A big thank you to JeseniaLove, Jigokunooujo, Jonesky and Ashes2Dust18 who have started following this story, much mental love and imaginary hugs sent your way.

I hate to inform you once again, I am still living with my parents, and you know what that means! I still do not own Stephanie's characters.

Enjoy.

Three

I woke up that Monday morning slightly happy. Not only had I finally finished my English essay, I had my first kiss and ended up with a new friend. As much as I would love to be Jacob's girlfriend, I think it was too early in our relationship to be thinking about that. We'd only known each other for a few days and I didn't even know if he liked me that way. He looked pretty much regretful of the kiss so that gave me the idea that he didn't like me, but I liked him. I wondered when I would see him again. Hopefully soon but I didn't want to sound or be too eager around him. I didn't know if he could handle the full on Charlotte Riley.

I pulled myself out of bed, annoyed that the week had come around so soon and grabbed my towel and went into the bathroom.

I woke up early enough to wash my hair in the mornings, I then towel dry it and let the air get to it. If it doesn't dry in time for school, I switch on my hairdryer and run it over a little. I don't really like using my hairdryer but it's there if I want it.

I change into a simple grey top, with sleeves this time, and long enough to cover my bruise, a blue jacket and light blue jeans and of course my vans. I did love my vans. I put the books I would need for that day in my bag and went downstairs.

My dad had already gone out to work and my mum's shift didn't start till ten so she was sat at the dining room table ready a newspaper and slowly eating her toast.

"Good morning" she mumbled, somewhat engrossed in an article.

"Hello" I simply replied. I put my bag by the door way and opened up a cupboard to get out a bowl for my cereal. It was that time in my mind where I only ate one thing for breakfast for a certain number of weeks. Last time it was bagels with butter and before that it was pain au chocolat. That time it was coco pops. I poured a generous amount of milk into the half full bowl so filled it right to the top. I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and sat at the table as well.

We sat in silence for a while, I looked up at my mum and she still had her eyes glued to the paper.

"Is the paper that interesting?" I asked.

"Well, it says here there have been bear attacks in the woods, but they can't find the bear" she informed. She had then placed the paper on the table, the page with so-called interesting article open.

"Do you actually believe everything that's said in the media?"

She ignored me and got up. I watched her go over to the phone and dial a number. Her friend answered and I was sure that she was going to talk about the bear attacks with her.

I carried on with eating, not really thinking about what my mum had told me.

Soon enough after I had finished my breakfast I heard the familiar car horn coming from outside. I grabbed my bag and shouted goodbye to my mum but I don't think she heard me.

I ran to the car since it was raining again and I slid into the back seat. "Hey guys"

"Hey" Mike Newton and Izzy Heard, my lovely best friends chorused.

"Did you finish the English homework?" Mike asked as we drove off into the rain.

"It's not in until Wednesday but yes I did" I replied. "Did you?"

"I tried but, Frankenstein is such a hard book, do you think you could help me at lunch?" he asked. He looked round and my, fake puppy eyes and I rolled mine.

"Fine, only pointers though, I'm not going to tell you what to write"

"Of course, otherwise that would be plagiarism"

"Like you would care"

We drove to school, all the while chatting and exchanging stories of our weekends. However I didn't tell them about my escapade with Jacob. I didn't know how they would have taken, so not saying anything was a better decision.

Jacob Black has the reputation of the 'res kid' around our school, the kind of people the Forks High kids didn't hang out with. Everyone's aware of the 'gang', I now know them as Jacob's friends, and their antics. Rumors went around that they all took steroids and that's why they're all so tall and muscly, there was another saying that they were all involved with illegal cage fighting or something stupid like that, I couldn't see Jacob fighting, he's too nice and kind though he did look like he could punch a few whale's hard enough to knock them out, however I wouldn't have suspected he had actually done that.

Besides, if people knew about Jacob and I being friends, who knows who might've seen me differently since they already saw Jacob as an outcast to my side of town. I didn't mean to sound vain, I wanted to spend time with Jacob, but if they did find out I was hanging around with the 'res kid' I didn't want to be treated differently. Time would be the best, tell my friends slowly that I'm friends with him.

We arrived at school in time to see all of our friends, Ian Harley, Oscar Franks, Rachel Franks and Quinn Geldof and caught up with each other on what happened that weekend. The bell finally rung and another week of school began.

My first lesson was history, and as much as I loved the subject, my teacher Mr Bates managed to make it boring somehow. His monotone voice was really just the icing on the cake. However, as much as that lesson was a contradiction, I did get to sit with a friend. She didn't hang out with my other friends; she hung out with her 'family'. I learned that they weren't really family, since most of them were dating each other, but their adoptive father and mother Dr Cullen and Mrs Cullen took them all in. Alice, my history friend, dated Jasper who was brothers to Rosalie. Rosalie dated Emmett who was brothers with Alice and Edward, Edward dated no one. Alice only had high praise for him but he was very, very quiet. I only knew Alice out of the lot of them, but Alice said they were all really nice.

I sat down in my seat, the one next to me empty, however as I noticed this, the classroom door opened. She had pixie hair and it bounced when she floated in. She was small, and her particular clothing style complimented her figure. She was much smaller then I was, I was always jealous. Also, she always had perfect skin, but it never tanned. I tanned but my skin wasn't as flawless as Alice's was.

"Hello" she greeted with a sparkly grin. I wasn't sparkly as in sparkly, it was just she was so pretty, every thing about her was a special, beautiful thing.

"Hey" I moaned. Monday mornings weren't my thing, which is what I wouldn't say about Alice. She always looked like she had come out of a ten year sleep, always awake with plenty of energy.

"How was your weekend?" She always asked this on Monday mornings, and I always answered with an extremely boring reply. I guess I could've told her about meeting Jacob but then again, I didn't trust her with this information as well as my other friends.

"I did my English essay, and, that's it" I smiled. "What about you?"

"Hiking again" she half grinned.

"Jesus, Alice, you go hiking every weekend. I just, I…I don't understand why you're not tired. If I went hiking for example, I wouldn't refuse to go to school the next day simply because I know my legs wouldn't be able to do simple movements"

She laughed her usual chime, and I smiled in return. Alice and her family did go on a lot of hiking trips together, mostly every weekend but some days she would take she would take time of school to go out if the weather was nice enough. I would've loved to take time off school, but not go hiking; I couldn't really have it both ways.

History was boring enough to call it normal and the rest of the morning went on in a blur. I thought about Jacob during Chemistry, how ironic. I wondered what he was doing at that moment, then I made a little joke to myself and supposed he was fighting with a professional for money.

The day started to get a little harder when a few people stared at me during the lesson before lunch. I tried to ignore it but it became harder when I noticed they were whispering as well. It had me distracted and I couldn't concentrate on work, what were they talking about?

I finally got answers when that lesson had finished and I walked out. I saw Oscar, Ian and Izzy walking down the corridor and they all looked like deer in the headlights when they saw me. They then quickly paced towards me and dragged my into the lunch hall. They pulled me over to our usual table where Mike, Rachel and Quinn were sat, hunched together in deep discussion.

They pushed me down onto one of the free seats and took their own.

"What the hell was the man-handling for?" I asked, slightly pissed that Oscar had grabbed my bruised arm quite forcefully.

"There are rumours" Rachel simply said.

"And? Are they to do with me?"

"Yes. And a certain drug abuser" Izzy smiled. It wasn't a sweet smile like usual, more of a concerned, wicked smile. I wasn't used to those.

I just raised my eyebrows in response; I really had no idea what they were on about.

"Were you or were you not in contact with a certain male from the reservation on Saturday?" Oscar asked in a sarcastic/serious tone.

I hesitated with my answer. Should I tell them? Might as well, what did I have to lose?

"Yeah, Jacob Black"

They all looked around at each other and a few of them smiled. Mike however looked concerned.

"Why in the world were you hanging out with Jacob Black of all people?" he leant towards my direction with a stern look on his face.

"I can have other friends other than you guys" I defended. I had no idea why they were getting so concerned, well; I had no idea why Mike was getting so concerned. The others, well, they looked mischievous if anything.

"What did you do with your new friend?" Mike scoffed. I furrowed my eyebrows at him; this was not how I wanted this particular conversation to go.

"I went round his place for dinner"

"Were they all there?" Rachel smiled, looking hopeful.

"By 'they' you mean…?"

"The rest of Jacob's gang. Sam, Paul, Embry and the rest of them. Well, where they all there?"

"Yeah, they were. Guys, do we have to talk about this? I'm hungry; I'm going to get some food"

I stood up and grabbed my purse. I walked over to the start of the lunch line and I could feel almost everybody's gaze upon me. So from that moment on I was the school's gossip. The pale face seeing the 'res kid' that takes steroids and competes in brutal fighting for money. But for some reason I liked that I was associated with Jacob in that way. Jacob didn't know that we were gossip, so I got the chance to indulge in it all. I'd never been gossip before, I was just known as one part of my group, but at that moment I was Charlotte Riley to everyone, and I loved it!

As I was collecting my food, I spotted Alice with her 'family'. They looked like they were in a deeper discussion than Rachel, Mike and Quinn were. I kept looking in their direction though; they were an interesting bunch of people. Apart from Alice I knew that the rest of them didn't speak to anyone but each other which I had always found a little odd but I just went with it.

Alice looked over suddenly and smiled. I smiled back and looked away, a little embarrassed that Alice wasn't the only one looking over. The rest of them glared, especially Rosalie and Edward.

I continued to avert their gaze as I paid for my lunch, even the lady at the register gave me a few looks, and as I walked back to my table, I quickly looked over at Alice's table, and luckily they all were back in conversation again. Apart from Edward though, who often looked out of the corner of his eye, but I thought nothing of it though.

I ate my lunch in silence as the other were talking amongst themselves, Mike sometimes giving me a dirty look once in a while.

The day went by at a moderate pace. I tried to concentrate in my last lesson, but once again I was receiving stares and could hear whispering. I groaned in my mind, I couldn't wait till the day ended, and boy was I right.

The bell finally went and I almost ran in the corridors. I saw Izzy and Mike waiting outside and I actually ran towards them. However, my presence wasn't received as well as I thought it might've been.

They both looked at me with concerned looks.

Finally Mike spoke up, "Did you tell him to come get you today or…?"

I had no clue what he was on about until Izzy pointed towards the bottom of the stairs and I knew what they were on about.

I saw the back of a large man. But I knew that he wasn't a man, it was a teenager. He stood by a motorbike, resting up against it whilst students stared. Jacob made an unexpected appearance that day, and I was genuinely shocked and happy. I needed to speak to a sane person.

I walked down the stairs and walked his way. He turned his head and smiled, and I smiled too, however I was slightly confused.

"Hey" he greeted, still smiling his charming smile.

"Hey, and, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying not to sound accusing.

"I've come to 'see you soon'" he smiled. I did say 'see you soon'. He replied with 'definitely', however I didn't know he meant the very next day, at school, where gossiping teenagers were.

"That you did" I looked up at Izzy and Mike and ushered them down. Izzy had to practically pull Mike down the steps. They joined us eventually.

"Jacob, this is Mike and Izzy" I introduced. Izzy said hello with a smile in which Jacob replied politely, whereas Mike nodded towards him, probably a little intimidated by his astonishing height.

"I hope you're not planning to take our Charlotte on that death machine?" Izzy inquired. I just looked at her, a little embarrassed.

"Actually, I was planning to do just that" he shrugged his shoulders, never letting his smile down.

"Well, you can't because she's coming home with us" Mike but in, a little too quickly.

"I can assure you she perfectly safe with me" he let his smile go a little. "Besides, it's Charlotte's choice"

They both looked at me, and I felt myself go slightly red in the cheeks. Luckily, Izzy was there to save the day.

"Come on Mike" she sighed. "See you tomorrow Char"

I watched them walk away and turned back to Jacob, who had returned his half smile to a full one. I couldn't help but smile as well.

"I really hope you were joking when you said I was getting on that thing"

"Nope, I'm an experienced driver, you have nothing to worry about if you hold in tight" He climbed on it and kicked the engine on. He turned round and passed me a helmet.

I rolled my eyes and put it on, but before I secured my bag wouldn't fall off whilst driving.

I climbed on behind Jacob, wrapped my arms around him tightly, now regretting my decision and feeling nervous with all the people staring. But Jacob revved the engine and we were off.

I shut my eyes for a minute, but when I thought we were safe, I opened them slowly. Trees whipped by quickly, I couldn't believe how fast we were going.

It was all going fine until Jacob turned a corner unexpectedly and that's when I grabbed his shirt quite firmly with both hands. I heard him chuckle softly and I hoped to God that he couldn't feel my heart beat since it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.

I finally recognized the scenery as we slowed down, and that's when Jacob turned into his own driveway. I still had an iron grip on Jacob shirt but even as he slowed down I didn't release from it.

He stopped outside of his garage and turn off the engine. We I could tell he wanted to get off I released my grip. I got off first. I was a little wobbly when I stood up properly and tried to get used to standing again whilst Jacob swung his legs off the bike and stepped so he was in front of me.

I must've looked shell shocked since he was laughing a little. He helped me get the helmet off and I spoke with a shaky voice. "Can you take me home in the car please?"

He laughed heartily whilst he took the helmet off my head. I smiled too but I was nothing but serious.

"If you want" he replied as he opened the garage doors wide. He then pushed the bike into garage and I followed.

I looked around and saw a half built car in the corner with lots of tools and parts placed neatly around it.

He obviously saw me looking at it. "Do you like it? It's the one I'm building from scratch"

"It's awesome, how did you… do you know what? I'll let that be a mystery"

"Not really into cars, are you?"

"I'm not the biggest fan, no. But what you've done, I'm properly amazed at" I smiled his way and he smiled back.

"Once it's finished I'll take you for a ride in it if you want?"

"I'd prefer that than the bike if you don't mind"

He laughed again and started to guide me towards his house after he shut the garage doors.

"Are you hungry?" he asked after he joined me in walking.

"Did you just take me to your place so I could eat your food?"

"No, that's a bonus. I thought you could meet some of my friends"

"Oh, okay" I must've not sounded convinced since I felt Jacob's gaze upon my face.

"Is there something wrong with that? You don't have to meet them if you don't want to"

"No, I want to meet them. It's just there are some rumors around school involving your friends" I didn't mind telling Jacob some of the rumors, just not any particular ones.

"And what do they say?"

"Well, there's one where you all take steroids. You don't take steroids, do you?" I asked skeptically.

Jacob laughed in response so I took that as an immediate no.

"Just checking" I smiled.

"You've got nothing to worry about, Charlotte, they're very friendly once you get to know them" Jacob reassured and opened the front door to his house.