Bella's POV

About a month later, I was pulling into school student parking lot. I parked my truck next to Angela's car. Angela was already out of her car when I got out. "Hey."

"Hi!" Angela said happily.

"Oh my God, you kind of sound a bit like Jessica. I take it you and Embry had a good time," I said. Embry had told Angela all about the Pack about a week after he imprinted on her. She'd taken it pretty well considering everything. She'd been a bit freaked out about the whole werewolf thing, but thankfully we were able to get her through it. The vampire thing freaked her out the most.

The imprinting thing didn't go over so well at first, seeing as she'd just broken up with Ben at that point and wasn't ready to date, but the rest of us had explained that it didn't mean she had to date him. I'd even told her about me and Jared. So right now, the two of them were friends. Well, they were. They'd just had their first date night.

"Oh, it was great. The concert was awesome and then we went to this really nice restaurant," Angela said as we started walking.

"That's great. I'm glad you guys are getting closer," I said.

"Really? Yet you won't go beyond the friend level with Jared even though you known each other for years," Angela said.

I looked away uncomfortably. "It's different. Jared and I have been through a lot. It's still painful the way he left me, and I have the way Edward left me still in my head too," I said as we walked into school.

"Haven't you forgiven Jared?" Angela asked.

"Yes, I have. I've even come to realize that most of it wasn't his fault. It's just hard to trust anyone the way I trusted him and Edward again," I said. I wouldn't survive another breakup like that. I had been seriously damaged after my breakup with Jared. That was why I'd clung to Edward the way I did and why it hurt so badly to lose him. I couldn't deal with all that again.

"Yeah, you haven't had the best luck with guys, but Jared's not gonna leave you again. From what Sam explained about imprinting, I don't think he physically could," Angela said.

I sighed. "It's hard, Angela. I just don't know if I wanna take the risk. You can never understand what Jared means to me. I've known him since I was a kid. Losing him affected me worse than I even realized until he came back.

"Yeah, I know, but you can't let it ruin what you have now. You love Jared. You've told me that yourself," Angela said.

"Yes, I do," I said. I never stopped loving Jared and I never would. I also did want to be back with Jared. I just didn't know if or when I could take that leap. I was scared. "It's really hard, Angela. I just need to protect myself right now."

Angela nodded. "Alright. I just want you guys to be happy, but you'll get there when you're ready."

"Thanks. Let's go," I said before grabbing my books and shutting my locker.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

About an hour later, I entered my English class. Jared was in his seat with his head against his desk looking half dead. I walked over, put my stuff down and tapped him on the shoulder. "You okay?"

"Hey. I'm tired," Jared almost slurred.

"Were you patrolling last night?" I asked quietly. There were only a couple of people there so far and they were on the other side of the class, so no one should hear us.

"Uh uh. Paul and Leah were," he said.

Leah, her brother, Seth, and Quil Ateara had all phased recently. I wasn't sure what Sam was thinking putting Leah with Paul though. They were both the hotheads of the Pack. Putting two people with short fuses together seemed disasterous. But Sam obviously saw it differently and he was in charge. "So why are you so tired then."

"Slept on Sam's couch," Jared groaned.

I sighed. It wasn't all that surprising. It happened about once a week lately. Jared was butting heads with his mother a lot. He hated his mother, with reason. The woman really was a bitch. "I think you should move out."

"Sure. Find me one for no money and I'll move right in," Jared grumbled. He was clearly tired, as he was very cranky and sarcastic.

Just then the bell rang. "Class is starting. We'll talk later. I'll help you find a solution," I promised before taking my seat.

Jared nodded and picked his head up to try to give the teach his full attention.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

A few hours later, I was sitting at the usual table for lunch with Angela. Jared joined us a second later. He looked a little better, but still quite tired. "You look a little better."

Jared just grumbled in response.

"You look and sound horrible, Jared," Angela said.

"Thank you," he said flatly as he began eating.

"When's your next patrol?" I asked.

"Seven tonight," Jared said.

"Then you're coming home with me after school. You can sleep in my bed for a few hours and eat dinner with us," I said leaving no room for argument.

"Charlie will love that," Jared said sarcastically.

"He'll understand when I explain that you're having issues with your mom. It's not like we're shacking up. You need to get some sleep. Frankly, you need to get out of your mom's house permanently," I said.

"That requires a money paying job which I don't have, and I don't have time for," Jared said.

"You have some money. How do get that?" Angela asked.

"My dad sends me some and the rest I get from doing a few odd jobs around the reservation, but that won't pay for housing," Jared said.

I had an idea, but I knew Jared wouldn't like it. I wouldn't like it if it was suggested to me. "Ask your dad to help you out for while. You have a college fund. Ask him to tap into it."

"No," Jared said firmly.

I sighed and grabbed his hand. "Jared, you can't keep living like this. You and your mom don't get along. You need to get out of there. You can't keep sleeping on Sam's couch. Get a loan from your dad. You know he'd smack you right now if he knew pride was keeping you from asking for help." I knew how hypocritical I sounded given that I hated taking money and even gifts from people, but I hated how miserable Jared was. Now he was even losing sleep because of it.

"I don't even like taking the money he sends me now," Jared whined. "I'm eighteen. I should start taking care of myself."

"You don't need to prove you're responsible, Jared. Everyone knows that, including your dad. He's not going to think differently because you ask for help," I told him. I knew that was the problem. He worried that his father would think him selfish or irresponsible for asking his dad for help and that wasn't the case.

He groaned. "Okay. I"ll ask him for money for an apartment."

"Good."

Jess, Lauren, and Mike soon joined us and we all started eating.