** thanks for all the reviews, you're lovely, keep up the good work! **

*** still don't own twilight ***

Ch 38

Bella's diary

Phew! Charlie talked with Carlisle about the hikers, and Carlisle reassured him, that the findings about the grizzly were correct. It seems he also told him that the bear's unusual tooth form meant that the animal probably was in pain, hence the vicious attack. At least that sounded much more convincing to Charlie than the vampires of the Quileute stories.

Jasper and I went for a walk after school yesterday and met with his friends. Finally I got to know Charlotte too. She's really nice and fun to be with, and Peter is a riot. It turned out though that they were about to leave – things are quite strained at the Cullens' house at the moment, Jasper said, and when I asked Rosalie on the phone she told me about a fight between Peter and Laurent as well as their problem about Alice having visions which she is not sharing. It sounded as if they wouldn't be too sad to see the back both of Alice and Laurent, and I have to admit, I feel the same. I really like the others, but the thought of having Laurent and Alice in my family does give me the creeps right now, which is another reason why I don't want to attempt graduating earlier as Rose suggested: then I would be with Alice in classes again, which somehow I don't like.

Esme got me permission to go to Seattle on the weekend, so now I'll have to go, but Rose promised she would find me something comfortable to wear and would also help me on the night. She is a good friend, and I think she will make me comfortable at the event.

Oh, have to remember to cancel working at the Newtons'. I hope they are ok with that; I don't want to lose my job there. At last the problem of Mike is solved though, he is with Jessica – hooray – and both are happy.

Jasper's POV

Of course, Alice said nothing, and with Laurent's threat to Bella's life, there was not a lot I could do about it. At least she claims it has nothing to do with Laurent or the nomads either.

Esme was over the moon at the idea of Bella accompanying us to Seattle and booked another room for the two of us. She and Carlisle will be going earlier, it's their anniversary on Friday, and so she has some surprise planned for him. From the look on her face it must be something really special, and she's such a dear, I think Carlisle will not be able to not like whatever she has organised. Now that she has sent the last of the boxes with Edward's things off to Alaska, she seems almost back to normal, and I think she's already dreaming about life with Bella as her new daughter too. She called Charlie and talked him into letting Bella come without a problem. I doubt people could deny her anything during her lifetime.

On Wednesday Emmett, Rosalie and I showed up at the Swan house in time for the game and curios up to the hilt. The back of my mind had registered a familiar car parked close, but had not made the connection, so I was a flabbergasted as the others when I came in and found the Blacks and another of the Quileute youngsters already sitting in the living room. Rosalie took a breath and almost turned around, but Emmett pulled her back, whispering "Seattle" so quietly that only we could hear it.

Bella, whose face was a bit tense, made the introductions and we all found seats. Soon the game was on, and everybody was watching.

When Bella got up after a while to get some nuts and beers for her father and Billy Black, I followed her into the kitchen, which Emmett commented by "Keep whistling, the two of you!" The other boy cheered and I heard some hand-clapping.

I pointed back to the door and asked Bella. "What's that?"

Her face broke into a wide grin. "That is my condition."

"I know, but what is your plan?"

"That's simple: You all keep talking about each other without knowing more than that they are wolves and you are vampires, but, well, that's not all you are. So I thought I'd get you together for an evening and see what happens."

"What could very easily happen is that one of them flips and we end up fighting", I said sceptically.

She shook her head. "They said the same about you, and they obviously also said that they would never be the ones starting it. So if you're both right about your own behaviour, we could have a civilised evening. Besides, I'm really fed up with all this name-calling."

There was some logic to her argument I had to admit. "How did you get them to come?"

She shrugged. "I said it was the condition to me visiting La Push the next few weeks."

"And you're sure they trust us?"

"No, they don't. Apparently the rest of the pack is outside, but that doesn't need to be important if you all stay nice." The last came with a smile that was guaranteed to get me to agree to anything.

I helped Bella carry the stuff back to the room and almost dropped the beer cans when I found Emmett and Seth talking baseball with Charlie and Billy joining in.

Jacob was scowling at me, but then he took a hint from Bella and defrosted slightly. In the break, he called out to Rosalie. "Hey, Blondie, Bella says you know about cars."

"That's right, oh brave warrior", Rose grinned back. "I hear you're trying to build your own. Getting anywhere with that?"

Jacob shook his head from side to side. It was clear he still didn't believe in the Rose-as-a-mechanic story and wanted to catch her out. "So-so. You wouldn't happen to know where I can get a distributor head for a 1983 rabbit?"

"What model?" she asked back at once, "I could call my friend at the Port Angeles scrap yard, and he said he had some parts coming in next week. I asked him about BMW, but it's quite likely he'll get some VW too."

Jacob blinked. "I thought Bella was pulling my leg about you." Then he came over and they started talking cars, which they didn't even stop when the match was on again.

Bella smiled at me, and I had to admit that both Blacks seemed very nice, and Seth is simply too cute to be allowed.

Everybody left right after the game – school night – with a slightly surreal feeling.

"Who would have thought that?" Emmett said.

I shrugged. "Bella kept telling me, but I didn't believe it." I knew though in my heart, that no matter how friendly Jacob had been to Emmett and Rosalie, he still hated me with a vengeance for taking Bella from him. Had I known what was to come down on us in the future, I would have enjoyed that last peaceful evening more.

A/N: Phew, done. Somehow this chapter proved to be complicated, and what I really wanted to write was what's coming after, but now it's done. Tell me what you think!