Author Note::

Not getting a lot of feedback sadly to say. D:

I guess that's what I get for adding a OC and making it a MC. D:

The next week was spent trying to teach me how to swim. Once school started, I wouldn't have time to walk to La Push everyday and learn to swim. Plus Jake said it gets colder.

I felt like an idiot doing it because I was in a pair of swim trunks and a bikini top. Jake had to hold me in two feet of water while I made weird swimming motions.

That and Jake punched Emery a few times.

We camped out for a couple of days on the beach. I shared a tent with Bella. I wasn't surprised that she also came and hung out with us. We got to know each other more. The only awkward thing was that I could see clearly how she wanted to jump Jake's bones, but was always looking at me scared.

That and Jake punched Emery a few more times after his convenient night trips to the bathroom, that was behind Bella and I's tent.

"I'd give you a ride," Jake sighed into the phone, "But dad said if I'm late to my first day he's going to make sure I'll be just like him; in a wheelchair."

I laughed, doodling into my new notebook that was supposed to be school work that'd come. I was drawing a flower that looked on crack or something. It had eyes, one big and one little. Both wide with a giant smile. "It's okay," I said making the stem, "I'll walk or something. That or ask Bella for a ride in her truck that my best friend made for her. By the way, I still have your smelly shirt framed on my wall."

I got over the truck thing since it happened, but I still like giving him crap about it. Of course his shirt wasn't framed on my wall. "I knew she was coming. She called," he retorted.

"I wanted you to be surprised," I rambled off.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise."

First day of school; surprising. I remember when I changed schools three years ago, everyone ignored me. Here—Bella and I were like celebrities. After the first period, everyone was trying to become our friends or something of the sort. Well more of her than me because her dad was the chief I presumed. By lunch, I'd found a group that was more than willing to let us sit and eat with them. Alex, Crystal, Stacey, and Drew.

They were a strange group indeed. Crystal was more on the preppy side; blond hair, blue eyes, peppy, and even the 'I'm beautiful look at me'. Stacey was more of the academic queen. Black hair in pony tail, glasses, and the correction attitude. "It's 'sit' not 'set'." Drew was closer to the jock type. Basketball shorts were attached to his being twenty four seven. Even with all six feet, he showed the 'I play some b-ball, and I think I can kick your ass. Lets test the theory'. Light brown hair, and equal eyes. Alex, was probably the most average teenager ever. Screen t-shirt, Chuck Taylors, jeans that were just the right size, red hair, and light blue eyes to match. He held the 'I don't care' attitude.

"So like two new girls in one year," Crystal yapped while picking at her salad. Bella and I looked at each other, laughed, and went back to eating our food. We weren't aliens or anything; but we could be considered it. Forks was small, and not many people visit. Alex was wrestling Drew into a headlock, their antics could be heard over a rock concert.

"Hey," I snapped my fingers, "knock it off. I can't hear what Crystal is saying you dolts!"

Stacey sniggered, keeping her eyes on her book. I wasn't the nicest person... First day, and I'm already calling people I barely knew dolts. Maybe that was just okay if it was Jacob's friends.

"Laurel," Alex flopped into the chair next to me, "tell us how you and Bella know each other."

Again, we looked at each other and shrugged. "Welp," I started, "I guess it was pretty much through Jacob." Bella nodded along with me as we continued to eat our lunches. Mmm, fish sandwich. "Who is Jacob," Crystal gushed.

I looked to Bella, waiting for her to take the answer, but her face just got as red as her pudding cup. I rolled my eyes, gosh this girl is more obvious than a pregnant chick!

"Jake," I sighed, "is my best friend. He lives in La Push on the reservation. We go way back since I was six. When I got here last week she was at his house. We got to know each other over... entertainment I guess you could call it." I laughed at the memory of Jake punching Emery as I stuck out my hand to shake hers.

Crystal squealed, "Oh. My. God! La Push guys are so hot! Which one of you are dating this guy?"

Dating? I started to choke on my sandwich, hands going to my throat in order to ease it. Alex smacked my back a couple of times until I spit up the food. I looked at it in disgust, sweeping it into my brown paper bag. "Lies," I croaked out, "Dating Jake is like... incest. Gross." Bella on the other hand... well she was pretty much looking like a baby that was screaming it's head off. Minus the actual screaming.

"Incest," Stacey inquired, eyebrow raised in question.

"Incest. You know, where family does the nasty and it's not only wrong but illegal?"

"So you two are actually related," Drew commented.

"No... we're friends. His dad, my uncle, and Bella's dad are all friends."

They all nodded, still confused. Back to my sandwich. Just before I took a bite, I pointed to Bella, "She's the one that wants him."

"Laurel!" She was already turning to smack me. I held up my hands in defense. Everyone laughed, including herself.

Alex's hand rested on the back of my chair, "So, you're the free agent?" I turned with a questioning look. Free agent? What was that supposed to mean? Like was I single? I opened my mouth to answer, but realized then just how quiet the table had gotten. When I glanced from face to face, they were all starring at the area above my head.

"Do I have a cow lick," I asked, hands going to my head and patting at it randomly.

"No," a new velvety voice answered from behind me, "but you do have... a tad bit of dandruff."

I turned, looking at what could have been possibly the palest guy in the school. He could have been albino. He looked so thin. Like a cancer patient. Oh gosh! What if he was a cancer patient? Before I could open my mouth, he interrupted. "Sorry, but I was wondering if I could steal your friend for a few moments," he asked everyone, but me. They nodded dumbly. Stupid traitors. I didn't even know this guy and they were sending me off with him like it was nothing in the world.

We walked to the lunchroom entrance, just on the other side of the door where he stopped abruptly. "Sorry for being rude," he drawled, "my name is Edward."

"Si, yo llamo Laurel." I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed.

He chuckled briefly, "I've heard. Again, sorry for dragging you off, but I was wondering, by any chance—are you friends with Isabella Swan?"

I nodded absently, trying to piece together just what this guy was asking for. Did he want me to try and hook him up with Bella or something?

"Ahh I see... would it be to much of trouble for you to ask her to meet me after school?"

"I would, but after school we both have prior engagements. Why didn't you ask her, why drag me out here?"

"Well," he sighed smiling softly, "the thing is I'm... shy. It's different talking to someone I don't know nor have interest in than talking to one whom I don't know and have interest in. Or asking some of your friends. They don't really like my family much."

"Not gunna ask," I sighed, "But you should really talk to her about it. Not me. Plus you should hurry, I think she has her eyes on another prize."

I thought he'd question my comment, or even give me an odd look; but he only looked back to the cafeteria and tilted his head to the side. I would have given him the chance to actually do something I thought he would, but while he was starring I left back to the table.

"What did he want," Crystal hissed watching Edward as he walked back to his own table. I quirked an eyebrow, sneaking a glance over at Bella. She was starring almost openly at Edward.

"Just wanted to know about some small stuff. I told him to ask someone else."

"Gosh, no way. Your first day, and Edward Cullen talks to you. He came up to you!" She was gushing and squealing like a little girl.

I turned to Alex, hoping for an answer.

"The Cullens... they keep to their selves. Edward is the worst of them all. He acts like people are a virus. Last year he was partnered up in Drama to act with someone in class, and about almost puked in disgust before he ran out of the room."

That... is very interesting.

The people he was sitting with, looked almost too old for high school. It wasn't their faces, but just the vibe that they were sending out. It was almost like an aura.

I, unlike them, was starring opening at him, starring at Bella. He looked curious and... confused. It looked like he was a cat about to play with a mouse before the feast.

Suddenly his eyes snapped to mine, and the coldest chill soared down my back.

"He creeps me out."

"So what cha think," Alex said walking out of school with Bella and I. The plan was that she drove us over to Jake's so we could hang out and just relax after a long and boring first day. On the other hand Alex wanted me to go to the movies with him; on a date.

"I don't think I can honestly say yes," I replied grudgingly.

"Why not," he smirked walking backwards. I was just about to answer him that I promised Jake I wouldn't, when low and behold Jake was sitting in his truck next to where Bella parked hers. I pointed smiling to him. Before Alex could even turn around, I was already bounding for the vechical while Jake got out to bear hug me. Bella and Alex followed slowly. "Hey Sceeter," Jake ruffled my hair.

I punched his shoulder, "Hey Scabbers."

Bella laughed, throwing her stuff through the passenger side door of her truck. "Why is he called Scabbers?"

"All the scabs this little punk gave me from all her bitin'," Jake replied shooting me a death glare. I rolled my eyes, letting them land on Alex. "Jake! This is Alex, and Alex, this is the magnificent Jako," I said throwing my hands to frame Jake's face. They shook hands, saying hello.

"So, thee Jake—best friend of Laurel," Alex said shoving his hands in his pockets. Jake nodded, throwing an arm around my shoulder and pinching it. I swatted at him playfully. It was like we were still stupid little kids again. We were so silly.

"You think you could get this chick to go to a movie with me sometime," Alex smirked, as if he were the boss or something. I rolled my eyes. Sure I'd love to go to the movie, Alex was adorably cute, but I didn't want to be a big butt face to Jake. Not after what I pulled about him and Bella.

I patted Alex's shoulder, "Sorry Alex. The thing is—"

"Just go Laurel, I know you're dying to," Jake said instead. I quickly shot a glare at him. Was he really trying to play match maker here? I punched him in the arm, "I'll talk to you later about it Alex. As for you," I punched him in the arm again, "we'll talk later too. Imma whoop your ass."

Alex was already over, crushing me into a bear hug, "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow hot stuff."

I made a queer face or something, I can't remember, but Jake and Bella were laughing none the less. "Did he just call me hot stuff," I grimaced jumping into Jake's truck through the driver's side. His deep chuckle came from behind me, "Yeah Sceeter, you is the new hot stuff."

Who even calls someone hot stuff? I mean was he that confident? Well, he was really cute, and just someone average and normal. He didn't really standout, and he wasn't the type to try and stand out.

I've only had two boyfriends in my life. I've kissed three guys including them.

Randy Jinks, was my first boyfriend when I was fourteen. We dated for a good month. Break up; I dumped him because he felt that I shouldn't stick up for myself. That was his job. Example A—day before the breakup; a guy in the hallway told me I had a nice ass. I punched him in his gut, and then spit on his face when he went down. I guess it hurt Randy's rep or something.

Boyfriend dos, Phillip Henderson back in March. We dated for four months. Break up; I dumped him because he slid his hand down my pants. I mean, I couldn't even say I liked him enough to let the kid touch my chest, let alone try a fast one like that. It was probably the worse experience ever. We were at a friends birthday party. Needless to say there was 'seven minutes in heaven' and the fact that we were locked in without even playing. I was just about to break away and say 'I'm done, too much,' and he was already on the move.

Two guys, two kisses; and you're probably wondering who the third is?

I was pretty sure it was Kyle Peterson; which would also be my first kiss.

My going away party just before Mom and I went back to New York for good. There was only four guys my age at that party. The rest were little kids, older kids, and adults that were seeing Mom off. Terry sent me to the closet to get paper towels because Jake just spilled punch all over the floor five minutes prior. My hand reached around for the cord to turn on the light, but it wouldn't turn on when I yanked on it. My hands were guiding me around everywhere to look for the stupid stuff. Instead someone was pressing their lips to mine in the dark. I was too shocked to push them away. I thought it was accidental at first, until they cupped my face and did it again more firmly.

When he pulled away, I tried to follow, but tripped and fell. Once out of the dark space, only Kyle was around. And the creeper winked at me.

Then I beat his ass.

"What you day dreaming about over there," Jake tore into my thoughts. I punched him in the arm.

"Ghosts of boyfriends past," I replied. He didn't laugh, which surprised me, because I assumed that'd be something that Jake would laugh about. I nudged him with my elbow, "Why aren't you laughing? That was meant to be funny kid."

"You didn't tell me you had boyfriends."

I shrugged, only to realize that he probably couldn't see me shrugging. "I didn't think it was important you know? I've only had two for your information."

"What were they like, what happened?"

I slid into a laying position, clasping my hands on my waist. "Well shrink," I sighed, "I think it all happened when I was fourteen."

That got a laugh out of him. He patted my feet that were in his lap, still driving, "And how did that make you feel?"

"I don't know really," I strained out annoyingly, "mature I guess. We dated for a month. I beat a kid up and he yelled at me for it. He's supposed to stand up for me. I broke up with him."

"What did the kid do?"

"Said I had a nice ass."

We sat in silence for a while. I recollected my thoughts. The next one, I didn't tell anyone. It's not something that I wanted to broadcast. When my friends and Mom asked why, I just told them that he broke up with me. I didn't tell them that his hand suddenly slid into my pants in the heat of the moment and I didn't like it.

"Well Laurel, what about the second one?"

"I—" Suddenly I stopped myself. Could I really tell something like this to Jake? Wait—what a stupid question. I can tell him anything... can't I? Well five years is a long time... "I... can I tell you anything Jake?" I felt his leg jerk under me.

"Y-yeah... why would you even ask? Did... did he do something bad to you Laurel?"

Even driving, he managed to look at me with those eyes. Like he looked at me when he asked if I liked Emery. Heartbroken and wanting to rip someone's head off. Brotherly love is extremely incredible I've heard. "Not exactly... it was about a month ago when we broke up. We were at a party... and somehow we wound up in the closet and—"

"Just get to the point Laurel." Jake was seething. His knuckles white and tight on the steering wheel.

"His hand ended up in my pants when I wasn't paying attention. I broke up with him."

We didn't talk after that regretfully. It made me feel like I couldn't tell Jake anything. I mean if he just stopped talking over that...

Bella was at the house minutes after us. Embry and Quil already helped themselves to the fridge on Billy's account. Jake stormed from the truck and straight into the garage. And me; well I'm currently sitting outside the garage while Bella went into the house to get use something to drink.

She offered to sit with me, also noticing how upset Jake looked. Maybe I was being a bit too open with Jake, but that doesn't give him a right to be mad at me. I mean, he asked! Finding my new frustration, I stormed to the garage door, ready to open it and throw him a good punch in the face for being a jerk.

"...Bella nothing! It doesn't matter, I'm still... God I don't even know. What the hell is wrong with me," Jake yelled. The sound of metal hitting concrete met my ears soon after.

"Calm down Jake," Quil sighed, "just give it some time."

"I'm not supposed to feel like this though!"

"Then move on," Embry replied simply.

"Move on? What's that gunna do?"

"Hey, it's just advise, you can take it or leave it. I agree with Embry bro. But it's not like we're shoving the idea down your throat. Do whatever you want."

Whatever dammit. I've hear enough of his bickering about Bella. I opened the garage door more gently then I would have hoped and stormed over to Jake. Embry and Quil's eyes widened. They probably realized how pissed off I was.

"Jacob—" I stopped myself, starring at the empty space next to Embry. "Where's Paul," I asked, finger still pointed at Jake before I started my crazy rant. The three cringed a bit, looking to one another.

Jake looked at his feet, "He doesn't hang out with us anymore. He hangs out with Sam and his gang." An actual gang... on the reservation?

"Are you shitting me? Like drugs and guns and stuff?" Indians did that crap?

Quil laughed, "No. Just their group of friends."

"They distance themselves away from everyone. They think they're better than everyone else," Embry snorted kicking a grease rag.

I scoffed, "Then why the hell did he go hang out with them? He doesn't seem like that kind of person. All three shrugged, seeming to be speechless. I did have a point.

"Laurel? You in here," Bella called from the garage, eyes scanning each face until they landed on me.

"Yeah."

We didn't really talk much in the garage. Just Bella and I watched as the guys wrestled; minus Jake. Instead he just watched us, watching Embry and Quil. The whole time, I spend pondering possible reasons to why he could be mad. I didn't come up with much.

There is option one, what I thought it was. Over protective brother. Which I wouldn't mind as long as he talked to me. The second option I jumped to was he wanted to beat the shit out of Phillip. It fell into place with the first reason. The third was that he was mad at me for letting it happen, which I didn't exactly let it happen. I broke up with the guy after that. Another is that he was mad I didn't tell him about it. That would be my fault, and I could see him being mad at me for it.

The last was that... well he was jealous. This one made me laugh out loud. I mean, why would Jake be jealous that some guy's hand wound up in my pants? Even the thought of him being jealous had me in disgust. We don't think of each other in that way what-so-ever.

I bet Jake scrubbed down his mouth endlessly after the CPR.

"It's getting late," Jake sighed, wiping his face with his hand. I slid off a junk convertible that sat on the side. Bella stood up from a large tire. I glanced over to Jake, would he give me a ride home? The tiredness in his face showed me, maybe not.

"Bella, could you give me a lift home," I sighed, dusting off my jeans of dirt.

"Sure, come on," she motioned to the door. And I thought I'd get away with it, because I didn't think Jake would want to take me home.

His hand grabbed my arm as I was passing. "No, I'll take her home. See you later Bells."

Awkwardness, commenced.

Neither of us said a word during the ride. Yeah it was short, but it felt like the longest one in the world at the moment. The silence was deafening.

Terry's house pulled up, and I was all but eager to fly out of the truck and into the safety of my room. My belt buckle was already off and my hand was to the door handle before he could even stop.

"Laurel, wait," he grabbed my arm. I actually hesitated before I pulled my hand back. Was I actually afraid of this awkwardness? "I'm sorry," I blurted out. I was sorry for a lot of things, like flirting with his friend, being a jealous friend, telling him not to date Bella, and even smacking him around a lot. But mostly I was sorry for letting this awkwardness just... happen.

"For what? You didn't do anything wrong. I asked, it's my fault."

"So you're mad at me."

"What? No, I'm not mad at you at all. I'm just mad at that kid."

And there it was. My giant Jake bear hug that was always warm and never short.

I hugged him back, thankful for the opportunity for it. We stayed like that for a good amount of time. Just hugging and breathing. Finally, he pulled away and looked me in the eyes, "Honestly Laurel, the thing is—"

"You're like an over protective brother and you don't want to know about that kind of stuff. I know."

Just like I'm his over protective sister and I don't want to know about how he pictures Bella in some bikini or something crazy like that.

I thought he'd smile his Jake smile, but I was far from right. He actually looked highly confused. Everything today was surprising me really. We were both knitting our eye brows. And finally, after a long stare down, he let go of me completely. A small smile in place; but not a Jake smile. Just a closed, corner of the lips twitching upwards, kind of smile.

"Yeah Laurel... that's exactly it," he said almost to the air. He was starring at the dashboard while I messed with my cuticles.

"So, you're just going to agree to throw me to a guy neither of us know for a night at the movies," I asked, looking at his ear rather towards his own averted eyes. At my words, they both snapped to mine, but I wouldn't look back.

"No," he said after a few seconds, "because Bella and I are going with."

At that moment, a sudden flare of pain hit directly in my neck. It felt like someone hit me with a bebe. And as soon as it came, it disappeared, and my fingers were itching the flesh to see if it held any after affects. It could have been nothing, but then again, nothing is always everything when it comes to my life.