Chapter 12

"Come on, Bella." Jessica whined.

"Since you get to pick your own dress means you HAVE to come with us this weekend to Port Angeles!"

I rolled my eyes and tried to drown out Jessica's whining but it's actually much harder than you think. Angela eventually came in to stop Jessica, but then she sternly scolded me and told me I was going.

That was that.

"Fine! But you can't say ANYTHING about the dress I pick." I told them. They sighed but nodded to my conditions, making me smirk.

After that, the table discussion picked up to multiple things and I half-listened to them but mostly pushing the food around on my table. I'm not even sure what the fuck they served us.

'Christ. I should start making myself lunch…' I thought airily.

"Speaking of which," Angela said quietly, turning to me. The table turned their attention to me, causing me to look up in confusion.

"Huh?" I said blankly.

"How's the whole thing going with the Cullens?" Angela asked me in a tone that let me know that I didn't have to answer if I didn't want to.

I discreetly turned my head towards where the Cullens sat in the cafeteria and they weren't looking our way but I knew they heard the question. I saw Alice meet my eyes briefly and I knew that she was curious herself.

I turned back to my table, looking at the expecting eyes.

"It's not as bad anymore. I mean, I guess it's kind of hard because the whole forgiving thing is a mess, but it's better."

"Are things better between you and Edward? Perhaps getting back together?" Jessica asked.

I shook my head. I already knew my decision, and no matter how awkward it was knowing that Edward could hear me, I had to say it.

"I wouldn't say better, but it's not like I'm screaming in his face anymore. But I don't think we'll get back together. Chapter's done, gotta keep moving on."

I could practically feel Edward frowning, but hopefully he would move on as well. He broke my heart, but I didn't want to break his heart anymore either.

Jessica gave me a sympathetic smile, which I'm not sure why. It's not like I was dying on the inside about the fact that we weren't getting back together. But knowing Jessica, she's really into the cliché prince and princess kind of theme for her relationships.

"You know, you actually talk more to Rosalie now more than you do to Alice. What's up with that?"

I thought about it for a second and realized that it was kind of true. Even though Alice and I had our fight last week and started to make up, I talked to Rosalie a lot more than I did with Alice.

I mean, in this last week Rosalie took about 60% of the shifts to watch over Charlie and I. I usually invited her in and we'd do our homework and talk.

I mean, we usually talked about random shit, but it felt normal. We were friends and that made me friends with Emmett too, who sometimes joined us.

"I guess so…I don't know, I like hanging with Rosalie. She's still the queen bitch, but she's my friend."

"Okay…but what about Alice?" Angela asked.

I peered over my shoulder and looked at Alice who was looking at Rosalie. She looked back at me. Why is it that she always looks like a kicked puppy?

"What about Alice?" I asked carelessly.

Angela raised her eyebrow at me. "Well, how do you feel about Alice? She's the one you're most mad at from what I can tell."

I closed my eyes for just a second, but a thousand moments with Alice passed through my mind. When I opened them again, I decided that I needed to try to move forward. I didn't want to end up pushing Alice away in the end.

"I'm tired of being mad at her, " I started, keeping my eyes locked with Alice's eyes.

"I just miss her like hell."

Alice was beaming so hard; she couldn't stop moving in her seat. I smiled slightly and turned back to my friends. They didn't have time to comment on anything else because the bell rung, interrupting all kind of conversations in the cafeteria.

I got up and Alice had practically bounced her way over to me. She was beaming and she looked like she wanted to hug me so badly, but was trying to contain it.

"Hi, Bella!" She excitedly said.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Want to walk to class together?" She gave me such an impish smile that I chuckled and nodded.

While Alice was practically skipping beside me, I walked in a calm pace, occasionally watching the people pass by us.

Then I thought about something.

"Hey, Alice?"

She hummed in response.

I didn't want to think about what I was going to do; I was just going to do it so I wouldn't end up hesitating.

"So, about the tutoring thing you told me the other day…maybe we can talk to my teachers and ask if you could tutor me instead? Maybe have a study session this Friday and maybe I could, you know, sleepover too?" My voice ended up getting quieter and quieter as I reached the end.

Alice stopped skipping and turned to look at me seriously. I stopped walking as well, feeling a rather nervous tingle bubbling through me.

"Bella," Alice said very seriously.

"I'm going to hug you now, so now is the time to move if you don't want it."

I sighed in relief for some odd reason, as if I really thought that Alice would reject me. When Alice through her arms around me, I hugged her back while she tried to hug me as humanly strong as possible.

"Alright, alright…you're gonna make us late for class." I teased Alice lightly while she finally let me go.

"Nuh-uh!" Alice said indignantly.

"Teacher's gonna be late, which makes us early!"


"Guys, prom is like, a month away! I swear Bella, we're all going prom shopping this Saturday."

I sighed but nodded pitifully.

"Hey," I heard a light voice call over my shoulder.

"Can I sit with you guys?"

I turned around and found Alice holding her lunch tray rather shyly. Everyone was looking at me as if I should be the one to make the decision. I looked up at Alice, my tummy feeling fluttery as I nodded.

Alice sat down and smiled at me and began to play around with her food.

"So what's this I hear about prom shopping?" Alice asked brightly.

Jessica jokingly glared at me while she answered.

"Well, us girls are going to go prom dressing this Saturday because even though Bella is picking her own dress, she must come with us."

Alice was going to say something before I cut her off.

"And no, you can't come with us on this one, Alice. I don't want you to see my dress until prom. It's gonna be a surprise for everyone." I said with a joking evil tone.

Alice pouted and she tried to casually look into the future. She glared even more pitifully at me when it was obvious she wasn't seeing anything. I stuck my tongue out at her childishly and she kept her expression.

"But Bella!" Alice whined.

"No." I answered simply.

"But—"

"Not hearing it."

Alice took a breath in.

"Nope."

Alice sighed frustratingly and slumped back into her seat.

"Girl, we feel the same way too. Don't worry." Jessica sighed dramatically.

I threw a tater-tot at Jessica who hissed at me, making me laugh.

"Alright, enough prom talk, lets try talking about something more realistic…like exams."

"Wow Bella, way to bring it down." Angela teased. Mike look really pale at the thought of exams while Eric didn't even look phased.

"Well…I wouldn't know about enough about prom." I heard yet, another voice behind me. I recognized it instantly and I'm not quite sure why, but it brought my appetite down.

I think it's because I know why this person was here.

"Jasper!" Alice said with an adoring tone.

I wanted to look away, but I just couldn't.

Was I a masochist?

Jasper, in all his handsome glory, was standing there with a bouquet of red roses and a charming smile. A smile that told me how much Jasper really did love Alice.

He cleared his throat, turning many heads in our direction, practically the whole cafeteria.

"Alice Cullen, there's so many dances I want to take you to and this one is one of them. Will you do me the honor of being my prom date?" Jasper asked, a faded southern twang in his voice making the whole thing so much more attractive.

Alice squealed and jumped into Jasper's arm, screaming yes while the whole cafeteria cheered despite their fear of the Cullens.

Alice kissed Jasper and I just…I just felt sick to my stomach. Like an actual urge to throw up was overcoming me.

Jasper looked at me oddly and I tried to force a smile in his direction.

I got up, trying to sneak away from this while the cheers were still going on.

I didn't want Jasper to know, I didn't want anyone to know.

I stood in the hallways against the lockers.

Jealous.

I was unbelievably fucking jealous.

And guilty.

I wanted that to be me. I felt like I should be the one asking Alice to prom in some romantic lame way.

Alice should be the one jumping into my arms and kissing me.

Because I love her.

But Jasper loves her too.

And it doesn't even matter that I technically was with Alice first, because she doesn't know that.

Because she has Jasper now.

"You okay?"

I snapped my head up and saw Rosalie standing in front of me.

I shrugged and lopsidedly smiled at her.

"Think those tater tots aren't settling the way I hoped. Plus, it's getting too heated for me in the cafeteria."

Rosalie raised her eyebrow at me, a smirk accompanying it.

"Okay, let's go on a walk then."

I nodded. As long as I could get the hell out of here for a fresh breath of air, I'd do almost anything.

Rosalie took me to the school's field. Usually there's sport teams playing on it, but today was rather empty.

"Better?"

"Hm?" I replied.

"Your stomach. Does the air help it or whatever?"

My mouth shaped into an 'o' and I nodded. It was just better to be away from the cafeteria in general.

I lay back onto the grass, looking at Rosalie expectantly.

She frowned at me.

"My hair."

I kept staring at her, letting her know that I totally did not care about her hair.

She sighed and lied down next to me. We both looked at the sky and it was peaceful. We sat in our comfortable silence, completely being content. That's what I liked about Rosalie; she didn't need to talk all the time. Sometimes, she understood my silence and she appreciated the fact that I didn't always bother her with my words. And when we did talk, it was light. Even when we talked about deep things, it felt like she wasn't trying to weigh me down.

"What will you do after graduation?"

I looked over at Rosalie, who didn't look at me when she asked. I turned my head back and contemplated it for a few seconds.

"To be honest, I don't know. I kind of want to go to university still. I want to turn 21 and totally hope puberty makes me hot or something."

Rosalie actually laughed and nudged me.

"You're actually pretty, Bella. Well, it wouldn't hurt for your chest to fill out a little more. Oh, and your ass!"

I snorted and gasped astonishingly.

"You checkin' me out, Rosie? Keep your perverted eyes in your sockets, missy! I'm telling Emmett!"

The statement only caused Rosalie to laugh harder and roll her eyes.

"Go ahead, you'll only excite my monkey man."

I giggled and closed my eyes.

I felt much better already.

Well, I still felt jealous and a little sad that Alice and Jasper would go to prom together. While I had already expected it, it didn't sting any less.

"Did you want to go to university here?" Rosalie asked seriously.

I shook my head, knowing my answer right away.

"Even though I don't want to leave Charlie by himself, I don't think I want to stay in this town for the rest of my life. All I can think about are the bad memories. Even the ones that were once good turned grey. This place is still home and maybe one day I'll come back, but right now it's not good."

Rosalie looked confused for a second, but then she nodded slowly.

"What about you?" I turned and asked Rosalie.

"Well the obvious is that we're going to move again—"

I was about to say something, but Rosalie cut me off.

"—And before you say anything, you also have the choice to come with us. I think we can all collectively agree that leaving your stupid ass without a word alone is the worst decision ever. I mean, the years we have together is unpredictable, but Emmett is trying to teach me to "cross that bridge when we get to it" or whatever. I think this time, I want to go to university too. Another year of high school and I may rip someone's head off. At least in university you get more space to do your own thing, especially since we can afford it."

I just nodded, but I didn't really say anything. I could come along with them.

But did I really want to make myself suffer watching Alice and Jasper day in and day out?

Hmm…

"Alice is here."

I turned my head to the opposite side and indeed noticed Alice standing at the door entrance, looking kind of frown-y in my opinion.

"Shall we go back into the pits of hell?" Rosalie suggested, trying to sound majestic but only sounded like the sarcastic bitch she is.

I chuckled and nodded.

"Don't act like you don't enjoy sitting next to us stupid humans in class." I taunted her.

Rosalie growled and punched me lightly.


Alice grinned widely as she leaned forward, pressing her lips against mine. She leaned back and sighed happily.

"Kissing you is the best."

….

…...

"Miss Swan?"

I snapped my attention back up and found the teacher looking at me expectantly. I looked up at the board and found the question I was supposed to be answering.

"Uh…chromosomes are composed of DNA and proteins?"

The teacher nodded and gave me a side smile.

"Very nice, Miss Swan, but do try to pay attention next time," He said with a light tone. I nodded and leaned back in my chair.

My fingers automatically began to play around with my necklace. It gave me a feeling of comfort and well, security. Sometimes I still wake up and wonder if anything I've ever felt was real, if anything that happened was real. But the necklace alone is enough to reassure me.

I spend a lot of my nights looking through the pictures on my phone. I never look at them when I'm with anyone else though, it's too risky. A part of me feels like I must be some masochist because I try to remember everything so clearly, even though I know I can't really do anything.

I could feel Edward looking at me from the side, but I tried by best to ignore it. I haven't really talked to him at all lately. It seems like I've sort of made up with majority of the Cullens, but I haven't really talked to Edward.

I just felt like I didn't know what to say. There was nothing I wanted to say. Everything he said was just…not what I needed.

I didn't need him anymore and it was his fault that I realized that.

The bell rung and I got up, getting ready to go home. I sighed when I thought about how much homework I was going to have to do to help myself catch up. Exams weren't too far away and I really, really wanted to graduate.

"Hey Bella, can I walk you to your car?" Edward appeared in front of me and put on a hopeful smile. I shrugged, letting him know it didn't really make much of a difference if he walked me to my car or not. As I walked, Edward trailed beside me easily enough, talking about this weekend or whatever.

"Sorry Edward, but you already know that I'm going shopping with Jessica and Angela this weekend, so I can't hang out with you."

"I know, but I was thinking maybe after you were done shopping? I know that you plan to have sleepovers and study sessions with Alice this weekend as well. Maybe I could help tutor you too?"

We had already reached outside when Edward was trying to convince me to let him tutor me as well. The parking lot began to empty out as Edward continue to take up my time. I frowned when I turned to him.

"Look Edward, it's nice of you to offer, but I think I'm okay with Alice tutoring me. Right now, I'm just trying to focus on repairing my friendship with her…you probably already know the conversations that have happened between us. You know that I need to try to give her the chance to make things right and for that to happen, I need to focus on giving her my attention."

I looked over to the side and found Alice leaning against her car with Jasper standing next to her. She beamed at me and gave me an enthusiastic wave. Edward was frowning at me while I gave Alice a small smile and he moved over so that he was in front of me again.

"Bella, you're saying these things, but don't you see that I'm trying to make it right with you too?"

I sighed and moved around uncomfortably.

"Edward—"

"How am I supposed to make it right with you if you don't give me a chance?"

"Can we not do this out in public right now?"

Edward completely ignored me as he continued on with his whole family standing not that far away from us, even though it didn't matter because they could hear it no matter where I was standing in the parking lot.

"You're always dodging me or asking someone else to take my shifts to keep watch over you and Charlie. I'm trying to repair our relationship too!"

I sighed frustratingly because on one hand, a part of me told myself to just scream the truth out to him, but on the other hand, my conscious told me not to break his heart in front of his family.

So, I settled for in between.

"We don't have a relationship!" I hissed out, as if that would keep others from hearing.

"So there's nothing to try to repair. I can only focus on one person at a time, and I chose Alice. I have enough on my plate, and no offense, but you're kind of adding unnecessary stress to it. It's—it's just done, Edward. Stop trying to fix a relationship that's not coming back."

I sidestepped him quickly and walked away to my truck. I gave everyone a quick nod and started up my truck, and drove away.

I sighed as I leaned my arm onto the door and my head into my palm as I drove home.

I really hoped my plate would clear up soon.

Or at least until school ended.


"Hey Charlie, you're home early," I noted as I stepped into the house. Charlie was still in his uniform and holding some lunch containers and a tumbler mug in his hands.

"I'm only stopping by to grab some food and some coffee. I gotta go back to the station right now to work some more. Don't wait up on me tonight because I'm going to be back late."

I nodded as Charlie threw the food and mug into a bag.

"Everything okay down there?" I asked Charlie as he was putting on his shoes.

"Not so sure yet. Do me a favor and try not to go out right now until I come home and see what's going on, okay?"

I nodded and Charlie gave me a brief kiss on my forehead and left. I wonder what that was all about as I ran up to my room. I found Alice already sitting on my bed with a textbook in her hand. She looked quite determined when I reached her.

"Hey, not that I don't mind, but I thought it was Rosalie's turn to keep watch today."

Alice shrugged.

"I made her give me the shift. But enough about that, c'mon over here and let's get cracking on some parabolas."

I groaned but complied. Alice pulled out some notes and a mini whiteboard and drew out some examples for me.

I paid attention through most of it and finished most of my homework while Alice occasionally checked how I was doing. Otherwise she was working on her own art project. There was some music quietly playing in the background and I felt…relaxed.

Well, my body was relaxed, because my mind was sagging from doing all this pre-calculus.

Somewhere along my last question, my mind began to drift off while I quietly observed Alice. My fingers drifted to the necklace and toyed with it.

Alice eventually looked up and smiled at me.

"Hey silly, try to focus. You're on your last question here and you're all done!"

I blinked once and smiled while scrunching my nose up.

"Right," I said.

I quickly finished up the last question and dropped my pencil proudly. I lifted up my arms and stretched satisfyingly and came back to reality of Alice now looking at me.

"What?" I said with my head tilted.

Alice put down her sketchbook and pencil before sitting cross-legged.

"I was just wondering where you got that necklace. I see you playing with it a lot and I don't remember you ever having it before."

I looked down at the small infinite charm on my necklace and smiled while I held it.

"I've always had it, I just decided to start wearing it. I can't go a day without it now." I said, half-lying.

Alice nodded and was about to say something else when my stomach rumbled.

Alice went quiet before she began to laugh at me while I felt blood rushing up to my cheeks in embarrassment.

I looked over to the clock and it was already half-pasted six and I was starving.

"Alright you, let's go down to the kitchen and I'll whip you up something."

I jumped off the bed and went out first while Alice slowly got up.

"You're real nifty, Alice. Not just any Jane*!" I sang as I hopped down the stairs.

Since I was first one to head down, I didn't notice Alice giving me a strange look.


"Jesus Christ, I think I ate too much…" I moaned uncomfortably as I lay back onto my bed.

Alice jumped down beside me as she snorted and jabbed me in my stomach, making me glare at her.

"Think? Bella, you practically inhaled everything. Did you even chew? Do you even know how to chew?" Alice teased.

I tried to slap her with a pillow but she easily dodged it.

"Shut up," I huffed at her.

Alice stuck her tongue out at me when all of a sudden her entire face went blank and she seemed to stop functioning for a second.

I realized she was having a vision and patiently waited for her to come back. When she came back, she looked at me before she jumped up.

"Sorry Bella, just give me a sec, I have to call my family."

"Why, what's wrong?" I asked her but she ignored me while she pulled out her cell and placed it next to her ear.

She was speaking so quiet and fast that I obviously did not catch a single thing. When she finished, she turned back and found me frowning at her for not telling me. I was also frowning because I didn't know if she would tell me or not.

"Are you gonna tell me or are you just gonna try to keep me in the dark?" I asked her straight up. I was done with these games.

Alice sat down next to me and held my hand. I looked down and got kind of nervous because clearly it was not great news.

"I'm not going to hide it from you, despite with Edward wants. You're an adult and I know if I don't tell you, I'm only going to make it worse between you and me."

Fuck, now I knew it was probably really bad.

"I had a vision. Victoria is going to try to come back. She's looking for you."

I paled and my hand sagged in Alice's, but she responded by holding my hand tighter.

"Bella, it's okay, don't be scared. I won't let Victoria hurt you, okay? You'll always be safe with me." Alice brushed away my hair and I frowned.

"Of course I'm scared!" I told Alice.

"I'm scared for me, obviously, but I'm worried for everyone else as well. You're putting your lives at risk even though Victoria only wants me…"

Alice grabbed my face with one hand, her fingers and thumb grabbing my chin and forced me to look at her.

"Listen here, Bella. I'm never going to let Victoria have you. Ever. You'll always be safe with me, okay? Dying for you is just as worth it as living for you."

I felt deeply touched by her words, in a way that made my heart flutter and I felt like a douchebag for letting my heart flutter like that.

I nodded while tears welled up in my eyes. Alice pulled me into a hug where my face was buried into her collarbone.

"Why are you crying, silly?" Alice asked me in her euphoric light voice.

"Because," I said.

"Because."


When I got home from school Friday afternoon, Charlie was already home sitting in front of his laptop at the diner table.

He looked up when he heard the door open and close.

"Hey kiddo," He gruffly said to me while I put my things down and looked through the fridge for something to cook.

I could tell from the tone of Charlie's voice that he hasn't gotten much sleep lately.

"Hey Charlie, what's going on? There something going on at work right now?" I asked while I pulled out some things and pulled out a frying pan and a pot.

Charlie leaned back into his chair for a moment and rubbed his eyes. He sighed and ruffled his hair, clearly distraught.

"Remember those missing persons cases I told you awhile ago?"

I hummed in response, indicating that I did indeed remembered.

"Well, now they're turning into death cases. Over the last few weeks, the death toll has been going up in Seattle. Our department is working with the departments down in Seattle to try to figure out what's going on. We think it's some sick serial killer out on the loose. I'm just waiting for some more information to come in right now, since they're still doing autopsies on the bodies."

I nodded even though it sounded pretty mortifying. I didn't really know what to say though.

What I wanted to say was how fucked up that was, but I didn't think Charlie would appreciate my insight with such language.

"Do me a favor and try not to go out too much. Especially at night, because whoever is doing this seems to be coming closer to Forks."

"Okay, Charlie. I might be going out soon though…Jacob has been blowing up my phone and I think I should try to see him today."

Charlie nodded, seeming a little happier that I would be meeting up with Jacob. I tried not to roll my eyes at his obvious enthusiasm.

When I finished cooking lunch and eating it with Charlie, I threw on a light jacket and grabbed my car keys.

When I hopped into my truck and tried to start it up though, my truck wouldn't comply. I sighed in frustration because my truck had literally been working a couple hours ago and now seemed to just die suddenly.

I hopped out of my truck and slammed the door and was about to stomp back into my house when I saw Alice's car pull up. She rolled down the window and smiled at me hestitantly.

"Need a ride?" She offered.

I hesitated too because I'm pretty sure she had a vision of where I was going and I was confused about the fact that she was actually going to drive me there.

"Could you hurry it along, Bella? Shouldn't stay here too long if you actually want to go there."

My feet moved before my brain could comprehend anything and I got into Alice's car. She sped off onto the road looking in her rearview mirrors.

"Why does this feel so shady?" I whispered to myself mostly. Alice heard me and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, I had a vision an hour ago that you wanted to go see the do—Jacob."

She coughed as if to cover up the fact that she almost called Jacob a dog.

"Unfortunately Edward was in the same room as me when it happened and he wasn't that happy about it." She said, hinting at the end.

I squinted my eyes at her while I tried to figure out what she was saying. Before I knew it, my jaw had dropped in disbelief.

"Are you—Are you saying that Edward sabotaged my truck while I was eating so I couldn't go see Jacob?"

She didn't say anything so I knew that it was true. I scoffed in anger because it was just so ridiculous!

"Why would he go and do that?" I said angrily.

"He can't just go and decide who I can and can't see just because he doesn't like it! Wait," I paused looking at Alice with suspicion and confusion.

"If you know I'm going to see Jacob, why are you still taking me when you know Edward is going to be mad?"

Alice shifted in her seat as if she didn't want to tell me, like she was really embarrassed about it or something.

I stared at her expectantly even though she didn't look at me.

"Because," Alice said softly.

"I kind of owe Jacob."

"What?" I said incredulously.

What the hell could a vampire owe a werewolf? They hated each other!

"You didn't kill someone or something, did you?" I asked her.

This image appeared in my head that Alice maybe accidently killed someone and Jacob held the secret perhaps out of courtesy of his friendship with me, but even that was kind of pushing it.

"Wha—no!" Alice shouted at me.

"For saving you, you dolt!"

It got quiet in the car and suddenly it was very serious. The atmosphere shifted and I didn't know if I wanted to go down this road, but it seemed Alice was on a roll.

"If Jacob—if Jacob didn't pull you out of the water, I…I wouldn't have you next to me right now, Bella. And the thought of that fucking terrifies me because then you would've died thinking that I didn't want you anymore and it would've been my fault. Jacob saved you…when I didn't, and I owe him for that. I can't hate him because of that, so if you want to see him, I'll help you out."

I was at a loss for words, I didn't even know what to say to that, but I smiled because at least now Alice didn't hate Jacob. When we pulled up to the reservation, Jacob and some other boys were already waiting at the line, looking grumpy and snappy. I rolled my eyes openly while I turned to Alice.

"Thanks for driving me." I told her. She smiled me and pulled me in for a quick hug.

"It was no problem. If you need someone to pick you up, I'm a phone call away." She told me sincerely.

"That won't be necessary because I'll drive her home." Jacob interrupted outside the car.

I looked at him and gave him the look to let him know to shut up. I still won't let anyone talk to Alice that way. I turned back to Alice and said bye to her quickly and got out the car.

Alice and Jacob looked at each other for a moment and for a second, it seemed like they had an understanding before Alice drove off.

Jacob turned to me and smiled hugely before he pulled me into a tight hug, lifting me off the ground and spinning me.

"You finally came, Bella!" He cheered before he put me down a wrinkled his nose.

"You stink like rotten corpse."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a straight face.

"Wow, Jacob. Don't hold back now."

Jacob smiled before he led me off deeper into the reservation.

"You missed out on a lot, Bells."

"You too." I replied.

More than you know.

Jacob took me to the same cliff I had jumped off from and we sat down at the edge. The fresh seawater was nostalgic to me and I welcomed it. The breeze was especially nice.

"So, update me. What's been up?"

Jacob looked out and looked back at me.

"I don't know if you're dad told you with everything going on with you, but Harry died while you were in a coma. You missed the funeral and everything. It was really tough, but Sue seemed to step up her game and took Harry's place in the council."

"Shit," I said while running my fingers through my hair. With everything going on with me, Charlie hasn't really updated me on what's been going on in his life. I'd have to talk to him when I get home.

"Is everyone feeling okay? How are his kids? What's their name again? Leah and Seth?"

Jacob nodded.

"Yeah, they taking it pretty hard. But here's the really interesting thing. Not so long after their dad died, they shifted."

My eyes widened with shock.

"What, really? I thought that only boys could shift into wolves."

Jacob nodded again.

"Yeah, me too, but apparently not. I think Leah's one of the first females to shift. Seth is one of the youngest. Not gonna lie though, I used to be really sad for Leah, you know, with the whole Sam thing, but now that she's part of the pack, she's actually kind of annoying."

I punched Jacob light for saying that.

"Don't be an ass, Jake."

Jacob held up his hand in defense.

"It's not because she's a girl, I'm more evolved than that. But it's because she's part of the pack now and we can hear her thoughts, just like she can hear ours. All day she just sits and bitches about Sam and Emily. She's really bitter about everything. And the thing is, because she's a wolf now, she knows what imprinting is because she felt it through Sam. So, she understands that Sam really didn't mean to hurt her, and he tried to resist the pull, but the imprinting was meant to be. She knows all that, but she sits there all day and she bitches about it still. No one wants to hear it anymore."

I nodded slowly trying to understand. I kind of didn't really get the whole imprinting thing still. I mean I saw all kinds of imprinting on the reservation. You can be a lover, a friend, a brother, or a protector, but it kind of seems like it ends in lovers all the time. Like if you can be a friend, brother, or protector, why do some end up ditching their current lover?

"That's why I hate the idea of imprinting so much." Jacob said while throwing a rock out into the water.

"There can't just be one person that the universe has already set for you to spend the rest of your life with."

I nodded in understanding on that one. What about the couples who learn to love each other and fight to make things work? It's like the universe is shitting on them.

"What about you though?" Jacob asked as he leaned back onto his hands.

"What's been up with you lately? How come it took you so long to see me? Your bloodsuckers keeping you on lockdown or something?"

I scowled at Jacob and looked at him.

"Don't call them that. It's rude. And no, that's not it. I just have a full plate right now with school and everything too. Some of us actually have to study to graduate, you know. I've also been trying to catch up on what I missed while I was in a coma. And I have Cullen drama that I'm trying to sort out too…" I said rather fast.

Jacob raised an eyebrow at me.

"Drama? What, your dream pale boyfriend being dramatic?" Jacob asked me rather sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes at Jacob's attitude even though I already expected it.

"Not that it's any of your business, but Edward isn't my boyfriend anymore. I'm not planning on dating him again either."

Jacob seemed to lighten up at the information and smiled widely at me.

"But," I cut Jacob off.

"I still care about the Cullens. Just because we're having this riff doesn't mean I want them gone. The road to redemption is long and hard I'm sure they're figuring out."

Jacob sighed frustratingly.

"I don't even get why you'd want to forgive them, Bella. They literally dumped you like trash or do you not remember the months prior to your jump here that you were a lifeless shell that I had to pick up?"

I glared at Jacob for even having the audacity to say that to me. Of course I fucking remember, who would ever forget? I wake up to that thought on a daily basis. I stood up rather irritably and dusted myself off.

"Because I care obviously. People fuck up and sometimes they fuck up really badly, but because I care about them, I'm trying to make it work. Just because you hate them, doesn't mean I have to hate them too. This isn't junior high."

Jacob stood up as well and looked crossed with me for not leaving the Cullens.

"No, it's not junior high, it's real life, Bella. They're dangerous and every moment you spend with them is a risk that you're gonna die and I can't let you do that."

I raised my eyebrow at Jacob. This is unbelievable.

"You can't let me? You're not superior to me, Jake. You can't just go around deciding shit for me. I already have Edward doing that; I don't need it from you either. For Christ's sake, just living is a risk of dying! You think the Cullens are monsters because they're vampires but how about you look in the fucking mirror and realize that you literally change into a giant wolf. A giant wolf that that sharp teeth and paws that could crush my head."

Jacob seemed to start shaking with anger and his face was scrunched up furiously.

"That's different, Bella. You know I'd never hurt you."

"Yeah? Well, your anger issues and that fact that you're shaking to contain the wolf from breaking out beg to differ."

I turned around and began to leave because I was irritated beyond belief that Jacob was even acting this way. Ever since he became a wolf, he's always more irritable.

Jacob made the wise decision to not follow me in his soon to be rage fit and turned around and ran off the other way.

When I reached the treaty line and crossed it. I sighed because Jacob was apparently supposed to give me a ride home. That didn't seem to be happening now.

I pulled out my cell and scrolled down the list. I know Alice told me that I could call her if I need a ride…but I just didn't want her to see me like it. Especially when I knew I stunk to them right now.

So, I called someone else.


"You stink so bad right now."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. It was the 30th time now that I've heard this.

"I got it, Rose. I stink. But you came to pick me up anyways knowing that I would."

"I'm stupid." Rosalie explained.

I laughed and shook my head.

"Don't try to hide the fact that you care if my ass was stranded out there, which by the way would not even happen at all if Edward just left my truck alone."

"Unfortunately, my brother is a real moron, so you'll have to excuse him."

"Stupidity isn't an illness, Rose." I told her.

Rosalie chuckled and nodded.

"You know, Alice was next to me when you called me to come get you," Rosalie told me nonchalantly.

I didn't say anything.

"She was really bummed out that you didn't call her to come get you."

I picked at the hem of my shirt.

"I know," I replied softly.

"I just didn't want her to see me like this."

"Like what?"

I looked out the window.

"Angry, a little disappointed, and well I didn't want her to smell the apparent stink either."

"So you make me endure it instead?!" Rosalie exclaimed unbelievably.

"Duh," I replied with a smirk.

"If I didn't have to get you home real soon, I would pull over and strangle you right now."

"I appreciate you, Rosalie." I said.

"Damn, right you should!"

I sat back down in the car, holding my phone, wishing right now that I could be looking at the photos I took.

I was a little sad because well, tomorrow was Saturday.

And that meant shopping.


A/N: Hey guys, long time no see! Been real busy with school and exams and for those who follow me on twitter, you know that I'm done and read to update more frequently =) thanks to everyone who reviewed and supported me during this time! Love y'all very much!

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Not much to really say, I hope you guys leave a reivew on whatcha think for this chapter, and any suggestions! I'm very open to discuss what you'd like to see =) Thanks to everyone who did review for the last chapter, it was very kind of you and it really helps build motivation to update faster ^ ^

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