I have come to the conclusion that I hate school.

For the first time in about six months I cared about my grades. I put effort into my schoolwork and participated in class. All my teachers did was stare at me like I had grown an extra head. My history work was the only work I had finished the night before. Turns about it wasn't due today but instead due Friday. Either way I had turned it in and Mr. Miller simply stared at me in surprise.

The students weren't much better. They all watched me like I was an exhibit in the zoo.

Worst of all were my friends, assuming I could call them that. I avoided them for the last six months and eventually they stopped trying to include me in activities. I would still get the occasional invitation from Angela but she never really expected much.

All day they stared at me. Angela looked happy. Mike and the guys looked excited and Lauren and Jessica looked… disappointed? I couldn't explain their reactions.

By the time I got to my truck I was ready to drop out of school. Anything to avoid dealing with people. I slid into the driver's seat. I checked the rearview mirror to make sure no one was behind me and nearly jumped out of my skin.

Tanya was in the back seat of my truck, checking her already perfect nails, acting as if she had been there the whole time. "Bella," she greeted.

"You're going to give me a heart attack," I scolded. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying not to rip out of the throats of teenagers," she replied. She dropped her hand in her lap. "Those friends of yours… Are they friends?" She shook her head. "They had a bet to see how long you would remain in this… state. Jessica guessed a year. The other one, Lauren," her lip curled in anger, "assumed longer. They were both so disappointed when they saw you."

"Oh," I said. I started my truck and drove away. "Were you here all day?"

"Most of the day," Tanya admitted. "I got bored of the listening to high schoolers complaining about how much their lives suck." I snorted. She was right. "What's La Push?"

I glanced at her through my rearview mirror. She didn't look mad or upset, just curious. "It's the Reservation, along the beach. Charlie is close to one of the Elders, Billy Black."

"Interesting," Tanya muttered. Judging by her tone it wasn't interesting in the slightest.

"Are you going to tell me I can't go?" I was torn between being hopeful and angry. I really didn't want to go but at the same time I didn't want Tanya, or any of them, telling me what to do.

"Not at all," Tanya said. She seemed… almost insulted at the thought. "I would simply advise you to take the phone in your nightstand, in case you want to leave early."

I stared at her stunned. As much as I loved them they were all highly possessive, especially him. They also wanted me close by, and always wanted me to do what they wanted, like the incident in Phoenix. I mentally shuddered at the thought.

I didn't know Tanya well but she acted similar to him in some aspects. But in others… she was completely different. She seemed more trusting, of me and of others around me.

"That's it?" I asked. Despite her actions it was still hard to believe she wasn't going to fight this. "I thought I was on suicide watch or something."

"Do you need to be on suicide watch?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me. She leaned forward in her seat. "Given that you have attempted suicide twice in less than twenty-four hours, I suppose the answer should be yes. Yet here I am, trusting you not to kill yourself."

"You make it sound like I care," I retorted. "If dealing with me is such a hardship then you all should leave."

"Why is it you always try to get us to leave?" Tanya asked. I didn't understand what she was saying. "No that's not right. You expect us to leave you."

I pulled into my driveway and shut off the engine. I removed my seatbelt and was going to turn around to face her but before I could she magically appeared in the passenger seat. "Are you surprised?" I asked once I was facing her. "My experience with vampires isn't great. One hundred percent of the vampires I knew and loved had left me. It's only a matter of time before you all join them."

"I know you don't believe me," Tanya began. "We're not leaving Bella. We will never leave you and I will keep telling you that until you believe me."

I still didn't buy it. They would leave. It was only a matter of time. Even if I was struggling to get rid of them so I could have some time alone. I would let it go for now. I didn't have time to dwell on those thoughts. Charlie would be home soon so we could go La Push.

Tanya was out of the truck before me. She held my backpack with one finger. That was annoying. My backpack was packed full. I could barely carry it on my back and here she had to use no effort.

She walked me to the front door. I was starting to wonder if she planned on coming to La Push with me. "Have fun in La Push Bella," Tanya said.

I turned to open the front door. When I turned back Tanya was gone. I frowned. She had my backpack. I wanted to try and get some homework done before Charlie got home.

I didn't know exactly when he would be home. Usually if we went to La Push on a school night Charlie would get off early, around four, so we could go there for dinner.

The clock in the kitchen read 3:23pm. That was plenty of time to accomplish something, assuming Charlie was going to be home around four.

I trekked up the stairs. If I couldn't do tonight's homework, and the pile of extra credit teachers gave me so I could try and get my grades up, then I would work on the homework Charlie brought home the day before.

To my surprise my backpack was sitting on my bed. Next to it was a short note:

Call me if you need anything.

It was her not so subtle reminder to take the cell phone she bought for me. I opened my nightstand and pulled out the small flip phone. I hadn't touched it since she gave it to me the day before. I was tempted to leave it in the drawer. Instead I tucked the phone into my pocket. I had no intention of using it but I took it anyway.

"Bella," Charlie called from downstairs. I glanced at the clock. It was now 4:12pm. I had spent almost an hour on homework and didn't even notice. "Bella, are you ready to go?"

"Coming Dad," I yelled back.

I closed my book and grabbed my jacket. Once I was sure Charlie wasn't going to see my arm's I ran downstairs to meet him. "Are you ready?" Charlie asked again.

"Yes," I responded. "Sorry I was in the middle of a math problem."

"Sorry I interrupted," Charlie said.

"It's fine," I told him. "I could use the break."

The drive to La Push was quiet. We took the cruiser since it was the only car Charlie had, other than my truck. I watched the trees fly by as we left Forks. I swear at one point I saw a flash of blonde hair but when I turned to check the blonde was gone.

Billy was waiting for us when we pulled into the driveway. Next to him was Jacob. Jacob looked… buff. He had grown several inches since I saw him last May. He seemed to have doubled in size as well. What was Billy feeding him?

"Charlie, Bella," Billy greeted warmly. "Good to see you guys."

"Bella," Jacob greeted. He stared at me with a strange look on his face. I couldn't tell what it was but I wasn't sure I liked it.

"Looking good Jacob," Charlie commented, oblivious to the looks Jacob was giving me and my obvious discomfort. "What's Billy been feeding you?"

Jacob shrugged. "Growth spurt," was his answer.

Charlie rolled Billy inside so they could watch the game. That left me and Jacob alone. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. "How have you been Jacob?" I asked.

"Fine," Jacob responded crossing his arms over his chest. "How did Charlie convince you to come?"

"He didn't convince me. He made me come," I said honestly. "Said I needed to get out of the house."

Jacob's face softened slightly. "He's right. You'll never get over that lee… your ex if you don't get out and meet new people."

"I don't want to meet new people," I said.

"Come on," Jacob said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the house. His hand was hot, hotter than anything I had ever felt. It wasn't normal… or human.

I pulled my hand away from him. I didn't like the heat. I preferred the cool skin of vampires. It was comforting. "Where are we going?"

"You're going to meet some new people," Jacob said. He stopped when he realized I wasn't following him. "Bella, come, please. These people, they are my friends, my family."

I looked at the house and then at Jacob. I walked toward him. At least with Jacob's friends it would be easier for me to hide away and pretend I wasn't there.

We walked along the dirt road, passed several houses. Eventually we walked up to a small cottage. It was a small but beautiful home. "When we go inside, don't stare okay?"

"Okay," I agreed. I didn't understand what he was talking about. Why would I stare? What would I stare at?

I figured it out when the door opened and a young woman came outside. She was carrying a basket full of muffins. One look at her face and I understood what Jacob meant. Along the right side of her face were three long gashes that travelled down her neck and to her arm. She looked like she was attacked by some kind of wild animal.

"Who is this Jacob?" the woman asked.

"Bella meet Emily Young. Emily this is Bella Swan," Jacob introduced.

"Nice to meet you Bella," Emily said. "Would you like a muffin? They're blueberry."

I stared at her, not because of the gashes along her body, but because she was so… friendly. I didn't know how to react to this. "Okay," I said taking one of the offered muffins. Once I grabbed one Jacob reached past me to get a muffin.

"Come inside Bella," Emily invited. "Sam's there and so is Jared."

I frowned. The name Sam was familiar. I know I've heard it before but I couldn't remember where I had heard it. "Sam," I repeated.

"Sam Uley, he's the one that found you," Jacob said answering my unspoken question. Now I remembered him, from the night in the woods, when he left. Images of Sam and a giant, black wolf flashed through my mind.

I followed Jacob and Emily inside the house. Sitting at the table was Sam and another guy, Jared I assumed. "Jacob," Sam said jumping to his feet. "What have you done?"

"Nothing," Jacob said crossing his arms over his chest. "She knows nothing."

"Outside," he snapped. Jacob followed Sam outside like a puppy that just got scolded. That left me alone with Emily and Jared.

"Don't worry about them," Jared said. "I'm Jared by the way."

"Bella," I muttered. "Do the guys in La Push not own any shirts?" I gestured to his bare chest.

Emily laughed. "I like her," she said. "Please have a seat Bella. Sam and Jacob may be a while."

"What are they doing?" I asked.

Emily looked at Jared. Jared shook his head. The movement was so small I didn't think I was supposed to see it. "I'm not sure."

"What did Jacob mean when he said I knew nothing?" I pressed.

"Bella, you should probably talk to Sam or Jacob," Jared answered. He sniffed the air. "Are the Cullens back?"

I flinched and Emily glared at Jared. "No," I mumbled. "Why?"

"No reason," Jared said grabbing another muffin. The boys in La Push were strange. I was starting to think there was more to them than meets the eye.

While Emily and Jared talked about… something, I slipped outside. I decided on a walk along the beach to clear my head. It was peaceful on the beach.

I heard a strange sound coming from the woods beside Sam's house. I ignored the noise, or at least I tried to. The noise was getting louder and louder. When it became impossible to ignore I moved toward it.

I peaked through the trees and found a small clearing with two huge wolves growling at each other. They were the size of bears, if not bigger. One was black and the other was a russet brown color. The russet wolf was slightly bigger than the black wolf.

I stared at the black wolf. There was something familiar about it. It turned and faced me. My eyes locked with the wolf and then it clicked.

Sam.

That wolf was Sam and the other wolf… it had to be Jacob. This was the secret the Sam though Jacob spilled. This was what Jacob insisted I knew nothing about. It was funny how in the end it was Sam that spilled the secret.

"Jacob, Sam?" The wolf I assumed was Jacob nodded and suddenly it was Jacob standing in front of me… naked.

I was surprisingly calm for someone that just found out boys can turn into wolves. Then again I spent so much time with vampires I shouldn't be surprised.

"Bella," Sam said once he was human again. He was naked as well.

Jacob grabbed his shorts and tossed a pair to Sam. They quickly put them on. "How did you find us?" Jacob asked.

"I went for a walk and heard some noises," I said with a shrug.

"Jared," Sam growled. He took off running toward his house.

"I don't understand," I said honestly. What on Earth had Jared done? Was he a wolf too?

"He was supposed to keep you busy," Jacob said taking a step toward me. I backed away and he looked angry. "Seriously? Am I not the right kind of monster for you?"

For the first time in a long time I was scared. He was shaking and his form started to blur. "I don't know what you're talking about," I whispered.

"You're lying," Jacob snapped. "I'm sorry I'm not one of your precious leeches."

Leeches? Did he mean vampires? I wanted to smack myself. Of course, he was talking about vampires. He was the one that told me about vampires in the first place.

"Jacob," Sam yelled jogging toward us. Jared was right behind him, with Emily a little way's back. "Stand down, now."

It was as if Sam expected Jacob to listen but it wasn't working. Jacob continued to shake. It took seconds for me to realize he was going to change into the wolf with me standing right there. Sam and Jared weren't going to get to us in time. I was going to die by Jacob's hands… well the wolf's hands… paws.

Jacob's body exploded and a wolf appeared in its place. I closed my eyes as his massive paws came flying toward me. They never made contact. I opened my eyes and found myself across the clearing, away from Jacob.

Tanya was crouched down in front of me.