The rest of the afternoon is pretty uneventful; my next three classes are (thank goodness) Jacob free. My anxiety quietly slips away as the day drones on. Without Jacob in close vicinity, I find that I'm able to concentrate on school. Finally, heading to my last class, I make my way down to the girl's locker room to change for Coach Clapp's weights with Jessica on my heels.

"Can you believe Lauren is actually going to go to La Push tonight? That girl is crazy! I don't care how fine that boy is, I would never get involved with a gangbanger!" I don't know how to reply. To be honest, I feel guilty. Only a few hours ago, I imagined being with him, in the way he described it.

I'm not thrilled about the idea of Lauren going to Jacob's auto shop just to sleep with him. I don't want to think about Jacob sleeping with any girls at all, let alone Lauren. Now I'm picturing it. I have this horrible mental image of Jacob in greasy overalls slamming Lauren into a wall and having his way with her. It isn't sweet and gentle, the way he described he would make love to me. It's - to use his term - fucking.

It's not like I'm jealous. What right do I have to be jealous? Should he be celibate just because he expressed his interest in me? The correct answer is no. I have no right to expect that of him, but I want the answer to be yes. He should be celibate. If he wants to get with me, that's the way to go. If he really likes me, he wouldn't be doing other girls. But yet again, I need to remind myself, he doesn't really want me. Not in the relationship kind of way. He just wants a challenge. I'm the girl he can't have - the good girl. Once he 'has' me, he'd drop me faster than a hot potato.

"Although, I bet a guy like Jacob could really show a girl a good time. Don't you think, Bella? I mean, he's been around the block more than a few times; surely he's picked up a few tricks! Guess we'll find out tomorrow, huh? Lauren's always been the kiss and tell kind."

I gulp at her usage of the word 'bet.' Not trusting myself to speak, I continue changing while listening to Jess ramble on about Lauren and Jacob's tryst later tonight, my stomach churning more and more each minute.

The weights room is located in the loft of the gymnasium, up the stairs and behind the bleachers. Jess and I don't waste much time in starting our work out routine. Couch Clapp frees us to use the room however we chose, as long as we spend the time working out and not goofing off.

"Oh my God! Speak of the devil," Jessica shrieks. "Look!"

I shouldn't be surprised, but tell that to my racing heart. Jacob saunters up the steps into the weight room, wearing the same black jeans and tee shirt. He hasn't changed, though now I understand why. If his father wouldn't let him inside for his backpack, it's no wonder he is still in the same clothes.

My first instinct is to hide, but I quickly realize how silly that would be (besides, there's no where to go) and how that would raise suspicion with Jess. With a heavy sigh, I reside myself to my fate. Jacob will notice me sooner or later, but I'm hoping for later. Much, much later, like maybe the end of the semester.

"Don't stare, Jess."

"Why not? Lauren was right. He is one hell of a fine piece of ass."

"He's an ass all right."

She's unabashedly checking him out.

"Jess, stop staring! I don't want him to come over here."

"Please, Bella, I know you and Edward are like totally 'in love' and only have eyes for each other or whatever, but even you have to admit that Jacob is panty-dropping gorgeous."

"Okay, yeah, he's attractive, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a jerk."

"True, but could you imagine how hot the sex would be? I bet he's the total dominating type." There's that word again. I swear I'll cringe every time I hear the word 'bet' from here on out.

"Hey, Jacob," Jessica stage whispers, "you can dominate me anytime you want!"

"Shh! Jessica! He'll hear you!" Shielding my face with my hand, I turn my back to him. As if he couldn't see me hiding behind my tiny hand. Brilliant, Bella.

"Oh my God, he's looking!"

"What?" I peek around slowly, bringing down my hand. Yep. There he is, staring at me and oozing every bit of sex that Jessica claims he is. "I could kill you," I mutter murderously.

"Sorry, I didn't think he'd hear me."

"Whatever. Come on, let's go do bench." Without waiting to see if she's following me, I walk over to the bench press, picking up two ten pound weights and sliding them onto the bar. Straddling the bench, I lay back, gripping the bar above me.

"Need a spot?"

A small whimper escapes me. Tilting my head back at an odd angle, I get an upside down view of Jacob.

"Where's Jessica?" Sitting upright, I look for the girl who's supposed to be my partner and friend but left me for the big bad wolf to find.

"She's occupied." He points to the corner by the dumbbells, where Jessica is shamelessly flirting with Tyler Crowley. "Come on, I'll spot you."

Reluctantly, I lay back down on the bench, gripping onto the bar and fighting to keep my eyes locked on it and not Jacob towering above me. As I lift the bar and begin to bring it down, I start to realize the compromising position I'm in. Not only am I lying on my back with my legs spread open, straddling the small bench, but I'm also accentuating my breasts with each repetition. Thank God the redness in my face can be accredited to my work out and not my discomfort.

"I didn't expect a girl like you to take weights," he muses.

"That was your first mistake," I breathe. "You shouldn't expect anything from me." Especially sex, I mentally tack on, hoping Jacob will catch my hidden meaning.

"Come on, Princess, we both know what I expect." He gives me a piercing glare.

"It's a requirement." I'm not sure if we're still using innuendos, so I add, "For cheerleading."

"What are you benching? 110? That's impressive. Sexy too."

I ignore him.

"It's beneficial that I know how much you can handle, since iron's not the only thing you'll be pumping." The bar almost slips my grip; his hot hands wrap around mine to steady it. He helps me replace the bar. I try to remove my hands, but Jacob grips harder, keeping them there.

"Let go," I seethe, glaring at his upside-down head. He leans over the bar, his face only a few inches from me and his hands still holding their death grip on mine.

"You know, you're hot when you're angry, Princess."

"Why do you keep calling me Princess?"

"Call me. I'll let you know."

"Excuse me?" Okay, I'm not dumb. I know what he said, but he can't be serious.

"Go out with me tonight." His soft tone is back; the sweet, husky voice sounds pleading.

"Don't you already have plans for this evening?" I can't keep the cynical edge out of my voice.

"I'd rather make plans with you." His eyes are begging mine.

"I can't." It actually hurts me to say no to those puppy dog eyes. God, where is my willpower? Bella Marie Swan, I chide myself. Do not let yourself get sucked into his games! He's just trying to deflower you! Yeah, I just said deflower. I'm an eighty year old woman now.

"I'll wait for you after school," he persists.

"I have practice after school."

"Skip it."

"I can't skip practice!" I'd be in a ton of trouble if I did. Miss Davenport would have me running laps the next practice and sitting out a quarter of a game if I miss without a permission slip.

"Do you always do what you're supposed to?" he asks.

"Not always."

"Yeah, right. I bet you've never even skipped school before."

"I've skipped school before." Once, when I was nine.

"Uh huh, and I'm sure you've never broken the rules."

"I've broken rules before."

"Okay, when?"

"I- well, I'm sure it's happened."

"That's what I thought. Don't worry, Princess. When I take you out, we'll do something bad. I'll show you how good it feels." His innuendo doesn't escape my attention. Though I have no good response, I don't need one. Jacob straightens up and walks away, acting as if nothing has transpired between us.

He leaves me sitting on the bench, hot, flustered, angry, and confused.

He has to stop doing that to me.

~~-BoM-~~

"All right, girl's, we'll run it one more time then you're free to go," our coach, Miss Davenport, calls at us from her bench. She got the English teaching position two years ago, straight out of college, where she was on a nationally ranked cheerleading squad. She brought all of her experience and competitiveness with her when she took over our team. We've been working on our stunting routine nonstop for the past three hours so we'll be ready for the half-time show at the game next Friday. Jessica mutters obscenities under her breath as we get into our formations, waiting on the music to replay.

Practice is a welcome reprieve for me. I don't have time to obsess about the day, the bet, Edward, or even about Jacob's insistence. My movements are automatic as I walk through each step, each stunt, and each chant. My mind has shut down completely and focuses only on the tasks ahead of me. It's important to pay attention, to be aware of my surroundings and the girls that I carry. One wrong move from me could cause a ripple effect resulting in someone getting seriously injured. Luckily, our squad has never dealt with such an injury, but we've had our fair share of bruises, black eyes, and broken bones over the years.

Unfortunately, the time finally comes to an end. Practice is over. My nerves come back full force as I mechanically move to gather my belongings. It's nearing six, the time Lauren told Jacob she'd meet up with him. I try not to think about it, but the images of them together progress in my mind. My imagination runs with it as I picture him taking her against the wall, on the hood of her car, and even on the grease-stained concrete.

While most of the girls grab their things and run, I stay behind, offering to help Miss Davenport put away the mats. Edward said at lunch that his practice was switched to six; if I wait a few more minutes, I'll be able to speak to him before I head home. Maybe it's for selfish reasons, but I want to see him, to kiss him, hoping that it'll be enough to clear all my unwanted thoughts of Jacob.

"Thank you for your help, Bella," Miss Davenport says as she locks the storage closet. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you," I reply, checking the time on my cell phone.

Picking up my bags, I step out of the gym, running straight into a hard chest. I stumble with nowhere to go. The heavy gym doors slam behind me as I drop my bags to the floor. For a second, I'm sandwiched between hard wooden doors and a warm chest. I try to move sideways, unsuccessfully, as two russet arms wrap around my middle.

"Jesus Christ!" I screech. "What is it with you? Do you have a tracking device on me or something? How is it you keep popping up everywhere?"

"Hello to you too, Princess. I take it you missed me," he laughs.

"How can I miss you when you won't go away?" I shove hard against his chest; it's obvious that he willingly steps backwards. I bend down to retrieve my bags, but Jacob snatches them up first.

"Give those back."

"Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't carry your bags?"

"You're not a gentleman." I think that's obvious.

"Fair enough. I'll use your bags as leverage. This way you have to come with me."

"Come with you where?"

He smirks, taking a different meaning from my words than I intended.

"I can have you coming anywhere you want, Princess. But aren't you getting ahead of yourself? I thought you'd want dinner first. Not that I'm complaining."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I reiterate.

"What about our date?" He tsks at me. "Don't tell me you forgot."

"Aren't you running late on your date with Lauren?" This time I tsk. "Don't tell me you forgot about her." Though on the inside, I can't describe the lightness I feel knowing that he isn't at the garage waiting on Lauren, but standing here with me.

"Lauren? Oh right, the easy blonde." He waves his hand like he's swatting at a fly. "Why would I want her when I can have you?"

"She's very pretty," I add by way of answer.

"You're prettier." His words are too sincere, too meaningful, as if he actually believes them. I can't help it; I roll my eyes. Lauren's gorgeous; we're talking Victoria Secret swimsuit model gorgeous. I'm not even close to that pretty.

I start to walk away, momentarily forgetting he is still holding my bags ransom on his shoulder. His hand reaches out, grabbing my wrist and stopping me.

"Bella!" a third voice calls.

Jacob drops my wrist as I twist around to see Edward racing toward us. With a sigh of relief, I step toward his rapidly approaching figure. He doesn't waste any time; wrapping his arms tightly around my back, he crushes me against his chest and kisses me with fervor. Edward's hands rise to my neck, tilting my head back and deepening the kiss. I'm surprised and more than a little aware of Jacob's presence standing beside us as Edward's tongue sweeps my own. A sound from Jacob, similar to a snort, pulls us apart.

With his hands on my cheeks and his eyes boring into mine, Edward asks, "Bella, are you all right?"

"Ye-"

"She's fine," Jacob snaps. "I was just offering to walk her to her car."

Edward's eyes shoot daggers at Jacob as he protectively tucks me into his chest.

"No need. I'm here now." A pained smile forms on Edward's lips as he tries to contain his anger and remain civil. Where Jacob lacks in manners, Edward more than makes up for them. "I'd be more than happy to walk Bella."

"She's all yours." For now. He didn't say the words, but I can hear the implication in his voice as he turns, adding with a wink, "I'll see you tomorrow, Beautiful."

Edward clears his throat. "I'll take those, if you don't mind." He points to my bags. Jacob smirks as he slides them off his shoulder, roughly tossing them to Edward.

Once Jacob is out of hearing range, Edward speaks. "Bella, you promised me you'd stay away from him."

"I did! I was! It's not like I knew he'd be standing out here!"

"What the hell was he doing carrying your bags?" He isn't angry. That's the thing about Edward; he hardly ever gets angry. He's never even raised his voice to me before.

"He just…" I wave my arms helplessly. "…took them." Edward pinches the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut.

"When I saw him grab you, I-" His voice cracks, and immediately, I feel guilty.

"Edward," I coo, running my hands up and down his arms in a soothing motion. "It's all right."

"Oh, Bella, what am I going to do with you?"

I shrug weakly.

"Do me a favor? Next time you see him, walk the other way."

"Sounds like a plan to me." And it did. Avoiding Jacob in class everyday should be fairly easy, as long as I keep myself busy. But avoiding him outside of class will be much harder. I know that now.

"Come on. Let's get you to your car." I follow Edward out to the jock lot solicitously.

Outside of the doors, I consult the time on my phone. "Oh, you're going to be late. You don't have to walk me to my car. Hurry before you get in trouble." I grip the straps of my bags in a futile attempt to relieve Edward of them.

"Coach won't mind if I'm a few minutes late. Besides, I don't want to risk that asshole following you out here." His eyes rake over the lot as if he expects Jacob to jump out from behind a car.

I can't really argue, knowing full well that Jacob could come out here and attempt to take me with him again. I'm glad Edward is keeping that from happening, though I can't deny the pang of regret too. I wonder idly where Jacob would have taken me, what we would have done if I had gone with him. Would he have actually tried to take me on a date? Or would it have been his cocky, no-nonsense, let's-get-down-to-business, I'm-going-to-rip-your-clothes-off routine?

Edward opens my car door for me. Throwing my bags into the passenger seat, he gently tugs me toward him. I can't help but smile as his hands slide up and down my sides lovingly. Tilting his head to the side, he pulls me in for a tender kiss. I return it ardently, pushing Jacob Black to the furthest recesses of my mind and concentrating only on Edward, this moment, this feeling, and this kiss. Sensing my passion, Edward tightens his hold on me, pulling me in closer as his hands slide under the hem of my shirt, rising up and brushing my ribs while his thumbs caress the swell of my breasts through my sports bra.

"Edward," I murmur against his lips, "you have to go." Breathlessly, he pulls away, resting his forehead against mine and nodding.

"I'll call you tonight, babe," he whispers as he turns to leave.

~~-BoM-~~

As much as I try to shove Jacob out of my mind, it simply isn't happening. Half way home, I drive past the Forks auto shop, reminding me of Lauren and her planned rendezvous with Jacob. A smile plays at my lips as I think about Lauren's reaction when she finds out Jacob stood her up. But suddenly, a new thought forms in my mind: what if he doesn't stand her up? It's only a little after six now; he could easily have left the school and driven to the garage to meet her.

I groan loudly, the noise reverberating off the walls of my tiny car. The pictures of him and Lauren together race through my mind again like a bad porno. Before I realize what I'm doing, I turn around, leading the Mustang straight to La Push.

I'm not exactly sure where the auto shop is located, but La Push is small enough that it doesn't take much time before "Uley's Auto Repair" comes into view. I pull over about a half a block away, scanning for Lauren's car or Jacob's motorcycle while telling myself I don't really care. But if I don't care, then why am I here?

I try to convince myself that I only care because of the bet. If I see him use and toss Lauren, then maybe that will help me get this all into perspective. He will use me the same way he will use her. Then I can get angry and use that as my ammunition against him to keep myself from falling into his trap. But really, I feel like a stalker.

There are several motorcycles parked outside of the garage. From this distance, I have no way of knowing which one is Jacob's. Not that I'd know if I was standing right in front of it either. I don't know a thing about bikes (which is pretty pathetic when you think about the fact that I'd essentially be winning his bike in the bet). Lauren's car isn't sitting outside either. That leads me to believe one of three things: one, her car is sitting inside the garage. Two, she and Jacob already left in it. Or three (and the one I'm hoping for) she left after being horribly humiliated when she realized she had been stood up.

I want to drive by slowly, checking inside the windows and open garage doors exactly like Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmatians, though I know my car is too recognizable. Not only would the light blue color be noticeable, but the "THAXDAD" license plate is a dead giveaway. If I drive by at normal speed, I'll be able to glance inside, but I still can't guarantee that I won't be seen.

A familiarly loud roar rumbles from within the garage. An all-black motorcycle and similarly dressed rider roll out, halting for a second outside of the doors as the rider shouts over his shoulder. It's Jacob. And he's alone. I almost squeal in excitement and relief until I realize how easily he could see me here. My mind races at a hundred miles an hour. I have no plan of escape. I can't turn around without being noticed. I can't go straight without passing right in front of him. Basically, I'm a sitting duck. Jacob straightens, revving the engine of his bike as he checks in the opposite direction to pull out, then looks straight at me. I dart down in my seat, tucking my head underneath the steering wheel by my knees.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. Did he see me?

I wait, cross my fingers and pray he didn't see me as I strain to hear the sound of the motorcycle growing fainter as it drives off into the distance. But it doesn't happen. In fact, I don't hear the roar of the motorcycle at all anymore. Too terrified to sit up and look, I stay in my crouched position with my eyes squeezed shut, as if that will help me disappear.

A sharp tap comes from my driver's window; my eyes shoot open as I jump, busting my head on the steering wheel. Cursing under my breath, I roll down the window.

"Drop something?" Jacob asks. Grateful that he supplied the perfect lie, I bite my lip and nod.

"Yeah, my uh, cell phone." I'm an awful liar; even when provided with the perfect lie, I can never execute it. Jacob's gaze shifts to my passenger seat, where my cell phone is laying out openly.

Resting his arms on the window sill, he leans in, practically climbing into the car with me. "So, Princess, did you come here to settle our bet?"

"No," I practically shout. "I was just, uh, driving by when I- uh- dropped my cell phone, and um…" I swallow as Jacob nods accordingly, leaning closer to me. I pull further away. "It's dangerous to try and bend down while driving, so I pulled over." Jacob's still nodding, but his eyes shift to my lips. His upper body is leaning toward me while I press my back against the console, getting as far away from him as I can. "Would you stop that please?" My words are flat and anxious and not at all commanding.

"Stop what?" His husky voice is in a whisper. Tilting his head slightly, he moves those final few inches toward me. He hesitates, and I wait. I can feel his hot breath against my lips as my clouded brain finally screams loud and clear, he's waiting on you to kiss him!

My hands move (against my will) to his shoulders. My eyelids flutter shut. I am going to close the gap between us; I am moving to kiss him when I hear a loud wolf whistle.

Metaphorically, you could say the sharp sound busted our bubble.

I turn my face toward the shop, where Lauren Mallory is exiting her car, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she walks inside like she owns the place. Two men standing by the garage door stare at her with their mouths agape. And why shouldn't they? She's wearing six inch heels, a four inch mini skirt, and a painted-on tube top.

"Looks like your date's here," I say, not bothering to cover the acid leaking out of my tone.

"She doesn't have to be. I don't think she saw us here. I can still go with you." He adds sweetly, "I'd rather go with you."

Shit, I hadn't thought about her seeing me here. I feel slightly relieved before Edward's name flashes through the front of my mind. The guilt of the kiss that almost happened causes my stomach to churn. I promised myself I'd avoid Jacob, I promised Edward, and here I am, practically looking for him! Almost kissing him! I can't trust myself around him. I need to get away. I need to go home. Now.

"I can't. I have to go home. Charlie- my dad's waiting for me." I don't wait for an answer as I briskly sit up, throwing the car into drive. I start to turn to face Jacob, to say good bye, but the thought of those lips kissing Lauren's stops me.

"Are you going to sleep with her?" I whisper, staring at my hands on the wheel and dreading the answer.

"Are you going to leave?"

"Yes," I answer hesitantly.

"Then why do you care?"

"I don't want you to sleep with her." I know it's stupid. I know it's unfair and completely selfish, but I said it anyway.

"You don't want me to fuck her?" His tone isn't hard, but it isn't soft either. His tough exterior is still in complete control. "Or fuck anyone who isn't you?"

Anyone really, but I can't say that.

"Just not her." My mouth feels dry and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I try to swallow.

"Go home, Princess. I'll see you tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, he walks away, back to the garage where Lauren is waiting. With her legs spread open no doubt.

~~-BoM-~~

By lunch, I have successfully managed to avoid Jacob Black. First hour, I pulled Alice up a few rows, settling us in the middle of the room and several chairs away from him. Second hour, I rushed into the classroom early and immediately sat next to a girl who wouldn't be frightened by Jacob's scary stare to move away like Eric Yorkie was.

Homeroom was the easiest of all to avoid him. I asked Mrs. Clark for a library pass so I could spend the whole hour in a little cubby reading and working on homework.

Edward passes me my lunch tray as we sit down with our usual group. Jessica titters away with Mike until Lauren throws herself down between me and Jessica. Jess' eyes snap to her friend, silently requesting the details of her tryst with Jacob. When Lauren doesn't say anything, Jessica squeals.

"So? What happened last night? Did you do the dirty? I want details!"

I try to feign indifference, pretending like I have no interest in their gossip, but the truth is, I'm going to hang on to every word. I need to know if Jacob had sex with her. I don't know why, but I do.

I hardly slept at all last night; each time I fell asleep, I was assaulted with dreams of Jacob ripping off Lauren's clothes. Once awake, I'd lie there, picturing the events in the way that I imagined they would go. The scenarios were constantly changing from Jacob choosing to sleep with her, to Jacob asking her to leave. My favorites were the ones where he told her to get a life and get out, but I doubt those actually happened.

"A lady never kisses and tells," Lauren responds haughtily.

"That's never stopped you before," Mike mutters.

Lauren shoots him a dirty look.

"Oh, please tell me," Jessica pouts. "Was he as good as we thought?"

A wicked smile spreads across Lauren's lips, causing my stomach to drop.

"He was better! Oh my God, Jess, those hands! Those giant hands, they knew exactly where to touch me and exactly how!" She demonstrates by closing her eyes and running her hands down her own chest, across her abdomen, and back up her arms. "And he kissed me, so, so, passionately. It was like a scene from a movie - how in sync we were with each other."

"Was he?" Jessica spreads her palms a few inches apart, silently asking his size. I fight a blush on her behalf.

"Bigger," Lauren smiles.

"And did you…" Jess leans in closer to Lauren's ear, asking the more intimate details surely. I strain to listen but barely catch the words.

"Oh yes," Lauren sighs, "several times. I never knew I could have so many during!"

I feel sick. I can honestly feel the color draining from my face, my heart pounding in my ears, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin. How could Jacob do it? How could he be so close to kissing me and then sleep with Lauren?

"Bella? Baby, are you all right? You're as white as a ghost." Edward's concern brings me back to the present. Though I feel like most my energy has drained out of me, I manage a small smile.

"Yeah, no, I'm okay. I don't know what came over me. I felt a little dizzy all of a sudden, but I'm feeling better now."

His hands rake up my arms to my neck. Pulling me a little closer, he kisses me on the forehead.

"Are you sure you're all right? You feel a little warm. Maybe we should take you to the nurse?"

"No, Edward. I'm fine now, really. I think it's because I skipped breakfast this morning. You know me, always running late. I didn't have time to eat," I lie.

"Hmm, I guess I'll have to start bringing you donuts to school. I don't know why we never thought of it before; it'll save you some time in the mornings," he jokes, or at least I think he's joking. Knowing Edward though, he's probably serious; he would leave ten minutes early just to get me some fresh donuts in the morning.

"Don't be silly, Edward. You don't need to bring me donuts every morning. Once a week is enough," I wink, playfully letting him know I'm kidding.

"Are you going to La Push again soon?" I overhear Jessica ask.

"After last night, it'll only be a matter of minutes until Jake begs for me to come back!"

I cough to stifling my groan.

~~-BoM-~~

I'm nervous about going to weight lifting. Avoiding Jacob in our other three classes had been relatively simple. Avoiding him in a class where we're basically allowed to do whatever we want? It proves to be much harder.

I stick to Jessica like glue, shamelessly using her as a buffer between me and Jacob. I pray he won't bother me with Jessica standing around, and so far, he hasn't. He's spent most of the hour talking to Tyler Crowley and lifting around 250 pounds of weights - by far the most out of everyone in the class.

To be completely honest, I'm bothered by Jacob sleeping with Lauren. Not that I have any right to be. I have Edward. But I feel hurt, confused, and mostly angry. I'm angry at myself for thinking he wouldn't do it just because I asked. I'm angry at him for doing it right after he tried to kiss me, right after he asked me out, and right after I asked him not to sleep with her.

The anger is easier to hold on to.

So I hold onto it.

I'm avoiding Jacob Black at all costs. If he crosses the room to lift at a station next to me, I move to the opposite corner. If he walks past me, I find any excuse I can to turn around.

Toward the end of class, I begin to let my guard down. This whole hour, I've been obsessively watching Jacob, and he's never once looked my way. Our final station is in the corner of the room, a slightly enclosed area due to the shelves of dumbbells. Jessica sits on the bench a few feet away from me, carefully examining her nails with two, unused, five pound dumbbells sitting next to her, while I actually workout with mine.

"Hey."

My arm stops in mid curl as a gust of warm air brushes my ear. Jacob stands directly behind me, maneuvering his body slightly past mine to appear as though he was only reaching for a twenty-five pound dumbbell.

I turn my back to him, facing the mirror and continuing my curls, pretending he isn't there. Not that I can really do that. Even when avoiding his reflection in the mirror, I'm completely in tune to exactly where he is standing behind me. The heat radiates off of his body in waves. My cheeks flush as my anger inflates with him as much as it does with myself. Why do I allow myself to get so worked up around him?

"Are you trying to ignore me, Princess?" When I don't respond he continues, sidling up next to me and mimicking my movements as he works on his curls. My gaze shoots to Jessica, who is now lying back on the bench with her eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to our conversation a few feet away.

"Let me guess, the boyfriend told you to stay away from me." His wolfish smile spreads, showing those perfect, gleaming white teeth. I half expect to see fangs.

My eyes lock with his in the reflection of the mirror, but I quickly break the gaze, choosing instead to switch exercises and watch my extended arms.

"Doucheward's worried, huh?" He continues talking as though I answered. "That's good; he should be. I can show you things that he's never even dreamed of."

I sigh heavily, letting him know without speaking that I'm annoyed. Does everything have to be about sex with him? Yes, yes it does, my inner voice speaks.

His demeanor seems to change. Shifting his weight slightly, he stops lifting. Chancing a glance at his refection, I notice a hint of vulnerability, but as quickly as it comes, it's gone.

"I'm disappointed in you, Princess. I didn't think you needed his permission to talk to other men."

"I-" I catch myself. He's infuriating! I know what he's doing. He's trying to piss me off enough that I'll talk to him. But I won't. He's won our previous rounds. I won't let him win this one too.

He raises his eyebrows at me. I want to think he's impressed, but honestly, I think he takes my slip as his own win because another smirk is crossing his lips.

Moving toward the shelves, I decide I'm done. I'm done working out and done listening to Jacob's incorrigible arrogance.

As I'm walking passed, Jacob's hand encircles my arm, and he leans to whisper in my ear, "It won't work, you know. You can't avoid me forever."

His words sound suspiciously like a threat.

A/N: Oh my goodness you guys. I am amazed at the responses I got! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I have a basic idea outlined for this story, but the characters and events still surprise even me. I'm hoping to post chapter 4 next week. Might take me some time though because Jacob's bad boy persona is increasingly difficult to write. *Hugs!*