This is being updated for one reason really: because Divodog has amused me, and I am responding her "nudging" as a favor to that. I've been distracted with work, life, and the various reasons most writers here hem and haw about not having time. This isn't an apology - I don't feel as if I need to do that really - it's simply me babbling at you because I'm somewhat sleep deprived and I babble when tired.

The Obligatory Disclaimer can be seen in chapter 1.

"So... um... how are things... and stuff?" Jake's awkward question drew Izzy's attention up and away from the old mustang that they had opened up. There was only a small chance that the thing's starter would fit, but it was enough to try. She gave him her most skeptical look, paused in place, and watched him blush just slightly. It was a little bit of a surprise that Sam was nowhere nearby, keeping an eye on Jake's mood and harassing her. "Come on, Izzy, it's weird! You won't let me try to save you from those... those... leeches..." he had to take a moment to calm down, the idea itself pissing him off enough that it was necessary. "We're awkward and it's their fault!"

She returned to what she was doing, silently, and listened to him huff and grumble nearby. He wasn't growling, at least, nor did he seem to be struggling for control. That was good. Two almost-attacks by supernatural creatures in one week was more than she felt was necessary. Finally, she quirked an eyebrow at him, and smirked into the engine. "Actually, prior to this whole wolfy miracle grow was slapped upside your head, you'd have been babbling at me. Random things, sometimes a recent adventure about you and your friends... your old friends, not your pack... but you did most of the babble." She paused, finally getting the hose she'd been working on loose from it's connections and out of her damn way. Or he'd be watching over my shoulder like a freaking mother hen, trying to make sure I didn't mess anything in the engine up. "And you're the one that has the issue with them. I don't, and they don't try to force me to stop being friends with you... so really, it's more this wolf stuff that makes things awkward."

He began actually growling this time, and she glared down at the starter she still couldn't quite reach. Maybe they should be doing this from under the engine, instead of over it... no there'd be too much stuff in the way there too. He was still growling, probably upset about her blaming his condition.

"How are Embry and Quill? And the other boys you usually ran off with?" She asked absently, and sighed at the tool in her hand. "Could you help me in here, by the way? I'm just going on what I've read and what I think I see, so some experience... and a longer reach... would help." She stood up, eyeing the engine, and then the tools, and then the engine again. She still hadn't gotten one of those dorky looking head-light things, and hadn't really felt like bringing the bits of flashlight, even reassembled, that a vampire had been handling. At this rate, I'm going to need two sets of tools, one for Jake's place and one for mine. Fucking wolf nose.

At least he'd stopped growling, and when she looked at him in exasperated cluelessness, he smiled bashfully and began chuckling. That smile and him moving to take a look inside the engine next to her was a reminder of why she'd remained his friend. When he wasn't being an ass, he really could just come off as an awesome kid... guy... man? Why were wolves so damn tall?

"Isabella." The soft, shamed voice drew her attention up from the meal she'd been picking at. Emmett and Alice had been as present as ever, though perhaps a bit overprotective, and with them came a silently observing Jasper. Edward, however, had skipped the past several days of school, ever since their almost-altercation, and had only called once to apologize for his near slip. Most notable had been Rosalie's presence. Emmett had claimed she was visiting Alaska, of all places.

Edward sat looking depressed and shameful, several seats away, his complexion sallow and his hair in more disarray than usual. You need to calm down. You didn't attack me. "Good to see you're back." Her words followed on the thoughts directed at him, and she absently noted the light, honey color of his eyes. He'd fed recently, probably frequently since their last in-person encounter, and was managing to suppress his instinct to drain her. The slight wince indicated that he'd read that line of thought, and she sighed, rolling her eyes. "We finally managed to fit a different starter into Lady. She's running fine now." Her words and smile were pleasant, and he huffed dramatically. Slip ups happen. Stop being a drama queen. You didn't bite me, you didn't even touch me. The most you need to do is remember not to startle me when I'm tinkering in my car's engine. She paused and set aside the remainder of her lunch. He was glaring petulantly at her. Drama queen. "Feeling better?"

"I'm not a drama queen." He huffed angrily. "And you should be more freaked out by this. I'm a danger to you!"

"No, you are a drama queen." She rolled her eyes and glared right back. "And Alice would tell us if any decisions we're making now would result in any real danger." She shrugged, not bothering to divert her thoughts or irritation with him. Jasper wasn't nearby to be affected by it, and Edward needed to get over his victimized fit. Nothing had happened. "And you pouting at me because of this isn't going to make me go away." Emmett was my friend first, and much though I never planned for the bond, he is STILL my friend. So is Alice now, and maybe Jasper. I don't really give a rat's ass as to if your family are all vampries, so that is not going to make me stop talking to them.

"You shouldn't be around us... around me." He growled lightly, and she rolled her eyes, letting her attention drift away from him. She'd need to do another oil change soon, and she doubted that she could do one alone at this point. That meant another trip to La Push, if Jake was still over his fits about her friendship with the Cullens. "Isabella!"

"Don't snap. It's rude." She chided, considering if she should have Jake teach her how to do a full fluid flush... take care of the radiator and such as well. It'd keep the over-tall boy's mind away from his whining at least.

"You should stay away from us!" Edward growled again, still glowering. "And that Jake too!"

"No." She shrugged, wondering how much the supplies for this were going to cost. It was good she'd thought of it with time before needing to do that oil change, if she wanted to flush the radiator too. "Do you honestly think that snapping that kind of order at me is going to work?" She grumbled at him, and he twitched in place, remembering that tone of voice. It was the same tone she'd spoken to Jessica in, when telling her off about the rumors the girl had shoved at her about his family. His skin turned sallow with embarrassment. "Are you really going to manage to stay away anyhow? Do you think you could force your brother or sister to?"

"Yes." He grunted, warring between the shame that tone of voice directed at him made him feel, knowing that she'd be able to sense his lie, and the increasing desire to rip into her throat. The irritation with her stubbornness was not helping to suppress his thirst at all. She snorted and moved to stand.

"I liked you better when you weren't being annoying, stubborn, and childish..." She told him with a frustrated sigh, grabbing her bag to leave. "Once you calmed down your obsessive tendencies, and the stalking... you had some rather amusing moments. We were friends." She paused, thinking, and shrugged again. "We were trying to see if more would work... but this? This pouting and commanding, and you throwing a tantrum because of something you could neither prevent nor be blamed for... I'm not going to be bothered by it." I don't blame you for how you reacted to my blood. You kept yourself in place, instead of jumping at me or attacking me. You did not snarl, you did not even bare your teeth. You froze. Yes, you were very tempted, and yes, there was definitely danger... but you were not violent and you were not out of control. You managed to pull yourself away, and to put some more distance between us so that I could try to clean up. This, from you, is an overreaction. If you don't think it's safe, then apologize for having to keep yourself away from me, but don't bitch about it and don't tell me what to do.

He stared at her as she stalked away.

TBC

Review Responses!

Thanks for the input, and also to the reviewer about the spelling of Emmett's name and my typos... honestly I don't normally pay it all that much mind with my own writing, but I'll try harder instead of being bitchy and blowing it off because I know how irritating it can be when reading.

General response, thank-you for your appreciation. I know this was a very short chapter, but hopefully I'll feel more inspired for the next one. My dog is doing well now, and though life keeps me busy, I do have brief moments of non-bitchy appreciation for your reading and reviews.