Bella's P.O.V

Urgh! Why is he being such a butt and holding this from me?

"Jacob Black, tell me now! You're driving me crazy!"

He chuckled, of course.

"I don't mind driving you crazy. Actually, I enjoy it quite a bit."

I grumbled, showing my utter impatience and disapproval. He looked to the floor again. I leaned my head on his shoulder, trying to show that I trust him, obviously trying to get the point across that he can and should trust me as well.

"Jake-"

"I imprinted, Bella."

"Really? I'm so happy for you, Jacob! Who is it? Who's the lucky girl?"

"This is the part you're not going to like."

"Come on, it can't be that bad. Unless it's one of those snobs from school, like-"

"Like Lauren?"

"Yes. Just like—WHAT? It's Lauren?"

He nodded slowly, studying the wood grains in the floor once again. I never really thought about it, but it would probably be much safer-well, for me, anyway-if the room were carpeted.

"Why her? She doesn't deserve you, Jacob. You deserve much, much better."

"It may seem like that, Bells, but you know, she's really not as bad as you think. You've got to give her a chance. There's a lot about her that you don't know." Still staring at the floor.

"Give her a chance? Jake, she has been such a jerk to me!"

"Bella! Come on! You just don't get it! I couldn't help it, Bells! You know that! Why blow up on me like this?"

Well, at least he finally looked me in the face. I turned my face to the floor for a second, but when I looked back up to say something, he was gone. I groaned. Great, now I'm a jerk. That's the best way to start off a morning.

"I know you're somewhere around here Edward. Just come out already."

"Well I was already out. But okay." I turned around to see him sitting behind me on the bed. Turning around I leaned into his shoulder and cried.

Edward's P.O.V

I was sitting under a tree next to Bella's house. The mutt was in her room giving her some apparently important info. He had become too cunning for me so I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Well except that he was 'thinking' about how to say the alphabet in French. Hm, I wonder how he knows French. But anyway, he was currently in Bella's room and from the sound of it, whatever they were discussing was going badly. I did happen to catch a few things.

"I imprinted, Bella." What the hell does 'imprinted' mean?

"Why her? She doesn't deserve you, Jacob. You deserve much, much better." I hated when she talked about him like that.

"Why blow up on me like this?" Bella was blowing up? There's a story to tell. Thankfully, I saw him 'fly' out the window after the last comment. Jerk. Well here I go. Once inside, Bella started saying something.

"I know you're somewhere around here Edward. Just come out already." She was so oblivious today. But I'll be nice to her right now since she's apparently upset.

"Well I was already out. But okay." She turned around in time for me to see tears starting to fall down her face. Great. What did that big, stupid, jealous, pushy, half-naked dog friend of hers do now? As she leaned against my shoulder I gently ran my hand through her hair. She seemed really upset about whatever their conversation was about.

"Sorry Edward." She looked up at me with her large brown eyes. It reminded me of that song Brown Eyed Girl.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. He upset you so you cried. That's typical emotions. I think." She chuckled.

"Those are definitely typical emotions. But it wasn't Jake's fault...okay maybe it was. Nothing big though." Her voice got a bit in the highish I'm-lying-to-make-you-not-get-angry-at-someone-else-or-me-at-the-same-time-cause-we're-both-at-fault range.

"What did he say? To upset you so much I mean?" She looked a bit uncertain at my simple question.

"Edward, I don't think this is my place to say."

"But Bella, if he hurt you it's yours to tell. You shouldn't let other people convince you that it's not."

"Edward, he didn't hurt me. Not intentionally at least. It'll be good for him, and me." She's happy about being non-intentionally hurt? Did he drug her or something? I hated all of her suggestive riddles. They were making me insane.

"Bella, your riddles are driving me up the wall. What did he do to you? I mean, he didn't, you know-"

"Edward? No he didn't do anything like that! I would have definitely said something if he even got close to pulling that one." Well that's a relief.

"So then why won't you tell me what's wrong?" She was starting to look angry. Not good.

"I've already explained why! It's not my story to tell." Now she started to look remorseful. "Please Edward, can you just forget about this conversation? For me?" I sighed, not pleased at all. I knew she wouldn't give in so I would give up instead.

"Fine, please forgive me for being so nosy?"

"Every time."

Bella's P.O.V

Wanting to throw him off guard, I decided to pull out the I'm-scared-to-death-about-the-future-not-really act. I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and leaned into his chest muttering, "I'm scared, Edward."

He looked at me with a concerned expression grazing his beautiful face.

"What is it that's scaring you, love?"

"The future. I mean, Jake has told me multiple times that after the change we may not be able to be friends anymore." I sucked in a deep shaky breath. This was working better than I expected. I even swore I heard him mutter 'Mutt...'

"Would you like me to talk to him? Wait...OH MY GOD! Did I seriously just say that?" I laughed.

"Yes you did say that aloud. And would you? Talk to Jake I mean. Just for me?" I gave him the best puppy dog pout I could make. He chuckled.

"Oh no! The puppy dog pout. I'll have to go now..."He sounded teasing until the last part, where he trailed off with tons of un-enthusiasm dripping in his voice.

"You absolutely have to go. I couldn't bear talking to him myself. Not yet anyway. I think I'll stay here while you go, just to keep my distance." And in case a fight breaks out and they wreak havoc all over town. That would be interesting though since Charlie would have to stop them.

"Sure. Well I love you anyway." I kissed him quickly.

"I love you too. And thank you so much for doing this. It means so much to me." He sighed, kissed me once more, and glided out the window.