I waited on the forest floor, hyperventilating and shaking. I heard howls in the woods, but I hadn't a clue what that meant. Good, bad, or nothing at all? I shook my head. My stomach felt uneasy, but I had nothing left to heave out. For this I was partly grateful.

I replayed the short cut of the fight I had seen in my head, skipping over the bloody parts. This made it even shorter and I ran out of distractions very quickly. I thought of Edward, of how perfect he was behind my eyes. This hurt more than anything had in a long time, and I pushed it out of my mind as soon as it came. Every once in a while, I'd hear footsteps or branches cracking in the woods around me, but it would always turn out to be a rabbit or some other animal. But never a wolf.

I knew that not much time had passed, but it felt like forever before Jacob came back. By the time he had, I was curled up in a ball on the ground, my knees held tightly against my chest, my head resting on top of them.

"Bella, she's okay. She… ran away before we could say anything to her," he whispered in my ear, shocking me. I never heard him coming anymore. I sighed in relief as his warm arms picked me up bridal-style. I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning my head against his chest.

"What's she doing here?" I mumbled, pouting slightly and looking into his troubled eyes. He looked as confused as I was.

"I… couldn't tell you. There's not exactly a great reason for it, but she didn't give us any clues, that's for sure," he snorted. "You know, you'd think she'd at least say thank you for saving her ass. But no, she just gives us this stupid condescending look and runs off."

"Yeah, that's Rosalie," I joked, not finding a trace of humor in my voice. He kissed my forehead, and I thought vaguely of boundaries. Not that there were really anymore lately. I realized how selfish I was being. How selfish I was I always being.

"I didn't… earlier when I snapped at you…" I stuttered, my eyes looking into his, begging for forgiveness. He laughed.

"Forget it. I understand." I nodded. He always did.

"Do you still smell her… around?" I asked, curious.

"Well, yeah, but she could leave now and I'd still smell her for days. It's impossible to say right now," he replied, and I could tell this fact bothered him. He wanted her and her scent gone as soon as possible. I sure as hell didn't. Not without answers.

"Did you guys try to chase her?"

He shook his head. "No. We didn't want to get… carried away." He looked as if he did, in fact, want to get carried away very much, but I was immensely grateful that he hadn't. I nodded, squeezing his neck in a hug-like gesture. He smiled at me.



"You're okay, right?" I nodded, and it was halfhearted. I was getting more cold every second, even in his impossibly warm embrace. I felt myself shaking and I knew he wasn't buying it for a second.

"Well… I'll be okay, alright?" I compromised, grimacing. He rolled his eyes, nodding his head.

"Sure, sure. You always say that," he kid, and I laughed. We arrived at the truck, and he put me in shotgun, taking the wheel yet again.

"Why do you always get to drive?" I complained, glaring at the floor, then him.

"Because I'm older, remember?" He grinned and it was my turn to roll my eyes.

"You're definitely putting this in your favor, aren't you?" He smiled even broader, nodding.

"What am I supposed to do? I don't have much, but at least I have my age," he boasted. I faintly heard him mumble, "If only that were enough."

I hardly noticed myself slipping to sleep, but when the darkness came, I was grateful.

I dreamt of wars.

A/N : I know it was short, but I've been distracted lately, I'm afraid. Review, please. They make me happy. :D