Chapter 15

I changed into my uniform T-shirt and shorts for gym class as usual, pulling my hair back into a ponytail. I greeted Edward on the court with a smile. Today we were going to be playing volleyball. Joy.

When I got closer to Edward, his smile vanished.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Bella, you smell like a dog."

I knit my eyebrows. "Um… thanks?" I nonchalantly pulled the tip of my ponytail to my nose and sniffed. It smelled like my normal fruity shampoo.

Edward stepped closer, inhaling the air around me. "Why do you smell like you've been rolling around with a pack of mutts?"

I widened my eyes. "How the heck should I know?" I looked off to the side of the court, begging Edward to stop saying I smelled like a dog. I've never had a pet in my life. No cats, dogs, rodents, fish, or even hermit crabs. Why would I all of a sudden smell like a dog? And I couldn't have gotten it from home, anyway, considering I rode the bus to school with Edward snuggled up to him. He would have said something then.

A dark mocha color caught my eye again, and my heart was knocked up to my throat. My head snapped up, and I spotted Jacob again. I couldn't tear my eyes away, and neither could the rest of the girls. He was covered in muscles. My mouth dropped, and I prayed that there was no drool coming out.

Our gym teacher's whistle finally made me turn away, in time to see Edward's usually amber eyes coal black. He was staring at Jacob, too, a look of intense anger painted across his face.

"Edward?" I tried.

"I have to go," he answered sharply. He turned and walked toward the locker room.

"Edward!" I called, but my voice was lost amongst the chatter.

"Bella?" that very, very attractive voice said.

"Yes?" I looked toward the direction of my name, and saw Jacob standing there. My heart beat faster and faster.

"So, we meet again." He smiled, exposing a row of pristine white teeth.

I smiled back. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing would come out.

"Mrs. Smith said we're partnered for stretches, so…"

"Oh, she did? Sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

Jacob laughed. "That's okay."

We started stretching in awkward silence. I wanted to talk to him really badly, but I had no idea what to say. "Do you think I smell like a dog?" I asked without thinking.

"Um…" Jacob looked puzzled. "No?"

I blushed. "Okay."

There was another period of silence. When we sat down for crunches and he held my feet down, he almost crushed them.

"How much do you work out?" I asked, astonished at his strength.

"Not that much, actually," he replied. "Twice a week I'll lift a little at home."

"Wow. Last time I tried lifting weights all I got were sore arms for three days."

Jacob laughed again. "I guess I just put on muscle really easily."

"Is it a La Push thing? The working out? I heard from my friend Alice that you were from there."

"Yeah. I moved. My mom passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Thanks. My dad thought it'd be easier to get out of La Push. I didn't want to leave, but I can't really do anything about it."

"Yeah. Moving sucks."

"So, Bella Swan, what's your story?" he asked.

"My story? Um… well I've lived in Forks pretty much my whole life. My mom was diagnosed with brain cancer a little after I was born, and she died two years later."

"Wow. I'm sorry."

"Thanks. My dad's the police chief, and we're really close with the Cullen family. If you've met them. Dr. Cullen runs the hospital. His son, Edward, is practically my best friend."

"Boyfriend?" Jacob guessed.

"No…" I half lied.

"Oh. The whole 'best friends who happen to be opposite genders' thing."

"Mhmm." I nodded. "So what are your friends like?"

"Well, you know. Friends are friends." He shrugged.

"Girlfriend?" I asked.

Jacob shook his head, a tiny smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.