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Inspirational Song: Lifehouse ft. Natasha Bedingfield – Between The Raindrops

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Jake stood in front of his red house, his arms crossed and his smile playful.

I glared as I stormed past him into the garage, "Was that necessary?"

Jake hurried to catch up with me, not once stumbling over his long legs, "Depends, did you get to talk about what you wanted to?"

I stopped and turned so quick he startled. I smirked, "Ya, we did get to talk. He even invited me to the bonfire tonight which is something you failed to do."

Jacob opened his mouth, looking for the right words, "I...I was going to but I...I...errg, never mind." He ruffled his hair, "Well, what do you want to do until the bonfire?"

I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest, "Can you take me home? I want to get some applications done."

Jacob came over and placed a hand on each of my shoulders, "I'm sorry for not inviting you Bella, I really am. I just figured, well, I wanted to let Brady do it because...you know. It has been planned for a couple weeks and I was going to invite you but with Edward and then last night and the imprint and I...I was going to ask you if he didn't. I promise, Bells."

I sighed, not being able to stay mad at my best friend. Especially not when he was rambling on and sounding like the seventeen-year-old boy he really was.

His smile grew like the Cheshire cat's. He knew I couldn't stay mad anyway.

"Alright, alright, I forgive you, but I still want to head home. Would you like to just come over while I'm working on it? I can make something for lunch and then something for the bonfire tonight."

"Sure, sure, let me just go write a quick note to Dad then we can take the Rabbit!" Jake said with his signature smile before taking off into the house, "I just gave it a tune up so it should drive like a dream on the highway! It can go almost thirty now!"

I laughed as I watched him go, knowing I really couldn't ask for a better best friend.

XxX

"Brady? Are you home?"

The young wolf moved to his door and stuck his head out, "I'm upstairs, Mom!" He called down.

"Come help me with the groceries, please?"

Brady nodded, knowing that she couldn't hear him, and headed for the stairs.

His mom smiled in relief as he took the larger bags from her arms.

"Thank you, sweetie." She said, heading back out to the black Jeep to bring in the rest. The boy nodded and headed to the kitchen. His mom soon joined him with another armful which Brady took from her as she walked in.

"So, Chief Swan's daughter is very beautiful. Bella, right? Have you two been hanging out a lot?" His mother asked, not even trying to conceal her nosey nature. Her eyes twinkled brightly as she smiled at her only son.

Brady sighed, rolling his eyes to hide his embarrassment, "Mom!"

"What? Can't a mother know why her son has a girlfriend over when he never has any other friends over?" She said, placing the three milk gallons in the fridge. All the groceries were doubled now since his wolf gene kicked in, "Especially such a beautiful girl as Bella Swan. Why does she get to come over but none of the pack do?" She smiled knowingly at her son. Brady smiled back, thankfully his mother had figured out that the legends were true a long time ago.

Ella Fuller was a lot like Bella, very intuitive, and Brady had gotten permission to fill her in once she had figured it out on her own. It had actually started as a joke, her just saying he was part of the pack now. Once she saw he was faking his laugh, it was like it had just clicked in her mind.

"Well, Bella isn't my girlfriend, she's just a friend, Mom." Brady smiled, relieved that he wasn't lying and that he was telling the truth, "She's a friend who is a girl."

"Does she know?" His mom asked carefully, moving around the kitchen and putting things away. Brady reached for a bag.

"Yeah, she figured it out just like you did. Sort of. Jake had told her the stories and he just hinted at it until she got it." Brady smiled, finishing with his bag and moving onto another.

"And how do the Elders and Sam feel about it?" She asked, moving to wash her hands so that she could start lunch.

The boy just shrugged, folding the paper bag, and placing it with the rest of them, "They were worried at the beginning because...well...she's not a part of the pack." Brady had kept the part about the Cullen's being vampires from his mom but that was the only secret he had kept from her, so he didn't feel that bad. The newborns and Bella dating a vampire were things that he would be keeping a secret as well. No need to worry a mother over things she didn't need to be worrying about. Well, at least that is what Brady told himself so that he would feel a bit better.

The boy smiled as he placed the paper bags under the sink, "She's an imprint now, so I don't think they will have a problem with it anymore." He said without thought. Once he realized when he had said he froze, his eyes widening.

"Please say she isn't Paul's." Was all she said as she pulled the mayonnaise and lettuce out of the fridge.

Brady burst out laughing, "Oh, gosh no, that would be terrible!"

"So, whose is she?" She asked, cutting into a tomato. His mom was so absorbed in what she was doing that she hadn't pieced it together yet.

Brady just leaned on the island, waiting for her to put it together.

She looked up, curious why he hadn't answered. Brady nodded his head a bit, his eyes playful.

Then it clicked, she dropped the knife and covered her mouth, "Oh, Brady! That's wonderful!" She hugged her son, getting her small frame lost in his.

Ella had always kept a close eye on her lonely son over the years, her mother's heart heavy. He had always been out of step growing up and, when the gene kicked in, she had hoped the pack would help him find his place in this crazy world, but it hadn't seemed to help much. If anything, having such a heavy secret seemed to isolate him further. When she learned about imprints, she had prayed for him to find his. To find the one he could finally confide in completely, the one who would help bring out the best in him and who he could share his heart with. After all, a mother could only be so much for her child.

Brady chuckled, "Don't get too excited. We're just going to stay friends."

His mom pulled back, "What do you mean? I thought that imprints feel a similar draw to the wolf?"

He nodded, "Yay, but she is with someone else and it's...well, serious."

"You'll just have to win her over then!" His mom said, returning to her cutting with a new spring to her step, "Spend some time with her, let her see how big your heart is. She'll see how perfect you are for her in no time." She winked.

Brady laughed, "You know, for a mom you are far from normal. Most moms would have locked me up and thrown away the key thinking I was too young to have found my soulmate."

"I'll take that as a compliment." She looked at him from the corner of her eye, "So can Bella come over sometimes soon? I'd really like to properly meet your imprint."

Brady shifted from foot to foot as his mom handed him his lunch, "Well, I don't want to scare her..."

His mom nodded, understanding what he meant, "Well, it doesn't have to be anytime soon, but maybe sometime this year?" She asked, a playful look in her eyes.

The wolf smiled, "Yeah, I'll ask her later tonight at the bonfire."

"So, you will be seeing her tonight?" His mom asked, a matchmaking look in her eyes.

"Yes, but just as a friend." Brady emphasized. The last thing he needed was his mom, even though she meant well, playing matchmaker, "We're both good with being just friends."

She nodded and pretended to zip her lips, "Not another word." She promised, putting the white bread slice over her finished sandwich.

Brady nodded a thank you and headed over to the table to enjoy a quiet lunch with his mom.

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Jake was chuckling as he tried to tell me something that happened concerning Paul and a transvestite in Seattle a few weeks ago. He couldn't get the words out because he was laughing so hard, which was making me giggle.

We had just pulled up to my house when he stopped laughing a bit too quickly; his eyes grew dark and a growl escaped his lips.

"Jake, what is it?" I asked, grabbing his arm.

"A vampire is here." He said through grated teeth, "Wait here." He said, opening the door and getting out.

Of course, I didn't listen and followed him up the path. Thankfully I only tripped once.

"It's probably just one of the Cullens, they do patrol too, remember?" I said, hurrying to keep up with his long strides.

He shook his head, "No, this is an unfamiliar scent."

I clutched onto his arm as we headed inside. I followed him all around the house as he checked it out.

"Whoever was here is long gone." Jake said, reaching for his phone and sitting down on the stairs.

"Who—who are you calling?" I asked, sitting down next to him.

"Sam." Jacob said, I could hear three rings before someone picked up, "Hey, Sam? I'm at Bella's. I found an unfamiliar leech scent, it's all over her room….Yeah…I'm going to bring her back down, can you see if my Dad can keep Charlie down there for tonight till we figure this out?...Alright, thanks." And he hung up.

"Go get your stuff, Bella, we're going back to La Push now." Jacob said, standing up and heading to the door.

I didn't argue. All I did was nod and rush up the stairs as fast as I dared. My backpack was at the foot of my bed, and I quickly grabbed it, expecting someone to jump out at any moment.

And that was when I noticed a pillow was missing off my bed. I stopped and let my bag drop to the floor.

"Jake?" I said, knowing he could hear me even though he was downstairs.

I heard his heavy footsteps as he made his way up the stairs.

"My pillow is missing." I said as he walked in.

"Are you sure?" He asked, moving to my bed. Jake turned away, wincing, "The scent is stronger over here. Come on, let's get going."

He picked up my backpack and started towards the stairs. I followed and carefully made my way out and to the car. Jake tossed my bag in the back and jumped into the front seat, waiting just long enough for me to get in before taking off.

We were just about to cross over the border when my phone rang.

I dug through my pocket trying to get to it.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver.

"Bella! I just saw you in your room scared, what is wrong? Your future disappeared again, is that dog with you?" Alice said so quickly I just barley understood her.

"I'm alright Alice," I said as we crossed the border, "There was just a—a new scent at my house. A vampire's. They stole my favorite pillow." I narrowed my eyes. I really did like that pillow.

"Oh! Bella we are on our way back home this instant!" I heard her shrill voice yell.

"No, don't worry about me, I'm...I'm with the wolves. I'll be alright. Just keep hunting so you can keep your strength up." I smiled, knowing she couldn't see me but trying to convince her anyway.

Silence.

"We are on our way." And then she hung up the phone. I turned my phone off, too chicken to deal with anymore calls.

I sighed, running my hand back through my hair, "Why is nothing ever easy?"

It was really a question to myself, but I heard Jake snicker in response, "Because you are Bella Swan, danger magnet esquire."

A snort escaped before I could think of it, but I didn't blush - it was just me and Jake.

Jake pulled up in front of his house and sighed as he turned the Rabbit off, "Your...vampire...isn't going to like you being here for tonight, is he?"

I sighed and leaned my head back against the seat, "Well, he let me come down here without a fight." I winced, realizing how terrible that sounded. Closing my eyes, I thought back to what Jacob had told me earlier.

He trusts your judgment.

I sat up and my eyes fly open. Why was I thinking about Brady?

"Bells, you alright?"

I forced a smile as I turned to Jacob, "Yes. Of course, why wouldn't I be with a crazy vampire coming after me with a whole newborn army and another one checking out my house and stealing my pillows?"

Jake laughed his deep laugh and got out of the car. I followed suit.

"You always amaze me, Bella." He said and headed towards the house.

I gave a few weak chuckles before following after him. My hands burrowed into my jacket as a new notion stirred.

The fact that I wanted to be with the pack – my thoughts teased a memory of a particular ashy-brown wolf that I quickly waved away – at the bonfire instead of with the Cullens at their beautiful house when such a looming threat hung above me was completely out of character.

How could so much change in a single day?

We passed the afternoon watching movies as I filled out college applications, trying to ignore all my churning feelings.

Around three I threw together a casserole from whatever Jake had in his kitchen for the bonfire that night, it was made up mostly of salmon, potatoes, green onion, pepper, and sour cream.

I sighed as I pulled it out of the oven and shrugged, they were werewolves and would wolf it down no matter how it tasted.

I snickered at my own joke.

"What is so funny?" Jake asked, coming into the kitchen. I just shook my head with a smile as I wrapped it with saran wrap and then towels to keep it warm.

Jake rolled his eyes and smiled back, "So, I just got off the phone with Dad. He said there is a game on late tonight, so he convinced Charlie to stay here for the night. I hope you don't mind, but I said you were already planning a sleep over with Emily for tonight, I fudged a bit and said you guys had become really good friends when...well... since last year. I said you two wanted to have a girl's night to catch up." Jake looked away sheepishly, his playful boy eyes looking up to me.

I smiled and nodded, "We actually have become good friends." I gently touched his hand, letting him know I wasn't annoyed.

He puffed up to his full height when he realized he wasn't in trouble, "Great! So, you want to head out? I figured we could stop by Emily's so we can fill her and Sam in on the plan before we go to the beach."

I froze, looking to Jake as I picked my jacket up from the couch, "Emily doesn't know I'm coming?"

Jake laughed, "Don't look so panicked! She loves you and I'm sure it won't be a problem. She feeds ten werewolves on a daily basis. I doubt a small human girl, who eats like a bird, would be a burden to her."

I sighed and pulled on my jacket before picking up the dish, "Well, come on. Let's get this over with." Jake smiled at me as I walked out the door.

It wasn't that long of a walk to Emily's, but it seemed like it took forever.

We hadn't reached the porch when the door flew open.

"Bella!" Emily ran down the stairs and enveloped me in a hug, "It's been so long!" She pulled back and looked at me with her half smile, half frown, "How have you been?"

I started to answer but Jacob beat me to it.

"That's why we are here, actually. Can Bella sleep over tonight? We found an odd scent at her house and are keeping her and Charlie down here tonight while we check it out." Jake said, giving his winning smile.

Emily laughed, her face easy, "Of course! You don't even need to ask!"

Jake elbowed me, "I told you."

"Em?" Sam came out of the house in his usual cut offs, "Jacob, Bella." His smile lit up his usual stoic face as he looked at me, "It's nice to see you."

I shifted my feet as I bit down on my lip, "Same." I never knew where I stood with everyone. I was with Edward, yet they still treated me like I was a part of the pack...but maybe that was because of the imprint?

I shook my head as I started to get a headache.

"Guess what, Sam? Bella is going to be staying over tonight." Emily said, placing an arm on my shoulder as she looked to her fiancé.

Sam raised an eyebrow but continued to smile, "Alright. That sounds good. I'm guessing we are going to check out the house tonight?" That he directed to Jacob.

The boy just gave his usual smile.

Sam nodded, probably proud that Jacob was taking on more responsibility.

"So, do we want to head down to the beach to get set up?" Sam said, his eyes filling with love as he turned to Emily.

She nodded and headed inside, "Would you like to help me get the food together, Bella?" She asked. I smiled and nodded, following her into the small cottage.

We fit all different types of food into boxes, from casseroles to sandwiches to chips, which Sam and Jake would end up having to carry to the beach. I stared in awe at all the food Emily must have been cooking for days.

"So, Bella, how have you been?" Emily looked up to me with a gentle smile. She was prying very lightly, like Angela Weber did. I could tell she really, really wanted to know about Brady but at the same time she wasn't going to push me to tell her.

I sighed, setting my casserole into one of the two boxes, "Just go ahead and ask." I gave a closed-mouth smile.

Emily laughed, "That obvious?" She placed tops over both the boxes before turning to look at me.

I nodded.

"Well, Sam told me what happened but I'm wondering how you are doing. What you are feeling and thinking." Emily said, heading for the door, "Boys! Can you come get the boxes?"

I saw Sam and Jake look up from their conversation, probably plans for their patrol tonight, and head towards the house. They picked up the boxes as if they weighed nothing and headed out.

Emily came back with our jackets and smiled, "There, now there is no chance of being overheard. I told them we still needed to get a few things."

I chuckled as she moved to sit on the counter, "So, spill." She demanded playfully.

I leaned against the countertop with a sigh, "I'm not exactly sure what there is to spill."

"Well...how did the imprint feel? What happened? Sam only gave me the bare minimal." Emily said and straightened up in a mock Sam position, "Brady imprinted on Bella, it was strong, Edward went berserk, then I ran patrol."

I burst into laughter with her.

"So..." Emily prompted.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead with my hand, "Can I tell you when I figure it out?"

Emily smiled and nodded, "Sure." She hopped off the counter and picked up a bag of paper plates and cups, "Can you grab the napkins, Bella?" She asked sweetly, showing me that she wasn't going to push.

I smiled, thankfully, and picked them up.

We chattered about nothing and everything as we walked to the beach. When we got there the boys, which now included Embry and Paul, were setting up tables and starting the fire.

Embry smiled at me, and I smiled back, even giving a small wave. I kept my eyes away from Paul, though, who I knew was glaring at me.

Sam walked over and pulled Emily into his arms, kissing the top of her head. She laughed and smiled before standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.

I looked longingly at the two of them. That was something Edward and I never did because he didn't want me trying for more.

It's not like I wanted to have...that...but I'd like to be pulled into my boyfriend's arms and kiss him. I'd like to be able to show my love with a bit of physical affection.

I shook my head. I wanted to be pulled into Edward's arms, not just my boyfriend's, but Edward's.

Right?

My thoughts wandered to my phone as I thought of Edward and the rest of the Cullens. I pulled it out of my pocket and hit the on button.

The screen blinked four missed calls with six text messages.

The calls were from Alice, but the texts were from everyone else.

Be safe. I love you. That was the first one from Edward, the second read: I'm home, call me once you get this.

Esme texted me that I could come over if I wanted too.

Emmett said he would beat up any rouge vampire that even thought about coming near me, he had added a smiley face. And Jasper texted me asking me to call Alice so that she would stop bugging him.

The final one was from Edward, again asking me to call him.

I tucked the phone back into my pocket, mumbling to myself about everyone telling me what to do and thinking they know best.

"Bella!" Jake called, breaking my mental rant. He pulled me up and swung me around in a hug before setting me down, "I missed ya!"

I smiled, digging my hands into my jacket, "You just saw me a few minutes ago."

"I guess I'm just happy to be able to see you without him lurking around." Jake shrugged and started to help me set the food out.

Then my phone vibrated.

I rolled my eyes. It was so unlike me to pull away from the Cullens, and yet that's exactly what I was doing. It was so different being with the pack. I could pretend to be normal, even if I was with werewolves, for just a while.

With the pack I knew I was weaker than them, but I didn't feel so out of place. I knew that I was the same ol' klutzy Bella Swan, but I also knew there was no problem with that. If I fell, no one would want to try to kill me, the worse they would do was laugh and then Jake or someone would come help me up.

Don't get me wrong, I love my vampire family but sometimes...sometimes I felt like I wasn't quite good enough for them. And that thought hurt.

"Um...Bells?"

"Humm?" I replied, my eyes still staring blankly over the ocean.

"You going to get that?" Jake said, pointing at my jacket pocket.

"Oh!" I instantly snatched my phone out and flipped it open, "H-hello?" Silence.

I cringed, waiting for the rant to come.

I wasn't disappointed.

"Isabella Marie Swan! Do you know how many times I have called you?"

"Five total, counting this one." I chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.

"This isn't funny!" Alice screeched, "I can't see you because you are with those dogs and Edward's worried and we can't figure out who was at your house and—"

I would have told her to slow down and breathe but I knew she already didn't need to breathe so there was no use in saying it.

"Alice, I'm fine, alright? I'm just at the bonfire. Jake and Sam are going to go help you guys check out the house later. Just relax until then, alright?" I asked, my voice sounding whinny even to me.

"Alright. But I want you to come to our house once you are done playing with the dogs." She said.

Jake's ears perked up, "Hey, why can she call me a dog but I can't call her a leech?"

I rolled my eyes, knowing that he was right but not wanting to say it, and waved my hand at him to shut up, "I'm staying with Emily for tonight, she's the alpha's imprint."

Alice was so quiet. I almost thought she had hung up.

"Alice?" I said, pulling the phone back to look at it. No, we were still connected.

"Edward isn't going to be happy when he finds out." Was all she said, "You know he doesn't like you spending so much time with them. Werewolves are dangerous, Bella."

I rolled my eyes and caught sight of a familiar face walking up to the fire.

My breath caught as Brady smiled and gave a slight wave.

"Bella? Are you even listening! Those dogs are dangerous!" Alice snapped, "Edward isn't going to stand for this! He's already thought about going down there to get you away from those flea-bags!"

Fury seared through my veins. Jacob had been right, how was it fair for him to try and be nice when Alice was doing nothing to reciprocate?

I always defended the Cullen's in front of the pack, and the wolves had come to at least not call them leeches to my face or be out right hostile about them.

Why couldn't Alice considerate my feelings for the pack? The wolves at least respected my feelings towards her family.

"Bella!"

I shook my head, closing my eyes as red flashed across my vision, "Can you just...just...stop? Please?" I snapped back, "They are my family too! And I trust them! Can't that be enough for you?"

Alice was quiet for a while, "Alright, alright, I'm sorry Bella, but Edward—"

"If Edward loves me, he would trust my judgment! Brady trusts me and he doesn't even know me!" Once I said it, I knew I shouldn't have.

It was wrong of me to compare them to each other and yet that is exactly what I had been doing all day.

I bit down hard on my lip as I turned beet red. I knew I had pretty much shouted those last few sentences, and everyone had to have heard it; wolves, vampires, and humans alike.

"I...I have to go." I hung up the phone without another word and let my hair fall in front of me like a veil. I knew I had everyone's attention now, and I wished the beach would open up and swallow me whole.

"I...I'm going to go...b-back to Emily's." Without another word I started to walk away, then I found myself running as the tears started to fall harder.

I had just reached the porch when I collapsed on the stairs as the tears turned to sobs. The heavens opened and started to cry with me then.

My arms snakes around my torso, trying to keep myself together.

I was a terrible person. I didn't deserve anyone. Not Edward, not Jacob, not Brady.

The rain had already soaked me through when a shadow came over me. I pulled my knees up to my chin, refusing to look at the person, "Just go away."

The person gave a light chuckle, as if nothing was wrong, "Never."

XxX