Chapter 13

Edward and I barely have time to sit down with our lunch trays before the table breaks out into a chorus of "Happy birthday, Bella." I should have been expecting it, but I honestly hoped that the streamers and balloons hung on my locker would be all the notice my birthday received. Unfortunately, my group of friends love to celebrate – loudly.

I try to hide my embarrassment with a curtain of hair, but it does little to cover my heated cheeks. Lauren offers me a smile and slightly sympathetic look as if she understands how I'm feeling, and I have to fight to control my facial features lest they give away my blatant dislike of the girl. Her backstabbing tendencies have her on my constant watch list ever since that dreadful morning three weeks ago when I found out she tried to steal my boyfriend. It's amazing how I used to think of her as a kind-of-friend, and now I see that the only person she's loyal to is Jessica.

"So," Alice starts in, leaning forward with her elbows on the table, "since tomorrow's away game is going to be in Rainier that pretty much just leaves Saturday to celebrate your birthday."

I nod. The drive to Rainier is three and a half hours, not including stops on the way. Last Friday's game was in Toledo, and we didn't get home until nearly two a.m. Luckily, (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) the school won't allow the cheerleaders to ride with the football players, which means we get an entire bus for ourselves and plenty of space to lay down on the way back. I sneak a glance at Lauren, doubly grateful that the dance team doesn't travel to away games.

Alice continues, "We thought it would be fun to go to Port Angeles for the concert on the pier. What do you think?"

"That sounds great, but we don't have to go to celebrate my birthday. I mean, we can go just for fun."

Alice and Angela make matching pssh sounds.

"Please, Bella," Jessica playfully rolls her eyes in a 'duh' fashion. "We're going for both reasons. And just so you know, if I can get the band to pull you on stage and sing happy birthday, I will."

"Jess-" I start, and I must look suitably terrified because everyone laughs while Edward places a comforting hand on my knee.

"I'm just kidding!"

I can't tell if she is though.

Edward sweetly kisses me on the cheek. Letting his lips linger near my ear, he speaks softly, "Can I take you to dinner Saturday?"

There's a stupidly wide grin on my face as I nod. When Edward picked me up for school this morning, he gave me a small present: an alarm clock. I laughed and told him I'd add it to my collection. Then he told me he had more planned and he'd give me my real gift later.

"I was thinking we could go to Port Angeles early and eat at Bella Italia before we meet everyone at the Pier." He pulls back slightly, waiting on my answer, though he's still intimately close to me.

"That sounds perfect."

His brightening smile causes my heart to beat faster as he continues conversationally, "Since I'll be fighting for your attention this weekend, I'll have to make every moment we have alone count."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how Rosalie likes to steal you away from me-"

My arms immediately find their way around his neck, cutting his sentence short as I hug him and squeal into his ear.

"Rose is coming home?"

I haven't seen Rose since she left for college nearly a month ago, and I've missed her terribly. Cheerleading hasn't been the same without her there bossing everyone around and pushing us harder. Besides Jessica and Angela, she was my closest friend on the squad.

Edward laughs. "Tomorrow, so you probably won't see her until Saturday, but she's excited to see you too. She didn't want to miss your birthday."

For the rest of the lunch period, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face if I tried.

-~BoM~-

The rest of my afternoon remains uneventful and, quite frankly, boring. I'm sitting in weight lifting class, two ten pound dumbbells in each hand, while Jessica sits on my right, grimacing at her nails and grumbling about needing a manicure. She hasn't lifted a single weight all hour.

Jake is on the opposite side of the room, lying back on a bench with probably three hundred pounds above his chest. His stout muscles bulge beneath his t-shirt, rippling with each repetition. His brows furrow in concentration, and his lips part each time he lowers the bar to his toned chest. Okay, look away now, Bella.

Jake has barely spoken to me these past two weeks. When he does, it's typically a snide comment during one of our many classes together, but for the most part, he ignores me completely. I should be grateful that he's backed off after the way he acted at the game, but instead, I'm left with a hollow feeling in my gut. Part of me wonders if what we did together in the shed meant anything to him at all or if I really was just like every other girl.

Of course you're like every other girl, my rude inner voice spits, Don't you think he would've spoken to you by now if you weren't?

Is it so wrong of me to hope otherwise?

Yes, it reiterates, You're just a bet.

A bet that he's somehow managing to gain momentum in pulling his way. He's succeeded further than I ever thought I he could – further than I thought I'd allow! I can still imagine his hand on me that night, the intimate way that he touched me, kissed me, and made me – oh. And that promise for more? It's kept me up at night. Not to mention all the times I've caught myself staring at his lips, imagining them on my skin again, hoping to catch a glimpse of his tongue as I wonder what it would feel like for him to…

This boy is seriously messing with my mind. I simultaneously want him to make good on his promise at the same time that I never want him to mention it again.

I shouldn't want it.

I do.

But I shouldn't.

"Bella Swan?" I jump, heat flooding my face as I turn around at the call of my name. A small body - presumably a boy's from the sound of the voice, though it's difficult to tell as it's being obscured from view by a large bouquet of white roses.

To my mortification, Jessica squeals beside me, alerting the class to the stranger with a massive arrangement of flowers calling out my name again. Jessica shoves at me, a huge smile on her face while she's pushing me to stand.

"Ri-right here." I wave awkwardly and take the extremely heavy display from the young man. "Thanks."

"Oh my gosh, Bella these are gorgeous!" She gushes, and I set them down on the bench. She hip checks me as she asks slyly, "Are they from a certain sexy boy-toy?"

I feel him moving up behind me even before his husky voice reaches my ears. "Let me guess: lame ass month-a-versary present from the boyfriend? Celebrating that he got to feel you up?"

"It's her birthday, jackass," Jessica snaps.

Jake raises his eyebrow while I look at her with a mixture of awe and surprise. I can't believe she spoke to him like that!

She scoffs, "What? You think I'm going to be nice to him after the way he treated Lauren?"

Oh, right. Lauren.

Jake smirks. "Jealous?"

It's obviously the wrong thing to say because Jessica's cheeks turn red, and I think she's about two seconds away from slapping him. Which, I know from experience, is a really bad idea. Been there. Done that.

"It's my birthday!" I interrupt lamely and not nearly as peppy as I'd intended, but as far as distractions go, it seems to do its job. Jess's eyes land on mine, a tight smile gracing her features as she says, "Yeah, babe. And look! Seventeen roses for your seventeenth. Isn't that clever?"

"More like predictable.."

"I don't remember asking for your opinion." Jessica flips her hair and lands another glare on Jacob. I should be taking notes: How to Stand-Up to Jake 101 by Jessica Stanley. "What would you know about romance anyway? At least our boyfriends know how to keep a girl satisfied longer than one night."

I clear my throat awkwardly. "Jess, they're from my dad."

"Oh." She looks slightly dejected as she huffs a breath through her nose and plops back down on the bench.

Jake takes a step towards me, his fingers stretching out to flick at one of the roses. "This all? Where's the new car?"

I blink at him, stung by the comment until I notice the softness around his eyes. I don't think he meant it to be a biting remark.

"Guess there isn't one."

"Too bad. I heard there's a decent pickup at the junkyard."

I'm highly conscious of Jessica sitting two feet away. She may not be looking at us, but I have no doubt in my mind that she's listening intently. So I don't say what I want to - that I don't think he's being fair to Charlie, who woke me up this morning to a fresh baked cinnamon roll with a candle in the middle - a tradition we've had since I was eight. He'll also be waiting for me at home with a birthday cake and a card with fifty dollars inside.

I could've told Charlie that I liked the truck more than the Mustang last year, but I didn't. I lost it because I was too afraid of disappointing him. Jake was the only person I've ever told his to, and since that night, I've wondered if perhaps the bitterness I have isn't directed at my dad but at myself because when Jake said, You sacrificed your own happiness because you thought it's what you should do? he was right.

Maybe Charlie's motives for buying the Mustang last year weren't completely selfless, but he couldn't have thought what he was doing was a bad thing. I know that my dad can be a bit of a social climber and he's set in his ways, but he's still my dad. He's the only family I have, and I love him.

However, I really loved that truck, too.

"Yeah,' I answer sadly. "Doubt it's still there though."

Jessica tips her head back to give me a confused look, as if to say Seriously?

The corners of Jake's mouth tip up. "Maybe next year then?"

I shake my head in response though Jake doesn't seem to be paying much attention as he's taking a step back with his eyes on the roses, glaring at them as though they've offended his grandmother before turning around and heading back to his bench press.

-~BoM~-

My fingers continuously reach for the diamond teardrop necklace, reassuring myself that it's still there. Edward's arms wrap tighter around my middle, his cheek pressing against my temple as I lay my head back against his chest and we gently rock to the beat of the music.

Dinner was perfect. The restaurant's romantic atmosphere has us both in compassionate moods. Edward has been attentive all evening, either holding my hand or giving me the slightest of touches to let me know how much he cares. After dinner, he gave me my real birthday present. One that I felt was entirely too much, but he assured me wasn't. The teardrop necklace is small and understated but still beautiful. It suits me perfectly.

Rose stands next to us, swaying and mouthing along to the music. Mike has an arm slung around Jessica, Lauren's on her other side, and Angela, Ben, and Alice share a blanket at our feet.

About a half an hour into the concert, the sun begins to set behind the trees, and my long sleeves no longer seem to be enough to keep me warm. Burrowing further into Edward's chest, I grip onto the lapels of his jacket and attempt to cover my arms with it.

"Cold?" His warm breath flows over my neck, causing a chill to sweep through me. I nod in response, trying to hide further into his embrace.

"Here." He pulls away, the cold air immediately taking hold of me where his warmth was. Shrugging off his navy blue letterman's jacket, he drapes it around my shoulders.

"Now you'll be cold," I whine, but I don't dare take it off. Besides, there's something about wearing his jacket that's just... nice.

"I'll be fine. I want you to wear it." There's an intensity in his eyes that I can't explain as he looks at me in his oversized jacket.

"Thank you, but if you get cold, just tell me and I-"

"I'm fine, babe. I have this." He points to the zip-up hoodie he had on underneath.

"Well, I'm freezing," Rosalie interrupts, "Come with me to get my coat."

She doesn't wait on an answer before she's hooking our arms together and pulling me along.

"I'll just wait right here then," Edward sarcastically shouts at his sister. I laugh and send an apologetic smile over my shoulder as I'm dragged away.

"So," Rose begins, "you and my brother are still going strong, I see."

The cheerfulness I felt begins to abate, and though I don't feel like doing it, I force a smile and joke, "Is that smugness I detect in your voice?"

It sounds wrong even to my own ears. Rose sweeps a sideways glance at me. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…" Strong isn't exactly the word I'd use. Edward's obliviousness and my selfish determination to hold on to the boy who loves me whole-heartedly by ensuring he stays in the dark about my secret trysts with another guy doesn't exactly scream strong to me. "…He loves me so much."

Her eyes are sympathetic as she supplies, "It's a bit overwhelming?"

If she only knew. "Yeah."

She nods and doesn't push the subject anymore. Walking all the way out to the parking lot takes a while, but it gives us plenty of time to change the subject to a more lighthearted subject: Rose's latest crush.

"He's a teddy bear. I mean, he's big and muscular and oh, so handsome, but he's such a softie. He's sweeter than any guy I've ever been with."

"Does that include me?" The deep and familiar voice comes from behind us. Spinning around, we come face to face with-

"Paul," Rosalie gasps.

"Hi, Rose."

My mouth unattractively falls open.

He tacks on the greeting, causing my jaw to snap closed. "Bella."

Okay, less shocked that he remembers my name, more shocked that he knows Rosalie. How does Paul - Jake's brother Paul! - know Rosalie? Are they friends?Moreover, what does she - my boyfriend's sister - know about Jake?

Have I mentioned that at this very moment I am completely freaking out on the inside?

Paul's eyes only stray to mine for moment before returning to Rose. He shifts uncomfortably. "How've you been?"

His normally piercing eyes are subdued, his typical grimace is pulled up instead of down, and his usual intimidation is replaced with unease. It's the most civil I've ever seen him, and I can't help but think this is some kind of anomaly that I'm witnessing. Wondering if Rosalie is noticing it too, I glance at her. I don't know if her shocked expression means she's thinking the same or if there's something more going on here.

Her mouth opens and closes once in a daze, but she quickly snaps out of it. Her features harden as she pops a hand on her hip. "Fine. And you? I see they let you out of jail."

My eyes widen of their own accord, and I have to bite my lip to keep from saying something stupid like loudly repeating, You were in jail?

He has the decency to look ashamed, but it only lasts a second as it quickly shifts to anger. He's exactly like his brother that way (or is his brother exactly like him?).

"Yeah, it was sweet of you visit me."

"Visit you?" she screeches, "I didn't even know you were arrested until Charlie Swan questioned me! Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was or how stupid I felt?"

He flinches and runs his hands through his hair, his anger deflating. "I'm sorry-"

"No, I don't want your apology! It's too late."

"Don't say that, Rose! I've thought about you every day since then! Fuck, the moment I could, I tried to find you. I wanted to tell you how I felt about you!"

"How is that, Paul? Because all I remember is you running out on me over and over again for work. Then the next thing I know I'm getting called down to the police station and questioned like some kind of criminal!" Rosalie's voice cracks, and her eyes are filled with tears. It's the most vulnerable I've ever seen her.

"Rose, Baby, I-… " Paul takes a step toward her, his hand raised like he's reaching to comfort her, but at the last moment, he closes his fingers into a fist. "…I didn't want you to know what I was doing. I thought if I was caught I could keep you out of it by not telling you anything. I didn't know some prick was going to fuck that up by saying you were my girl."

His girl? Oh wow, I didn't see that coming. I mean, I could've guessed from the way their conversation was going they had some sort of relationship, but I kept thinking it had to be something else. I've known Rose the past few years, and she never mentioned a boyfriend named Paul.

"Well, they did." Fire returns to her voice. "And now I know what you were really doing when you left me cold and alone in the middle of the night!"

"It's not like I wanted to leave you! I fucking loved you, Rose!"

We both gasp at his admission. My eyes dart back and forth between them while Rosalie keeps her hand pressed to her lips, two tears falling from her thick lashes.

A warm arm wraps around my waist and tugs me back. "Why don't we give these two some privacy, huh, Princess?"

"But they're- I- But they-"

"Don't need an audience," he substitutes for me.

Yeah, okay, Jake's right. Jake! Spinning around, I face him. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you, Princess. Came for the music."

"Oh, right." What was I thinking? That he came here specifically for me? Not everything revolves around you, Bella.

He leads me with one hand on the small of my back until we're at the end of the parking lot and the edge of the concert's crowd. I glance back over my shoulder to where Rosalie and Paul are standing. They're a few car lengths away, Rose's back is to me, and I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I want to know if she's doing okay with Paul on her own, but on the other hand, she's so preoccupied she won't see me with Jake.

When I turn back around, Jake's eyes are narrowed, scrutinizing my appearance.

"The fuck's that?"

Confused, I look down at myself. "What?"

He reaches out and flips the lapel of the jacket right next to the large letter F. "This…" he shakes his head angrily, "doesn't suit you."

"Well," I know it's a little large but it's not that bad, right? "it's not mine."

"No shit. Pretty sure your name isn't Cullen."

My cheeks flush as I pull the jacket tighter around me, suddenly feeling colder.

"Didn't think you'd let the guy brand you."

"He didn't brand me."

"You're wearing his name."

"So?"

He clenches his fists. "He put a stamp on your back that says you belong to him."

"It's not like that! I was cold, and he gave me his jacket."

"Sounds very convenient."

"He's my boyfriend. He was being sweet. Are you telling me if I were cold you wouldn't give me your jacket?"

He scowls. "Fuck, no."

"Right, how stupid of me. I forgot I'm nothing more than a bet to you."

His expression clears, and I can tell he wasn't expecting that outburst anymore than I was. It only takes half a second for his hostility to return. "You knew that going into this, Princess."

Fighting off the lump in my throat, I shake my head, cross my arms over my chest, and turn. As I walk away, I hear him growl, "Christ," sounding thoroughly annoyed. It makes me feel that much worse.

God, what is the matter with me? Why do I even feel like crying over this? He only confirmed what I already knew. Had I really expected him to deny it? If so, I was fooling myself. To think I'd ever mean more to him is laughable. Hell, his precious bike is probably the only reason he's put up with me this long. That and maybe his pride.

Rose is still standing between the two cars where I left her, except now, she's alone. Furiously blinking the tears back, I round the vehicle to join her, glancing around to see that Paul is long gone. Rosalie quickly adopts a façade when she notices me, but her nose and cheeks are pink, her eyelashes still wet, giving her carefully veiled smile away.

She feigns haughtiness. "God, Bella, I'm really sorry about that."

"No, don't worry about it. It seemed…personal."

"It was." She nods, and her eyes water once again. "Dammit." She swipes angrily at her cheeks while inhaling deeply.

"Rose-"

"Would you hate me if I went home? I think-" she takes a shuddering breath, "I need to go home. I promise I'll come over tomorrow. I just - I can't stay here."

"No, I don't mind. But…are you going to be okay?"

She hiccups. "I didn't think I'd run into him. I h-hoped I wouldn't run into him ever-"

Her words are slurred with her tears, which are coming faster and harder now. I wrap my arm around her waist, quickly leading her to the car and ushering her in. By the time I get in the passenger seat, she's draped over the steering wheel letting out everything she's been suppressing. After a few minutes of rubbing her back, she composes herself enough that I start digging through the glove box until I find a wad of napkins and pass them to her.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, Bella. I'm fine now. You should go back to the concert. Enjoy the rest of your birthday."

"No, I'll go back in a little while. Don't worry about me."

She lowers the visor and wipes away the smeared black beneath her eyes. A tiny pang of envy shoots through me that she can still look radiant even after crying. Whenever I cry, it's all tears and snot and red-blotchy spots on my otherwise pale skin – it's not pretty.

"So," I start out hesitantly, "do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really." She smiles ruefully. "But I kind of owe you an explanation, don't I?"

"You don't-"

"No, it's fine." Flipping the visor back to its original position, she sighs and looks over at me. "I guess, Paul and I kind of…broke up."

"What?" My head is spinning. They broke up? They weretogether still? He just said he loved her!

"It was overdue. We never actually broke it off before because he was…" she swallows and looks down at her fingers, "…arrested…and then in jail. I just assumed that the distance and silence was enough of a break up. I guess it wasn't for him."

It takes me a moment to piece together an articulate response. "When did you– I mean, how did you…" Or at least, I try to. Choosing my words has never been so difficult. I don't want to sound like I'm judging her or pressuring for more information, but come on, I'm gonna need more to go on than just that! "Maybe you should start from the beginning?"

"Okay," Rose takes a shallow breath, "I met him at Sticks, a shady little pool hall here in Port Angeles. It was…well, you remember last fall, when my dad kept throwing college applications at me and constantly pressuring me to take on more responsibilities to," she deepens her voice to mimic her father, "better my chances at Ivy League?"

I nod because I do remember that. Dr. Cullen would bring up Rosalie's future at almost every meal, asking if she'd finished her application essay for early admission. He pushed her to join more clubs to add diversity, his suggestions usually ridiculous (Seriously, like Rose would be caught dead in AV Club). But surprisingly, she listened and added more to her already busy schedule. Most days, she wouldn't get home until after nine because she was running herself ragged trying to keep up with Cheerleading, Yearbook, Poetry Club, Spanish Club, DECA, and so many more I can't even recall. She was beyond stressed at the time, but eventually, as the months went, by she had calmed down. I assumed she had acclimated and found order to the chaos, but I'm starting to think I may have been wrong.

Rosalie trains her eyes on the car in front of us as she continues, "He wouldn't stop. I just got to the point where I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't want to waste my senior year narrowing down colleges and writing stupid essays and adding countless hours of community service to a resume that I didn't care about anyway! I was working my ass off because nothing under a hundred percent was good enough." She scoffs. "Not even being Homecoming Queen. Apparently popularity votes mean nothing to Ivy League."

She rolls her eyes while I think back to how happy she was when she won last year. She was literally beaming, and honestly, no one deserved the title more because Rose knew everyone in school. She practically ruled Forks High with her clubs, grades, (and let's face it) beauty. Girls wanted to be her and guys would kill to talk to her. She was always so haughty that I had no idea that she was ever unhappy.

"I was tired of being perfect." The words are whispered and broken. Her lips turn down fractionally. "That's how I found Paul."

"At Sticks."

She shrugs. "I heard they didn't card at their bar. I wanted to- to- I don't know, lash out or something. So I talked Vera into going one night."

This doesn't surprise me at all. Vera's been Rose's best friend since childhood; they're the same age and grew up together as neighbors. She'd follow her anywhere, so it's no wonder that she'd go along with anything Rose suggested, even if that meant sneaking into a hole-in-the-wall pool hall with who knows what kind of inhabitants.

After a moment of silence, I prod further, "And you met Paul?"

"I met Paul," she repeats solemnly. "He terrified Vera. But, God, I was ridiculously attracted to him. He was everything that I was looking for: abrasive, uncouth, rude, and…" she smiles dreamily, "…demanding."

Demanding?

"We met up at Sticks for a while but eventually started coming up with some more creative places to, um, fool around." I swear there's a hint of a blush on her cheeks while full-blown red coats mine. Oh, that's what she means by demanding. "When his boss caught us in his office at the auto shop, he offered to let us use his cabin for privacy."

"You mean you…" I trailed off, leaving the unspoken question in the air.

"Yeah," she breathes.

"But you said you were waiting for-" I stupidly gasp, not realizing until I say it aloud. "You love him."

She nods, her lips pursing as she's trying not to cry again.

Wow. Rosalie not only had a boyfriend that I had no idea existed, but she also fell in love with and lost her virginity to him months ago. Do I know this girl in front of me at all?

"I was different with him, Bella. He made me feel…free or something. When I was with him, I got to be me. Not some perfect imitation of the girl I was supposed to be." A wistful smile crosses her features, and I find myself mirroring it until she pinches her brows together, her thoughts leading her somewhere else.

"God, I was so stupid! We had this like, unspoken rule that we never talked about our personal lives. I was so concerned with hiding my own secrets that I was blind to his." She begins talking in earnest, her words tumbling out quickly. "The first time we were together, I woke up in the middle of the night alone. I was devastated. I thought he was just using me and left when he got what he wanted, but right as I was changing, he came back – fully dressed so I knew he had left. I was so angry and hurt that I started screaming at him. We had this explosive fight, and then he was suddenly kissing me, tearing off our clothes, and pushing me back onto the bed-" She turns to me, suddenly startled by the extent of what she's sharing. "Sorry."

"No! It-it's fine. What happened next?" I blush furiously. "Wait- no- that's not what I meant. I mean, did you find out where he went?"

"Not exactly. I was a little," she laughs humorlessly, "distracted at the time. But later…when I look back on it now, I see all the signs: the way he yelled at his friends for talking about work in front of me and how he'd take off in the middle of the night for the 'late shift.' I asked him once to stay with me, but he said he couldn't, that he needed the extra money. I should've seen it all then, but I guess hindsight really is twenty-twenty."

This all sounds very familiar, so I'm on the edge of my seat, figuratively and literally. "Well, what was he doing? Is it why he was arrested?"

"Yeah." She sighs, rubbing one hand up and down her bicep – another vulnerable motion I've never seen her use before. "From what your dad told me, he was with several other guys – they all ran, but he was caught. He wouldn't name anyone else with him, so he was the only one charged for stripping cars."

Shaking off the mental image of a pole-dancing cartoon car, I ask, "You mean, like, stealing a bumper?"

"I mean they stole everything but the frame in less than five minutes. Apparently, they're quite the professionals."

"Oh," I say out loud, but on the inside I'm screaming, Oh my God, that's what Jake's doing when he goes on those 'jobs?'

"My dad told you all of this?"

"When he questioned me." Her voice cracks, and she blinks quickly. "I guess someone at Sticks gave him my name and description, so he knew it was me."

"What did he want to know?"

"Mostly he asked what I knew about Paul, the garage he worked for, and if I could name the other boys that escaped that night. But I didn't know anything substantial. Hell, I didn't even know Paul had a brother until he asked about him."

Damn, there go my ideas of Rose answering some of my lingering Jake questions.

I should probably be offering her words of comfort right now, but the only thing my brain seems to be focusing on is Charlie asking about Jake. "What happened to J-his brother? Was he arrested too?" Wow Bella, that was about as subtle as a ton of bricks. Do some damage control. "Or his friends?"

"No, they couldn't without cause. Paul wouldn't say, and all I knew was that they worked weird hours at the garage, but your dad said they were already looking into that."

"Why?"

"He thought they were running a chop shop – selling the parts they stole - but he said he was limited by the BIA from going any further into it. The garage is on the reservation, and it's out of his district."

"Wait, I heard that the garage was raided last year. Is that what they were searching for? Stolen parts?"

She nods. "Yeah, they didn't find anything though. By the time that your dad was able to get the BIA to search, they'd had plenty of time to hide evidence."

"How do you know all this?"

"Bella, your dad was – well, he may have scared the shit out of me when he called me to the station, but he was amazing. He could've called my parents at anytime, but he didn't. He treated me like he would you, like I was his daughter. I was grateful for that."

"I'm glad, Rose."

We sit awkwardly for a few moments, both consumed by our thoughts - Rose with her past and me with my present. After a promise to call her tomorrow, I exit the car and begin making my way back to Edward, who is surely worried about where we've disappeared to for so long.

My mind is a swirl of jumbled up thoughts as I weave my way into the crowd, walking until I'm within view of my friends. Edward's head is turned, his eyes travelling over the people to his left, and I know he's looking for me. I take a few steps closer but suddenly stop as a large, dark form blocks me from going any further.

My head snaps up, meeting Jake's onyx eyes. With Rosalie's story still fresh in my mind, I picture those eyes frightened, running in the dark with his friends, then Paul shackled in handcuffs and placed in a jail cell. His voice brings me back to the here and now.

"Still mad at me, Princess?"

"Yes," I answer quickly. My heart pangs painfully in my chest, his question reminding me of our previous words as well as the hurt. I glare at the leather adorning his chest. Stupid jacket, I wouldn't want to wear you anyway.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

"Why?"

He gives me that infuriating smirk, and I immediately wish I hadn't asked.

Slowly, he takes a step closer while I move one back.

"'Cause I wanna make up…"

I try to back up again, but his hand firmly grips onto my hip, pulling me forward until there's nothing between us.

His husky voice lowers. "Like we did in the shed."

My cheeks flush while my fingers press against his leather jacket – a jacket you'll never wear, my rude inner voice reminds me, but you're wearing Edward's.

That last thought has me roughly pulling away and trying to move around him. "I have to go."

He easily catches me by the waist, curling me into him so my back is to his front.

"Jake, let me go. My friends are right behind you. If they see-"

The words die in my throat, and my eyes instinctively close as his hand creeps beneath my shirt, searing the bare skin of my stomach. He whispers, "Then let's get out of here."

My breath hitches. Part of me is screaming to agree and let him take me wherever he pleases, but the more logical side knows that we're in public – so easily able to be caught. I have to move now.

While attempting to wiggle out of his hold, I simultaneously scan the area for witnesses. As I turn in his embrace, my eyes land on a beautiful Latina girl staring daggers at us with her arms crossed. Her outfit screams rocker chic with her jeans stylishly torn all the way up to the pockets, her black shirt hanging off one shoulder and exposing an intricate tattoo. I want to ignore her, but the way she's watching us has me feeling anxious. Jake notices my gaze and looks back as well. The girl changes her stance, flipping her mussed hair as she tilts her head in a "come hither" motion and smiles salaciously.

He winks at her before focusing back on me.

But my heart has already dropped at the action. "Do you know her?"

"No."

I don't believe him. "She acts like she knows you."

"Jealous?"

Narrowing my eyes, I'm finally able to shove away from him, but his iron-like grip on my waist keeps me from moving any further than an arm's length. "No, just wondering what you're doing here with me when you obviously have other offers."

"I told you: I want to make up."

"And this is how you apologize?"

"No, Princess, I apologize orally." Taking advantage of my stunned state, he leans forward, punctuating his point with a nip at my jaw.

An unintelligible sound emits from my mouth as it's suddenly gone dry. Swallowing, I try again, "I-" Shaking my head, I try to reform my thoughts. "I have to get back. I've been gone too long, and Edward's been looking for me."

"Doesn't seem like he's looking too hard." Jake nods his head toward Edward as he shifts over enough to reveal my boyfriend several yards behind him. Lauren has plastered herself to Edward's side, her nails practically embedded in his arm as she flirtatiously smiles up at him.

That bitch!

It'd be considered a crime of passion, my killing her, as I don't even realize I'm stomping toward them until someone grabs my upper arm to stop me.

"Look, he's busy. No one'll notice if we take off now."

My eyes are glued to Edward's face; his uncomfortable expression is plain as day.

"It's not like he's missing you," he adds, but it's the wrong thing to say as my blood boils.

"Like you're one to talk! At least I can see that Edward isn't interested in her! You, on the other hand, are flirting with girls right in front of me!"

His lips twitch. "So you are jealous."

I'd be angry if I didn't believe he's right. Maybe I'm jealous, but the question is, of who? My focus shifts from him to the flirty rocker chick (who's decided she's had enough waiting and has started to make her way over here) to Edward and Lauren. God, why can't anything be easy? My heart is torn in two directions, one dying to keep Jake away from this new girl and the other begging to rip Lauren's face off and stake a claim on my boyfriend.

My decision is made when the voice in my head speaks, You're just a bet to Jake.

"I guess I am," I respond, unsure if I'm answering Jake or the voice. Not giving him another opportunity to stop me, I dash forward and forcefully insert myself between Lauren and Edward. If I claw her a little while shoving her off him, it's completely accidental.

Edward sighs, clearly relieved.

"Oh, you're back!" Lauren exclaims, "Edward and I were just talking about setting up the search party."

She flashes me a sickeningly sweet smile, and I return it in full while wrapping both arms around Edward's waist, twisting so she's sure to see his name on my back. "Sorry, Rose wasn't feeling well. I sat with her a while, but she decided to go home."

"Oh, that's too bad." Lauren's sympathy grates on my nerves. This girl is faker than the C-cup she's wearing. Thankfully, she knows when to admit defeat (for now at least) as she links arms with Jessica.

Edward double checks on the state of his sister then kisses me lightly, murmuring, "I missed you," against my lips.

Guilt crashes through my stomach as I think about how happy we were earlier, but I push it away with distraction. "I feel like I've missed half the concert."

Pressing myself to his side, I continue to watch the band with Edward. A few minutes later, Alice's slim figure slides up beside us.

"Thank God, you're back! Someone," she gives a pointed look at Lauren, "couldn't seem to catch a hint so I went to find you. Where've you been?"

"Oh." My heartbeat speeds up. How easy would it have been for Alice to catch me with Jake!? "I'm sorry. Rose got sick." It's not much of an explanation, I know, but my throat has gone dry, and it's all the words I can force out.

Her brows furrow as she gives me a sad look, though she clears it quickly. Nodding, she tosses me a warm smile. "Just don't make a habit out of disappearing on us, 'kay?"

"Uh…sure," I answer, cocking my head slightly in confusion as she bounces back to her seat on the blanket.

A/N: Hey guys! *waves* I know it's been forever, I'm sorry. I've been trying to finish this chapter up for ages. It just took on a life of its own and turned into a monster. I decided to cut this chapter in half a long time ago but was just waiting on it to be complete before posting. I'm not quite done with Chapter 14 but hopefully it won't be too much longer and you will get the continuation of Bella's birthday! Yay!

On that note, let me know what you loved! I know I didn't shed much light on Jake's history but we do know a bit more about Paul now. Also, what do you think about Rosalie and Paul, I personally, love the idea of their past. But what about you?

The amazingly talented Nikitajuice made me a beautiful manip of BoM Jake during these past few months as well. I highly encourage you to take a look as it is incredible. It can be found on my JBNP Bet on Me page. I plan on adding a link to my FFn homepage as well later.

As always, huge thanks and many, many hugs go to my beta Jkane180. And to my beautiful pre-readers, evermineFF and BellabbBlack, I wouldn't have gotten this far without you!

And lastly, to my wonderful late Nanny, I love you and will think of you often, afterall, I wouldn't be Kissy without you.