Disclaimer- I own nothing associated or affiliated with Twilight. These are the property of Stephenie Meyer and no copyright or offense is intended. You can't sue me for the inner-worst workings of my mind. Honest.

I am just not getting the time to write here!

So, someone mentioned in the last chapter that Edward wouldn't really say 'Bitch' and maybe that is OOC for him but I like to think that Rosalie can get under his skin so much that it brings out his less restrained side. God knows there are people who do that to me! lol

This chapter will be told from Bella's point of view once more and takes place on the same day of the previous chapter. Enjoy!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Choices

"Bella! You have a visitor!" Charlie's voice barrelled up the stairs, shattering the relative quiet of the evening and causing me to jerk out of my semi-slumber. It was only early evening but I'd found myself dozing as I lay across my bed, still dressed in my clothes, flicking through a dozen or so books that had arrived in that day's mail. Seeing as Forks lacked a bookstore I'd learnt to take advantage of my crappy internet connection and my recently acquired credit card and was now a happy patron of mail order.

The pounding of feet sounded on the stairs and I hurriedly straightened my clothes and hair in a vain attempt to make myself not look like I'd just got out of bed. Who the hell was here to see me? It wasn't Edward, he most certainly did not thunder up the stairs and Charlie would never announce him like that, no matter how civil he'd become towards Edward of late.

My question was answered as two seconds later Jacob Black appeared in my bedroom doorway, hovering uncertainly just outside. Huh, it seemed chivalry and respect for a woman's personal space wasn't dead. Yet. If Edward ever got around to changing me, would all such barriers between us suddenly fall? I couldn't imagine Edward being any less chivalrous.

I pulled myself out of my pointless thoughts and back to reality.

"Jake! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm currently experiencing Deja' vu. We aren't gonna have to go over this again are we?"

"Well, I dunno, " I teased. "It's not my birthday so I'm perplexed as to what would bring you all the way over here."

" Are you saying I need an excuse to see you? I'm hurt Bells, really hurt!" He clasped his hands over his heart and staggered back in mock pain.

I laughed and beckoned him into my room where he sat awkwardly beside me on my bed. He was a little larger than life, in more ways than one and his presence in my tiny bedroom was a little overwhelming.

"So, you just thought you'd drop all the way over here to say 'Hi'?" I wasn't buying it.

"Hey, 'all the way over here' is nothing to someone like me, remember?"

How could I forget?

"Although..." Here it came.

"We're having a sorta get together thing tonite and I was wondering if you wanted to come."

Well, I wasn't expecting that.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't make me ask twice, Bells." He pushed me, playfully, but I almost went sprawling anyway. "Party. La push. You coming?"

"Whose party?"

"No one in particulars. It's just Sam got a bit concerned when I told him what you said about the other guys being a bit weirded out around home about, you know, so he figured a nice big get together would help everyone relax a bit."

"So this isn't a werewolf only party?"

"Nope. And it would probably do for you to not throw that word around tonight. Sam's trying to make the normal kids think everything is well, just that. We don't want anyone catching on."

"Awwww, Jake, you are normal!" I gave him a playful push back.

"Says the girl who dates vampires."

"About that..."

"Please Bells, no lectures, ok?"

"You could have been hurt!"

"Pffft! I could have taken him."

"That's not the point! I don't want you two at each other's throats every time you feel like engaging in a bit of hormonal venting." I couldn't believe how he was acting!

"Hey! He came down to my place! He was looking for a fight and he's lucky he didn't get one!"

"What's this?" Charlie peeked his head in the door, wherever he was headed now forgotten at whatever he may have heard in passing.

"It's nothing, Dad."

"Who's been fighting? If there's any fighting I'm dealing with it, I'm the sheriff around here." He stepped into the room, hands on hips, glaring around as though some local hooligan was using my bedroom as a hideout and would come jumping out ready to start a fight at any second.

"Not on the rez, you're not." Jake threw in cheekily.

"Watch that tongue of yours, son," Charlie laughed then grew serious again. "Now really, someone been giving you trouble Jake? Someone from town?"

"Not exactly..."

"Outsiders?"

"Not exactly..."

"Bella? Gimme some help here." Charlie looked imploringly at me but I wasn't going to get into this.

"Sorry dad, I'm in the bad books already."

"Oh geez, it's Edward isn't it?"

Dammit.

"Has he been causing trouble Jake? Starting fights? I swear to god that boy is no good and I'm gonna- "

Jake opened his mouth but I beat him to it.

"Edward turned up at La Push because Jake did something to piss him off!"

Jake looked like he wanted to go off at me but if he did that then he'd have to admit what it was that he did and then he'd have Charlie trying to kill him. It was all in vain however.

"Does this have anything to do with the motorbike in my garden shed?"

Jacob groaned and buried his face in his hands.

"Jake, how could you?"

"I'm sorry Charlie, I just wanted to give her a birthday present!"

"What the hell's wrong with an alarm clock?"

"Um, nothing?" Jake looked confused.

"Dad, they're having a party down at La Push tonite and Jake wants to know if I want to go. If that's alright with you." I threw in quickly in the hopes that it would throw him off. It seemed to work.

"Huh?" He seemed a little confused.

Jake seemed to catch on however. "Sam's waiting outside in my car."

"Sam Uley? Well, that's ok then. The further you are from that bike the better, I 's'pose." He started to wander off down the hall, shaking his head and muttering. "You take care of her Jake!" he called over his shoulder.

"What the hell was that?" Jake rounded on me as soon as Charlie was gone.

"You were about to get Edward in more trouble!"

"But me in trouble is fine?! Hey, what do you mean 'more trouble?'"

"In case you haven't noticed my father and Edward have a rather complicated relationship. Complicated for me in being that it sucks."

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know."

"Where the hell have you been Jake? The whole town know's the Sheriff hates his daughter's boyfriend."

"What can I say? I'm a lone wolf."

He said it with such a straight face before we both collapsed onto each other with the giggles.

"So? Do you still want me to come?"

"You want to?"

"Well, that depends if you still want me to after I got you in trouble with Charlie."

"Oh, that's cool. I kinda deserved it anyway. Although I didn't expect my best friend to rat me out!"

"Jake..."

"Oh I'm joking! But, what about, y'know...Edward." I could see how hard it was for him to say his name but I was pleased with the effort. I knew that things would never be peachy keen between the Cullens and the werewolves but at least they weren't killing each other. And speaking of Edward...well, I didn't know where he was anyway. Well, I knew he was with Rosalie. Rosalie. I couldn't help it, I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn't help the twinge in my gut as I remembered what he'd said to me earlier that day "I need to speak to Rosalie." I had no idea what he meant by that but either way I couldn't help the jealously creeping slowly throughout my thoughts. She was so beautiful and she was meant for him. Why take me when he could have had her?

Because I love you.

Hmmm. That little voice was still hanging around, popping up on occasion. It helped, but it didn't ease the rejection I felt. Either way, I had nothing to do tonite and no one to spend it with.

"Don't worry about it." I smiled and he grinned and grabbed my hand before racing me downstairs.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bella?"

"Angela?"

"What are you doing here?!"

We laughed at the echoes of ourselves before hugging each other tightly.

We sat down on the logs next to the fire and tried to catch up on the last few months out of school. It was cold on First Beach tonight, big surprise, although the fire helped. I looked around at the people gathered around us, some huddled on logs like us, some bizarrely enough mucking about in the shallows of the freezing water and some sitting around playing guitars and singing off key.

"So what are you doing here?" Angela pulled my back to the present.

"Oh, Jake invited me." I pulled him down next to me as he walked past then carrying a box of drinks. "Jake, say hello to my friend Angela. She went to school with me."

"Howdy!" Jake grinned, all flashing white teeth and twinkly eyes and I could swear I saw Angela sway a little where she sat. She regained her composure quickly and grinned back.

"Hi! I think we've met before."

"Oh yea! That was ages ago, when I was just a wee lad!" We all laughed at his bad Scottish accent and he handed us both a drink.

"So, I didn't expect to see you here Angela."

"Oh, my cousin Morgan invited me. We don't see that much of him coz we live on the other side of town and he lives here but how could I pass up such an offer?"

Was I imagining it or were her eyes continually darting back to Jake?

"Oh yea, Morgan!" Jake gestured at a slightly younger kid, with shoulder length hair, sitting near the water with some friends. "He's a cool kid."

I glanced surreptitiously at Jake and raised my eyebrows ever so slightly to which he shook his head. Good, so no werewolves in Angela's family at least.

"Anyway, ladies, I must leave you now, for I have drinks to deliver to the needy. Nice meeting you Angela, see you round sometime." He gave her his trademark wink before departing and this time I was there to catch her when she swooned.

Oh dear.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rest of the night passed pretty much in the same manner. Angela bombarded me with questions about Jake, to which I screened carefully before answering. How was I going to explain this to him later?

I met the 'cool kid' Morgan, who seemed to delight in teasing Angela with embarrassing family stories. I was relieved to note that I wasn't the only one to have had to endure forced family bonding and horrendous holidays. This I shared with her gleefully to ease her pain. And maybe a bit of mine.

As well as being the resident drink dispenser, Jake also deposited numerous horrifically burnt hot dogs in our laps throughout the night. I hoped that he hadn't cooked them or else it appeared a cooking lesson may be in order. I baulked at the sudden mental image of Edward in a chef hat and apron teaching Jake to cook.

At one point during the night Angela turned to me and asked, innocently enough, "Where's Edward?"

Sam Uley was nearby, digging through a box of food and I saw him stiffen before resuming his rummaging, albeit ears pricked.

"Um, he's busy tonight. Family occasion."

"Oh." Angela nodded understandingly and Sam ruffled my hair as he walked past.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I don't know exactly when I fell asleep but when I woke up I had a face full of sand.

"Mmf. Angela?"

"Mmf. Right here. " I looked to my left and saw her, sitting up beside me, brushing sand off her face. "Ugh, it's in my mouth."

My own felt a little gritty and I made a face. "Mine too."

"It's good for you!" A booming voice above us sounded and we looked up, blinking in the dawn light. "Good, healthy sand that."

"Eat sand often do you, Sam?" I pulled myself to my feet and saw several other people in the same position. Crawling slowly to their feet, brushing sand out of places it shouldn't have been.

"You slept like the dead, Bella!" Jake bounded over and helped Angela to her feet. "No pun intended of course."

Sam snorted and even I rolled my eyes.

"I don't get it," Angela yawned.

"I think it's best we get these girls home," Sam smiled. "Before they fall asleep again and inhale half the beach."

'Oh god, I didn't snore, did I?" Angela looked mortified, standing in Jake's arms.

"No, but Bella can provide quite the nocturnal entertainment." Jake quipped. Sam howled with laughter and loped away, holding his sides.

"What the hell did I say?" I hissed at Jake as Angela bent to gather her things.

"On the way home." Jake murmured back. "Got everything?" He beamed at Angela who seemed to have lost her speech faculties and started guiding us up the beach.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So."

"Sooooo...?"

"Cold hands, huh?"

"What?"

"With a heart to match?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Were you drinking last night?"

Jake snorted and turned back to face the road. I could see him smirking in the mirror. We'd dropped Angela home, I'd graciously let her have the passenger seat and Jake had gleefully entertained her the whole way home while I tried to nap against the vibrating window. He was overtly cheerful this morning, more to do with Angela I suspected than any particular alcoholic indulgences, I suspected. Although now she was gone he seemed content to irritate me with random confusions as I tried to wake myself up completely. It wasn't working, I was beginning to suspect that some sand had seeped into my brain while I slept.

"You don't even remember, do you?"

I glanced at him quizzically trying to figure out what the hell he was referring to. As far as I recalled I hadn't embarrassed myself to the extent requiring a reminder the next day. Falling over wasn't anything new where myself and my friends were concerned. And i only did it once.

"Here's a hint...'Oh Edward, you're too cold! Bring me a hot water bottle!'" I stared in shock as Jake went off into peals of laughter. I would have been concerned at his lack of concentration to the road if I hadn't so desperately wanted to die there and then.

"I didn't. No. Please, please tell me I didn't." I closed my eyes and shook my head, willing myself to wake up but when I opened my eyes nothing had changed except that now Jake had gone red in the face and tears were streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, but you did! Oh my God! I've never, NEVER laughed so much in my life!"

"You were laughing at me?!" I was horrified.

"We all were!" He took one look at my outraged face and tried, unsuccessfully to stop laughing. All he managed was a sort of muffled bark through clenched teeth that resulted in hiccups all the way home.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I must have fallen asleep again because when I woke it was morning, well, later morning anyway and the car was stopped. Jake however was snoring in the driver's seat and I realised we were at my house and Charlie was tapping on the window. I rolled it down and leaned out, rubbing my eyes.

"Morning dad."

"Morning Bell's. Have fun?"

"Yea, it was cold though. Angela was there."

"Angela Weber?"

"Yea. Jake dropped her home earlier." He was still snoring contentedly away and I had to restrain the urge to smack him upside the head while I had the chance in an attempt to quell my irritation at his making fun of me.

"He looks worn out."

"I don't think he slept much last night."

"Bella, you have sand in your hair..."

"Oh god, I fell asleep on the beach and when I woke up it was like I'd sleepwalked the whole beach. It was in my mouth too."

"That's gross, Bells." Charlie screwed up his face.

"Has Edward been by?"

"What? No. No, no. Nope haven't seen him." Charlie's face flushed a violent red as he shook his head emphatically, refusing to meet my frowning face.

"Dad, what are..."

"Mff. There's no more drinks!" Jake shifted in his seat, waving impatiently at someone in his sleep. I raised an eyebrow while Charlie snorted in amusement. It seemed I wasn't the only person who talked in their sleep.

"What's he talking about?"

"I don't know," I giggled before leaning over and shaking him gently. "Jake. Jake wake up, we're home."

"Mmmf! I'll have eggs and bacon please." Another wave and then he attempted to bury his face into his armpit. Even I couldn't help laughing.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Bring him inside and he can have eggs." He wandered back up the drive and into the house, still chuckling.

Which was just as well, because at that moment a shiny, silver Volvo pulled up.

"Oh Jesus."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx