Bella's POV

Things started to get strange the week following prom. Jacob was gone most of the days and nights and had me stay at his house in La Push after school until it was time for me to go home for bed. He was never around and it left me in awkward situations with Billy in the cramped house and sleeping alone at night. I knew there was a reason for all of this but I really didn't want to know the details, and Jacob wouldn't say, all I knew is that vampire or vampires were in the area, the target most likely me.

It was 10 o'clock now, Jacob should be back any minute to take me back to Forks, and I'm beginning to feel imprisoned, being transferred afternoon and night back and forth from Forks to La Push. All my homework was done for tomorrow and the next day so I started studying for my Spanish test that wasn't for another week. To avoid awkward silence around Billy I lay sprawled out on Jacob's bed with books scattered around me.

I must have fallen asleep studying because I didn't hear Jacob come in. He was lying on the bed spooning with me, stroking my hair and kissed my cheek to wake me.

"Mmmm…hi." I turned to face him. His face was reserved.

"Hey" was all he said then kissed my lips. He pulled back and propped himself up with his arm, his head resting in the palm of his hand, just staring at me.

"What?" He was being weird again, like he had the whole week.

"I feel bad. I'm never here, I feel like I have you pinned up like a puppy." Jacob stuck his lower lip out.

"I am getting a little restless of this." I sighed and shook my head.

"I can't think of any other ways to make you safe." He whispered. "I wish there was an easier…better way of doing this." He reached for me.

"I know." I scooted my body against his.

An hour later Jacob drove me home in my truck, holding my hand as he drove. "I love you, I'll be close tonight." Jacob whispered in my ear when he put my truck in park at my house.

"Stay with me tonight." I begged him as I slid my arms around his neck.

He sighed and pushed his forehead against mine, "I want to…You have no idea how much I want to sleep in your arms tonight. But I know that's exactly what I would be doing rather than being on watch, and I don't want to risk it." He kissed me passionately.

"I'll pick you up from school tomorrow, alright?" He untangled himself from my hold.

"Okay." I became disappointed that I failed at convincing him to stay the night. "Love you." I smiled as I got out of the truck.

"So much." Jacob smiled as he embraced me outside before he took off into the woods.

It was thoughtful and sweet when Jacob first started picking up from school, but lately I was almost dreading the end of the school day, because I knew I would be parked in Jacob's living room all evening and night without him.

"I'm going to try to come back early this evening so we can spend time together." Jacob said as we made our way into his house.

"Really? Have you lost the scent of the vampire?" I asked.

"Well…yeah, yeah we have it's not as strong, I think they have moved on. Maybe a false alarm or one of Victoria's tricks." He replied nervously messing with salt and pepper shakers on the table.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine…just frustrated." He looked up at me and smiled. "I'll call you after while, k?"

"Alright. Where's your dad?" Billy was usually situated in the living room at this time of day.

"He's with the Clearwater's this evening. He'll be back tonight sometime. You'll be okay, I promise." I wasn't worried about my safety when I was on wolf territory.

"I'm not worried." I kissed him on the cheek.

It was 7 o'clock, Jacob hadn't called, and I had been sitting in front of the idiot box for 4 hours flipping channels every few minutes. I forgot my Science book at home, and I didn't see a problem with running home for a minute to grab it. Jacob had said that they lost the scent of the vampires; it would be safe to make a quick trip home to grab myself, get some air, walk around and well just breathe outside La Push. I got in my truck and made my way home.

I left the windows rolled down; it felt nice not doing the same monotonous activities day after day even though this was just one activity that would keep me gone for approximately 45 minutes.

Charlie wasn't home when I arrived, still working on the unsolved missing hikers…I felt terrible not being able to tell him what really happened to the missing people.

I made my way into the house and trudged up the stairs. My bedroom door was wide open; I never left my door open. I stopped once I entered and gasped from what I saw.

My room was in shambles. My dirty clothes from my hamper were strewn all over, my covers off the bed onto the floor, drawers open, the closet was ransacked and my window wide open. I stood in shock for a moment taking the disaster all in.

As quietly as I could I walked around my room, inspecting the damage, looking for the visitors. It didn't seem like anyone was there. My loose floor board was taken up exposing the contents inside. My stomach started knotting up as I kneeled down to the spot in the floor.

Luckily, nothing was taken out but something was added. I took out the folded newspaper clipping that was placed neatly inside the boards. I unfolded the paper; it was the picture from last week of Mike Newton and me at prom with our crowns on. Under the picture a note written in delicate, perfect handwriting in pen said

You are beautiful. I love you,

Always

No signature was needed; I knew whose handwriting this was.

My heart faltered but picked up again when the door bell rang.

I got a hold of myself and made my way to answer the door. It was dusk; I doubted the presence of any enemy vampires at the door.