Jessica may have overreacted to that scene in the woods but it had come from a place of genuine caring. She didn't want anything bad to happen to Bella and the girl didn't seem to have an ounce of self-preservation in her body. Bella had been pouty the whole day especially when Jessica told her friends and they all had to stop Mike and Tyler from attacking Edward in the middle of the cafeteria. Bella was one of them and they all felt the need to protect her no matter how much she protested.

Eric thought it was funny to rename their group chat 'Keep Bella Alive' which was separate from the other group chat that had Bella in it. Stopping Bella from herself was going to be group effort. Jessica didn't want to be a snitch but if she had to she would go to Charlie and tell him what was going on. As calm and unperturbed Charlie usually was, she didn't doubt he would hunt Edward Cullen to the ends of the earth.

Bella was upset with her so she bought a small carrot cake from the bakery before going to her house on Sutherland Street. Bella opened the door but didn't look too happy to see her.

Jessica said, "I brought a piece offering."

"You can't butter me up with cake."

"It's carrot cake which happens to be your favorite." Jessica blinked innocently. "You're not going to make me eat the whole thing by myself are you?"

Bella's mouth opened in shock. "That is not fair."

"If it that doesn't persuade you, I brought the DVD of Sense and Sensibility. And I don't watch movies on school nights but I will make the sacrifice for you and risk my GPA." Jessica smiled encouragingly. "Come on, Bells, are you really going to turn down carrot cake and Austen? Plus the possibility of ruining my college dreams?"

Bella shook her head but she was biting back a smile. She stepped back to let Jessica into the house. Jessica went straight to the kitchen and put down the cake on the table. Bella helped her get plates and cutlery to cut slices.

When they both had their own slice of cake and eating, Jessica prompted, "Am I forgiven for being kind of crazy today?"

"It's a start." Bella took another bite of cake before asking, "Why don't you like Edward?"

"I don't trust him."

"Why not?"

"There's just something off about him and his entire family," Jessica explained. "You can't be that blind to it. I know he's attractive but there is something about him that gives me the heebie-geebies. And I'm not the only one that says this."

"You don't really know him."

"You don't either. I have been around him a lot longer than you. And the way he looks at you makes me want to ship you off far, far away from him."

"How does he look at me?"

"Remember your first day at school and you tried to sit beside him in Chemistry?" Jessica said. "He was looking at you like he…like he wanted to tear your throat out."

Bella went quiet.

Jessica continued, "It freaked out Angela so she made me switch seats with you. Ever since he's just been acting so weird – weirder than before and whatever it is that's going on with him I don't think it's good for you."

"Jess," Bella sighed. "I'm not a kid. You don't need to protect me."

"I know but let me do it anyway." She took Bella's hand in hers and tried to reason with her because if all her hunches about Edward Cullen was true Jessica couldn't live with herself. "Please. Listen to me."

Something must've finally gone through with Bella because she nodded and didn't release Jessica's hand. Bella got up and told her to follow her upstairs to her room. Jessica took a seat on the bed as Bella took the pile of books on her desk as well as printed internet articles over to her. Bella opened one of the books and Jessica realized it was the Quileute books she bought in Port Angeles.

Bella stopped at a page and showed it to Jessica. There was something about the 'cold ones'.

"Jacob and his dad came over one time and we were talking and I mentioned the Cullens and he started telling me about this story in his tribe about an enemy clan…"

Jessica did not interrupt Bella and listened intently as the other girl told her about the myth of the Cold Ones, an immortal species that fed on blood. Jacob had implied that the Cold Ones had moved back to Forks and Bella figured out that they had to be connected to the last family that moved there – the Cullens.

"Just think about it. Their skin is pale white and ice cold."

Jessica shook her head, quick to rationalize this. "You're nearly as pale as them and Angela has poor circulation which makes her constantly cold and seeking warmth like a reptile."

"Their eyes change color."

"Contacts."

"Sometimes they speak like they're from a different time."

"Don't tell anyone but Mike is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and can speak in Old English when he wants to," Jessica told her. "And Eric knows so much about the lore in the Thor comics you'd think he's from Asgard."

Bella was looking more and more frustrated. "They never eat or drink anything."

"You haven't seen them eat or drink anything. That doesn't mean they don't."

She was around them every second of every day for Pete's sake.

"They don't go out in the sunlight!" Bella was nearly manic as she pointed to an article of what looked like Nosferatu. Ew. "And today, Edward confirmed to me himself that he is a vampire!"

"Is that why you two were in the woods? You were interrogating him if he is or isn't a vampire?'

"I needed to know the truth! And will all the evidence–"

"What evidence? Jacob told you a story to amuse you and you found a few books and articles to support this ridiculous theory of yours," Jessica countered. "But it doesn't mean you're right or this is real."

"How can you not believe me?"

"Believe what?" Jessica pushed away the articles and books. "You want me to believe that we have a whole of vampires in the neighborhood? That the boy you're crushing on is an immortal blood-drinker?"

Bella's shoulders drooped. "But he said he was a vampire!"

"I was there when that happened and he didn't say he was a vampire. He didn't say yes because vampires don't exist, Bella–"

"He is a vampire!"

"He's creepy that doesn't mean–"

"Yes, he is!" Bella exclaimed. "What will it take for you to believe me?"

Jessica gave her a look. "Bella, is this because of your mom–"

"No, it has nothing to do with my mom."

"Charlie? The wedding?"

Bella sighed in exasperation and covered her face in her hands. "That isn't it! I just want you – anyone – to believe me!"

Jessica patted her arm patiently. The move, the wedding, Cullen's mixed signals, it had to finally take their toll and break Bella. The mind went to weird places when it was very stressed. Bella deluding herself that Edward and his family were mythical monsters was equal parts worrying and funny.

"It's okay, Bells," she tried to reassure her. "We'll get back Cullen by throwing holy water at him. He'll melt like the witch in The Wizard of Oz and you won't be bothered by him again."

Bella wasn't letting it go. "Do you need proof? Will that make you belief?"

"Empirical data, indisputable evidence? Sure." Jessica decided to oblige her a bit. "But how are you going to prove that Cullen is a vampire?"

"Actually, I was hoping you could help me with that…"

…

Jessica shouldn't be encouraging Bella's delusions but there was no dissuading the other girl so she might as well be able to monitor and curb Bella's tendencies to jump head first into trouble. She helped Bella come up with a checklist on little ways they could prove Edward's supposed vampirism. This might be a good bonding exercise if nothing else. And when this was done, Jessica was going to have a long talk with Jacob Black about refunding Bella for that useless truck and for telling Bella fanciful stories.

The first up on the list was garlic. Bella wanted to make some kind of garlic spray but that was too much effort to waste on something stupid so Jessica went with the next best thing. She threw a whole bulb of garlic at Edward in the hallway. He stopped in his tracks and looked down at the garlic on the ground unable to process what just happened.

"Whoops! Sorry about that!" Jessica remarked cheerily and picked up the garlic. She gave Edward a smug look. "It's good for warding off evil spirits."

He narrowed his eyes at her but didn't say anything as she sauntered away. She made use of having a pastor's daughter as a best friend and borrowed provisions.

"Why do you need them for?" Angela asked.

"Class. History," Jessica deflected. "We're doing a presentation."

Angela gave her a small bottle of holy water her Dad blessed and a small wooden crucifix on loan. She decided to use Bella as bait and had her walking to the library after class. Edward predictably was a creepy stalker and followed her. Jessica poured the holy water into a plastic cup and with the crucifix in one hand ran up to him.

"Be gone, demon!" she exclaimed and threw the water into his face.

Edward froze and wiped the water from his face. She held out the crucifix as a shield. He glared at her and retorted, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were a demon." She waved the crucifix in his face a little bit more but he wasn't even getting a little bit smoky. She sighed in faux-disappointment. "Oh, well. False alarm."

She tried to walk away but he grabbed her arm. She stared down at his pale hand and stared up at him warily. "Chill. It was just a joke."

"Garlic, holy water, a crucifix?" he growled. "What are you playing at?"

She leaned a bit closer and whispered to him, "Just between you and me, Bella thinks you're a vampire."

His golden eyes widened and he dropped his hands. "She…she told you?"

"I know, I know, it's ridiculous. But I thought it'd be fun to indulge her and mess with you," she explained. "I know you're not a vampire, Cullen. You're probably a future serial killer but vampire's a stretch."

He looked relieved and she amended, "Don't think I still want you around Bella because I don't. You keep your distance and we won't have a problem."

His eyebrows furrowed. "You're not her mother. You can't control who she sees."

"I'm going to be her family and I protect those I care about. Vampire, serial killer, plain old weirdo – whatever you are, you're no match for me."

He looked amused, his lips quirking in a smirk. "You think you can handle me?"

"I know I can. It's you who can't handle me."

His smirk developed into a full-blown smile. "Is that so?"

"Mm-hmm." She should probably stop staring at his mouth. "I'd cut you."

"And if I was one?"

"A serial killer?"

"A vampire." He stepped closer to her and he smelled like mint chocolate. It did funny things to her head. "What would you do to me, Jessica?"

"I…" He dipped his head and she could see the amber flecks in his golden eyes. She stepped back and tried to reorient herself. She held up the cross as if it would help her against him and whatever it was he was doing to her. "I would be leading the mob to have you put down because that's what you do to monsters."

He cocked his head to the side skeptically. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." She took another step back. "You stake monsters."

Not kiss them. She would never kiss a monster. Or Edward Cullen. Or any monster that looked like Edward Cullen.

"Funny." He gave her one last mocking smile. "I don't think I believe you."

She didn't have a retort to that and decided retreat was the best option. Cullen may have won the battle that day but the war was far from over.