A/N - I know, it's been too long. This chapter is pivotal.. I hope it comes across the way I want it to.

Chapter 16 – Friction

"Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a non-existent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict."

Waking up in Jakes arms had been heavenly. So much so that I woke with a satisfied groan escaping my lips, signalling my approval for his warmth – even if I was a bit sweaty – and for his comforting arms around me. I was so tightly held that I felt completely and utterly safe especially from my own thoughts. Thoughts were dangerous things these days. If I so much as let my mind wander down one path, it always led me back to worrying about all things vampire.

Now I not only had to worry about Victoria but I also had to worry myself about Edward and all of the Cullen's. I was all to blame…

Stop.

I had to stop myself. Jake suddenly woke up and stretched out fully on the small couch. This was not a good move for him. However good he made me feel, he had just succeeded in throwing me unceremoniously from the couch before he woke up properly. He didn't even notice me falling he seemed so tired. He kept stretching and turning around on the couch. He looked so cute. Like the old Jake. Not the hard exterior I saw when he was with the pack – but the soft features of a teenage boy. So peaceful.

I was still sat on the floor when Billy rolled in. He laughed at my spread-eagled form on his living room floor. I blushed. All of the heat my body still held from Jacob was rushing to my face; I could bet that my cheeks were enflamed with crimson.

"You want some breakfast, Bella?" Billy asked quietly from across the room. I nodded to him, took one last look at my Jake, and left for the kitchen with Billy.

I decided I had better cook him something as he had let me sleep over last night. I rummaged through the fridge, occasionally taking out some ingredients for a big omelette. I made it bigger than we needed because I could bet Jake would smell the food even in his slumber. Billy mumbled thanks to me as he switched on the radio.

"I'm happy for you two. He was so sad when he couldn't tell you everything, you know. I hate to think what he would be like if you two ever split up, Bella. Jacob has been through enough this year, he has risen to the challenges, but he needs you. There is a lot going on and I just need to know you will stay by his side when…" Billy trailed off. I had never heard him be so stern. It was touching to see how much he loved his son. He wanted his son to be happy – he didn't need to worry about me. When did he think I was going to leave though? He couldn't have known about the visions too, could he?

Then I remembered Billy is on the council, one of the tribe's elders.

"Billy, oh. I promise I won't ever leave him. I won't. I know I need him too. Sometimes too much. But he's my best friend and now more so I won't ever let that go. I really do owe him my life… all of them. I think I would be still a zombie or even dead by now if it wasn't for the pack." I felt my cheeks burn up again. Discussing my feelings for Jake with his father hadn't been on my agenda for today. I served up the omelette with my eyes directed firmly to the floor.

As expected, a loud grumbling came from the living room and Jake's frame suddenly filled the kitchen doorway.

"G'Morning. Smells good." That was all Jake could muster before grabbing the plate I was putting down for him and proceeding to hoover up the food. I wondered if he even knew what he was eating. I picked at my own small portion but ended up giving most of it to Jacob.

Billy thanked me as I said my goodbyes. I seriously needed a shower before work, so I was in a rush to get home. Jake followed me to my truck, a sheepish grin plastered on his face.

"It was really good sleeping next to you last night, Bells." He murmured as he kissed me briefly, leaving me breathless as I started up the rusty old engine. My mind was in a blur as I pushed my truck home. Jake has stood watching me pull away from his house with a smug grin on his face. It was beyond me how he managed to make me feel like this, even after knowing him for so long.

It also hit me that Jake and I hadn't been on a proper date yet. I made a decision then. I would ask him. I wondered if that was okay. I rushed home quicker with anticipation. I ran in the house not bothering to say hello to Charlie as I bolted for the phone.

"Can't get enough of me Bells?" There was a smug element to that voice.

"Jake, we haven't been on a date…." I decided it was better to start early and get it over with. I felt his smile before he answered me.

"Of course… I have just the idea. Tomorrow night, at eight, meet me in the forest just beyond the north trail. There's a clearing you'll see it. Love you Bella, goodbye." Jake hung up the phone abruptly. I was excited even so for our first date.

That day and the next flew by in a haze of excitement. I was too distracted to even work properly; Anna had been begging me to tell her what was going on with me all day in work. I couldn't give in. If I told Anna, she would think us very weird to be going out so long without ever actually having 'gone out'. That would be an awkward conversation for sure.

"See you tomorrow…" Anna said suspiciously when I ran for my truck after closing up shop. I had a lot to do.

His panic began now. How had he let this happen? He had been blind for too long. He could not go back to them, not now. The flames in his eyes were too obvious. He had betrayed everyone and they would know. She was gone now. Gone to kill his heart. Gone to tear away his last connection with humanity. He didn't deserve that connection but he desired it. He had to run now. Run like he never had before, he had to run faster than the wind.

My truck slid down what seemed like the endless journey home. My mind was racing – what would I wear? I never had been a girl for dressing up, but I guessed as Jakes date was in the forest, I wouldn't have to make too much of an effort. I ran to the front door, wondering about make-up. It was times like this I despised Renee for leaving Charlie. He could just about give as much advice as I could on this particular topic.

"Hey Kiddo. I ordered in a pizza, there's some left in the oven for you. How was work?"

"Thanks. Quiet." I simply answered as I huffed and puffed to run up those stairs. Charlie caught me just in time; he stood before the foot of the stairs, making his presence known. He was giving me the chief-of-police-stare. I didn't like it one bit.

"What's going on Bella?" He asked me, his eyes narrowing. I had to laugh – Charlie was totally clueless. I explained that I was going on a date, making him squirm. "…with Jake?" He added just as I finished. When I nodded his eyes twinkled. I was glad he liked Jacob. Well, Charlie loved Jacob.

I ran upstairs. I got undressed and into the shower – I figured this was an easy place to start. I let the hot water sear down my back, feeling myself get clean again. My pale skin turning red raw.

Her feet opened up onto an endless world of possibility. Her senses would not he heightened as soon as she reached that canopy. She stopped to look around her. Her army was silent and still. She laughed to herself; knowing exactly what they were made to do. She knew her elevated knowledge on the beasts of this region had helped her in the end. But this was it. Today was the day.

My body shivered as my skin instantly cooled in the air outside of the shower. It wrapped the towel snugly around me. I wanted to wear something nice, but something I could be in the forest in. I had new hiking boots; there was a good start. I wandered back to my room distractedly. Drying off I pulled on some underwear. Then, a pair of jeans – my newest ones. Even if I wasn't going to dress up, I wasn't going to look scruffy in old clothes out there on a date. I had never thought about how I looked as I left house, it had never bothered me. I wasn't one of those girls who thought constantly about make-up and how they looked.

It was his fault and he knew it. His head hung low on his shoulders as he slinked through the back-alleys of the city he had grown so accustomed to. He had to avoid the main ways now. He didn't look remotely human anymore. He needed help. He had to stop this. He could never ask them for help, could he? He looked at his reflection in a window as he passed. His eyes picked out every detail, every beautiful detail but also every single flaw in his mirrored frame. He had grown monster-like in the last few weeks. He was weak and lifeless. Even worse than when he had left his life alone without him. He hated himself – but he had to fix this. How could he help when he could not resist…?

I knew I needed to call Renee as I stared at the little black pencil in my hand. I could never get this right. I dialled the number. I could hear Charlie downstairs opening a can of beer and relaxing into his favourite spot by the TV.

"Bella? Bella, is that you? I haven't heard from you in so long. You have a lot to tell me, yeah?" Renee might have been miles away, but she was a worse gossip than Charlie or Billy. I decided to ignore her questions for now, but I did assure her it was me.

"Mom, I need your help..." I started. I decided maybe I didn't need make-up. No, no. This was a date. I had to. "… with some… um, make-up?"

I heard Renee gasp comically before he started to rant on about make-up. Textures, colours, shading, coverage… This was too much for me. I had to stop her before she took it too far. I didn't need to know everything to just put on some liner, surely?

"Mom, calm. It's just I have a date with Jake and I wanted to look nice. I mean, I can't ask Charlie, now can i?" She chuckled lightly at my joke. Charlie was hopeless with girl's things. He practically died when he had decided to give me 'the sex talk' when I had been with Edward.

"Okay, honey. You shouldn't use blush because…" She trailed off into a slower and altogether more understandable lecture. I did my make-up while on the phone to her. Renee was good at this. I looked like a very glamorous woman when I finished up. I was glad that her erratic personality didn't rub off on her make-up advice.

I stood up after a long-winded goodbye to Renee. She had wanted to know all about Jake and me. I had told her all that I could manage without feeling embarrassed. I told her that Jake and I were serious, that we spent a lot of time together and that I loved all of his friends as well. She had gushed about how perfect it sounded. She had also told me that everyone had said we would be together when we were younger. We had played together a lot as children. I looked up and down my appearance.

I wanted to scrutinize it. I wanted to look especially good for Jake tonight. Jake deserved a little effort from me for a change. I did look okay. I certainly wasn't dressed extravagantly. I put on a shirt over my jeans and a jacket. My warmest jacket. Forks' weather was not to be underestimated. It hadn't rained yet today, but that was never a guarantee.

Running. She ran like there was nothing else she wanted to do. This cleared her mind wonderfully. She didn't need it, her mind was on the right track and she knew it. But she allowed her intuition to take over as she needed to push herself harder. She had to get there in time. She needed this done as soon as she could. Her thoughts had already eaten through her. They bit and tore at her – making her need this even more. So she ran. She ran towards that pull he had tried to keep her from. He hadn't turned out to be with her at all. But she had fixed that. He wouldn't come here. He couldn't come here. Not now. Not now his eyes showed his hunger. That hunger that he had kept satiated for years like he was ashamed of it. Her army moaned behind her. They were not yet ready. They needed some nourishment. She saw just the opportunity ahead. She led them off track…

After a quick goodbye to Charlie – and assuring I would be home tonight – I left. I was so enthusiastic. I wondered what Jake had in store for us. In the forest: it was such an unusual location for a date. My truck chugged a little as I raced to get there on time. I only had to drive to the other side of town, and then walk for a while.

I passed by the coffee shop. I smiled. I saw Anna sitting inside, with a small lamp; she looked like she was reading. I was so jealous of her living arrangements. She got to live over her shop, it was perfect for her. I loved working with her. She had helped me to become more outgoing with customers and also, lessened my clumsiness.

I parked the truck in the corner of the empty car park. I got out and walked towards the entrance to the forest.

He rushed through the city. He needed to get to the airport. If he left now, he could make it. Or not. But all could do now was hope. He put on his disguise as he entered the large terminal. He would just have to demand the next flight to the closest point he could manage. The cell rang. The voice was anxious. It was screaming through the receiver at him. He knew how they were feeling. He wanted nothing more than to hand himself over to hell. He tuned into the thoughts all around him. Trying to tune out the torturous thoughts that consumed him was torture in itself. Every way he thought about it, it all pointed back to him. He was to blame. One moment of weakness and he had ruined it all. He had thought his ploys were not noticed by his nemesis. He had thought she trusted him. But she was more cunning than he gave her credit for. He had underestimated…

Although I longed to go and see Jacob as quick as I could, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I put it down to my nerves, and the shock horror of going on a date in the forest. The trees surrounded me. They enclosed me in their strong boughs and shady canopies. This was my world. I breathed in the smells around me and was reminded of Jake. He was like my personal pine air-freshener. His smell was so calming, and he smelled just like the forest. I could hear every little thing that lived in the trees. Scuttling and scraping around here and there. The trees were so alive in the breezy evening. They danced and swayed. I didn't even feel the time go as I stood still a few steps onto the trail.

I knew this trail well. This was the trail that I had walked before with Edward. I was still enjoying the fact that I could think his name with very little discomfort now. He hadn't liked me to walk through the forest though; he always carried me. I wondered if Jacob would insist I be carried through the forest. I hoped not – I was starting to enjoy hiking more and more. The pack must have rubbed off on me.

Satisfaction. They all felt it. All of those weak young ones. Not physically weak, but mentally. She knew they had no control over it, but she could not find it in herself not to hate them for it. They were essentially an army, but her army – her guard. She had to make sure she was getting away with the one she came for. She had left him for dead. She had forced him to feed. He had given in. Her innocent thoughts had taken him away. He was hers. But she did not know she was being betrayed. She knew only herself to be so cunning. Only she herself could have forged a plan so brilliant. Weeks and weeks of cryptic thoughts in his presence – had all paid off. She had made a flash decision to put off the other one. She knew everything would go her way. Her throat burned at the thought of her prey. She could get them both back now. He was tortured, and she would be dead.

Her control was so absolute that she conducted her army like a professional. All of these nomads who had been taken in as easily as the mind-reader. She laughed in her high-pitched electric voice. Her chuckles tinkled over towards the confused others around her. She did not care. She had them now, right where she wanted them. They were hers. And so was she…

I kept on my walk through the narrow trail. It was empty tonight; which did not surprise me. It was a cold night. The air was so frosty I could see every breath I took. I concentrated on my breathing as it was getting harder to walk up this trail. She knew the place Jake had wanted meet. She had seen it only once before. It was a nice clearing, perfect for a picnic – but not in this cold. Anticipated as I was, I couldn't stop almost jogging as I tried to get to my personal heater as fast as I could.

He knew the plane had to be moving slower than usual. It should only take about 4 hours in his private jet. He was lucky to have this now. He paced around the aisles – the crew watching him suspiciously. He didn't dare take a breath in. It was still too soon. He lamented his horrible decisions in the past weeks. He had been so heart broken, so vulnerable that anyone could have infiltrated his mind. His thoughts were barred and he was not focusing on others' as much as he had promised his sister. Another two hours to go…

He hoped he had left early enough…

I came to the clearing just as the evening started to darken. I was still a bit early – like an hour early. I texted Jake. Just to tell him where I was. I assumed he would be around somewhere close-by.

The clearing was small and very shaded. The wind was almost cut off by the thick layer of trees surrounding it. The trail had ended just below the small beaten path to this lovely spot. It was a popular place for campers. In the centre of the grassy spot was a small pile of ash. I smiled as I kicked at it with my boots. I would love to be camping. I probably wouldn't need a fir e though. Even thinking about Jake had my cheeks heating up.

I thought about our kisses. And even though I didn't want to admit it; I thought about the electricity he caused to surge through my body. He made me feel so …carnal. It wasn't like me at all. But I did like it. I had never been made feel more like a woman in my life, it was a good change.

I realised that it was getting close to the time now. He should be here any minute. I was getting so anxious I thought I might faint for worry. But I hadn't worried in days, why start now?

Close now. The scent overpowered her extreme senses. She knew she could smell it… Human. She wanted it. Her throat burned even worse at the thought of devouring it. But it was not the right one, just a passer-by. As they entered the woods, she knew her fate was only moments away…

Jake still wasn't here; it was now just the time he had told me to be here by. If he knew me, he knew I'd be here right now. I relaxed slightly as I remembered he was not going to leave me here. He would come for me – no matter what. My shoulders slumped and I paced in circles around the clearing, the wind swooping down and whipping at my hair.

I tried to become relaxed with the forest. I started to move like the trees – I probably looked like a crazy person – but it worked to focus my energy on the trees. I wasn't worried about Jake anymore and so that made me pluck up enough courage to begin walking away from the clearing.

Oh, the scent. Her scent so close now. Followed by the dog smell coming up behind them… but she knew her army was strong enough. She still thought there were only five wolves…

Her voice egged on the nomads. She strained to follow the scent right to the very spot. The ground blurred underneath her as she pushed herself ever onward.

I knew I had to get out of the forest soon, but I thought I would take a little hike. I was here now – there was nothing wrong with it. I continued on up a smaller trail, but it died out after a minute. I was still feeling het-up so I just kept walking. Walking was the only thing to make me feel safe now. I felt like none of my feelings could hurt me if I just kept on walking.

Pushing, pushing ever closer. She yearned to feel the soft skin give away underneath her hands only. The scent was close enough now. She ordered the nomads to stop. They knew the plan. She did not have to give any other direction. Her mind reeled – they were about to do a huge favour to their race. And she was about to do one for herself…

My walk was stopped abruptly when I heard growls and howls all around me; but not close enough. The worry came back to me and threatened to make me throw up, or worse, faint. I was always a bit uneasy when stressful situations arose – and I was on my own now. I tried to tune in and listen to the sounds of the forest again. It sounded as though the trees were crying along the wolves.

What had happened to the pack? I thought of every possibility. My mind raced. My head spun. I heard lots of noises. But none were the ones I wanted to hear.

She saw the brunette standing alone crumpled against a tree. The forest had erupted and the human had lived up to her name and faltered. As she watched she admired that which would be gone from the face of the earth. She knew that family hadn't time to get here so soon. She could take her time. She could take her…

The trees rustled all around me. I felt as though I was being watched. It was a horrible feeling. But I had to stick it out. I took a deep breath and started towards the trail again.

Just one more step, little Bella…

My breath was jagged and rough. Oh where was he?

Closer…

My world had ended. How had this happened? I was trapped in an icy cage. No release at all. Wolves howled even closer. They were coming for me, I thought. They would take me out of this bear trap. My head reeled again. I slumped.

Yes, she could take her time with this one. It had only just begun. This war.