Edward pulled into the long driveway, easily navigating the twists and hairpin turns. The others nimbly followed. Now and again, I caught sight of a canary yellow Porsche flitting behind us.

"You did comparatively well tonight, Bella," Edward remarked when the huge white house came into view. "Better than most."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "And how would most do?"

He smiled. "Not well, let's just say."

I shuddered slightly when I thought about what "not well" could mean.

He cut the engine and was opening my door all in the same instant. I took the hand he offered and stood. He wrapped his other arm around my waist and led me to the door.

The rest quietly followed. I had just sat on the couch when Emmett boomed, "Bella, you were hilarious. You looked like you were dancing or something, trying to get out to where we were. Poor Edward had to practically tackle you to keep you under control." He shook his head, laughing.

I grimaced, then recovered. "Yeah, that was pretty weird." I suddenly got an idea. "Hey Emmett," I said slyly. "I'm supposed to be incredibly strong, right?"
He nodded, confused.

"Want to arm wrestle?" I felt Edward shake with silent laughter next to me.

Emmett grinned. "You're on. But be warned, you're going to get your butt kicked." I just smiled and set myself up. Emmett grabbed my hand on the other side of the coffee table. I counted down.

"Three, two, one." Bang.

Emmett stared at his right arm, which was now laying sideways on the glass table.

"Holy crap!" he exclaimed. "Wow, that was a first. I've had some good matches with Rose, but for you to beat me, and at that speed..." He blinked, unable to comprehend being defeated by me.

"Don't be so shocked, Emmett," Alice remarked lithely, dancing through the doorway. "She's a newborn. They're all strong."

"Yeah, but she's Bella!" he replied, standing to join Rosalie in the corner. "No offense," he added, nodding toward me.

"None taken." I smiled. It must have been odd, being matched against someone tiny as me.

Would you come upstairs with me? Edward thought next to me. I need to talk to you.

"Ok," I said, answering his question aloud.

He grabbed my hand and we quietly left as Jasper and Emmett started arm wrestling.

He brought me up to his soundproof room and closed the door.

"Bella," he started. He took a deep breath and continued. "I'm worried about you."

"That's no surprise," I replied. "You're always worried about me."

The corners of his mouth twitched. "I suppose that's true," he admitted, staring off to the side. "This is different." He grabbed my face between his cool fingers and looked into my eyes.

"After what happened...in the clearing," he whispered, brushing his thumb over my cheek. "When the wolf made you think of Jacob..."

I shuddered at the name. I had all but forgotten about him during the hectic months before Edward and my wedding, and now he flooded my mind, making me remember. His bitter face when I had told him that Carlisle would change me right after graduation. The agony I knew he had felt when he learned of my engagement. My hurting him further, by telling him that I loved him but kept him my friend.

"Exactly." Edward's voice pulled me out of reverie. "I had thought it would be difficult for you afterward-but I never expected the mere mention of his name would cause you such pain."

I took a shaky breath to calm myself.

"And here I thought that I wouldn't remember anything about being human," I said, making a pathetic attempt at a joke. He didn't smile.

"You're still young, Bella," he murmured. "And you had quite an experience, being human. Caught between vampires and werewolves-who could forget that?"

"No one, I suppose," I said. "But what can we do now? Like you said, I can't just forget."

"I know." I knew he wished there was some way he could help me do just that.
"I was considering ideas," he continued, staring down at his thick gold carpet. "The best one I thought, for you, would be to leave somewhere far enough away so you couldn't be easily reminded of Ja-him." He caught himself just in time.

I was willing to accept the course of action. It wouldn't be too hard. Edward had broken the treaty by making me into a vampire, so we needed to leave anyway, before Sam-I was careful not to think his name-and the pack waged a war against us.

"Ok, then," I said after a moment. "Where would we go?"

"London."

I was taken aback-London was so heavily populated. I couldn't be trusted not to lose control. Seeing my expression, Edward quickly explained.

"Actually, a small town just outside of London. Not as populated, but just as overcast. Carlisle wanted to see the modern city of his youth."

"He hasn't been already?"

Edward seemed amused by my question. "Surprising, isn't it? Anyway, would you be willing to go?" He looked at me earnestly, his golden eyes burning.

I sighed after a few minutes of deep thought. "Yes. We need to leave anyway."

An unexpected ear-splitting crash sounded from the living room downstairs. Edward and I jumped up instinctively and hurried down the stairs.

"Where is she?" a familiar voice raved. "Let me see her!"

I flew the rest of the way downstairs, feeling myself turn paler when I saw the shaking outline of the one person I knew would react the most strongly to my transformation.

"What are you doing here?"

He turned slowly at the sound of my voice.

"Bella..." he said softly, his voice trailing off. His angry expression melted into one of sadness, oddly contrasted by his wrinkled nose against the smell.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" I asked again.

"I wanted to see you," he replied, taking a bold step forward. Edward snarled behind me. "To see what would happen," he took a deep breath,"when I saw what you looked like as a bl-a vampire."

He was about to call me a bloodsucker. My hands clenched into fists of anger. I hurled myself at him, blinded by fury, but strong arms caught me and held me back. I saw Jake's convulsions get worse, his form blurring...then he calmed himself.

"I think you need to leave, Jacob," Edward said, his voice near my head. Evidently he was the one restraining me. "Bella is too strong and inexperienced to deal with an enemy."

Jake turned to look at me. His face was contorted into the bitter, agonized mask I so hated.

"I heard you were leaving for London," he spat. "Well, sorry for wanting to see you before you walked out of my life forever. Too bad you can't talk to me, cause you're my enemy and all. Have fun being a bloodsucker." He turned and walked toward the door. My anger quickly faded and I cried out desperately, "Wait!"

He stopped and turned around.

"I'm sorry," I said pathetically. "I know this is horrible for you, and it's just as bad for me. I'm sorry I did this to you, but it's the only way Edward and I can stay together without me getting killed." Edward's arms tensed around me.

"I should have made my move when I had the chance," Jake muttered. "Well, bye, Bells. For good." This time he disappeared over the threshold.

It was all I could do to wait until he was out of earshot to turn into Edward's chest and go to pieces.