i

IT HAD BEEN A BAD DAY for Bella. She was so sure that it couldn't get worse. She had forgotten her calc homework and had received a disappointed look from her teacher. Then, she tripped over her shoelaces while jogging the track in the gym, slamming her knee and elbow straight to the ground, which had admittedly hurt. Of course, on the way back from the track the rain had suddenly started up and went straight to downpouring. She had changed back into her clothes soaking wet and in a bit of pain. With her shoes wet, she had slipped in lunch and dropped her tray. Angela and Jessica had given her some food from her trays, but she had been miffed about it for the rest of the lunch period.

Of course, Bella was just unlucky. She was sure she always would be. Her mom had called her unfortunate from day one, as she was clumsy and always bound to mess up something or other. So, as Bella walked into Biology Lab, she felt a wave of panic almost immediately.

Her lab partner, who couldn't be Jessica as her teacher had made everyone switch up partners every week, wasn't there. He had simply not shown up to class. Bella sat mildly uncomfortable at the table they were supposed to be sharing. The guy had been nice, although she couldn't remember his name. Now she'd be forced to work alone, which she didn't hate but also didn't want, or she'd be working with someone she hadn't talked to yet. Bella wasn't a complete recluse, but she did get anxious with new people when it was mixed with important things; her grades were very important to her.

Her teacher, Mr. Banner, (a small part of her giggled at the name, the Hulk being what it reminded her of), looked over at her concerned. "Where's your partner, Miss Swan?"

Bella shrugged and said, "I'm not sure. He's normally here before me."

Mr. Banner nodded his head and started to write on the chalkboard as the rest of the students finally settled. He was always dressed comfortably. Bella idly thought that she'd dress like him if she were a teacher; he wore soft sweaters with t-shirts underneath that poked up at the collar. The man never wore slacks, only dark jeans, and his shoes were tennis shoes. Unlike a lot of other teachers that she had, her Lit. teacher being the first to come to mind, he didn't try to dress professionally. He was there to teach, he didn't need to shove himself in a stuffy suit. Bella respected that, as she often did the same thing. The last time she dressed "professionally" was for an interview, and she hadn't even gotten the job.

As the teacher addressed the class, one last student made his way through the door. His bag was slung over his left shoulder, and he looked bored. His hair was a strawberry blonde, and his eyes were an odd shade of brown.

"Mr. Cullen, you're late. Take a seat next to Miss Swan," Mr. Banner said, gesturing to the empty seat next to Bella. She was perched in the seat closer to the window. When he said her name, the boy looked directly at her.

That was the moment that solidified one thing for Bella; she was in danger, and she could feel it. It was an oppressive feeling that settled deep into her bones. It grew to a burning tingle that spread itself up her arms, giving her goosebumps. It got worse as the boy sat down next to her, glaring a hole into her with his eyes.

She tried to look at him, once during the class. His odd brown eyes didn't look brown anymore when her eyes made contact with his. They were pitch black. A small, almost silent, sound climbed her throat. She wanted to run. She wanted to jump out the window and into the rain. She wanted nothing to do with him.

His glare, and the instinctual fear that made her lose focus, didn't let up for the entire period. He had run off at startling speed the moment the bell rang. Bella couldn't care less that he had taken off so fast; she could finally breathe again.

ii

"Jacob, can you come over? I got to vent to someone, and it would be easier in person." Bella's voice didn't shake, thankful, but her body did. Even two hours later she was unnerved. She felt cold all over, and she couldn't fathom why his glare had done that to her.

Jacob sounded confused. "Yeah, but are you okay?" he was always willing to come over, and it was something she was thankful for. Not to mention, he was always so quick to pick up when something wasn't right. Despite the amount of time spent apart, their friendship had picked up right where it had left off, if not stronger than before. Sometimes she felt a warmth in her chest that she knew she couldn't pin on them being friends, but she stubbornly locked it away. She wanted to enjoy their friendship, not make it weird by thinking something different.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she said despite not feeling that way. "I'd just like to talk to you. Do you want to come over here, or do you want to go to the beach? I think it'd be easier that way since I gotta drive down there anyway."

Jacob had agreed to go to the beach, and she thanked him before hanging up. The rain had stopped, but she'd bring a jacket and an umbrella just in case. You never knew what the weather was going to do in Forks.

iii

Jacob sat patiently at the kitchen table, gently thrumming his knuckles against it. He hadn't been expecting the phone call. He had figured they'd likely hang out the next day, as she had seemed to want to work on something when she had visited the night before. She had told him that she was going to have a project to work on, but there she was, calling him.

The first thing he noticed was how she sounded distressed. Normally she was so calm, especially with him. He worried a little about what could have caused it. She wanted to go to the beach, too. It was likely this was going to be an interesting talk, as things that weren't super important were talked about in the garage.

Jacob continued to fiddle with his fingers until he heard the loud rumbling of the truck. (He winced and realized that he was supposed to check on the truck earlier that week. It didn't sound great). He hopped out the front door, not bothering to lock it. His dad would be home in a bit anyways. The man was over at Harry's enjoying some unhealthy food. (Jacob had been on his ass about it, but he couldn't do anything about the food he ate when he wasn't there).

As Jacob approached the truck, he took note of the sky, hoping it wouldn't rain. Rain would probably make everything more dramatic. (The thought made him laugh quietly to himself. Drama wasn't something he was entangled in). He got into the truck, slammed the door closed, and clicked his seatbelt into place. Finally, he looked at Bella.

His heart shot up his throat. Her eyes looked haunted. Her dark brown eyes were wide open like she was on full alert. Her pale skin was paler than normal, nearly translucent. It truly looked as if all her blood had been drained from her face.

Something had frightened her. It wasn't just the little bit of anxiety that she normally got over some things. She was deeply afraid, and it shot through him like a bolt of lightning. It was incredibly wrong the way she gripped the steering wheel as they made their way down the road. She didn't talk as they went, only looking over at him in greeting. It was wrong; the way she took shallow breaths. What could have done this?

An unbidden thought rose up in his mind, "What if it's one of those beasts from the legends? What if she's seen the face of true death?" He waved the thought away almost immediately, but it wasn't truly gone. Something in him felt clicked into place, like it all suddenly made sense. The feeling threw him off, as he wasn't sure where it was coming from. Jacob tried to let it go, and focus on the girl next to him instead. He couldn't get distracted when she was like this, She had called him for a reason.

As they pulled into the parking area, just a dying patch of grass, he tried to catch her eyes. After what felt like forever of her sitting stock still and wringing her hands, she looked at him. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, he could feel her fear. It was like she had passed it on to him with a simple look. She finally broke their eye contact and got out of the truck. Jacob tried to swallow down the affection that swelled in his chest at seeing her cute shuffle down the driver's seat. She was so small. Not that that was what he needed to be focusing on.

Jacob chastised himself as he followed her slow pace to the actual beachfront. He got a general idea of where she was going when he spotted the large trunk of driftwood. He quietly walked beside her, trying to give off as much calm as he could. If he was worried too outwardly, it would only make her worry worse. He'd be a steady rock, although one that wouldn't weather away like the rocks of the cliff. He'd be stronger than that. For her.