"You know you love someone when the mere thought of losing them brings you to tears."

Ryan and I sat together at the bar in the kitchen, the night sky peeking out from the windows. I was eating some cold cereal for dinner, not feeling very hungry. I was wearing a too big t-shirt that use to belong to Emmett and some lumberjack sleeping pants. I could feel my eyes drooping as I fed myself the circular shaped cereal from a spoon. I was so tired, after all, it had been a long day. Ryan and I went for a visit to Port Angeles, just the two of us. All was forgotten about what happened when he kissed me for the first time, I really didn't think about it that much. Our day was full of enjoyment. Ryan bought me a lot of clothes and some shoes...well, lots of shoes, actually.

Ryan gazed out one of the windows, the look on his face letting me know that he was bored out of his mind. I had to admit, me eating breakfast for dinner wasn't exactly that interesting.

"Thanks for everything today, Ryan," I said, after chewing and swallowing my cereal. "You really didn't have to buy me anything."

Ryan shot his head over to me, a dazzling grin dancing across his lips.

"You're welcome, it was my pleasure," he purred.

With that said, Ryan leaned in forward and planted a small kiss on the side of my face. He placed one of his cool hands on the nape of my neck. I blushed furiously, my cheeks turning a vibrant red color.

I felt guilty about lying to my family, but the deed had to be done. I couldn't take it any longer. I had finally cracked. If I told them the truth...then I didn't know what the outcome to that would be. Fights and agruments and silent treatments and hate and tears (from only me) would break out. Maybe even a war. I hated to think of that, though. That was a stretch, but who knows? Werewolves and vampires just don't apparently mix well...

Why so prejudice? Because they thought the other type smelled bad? Jealousy of fighting skills? I didn't understand...

"Thanks, Jade. I owe you one."

I opened the door of Jade's car, my heart beating hard and quick against my chest. I could feel warm blood pumping rapidly in my purple colored veins on my arms, which were covered with gooseflesh. I could not believe that I was really doing this after I had decided my descison weeks and weeks ago. Why was I doing this to myself?

"No problem, Cee. Just call when you're ready for me to pick you up," said Jade."Audrey and I have got you covered, no worries." She touched my arm lightly, giving me a reassuring smile. Jade right now reminded me of a mother who was trying to calm down her nervous child.

I struggled to smile back. The corners of my mouth lifted up slightly. I got out of the car then, waving at Jade. She waved back, the reassuring smile still planted on her lips.

I walked on First Beach, trying to figure out where I should go. I tried to remember the steps and directions from last time's visit. I needed to find a small red house that was somewhere in the green forest. I noticed that I wasn't alone on the crescent shaped beach. A couple that looked to be La Push locals were standing together, their shoe covered feet in the gray water. The boy was tall with short cropped hair, while the girl had long, dark hair that blew softly in the wind. The guy had his arm around his petit girlfriend. I hatched an idea once my eyes laid on them. Maybe the couple would know where I could find the house. It was worth a shot. I walked over to them, hearing the girl giggle at something amusing her boyfriend had said. He looked down at her with total admiration and desire, his dark eyes lit up at her sight. It was like he knew that she was the one for him. They reminded me of how my parents look at each other.

"Excuse me?" I said, timidly, feeling slightly awkward. I didn't want to disturb their date. I was about two feet away from the couple.

The couple turned their heads to see who was talking to them. The guy's eyes popped wide open for a moment, then he relaxed quickly. Maybe this guy knows who I am, I remember thinking to myself.

"Hey, what's up?" greeted the boy. He was then fully facing me, so was the girl. The boyfriend still had his arm around her.

"Hi." I smiled a little, trying to relax and play it cool. "Do you think you guys could help me out?"

"Sure, no problem," said the girl in a friendly voice. I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. "What do you need?"

"Do either of you know Jacob Black?" I asked, my heart pumping furiously once again.

The girl looked up at her boyfriend, her face hopeful and bright. He didn't glance down at her. Unlike his girlfriend, he wore an expression that looked disappointed.

"Yeah, we know him," said the guy, his expression and tone of voice matching.

"Do you know where he lives?"

"Uh-huh, we're good friends with him. Do you want us to take you to his house?" asked the girl, smiling widely at me.

"Please," I responded, grinning.

"Follow us."

The girl grabbed her boyfriend's hand, pulling him along behind her. He still did not look very pleased. I wondered why. As instructed, I followed along behind the couple, the girlfriend in the lead, clutching on tightly to the boy's huge hand.

"I'm Claire, by the way," she said when we were in the green covered forest. "And this is my Quil."

The girl named Claire said her boyfriend's name with such adoration that it was almost sickening. The boy smiled finally, giving her an appraising, loving glance. I knew them at once. Mom told me about how Jacob's friend called Quil imprinted on a two year old. If my calculations were correct, the little girl was seventeen now.

"I'm Cecilia."

"We know," said Claire, giving me a wink.

Quil shot her a look of warning, his eyebrows pulling together slightly. Claire ignored him as she lead the way in the green forest. She was grinning a little bit for some reason.

"Here we are," announced Claire a while later, pointing at the small, shabby, red house.

A lump formed in my thoart. I swallowed it down with difficulty. Butterflies were churning like crazy in my stomach.

"Thank you so much," I struggled to say.

"Our pleasure," Claire said, throwing her arms around Quil's waist.

"We'll see you around, I guess," added Quil, his big palms on Claire's back.

"Bye."

As they turned to leave, I heard Claire whispering to Quil. I couldn't make out what exactly she was saying, but I knew it was nothing back stabbing or rude. She sounded very excited and giddy in a hushed voice.

I took many deep breaths as I knocked on the front door to the house. The butterflies in my stomach were moving frantically.

Then suddenly, there he was, shirtless might I add, in front of me. His russet face looked drawned and colorless, as if he were sick. His hair was shaggier and much longer than the last time I had seen it. He really did not look healthy at all. He looked like he was in pain. A deep, horrible pain. A small, flabbergasted sound came out unintentionally from me. I covered my mouth, shutting myself up. When his eyes locked with mine, they, like Quil's, popped open.

"Cecilia?" Jacob asked, his husky voice sounding utterly surprised.

"Hello, Jacob," I said. I noticed that the color in his face was slowly returning. How strange.

"What's wrong?" He sounded and looked alert. Why would he think something was wrong? Did I really look that nervous to him? Ugh.

"No, no, nothing is wrong," I said at once. I hugged my arms around myself, trying to remain sane. "I'm perfectly fine, but you don't look like you are." I scanned him from his feet to his head. "Are you ill? No offense, but you look horrible."

Jacob ran his long fingers through his hair. He bit his lip.

"Nah, I'm not sick," he answered.

"Oh, well...that's good to hear."

"What's up then, if nothing's wrong?" asked Jacob, his voice hard.

I looked down to the earth, hesitating with what I was planning on saying. Why did this have to be so difficult?

"I just, er, I just...I just wanted to come see you. To see how you were doing, what you were up to lately." I felt my cheeks blush pink and the corners of my mouth twitch up into a small smile. "To be honest," I continued, looking down onto the ground. I took another deep breath. "I've missed you."

I took my glance away from the ground and focused it on him. Jacob looked surprised by what I had just said, his thick black brows furrowing together. He let out a strong sigh.

"I've missed you, too, actually."

My insides were dancing the tango when Jacob told me that.