I would describe Jacob as a fun-loving, carefree, party-animal sixteen year old. The kind that would do anything categorized as reckless and stupid.

But there was a soft side to him. When I asked what happened to his mother, the ear-to-ear grin faltered a bit before he told me she died in a car crash. He also told me he liked girls with pretty eyes and a smile. The type of girl who would keep him from doing things too dangerous.

"It's a surprise I'm still here, the way I do things." He had told me with a laugh.

He was telling me about the time his best friends Quil and Embry dared him to dive off the highest cliff, only reserved for experts, and how his dad had to bail him out of the reservation jail.

"That one, over there." He pointed to a cliff that jutted out across the ocean. It was high, even from the beach. "Dad's use to bailing me out, because I'm in there almost every night," he chuckled. "It was an awesome story to tell at school the next day."

"You didn't hurt yourself?" I asked in amazement. I liked Jacob. He was interesting.

"I had a cut on my forehead. Turns out I hit my head somewhere in the water. I didn't notice it until the cops where stuffing me into the car." He smiled at the memory. "It didn't hurt."

"Wow," I breathed.

"So, what about you? What do you like to do?"

"I listen to listen to music; I like to cook, too. I play volleyball and tennis with my mom sometimes. When I'm bored, I sketch."

"That's great," He sounded like he meant it. "Maybe someday you'll sketch my face."

I laughed. "I don't think so. I'm not very good at it."

"I'll love it anyway." He offered.

"Sure, maybe tomorrow."

"You're coming back to the rez tomorrow?" He beamed at the thought.

"Sure, why not?" I hope Edward didn't have anything planned.

"You don't have anything planned after school?" He said with a wink, reading my mind.

He didn't know about Edward. Jacob was a pretty decent guy. But like Jessica said, gossip spreads quickly in this small town. I wasn't ready to trust Jacob just yet. "Nope."

"Cool. Okay, so, there's this comedy movie playing at five tomorrow night. Me and my friends are going. You should come with us. It'll be fun."

"Sounds fun," I agreed. "Pick me up at four at my house?"

"Sounds like a plan." He winked again. Then he looked around. The sky had gone dark now, and it started to drizzle. "Guess you need to go home, now." His voice was less enthusiastic then before.

"Yeah. I have to cook for Charlie." I didn't want to go either.

He smirked. Then his eyes opened wide and he reached into his pocket. "Wait. Here."

"What is it?" I reached for the crinkled rectangular piece of paper. I examined it close, squinting my eyes to make out the shapes in the picture.

"That's me and you, on this very beach." His smile was gentle.

The girl was slim, about three or four years old. Her skin was pale, and she held a pail full of wet sand in her hands. She wore a red one piece bathing suit and a summer hat. The red-brown skinned boy behind her was sitting down; only close enough into the shore so the water kissed his knees. He wore black shorts with his pampers showing underneath. He was covered in sand and was smiling hugely at the girl, who was smiling back.

"You were so chubby," I giggled quietly. "How'd you managed to keep this?"

"We were best friends," He said innocently. "I cried like a, well, baby when you left."

I felt a pang of guilt flood through me as I thought about not telling him about Edward. He had been so honest with me…

"You can keep it, if you want. I have other pictures." He said.

I put it in my coat pocket. "Thanks." I told him.

"C'mon. Let's get you home before Charlie thinks we're doing something bad." His voice was mockingly innocent. He led me to his car.

"What kind of car is this again?"

"A Volkswagen Jetta." He opened the passenger seat for me and closed it when I was in. He then jumped on the hood of his car and slid across it. He opened his door. "I like doing that."

"You're unbelievable." I said in awe.

He laughed and shrugged, starting up the car. "I've been told that by a considerate amount of the female population." He said in a scientific voice.

I shook my head violently as we zipped down the road.

…

When Jacob was gone and Charlie was fed, I checked my cell phone. And gasped. "Forty-six missed calls?" I said aloud. They were all from "3DW4RD". I thought I would hear it ringing. I decided I would call Edward, just to make sure he wasn't trying to get help or something. It rang.

"Bella?" His voice was angry. "Where were you? I called like, six times!"

"Forty-six." I corrected. "Forty-six times. What's wrong?"

"Well," He huffed, calmer now. "Just wanted to know what you were up to?"

"Umm…" Was he the jealous type? "I was with an old childhood friend."

"Who?" Definitely the jealous type.

"Jacob? Jacob Black."

"Oh." He breathed, relief strong in his voice. "That boy."

"He's only a year younger than you, and months younger than me." I felt the need to protect Jacob.

"He's a sophomore. We're juniors."

"And?"

"And nothing. So, I was thinking we could go on a date tomorrow."

"When?"

"After school." He was voice was matter-of-fact.

"Well…I'm kind of going somewhere with Jacob…to the movies."

He didn't answer.

"Is that okay?" I couldn't care less of his answer. I really didn't want to be with him anymore. He was too jealous.

"Yeah. Have fun. We're on the day after that?"

"Okay. Sounds cool."

"Okay, Bella. Bye." He hung up.

"Bye." I said sullenly into the empty phone. This had to end.