A/N: A big thank you to everyone who took the time to review, it makes my day, i love you all! Uh, i have nothing to say today. I don't own anything you recognise, Alex and Diana are mine. Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Supernova

Chapter 8: "You Don't Have To Put Up A Fight, You Don't Have To Always Be Right, Let Me Take Some Of The Punches For You Tonight." – U2, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.

The storm came that night, as I lay curled up under my sheets, cold as ice, waiting fearfully for sleep to claim me. There would no doubt be nightmares. Through the thin fabric of the curtains the lightening flashed, lighting up the room like a faulty bulb, flickering intermittently, then dying away. Thunder rumbled overhead, ominous, impossibly loud, reaching into my chest and clutching my heart, refusing to let me rest. The rain was the worst. It came down in heavy sheets, battering off the window pains like hail, until I was certain the glass would not hold up against such treatment. Pathetic fallacy my English teacher would have called it; typical was what I cursed at it.

On nights like this as a little girl I would climb out of bed, teddy under one arm, and pad across the landing to my parents room. In the safety of their bed, surrounded by their loving arms, my father's quiet snores lulling me to sleep, I found peace enough to rest. That had been a long time ago. I didn't think Diana would appreciate being woken at midnight by me climbing into her bed. Besides, I was still shaken from the events of that afternoon and I wasn't sure how I felt about the whole thing, other than drained.

The first tap was drowned out by the thunder. The second I dismissed as the rain, or wind throwing things up at my window. The third, followed swiftly by the fourth, fifth, and sixth eventually had me climbing reluctantly out of bed and tugging the curtains open so that once I had discovered what was making the noise I could get back to not sleeping.

I would have screamed if my throat hadn't closed up with terror. All I could see of the dark face at my window was the whites of his eyes, flashing brighter with the lightening. Heart pounding I tried to force a sound out to alert Diana but my voice box was not cooperating, releasing embarrassing squeaks that were lost in the background noise. The head shook violently from side to side and a large hand came up, gesturing for me to open the window for him, eyes pleading. I backed away, breath coming shallow; my gaze darted to the closed door. That caused a more fervent tapping on the window and a muffled: "Alex! Alex it's me! Please."

It knew my name. I stared at it, forcing a face out of the shadows. The large hand moved rain slicked hair back. "We need to talk."

Jacob. The relief that rushed through me then almost had my knees giving way. I was momentarily surprised at the force of the emotion, but reasoned better Jacob than a serial killer. As my heartbeat settled I remembered that I had no idea if Jacob wasn't a serial killer and my eyes narrowed.

"Go away." I said as clearly as I could without waking Diana.

He looked crestfallen. "Alex please let me in. I need to speak to you. You need to understand."

"I don't want to speak to you. I don't want to ever see you again. And I definitely don't want to understand."

The rain poured down his face, but those dark eyes shone out at me. "Stop hiding and let me in."

Those words hit me hard and I gasped, shaking my head. Why? Why now? I was so tired, so completely exhausted. I just wanted to sleep.

"Please let me in." He said one last time, begging for a chance. "It's really wet out here."

I moved back to the window and lifted the latch to let him inside. I didn't open it, instead I moved backwards until the back of my legs hit the corner of my bed nearest the door and waited for him to climb in.

He did, closing it behind and leaving a wet trail of footprints on the floor. He shook the rain from his hair like a dog, spraying the surrounding area with water. "That trellis is pretty sturdy." With a sheepish grin Jacob peered up at me between inky black tendrils. "Sorry."

I wasn't pulling any punches here. 'Go easy on him' His father had said. Yeah. Sure. I folded my arms across my chest. "What do you think you are doing here?"

The grin fell and he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed for a moment before answering. "I needed to know that you were ok."

He had to be kidding. "Do I look ok to you?"

"No," he breathed, the anguish tangible in every line of his face, "no you don't. I need to make it right."

"Then go away."

"Is that really what you want, Alex? Will that make you happy? Because if it is then just say the words and I'm gone from your life forever, I promise."

The words were balanced on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't say them, I just stared up at this boy I barely knew who was able to take my breath away with one look. "Jacob…" I whispered.

"I understand if you don't want a monster around you. I mean if I had a choice… believe me it wouldn't be this."

"Jacob…" I started again, frowning. "You're not a monster. You're just confused. Monsters don't exist. Whoever it is telling you these lies…" I trailed off because he was looking at me with such pity in his eyes.

"Who do you think the wolf in that picture is? I have been patrolling around your house every night. Why do you think I look like this?" he gestured towards the muscled flesh of his bare chest that was already nearly bone dry. "The heat? Fast reactions?" My head was shaking in denial without me even realising it. "There is nothing for you to be afraid of Alex. Trust me. Please."

"Nothing to be afraid of?" I lifted my eyes up to his face, voice hardly rising above a whisper. "You stand there telling me that… that…" I forced it out, "that werewolves exist. Creatures from fairytales, children's nightmares, things that should be mere make-believe, and you don't think there is anything to be afraid of? You think I should just understand that? Don't you see that this is the single most frightening thing anyone has ever said? That what was once pure imagination is reality. It changes everything, my whole life. That is terrifying. What's make-believe? What's reality? Tell me, because I thought I knew."

He was silent; the only sound came from the elements battling outside. When he took a step towards me I had to hold myself in place, I wasn't going to run again. Lifting a rough but warm hand to cup my cheek he tilted my face up to find his. Goose bumps prickled across my skin at the unexpectedly tender touch, the heat of his eyes. "I'm real," he hushed; thumb brushing along my cheekbone. "This – you and me – this is real. You? You are so real."

"But I don't know you…" I protested. "You don't know me…"

He smiled, his other hand coming up and index finger pressing softly against my lips, halting my defence. "It's real. That is all that matters."

"You can't just…" I mumbled from behind his finger, suddenly very much aware that I was in my pyjamas and he was shirtless.

"Trust me," he cut my excuse off, thumb tracing my lower lip, eyes fixated on it like it was the most exquisite thing he had ever seen.

"I…" I trembled, only mildly embarrassed by the fear in my voice. "I…"

"… Trust me…" his voice deep, husky, hypnotic. He brought his forehead to rest on mine and I closed my eyes, just feeling his warmth seep into me. "… Stop fighting…"

"I… I can't." My walls were crumbling into dust even as the words choked out into the stillness of my room, too weak, too drained by the last 24 hours to hold them up any longer.

"Yes you can…" He said and I could feel the smile, soft, comforting like the fingers stroking over my face. "You are so strong, Alex, but you can't do everything on your own. Let me in. Let me hold you up… 'Lean on me, when you're not strong'." He was definitely grinning now.

I sobbed out a laugh at the cheesy line. Then taking a shuddering breath I mumbled, "Why won't anybody leave me alone?"

"Because we all care too much about you to do that. Alexandra… you have no idea how much we care." The tear slipped out without me noticing until the pad of Jacob's thumb swept it away. "Shhhh… I'm right here, honey. Not going anywhere."

Lightening filled the room, everything distorted in the intense light. "Stay with me tonight," I asked, taking a step into him.

"Anything."

I bit my lip, squeezing my eyes shut, and breathing in his scent so unknown, so soothing, my head tucked into his chest.

A sudden bout of thunder cracked like a whip overhead and I jumped in his arms my head colliding with his chin. "Oww!" I moaned, hand rubbing the impact point. "Stupid thunder."

He laughed. "You alright?"

"No," I grumbled. "Your chin is like freaking concrete!"

"Sorry," he apologised. Obviously still tickled. "I'll wear a chin pad next storm."

"See that you do, because I'm not getting helmet hair."

"Come here," he reached out and gently guided me back into his sphere. Lifting my hand from where it was furiously rubbing he dipped his head down and pressed his lips to my bump. "Better?" He asked, pulling back to check my expression.

"Little bit," I admitted reluctantly. "If you could get rid of the storm too that would be awesome."

He chuckled. "I'll get onto that." Then he slipped his warm hand into mine and I froze. I was suddenly back in Callum's car staring at two embracing figures outside the hiking store. "What? Alex?"

Taking a deep breath I removed my hand from his, trying not to notice how cold it felt without him touching me. "I'm not Bella," I said. Jacob frowned, opening his mouth to say something but I cut him off, I had to get this out. "I'm not Bella, and I never will be. I know you love her, she's so soft and sweet and good, and I get it. That's just not me. I can't be that girl. So if that's what you're looking for…"

"Alex," he shook his head at me. "I love Bella, she's my best friend, my soul mate." I tried to push down the disappointed ache his words were causing so that it wouldn't show in my eyes. "Like you and Leah; we're on the same page, we connect. But you? You are so so so much more than that. More than I ever believed was possible. There is no comparison. You're a complete mystery half the time. I know we don't know each other very well yet, but if we don't make an attempt then we never will, and I really want to know you, Alex. Bella was not for me, I understand that now, I believe that." He seemed to want to declare more but was holding back. I was glad because his words filled me with anxiety.

"I don't know what to say." How could he know all those things so quickly? How could he be so comfortable with it?

The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. "You don't have to say anything. Just stop worrying about Bella. I'm here because of you. Now, get in that bed and get some sleep because you really don't look so great."

Somehow he had diffused the tension, eased my concern. "Jerk," I huffed, not wanting to admit exactly how much the Bella thing had been bothering me. "Order me about some more why don't you?" I stormed past him to climb onto the bed. Snuggling under the covers I peered up to see him settling down at my desk chair. "Uh, Muppet?" I said, frowning.

He glanced up. "Me?"

"No the other idiot in the room. What are you doing?"

He looked nervous, shifting in the seat and scratching the back of his neck. "If you want me to go…"

"No," I rolled my eyes, "not yet anyway. What are you doing in the chair? You need sleep too."

He sighed in relief. "I can sleep here."

I patted the bed, hoping it looked inviting. "Come on you plonker, I promise I wont bite." This was all too easy, the bantering, the being around him, it shouldn't be like this, should it?

"I don't think that's a good…" he hesitated, halfway out of the chair.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you serious? What, do you think I'm going to jump you in the middle of the night? You're not that good-looking." Actually, he was.

"You're not the one I'm worried about," he muttered, but stood all the same. "You sure?"

"It's not like we're having a wild orgy in here." His eyes widened. I grinned. "Just sleeping," I said as solemnly as I could. He was still hovering, unsure. "Look, I'm cold, and I don't like storms so could you please humour me this once."

"Now who's shooting out demands," he muttered as he walked over and climbed onto the bed beside me. Wrapping one long arm across my middle and pulling me against him so that we were spooning, with him on the covers and me under. I closed my eyes, enjoying the safety of being in his warm arms, blocking out the thoughts I had yet to deal with and relaxing into the moment. His breath tickled hot on the back of my neck when he spoke. "So, you think I'm good-looking, huh?"

"Not pretty enough to jump my friend." I twisted to glare at him. "And I swear if you ever climb through my window again without my permission I will have you arrested."

"Sure, sure," he mumbled, not bothered in the slightest by my threat. "Heard that one before."

My sleep was deep and dreamless. So much so that I completely forgot that I had to get up for work and that I was sleeping in the same bed as Jacob Black. That was until Diana's furious voice brought me back from the land of nod with a bruising thud.

"Alexandra May Grant!" She screeched.

We both shot upright at the volume. I peered blearily at the doorway where my aunt now stood like some curiously prim, fangless gorgon, hands fixed on her hips, eyes flashing with all kinds of madness.

"Oh, crap," I heard Jacob groan under his breath. She didn't move; she didn't need to.

"What is going on in here?" It was spoken in that deceptively calm voice, the one that was more terrifying than screaming.

During the night I must have kicked off the covers because they were now bunched at the bottom of the bed, removing the proof that I had indeed been under them at any point. I leapt over Jacob, stumbling when the ache shot up my ankle. I hobbled to the door, eyes wide awake and pleading my innocence. This must look like her worst nightmare, especially after our talk yesterday. "Nothing happened, Diana. It's really not what it looks like."

Her jaw twitched. "I don't appreciate being played for a fool, Alexandra."

"This is not what you think it is," I insisted.

"Oh, and what is it exactly?"

"It's nothing. We slept. That's all. I promise you. Look, both of us are still fully dressed." Her eyes fell pointedly on Jacob's bare chest. "Seriously, he never wears a shirt. Complete freak. That's fully dressed for him."

"It's true," Jacob nodded from beside me, "I'm a total freak. Hardly wear shoes either."

"Not helping," I growled at him.

Diana let out a long heavy sigh, her right hand rose to pinch the bridge of her nose. "I trusted you, Alex. I truly believed that you wanted to change and you were willing to do so. Yesterday, I thought we were getting somewhere. Now I wake up to find history repeating itself," her hand gestured towards us and the messy bed – which, granted, looked mighty suspicious, "and I'm wondering if it was all just a game to you?" My mouth flapped, speechless. "You said you wanted to go home. I think that is for the best. Clearly I'm not making a blind bit of difference, you seem determined to throw your life away – Lord help anyone who gets in the way of your self-destructive behaviour."

"No, Diana, that's not true! I don't want to leave yet. Please don't send me home, not over something I haven't even done! That's not fair." Suddenly I was desperate to stay, I would do anything, promise anything.

"Ms Hartwell," Jacob spoke up, nervous, but determined. "I understand that what you walked in to see this morning looked far from innocent, but I promise you that I care too much about your niece to hurt her in that way. I was the one who came here last night, Alex knew nothing about it, I was worried and she wasn't answering any calls. She let me in and let me stay, but nothing happened, you have my word. Please don't punish her for a misunderstanding."

I turned my eyes on my aunt, wide, begging her to change her mind. "Please, I want to stay here with you."

She was hesitating; I could see it in the way her gaze flickered across our faces. Her head shook. "Alex, I don't…"

"Please." I rushed forward and took her hand in mine; it was cold. "I'm trying, Aunty. I'm trying so hard to be better. I need you to help me, I don't want to be that person anymore."

Her hand squeezed mine tightly for a few seconds then she dropped it. "Get dressed, Alex. I would like a word with Mr Black here."

I could practically hear the timid gulp behind me. He can still back out if he wants to, I thought. No boy had ever met one of my parents before, and Diana was as good as one while I was here. I shot a hopeful glance at her but she wasn't looking at me any longer. "Sure, I'll go shower." I skidded out of the room faster than a cheetah on roller-skates.

As I stood under the hot water I wondered if I should be hurrying or taking my time. Did Diana want a long chat with Jacob? What were they going to talk about? More importantly, could he convince her not to send me back home?

Yesterday I was positive that Forks was the last place on earth that I wanted to be, I needed my own bed, my old friends, and familiarity, comfort. Then after Diana's story, after I cried myself hoarse in her arms, I realised that she was right, on so many levels. I was just hiding from the world, running scared like a little girl. I didn't want to end up here, alone in my house with my memories, and probably lots of cats. Though it made my eyes sting to think of it I didn't want to be my father. It was a future too painful to comprehend.

Molly was right, too, I had to let someone in, let someone help. I had to be brave enough to open that closet door wide and face all the nightmares I spent the last 5 years burying as deep as I could. And for the first time I felt like I wasn't alone, there were people here that would catch me if I fell, pick me up again, and I was beginning to trust them to do that.

Once I was dressed I made my way down into the kitchen, steeling myself for what I might find.

Diana sat at the breakfast table reading the newspaper and sipping at a steaming cup of coffee. She looked calm. Looks could be deceiving, though, so I treaded carefully, trying not to panic at the obvious lack of Jacob. I grabbed a mug and a tea bag and poured the ready boiled water in.

"Where's Jacob?" I inquired in what I hoped sounded like nonchalance.

The coffee cup was placed back on the tabletop. "Would this be the very same Jacob that you swore not one week ago you had no intentions of pursuing? Who was, and I quote: 'Just not my type. Way too intense'."

I tried not to flush. That was absolutely true. "Uh, maybe."

"I see. Well, in that case he's outside making sure that his Romeo style visit last night didn't damage my trellis or the clematis I have been training up it for the last two years. Milk is by the sink."

"Oh," I winced. Pouring milk into my tea and fishing the bag out I turned to face her. She was still blithely reading the paper. "I meant what I said."

Her eyebrows rose. "Meant what exactly, Alexandra?"

I slunk into the seat opposite. She sure wasn't making this easy. "What I said, upstairs. I want to stay here, with you, for the remainder of the summer." I took a breath, tucking my hair behind my ears and focusing my eyes on the wood tabletop. "And what I said about being better. I meant that too. Its time I stopped running, and I really have been trying. Last night…"

"Was a misunderstanding," Diana finished for me, eyes on my face. "I know. Jacob explained what happened yesterday, about your argument over Leah." I tried not to frown, what had Jacob said about Leah? "If you really want to stay, then you can, but there will be no more boys in your bed, and no more running off without telling me where you're going." I nodded, fully ready to sign the contract in blood if necessary. "Don't forget your friends Alex. Leah has been good to you, don't let this… thing with Jacob ruin that."

"I wont. I promise. Friends come first, boys second. Plus, I don't even know what this thing with Jacob is yet, so…"

"Ok then. I phoned the library this morning before…" She cleared her throat pointedly. "I thought that maybe, after yesterday, you would want a day off." She almost smiled, eyes lightening. "Don't you have a wedding coming up?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Well, aren't you going to need a dress for it?" She pulled out her purse and held out a load of notes.

"I can't take that," I shook my head.

"Think of it as your wages." She encouraged.

"Diana…"

"Alex, you are my niece and I want to do something nice for you so take the money and get something lovely for the wedding." She placed the green paper on the table and stood up. "I have to get to work now." Leaning over me she kissed my temple, the gesture caused a lump to catch in my throat. "Look after yourself."

I nodded, overwhelmed.

The moment she shut the front door I heard a relieved sigh behind me. I twisted in my seat to see Jacob standing at the back door. Still shirtless, still the nicest thing I had ever seen. "Coffee? Tea?" I offered, getting up, I was feeling horribly naked in his presence after last night, but there was no hiding from him now.

"Coffee," he smiled, easing my tension, and moving into the room. "Man she's scary. I thought I was in for it then, never going to be able to father kids."

I snorted. "She's not that bad." I filled a cup from the machine. "Milk?"

"Nah." He replied and I heard a chair scrape back as he sat.

"How's the clematis?" Placing the hot cup in front of him I returned to where I was sat before and lifted my mug to blow at the steam.

He looked like he might blush, but settled for shifting the coffee a few inches across the tabletop. "No damage, luckily."

I grinned. "And what would you have done if there had been?"

"Moved country."

I laughed, lifting my eyes to find him gazing at me with that look, the one that still made me want to bolt for the door. I felt like I was getting better already, forcing myself into my seat. He tilted his head curiously. "Does it scare you when I look at you like that?"

I flushed, staring at the brown drink swirling in my cup. "Yes. A little bit."

"Ok." He said easily.

My eyes shot up to him. "Ok?"

He shrugged. "Ok. I knew this wasn't going to be fixed in one night. Nothing is ever that simple. I'm just happy to be sat in the same room as you without you yelling at me to get out."

I smiled apologetically. "I get pretty defensive sometimes. My bark is worse than my bite."

"I hadn't noticed," he teased, taking a sip of coffee. "What's the money for? Is that my bribe to stay away from you?"

"No, that's for a dress."

"Dress?" he quirked an eyebrow. "Interesting punishment."

Sipping cautiously at my tea I nodded. "Yeah, I'm still waiting for that. Enid will probably give her a few unpleasant ideas. The money is actually for Emily's wedding. I've been formally invited."

"Ah," he mused, "Does that mean you have the whole day free?"

My eyes narrowed. "Yes. Why?"

"And you have permission to go out of town to shop?"

I wasn't positive if that was exactly what Diana meant, but I did know that nowhere in Forks was going to sell dresses worthy of a wedding. "Sure, I guess."

"No restrictions on who you go with or how you get there?" There was a devilish glint in his dark eyes.

"She didn't specify. What are you planning in that weasely head of yours?"

He brushed aside the playful insult. "I do believe I owe you a ride on my bicycle Miss Grant," he announced in an appalling English accent with full on double entendre.

"Is that so?" I pondered, taking a larger sip from my tea to hide the smile his words brought. This was ridiculous; I was finding it almost impossible to not like him anymore. Especially when he grinned at me like that. "What makes you think I even want to ride your bike?"

"You do." He said with smug certainty.

I snorted. "Pretty cocky aren't we?"

My rebuff seemed to glide off him like water on a duck's back. He leaned over, pulling those lips up in a smirk. "Am I wrong?"

No, he wasn't, but he didn't need to know that. I shrugged, getting up from my seat and taking my cup over to the sink. "Until I get a better offer, you'll do."

That made him laugh. It was full, true, and it directly linked to my own smile like a puppeteer's strings pulling up until I was forced to hide my grin behind my hair as I rinsed the mug. "Liar," he teased, and I heard the chair scrape back as he got up. "Alex?"

I turned, straightening my features. He stood by the table, so tall it was hard to comprehend he was just 16. "Yup?"

"If you don't want to," he said, all trace of humour wiped clean, "or if I'm moving too fast for you – let me know. I don't mind, just don't want to push you into anything you're not comfortable with. I can wait. Getting pretty patient these days."

"I…" I paused, taking a minute to really think about what he was saying. It wasn't that I didn't want to spend the day with him; it was more that I wanted it so much it frightened me. I wanted him so much it was frightening me. They had all seen it: Molly, Leah, Quil, Jared, Embry, Bella, Billy, even Diana was far less surprised than I expected. And I had denied it, sworn black and blue that it wasn't true, and yet here I stood where they all knew I'd end up. Part of my pride wanted to slam the walls back into place, hide away, stick two fingers up at them all and say 'see? I told you so', but that wasn't who I was going to be anymore. Today was a new start, and I was going to be brave. For the first time in my life I was going to push down my pride and do what made me happy. "Honestly?"

"Always."

"I'm in two minds. One side is screaming at me to slam on the brakes, that this is way too fast for me. The other is trying to press the accelerator through the floor because I want everything all at once. I'm trying here, and I don't want to mess it up like I usually do…" I trailed off not really giving him a clear answer.

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'm not ready to ride your bike yet, but I really want to." I tried not to let the panic show. Sure he was saying all those things about not pushing and waiting. But I knew as well as anybody that what people said and what they did were often worlds apart.

Jacob's chocolate eyes were soft, melted. Taking the two steps forward in order to stand right in front of me he brushed my hair back from my face, his fingers lingering along my jaw. "Whenever you're ready." I relaxed as much as I could with him that close. "Could I ask you for a favour? It's just a little bit pushy. You can say no and I won't be offended."

My eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And what might that be?"

"Get two dresses."

"Huh?"

He shifted they way he did when he felt uncomfortable. I wondered what on earth he could possibly be hinting at. "You see I agreed to go to Bella's wedding and I was hoping that… if its ok with you… that you would go with me."

"You want me to go with you?" I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I really had no love of Bella and attending her wedding was not exactly at the top of my to do list.

"It's just… I wouldn't have asked but I think I'm going to really need you there with me. You don't have to do anything, just sit there."

"Do I have to be conscious?"

The corners of his mouth twitched. "Pretty please. I'll look after you."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in before opening them again. "Alright. You're on." His grin was almost blinding. I held up my hand to stop him when he looked like he was about to smother me into his arms. "There are conditions."

Curious, he tilted his head. "Conditions? What kind of conditions?"

"One," I said, lifting my index finger and adopting an upper-crust accent, "should I wish to be barely civil when speaking, I shall." My middle finger went up to join the first. "Two. Should the whole event be as tedious for me as I fear it shall be, you shall allow me to mock the hell out of the decorations, dresses, hair, make-up, dancing techniques, and other such moments of unbelievable comedy value (that can only be found at weddings). Without complaint." I paused, and Jacob's eyebrows rose. My third finger joined the others. "Three. There had better be a buffet."

"Deal." He spat into his hand and held it out to me.

"That's disgusting," I complained, following his example all the same.

We shook.

"It's the only way to seal a deal," he insisted, tugging me forward and wrapping me into his chest; warm, safe, growing ever more familiar by the hour. "Thank you."

Yeah, I could get used to this.