A/N: Hello there, here's chapter three! Right now, I'm debating on whether or not there should be lemon between Edward and Bella, fluff, or just nothing at all. Have any opinions? Feel free to leave some in a review. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

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Mindlessly, I lifted a spoon to my mouth, and cheerios crunched beneath my teeth. As I ate, I tried my best not to quiver in my seat. Murderer. Murderer…murderer…

RIIIIIINNNNGGG!

"GAH!" I jumped out of my seat and screamed. I cringed, waiting to hit the floor of my tiled kitchen, when I felt firm arms come up from under me. By now, I was hyperventilating in Edward's arms. He clutched my shaking form close to his chest, and buried his head in my hair. He inhaled deeply and muttered, "It was just the telephone dear."

"Th…The telephone?"

I could feel the vibrations from his chest as he chuckled, "Mmm-hmm."

RIIIIINNNNNGGG!

I would've leapt from his arms, but they were like steel around my body. I could feel my heart beating against my rib cage and I wished for the painful throbbing to stop. A desperate need of oxygen welled in my lungs and I began gasping for breathe.

Edward took my face in his hand and turned my head so that he looked into my dilated eyes. "Damnit Bella! Breathe!"

Breathe? Breathe…oh! I inhaled sharply, and I felt my body start to relax. Again, my lungs filled and emptied with air, and I rested my head on Edward's shoulder.

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "You know, its times like this that kills me to not know what you're thinking."

I smiled warily, but the deep frown on his face remained set in place. "Bella, Bella, Bella."

"What? I'm right here," I snapped grouchily. It was bad enough that I nearly suffocated myself, but I did not need his pity.

RIIIIIINNNGGG!

This time, I was calmer, and crossed my arms at the sound of the infernal ring. I meant to take a quick glance into Edward's eyes, but I found my self locked to the smoldering topaz orbs. "I think you're pretty lucky to have the caller call you back. Maybe you should answer it this time."

"Well, that would be possible if you'd let me down," I retorted. Ever since my little incident, he had me pressed against him tighter than before.

"Nonsense."

The world around me seemed to blur. His footsteps were completely silent to my untrained ears, and in a flash of colours, we stood in front of the phone.

RIIIIIINNNNGGG!

Edward gave me a triumphant smirk, and I reluctantly snagged the phone from the receiver. "Hello?" I mumbled.

"…Bella? Is this a bad time?"

My head nearly collided with Edward's chin, and I jumped with delight, "Jacob?!"

A feral growl erupted from his chest.

"Jake! What's up?"

"A lot. A lot more than you can imagine," his voice was somber, and lacked the usual light that I'd grown to love. "Anyway…do you think you can come to La Push any time soon?"

Before I could even answer, the phone was out of my hands and pressed to Edward's ear, "No. She can't."

"Hey! C'mon, give it back!" I flailed my arms about trying to gain control of the phone. The male who held me merely shifted the object from my reach and continued, "And why would you like her there?"

I heard sounds from the receiver, but I couldn't understand a word. "Hmmm. Yes, but will she be safe?" the sounds from the phone sounded angrier now; more upset. "Huh. I'll be sure to update Carlisle on that." I was growing wholesomely irritated and crossed my arms, also giving up on getting the phone back. "Okay. The same place? Bye." There was a soft beep, and he set down the phone.

I gazed up at him, a sweet smile on my face, "Edward honey…what was that for?!"

He gave me his famous crooked smile, and felt as if there was no need for words.

I averted my gaze and pouted, "No! That's not working this time."

He kissed the crown of my head, and spoke, lips pressed onto my hair, "As you may have interpreted, I've given you permission to go to La Push."

"Permission? Since when did I need your permission to go to La Push, let alone for anything?"

He chuckled, and his deep voice sent a trill down my spine, "Well…considering what I have in store for you, I'd advise that you just agree with me for now."

My voice caught in my throat, and I could barely breathe. Something in store? I wasn't quite sure of what he meant, but I already had my hopes up.

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After my short, suicidal, and heart-constricting ride, we arrived at what I assumed to be the treaty's boundary line. In the blink of an eye, Edward was by the passengers' side of the car and had propped the door open. "Madam."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed, "Oh sir, no need to be so humble. Why not snatch me up out of my seat and throw me to Jacob?"

To my utter surprise, he indeed grabbed me from the car and cradled me in his strong and icy arms. My heated body began to cool, but his skin alone couldn't quell the fire between my legs.

"And why on Earth would I want to do that? You belong in my arms, and mine alone."

I couldn't help but laugh and I jabbed a thumb in the direction behind me, "Well, that's not what Jacob seems to think."

With his back to the forest, Jacob's body was rigid and the muscles in his jaws were tight. Even I could see that.

Edward kept his eyes locked with Jacob's but whispered seductively in my ear, "Be sure not to cause him too much trouble."

I turned my head so that I could analyze his face. Although he wasn't looking at me, his eyes displayed a sense of mockery, as if he was telling Jake he would never have the chance to hold me this way.

I shook my head, "Who would've thought that you had such a dirty mind. And I do not see what you guys see in me. I'm not in the least bit attractive."

He sighed and unwillingly set me down. He caressed my sides and growled, "That's what you think. Come nightfall I'll dare to show you what I think."

My eyes bulged and a powerful throbbing once again pounded between my legs, causing me to shudder. Before I could comment, he had pushed me forward, and I unconsciously made my way over to Jacob. My thoughts from before were growing more and more into a heated, and totally real possibility. The question was: how far was he willing to go?

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I don't know how long he had been talking for -or how long he had been holding my hand for that matter- but suddenly the sounds from his mouth had stopped along with the moving scenery.

"If you'd rather daydream instead listen to what I have to tell you, then…"

I abruptly snapped back into reality and looked him square in the eyes, "Sorry about that. And I'd very much like to know."

He heaved a heavy sigh and he released his grip on my hand. We had still been walking through the forest, a shortcut to his house, when he had stopped.

A rush of cool wind was there immediately to greet my hand as soon as Jacob removed his. Had my hand been so warm before?

He seemed to be struggling with the right words. I folded my arms over my chest and demanded, "Spit it out Jake."

"Well…" He took a scratch at his scalp, "Okay. It has something to do with Alice…"

Every muscle in my body froze and my face went white. Delayed from continuing, his worried eyes gazed into mine, "Bella?"

Like a spark of fire, it was lit and began to burn in the pit of my stomach. Within a few seconds, a torrent of anger burned through my being. Coursing through my veins. I glared at him and snarled, "You bastard! You low-life, stinking, rotten, bastard!"

He stepped back, obviously offended, and threw up his hands, "What?"

"Don't you dare act like you don't know. You know what you called her," my words were spat out and I couldn't help the venom that drenched them.

"What…oh…" his eyes clouded with realization, and then sadness. "Oh Bells, I'm really sorry."

He tried to reach out for me, but I swatted his hand away. "Don't touch me! I already hate it when you call Edward a bloodsucker. But Alice?" My eyes glistened now and I felt about ready to cry.

Jacob closed his eyes and mumbled, "Bella…do you know how hard it is…to hold your life-long enemy in your arms?"

I hadn't thought about that.

"I could've torn her to shreds. But I followed you to the school," he glared at me now "Which by the way wasn't so smart to skip."

Oh yeah, I'd missed my History test. "Damn."

"But anyway…I didn't hurt her. I would never do such a thing. I merely came to the school to hand her over to the…Edward."

The tears that lined my eyes were getting heavy and began to spill down my cheeks, "But why? Don't you hate Vampires?"

"Well…yes…but, if they mean a lot to you, I'm more than willing to try and keep them in one piece," he smiled his beaming smile and reached out to thumb away my tears. This time I didn't hit him away. I allowed his warm fingers to slid down my face and wipe the salty drops of water that ran.

Once his hand was back by his side, I wiped my eyes myself. As I did so, I looked to him with one open eye, now completely curious, d, "Then what happened to her?"

Jacob's whole body went through a violent tremor, and I instinctively stepped back. He took a few deep breathes before he closed his eyes once again. His voice was somber and hollow and seemed a bit shaken, "Take one guess."

My throat constricted and my eyes went wide. No…no…no…Despite my own attempts to hide the truth, to not utter the name that caused all of my trouble, I whispered, "Victoria."