Authors Note: As requested by many of you fine people out there in fanfiction land, I have decided to post the next chapter early. Thank you all again for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3

"Hey! Hey, get away from her!" Jacob yelled as he ran towards Renesmee and the mystery man on the bench. He was shaking with fury, consciously controlling his urge to phase. His heart was racing out of control. How dare he kiss Renesmee? That's considered assault, and Jacob was sure that Charlie, the long-time Sherriff of Forks that also happened to be Renesmee's grandfather, would be glad to take this guy off Jacob's hands.

The couple jumped up from the bench, surprise in both their eyes. "Jacob! Wait! Don't!" Renesmee stepped in front of the stranger.

Jacob froze just five feet from them. She was standing in front of the guy like she was protecting him. Jacob was so confused. Had… had she wanted him to kiss her? Jacob's rage subsided and was replaced by heartache.

"Renesmee, what's going on? Who is this guy?" Jacob asked hesitantly, scared to know the answer to the question that could potentially ruin his life. Now that Jacob was closer, he could see that Avery was much shorter than Jacob's large 6'7" frame. He'd guess he around 6'0" or 6'1" with well-kept dark hair that he kept parted to the left side and a clean-shaven face. His skin was pale in comparison to Jacob's year around copper colored skin. He wore a green shirt to match his eyes with blue jeans and a pair of grey converse tennis shoes. At this very moment, he was staring right at Jacob gauging the threat he posed.

"Jacob, I can explain." Renesmee said as calmly as she could. She walked up to him slowly, making sure that he was calm and in no danger of phasing. "This is Avery." She motioned to the man that Jacob now considered his worst enemy. "My boyfriend."

The words cut Jacob deeper than any vampire teeth could ever manage. Jacob had nothing to say. He turned to walk away from Renesmee and Avery with no particular destination in mind. He just needed distance, and he needed it now. However, Renesmee wasn't going to allow him to run away as she did.

"Jacob! Wait! Please just stop and talk to me," She pleaded as she ran after him leaving Avery standing at the bench. Almost as an afterthought, she turned around and yelled to Avery that she had to go and that she'd explain everything at dinner tomorrow.

Great Jacob thought sulkily. Dinner with the boyfriend. He continued to walk away not bothering to wait on her to catch up.

Renesmee ran after Jacob for almost two blocks pleading with him to listen to her. His steps were so large that it took two of hers with her tiny frame to match one of his. "Jacob, if you would just listen to me!"

Jacob kept walking, doing his best to drown out the sound of Renesmee's voice. A sound that he had once craved now brought only the sting of unrequited love. He knew he was being unfair to her. She was allowed to date whomever she wanted. She was a grown woman. That didn't mean Jacob had to like it though. He slowed his pace and finally looked down into Renesmee's eyes.

She met his gaze and stopped mid-sentence of trying to explain herself. She gently put her hand on Jacob's arm and pulled him to the side of the sidewalk in an attempt to keep out of the way of the foot traffic. The simple touch sent fire through Jacob's veins. There was no way go ignore or deny the physical affect she had on him. He continued gazing into her eyes, searching for any sign that she felt even a fraction of the attraction to him that he did to her.

When she finally spoke, it was soft and sweet. "Jacob, I'm sorry. I really am. I was planning to tell you about Avery at breakfast, but then you told… all that you told me, and I just didn't know how to say it. I know I overreacted this morning, and I'm sorry. Please, give me a chance to explain everything to you. Come take a ride with me so we can talk."

Jacob didn't say anything at first. Still staring into her eyes, he could see that she was genuinely upset by what had happened and probably more so by how Jacob found out about Avery.

"Jacob, please. Come with me," she pleaded.

Jacob still didn't respond but allowed her to steer him the direction of her Lexus that was back at the park. They walked in silence all the way back, arm-in-arm. He'd glance at her occasionally, and it was obvious by the look on her face that she was torn with emotion.

Once they got back to the car, Jacob opened the door for Renesmee to step in the driver's side. He closed her door and crossed in front of the car to take his seat on the passenger side. He used to try to talk Renesmee into letting him drive everywhere, but after several arguments consisting of "I don't care if you're a guy. It's my car" he'd decided that it wasn't worth fighting over. He got in and shut the door. Uncomfortable silence filled the car so Jacob reached for the radio.

Renesmee must have had the same idea because their hands met at the power button. Renesmee looked down at their touching hands and moved hers back to her lap.

"Renesmee, look at me," Jacob said as he reached out and lifted her chin so she would look into his eyes. "I said this morning that I love you, and I meant it. I also said that I just want you to be happy. Does this guy... Avery," Jacob forced himself to speak his name, "make you happy?"

Renesmee removed Jacob's hand from her chin but held onto it as she rested it on her knee. "There's just so much to think about, Jacob. I honestly don't know how I feel. Avery and I have been dating for a few months, but our relationship is new. I don't know if he's the one for me yet, and I don't want to have to decide that right now. I actually tried to tell you about him when I first met him, but you didn't seem interested in discussing it. I've been meaning to bring it up to you, but I was afraid of what your reaction would be. He's a great guy, Jacob. I enjoy spending time with him, but…," Renesmee hesitated.

Jacob looked at her expectantly as they both sat in the parked car.

"But I don't want to lose you." Renesmee finished. She looked down as a single tear fell from her eyes.

Jacob gently brushed away the tear and tucked her hair behind her ear. He looked at her and knew that in this moment, he was the cause of her unhappiness. No matter his personal feelings, Renesmee wanted to see where things would go with Avery, and Jacob had no choice but to accept that. He reached over and took her petite hand in both of his and said, "Renesmee, you will never lose me. Do you understand? I am here for you always and forever no matter the outcome of the events today. If you want to explore things with Avery, you have my support."

Renesmee began to cry in earnest and Jacob pulled her into a hug. Her intoxicating smell of fresh flowers and all things good in the world invaded his senses. He kissed her on the cheek, not an uncommon occurrence between them, and pulled away not trusting himself to attempt more. "I'm not promising that I'll like him, but I'll tolerate his presence for you. Deal?"

"Deal. So that means you're coming to dinner tomorrow night when I introduce him to Mom and Dad, right?" She gave her best pouty face.

How do I get myself into this shit? Jacob thought. Renesmee cranked the car with a huge smile already knowing that he would say yes.