I shut the window and sighed, a smile playing on my lips. I had always been happy to see Jake, but it had never been quite like this before. Everything seemed a bit different now, even though I wasn't exactly sure what our relationship was anymore. However, I would have to think about that later, considering the fact that I couldn't ignore the guilt of leaving Amber feeling so bad.

After I got dressed, I paced my room just trying to focus on one thing at a time. Amber… Amber… Amber… Jacob…. Shoot. I was extremely frustrated with my self for acting so out of character and breaking all the rules. I couldn't even control my own thoughts.

I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Renesmee!" My dad's voice traveled from the living room. Goodness, what could I have possibly done now?

"Yeah?" I said, a bit frustrated, as I entered the room in seconds.

"You're not grounded anymore." My dad said almost smiling. Almost.

"What? Why?"

"Because you've been awfully good lately, and I believe you wanted to ask me if you could go somewhere anyways." He said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, um, yeah." I said, wondering if he knew how I had received the invitation. I counted backwards from one hundred to disguise my thoughts.

"Are you hiding something?" He raised an eyebrow. Ugh, he was so annoying sometimes. My mom was lucky.

"Can I go to Seth's birthday party?" I asked too quickly, ignoring the last question.

"Sure," This time he smiled. That was…unexpected.

"Great, thanks!" I spun around and I was almost free from what I knew was coming when-

"Wait!"

"Yes dad?" I said through my smile, almost already hearing what he would say.

"I was just curious, how you do you feel about imprinting?" He looked at me expectantly. My mom walked through the door just then, and sat by him on the couch.

"Oh, um, fine." I bit my lip and started counting faster. Hiding stuff was hard. I guessed it was because I had no practice, considering I've never needed to before.

"You're blushing." My mom smiled.

I wondered if she still thought I had a crush on Jacob. "Sorry."

"So, you guys aren't…"

"What?" I wrinkled my nose.

"Do you still have a crush on Jacob?" My mom wondered aloud. Yep, that confirmed it.

I can't believe she just said that! It was like the whole situation started over again! "No, just friends. Well I have to go pick out a present for Seth! Bye!"

I almost ran out the door, but not before I could hear my mom giggle. Wow, that was a really awkward conversation, but in a way I was proud of myself that I hadn't shown my dad anything.

I was about to open the front doors to the other house when they swung open to an excited looking Alice. "You're not grounded anymore! This calls for celebration! How about shopping?" Geez, she talks fast.

"You'd think you'd get bored of shopping after all these years." She already had her purse in her hand and was pulling me toward her Porsche while I talked.

"Well you have to get something for Seth don't you? And I can't see if he'll like it or not, so this is important!"

"I was actually thinking more of a gift card…"

"Oh you're so boring! But speaking of werewolves…"

I groaned, not needing to be a mind reader to see where this was going.

"Well, now that our lives aren't in danger and you're not grounded, we need to talk about your first crush!"

"Why? Is it like, a rule that everyone has to bug me about this?"

"Oh come on, no need to have an attitude! We're just having fun!" I frowned at her enthusiasm.

"We're just friends."

"But I've-"

"Alice!" I cut her off, "Remember that purple shirt we were looking at a few weeks ago?"

"Yes…"

"It would be perfect to wear to the party!" She grinned when I said this.

"You're right! And I know just the shoes!" Distraction complete.

I sat on the front porch of the house and waited for Jacob. I was wearing the new purple shirt and dark jeans, but I had managed to convince Alice not to get the shoes. I always felt too guilty when people bought me things I didn't need. I had also convinced her to just let me buy Seth a gift card. I mean really, what do werewolves like as gifts?

My mom walked out onto the porch and sat next to me on the steps.

"Hey Mom." She hugged me around the shoulders.

"Are you waiting for Jacob?"

"Not anymore!" I jumped up as I saw the headlights coming down the driveway.

"Hey Bells!" Jacob called out of his window as I jumped in the passenger side of the car. She smiled at him. "Thanks for letting her come!" He added as he started to back out.

I smiled as we walked down to the beach, looking forward to seeing all of my La Push friends. Jacob's hand brushed against mine, stupidly causing my stomach to get butterflies all of the sudden. I looked up at him. He laughed as he slid his fingers through mine and we walked hand in hand to the party.

Amber POV

I stared out at the unusually clear sunset through the windows of the little diner, wondering if I should bother following to La Push. When I was alone like this, I felt stupid. I mean sure, I could hang out with someone from school, but I missed them.

The waiter set down my drink while I scanned the restaurant. There was barely anyone here, probably because on nights like this everyone went to the beach with their friends. There was only one other person here my age, and he sat alone at a table too. I wondered what made him look as depressed as he was. I sighed.

The teenage boy looked up at me, probably because I'd been unintentionally starting. He smiled a wide smile at me, and his white teeth contrasted against his tan skin like Jacob's.

I smiled back, blushing, and then sipped my drink and continued staring out the window. Somehow, my thoughts always trailed back to Jacob. Maybe it would have made a difference if I told Nessie that I'd liked him for the past six months. Yeah, probably not.

I jumped when the seat across from me creaked.

"Sorry to scare you," The Jacob-looking boy laughed, "You, uh, looked lonely."

I wasn't really sure what to say to that, considering it was true, but I didn't want to seem pathetic. "Yeah, I guess so." He looked so much happier than he'd appeared a few minutes ago.

"I'm Seth." He smiled again, but he looked at me weirdly, like he wasn't sure if he was seeing something. I ignored it and smiled back, just to be polite.

"Amber."

"Shouldn't a girl like you be at some kind of party on a night like this?" He looked curious.

"A girl like me?"

"Yeah, you know, like, um, pretty."

"Hah, no I'm not the partying type." I looked away, a hint of acid in my voice. Maybe he would leave.

"Well, that's cool. I mean, here's a pretty cool place to hang out." He looked like he actually wanted to talk to me still. Maybe the night wouldn't be so bad after all. He was cute, but he wasn't Jacob.

"Yeah, if you want to hang out with people twice your age and drink coffee." I gave him a half smile, suddenly wishing I didn't appear so pathetic.

"Okay, point taken." He laughed.

"So, why are you here alone? Shouldn't a guy like you be at a party or something?" I batted my eyelashes.

"No, I'd rather hang out with people twice my age."

"I don't think I fit that requirement then." I took a sip of my drink and looked at him. His eyes were even the same color as Jacob's.

"I think you'll do."

I bit my lip, but I didn't have the chance to reply because the waitress brought my cheeseburger to the table. I wondered what Nessie would say if she was in my situation. She would probably say something all cute. I shuddered.

"Are you cold?"

"Oh, no, sorry," He laughed but didn't say anything. "Aren't you going to eat dinner?"

"Nah, I'm not hungry." Now laughed as if there was some joke about not being hungry. I suddenly felt awkward for being the only one eating. I took a sip of my drink with shaky hands and set it on the edge of the table. Due to my luck however, it tipped right over on his lap.

He caught the cup, but not before the coke spilled all over his jeans. "Oh my god, I'm sorry!" I said as I handed him napkins from the dispenser.

He still looked totally at ease. My cheeks were flaming. "Don't worry about it." He smiled and didn't look away from me as he wiped up the mess.

I bet Nessie would have spilled her drink all over a cute guy. Ugh.

The rest of the dinner went more smoothly. This Seth guy seemed to be into me, which was surprising. He was so funny and easy to talk to, and I was shocked at how easy I could respond. We laughed at the man that had fallen asleep at the bar and Seth threw a french-fry at him. We talked about school and friends, and I found out that he was friends with Jacob. I wondered if he knew that Jacob could turn into a giant wolf.

About fifteen minutes after I was done, the waiter brought the check, and I found that I didn't really want to leave.

"I'll pay." Seth said, smiling brightly.

"Oh, no. I can't spill a drink on you and let you pay, you didn't even eat!"

"Don't worry about it," I tried to grab it but it was already in his hands. "You gotta be faster than that!"

I couldn't help but smile stupidly.

When we both walked out into the parking lot a frowned. "We should like, hang out a again sometime. If you want." Wow, I was smooth.

"Hey, actually, I was supposed to hang out with some friends at the beach tonight. Do you want to come with me?" Some friends? Like…Jacob?

"Um, is that okay?"

"Of course it is! I can drive you back here later to pick up your car."

Normally I wouldn't go off with some random guy I just met, but this was the first time I'd felt happy in days. "Then sure, sounds like fun."

Nessie POV

"Ugh, where is Seth?" Leah sat down, exasperated, and folded her arms.

He was supposed to show up two hours ago, and we had all been sitting around the bonfire just talking and waiting for him. There was a table with an enormous cake on it, and another one that held the presents (mostly gag gifts from the other wolves).

"He'll come around sooner or later, I've never known that boy to resist a party." Billy Black chuckled and took a bite of pizza.

"He didn't know it was a party." Leah grimaced.

"Chillax, Leah." Embry leaned back in the chair and accidentally flipped into the sand. I laughed at him.

"You wanna go vampire?" He asked, leaping up and towering over me.

"Bring it on." I smiled an innocent smile at him.

"Guys, it's Seth!" Emily pointed up the hill that Seth was walking down with a blonde girl.

"Everyone hide!" Quil said, running behind the pizza table. The rest of us just laughed at him and got to our feet, ready to welcome Seth.

I watched him and the girl as they got closer, and realized that it was Amber. She was laughing, and he was looking at her like…

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SETH!"

Oh Seth and his oh-so-smooth ways of picking up the ladies. This isn't going to turn into Amber and Seth's story btw, cause I hate Amber (: If you just read this chapter you should really really review it! *hopeful expression*