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I don't know how long I just sat on that bottom step. It could have been days. I felt like a statue. A statue with nowhere to go, nothing to go back to. I knew Emmett had probably spilled the beans already and Alice saw what my decision last night was, so the stupid shiny Volvo was surely on its way over here right now. I couldn't take it back. Did I even want to take it back? Yes, I am married; I have a husband who is with me unconditionally. But I broke the vows. The vows he and I had held so sacred were broken by me. It wasn't anything. Nothing…special. It was vengeful, retaliation. Nothing of any merit. A schoolyard mishap.

But why is Edward being so…not Edward. He's out all the time. I'm not the nagging wife who wants him home to give me a foot rub, but he's just…gone. Edward has never been a person to open up about every little thing in detail, but can't he at least give some insight into what he did during the day? "How was your day?" I would ask. "Fine." He would reply, without a hug, kiss, or even eye contact. The first time he even realy acknowledged my existence was yesterday when I stormed in and out of the house. I cut back even the smallest of questions. Maybe he was in one of those moods? His face held a permanent scowl of confusion and anger. At first, I thought it was me. My worst fears coming to light, but I haven't done a thing. Until now.

He's so distant. Well, Edward Cullen if you want distance, you want someone who won't meddle and ask any questions? Fine.

The phone rang on the wall. I quickly got up and glided over to the wall-mounted, corded phone. "Hello?" I asked, totally disregarding the possible explanation of my existence I would have to give to the person on the other end.

"Hi." The male voice warily said.

The place where my heart would normally beat felt abnormally hollow. "Jake." I didn't even have to ask. I would never forget that voice.

"Yeah."

I sat down at the kitchen table, Charlie's seat. Once I realized it was his seat, I automatically switched, out of subconscious courtesy.

A good minute went by with the only sound being his frequent, and my infrequent breathing.

Jake was the one to break the silence. "We need to talk." He rushed.

I rolled my eyes. "What are we doing now?"

"I mean in person. I have to tell you something." I could see his body hunched over the receiver, not able to sit down for fear he might break the armrest.

"Why?" After what happened, I wasn't especially giddy to see what would occur next.

"Because you're not supposed to know. And I know why you left, and they can't come on the reservation to kill me, and you need to know because I know you feel awful about last night, because I sure do. Even though it was pretty great, even for a le—vampire." He blurted and took a gasp. If I didn't have vampire hearing I probably would have had to have Jacob repeat everything he said. The minor correction to my label made my teeth grind together. Why does he have to care enough to not call me a leech? That's what I am. No doubt about that.

Meeting him? On the reservation? So "they" won't kill him? Yeah, he was never the Cullen's best friend, but I didn't think they had enough hostility for murder. Ah, expect the unexpected. "When?"

"ASAP."

"When?" I asked again. "It's not like I want to be late or anything."

"What time is it now?" I heard him shuffling around on the other end.

"2:56?" Wow. Already that late? At least Jacob got enough time to sleep. I don't know if he really did though. I know I couldn't have.

"Three thirty?"

"Sure."

"My house."

"I kind of got that." I laughed.

"Well there are a lot of places, First Beach—"

I had to interrupt him. I wasn't in the mood for sarcasm. Or at least being on the receiving end. "Jacob, I got it. Your house."

"Kay." He stopped doing whatever he was doing in his living room. I had his whole house mapped out in my head, but last night, seeing Jacob was like a light in a cave.

"Is that all?" I said after a moment more.

"As far as I know." I could almost guarantee he was smiling. I don't know why though. Jacob wore a smug grin for no apparent reason sometimes.

"Alrighty then. See you at three thirty." I was shorter than necessary, but given the circumstances, chivalry wasn't on the top of my list.

Before I put the receiver back on the wall, I heard a voice on the other end. "Wait."

I put the phone back to my ear, half hanging from boredom. "Yes…"

"Don't tell anyone." He said cautiously.

Yeah, right Jacob, like I am going to go tell the newspaper "Hey, I'm having a meeting with Jacob Black at three thirty on the reservation to talk about what's going on with my vampire husband." Goodness, who do you think I am? "Kay. Bye."

I hung up the phone and looked at the clock. 3:11. I could get ready? Ah, it was just Jacob, besides, I didn't want to give him the wrong idea if I showed up, dressed to impress. Stupid Jacob. Stupid Edward. Stupid Bella.

I don't feel like running. My red truck was still in the driveway, just waiting. If I took a look under the hood, it'd probably look like a chop shop. If anything minor was wrong, being around Rosalie so long had taught me a few things. Everything seemed to be in its proper place. Oil's good. Radiator fluid all there. Good enough for a trip to the reservation.

I found my key where Charlie always kept it, on the key hooks. How cliché? No specific hiding place where only he and I know about it, nope, Charlie would probably forget.

The engine revved with a few kicks and blows, but it started. I didn't need a yellow Porsche, I needed transportation. Something to get me from here to there. Simple. Why can't anyone understand that? I'm a simple person with simple ideas, and simple wishes. Nothing extravagant.

La Push looked the same as ever. The white-capped waves framed a picturesque shoreline. Not the Caribbean, the rugged, rocky shore, filled with mystery and suspense. The dark clouds hung low in the skies and a smoky fog floated over the ground. Eerie but exhilarating.

Before I pulled into the Black's driveway, Jacob ran out to meet me. I rolled my window down. "Did you move or something? You look like a mad man."

"Come on, it's going to storm." He called. Opening my door, taking my keys out of the ignition and attempting to drag me out of the truck.

Such urgency for a storm? I put my hand on Jacob's shoulder. "I can get myself out of my truck thank you."

His skin was as hot as last night only he quivered slightly. Embry appeared out of the fog and took Jacob in the house. Is the whole pack here?

The inside of the Black house was as I remembered it. The wood-paneled walls, lived in furniture, and the homey smell. It always amazed me how the pack could ever fit in a house that small. It had to expand.

"Hello, Bella." A deeper voice called from the direction of the kitchen.

I moved to the left and looked to see Billy Black, sitting in his chair, at the table, with today's newspaper.

"Hi." I waved, greeting the man I always knew as my second father.

"Let's get down to business." Embry said, plopping down on the short couch. The springs whined under his immense weight.

"He knows? And I don't?" I asked. Jacob was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Jacob nodded, unable to say anything.

"We all know." Embry said, smiling.

I raised my hands up in the air, questioning.

Embry chimed in again. "Sorry, Bella."

"Could you shut up? Am I talking to you?" I hissed at Embry, and he recoiled, putting his hand over his nose. "You don't like the smell get out!"

"Embry, please, this is hard for her." Billy calmly said.

With my anger boiling, I had forgotten Billy was even in the room.

I walked toward Jacob, who still had his arms crossed. "Why is he here?" I motioned to Embry. He and Jake were friends, but for a big thing like this, whatever it was, I thought Jacob would be a little more private.

"Because after last night, he isn't quite sure he can talk to you." Embry quietly commented again.

I flashed my eyes back around to the couch, but he wasn't there. The smell of werewolf was everywhere, so it was hard to notice Embry over everyone else. I spotted him sitting next to Billy at the table. "Hiding behind Billy. Very mature." I mocked.

"Bella." Billy said sternly. "They just want to let you in on what's going on." His way with words made the whole situation seem childish. Since he wasn't surprised when Embry mentioned last night, obviously he knew too. Maybe Jacob was punished. "Go to your room you werewolf!" I laughed in my head at the sight of Jacob being sent to his room awaiting his punishment.

"Well what is going on?" I sat on the edge of the now empty couch, not letting my guard down with Embry.

I looked around for an answer but all I got were stares back.

"Go on." Billy urged. "She needs to know."

"You're the one who wanted to tell her you big pansy." Embry teased.

"Shut up, Embry." Jacob hissed and uncrossed his arms, lurching slightly toward Embry.

I jumped in between, putting my hands on Jacob's chest. It was chiseled and hard. Probably the only similarity between he and Edward. "Jacob." I pleaded. "Please."

His eyes finally met mine for the first time since he practically lynched me at my truck. He swallowed hard and his brows relaxed. "I'm sorry."

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