I'd like to thank the 6 of you who are still reading. That's a high estimate, but I know I can count on 3 of you to read this chapter (my hardcore twitter loves TheCherryRed, ChloeCougar, and LovelyBrutal). Thank you as well to my beta Dellaterra and my prereader TruceOver (who is waiting in line for the Twilight Panel at ComicCon as I type- Sooooooo Jealous!) Without them, my writing for this story wouldn't be half of what it is.

I had to delete my other twitter account, so please find and follow me there Saphire_burst.

I don't own Twilight or the characters, but a final thank you to SM for the inspiration.

I waited until she was out of sight before I got in my car. It would start raining soon enough and she would be more inclined to accept my offer then. I followed slowly and waited for my moment. There was only one other car on the road in this desolate little town, but I didn't want anyone to see me in case she didn't acquiesce to my show of chivalry so easily. I wasn't sure how much longer I could maintain this composure.

I spotted her walking along the side of the road. She was kicking her shoes in the dirt, slowly making her way home to safety, despite my warnings of the threatening weather. She was so naive, so trusting. It's something I loved about her though. Most girls at this age were foolish, but she was simply trusting unaware. Despite her upbringing, she had still learned to trust others, to bond in some form. It wasn't overt, but she still didn't see the worst in people. It was as if she gave everyone a chance until they proved her wrong. Except, apparently, for me.

I had opened up to her since her birth. I had loved her before she took her first breath. My devotion, my attempt to change my very self, meant so little to her that she had declined my offer for a ride as if I were trying to solicit sex from her in front of the school! My head was spinning. Every fiber of my body stood on edge, waiting to pounce on my prey walking slowly ahead. I had to be subtle. She was an intelligent girl, and if I wasn't careful, she might get nervous. As it was, my Isabella seemed to be apprehensive around me—so very unlike her demeanor around the wolf in sheep's clothing.

It would just be a coincidence that I was heading in the same direction as she was. After all, it's not like there are many roads in this godforsaken place. I would just be headed toward the diner, or gas station, or whatever people did here. The car in front of me began to tap the brakes as several fat drops of rain hit my windshield. It's just fucking rain! In this part of the country one would think a driver would be used to it.

The skies hadn't quite opened up but I could smell the heaviness in the air; it would be a matter of seconds before the downpour hit her. The brake lights were still on ahead of me, and now the car was pulling over. How did I miss this? I had seen this car sitting outside of my love's house. It was motherfucking Jacob Black trying to be her goddamned knight in shining armor! My muscles tightened and my jaw clenched almost painfully as I watched the passenger door open from the inside. The explosion of air from the bolt of lightning that cracked just 100 yards away was barely enough to cover the roar that exploded from my chest while I watched in horror. The downpour that followed was as sudden as the aching realization that my love wasn't against taking a ride—she was against me! She hopped into HIS car without hesitation! She threw her bag in the back and leaned over to kiss HIM on the cheek! Despite the thousandth of a second it took for the lightning to hit the ground and return to the sky, I saw it all in slow motion—HE leaned over to open the door from inside the dry warmth of the car to open the door; SHE leaned down, then in; HE stayed close to HER; SHE leaned to kiss HIM! I didn't have to be a haruspex to know what he must be thinking. His body was vibrating with excitement and his mind was rejoicing with the prospect of sex.

The only thing—and I mean the ONLY thing—keeping me from ramming into the back end of his piece-of-shit car was the thought that I wanted to be the one to physically end his life. She would have no alternative. She would need me then. I wanted this to be slower, perfect for her, but she was pushing me. I was ready. I had been for nearly eighteen years. It was she who wasn't.

I took an unnecessary breath and released my near-crushing grip on the steering wheel. I had to pull back. I refused to let this insignificant pup ruin everything I had worked so hard for. Eighteen years. In my lifetime it was really a blip on the screen, but since it had to do with my Isabella, it meant everything. It might as well have been an entire lifetime. It was the only part of my existence that mattered. I had spent an eternity in purgatory, and being near her, inhaling the air she breathed, was the closest I could get to heaven.

The more I considered it, the more I was tempted to snap something. I flexed my fingers, and tightened and released the fists I had made. My desperation to follow the rusting deathtrap to her house was overpowered eventually by common sense, and perhaps the sick desire to be able to continue watching her without it affecting her behavior. I had to pull down another street before the two became suspicious, although I doubt a boy of his menial sagacity would be so observant. He'd be gone shortly and I could see her once again.

I waited for his car to pull away. I might not always be a gentleman, but the bastard didn't even get out the car to walk her to the door in this downpour. This was perhaps to my advantage, as the pelting water forced her to rush into the house. Her haste made her careless enough to leave her door unlocked. I could come in no matter what, but this was practically an invitation. The warmth from the house and the heat from her body reacted to the droplets on her skin like a steam room with her delicious scent filling the space. I followed her wet footprints like a trail of breadcrumbs. She had deposited her wet items in the laundry room and I could only imagine her shivering wet body upstairs. I remained silent as I stalked my pretty girl to her bedroom. I wasn't quite ready to alert her to my presence. I loved watching her when she was unaware. She dropped her self-conscious mask and I reveled in her authenticity. I loathed it as well though, wondering why she hadn't been like that with me. I knew I would have to impress on her how important she was to me, and I to her. I would simply have to insinuate myself a little more deeply into her life.