Oh my goodness I forgot how nice it was to get story feedback! I was literally brought back to 13 year old me staring at her computer and refreshing her email to see if she got a new review or story favorite. Just good feels all around, you feel? I am also very happy to note that a lot of my old readers are still around! ? Like what the junk guys? There is literally no better feeling than knowing a bunch of real life people have stuck with my writing since I was 13? THAT'S INSANE! On another note I am now in college and feel super stressed because wow. Feeling homesick and definitely need to distract myself from what's going on outside of my dorm room - hence the update. A very unedited update because I'm also super sick of editing.

Love you all!

**Jelly-Bean-Jr.

Lakota's point of view:

"So Bella's not that bad," Jacob tries, looking up at me from under his ridiculously long eyelashes in an attempt to seduce me into being civil with Bella. Jokes on him because I can't even be civil with a potato, much less an actual human being that talks and boyfriend/best friend steals.

"She kissed you without your consent - she forced herself on you, Jacob."

"Uh?" Jacob starts, leaning back and giving me the 'are-you-absolutely-bat-shit-serious-right-now-I-am-a-supernatural-creature-and-she-is-human?' look and I grimace, backtracking up just a few steps.

"Whatever, her being technically inferior doesn't mean it's okay. But still, just because there wasn't any forced penetration doesn't mean harassment goes unnoticed. I'm looking out for your best interest. Also my best interest. I'm not really into that polyamory lifestyle." Rubbing at his eyes he glares at me between his fingers. Up until this moment I hadn't really realized how much non-verbal conversations Jacob and I have together. Who knew somebody who had a face that made expressions almost impossible could be so easy to read? Right now what I'm reading -clear as day, mind you- is that Jacob wanted very much to be done talking, but was also very determined to be the best boyfriend he never was. A for effort, I guess.

"I don't want to have a polyamory relationship with you and Bella, Lakota. She's my best- she's a childhood friend," he starts slowly, his face getting more pinched because HELLO! Who else does this sound like? That's right. Mwah. Best friend? Check. Childhood friend? Check. Very female? Check. If anything, I'm way up on the scoreboard against Bella. How hard is it to admit that?

"I guess I'm just confused," I say, using my adult tone that makes Jacob scoff and roll his eyes, "what makes Bella so special? Was she your first crush? I heard those are hard to get over, you know," I say sympathetically, and then decide to throw in something just to fuck with him, "but it shouldn't be so hard, I got over Embry pretty fast."

"What?!" Jacob jerks upright in his chair, face going red and eyes flashing across every inch of the kitchen like Embry was going to pop out and sweep me off my feet. Which is funny. Because Embry has always struck me as the type of guy who'd sweep another guy off his feet, if you get what I mean. Dude's not subtle when he's checking out butt's in public, that's all.

But that's a conversation/identity crisis for another day.

Laughing I clutch at my stomach and wave a hand around, accidentally smacking Jacob in the face a little bit, "kidding! Kidding! Gosh, you should've seen your face!" Fuming angrily Jacob paces the kitchen before sitting down again, all of a sudden looking tired and frustrated.

"Okay, I think I get it. You're jealous of Bella because of how close we are." I open my mouth to interject because, hey ho, that is a very wrong psycho-analysis. Jacob holds up a finger to signal me to shut up, soldiering on even though he knows he's going to regret whatever bullshit spills out of his mouth. "I don't know why Bella and I are so close. I just...feel protective of her, that's all. She's human-" I clear my throat pointedly because really? If anybody's human, it's me. "-and fragile. That's what I remember from our childhood. She was a small tiny girl that looked like she needed help all the time and I guess I kind of developed feelings for her that way. I need to protect her and that's what I grew up feeling. You, on the other hand, were this tough girl who bossed Embry, Quil, and I around whenever you wanted. You had your own protection down. I guess I just sort of thought Bella needed me more than you did? And...with me being a wolf I think that protective feeling kind of stuck and I just, I'm sorry...but I- I forget that you can be fragile too. I'm just so used to you being able to handle yourself that I forget you're human and not just some badass, invincible, kickass girl all the time."

I tongue at my cheek, squinting my eyes in Jacob's direction because for somebody who puts their foot in their mouth 24/7, this was a pretty well organized speech. Not that I'm going to tell him that. Dude doesn't need an ego.

"You're still worried that the baby vampires are going to kill me though," I point out, "you don't subconsciously think that I can handle myself against them?" Jacob puffs out a small laugh, reaching out to run his fingers through my hair before making a face when he's met with a knot.

Whatever, not every girl can have perfect, silk smooth hair.

"It's more of my...wolf," he confesses, reaching his other hand out to patiently untangle the knot in my hair, "for me I don't really think you're that vulnerable, which is why I think Bella needs it more. But when I'm shifted, you're literally all I'm worried about because yeah, I'm there to support Bella, but when it's all over and done with, I'll feel more accomplished knowing that I protected you." I purse my lips and nod a little. Smooth fudger. I mean, fucker. Or, uh, no, wait, fudger worked. Taha Aki, why is it so hard to censor your own head?

Clearing my throat in an, admittedly, awkward way I give him a friendly punch to his pec.

"That's… a surprisingly good speech." Jacob snorts and bends down to quickly press his lips to mine, pulling away with a grin. Forcing myself to frown I punch his other pec in a decidedly unfriendly way this time.

"Don't think you're completely off the hook, you're on boyfriend probation." I jab him again just to hone the point in and turn on my heel to hopefully create a dramatic exit. Jacob's hand shoots out and grips at my elbow loosely, a small laugh huffing out in a single breath.

And well, I can't do much in terms of anger, feeling pretty drained - also anger is bad for the skin, creates wrinkles and all that which totally doesn't fit in my plan to become the hottest grandma out there. So letting Jacob have his way - this time, and this time only, mind you - I pivot on my heels and face him, giving his weird shelf-like forehead a flick.

"Did you need something, oh-boyfriend-of-mine?" Jacob smiles again, rolls his eyes as he always does an leans in to press a butterfly kiss to my nose which he very well knows gets my heart a-fluttering. Not fair, this whole power-play thing he's trying to do.

"Just wanted you to know that I really appreciate you, oh-girlfriend-of-mine."

"Oh ha ha, flattery will get you nowhere."

"..."

"Alright, it'll give you a few inches, whatever - don't expect it to always work, you gobblin popper." Was my face hot? Why was I blushing? Geez, why does he look so happy about it. Maybe I should flick him a little harder next time. "Don't get so smug," I add, just for the hell of it and say, "I still think Seth is better than you." Just to fuck with him.

"I think I can live with that, as long as you don't run away and declare your love for Embry." Which, wow. Sounds like a really good April Fools prank. Embry sure will get a kick out of it, I'm sure. Though maybe he'll be a little apprehensive with Jacob's temper and everything - but I'm also sure that he wouldn't have that hard of a time facing him in a fight. Seth was a little iffy him being so small and precious and whatnot.