The loud noise of thunder awoke me. I sat up startled forgetting where I was. I looked around and nothing was what I expected. I was at home in my bed in my old tattered pajamas. Was it all a dream? I got up and looked out my window, it was dawn. I ran my fingers through my hair compulsively, wondering if my brain could even conjure up a dream of that magnitude. I spotted the one lone purse that I brought to Forks from Arizona. I knelt down beside it and dumped it out. My passport was the first thing to fall out. I opened it up warily, not sure if I wanted it to be a dream or reality. The passport revealed the authenticity of my trip, it was stamped for Italy. I sighed, a small part of me wished it never happened, that Alice never showed up and Edward was still out of sight and out of mind. I shoved everything back into the satchel bag and put it back into my closet where it would remain. I passed a mirror on the way back to my bed. I looked terrible. Jetlag, maybe? My hair was coated in grease and I looked as if I hadn't slept in ages. I was in desperate need of a shower. I went back to the closet to retrieve my favorite pair of blue jeans and sweater. As I was leaving my room I noticed a note on my night stand. I dropped my clothes on the bed and picked up the note and carefully opened it.

Bella,

I hope you are not upset with me without saying goodbye. You know where I am. Me and my family are waiting on you when you wake up. I will give you all the time you need to think. Just don't do anything reckless, I can't lose you again. Call me.

Edward

A short and simple note, it was innocent enough, but before I ventured to the Cullens I had to talk to Jacob first. My heart raced, I was still unsure if Jacob would even want to talk to me. The thought made my throat close up and heart drop. I planned to leave after my shower. I rushed in the shower. I didn't give the warm water time to untie the knots in my back. I began conditioning my hair before my shampoo was washed out. When I was sure I was clean, I hastily shut off the water and started out of the shower. My foot slipped on the tile floor and I just barely caught myself on the shower curtain before my naked body collided with the hard ground. I need to slow down before I kill myself, I thought. I dried myself of poorly and threw on my clothes. I tied my wet hair back into a pony tail. I hurried back into my room and grabbed my truck keys and ran down the stairs. I started for the door knob when I heard Charlie yell for me.

"Bella!" He asked, looking surprised to see me.

"Dad, listen I can explain," I stuttered out. I completely forgot about Charlie. I was grounded for sure.

"That's alright Bells, Jacob already told me that you were planning on staying the weekend with Alice. I just didn't think you'd be home this early," Charlie replied while sipping his coffee.

"Um, yeah. The rest of the Cullens came back last night and I came home because I didn't think you'd want me to stay with the boys being there and such," I lied poorly.

"They came back?" he asked looking surprised and a bit disappointed.

"Yeah, Esme missed Forks, I guess." I replied a bit impatiently.

"So is that where you are going now?" he asked.

"No," I replied quickly, "I'm going to see Jacob."

"Oh well, Good. Better get going then," Charlie replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Dad."

The cold air hit me in the face, I still wasn't completely awake and it didn't help that my hair was dripping wet. I carefully made my way into my truck. I stuck my key in the ignition and turned it. It did not turn over. No not now, please. I tried it again this time pumping the gas pedal. Still nothing. You have got to be kidding me! I jumped out of the truck and opened the hood pretending to know what I was looking at. I was lost, I didn't know where to begin. I sighed put my head against my arm.

"Need a ride?" Charlie asked making his way down the steps.

Normally I would do anything to avoid an awkward ride with Charlie in his cruiser, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Sure," I replied. "Thanks"

"No problem."

The ride was short and quiet he didn't bring up Edward at all, and I was thankful for that. He did ask me how things were going with Jake. Whatever that meant. Charlie never hid the fact that preferred Jake over Edward.

"Do I need to come back and get you after work?" Charlie asked as I exited the cruiser.

"Probably not, Jacob should be able to give me a ride back." I replied.

"Okay, have fun! Don't worry about your curfew tonight." He replied excitedly. "Just be back before 3," He amended.

I waved good bye as he sped off for work. He never usually sped, but then again he was never usually late. I turned to face the house. My heart began pounding. I was incredibly nervous. What if he didn't want to talk to me? I pushed all the negative thoughts out of my head and headed toward the front door. Before I could knock the door opened abruptly. I was startled and stepped back missing the step to the porch. Immediately a warm arm wrapped around my back before I went tumbling backward.

"Already trying to kill yourself? Have you even been back for a whole day? That must be a new record, Bells." Jacob joked. To my surprise his face or tone held no resentment. I was sure he'd be angry or at least upset.

"Shut it, Black," I replied playfully. "You're the one busting open doors like Rambo."

He made a half smile at me.

"You know that didn't make any sense, right?" He laughed.

"I'm not good at thinking on my feet," I admitted.

"Or walking on them, apparently," he retorted.

I shoved my fist into his bare chest. He grabbed my balled up fist and pulled me into his arms. I mimicked his actions and wrapped my arms around him holding tightly.

"I'm sorry," was all I could mutter out.

"No I'm sorry. I was so selfish before. I just don't want to lose you, you're my world."

How could I be so lucky? He astonishingly wasn't mad. I didn't deserve him. I didn't deserve either of them, but somehow they both wanted me.

"I don't deserve you," I replied shaking my head.

"Don't say that!" He smiled back at me. "Follow me, I want to show you something."

Jacob led me back to the garage, where we spent countless hours laughing and fixing up the bikes.

"Tada!" He said as we turned the corner. "I fixed the Rabbit. Now we can use my car and save you some gas."

"That's awesome, Jake!"

He grabbed my hand and led me to the passenger seat. He was elated. I could tell that he took a lot of pride in his work.

"Let's take her for a spin!" He exclaimed while opening my door.

I got in reluctantly, he might be a little too excited to be driving. He slid across the hood of the car like action heroes do in movies. I giggled. It was too easy to be happy around Jake. He jumped in through the window of the driver side and started the car. I turned quite as he started down the road. I thought we were going to the beach, but we were headed for Forks.

"What's wrong, Bells?" Jake finally asked.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Come on, you can't lie to me anymore." He probed.

"I'm just thinking about my options," I admitted.

"Options, what options?"

"Edward, I just don't know what to tell him."

"You don't have to tell him anything. You did your part, you saved him, and now they should be gone for good."

I hesitated to speak. I should have thought to explain to him earlier.

"Jake, they're back, all of them. I don't think they are planning on leaving again. Edward is trying to win me back."

The car skidded to stop and he pulled off of the highway. This is exactly what I was afraid of. He was going to overreact.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I was getting around to it."

Suddenly he was out of the car slamming the door hard on his way out. I shuffled trying to unbuckle myself to go after him.

"Jake!" I called after him.

He stopped in his tracks and turned to face me.

"So what, you thought you could just drag me along while you made up your mind! Did you think I wouldn't care? That you could just switch out between us like you're some divorced couple's kid?"

"Jake please," I begged with tears in my eyes. "Let me explain."

"You know what Bella, you were right about one thing," he said as he turned around to face me. "You don't deserve me," He spat at me coldly pointing at me.

He turned to his newly running car and punched the hood of the car leaving a huge dent in it. He was angry, too angry. If he didn't cool it he would transform in front of me. I suddenly thought of Emily and her scars. I shuddered

"Jake calm down," I commanded. I put my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"Don't touch me!" He threw his arm back and I stumbled back onto a rock falling back in the process.

"BACK OFF, BLACK!" I heard a familiar voice in the woods. Edward.

"Edward, no!" I yelled jumping up.

"You brought him here!" Jacob yelled in my direction.

"No!" I yelled.

"Bella, are you hurt, my love?" Edward asked approaching our direction.

"I'm fine. It was an accident!" I sniped back.

"If you ever touch her again…"

A pair of pale white hands wrapped around me and flung me back, standing in between me and my estranged lover. Edward shoved Jacob back into the air and Jacob changed into his wolf form. This was going to be bad.

"No, no! Stop!" I ran in between them putting my arms up defensively. "You can't hurt each other without hurting me!" There was a double meaning in my words.

I looked into the wolfs huge brown eyes. Begging him to stay to give me a second chance.

Jacob's growling ceased. I lifted my hand to comb through his fur.

"Please, calm down. I can explain everything."

Suddenly Edward was at my side pulling me away from Jake.

"He's too dangerous Bella back off." Edward commanded.

Jacob's demeanor changed in an instant. He was on his heels again growling viciously in our direction and then he was gone disappearing into the woods.

"Jacob!" I yelled after him attempting to follow, but my arm was restrained by Edward.

"Let go of me!" I screamed yanking my arm away.

"Don't you understand, Bella? If I wasn't here he would have hurt you and I cannot allow you to be hurt."

"I had it under control and so did Jake. You were the one that pushed him over the edge!"

I was enraged and upset. The tears began to roll.

"Why the hell did you come here anyway?"

"You disappeared, Bella. Alice couldn't see you anymore and I panicked so I disabled your truck, but then she saw you leaving with Charlie and heading to the reservation. I rushed to the border but you were already at Jake's so I waited and you guys just so happened to pass the border when Jake stopped the car. I had Alice drop off my car at the border in case you needed a ride."

"I don't need a ride from you!"

"Bella, you have no way home. Please just get in." He motioned towards the silver Volvo just around the corner.

I walked past him in silence not taking even one glance at the car. I would walk. It was only about a ten mile trek. There was no way I was getting into a car with him no matter how cold it got. Edward didn't say anything else to me rather followed close behind in his car. I was so pissed I could not believe Edward would follow me all the way out here. Actually, I could. He was always so concerned about my safety and the Cullens seemed to believe that Jacob and the pack were dangerous. It was too one-sided and hypocritical. The Cullens were just as dangerous as Jacob and the pack. The wind began to pick up and the sun faded into a silhouette of clouds and then I heard it, thunder. It was quite and far away at first but became closer with each step. I instinctively grabbed the hood of my jacket and pit it up. I was already freezing and the rain was about to make it ten times worse. Edward honked the horn. I glared back at him. Rain began to fall hard and cold. I shivered I felt like an icicle and have probably only gone one mile.

"Bella!" Edward boomed. "Get in the car now!" He sounded panicked.

"Why?" I asked.

"Victoria." It was all he said it was all he needed to say. I rushed to the Volvo, fearing for my life.