Bella had slept through her alarm and was dressing hurriedly when she heard Edward's Volvo pull into the driveway below. Quickly she pulled a shirt on over her bra and went to the window, tapping on the glass just as he was exiting the car. Once she had his attention she held up a finger to indicate that he should wait a minute; a humourous smile touched his lips but he nodded to her, leaning against the hood of the car and waiting patiently. There was at least one good thing about having a vampire be her ride to school when she was late- when they weren't going through the middle of town, he could drive quickly enough to make up the time. Not that she always liked going so fast she felt like they were going to crash at any second. But it could sometimes be thrilling, and she was used to it enough to not have her heart in her throat for the entire ride anymore.

Once she was in the car and they had pulled out into the road she finally glanced at Edward. He was dressed well as usual, wearing tailored designer clothes that always made him stand out at school even more than his pale skin or his constant air of nonchalance.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice smooth as he glanced at her, meeting her brown eyes with his golden ones.

"Well," she answered, looking back to the road. "So well that I, um… I slept through my alarm. Didn't even hear it blaring until I was fifteen minutes late."

"Good thing Charlie was already gone," he remarked.

"Yeah," she agreed. "If it had been his day off he would have killed me."

Edward smiled. "I don't really think your father is the kind to kill you over anything, Bella," he said. "He barely even gives you punishments when you deserve it."

"You sound like you're complaining," she teased. "Isn't that everyone's dream parent?"

He shrugged. "It's been a long time since I was actually parented," he pointed out.

Bella fell silent for a long moment, just watching the trees and the occasional house go by, thinking of her parents. "Carlisle must have been a bit like that when he first changed you," she mused.

"He was," Edward agreed. "And I appreciated him for that. After losing my family, it was good to belong to another one. But over time I didn't need to be parented anymore… I grew out of it."

She smiled at him. "See?" she said. "You're not so different from any other teenager."

The smile Edward returned was just a little strained. "But I still envy you, Bella," he reminded her. "You and all your friends… you can really grow up. Move forward." He turned his attention back where they were going, but he seemed troubled somehow- preoccupied.

"Is something wrong?" she couldn't help asking.

His golden eyes flickered to her, then back to the road. "No."

She didn't believe him, but he slowed the car to a more acceptable speed as they neared the school, and a moment later they were parked and he was out of the car. He came around to her side and opened her door, and as soon as Bella stepped out of the car she could feel eyes on her. She had heard whispers of the gossip, partly through second-hand reports from her friends and partly by accident when no one thought she was around. Some of the kids thought she and Edward were still together, and that Bella was juggling two boyfriends, taking advantage of the fact that they lived in different towns and went to different schools. It was ludicrous, of course, and she tried to ignore it, but she knew that Edward still driving her to school and opening the door for her and all the other considerate things he did only fuelled the rumours. But she tried not to think about it, chalking it up to the fact that it was so rare for a couple to stay friends after breaking up in high school.

"Thanks for the ride," she said to Edward, as she said every day.

"No problem," he answered. "I'll see you in second period." He lingered for a moment, and then he turned and headed for one entrance to the school, while Bella made a beeline for the other. Normally they might have met up with his siblings, but class was due to start shortly so they must have already been inside.

Bella had always been a solid A student, with the occasional B thrown in to keep her on her toes, but since becoming aware of the supernatural elements of life school didn't particularly hold the same thrill. Mostly she enjoyed the chance it gave her to socialize with her friends. She looked forward to lunch all morning, and the last bell all afternoon. After homeroom she had Biology, where they were learning about the cardiovascular system, and then she had second period English with Edward. After lunch was gym, which she loathed and dreaded beyond all else, and then she just had to endure math before she could leave.

It wasn't so bad, really, much better now than a few months ago, when Edward had been gone. During that time she'd been like a zombie, attending classes but barely existing, barely taking anything in and barely able to spew anything back out for quizzes and exams. If it hadn't been for Jacob dragging her out of that haze of depression, she wouldn't have even passed. She'd had a lot of catching up to do at the beginning of this year, but she was back on track.

Lunch was typical: Angela and Jessica filled Bella's ears with gossip as Mike and Eric vied for her attention. She had fun, but her eyes drifted more than once to the Cullens' table, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on with Edward. He seemed uninterested in whatever his siblings were talking about, and Alice kept exchanging complicated expressions with Jasper every time they tried and failed to engage him in the conversation. What was bothering him so much?

"So, we're still on for after school, right?" Jessica asked, interrupting Bella's thoughts.

"What? Oh, Port Angeles- yeah, of course."

Jessica brightened. "Great! Mike made reservations, so you and Jake can follow."

"Sure," Bella answered. They were going on a double date. Her and Jacob, Jessica and Mike. Jessica had confided to Jacob that she was afraid Mike was growing tired of their relationship, and the double date was supposed to be a fun night out to remind him how great she was. Bella had, of course, agreed to go along, and Jacob was always up for pretty much anything as long as it involved spending time with her. Things had been a bit strained between Jessica and Bella since she'd come back from Canada, and admittedly even before that, so Bella hoped this outing would help to take their friendship back to a more comfortable place.

Gym was not quite as torturous as usual, and the subject they were studying in math was so difficult that the period flew by as Bella struggled to understand the problems on the board. Soon she was transferring books from her locker to her bag, and following a very chatty Jessica out the door, Mike following behind them. As usual, Jacob was waiting for her there, leaning against the wall next to his motorcycle. Girls let out little giggles and talked to each other behind their hands as they passed him, particularly if he gave them a smile or nod of greeting. Bella couldn't help the rising of that little flutter in her heart knowing that he was here just for her.

"Hey," she said as she reached him, Jessica and Mike holding back a few steps. Jacob tucked a hand behind her ear and leaned in for a long kiss. When he finally pulled back, Bella glanced back slyly at Jessica and saw that the other girl had a mixed expression on her face: wistfulness and jealously. Bella tried not to smirk, keeping most of it internal, but it was hard not to feel proud of her and Jacob's relationship, even though she knew how badly Jessica wished she had the same kind of boyfriend in Mike. It wasn't that Mike wasn't sweet or caring, but he didn't like to be controlled or planned for, and Jessica could be pretty neurotic sometimes.

"Hey guys," Jacob said, nodding to both of them and giving Bella's right hand a squeeze in his left.

"Hey man, what's up?" Mike said, reaching forward to shake his free hand. He had long since giving up ribbing on Jacob about having a fever, getting too hot and heavy, or any number of other remarks triggered by Jacob's elevated body temperature.

"Hello, Jake," Jessica said somewhat stiffly, but Bella ignored it, knowing she would loosen up once she felt less threatened.

"Okay, Mike's going to lead the way, so…" Bella trailed off pointedly, and Mike and Jessica took the hint, hurrying off to Mike's car as Jacob handed Bella her helmet and mounted his bike, waiting for her to slide on behind him. As soon as her arms were locked safely around his waist, he started the engine and rode them around just to where Mike was puling out of his parking space. Bella couldn't help but blush a little as the eyes of her peers lingered on Jacob, the girls envious of her having a boyfriend who owned a motorcycle, the guys checking out Jacob's muscles and wishing they could match.

But there was one pair of eyes she could feel quite distinctly, and she turned her head slightly as Jacob waited for Mike to pull out into the street, looking without appearing to look. Edward stood by his car, gazing at her with an expression of such pain and discomfort on his face that she felt her heart sink. He seemed so unhappy, so lost and hurt, that she wondered if she'd been underestimating how difficult this all was for him. But what could she do? She had tried to make this as easy as possible on him, but it didn't seem to help.

Mike finally got himself organized and headed for the road, following the long line of students doing the same thing. Jacob coasted the motorcycle after him, and soon they were turning in the direction that would take them to the freeway. Bella had to force her eyes away from Edward, turning her attention back to Jacob, and she tried to shake the lingering sadness. There was nothing she could do that she wasn't already doing. She just hoped Edward would come around to it. If his leaving for a month hadn't been enough to adjust, and the effort she was making to be friends and spend time with him wasn't enough, then she didn't know what else to do.

Bella forced Edward out of her mind, knowing how important this evening was to Jessica and wanting to spend time with Jacob without thoughts of Edward interfering. She enjoyed the warmth of his back as they drove, following Mike and Jessica toward Port Angeles. When she'd first started dating Jacob, a ride like this would have left her thighs aching by the end, but now she was used to it- forty minutes to the reservation, or an hour to Port Angeles as they were embarking on now. Either way, she just took pleasure in the physical closeness they shared as he drove, letting her mind wander as she watched the scenery go by.

Mike had made reservations at a small, cozy restaurant that was off the beaten track but still had excellent food. After their meals arrived there was some silence as they all got comfortable, but soon they were making small talk about their parents, friends, school, homework they hated, and all the other usual things. Mike and Jessica seemed happy to talk to someone who wasn't part of 'their world,' and Jacob seemed happy to entertain their questions about the difference between living in Forks and living in La Push.

"No fair, you guys get so many field trips," Jessica complained.

Jacob laughed. "I guess we just like nature more than you palefaces," he joked, prompting an uncomfortable glance to pass between Mike and Jessica.

"Come on," Bella said, nudging him and smiling a little. "No faux racist comments at the dinner table, okay?"

He smiled. "Okay, but only because you asked." He leaned over and kissed her, pressing his lips gently against hers and holding them there for a long time. Bella pulled back when she heard Jessica's wistful sigh, and she saw Mike toss a glare in Jacob's direction for upstaging him.

After dinner, Jessica convinced Mike to take her home and 'hang out' some more; Bella watched as Jessica hooked her arm through Mike's and dragged him off to the car, leaving Bella and Jacob alone.

Jacob chuckled as he watched them go, and then hooked his own arm through Bella's, much more willingly than Mike's version had been, and pulled her close. "That was fun."

"Really?" she asked skeptically. "You weren't bored out of your skull?"

He laughed. "Maybe just a little."

"Poor Jessica," Bella said. "She's not going to let Mike go without a fight."

"I know how she feels," Jacob answered, wiggling his eyebrows at her. She laughed, giving him a playful shove even as her face flushed with pleasure.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't give up as easily as Jessica probably will," she said with a smirk, leaning her cheek against his shoulder as they walked.

He put a finger under her chin and tipped it up, laying a gentle kiss on her lips. She closed her eyes, sighing softly into the warmth of his lips, and caught his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. Jacob released her enough that he could look into her eyes, his own warm and dark. "I would never give up on you," he said softly. Bella's heart fluttered when she saw the depth of love in his eyes as he said those words. They resumed strolling, a comfortable silence overtaking them, broken finally by Jacob's low whistle as a car he found particularly attractive drove by. "Just a second, Bella," he said, letting go of her for a moment to hurry quickly to the curb so he could watch it round the corner. She giggled as she watched him get excited for a piece of metal she could care less about, but it was cute.

Turning back in the direction of his motorcycle, Bella wheeled left suddenly as two children ran past her, chasing each other and giggling. Her left foot landed on a slant, half on the curb of the sidewalk and half on the street, and she went down, feeling her ankle twist beneath her as she pitched sideways onto to cold, wet cement of the street.

"Bella!" she heard her name being called, but oddly she didn't hear it as Jacob's voice, but Edward's. Then she realized there was another sound, the skidding of tires as a car or truck or some other terrible machine tried desperately to avoid her or stop in time. All she could see was two incredibly bright headlights coming towards her, and she couldn't help but think of that day long ago when she'd had to be rescued from almost this exact situation. What if her luck ran out this time?

But at the last second, someone seized her arm and hauled her upwards, pulling her to her feet and holding her close. From the warmth she knew it was Jacob, and she smiled into his chest as he clutched her to him, running his hands over her as though to make sure she was all in one piece.

Over his shoulder, she saw Edward, and with a start she realized she hadn't imagined his voice after all. He'd been here- why? And he'd stepped in to save her, but Jacob had beat him- how? Edward must have been standing some distance away, given how fast he she knew he could move. Now he was standing somewhat stiffly, not quite looking at them but not quite looking away, either.

"… you okay?" Jacob was saying. Quickly she turned her attention back to him.

"I'm fine," she answered, as Jacob searched her eyes for signs of shock or injury. He seemed to relax a little at those words, but he still held her close to him, as though to reassure himself that she was still with him.

"You scared me," he whispered softly into her hair.

"Sorry," she said. "I'm alright though." She smiled at him gently and added, "Thanks to you."

"How's your ankle?" he asked. Bella tested her weight on it gingerly and then smiled at him- it had only twisted momentarily, nothing serious.

Then, once again, Bella caught sight of Edward. He had moved a little ways away, still looking incredibly uncomfortable and almost like he was in pain as he stared at them. Bella cringed as Jacob followed her gaze and caught sight of him too, but instead of approaching him or trying to pick a fight, he just slowly shook his head in disbelief. Then he took Bella's hand, tugging her in the direction of the bike.

"Hang on," she said gently, squeezing his hand before releasing it. "Let me just talk to him."

Jacob's jaw tensed, but he nodded, shoving his hand in his pockets. "I'll wait for you over there," he said gently, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek before his eyes slid to Edward once more. Then he turned and walked away.

Bella walked towards Edward hesitantly, but he wasn't quite looking at her as she approached. She stopped just in front of him, wrapping her arms around herself as she did so. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hey," he repeated, his voice sounding a bit flat, hiding the pain that hovered just underneath the surface.

"Sorry about that," she said. "It was kind of… awkward."

"Jacob's right," he said shortly, surprising her. "I had no business trying to protect you."

"He didn't say anything," she protested.

"Not out loud," Edward explained. "But he thinks I'm a creep for stepping in. For being here at all."

"You're not a creep," she said, somewhat defensively. "You just worry about me. I know that."

Finally, he looked at her, but she wished he hadn't- his eyes were guarded and full of anguish. "Bella, I can't turn off my worry for you."

Tentatively, she reached out and touched his hand, just for a moment. "I know that. I'm not asking you to."

"But you didn't need me," he answered flatly. "You don't need me here and you don't need me when you're on the reservation."

Bella bit her lip and didn't say anything for a long moment, knowing what he was saying was true. But she hated that he felt that way about it. "I… I do need you," she said finally. "Just not like that."

His smile was pained. "I know," he said. "It's just hard to get used to such a big change in such a short time." She nodded, trying to be supportive, but he didn't seem comforted. "Well," he said. "Jacob won't be patient much longer."

"It's alright…" she protested feebly.

Edward forced a smile. "It is alright," he agreed. "Now go on. I'll see you later."

"Are you sure?" she asked, though she knew he was right- Jacob would only wait so long.

Again, that forced smile. "I'm sure," he said. "Go on, Bella."

"Okay," she said softly. "I'll see you at school."

He nodded but said nothing more, so she turned and walked back to Jacob, who she realized had been watching them carefully the entire time. As she approached he put an arm around her shoulders and guided her back down the street to where the bike was parked.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Do you have to think mean things at him?" she retorted, a bit harsher than she'd intended.

Jacob inhaled deeply and then let the breath out slowly. "You can't expect me to control my thoughts, Bella," he said, sounding hurt.

He was right, and this was the second time she'd asked it of him- first to hide their embarrassing 'marriage' from his pack, and now to protect Edward's feelings. It wasn't fair. Bella glanced up at him and saw the tightness in his jaw as they walked, and she instantly felt guilty. She put her hand on his arm, stopping him. His dark brown eyes fell on hers questioningly.

"I'm sorry," she said gently.

He let out a soft sigh. "It's okay," he said. "I know you want to stay friends with him… I'm trying to support that, even if I think it is crazy to be friends with a vampire, particularly an ex-boyfriend vampire." He gave her a smirk and a little nudge, showing he was only joking around- mostly.

She smiled at him and nudged him back as they reached the bike. "Let's just forget it," she suggested as they both climbed on the motorcycle.

Jacob tipped his head back and kissed her deeply before saying, "My thoughts exactly." He revved the engine and pulled out into the street, and Bella snuggled up close to his warm back for the hour-long ride home.

She must have fallen asleep, because it seemed like only five or ten minutes had passed when she felt Jacob bring the bike to a stop and give her hands a squeeze. "Hey," he called softly to her. "You're going to fall off."

Quickly she straightened herself and stood up, dismounting the bike and waiting for him to do the same. She giggled as he threaded an arm through hers, escorting her like a gentleman all the way to the front door.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked. "Charlie won't be home for at least an hour."

"I'd love to," he said, sounding like he really did. "But I've got patrol."

She groaned playfully. "Sam's so mean," she said. "Messing with our love life."

"Tell me about it," he answered. His hand slipped behind her head and he pulled her in for a deep kiss, sliding his tongue through her lips and pulling her as close as possible, making her whole body melt as his warmth flooded through her. She put a hand on his lower back, just under the hem of his shirt, and at the same time his own hand crept up her shirt and cupped one of her breasts. Bella sighed her encouragement but, finally, the kiss had to end.

"Goodnight, beautiful," Jacob whispered.

"Goodnight," she answered gently. "Promise me you won't get killed out there."

"Promise," he answered with a grin before going back to the motorcycle and getting on it, giving the engine a loud rev for her benefit before tearing off down the road. Bella smiled after him, waiting until she could no longer hear his engine before going upstairs to her room and flopping down on the bed. She took advantage of this time before Charlie got home to do something which made her feel silly but happy all at once- daydreaming about Jacob and the life they might have together if everything stayed just exactly as it was now.

Author's Note: I had something entirely different planned for this chapter but due to a couple of reviews and comments from readers I've slightly adjusted my plan (don't worry, haven't shelved anything, just delayed it)! See, your reviews do matter everyone, and I love to get them! Feedback is always great. :-)