A/N Sorry for the delay in posting. I had major writer's block but hopefully that is gone and this makes up for the wait.

I only own the plot :)


Bella's POV

It was so frigging quiet inside the Cullen's house and if it wasn't for the fact that there was a car yard of cars sitting out the front I probably would've

thought no-one was home. I let myself in but this was nothing new, half the time Mr and Mrs Cullen weren't home and Emmett and Alice never answered the

door. I walked in the foyer and avoided looking at the stairs because I figured not seeing where you almost killed yourself was probably sane. I rounded the

corner of the living room and the sight that greeted me was sombre and it made my heart beat uncomfortably inside my chest, just like I was waiting for bad

news.

My eyes immediately fell on Edward and I felt relieved that he was still here. But the second he seen me he make this weird choking noise and his

head jerked to the large unknown male sitting beside him. They stared at one another for a split second before the dark haired giant said something under his

breath, Edward nodded and the giant whistled. The whistle made Esme's head lift and when she saw me she smiled, it was such a forced smile that it resembled

more of a grimace than a smile, and said "Bella, darling, good to see you. Sorry about all this." She gestured to the room and I nodded but I didn't really

understand. Edward stood up and, moving further away from me, went and stood the other side of the giant closer to his mother and said quietly "Mum, it's

okay, Bella already knows."

I was floundering; it was like a dream where you're on stage but you don't know the scene and you don't know the lines. Suddenly eight pairs of eyes

were staring at me and I had no clue as to why. Alice sobbed my name and said "Why didn't you say something?" I shook my head and said "Say something

about what? Can someone please tell me what is going on?" The giant snorted and said "Honey bee, if I were you I'd turn around and just walk away." He

smiled, a brilliantly white smile against his russet skin, and I blinked stupidly back at him but Edward didn't. No Edward slapped the man across the back of the

head and glared at him. I shook my head and repeated "Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Edward, still glaring at the giant, said "It's nothing

Peaches, honestly, don't stress. Alice, wipe the pout off your face because she had no way of knowing how much I'd actually told you guys." My stupid betraying

heart skipped a beat at his use of his nickname for me, even if I still didn't know why he called me that, and I returned my focus to him. Nothing moved within

that room for a few minutes and as each minute passed the tension grew and grew. In the end I couldn't take it any longer so I just turned on my heel and

taking the giants advice, walked from the room. Edward's strangled "Jake." Reached my ears as I walked away; I'd made it as far as the front porch before a

large hand was clamped on my shoulder. I immediately tensed and the second I did so the hand was snatched away like it had burnt him. I turned and eyed the

giant warily and he just smiled a really uncomfortable smile before saying "Um, okay this is gonna sound weird and maybe even creepy but Edward wants me to

stay with you and maybe fill you in on what has happened since your accident."

I jerked, the fact that this man knew about my accident relieved me a little, the Cullen's wouldn't tell some random about the fact that I fell down

their stairs and seeing how Edward looked to him earlier had me wondering what kind of relationship they had. I knew Edward wasn't gay but that didn't mean

that he was strictly heterosexual either. How was I to know that this man wasn't an old lover or even a current one? The thought made my stomach churn; I

didn't want to think of Edward with anyone but me. I still hadn't replied to the stranger and he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, he was shifting from

foot to foot and his eyes wandered incessantly before he cleared his throat and said "I, guess I should probably introduce myself. I'm Jacob Black and Edward

and I have been" I started chanting in my head 'Please don't say lovers, please don't say lovers' over and over again and it wasn't until Jacob Black snorted

outright and said "Ah, no not lovers. He's a good looking dude but, no I don't swing that way. I'm married" holding up his left hand for me to see the large flat

band around his ring finger; that I realised I'd spoken aloud my fear. I shrugged apologetically before gesturing for him to continue "As I was saying, Edward

and I have been friends for almost three years now. He works for me back in LA." I nodded, it was a nod of comprehension because I had no idea why he was

telling me this, but he took it as an encouraging sign and continued speaking. "Do you realise that you were the only person Edward had ever spoken to about

his past?" I shook my head and said "That can't be true, I mean he's in therapy Alice told me that, surely he'd have had to have spoken to them." Jacob shook

his head and said "Until two hours ago I didn't even know the extent to which his pain went."

My legs were having trouble holding me upright so I sank down onto the front step. I hadn't realised how much it had taken for Edward to open up

to me. And if this stranger was to be believed he hadn't done it with anyone else. I closed my eyes shaking my head before opening them and saying "Why are

you telling me this?" Jacob Black cocked his large head and said "You don't seem seventeen." I frowned and said "What the hell does my age have to do with

this?" he chuckled and said "Everything if you pair are gonna carry on fucking one another's brains out." My face flamed with embarrassment and I stuttered

"Edward told you… that isn't… you have no right… I can't believe…" Jacob laughed and said "Relax Honey Bee I'm not gonna tell anyone and yes Edward did tell

me, only because he feels so guilty for treating you the way he did and trust me he doesn't feel guilty about many things, women especially." The way he said

that made me realise I didn't know all that much about Edward's past. "Don't over think it Honey Bee, just follow your heart and above everything else just be

honest with him and yourself. If you don't think this can go anywhere stop it now. If this thing you guys have has a future than be prepared for a fight with his

inner demons and trust me those mother fuckers have a very strong hold on Ed." I stared over at the man sitting beside me and said "Why did you follow me

out here?" he smiled and said "He asked me to. He wanted you to still be here when he's finished inside and I guess he figures I'd know a way to keep you

here." I laughed softly and said "I guess it worked."

Time passed as Jacob and I sat quietly on the front steps until Jacob started humming Club Nouveau's lean on me which made me laugh before I

said "Really? I would've picked you for more of a dance music lover maybe old school rock and roll but that song?" he smiled and said "I heard it on the radio

and it's stuck in my head, it's appropriate for the situation really. Sometimes in our lives we all have pain we all have sorrow but if we are wise we know that

there's always tomorrow. Lean on me, when your not strong and I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on for it won't be long til im gonna need somebody to lean

on." His voice was beautiful and soulful and I had to admit the song was really appropriate for what was happening. Listening to him sing had me asking

something I regretted immediately "How many tattoos and piercings does Edward have?" Jacob did a double take at my face before stuttering his way to an

answer, I could see it was embarrassing him so I said "Don't worry, I shouldn't have asked." Jacob twisted his mouth as he thought about what I'd asked him

and said "It's not a bad question but I'm just wondering how many you've seen and if the answer will freak you out." I shrugged and said

"The only way to really know that is to tell me I guess."

Edward's quiet voice came from behind us and even though Jacob and I hadn't been sitting that close or been doing anything bad I jumped away

from him and I sighed "Edward" he smiled my favourite crooked smile but his eyes were tired and he looked stressed. "Thanks Jake, I appreciate it." Jacob

smiled, really only lifted on side of his mouth, and said "Any time Ed. Honey Bee and I were having a good chat." The grimace on Edward's face made me

wonder if he was against his friends' choice of nickname or against his friend 'chatting' to me.

Edward's POV

I waited for Jacob to leave after Bella before turning back to my family and saying "Yes I talked to Bella but that was the first day I was here but

she had no idea that I'd never said those things to anyone else. I just want to clear this up now, there is nothing at all going on between Bella and I." I could

see that Alice was about to interrupt so I said "Yeah we've kissed but seriously she's cute, who wouldn't want to kiss her?" the second I thought about kissing

Bella I thought about burying myself inside her and bringing her to repeated orgasm but I forced myself not to think about that while I talked to my family. I

could tell by the doubtful glare I was getting from Bella's sister that she believed me but I'd work on that. It was better for Bella. I was prepared for my parents

reactions but they still hurt nonetheless, my Dad just shook his head and said "I thought I'd didn't have to worry about you around them." My Mum on the other

hand sniffed quietly and said "Don't mess around with her Edward, she's special." Yeah like I didn't already know that, but I smiled and said "I'm not planning

on 'messing' with her Mum and you can trust me around them Dad, I promise." I gestured towards the door with my thumb and said "I'm gonna go see if Jake

has managed to corrupt Bella yet." I walked out on them, leaving them to deal with my secrets.

I opened the front door in time to hear Jacob finish the line of the song he was singing, it didn't surprise me. For someone as manly as Jacob Black

the guy loved singing, dude even watched Glee. Bella nodded her head at Jake and out of the blue blurted "How many tattoos and piercings does Edward have?"

I could tell from the way her cheeks flamed that she was embarrassed about asking Jacob and when he hesitated to answer she said "Don't worry, I shouldn't

have asked." Jacob was obviously deciding how to answer her question but to someone who didn't know him it looked as if he was ignoring them and this was

the way Bella took it. Jake must have realised that he was taking too long and he said "It's not a bad question but I'm just wondering how many you've seen

and if the answer will freak you out." I waited for her reaction and it surprised me when she shrugged her delicate shoulders and said "The only way to really

know that is to tell me I guess." I was encouraged by her answer it showed she wasn't afraid that something might be too much for her before she'd tried it out

but I didn't want her getting to interested in me. I'd already done enough damage.

I simply said "Jake" to get their attention and when she turned and smiled so brilliantly at me my resolve waivered and I almost crumbled but I

caught myself just in time and managed to smile at her before turning my gaze to Jake "Thanks Jake, I appreciate it." Jacob grinned and said "Any time Ed.

Honey Bee and I were having a good chat" I frowned because I wasn't sure how I felt about him giving her a nickname but she wasn't mine and I had no right

deciding who gave her nicknames. I decided to just ignore my feelings and get what I needed to get done. I needed to make Bella realise that I wasn't what she

needed and that nothing good could come out of us being together. I looked intently at Jacob and he nodded saying to Bella "Honey Bee it was a pleasure to

meet you and I will see you around." Bella smiled in a confused manner and waved her hand in goodbye. I sat down on the front step, a ways away from Bella,

and cleared my throat nervously "Bella, we need to talk." she shook her head and said "Nothing good comes when someone says we need to talk." I raised my

eyebrow and said "Yeah it rarely ever ends well but we need to talk anyway." I watched her straighten, turning her upper body in my direction before saying "I

think I know what you're going to say and I just want to say, I understand and I promise I wont say anything to anyone."

Her words confused me and I could feel my forehead scrunching and giving her a visual cue of my confusion and she blushed furiously as she

elaborated on her words "Um, us, you know having sex. I promise I won't tell anyone because I'd hate to embarrass you and I know that the last thing you'd

want anyone to know is that we, you know." I felt anger rising within me at how unclearly she saw herself, she didn't realise that I would be so honoured to

have her as my girl and that it wasn't her that wasn't good enough for me it was me who wasn't good enough for her but I could see that she wouldn't listen

even if I tried to explain that point so I figured I'd use her misinterpretation of my words to my benefit saying "Thanks that's awesome. It'd definitely make

living in this town easier if I didn't have to worry about the police chief shooting me for screwing his daughter." I sneered purposefully and when an agonised

look passed through her eyes I felt a tightening in my chest, the beginnings of a panic attack, but I ignored it. I stood up from beside her and said "I'm glad we

met Bella but I think it'd be for the best if we go back to being friendly." I dug through my pocket and found my bike keys; I called to Jake, who I knew wasn't

that far away, and we rode off down the drive, without looking back. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but I knew it was for her own good.

Bella's POV

He just drove away, didn't even look back. I felt like a cheap whore as his words sunk in. I muttered under my breath "Friends, yeah sure I can do

that." I guess I should've known this was how it would end; I mean he was practically a God, he looked like James Dean's love child, his body was drool worthy

(and I wasn't just talking about the tattoos or piercings), he drove a motorcycle and had that wounded vulnerability mixed with an attitude that cut deep; and I,

well I was below normal really. I was clever and I knew that I was pretty (not gorgeously beautiful) but there was no way I was good enough for him. I sat on

the front step long enough that when Rosalie sat beside me the sun was streaming down directly on our heads. "So he left did he?" she asked, acid burning in

her voice, I nodded and said "It doesn't matter really; I mean it's not like we were dating or anything." I analysed my words and they seemed normal enough

but when Rose scoffed I knew she didn't buy what I was trying to sell myself "Bullshit Bella! You may be able to sell that to anyone else but I know you and I

know that there is no way you, of all people, would have ended up almost butt naked with some random guy if you didn't feel something for him." She threw her

arm around my shoulder and hugged me close and all I really wanted to do was cry because it was even worse than Rose knew but I'd promised Edward I

wasn't gonna tell anyone. I sighed and said "Really Rose I'm okay and I'm glad now that we were stopped because how bad would I feel now? I know that's not

what I'm normally like but he's absolutely beautiful and I couldn't control the urge to touch him." Rose giggled and said "Um, from what I seen, I totally

understand the need to touch him. Are both his nipples pierced?" I forced a laugh and said "Yep, along with his septum and tragus" I was too curious for my

own good to find out if he had any more and where they were but I knew it wasn't gonna happen now.


Ok lovelies let's hope that makes up for my absence :)

please leave reviews I love reading them

Cherie

xxx