Author's note: Hey guys! So, the fifth chapter is here and I really hope you enjoy it! :) I'm having a lot of fun with this story and the characters. And it makes it even better knowing that people are actually reading this and looking forward to it, that really means a lot to me and I appreciate all the readers and reviewers!

Jacob will not be gone for much longer, so don't fret. :) I miss him too! lol And on an important, but side note, I have a question for all of my fellow Twilighters. Hopefully you can help me out with this…Does Sam's injunction (or order that the pack can't defy) work outside of being a werewolf? Does it work in human form? If anyone has any thoughts on this, you could leave it in a review(;)), or a PM, or you could send me an email or something. I really appreciate it, and I hope you guys enjoy this installment!

Out of Nowhere

Five

Two weeks passed before Bella was allowed out of the house again for recreational purposes. Momentarily overlooking any pity he clung to about his daughter's accident, Charlie, for the first time, officially grounded Bella. For ten minutes he had lectured her, an amazing feat for Charlie, about how her "little escapade" had cost him nearly two hours of work, all because she couldn't wait at school for a little while. She didn't bother explaining.

Mike was blacklisted for the time being, as were all other Forks acquaintances, and she was forbidden to go prom dress shopping with Jessica, Lauren, and Angela, much to her dismay which she couldn't quite summon, except on behalf of the latter.

Despite her near constant calling, which she was amazed hadn't prompted further lockdown from Charlie, she couldn't reach Jacob. The ray of hope which had entered her life when he did slowly began to fade with each confirmation from Billy that Jacob was never home. And the idea of ever getting her truck back seemed illogical.

She had gone so long without speaking to Jacob that she was beginning to forget why she had stopped in the first place. It only took one snide remark from Jessica during the second week of her confinement to bring everything rushing back.

"Too bad you can't come to La Push with us tomorrow, Bella. I'm sure Jacob would love to see you again." Apparently she had talked to Mike.

"I don't know. Maybe we'll see," Bella spouted off, gaining skeptical eyes from everyone at their lunch table. It was common knowledge that the police chief's daughter was doing hard time.

Bella stared down Mike for support. "Yeah, who knows," he offered with a grin as he chewed the better half of his cheese burger. "I might bail her out."

Okay, that wasn't necessary. But it sparked an idea that led to her cornering him between the gym door and the trophy cases between classes. And after intense pressure and a little fluttering of her eyelashes, Bella had Mike convinced to help her sneak out on Friday night when they were going to a beach party. She might have promised him a dance, but getting there was all that really mattered.

On Friday, after being picked up from school in the cruiser, Bella put her plan into action. It all began with a "stomach ache" that caused her to spend the latter part of the evening in her room. From there she made preparations with her pillows and lights, claiming she was turning in early, just an hour before Charlie himself who went to bed at ten o'clock. From then on, Bella was in stealth mode, waiting until half past ten to sneak past Charlie's room and out the front door.

When she rounded the corner of her street, Mike was waiting with the Suburban running. Curiously enough, as big as his car was, he didn't ask anyone else to ride with them. As she slipped into the passenger seat, he shot her a toothy grin.

"Mission accomplished."

Butterflies wings brushed against her insides all the way to La Push where she could not be certain of anything. It was the one aspect of her plan that she wished she had control over, but she knew that nothing could change that. All she could do was sit in Mike's car and wait until they reached the darkened shore of First Beach.

As they pulled up along embankment, Bella's heart pounded faster as she saw the faint flickering of bonfires toward the end of the beach's twelve mile stretch. Mike hopped out excitedly, grabbing on to her hand before leading her down the slope and carefully across the strewn, bleached driftwood.

The stars, barely visible before, now shone intensely above, along with the moon which cast long shadows and danced along the waves. The blue, green, and orange flames licked the tops of the driftwood piled into teepees and cast a glow in a radius around the group of teenagers she soon recognized.

Angela and Ben were sitting on a piece of driftwood, talking and looking at each other. Eric was fussing with a portable radio and Jessica was enthusiastically handing out red plastic cups to a bunch of kids Bella didn't know. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Mike and Bella's hands. Bella quickly jerked away, offering a small smile to Jessica as she took the cup thrust in her face.

"So, you made it I see," Jessica remarked coolly, her eyes avoiding Mike who was looking at Bella fondly. "No problems from the chief?"

"Nope," Bella smiled, eyeing the frothy amber liquid in her cup.

"Well, if you were wondering, I haven't seen any of the reservation boys out here," she said before draining her cup and refilling it from the tap. "Brad went off to get more beer."

"Oh." The word rolled off her tongue discontentedly as she stared into her cup.

"Bella," Mike broke in, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "What about that dance? You feelin' this music?"

Jessica's eyes narrowed, pinning Bella to the spot where she stood. "Maybe in a little while…"

"Oh, come on!" He said heartily, dancing in place and pulling at her hand.

Bella bit her lip. "Really…I need to find Jacob."

"You promised," Mike sang, waggling his eyebrows playfully.

"Fine," she burst forth quickly, shooting an apologetic glance to Jessica who did not look amused.

"Alright!" Mike shot Jess a wink before taking Bella's hand and shuffling across the beach closer to the edge of the ring of light, in clear view of everyone.

Bella's eyes scanned the shore and tree line as she felt Mike's hands slide around her waist and pull her to him. Her eyes shot back to meet his.

"You know," he began, swaying in time with the music. "This is really great. We haven't done anything in a long time Bella."

"Yeah," she mumbled, her eyes again searching the shore.

"It was fun, the other week, sneaking around with you, even though you got in trouble. We make a good team."

Oh no. Bella cringed, averting her eyes to the fire and then to Eric who was about to change the song. This could not be happening.

Then, Mike's hand was on her face, forcing her to look at him. His were eyes set with determination, flickering to Jessica and then back to her again.

"Bella!" Jess's voice rang out from the top of the shore.

She turned her head sharply to follow Jessica's call but before she knew it, her head was forward again and Mike's mouth was pressed against hers in a wet, sloppy kiss.

An audible gasp went around the group as Bella pushed him away, deterring the action from continuing any longer with one good slap. The crowd grew quiet and still; everyone turned in their direction. Bella's eyes flew to Jessica, who had dropped her cup in the pebbled sand. Her friend's eyes were as big as saucers as her pointed, outstretched arm fell to her side.

As Bella's eyes fell beyond the firelight, she felt as if all the blood had been drained from her body. It was only then that she noticed as a tall, dark figure recoiled into the shadows, the cold night air at his heels.

Ah! Mike! lol :) I hope that wasn't too out of character for him. I don't know, I can just see him doing something spiteful like that. lol You gotta love Mike.

And....don't forget the question :) : Does Sam's injunction (or order that the pack can't defy) work outside of being a werewolf? Does it work in human form?

While you're pondering that...a review might be nice...eh? ;)