I wanted to go to Bella's house right away and talk to her. My mind was crazy with thoughts, yet I still didn't know what to say. I felt like I'd already said it all. I'd told her I loved her. I'd told her I wanted to help her. And still I'd lost her. So what else could I say?

I knew I had to think of something. Jacob could already be over there, sweet talking her or whatever it is he plans on doing.

I couldn't let him win.

I sighed and started walking. In a rare occasion, I was sick of being in the woods. It was dark, quiet, and lonely. I wanted to go home. Maybe I'd feel better being alone there.

No such luck. When I reach my house, Sam's sitting on my front steps. Great, now what?

"Sam." I say loudly as I close the space between us.

He looks up and nods. Standing, he wipes his hands on his shorts as if they are dirty. He stays standing on my steps and I stand on the ground below, looking up at him.

"Why are you here?" I ask him, not bothering to make small talk. I wanted to go inside, get away from the dark night.

"What's going on with you and Jacob?"

Of course it's about Jacob. I can't catch a break.

"Nothing." I lie. I don't owe Sam any sort of explanation.

"Do you want me to go to Jacob and ask him instead?"

No.

"I don't care."

Same narrows his eyes at me and I suddenly feel uneasy.

"I think it's obvious what's going on." I say finally, after a moment of deadly stares.

"I want to hear the truth, if you don't mind."

I exhale slowly, buying myself some time. Maybe I should have stayed in the woods.

"The truth..." I mumble under my breath. "I'm in love with Bella." It was easier to say this time, but it was still hard and awkward. I'd never been truly in love before. Not like this. "And so is Jacob..." I add.

Sam looks unaffected by my words. It makes me regret even telling him, it's not like I'd wanted to in the first place. I felt cheated.

"That was easier then I thought." he mutters.

Now I feel as though I am being questioned by the police and I've broken down and confessed. It's like Sam is the officer and he's gotten what he wanted and would now leave. But maybe that was a good thing.

"Is that all you wanted?" I ask him, trying to hide the fact I feel slightly hurt. That's something I could never admit.

Sam takes a moment to speak. He turns his head up to the clear night sky and sighs. After a moment he drops his head again and locks eyes with me.

"Don't be stupid, Paul." he says calmly.

Ouch. I know he's going to give me a speech, so I don't say anything.

"You and Jacob are part of the same pack. You are brothers. I don't want you to fight, but at this point it's probably unavoidable. You two have a tendency to fight as it is. But, please Paul, don't be stupid. Don't hurt yourself, or anyone (including Jacob), over a girl."

He makes it sound easy, like Bella means nothing. Does he think this whole thing is teenage drama?

That made me angry, which was a feeling I was sick of having.

"You gonna give Jacob the same speech?" I ask through closed teeth.

"Yes, I plan to."

"Then why don't you go tell him? I'm tired." I walk up the stars and push right past him. I open my unlocked front door and walk inside. I close the door behind me, leaving Sam alone outside.

I'm woken by the warm sunlight streaming through my wide open shades. I squint at the window and roll over, groaning. I should have excepted this with how clear the sky was last night. It was a beautiful day, but I just felt like sleeping...

My eyes shoot open as I remember everything from yesterday. I remember talking to Bella, her crying, me leaving, Jacob challenging me...

I sit up quickly and throw my covers back. I jump out of bed and stride over to my dresser, opening the top drawer. I pull out cut offs and a green t-shirt. I slip on the cloths and leave my house in a rush, noting the time as I jogged through my kitchen. It was already 12:30pm. I had no time to waste.

Exactly 9 minutes later I was standing outside Bella's front door. I knock once and step back, waiting for an answer. I hoped she would open the door. It'd make things easier.

I wasn't very happy when her dad's face greeted me as the door swung open. I gulped and smiled anyways, trying to be a gentleman.

"Hello, uh, Mr. Swan... Is Bella home?"

He stared at me blankly like he couldn't process what I'd just said. "You're the second boy to come by today." he grunted.

Shit. Jacob beat me. I kept a hopeful look on my face, though. She could still be home. I didn't want to loose my control yet.

"Hold on a second." he said and left the doorway, leaving the door open. I watched him go to the stairs and climb them. Bella must be home, and hopefully not with Jacob.

A few minutes passed and finally her dad came back down. I stood up straighter, feeling totally ridiculous, like I was in middle school going on my first date.

"She'll be done in a few." he said, then disappeared into the other room. I heard a TV flick on and announcers voices of a game. I breathed a sigh of relief, but my breathing is caught again as I see Bella making her way down the stairs. I know it's creepy to watch her, but I do anyways. She's too beautiful to not be looked at.

"Hi Paul." she says slowly, now standing in the doorway.

I never get tired of her saying my name. "Hi."

There's a moment of silence, and I can feel her hesitating. I am too.

"W-why are you here?" she stutters.

"To see you." I say. Stupid answer. I gulp down my spit and add on. "And to ask you if you wanted to go to a movie tonight..."

She instantly looks shocked, and I'm worried that I'll be rejected quickly. I imagine her slamming the door in my face. But she can't. She cares. I know it.

"Like... as a date?" she asks slowly as if she's picking out each word she says very carefully.

"Yeah, like a date." I say without hesitation. Finally, I'm sure of something again. I've always been confident, Bella had fucked with that a little. But I was back again.

"Are you really doing this again?" she asks. Those weren't really the words I wanted to hear.

"Yes, I am." I say with a nod. "Did Jacob stop by...?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing, just... Unless you have plans with him, I think you should go out with me."

She freezes a moment, then takes a breath. "I-I don't have plans with him..."

Everything seems to be going my way again. All I need is for her to agree on the date.

"Then come to a movie with me." I say hopefully but confidently.

"O... kay."

Bingo. I win.

"Awesome." I can't help but grin. "I'll pick you up around 7:30, tonight."

"Okay." she says again, but quicker this time.

"Okay." I repeat. I rub my hands together and grin. She smiles, and it makes my stomach flip. That's a feeling I'm not used to.

"See you then." she says, taking a half a step back.

I was hovering. I didn't want to leave. I closed my grin to a smile and nod. Knowing it's past time to leave, I turn and walk away from her house. It's hard, no part of me wants to leave, but I do. When I hear the door shut from far behind me, I glance back. My eyes travel to her bedroom window, and in a few seconds she appears there. She sees me instantly and freezes for a moment, but then she smiles her perfect smile.

I couldn't help but smile back.