A/N: Oh wow, you guys loaded me up with reviews! I'm glad you're all seeming to like it so far! So, I got mixed reviews on whether or not to write Jacob's POV or not. I figured since I sort of felt like writing it anyways, (we get to see Jake have some guy time), I would write it out and be happy. PLUS, add the next chapter in the same night! Just because I think those of you who didn't want to read Jacob's POV, I think you just didn't want to wait so long for Jacob and Bella to see each other again. Haha, so it's a win win!

Enjoy these next two chapters in the same night! Btw, you guys should feel really special. I'm neglecting studying for my midterms for you. I finished the one I was most worried about today though, so whewwww!

Chapter 6 – Memories

Jacob's POV

Surprisingly, life without Bella wasn't as miserable as I had thought it would be. Sure, I missed her. Just about every second of the day. I guess it was just easier now. It was easier knowing she was alive and with a blood sucking leech, in town, rather than in Italy, dancing the line between life and death. Yes, things were easier now.

But that didn't keep me from wondering exactly what she was up to on most days. It didn't keep me from wondering if she was thinking about me. From Billy's notes and comments, she had tried calling. A lot. His exact words were "I feel like I should be getting paid to be your secretary, with all the notes I've had to take. Why don't you just talk to her?"

I laughed at my dad's naivety.

"Why don't I talk to her? Come on, dad, you're in the loop about all of this werewolf-leech nonsense. Why would you even have to ask?" I had questioned, and wandered back outside, aimlessly. Not that my life didn't have a goal anymore, no. I still had to watch after Bella. I wasn't sure how closely the Cullen's were watching her, with that red headed she-witch out there.

So my days were mostly spent either in school or taking days off to go running in the woods with my pack. We always ran the borders at night, sniffing for anything that seemed out of place. For the most part, nothing ever was. Every day, someone would sweep by the Swan residence and make sure that everything was still ok on that front. Go figure, they never let me check it out.

Yes, I had attempted to see Bella, once. Luckily, my senses caught up with me when I was right outside her door. I missed her terribly, even now, while I was on top of the highest cliff in La Push, preparing to jump with the rest of my pack. But she had made her choice. She always chose the leeches. Was it because she met them first? I couldn't help but think about what things would have been like if she'd found out about my hideous secret before she'd discovered Edward Cullen's.

The thought of him appealing to her made me shudder. Cold, marble skin. Creepy ability to read minds. Heartless, soulless, and controlling. How could she ever have chosen him? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

A yell interrupted my thoughts and a body disappeared over the side of the cliffs. I laughed and joined my friends Embry and Quil, the only two who were left.

"Hey, Jake, have your head out of the clouds yet?" Embry asked.

"Yeah, I mean, I thought we all came out here to forget about everything for an hour or so," Quil continued, playfully punching me on the shoulder. I pushed him into Embry, which started a half a minute mini squabble. I took in a deep breath, walking closer to the edge of the cliff. It really was a good idea on Sam's part to get us all out here to try and clear our heads.

He'd said they'd been too full lately. He was convinced we were all thinking too much about too many things and it clouded his mind when we were out running. Not like any of us needed a reason to want to go cliff diving. But it was more fun as a group, I had to admit.

I glanced back at Quil and Embry, wrestling on the dirt behind me.

"Hey, I thought we were jumping?" I called and both of their heads perked up. They untangled themselves and then walked over to me, brushing off their shoulders and pants.

"So, uh… Whoever thought a year ago that this would be us, huh?" Embry asked, looking over the cliff at the others in the water, waving and calling for us to jump. There were other smart, obscene remarks being shouted, that I would never repeat in a civilized conversation. Those comments probably came from Paul.

"Well, we're all just one of the pack now," Quil said, throwing his arms over both of our shoulders. Sometimes, I thought he was still too happy about becoming a werewolf. But right now, it suited for taking my mind off everything. Bella, vampires, school and just tough life in general.

I slipped out from under Quil's arm and turned to face them, walking backwards towards the cliff. I held my hands up and looked up at the sky. I could feel the guys watching me for a second, then turn to look at each other.

"Damn," I cursed, dropping my arms and looking back at them. "Lightening was supposed to strike, or chocolate should have fallen from the sky, or something." I laughed, paused long enough to hear them laugh, then dove off the cliff backwards. I felt myself tumbling through the air. The feeling as it whipped past my skin, ruffled my hair, whistled in my ears replaced any better feeling I'd ever come across. It was the feeling of being free.

I curled my body inward and started flipping. Once, twice, then I straightened and immediately hit the water. The tough impact mixed with the chilly water shook me. I momentarily blanked as I slipped deeper into the water.

Two days earlier:

"Jake, the pack's chasing Victoria," Billy called into my room and I jumped up.

"I'm sure they already have it taken care of, I just wanted to let you-" he started but I was already running past him to get out of the house. I ripped off my pants and decided to just shred my boxers as I jumped outside and transformed. I pin pointed my pack and ran after them. She was just outside of La Push and I knew I would catch up with them.

If we could finally bring her down, I could stop asking Sam to keep a tight patrol around Bella. It would be one less thing keeping me connected to her. I put everything I had into that run. I needed to let Bella move on. And she needed to let me.

I thought of her smile; it could light up my day. I saw her hair, wavy and in disarray. I felt her lips and her body pressed against mine. These were the things I wanted to go away. And with time, they would. With time spent away from her, they would.

"Jake, PG13 your thoughts, man," Paul yelled inside my head and I would have grinned if I could. Wolf mouths weren't exactly made for facial expression. Just then, I caught up with my pack. I had been trying to get in front of Victoria but she seemed to be getting faster. It was no wonder my pack was huffing and puffing. They fell back as I took the lead.

I pushed myself faster, harder, the thought of letting Bella go right in front of me. I needed to stop thinking about her. Suddenly, the blood sucker stopped and I almost caught her around the neck. Instead, she dodged me and I ate dirt. I whipped around and saw her staring at me, her back to my pack. They all stopped behind her, in confusion. She was in a crouch, staring at me intently.

What was up with this lady? Did she give up? Was she addressing her death, face to face?

"You're the human girl's mutt, aren't you?" she asked. I growled out, along with half my pack. Getting addressed in such a way didn't sit well with us. And I belonged to no one.

"You chase me, with everything you have. You don't give up. On other nights, even once your pack is ready to give up, you keep them going. Even now, they're tired of chasing me. But you. Just. Won't. Stop," she bit out and I pawed the ground beneath me. Just finish talking, so I can kill you.

"You're a pathetic pet dog, and you'll never win her," she said and I couldn't handle it anymore. I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin all over again. I barked out and ran at her, aiming for the slender hollow of her neck. Someone from my pack moved forward also.

She dodged me at the last second. I felt her grab the back of my neck and I was suddenly flying through the air. I hit one of my pack and slid to the ground with a yelp.

"Be warned!" I heard the wench yell. "There WILL be others coming for her. How long can you keep her in captivity, before the real dogs set in?" she asked. By the time I got to my feet, she had disappeared. I watched as Sam, Paul, Jared and Embry took off after her. I let out a deep breath and backed up against a tree before shifting into my human form. My head ached from hitting my pack member. I looked up and saw Quil, realizing it must have been him. He was already in his human form, with his pants on. He had been on patrol earlier, so he had already had his tied around his ankle. He shook his head as he walked over to me.

"You didn't hit me, I didn't attack. Only Embry did," he said and I turned my head to the side, laughing a little. Embry was the one who liked Bella the most, out of my pack. I don't even think he liked her in that way, he just took to her the best when she first started buzzing around us. I ran my hand through my hair, thankful at least he was on my side. Even if only a little.

"We really need to finish her off," Quil said. I agreed, nodding my head. I felt him staring at me and finally glances up. He had a look on his face. I couldn't place it. He did it for me.

"You need to figure out what you're doing, Jake. If you're going to stay away from her, we should be able to leave her to the vampires. Especially if she wants to be one. By keeping this bitch away, we're probably just putting off her fate," he said and I rested the back of my head on the tree. I couldn't hear this right now. I needed to talk to Embry. He would probably see my side of things. Everyone else just saw Bella as a distraction and a waste of time and energy.

"Just give me a week," I said.

I came above the water, sputtering. I didn't know how the impact had affected me so badly. Maybe I had come down at the wrong angle. I struggled to get my balance in the water and the thrashing waves. All the while, I couldn't get the thought of that day out of my head. I couldn't get the words out of my head… You're a pathetic dog, and you'll never win her.

"Jake, you ok?" Embry yelled, making his way over to me. I nodded, kicking my feet to stay above the water as I ran my hands through my hair, trying to clear my head.

"You fell at a pretty awkward angle. We knew you'd be ok, but you didn't come up for like half a minute," he said, wading beside me. "You sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shook up," I said. I glanced back up at the cliff I had jumped from and then looked back at Embry.

"Come on, let's get back to the beach," I said, and started swimming past him. I knew he wanted to talk about Bella. He seemed to be the only one rooting for her to come join us in werewolf land. Apparently, he wasn't born with the natural instinct the rest of us had. Friends of vampires were just as bad the freaks themselves.

Bella's POV

I drove down the winding roads to La Push, glancing over my shoulder the whole time. No, this was not that same day I had gotten dressed up. This was, in fact, the second time I'd gotten dressed in the green outfit with the black leggings, straightened hair and made up face. Yesterday hadn't gone well.

I had turned around to face Edward after he tried to bite me. I might have slapped him, but he wasn't there. The coward had run off. I was flustered, frustrated, irritated and angry. It was a good thing he had left. I was all these things, but I was also scared. I didn't know what I was doing any more. Any other day, I would have begged Edward to do it. But now, with everything between Jake and I… I just couldn't let it end like this.

I had run out of my room once I realized Edward wasn't there any more. I tried to swallow the lump of surprise in my throat. The surprise that he hadn't actually locked me in my room. I flew down the stairs, almost landing on my face at the bottom. I called out to Charlie in the living room, telling him I was going to Jake's. I knew the front door slammed behind me, but I couldn't help it. I was shaking, probably hyperventilating.

I jumped into my truck and fumbled with the keys, trying to shove them in the ignition. I needed Jacob, right now. I needed my best friend, the comfort that he provided. I needed him to wrap me in his huge embrace and feel like nothing could affect me while I was there. I needed him back. My dream from this morning flashed back into my head. Of feeling Edward, his kiss, his touch, his teeth. I clamped my hand over my neck once more and turned the key in the ignition.

Nothing happened.

The engine didn't turn over, it didn't click. It didn't even sputter. I tried again. And again. And again. Nothing changed. I felt a surreal bubble open up around me as I rested my hand on my steering wheel. I popped the hood after a moment, and then got of my truck. I saw Charlie coming out the front door, from the corner of my eye. He had asked me what was wrong.

As I lifted the hood, I saw what was wrong. The battery was missing.

I had been a sputtering mental case, I'm sure of it. That insane, psychotic, overly jealous, arrogant, werewolf hating boyfriend of mine had stolen the battery to my truck.

Charlie had been amazed that someone would steal the battery out of my broken down, battered, piece of junk truck. He didn't know it was Edward. And even if he knew it was him, he wouldn't have believed it. But he didn't know Edward like I did. Actually, I think I was just beginning to really come to know the true Edward.

I was pissed, to say the least.

I had trudged back up to my room and sulked in it. I took off the outfit and laid it out over my dresser for another hopeful day. Around 7, I took a second shower, unable to handle the silky straightness of my hair any longer. I stood in the stall, rubbing the loofa over my body as I wondered why I had to be caught up in this eternal fight of supernatural, arrogant asses. It would be an understatement to say that I was irritated. I was furious. My efforts at appearing sexy had gone to complete waste, and I still couldn't get to my best friend.

Later that night, Edward dared to show his face at my house. At my window. Inside my room. I walked in and he was waiting for me. I clutched the towel tighter around my body as I saw him sitting on my bed.

"Bella, I'm sorry-" he started but I shook my head and dropped my stuff from the bathroom on the floor. I walked over to him and he stood up. I started pushing him to the window.

"Get out of here, get out of my room, now," I demanded. He tried to talk again but I told him to shut up and pushed him to the window again. Reluctantly, he finally went. I let out a deep breath and locked it before backing up and sitting on my bed. I was still steaming. I was so angry I could have set a werewolf after him. Between nearly being turned into a vampire, not being able to see my best friend, and feeling like my privacy was completely violated, I was done for the night. I got up, shut the curtain to my window and changed into my pajamas. I had crawled into bed and felt the lonely night slip around me.

This morning, Edward had come back.

A/N: Next chapter will be up by 9 pm, California time at the latest! Stay tuned and let me know about this chapter, ok?