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"Bella?! ...Bells?"

I shuddered in response. This voice was familiar, but it echoed strangely and I wondered why it sounded so panicked. An icy gust of wind blew across my face and with a jolt I remembered that I had passed out on the cold ground. I tried to move but it seemed my limbs were frozen in place.

"Bella?" His voice sounded closer this time, and I tried to answer him, but something was stopping me.

What the…?

I must have slept with my mouth wide open because my tongue was frozen to the icy forest floor.

Of course.

I rolled my eyes at my idiocy. I pulled my head back in an attempt to free myself just as Jake broke through a cluster of trees to my left. Damn. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his panicked expression disappear as a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. I narrowed my eyes.

"Oh, Bella, Bella, Bella." He chided.

"Shuh uh!" I gargled. He clamped his lips together, trying not to laugh at my newly developed speech impediment.

"A li-uhl helb woo be nice." Apparently, this was too much for him, seeing as he doubled over in laughter at my words. Angry tears sprang to my eyes and my cheeks flushed scarlet; this was so humiliating. Jacob regained his composure and crouched down in front of me, still smiling.

"I'm sorry Bella, but you really should see yourself." His expression turned serious as he took his own advice and examined my frozen limbs, my blue lips, and the uncontrollable shivers that rocked my body.

"Shit," he mumbled under his breath. He pulled out a thermos that I hadn't seen before and carefully poured it around the ice that held my tongue captive. It was freed easily, and Jacob set the cup down to scoop me into his arms. I sighed in relief at the contact of his warm flesh and smiled as I felt him flinch against my cold nose on his chest. Serves him right.

When I picked my head up again, we were already in Billy's cozy cabin. Jake marched straight to his room with me in his arms, and dropped me gently on his bed. My teeth chattered furiously, and Jake frowned at me.

"Shh, Bella." He cooed at me. "Your lips are blue," his large fingers traced my icy lips and I marveled at their warmth. Once again, I wondered if I could ever move past my pain. Could I be with Jacob in this way? This really wasn't so bad, his warm fingers on my lips. His worried expression suddenly settled into a smirk.

"You know Bella… we need to get you out of these wet clothes."



If I could move, I would have slapped that impish grin off his face. Pervert. He noticed my disapproving scowl.

"Bells," he whined, "you could get sick." I contemplated this more pleasant alternative, but these wet clothes were awfully cold.

"Fine!" I snapped at him through my shivers. Shock poured into his deep eyes, and I almost laughed at the wild look of surprise on his face. But my unexpected answer would not deter him. He slowly crawled over my body, and his big hands slipped to the hem of my drenched sweater. He raised his questioning eyes to mine, looking for permission, but all I could do was shiver.