We were all in the forest, Jacob walked next to me.

"So, back together with leech-lover, eh?" I didn't respond.

"Guess bloodsuckers are your specialty, hm?" I tried not to snap his neck.

"You think after he snapped your heart in two with his cold hands you'd want something warm for a change." This drove me over the edge. I grabbed his hair and pulled him down to my head.

"One more 'leech' or 'filthy bloodsucker' or 'go for something warm for a change' remark, and you will find that your neck has two parts to it!" I growled.

When I released, he laughed his throaty laugh.

"Oh, now that you have the power to break me in half, you think that that gives you license to threaten me. Don't forget, you are my enemy now, regardless of our friendship." This was a bit much for me.

"Well I figured that maybe our friendship was more important than who we were. I guess I was wrong, and all you care about is who's your enemy and who isn't." He stared down at me, apparently unable to speak.

Finally.

After the confrontation, we walked in silence. I was feeling bad about what I had said, but I wasn't the one who started it. Jacob couldn't leave well enough alone, and I snapped.

It wasn't my fault.

Right?

Ugh, this is so ANNOYING! Why am I worrying about hurting his feelings? Why?

I guess it was because whenever he was sad, I was sad, and vice versa. The "FREAKING APOLOGIZE!" voice in the back of my head didn't help my hurting matters either, I guess. So I just complied.

"Jake, I-" I looked at him but he wasn't there. "Jake?" I called. He wasn't anywhere in sight.

Alice came over looking frantic.

"She's here," she breathed, trying not to make to much noise. Esme pulled us behind a tree and started to whisper instructions.

"Hopefully, she will have a member of her coven with her explaining the plans thoroughly with a time frame. After she's done, we wait until she's gone. Then, we move. Understood?" she asked us. We all nodded.

"Good. Okay, shh. Here she comes." However, being quiet wasn't necessary. Victoria had walked around the tree and grinned maliciously at us. She was holding on to Jake at the collar, and but he knew he couldn't turn into a wolf with me, his best friend/enemy near by.

"Well well well. Isn't this little get together cozy?"

Her eyes were glinting in triumph and murder.

"So who shall I kill first? I think the newest should die first, don't you, boy?" she asked Jacob. He growled.

"Get a life, you filthy, bitchy, leech." Victoria glared at him.

"Honey, you don't want to piss me off. I can be your worst nightmare, and beyond your enemy."

He laughed evilly. "With a face like yours, that is no where near impossible, you filthy little bloodsucker."

Finally, I got the courage and words to stand and speak directly to her.

"Victoria, let him go. This is between us, not him."

"Aw, isn't that sweet, boy? She's defending you, her enemy. You should thank your lucky stars I'm actually going to let go of you." Demonstrating her point, she dropped Jacob on the bracken.

"Any who, back to the subject." She peered back to me. "Isabella, you filthy girl, I think we should play a little game. If you win, I die, and vice versa." She sneered. "If you choose to participate, you little boyfriend of yours and his little family is to stay out. If you don't play, I slaughter everyone except your boyfriend, kill you in front of him, and then kill him last.

"It's your choice to play." I laughed at her.

"Are you stupid? I'm playing. Give me the rules and the time." She sneered at me.

"Stupid girl. You could know all of this backwards and front, and you still won't win. You're going to be a dead, stupid girl soon."

I grinned at her.

"A, I'm no longer a girl. I'm a vampire, a leech," I said throwing a look at Jacob. "And B, nevertheless, I want to know the rules and the time. Or, we could do it here and now, if you like."

Now, she gave up on the pretenses. "Fine, you idiotic girl. The rules are simple: this match will be mano y mano. No one else is permitted. If any one is caught in this game that is helping either of us, the one caught will die.

The time is a week from this hour. If you feel you need to brush up on your weak skills, feel free to. We know who's going to win any way." She flipped her orange hair and looked incredibly like a cat drowning doing so.

"Yeah right. But, unless we shake on it, I'm not doing anything." She laughed haughtily.

"Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid girl. But fine." She stuck her hand out like a cat would stick their paw out.

"Has anyone told you how much you look like a cat?" She actually cracked a warm smile.

"They are my favorite species." I smiled back. After she realized she was going soft, she glared.

"Idiotic, stupid girl. Well, until a week from now at twelve midnight." After that, she turned on one heel and ran away into the darkness.

When she was gone, Jacob stood up and stomped over to me.

"Are you stupid? Are you absolutely mental? She will kill you and go back to pick the bones in one second!" Rosalie walked up behind me and whirled me to face her.

"Isabella, what do you think you're doing, all cocky and brash! She was right, you know! About her winning and you being a very stupid girl!" Esme finally spoke.

"Rosalie, enough. We have to get back and tell the others, and we also have enough on our minds without you screaming at Bella." With turn of finality, she ran back to the house. I pick Jacob up and ran him back.

"You were being really dumb, you know that, right?" he asked me quietly.

"Really nice Jake. I just saved your hide, and you repay me by pointing out my stupidity. Last time I stick my neck out for you. Mark my words." Finally, we got into the house.

As soon as I let Jacob down, Edward picked me up and ran me to his room. After he closed and locked the door, he laid us down on the couch with my head in his chest.

"Bella, what did you do?" he sobbed tearlessly. I didn't say anything. I didn't want my angel to be sad, but now wasn't the time. I had to prepare, to sharpen my skills. I had no time to listen to his mourning and worry. Which is exactly what I said.

"Edward, we don't have time. I have to train, I have to get better. I have to beat her Edward, I have to!" It was my turn to sob tearlessly.

"Bella, you should've said no any way!" he cried. I pushed him and held his collar. He looked surprised.

"Edward, you're calling me stupid like everyone else. But you didn't hear her explain. Whether I participated or not, I would've died. If I said no, I wouldn't be here now. I just bought us more time."

Now, he looked even more surprised.

"She gave you an impasse deal?" he whispered, inaudible to the human ear.

"Yes. Now if you want to dash my efforts and keep calling me stupid rather than getting me stronger, be my guest." I won. As soon as his lips met mine, I knew I had won.

And I was getting a very good prize because of it.

When he came up, he laid his head against my silent heart. His fingers went up my back and to my neck. I didn't want to hyperventilate, so I just held my breath. He came up, and I breathed again.

He smiled. "I still have that effect on you, don't I?" he asked triumphantly. I frowned.

"Show off." His grin turned into the breath taking crooked smile.

"When we're all done with this, we'll see what else takes your breath away about me." My frown deepened.

"After I die, you're going to become a necropheliac?" His face pulled down into worry and upset.

"Bella Marie Swan," he choked. "You will never die. Not as long as I shall…live. I think." I laughed at him.

"You need to get over this absurd thinking that you aren't human. You were born human and you will die a very beautiful, angel-like vampire-ish human." Now we were both laughing.

Unfortunately, all the smiles weren't glued on long.

After a while, Alice came knocking softly on the door. "Come it," we both shouted. Alice stepped in, looking grim.

"I think everyone needs to talk to you guys." Without another word, she left.

"This can't be good," I muttered as we left the room.

Everyone was sitting in his or her original spots from that evening. Everyone was looking grim as if some one had died.

Carlisle was the first to speak.

"Bella, we have a few things to talk about." I nodded. There was always something to talk about with Carlisle.

After I sat next to Edward, he began.

"I understand Victoria proposed a game and you went for it. Am I correct?"

"Yes Carlisle, and-"

"Give us an explanation later." I nodded again.

"You have a week to prepare, right?"

"Yep."

"And, you're not worried?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in confusion.

"Of course I'm worried. Contrary to popular opinion, I'm not stupid." I flung looks at everyone, especially Edward, Rosalie, and Jacob.

Carlisle exploded into a frenzy.

"Then why on earth did you say yes? Why on earth did you play along, confronting her, back talking her, and then accept her invitation to kill you?" he screamed.

"If I may give my explanation now…" I asked quietly. He nodded, glaring at me.

"We all met in the forest as everyone can readily agree." Everyone nodded his or her heads. I continued.

"She explained the game. If I chose to participate, I must not have anyone else helping me during the game. If I chose to pass, everyone except Edward would be killed before me, then she would kill me in front of Edward.

"After he would have the pleasure of viewing that little masterpiece, he would die.

"No one else paid the slightest bit attention though. They were all focused on not letting Victoria attack me. So that's why everyone thinks I'm stupid. They didn't hear the fact that either way, I would die.

"I think Edward calls it an impasse." Everyone looked at Alice.

"It definitely is an impasse, Bella."

"Why? Don't I have a fighting chance?" I asked defensively. Carlisle looked at me.

"Alice had a vision."

Sorry about the cliffhanger and the fact that there is no way in hell I'm posting the next chapter here by today.

Honestly. Sorry.

Love, Ayame