Disclaimer: I own nothing!

"Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Do you feel like a man
When you push her around?
Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground?
Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's got to end
As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
Every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever, you will surely drown
I see what's going down

BPOV

"I'm never going to get enough of this… of you." Jacob murmured against my lips as I stretched up on my tippy toes and kissed him again. One of my hands held his face to secure it in place and my other arm was wrapped around his back.

"Mmm, I know the feeling." I responded as I pulled away to take in a deep breath. Once I was oxygenated enough, our lips, like magnets, started dancing together again. Jacob tightened his arms around me, pulling me closer to his body as he leaned against the counter in my kitchen.

I felt like I had almost no self-control with Jacob. But it didn't feel scary; it felt exhilarating.

I pulled away. "Okay, okay… We have to study."

"I was studying…" Jacob said as he kissed the corner of my mouth, my cheek, jaw, and lightly peppered kisses on my neck. "I was studying," kiss. "How," kiss. "Your mouth feels," kiss. "Against mine."

Goosebumps rose on my skin as I leaned my head back. He kissed up the other side and found my lips again. My head was spinning. I wondered why kissing Jacob was so damn intoxicating. I'd kissed other boys before, and it was nothing like this.

I wanted to kiss him 24/7. It was like nothing else mattered except his lips on mine, our bodies pressing against each other. I wondered for a second what it would feel like for our naked bodies to be pressed against each other… We hadn't been able to keep our hands off each other since our first kiss last weekend. If I had my way, I would kiss Jacob Black all day, every day…

"Okay!" I said, breaking away from his lips and taking a few steps back. "Sit." I said to Jacob as I gestured toward the dining room chair. I sat at the other end. My heart was still racing, and my lips felt swollen. My face was flushed, and there was this aching, throbbing sensation in-between my legs that never felt this intense before.

"Sorry," Jacob smiled sheepishly from across the table. "Was that too much? I don't want to move too quickly or make you uncomfortable."

I blushed more. "No, Jake. That wasn't too much, and I trust you… I know you won't hurt me like that."

"Never." He said sincerely.

"I know." I said again. And it was true. I knew that Jacob would never treat me the way Mike had. Jacob was the epitome of safety, in my mind, anyway.

He just made my brain and body react in ways that were completely new when he was kissing me... I thought I'd felt his body react the same way when he pulled me closer against him, and I felt a bulge in his jeans as it brushed against my leg…

Ah! I couldn't keep getting distracted by his body and my body. I needed to focus.

I pulled out my math book and notebook. I flipped to the page for my assignment and pulled out a pencil. I glanced across the table and saw Jake pull one of his schoolbooks out of this backpack, too.

"What time are we supposed to go to Quil's for dinner?" I asked.

"He said around 6:00."

"Okay. We've got two hours. Think we can get some studying and homework in before then?"

He exaggerated a sigh then grinned. "We can try, I guess."

"We better try hard because Charlie is going to be home soon."

"Maybe that means we should kiss again now before he gets here?" He asked suggestively as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down, making me laugh.

Ugh, his comment was definitely tempting, but I had to get this assignment done since it was due tomorrow... But, then again, Jacob also looked insanely cute as he brushed his hair back behind his shoulder. His full, soft lips were curled up into a smirk and his brown eyes sparkled.

God, how could I resist? I couldn't.

I got up from my chair and walked over to him. He scooted his chair out, and I sat down on his lap. I kissed right behind his ear then down his neck as he wrapped his arms around my back. His breathing was uneven as I kissed back up then pulled away just enough to look into his eyes for a few seconds before pressing my lips to his. I tangled my fingers in his hair as his lips parted, and I slipped my tongue into his mouth. A quiet moan escaped from deep in my throat as our tongues danced together.

I thought putting the table in between us would act as a barrier to keep us focused, but there was an invisible force that kept pulling our bodies together. I'd seen in movies before how teenagers who were "madly in love" would make-out with each other any chance they got. I always thought that was just a ruse, but it definitely wasn't. Not with Jacob, anyway.

We weren't going to be able to do homework together anymore unless Quil was here as a buffer.

I heard keys jingle against the front door. I broke away from Jacob's mouth as the front door unlocked.

"Shoot!" I whisper-yelled then stood up quickly and sprinted back to my chair across the table. I heard Jacob stifle a laugh as I picked up my pencil and tried to make it seem like I had been working on a particular math problem all along.

"Hey, Bell." Charlie said as he rounded the corner into the kitchen. "Jacob," he said with a nod.

"Good to see you, Chief Swan." Jacob smiled innocently.

I looked up at Charlie as he eyed both of us somewhat suspiciously before heading up the stairs to change out of his uniform.

"You're lucky I heard him come in; otherwise, he would have tased you, too." I whispered once Charlie was out of earshot.

. . . . . . .

Jacob and I worked pretty diligently on homework once my dad got home. We each finished our assignments that were due tomorrow just in time to leave to Quil's house. I finished putting everything back in my backpack and walked into the living room where Charlie and Jacob were talking about a basketball game that Charlie had on the T.V.

"Ready?" I asked Jake.

"Yeah, let me grab my backpack." Jacob jumped up to his feet and grabbed his stuff in the kitchen. He shook Charlie's hand then started for the door.

"Not too late, Bell."

"I'll be home soon after dinner." I replied before grabbing my jacket and heading out the door behind Jacob. We climbed into his car as he started driving toward La Push.

Jacob reached into my lap to hold my hand. "Are you still feeling okay about yesterday?"

Jacob was referring to the court hearing yesterday to extend my temporary restraining order. For whatever reason, Mike and his parents didn't end up showing up, so the judge granted an Order of Protection for a year. After a year, I would have to have another hearing to see if a permanent restraining order could be issued. I didn't have to do anything but sit there and wait to be told that I could leave, so it wasn't as difficult as it would have been if I had to actually see Mike.

"Yeah. I mean, it was easy since he wasn't there… I'm really nervous for court again in a couple of weeks, though."

My stomach constricted as I thought about seeing Mike for the criminal case. He would, undoubtedly, be there unless he wanted to be held in contempt. I would also have to testify there. I was planning to talk with Maddie about it on Monday to see what she suggested for me to feel less anxiety and panic about it.

"I know. I'm sorry you have to go through all this. It's really not fair."

"No, it's not." I sighed.

He squeezed my hand. "I'll be there again if you want me to be."

"I always want you with me." I answered immediately.

We pulled up to Quil's aunt's house a few minutes later. We got out of the car and walked up the small driveway to the front door. Jacob walked in right away. Quil looked up from the living room couch where he was playing a video game. "'Sup, guys?" He said as he paused his game and stood up to greet us.

While Jake and Quil talked, I looked around. The living room was small, only having a loveseat and one armchair. The kitchen was the next room over, and I could hear some clanging. Whatever was cooking smelled good. There was a little hallway that led to maybe two or three bedrooms and a bathroom. The house seemed cozy and inviting.

On a little side table by the couch, I spotted a picture of two little kids, probably six or seven. There were two women far in the background. I reached down and picked it up then looked to Quil. "Is this you and Jake?"

"Yep, back in the good 'ol days – seven years old when our only worries were having to eat vegetables and go to bed early."

Jacob came up beside me and pointed to the women in the background. "That was my mom, and that is Heather, Quil's mom," he said quietly. "Our moms were really close."

I looked up at him to study his face. He looked indifferent. I wrapped my arm around his back and leaned into his side. "She was beautiful, your mom. You look like her."

"A lot of people tell me that." I rubbed his back as he took the picture frame from my hand and set it back on the table. "Let's go see what's for dinner."

Jacob held my hand as we followed Quil into the kitchen. Quil's mother was stirring, what looked like, spaghetti sauce in a pot on the stove. She was tall and slender. She had shiny, straight black hair that was pulled up away from her face. She turned to look at us as we came into the kitchen and smiled.

"Quil, set the table, will you?" She said to him before turning to Jacob and me.

"Hi, Heather." Jacob said with a smile as they gave each other a quick hug. "Heather, this is Bella."

I held my hand out to her, but she dismissed it and pulled me into a hug instead. "It's so nice to meet you, Bella. Jacob and Quil have told me a lot about you. It sounds like you keep them in line, which I appreciate."

"Well, they're quite the handful, but I definitely try." I joked.

"Is it just the four of us?" Quil asked.

"Five. I have a friend coming, too. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes if you guys want to sit down." Heather responded.

As she turned back to the stove, I saw Jacob and Quil exchange a worried glance. I squeezed Jacob's hand, trying to understand their silent apprehension. He just kissed my hair and led me to the table.

I shrugged my jacket off and draped it over the back of my chair before sitting down. Heather finished the spaghetti and placed it on the table. She was washing her hands when the doorbell rang. Quil jumped up immediately and went to answer the door.

When he walked back into the kitchen a minute or so later, he rolled his eyes as he looked at Jacob. Behind Quil was a taller, older man. He had short hair and a scowl on his face. As soon as I saw him, I felt the hair on my arms stand up straight. There was something off about him.

Quil sat back down at the table while the other guy walked over to Heather, placed an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. They turned toward the table and Heather introduced him to us.

"Guys, this is Dylan. I met him in rehab, and he lived nearby, so I told him he could come over for dinner, too." Heather gestured to each of us. "That's Jacob, Bella, and I think you met my son, Quil."

Jacob stood up and shook his hand, but I didn't move from my chair. He still gave me the creeps. Heather and Dylan sat down, and we all started serving ourselves the spaghetti.

"So, you met this guy in rehab, huh? Not on the street somewhere?" Quil asked as he swirled his fork in his spaghetti noodles and shoved the bite into his mouth.

"Quil!" Heather scolded him. "Have some manners for once, please."

"Well, you have a track record for picking some real winners, mom. No offense, Dylan, you seem like a really good guy – one that will definitely keep my mom off drugs." Quil said sarcastically with a snort.

I glanced at Jacob. I was feeling incredibly awkward. He met my gaze then took a bite of his own spaghetti. He reached for my hand under the table.

"Look, kid. Your mom already asked you to chill, so take it down a notch." Dylan said to Quil.

Quil laughed. "Oh, goodie. A new daddy to keep me in check."

Heather slammed her hand down on the table, making all of us jump. "Enough!" Quil looked at her, jaw clenched. He shook his head slightly but stayed silent after that.

We were all quiet for, what felt like, eternity. I kept my head down as I pushed my food around on my plate. When I looked up, everyone was doing the same except Dylan. My gaze locked with his for a second before his eyes traveled down my body and back up. He smirked. I glowered at him before glancing back down at my plate.

I felt sick to my stomach all of a sudden. Dylan was bad news. Why was I a target for men like him? I started to feel extremely self-conscious, so I let go of Jacob's hand and instinctively grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair. I put it on quickly and zipped it up. Jacob looked at me questioningly. I have no idea what he saw in my face – probably a mix of nausea and disgust.

"I'm sorry, everyone… Quil and I have some things we still need to work through." Heather said as she glanced at Quil.

When I looked up, I smiled tightly and gave her a little nod to let her know it was okay. Dylan looked at me provocatively again, so I gazed back down at my plate.

"Heather, you know I respect you more than anyone, but if your friend makes Bella feel uncomfortable one more time, he'll have to leave." Jacob said matter-of-factly as he took a bite of garlic bread and reached to hold my hand under the table again. How could Jacob tell? He was always so in-tune with me.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Bella," Heather said. "Dylan, well… he's still recovering. He might have some weird quirks." She laughed nervously and looked at Dylan who smiled back at her.

"It's okay." I said politely.

"No, it's actually not okay, but he can make a different decision moving forward and all will be good. It's up to him." Jacob said. That reminded me of what Stevie and Maddie had been trying to teach me – take my power back. I couldn't let men like this control me or bother me anymore. I took my jacket off again.

"Shit, Heather, you've got some ballsy little boys that think they can take care of you… and her." Dylan looked at me and winked.

I heard Jacob take in a sharp deep breath as Quil fidgeted in his chair. I quickly kicked Quil under the table, hoping that would stop him from saying whatever sarcastic comment was about to bubble up out of his mouth.

Then I squeezed Jake's hand as I said as stoically as I could, "I don't need anyone to take care of me, and I would appreciate it if you kept your eyes to yourself."

Dylan laughed. "Oh, sweetheart. A cute little thing like you needs all the protection she can get."

"You need to –" Jacob started to say, but I cut him off.

"I am not your 'sweetheart,' and you can't talk to me that way." I think my voice shook when I spoke, but I didn't care. I also worried about being rude to Heather's guest, but I had to have a voice to protect myself. Rude was okay to keep my power.

"Whatever," he laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Okay," Jacob said sternly. "You need to leave now."

"Two boys verses one man… Hmm, if I'm old enough to do that math, I would say two is still more than one, which means you are outnumbered. Get the fuck out or we'll put you out. Your choice." Quil said.

Dylan laughed as he stood up from the table. "I don't have the energy to deal with this shit. Heather?" She looked up at him. "You coming with me?"

Heather looked to the three of us. "I expected more out of you – Jacob and Quil." She shook her head then stood up from the table. She followed Dylan out of the kitchen and out the front door. The door closed behind them. We all sat in silence.

"Damn it!" Quil shouted in anger as he threw his plate on the floor, shattering it, and causing his food to splatter everywhere.

I thought that was a perfectly reasonable reaction to everything that had just happened.

. . . . . . .

"I never would have taken you to dinner if I thought something like that would happen. I am so sorry, Bella." Jacob said as he drove me home from Quil's. After Heather left, Jacob and I cleaned up the kitchen while Quil went for a walk. Once we were finished, Jacob and I got in his car for him to take me home.

"Jake, you couldn't have known; it's okay. I'm more worried about Quil. How could Heather choose that jerk she just met in rehab over her own son? What kind of mother does that?"

He squeezed my hand. "I don't know," he shook his head. "I'm gonna stay with Quil tonight."

"Will you and Quil be okay at his aunt's house? What if Dylan and Heather come back?"

"Quil's aunt will be home from work by the time I get back. She won't hesitate to kick Heather out if she thinks Heather is using or thinks she's in another abusive relationship. We'll be fine."

"Okay." I said, still feeling uneasy about it all. Quil and Jacob had so many struggles with their home lives. I felt grateful for Charlie and Renee. Poor Quil had a mom that never put him first, and his dad was a deadbeat. I was worried about Quil because he tried to kill himself the last time his mom relapsed, and he looked so upset when his mom left earlier…

And Jacob… I felt myself cringe. His dad was a monster.

"It'll be fine, Bella. I promise." Jacob said, reading my silent thoughts.

We pulled up outside my house and Jacob leaned over to kiss me goodbye. My normal physical reactions all kicked into high gear once his lips touched mine. I held his face in between my hands to keep him there a little while longer. Kissing Jacob made the worries dissolve.

"I know you don't need anyone to protect you, but I will always be here to do it anyway." Jacob whispered as he kissed my forehead.

"Thanks, Jake," I smiled. "Now, kiss me one more time before I have to go inside." He chuckled and pressed his lips to mine.