Bella's POV

I followed Edward and Carlisle into the house. "Nessie?" I called.

"Upstairs." A male voice answered. I frowned, why was there a guy there?

We went upstairs. "In here." Edward said, pointing to a room.

"Nessie!" I called, running over to her. I sat down on my knees next to her. She was a wreck. Cuts, bruises, broken bones. The whole deal.

"Mom, I'm fine." Nessie groaned. "Really. Don't worry."

I looked at Carlisle, who was examining her. "She'll be fine, once we get a cast and sling on her." He looked at me. "She heals quickly, remember?"

I nodded slowly, holding back… well, what would have been tears. If it was possible.

Edward groaned. I looked at him, then at the boy in the room. "Hey, watch it." I said, noticing the anxiety and─ this one was really clear─ love in his eyes. "She's only eight."

His eyes opened wide, then he closed them, shaking his head, and said, in a voice too low for anyone without super hearing to hear, "I'm in love with an eight-year-old?"

Nessie jumped up. "You're in love with me?! Ow!"

"Nessie, you have to stay down." Carlisle said, and she lied back down.

"Really, Sam?"

I rolled my eyes and looked at Edward. His name was Sam. Of course.

Sam sighed. "I… I think so." He whispered.

I got up, and walked to the door, Edward hovering over me. "He didn't know." He whispered, rubbing my arms. "Don't do anything rash."

"I'm not making any promises." I whispered back.

"Don't put any pressure on it." Carlisle said

"Mm-hm. OK." Nessie answered. Carlisle and Sam helped her up. I ran over to her and gave her a hug. Edward did, too. Sam walked over, and I stopped him.

"Don't even think about it. She's eight and taken."

"Taken? How can she be ta… oh… 'Jakie'…" he looked down. "Imprinting." He whispered. He turned around and left. A short girl walked in with a bitten pickle in her hand. "Hey, guys. What's goin' on? You must be Nessie's family. How's it hangin'?"

We stared. "Fine. You?" I said after two seconds.

"I'm eating a pickle. What else can I be but great?" She smiled.

"Oh. Good, that's… that's good." Mine, Edward's and Carlisle's noses all wrinkled a little. I wondered how people liked that. I mean, even when I was human I hated it.

Nessie's POV

I took out my phone and dialed Jakie's number.

"Hello?" a bored voice who was obviously not Jakie answered.

"Who is this?" I asked cautiously.

"Marcus."

"Well… Marcus… is Jake there?"

He sighed. "Yes."

"Well… can I talk to him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because Aro doesn't allow prisoners to use these strange equipments." He said, still

sounding bored.

"It's a phone, stupid."

"Does it seem like I care?"

"Not really." It didn't seem like this guy cared about anything.

"OK, then. Goodbye."

"Wait!" But he already hung up. I pressed END. "Shoot." I dialed another number.

"Hello?"

"Uncle Paul?"

"Yeah. Nessie?"

"Yeah. Is Uncle Sam there?"

"Uh, yeah, hold on a sec. Sam! It's Nessie!"

"Hello?" another voice answered.

"Hey, Uncle Sam. It's me."

"What is it?"

"I know who has Jakie."

"Who has who?"

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Who?"

"I'm confused."

"Me, too."

"Who's Jakie?"

"Oh. Jake."

"You know who has Jake?" The surprise in Uncle Sam's voice was really insulting.

"Well, I don't actually know who the guy is, but I know his name."

There was silence.

"Well?" Uncle Sam urged.

"Well… what?"

"The name?"

"And just why should I tell you?"

He sighed. "Nessie…"

"Goodbye." I hung up.