I know I'm terrible! It's taken forever! But I've had like some major writers block and life was getting in the way. I seriously was getting so frustrated, I knew what i wanted out of this chapter, but i didn't know how to do it. So at the end I'll tell you what my goal was! Sorry for it being so late... and even worse, not very long or very good considering how long it took.

Chapter XVIII

In which there is drama on a trip to Chicago.

Amelia's POV

"Can someone help me hook this thing up?" I called, my voice strained from the effort of trying to hook the camper up to my SUV.

"Sure love." Jacob answered, I smiled broadly. I liked that he'd taken to calling me 'love' or 'baby' it made me feel special.

In about a minute Jacob had it hooked and secured.

"Thanks honey!" I said in awe.

"Anything for you." He said. I grinned at him. And he reached out and pulled me to him. I stood up on my tip toes and stretched as high as I could, trying to reach his mouth. He was standing up completely straight though and I could only reach his chin. This was just too much. I was tall. I seriously was not used to not being able to reach something. I pouted slightly. His grin widened and he bent his head down to kiss my lips. His lips were gentle and sweet against mine. I sighed and started to deepen the kiss when-

"Mia! Jacob! Keep it in your pants! We have to get going if we're going to make it to Chicago on that little schedule you drew up Mia." Harper yelled.

I spun around, growling. Hmmmm… that's different. I thought vaguely.

Harper giggled at me, then burst out laughing as she looked at the space just above my head. I turned to look at what was so funny.

Jacob was looking down at me, the expression on his face was priceless. He looked completely shocked, with his mouth hanging open. His eyes were sparking with utter delight. He licked his lips when my gaze met his. Then despite Harper's warning, he swept me up into a heated kiss.

"Geeze you two seriously need a room." Embry complained.

I sighed and removed myself from Jacob's embrace. He pouted slightly and I laughed. "Later Jakey." I said. He grinned.

"Jakey? You're letting her call you Jakey? You threatened my reproductive ability when I called you Jakey." Embry said.

"Yes well, Mia is my girlfriend and can call me what she wants. You on the other hand are a pig, and your reproductive abilities are still forfeit if you ever call me Jakey again."

"Whatever man. I'm just saying, it's a double standard."

Jacob rolled his eyes.

I left the boys and their argument and got into the car. I started the car to let them know it was time to go.

Jacob climbed into the passenger's seat. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive?" He asked, clearly hoping I'd let him take the wheel.

"Have you ever driven to Chicago?" I asked.

"Well no, but-"

"Who's car is this?"

"Well, yours but-"

"No buts! I'm driving. Deal with it." And childishly I stuck out my tongue at him, which just made him smirk.

Harper and Embry climbed into the back seat together. From the rear view mirror I could see that they were very cozy, snuggled up in the back. I smirked and began to maneuver my way out of the trees.

"HEY!" I said, finally thinking of something to clear the boredom. "Let's play truth or dare!"

"Truth or dare?" Embry asked disdainfully.

"Yes. Because I'm bored. And There's still a lot we don't know about you boys."

"Good idea Mimi! But I think it should be truth or truth, because we're in a moving vehicle there's not many things to dare someone to do." Harper said.

"Ugh! You know I hate it when you call me Mimi! My name is Amelia or Mia. Mimi sounds like a hooker name!"

"I know. But that fight Embry and Jacob had before we left made me think of it and I've been dying to use it since then!" Harper exclaimed happily. The woman was mad. I groaned.

"Moving on." I said. "Let's play truth or truth!"

"I want to go first!" Harper called enthusiastically. She cleared her throat. "Embry?"

"Yes, Honey?"

"Truth or truth?"

"I'm not sure, that's a tough decision." He joked. I saw Harper cross her arms over her chest in annoyance In the rear view mirror. "Ok, ok, I pick truth."

"Good. Embry, who was your first kiss?"

Embry pursed his lips in concentration. "Um, Amy Healer, I think. In the 6th grade."

"I remember her!" Jacob laughed.

"Ok Embry your turn. Ask someone."

"Mia, truth or truth?"

"Truth." I answer as if it wasn't obvious.

"You mentioned before that you had boyfriends before Jake. How many?"

"Three." I said.

"Wait did you count that guy who-?"

"No, it was only a couple of dates. And they were all terrible."

"Yeah you're right he doesn't count. What about-?"

"Yeah I counted him."

"Ok."

Jacob and Embry both had expressions of complete and utter confusion on their faces.

"Three is my final answer." I said loudly. "Ok! My turn."

I glanced at Jacob and saw that he was watching me with an amused expression. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him. There had been moments before this that I'd wanted so bad to ask, but held my tongue. Especially after his reaction the first time I pressed for answers to my questions. I decided on something that seemed innocent enough, but I had been wondering about for a while.

"Jakey?"

"Yes love?"

"Truth or truth?"

"Truth."

"On our date you asked me if you could kiss me. When I asked why you had to ask, you said something about not wanting me to punch you. Why were you afraid I'd punch you?" I asked carefully.

Jacob was quiet. I heard Embry let out a small 'ooh' sound in the back seat.

"Jake?" He remained silent, his eyes closed. "It can't be that bad Jake. I'm already assuming you kissed someone without their permission and they punched you, so just spill."

Finally he spoke. "If you already know what happened, why are you asking?" He said, his voice cold.

I kept my eyes on the road, and avoided looking in the rear view mirror, where Embry would be able to use his talent for figuring me out if he saw me. He'd know that whatever calm front I put up, Jacob's reaction had upset me. "Well," I said in the voice I usually used when I was playing the villain. The one that's used when the villain is pretending to be good, and convince some poor naïve character to do what they want them to. It sounded entirely sweet and sincere, but there was a hidden deadliness buried in the pitch. "I want details. It's clearly stuck with you for a long time. There has to be more to it then just that if it's affected you so much."

"She had a boyfriend. I kissed her anyway. She punched me in the jaw and broke her hand on my face. End of story." Jacob said, his voice still cold.

"Fine." I said just as coldly. "I was really hoping you'd defend yourself a little better. I think it's really sick when men force themselves onto women. I was hoping you'd have a good excuse."

You could taste the tension in the car. I refused to look at anyone, especially Jacob. I stared at the road and focused on the cars around me.

Jacob's voice cut through the tension, it held regret and discomfort. Good.

"There really wasn't more to the story. I was 16 and I crossed a line. I guess I should've learned from Quil not to ask out a senior's steady girlfriend." He laughed trying to write it off as a joke, but it wasn't his normal laugh.

I nodded blankly. "It's your turn Jacob."

He sighed. "Harper, truth or truth?"

"Truth."

"Um… HA I got one!" He said. His voice was a little over enthusiastic, like he was trying to make up for all the tension he had caused. "What made you become a reproductive therapist? That's not a profession you normally hear about."

"Well I wanted to be a psychiatrist, but I wanted a specialization. And I figured I should choose something rare so I'm in high demand and can charge more. Well I was watching Twister and Bill's fiancé, I forget her name, but she was a reproductive therapist and I thought, "That's it!"" Harper explained proudly. "Mia, truth or truth?"

"You already know everything about me, I don't know what you'd ask. But truth." I said matter-of-factly, though I was still seething slightly.

"What do you like best about Jacob?"

That one through me for a loop. I had no idea what I liked best about him, there were so many things tat I loved. And I was still a little angry with him. But I answered as best I could. "I like Jacob. There isn't one thing I could single out as my favorite thing about him. Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"You owe me a real answer now. Truth or truth?"

"Truth." He sighed.

"Tell me about your prom." I said.

"What?"

"You heard me. Prom."

"I didn't go to prom. We had our wolfly duties instead." He said.

I was about to let it go when Embry cleared his throat loudly and not-so-subtly in the back. I glanced at him, but he was glaring at Jake.

"That doesn't count Embry. Billy bribed me to deliver a message. Just because the message was delivered to someone at their prom doesn't mean it counts as me going to prom." He said defensively, turning around and glaring right back at Embry.

"It'll work for now. Tell me about that." I said, disgruntled that he was once again trying to avoid my question.

"Fine. There were bloodsuckers at that prom. It was before I changed so I didn't know that. They were the leeches we had the treaty with though. One of the leeches had a human girlfriend. Bella was the police chief's daughter, and Chief Swan was Billy's best friend. I was to tell her that "We'll be watching." So I cut in to dance with her, her bloodsucker boyfriend walked away for a minute so I could. I danced with her, I delivered the message, and I left. My dad paid me and gave me car parts. It really doesn't count. I just wanted the parts and the cash."

"And to see Bella." Embry said with a fake cough. Jacob's lips pressed into a hard line and he looked out the window.

"Is there something to know about this Bella girl?" I asked.

"No." Jacob said flatly. "She's no one. Just a girl we used to know. Embry? Truth or truth?"

"Truth man. The truth shall set you free!" He chorused, though there was a warning note in his voice.

"How do you feel about dating a sex therapist?" Jacob asked.

Embry smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know? Well I honestly haven't given much thought to her profession. I've been too busy just getting to know who she is." Harper smiled at him. "But I feel pretty damn lucky, not only do I have the most amazing girlfriend ever. She's an expert on sex. So when we get to that point, well that's really not important right now." I was surprised how cool he sounded about saying that. I glanced at him and noticed his face had darkened. He was embarrassed. Funny.

"Mia?" Embry said.

"Me again?"

"Yup. Truth or truth?"

"Truth." I said, groaning.

"What exactly happened during what Harper refers to as the 'horny bastard incident'?"

Now it was my turn to freeze. In my peripheral vision I saw Jacob lean towards me slightly. I took a deep breath and stared straight ahead, answering in my most detached voice.

"Well, as I'm sure Harper told you, by the way you're in trouble for that Harp, I was auditioning for 'The Lead Player' in Pippin. How is pretty much the narrator, and can be done as either a male or female part. I really wanted the part; it's a really cool part. A lot of fun to do." I told them. "So I went to the first audition and I thought it had gone really well. I really thought I had a good chance to get the part. I got a call back. I was so excited. I was told to go to a hotel for the call back. I really should have questioned it then, but hotels have meeting rooms and stuff so I didn't really think anything of it.

"I went to the 'call back' and the director was the only one there. I was confused as to why that was." Jacob was staring intently at me, his eyes huge. "Well, John got right down to business as soon as I was there. 'Amelia, you have absolutely no talent on stage. You can barley carry a tune, your acting is so easily found false and you can't dance worth a shit.' He told me." The car started to jiggle slightly, the road here must be really poor. "Well, needless to say I was completely shocked. I thought I had done well, the audition seemed to have gone great.

"So I thought he was going to dismiss me there, but he had more to say. 'I've been trying to figure out how you've ever gotten even a chorus part, let alone some of the major roles you've done. And the only logical conclusion I could come up with was you slept with the directors.' I really didn't know what to say to that. It was complete bullshit. Then he asked me if I would give him the same courtesy as I'd given everyone else. He said he'd give me the part if I slept with him." The car was practically shaking now; seriously they needed major road maintenances out here. "I naturally declined, and stood up to leave, but John wasn't satisfied. He stood up too and blocked my path to the door. 'You are not an actress you are a whore, now do like you should.' And he grabbed my arms and trying to pull me to him." My voice had gotten quieter as I'd continued and the shaking had gotten unreasonable. "Well, he like most people underestimated my strength. I'd helped build so many sets it wasn't funny, and that required heavy lifting. I'd also taken both stage combat and self defense lessons, so I threw him off of me and ran like hell. That was almost six months ago and I haven't auditioned for another part since then. I didn't want to embarrass myself further." I said, my voice barley above a whisper. I was trying with all my might to keep my tears from spilling over. I was completely ashamed of what had happened and I was worried about what Jacob would think.

I was about to look at Jacob when Embry shouted at me. "Mia! Pull the car over NOW!"

"Wha-"

"JUST DO IT! QUICKLY!" Embry yelled.

I pulled the car over to the side of the road, which was lined with trees. I glanced back to look at Embry to find out what this was about, and was surprised to not find him there. I was also surprised when I realized the shaking hadn't stopped after the car had. The passenger door opened and Embry pulled Jacob out. "Stay in the car." Embry ordered as he yanked Jacob's large frame out the door. I saw that Jacob was shaking more then the car, and once he was out, the car stopped rattling.

I realized Jacob had been the one shaking, not the car. It wasn't caused by badly paved roads it was him.

I opened the door and flung myself out of the car despite Embry's warning. I ran to the trees where Jake and Embry where.

"I thought I told you to stay in the car?" Embry said frantically.

I ignored that. "What's the matter with Jake?" I asked.

"What's going on?" Harper came up next to me.

Embry's eyes widened and he came over and wrapped his arms protectively around Harper. "You should have stayed in the car." He scolded sadly.

"I was worried." She said.

"Jacob?" I called to him. He was standing with his back to us. Tremors rocking his body. "Jake?" I said, my voice breaking with worry.

Slowing the tremors slowed, till only his hands were shaking. Jacob turned sharply towards us. His face held hatred and anger. I took a step back.

Jacob walked briskly to where I was standing. He stopped in front and leant down and placed his hands on either side of my face, looking into my eyes, which were now the size of dinner plates.

"Never let anyone ever let you believe that you are anything less then extraordinary." Jacob said in a commanding voice. "You are amazingly talented, you are wonderful and witty. You are loving and smart and beautiful, and the most wonderful person I have ever known. If anyone ever tells you differently then they are blind, deaf, and stupid. Don't listen to them.

"You shouldn't have let that bastard get to you like that, Mi. He was completely wrong to have said something like that to you, or anyone. You are so much better then him. Don't let a scum bag like him stop you from doing what you love." Jacob said severely, looking deeply into my eyes.

I couldn't help it. I burst into tears. Stupid estrogen.

"Oh Baby," Jacob said wrapping me tightly in his arms. "Shh, don't cry. It's ok, shh. It's alright love."

I sniffled and sighed. Relaxing and letting my body mold to his. "Thank you." I said.

"Anytime love." He said, squeezing me tighter. I stretched up onto my tip toes so I could kiss him. He still had to lean down for me to reach, but it was wonderful even so.

"Ok, I think you boys have a lot more to explain." Harper said from somewhere on my left. I pulled away from Jacob and nodded in agreement with her.

AN: i know. It's disapointing after that long wait! But I just had to write it and get it out there already, so it's not my best. i apologize for that.

In case you didn't notice Jacob's reaction to questions that involve Bella were a lot more important then that whole thing with the horny bastard incident. That was just something dramatic to make the characters forget about what had happened when the asked bella realted questions. It'll come back later with a kick! lol.

I hope you weren't all too disappointed. I'll do my best to be more punctual from now on. And hopefully the writers blcok has past and things will flow better like they had been. I have plans though. So it should be ok.

Much love, Bridget