleading, I couldn't. Something in me just told me no. This wasn't right. It simply wasn't up to me.

I knew Bella still cared for the scum. Even if she maybe wouldn't admit it herself. And maybe some day, a long time from now, she would ask me about this CD or photo. And maybe she would wish I didn't throw them away. I knew she was only glad I removed them today, so that she wouldn't have to deal with them. She couldn't deal with them now. But maybe she would want to later. As much as I wanted to gather the bits and burn the pieces, that was her decision to make. Not mine.

Annoyed with myself, I strode into my room, items still in hand. I had to get rid of these things before I spread the stench throughout the whole house. The only place I could think to put it was inside my upper closet. What I wanted most was to dig it down in the dirt somewhere, but maybe that was a bit too conspiratorial.

I was on my way to stuff it away inside the closet, when I stopped again. I wondered if she'd listened to the CD. I wondered what it was. Was it his voice, talking to her? Was it a message? Or was it a disc with photos? Video? Sextape? Or just some sappy love songs? I was tempted to open it and see, but stopped in my own tracks. I quickly stuffed it inside the closet and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. I wouldn't listen to whatever the hell it was. None of my business. And Bella would be furious if she found out I did.

When I got out later that night to run my fair share of patrols, my mind had turned into a state of numbness. I was so happy after spending the day with Bella, kissing her, being with her like this, and at the same time so angry because of the leech, my brain had settled somewhere in between. It was simply a grey shade of dull.

Dude! There you are! Quil was still a buzzing mosquito. Sam and Embry were out running as well, and Leah. Seth wasn't here; he must be somewhere else trying very hard not to work himself up. He wasn't much better at controlling his outbursts than Leah was.

Thanks, she spat.

Welcome.

How was your date with Bella? Quil wanted to know. Still no hanky panky? He wiggled his wolfy eyebrows at me, but I was too tired to care.

Not much, no.

What's wrong? He asked, more seriously. I was too tired to build up any walls. Not that it was a secret.

What was that? Embry chimed in after my short flood of thoughts. He hid what under her floorboard?

Photo and a CD.

He made her a CD? With what, love songs?

I dunno.

A homemade CD. Well, now we know what you're not giving Bella for Christmas.

I chuckled a little. Guess not.

And you put it in your closet?

Uh huh.

That's going to stink, man.

I know.

But hey, Quil joined in after poking in my memories some more, absorbing everything that happened. You got yourself a nice little spit swap on the floor there, he winked, replaying when I'd found her in her room. Trying to cheer me up, or maybe he was just being Quil. Probably the latter.

You really can be a prick sometimes, I told him kindly. Bella had been broken down, not passionate.

And you can be so sensitive I might start calling you Josephine, Quil told me just as kind.

Leah snorted. Josephine. Suits you, hon.

Gee Leah. What should I start calling you? Sugar pumpkin? Leah-ve me alone?

Whatever, Josephine.

You seriously can't start calling me that.

Why Jose, don't you like it? Leah smiled sweetly and flashed her eyelashes. Ugh.

Thankfully, we were interrupted then. Jared appeared in the back of our minds, his thoughts not focused on us at all. We all noticed right away something was different, and for a moment we were all in shock as we approached what was going on inside his head. Jared didn't seem to notice our stunned minds at all, he was too distracted. To put it mildly. Something knotted in my stomach, but I forced it away for now.

Oh great. Leah was the first to break the silence. Another lovey-dovey prick.

I ignored her indication, as did Sam. Jared! You imprinted!

On who? Embry wondered, surprised, as he pictured the girl in Jared's mind. She was a black haired round faced girl I thought I might recognize from school somewhere.

Kim, Jared thought sincerely, embracing the name. His thoughts were all blurry and dreamy and filled with her. Right. The girl's name was Kimberly, now I remembered.

Leah rolled her eyes and started grumbling like a senile person. No specific words, but her message was clear. Jared didn't even notice her. Or any of us, for that matter.

I can't describe her, he thought, already far away. Apparently he decided to try anyway. She's amazing. I turned around and she was just there. She is perfect. And funny. I started talking to her and it was just perfect. Perfect. We talked the whole class through. And she said she would see me tomorrow. Can you believe it? I wish it was tomorrow already.

He was rambling along like only a man in love could do.

Jared, you sound like a girl, Quil insisted with feeling.

True. He was rambling on like a girl. Leah mumbled something in protest, but we ignored her. Leah was Leah, she didn't count.

Ah, great. So now I'm not even female, she moaned. I ignored her again.

Through Jared's eyes I could feel that pull, the pull only Sam had towards Emily. A need, a direction towards this girl. Kim. I didn't like it. It seemed wrong. And it only made me think about things I didn't want to think about.

Imprinting was a sensitive subject. Both to certain members of the pack, but also to me. Because I hadn't, didn't, wouldn't. And I wanted to keep it that way. I hadn't imprinted on Bella and I didn't want to either. It frightened me to might loose control of free will like that. To just erase all earlier relations without consent. Just look at what that did to Sam and Leah. But Bella and I wouldn't be like that because I would never. Ever. If I hadn't imprinted on her, I wouldn't on anyone.

I realized Leah was paying attention to my train of thoughts. I expected her to be angry or upset that I had been thinking about her, but she was surprisingly calm and mild. Well, for Leah. There was something else there to, directed at me. Was it acceptance? I realized what she was about to do right before she did it. She was calmer now that I'd even seen her before. For a moment her mind went blank. The next second she'd disappeared. She'd phased back. For the second time. Probably a good idea, all things considered.

You didn't tell Kim anything, did you? Sam interrogated Jared. About us, about you?

Of course not! Jared retorted, insulted. I would never upset her like that. I just met her. She would think I was a freak.

Oh, the irony.

A.N: Please let me know what you think. If you leave a review, I'll send you some spoilers for the next chapter :)