Disclaimer: I think they make you write disclaimers to rub it in your face that you weren't smart or imaginative enough to write something as great as Twilight.

Billy didn't give me too much trouble when I got home. I think he already knew I would be going to Bella's, somehow. He knew about the imprint, from eavesdropping on the conversation earlier, but he didn't say anything about it.

"Gonna be out late?" was his only question.

"I don't think so… I'm not sure," I admitted. Billy just nodded. I strode back out the door, jogging to the woods and phasing. He wouldn't really care how long I was gone, so long as he knew where I was. I knew he worried.

I ran back to Forks, the trip only taking me three minutes or so. Bella had left her window open. After I phased back, I climbed the tree outside her bedroom, knocking on the side of the window.

"Knock, knock," I grinned. Bella looked a little surprised at first to see me sitting on the windowsill. I climbed in and shook my body, getting her wet from the rain that had stuck to my clothes.

"Ugh! Jake!" Bella complained, wiping the rain water off her face. I grinned, holding one finger up to my mouth in a "be quiet" gesture. I sat on her bed, and just then it occurred to me that I was in a girl's bedroom. I grinned.

"What?" Bella asked, noticing my expression.

"Just realized I'm in a girl's bedroom late at night. Kind of a first for me."

Her face turned crimson, and I chuckled.

"Is Charlie gonna come check on you?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No. The only time he ever comes in here without knocking first is when I have nightmares." I frowned.

"Do you… have nightmares a lot?"

"Not so much, since I've been hanging out with you." She looked embarrassed to admit that, although it made my chest swell with pride. "Sometimes, though."

"What do you have nightmares about?"

Her face dropped, and her arms tightened across her torso. I knew immediately I had made a mistake. I shook her arm a bit, trying to get her to loosen it up.

"I'm sorry, Bells. Please," I pleaded with her. "I'm really sorry."

She smiled a little. "It's okay," she whispered. After another minute or so, her body finally started to loosen up, and her breathing became more normal.

We were quiet then. "It still hurts for you… to even think about them." It wasn't really a question. I saw what things did to her, how she wouldn't watch T.V much or even listen to music. I had mentioned a CD that I liked one time and her body had locked up like it had done just now. I was often afraid to mention anything that might upset her, though thankfully that didn't seem to happen too often.

"I could kill him," I said, and I was astonished how angry I sounded. I realized that my body was shaking, and I fought to control it.

"Jacob?" Bella asked uncertainly. I smiled, trying to reassure her.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to lose my temper." She nodded, understanding. Gotta watch that temper.

I looked around her room a little. It was pretty clean. Lots of books. Much bigger than my own room. I realized that I didn't know her that well—I mean, I knew her, probably better than anyone else. But her likes, her interests… I knew nothing about that, aside from the fact that she recently acquired a love of motorcycles.

"So… what kind of books do you like?" I asked, motioning to the books that lay scattered around her room.

"Mostly the classics, I guess. I'm kinda old-fashioned."

That explained why she liked the bloodsucker so much. I hadn't seen much of him, but he didn't seem like a "follow the trend" kind of guy.

"So, you're sure you're okay with me being a werewolf?" I asked her. She smirked a bit.

"After the vampires… werewolves are nothing."

I scowled at that. "We're way cooler."

"Uh huh."

I tickled her side a bit, making her giggle and back away from me.

"But really," she said, catching her breath, "the werewolf thing doesn't bother me. I'm glad I can be around you now." I grinned.

"Missed you too, Bells."

She yawned, and I realized that she must be very tired. It was only ten o'clock, but she had had a long day. I still hadn't found the courage to explain to her yet-- but she clearly needed some rest.

"Would you mind if I stayed here," I murmured, seeing her eyes start to droop. She looked up at me, seeming a little anxious. I grinned.

"I'll behave myself." An image flashed into my mind of Bella naked, but I shoved it away. She needed me to behave right now. "I promise."

She nodded, snuggling into my side as I lay down with her. "'Kay. Just don't hog the covers…" She dozed off then, and I spent one of the best nights of my life curled up next to her.

A/N: Sorry it's so short—I had TERRIBLE writer's block with this chapter. Please review—next chapter up soon!