Author's note: This chapter ends very differently from how I originally intended it to end. I hope you like it! Please R&R. :) Chapter Seven is coming soon...

Copyright declaration: The Twilight series and its characters are the creation of and copyright of Stephenie Meyer. I own nothing and this story is purely a not-for-profit work of fan fiction. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's note: I have made this as creative and imaginative as possible and if it bears resemblance to any other fan-fiction story it is entirely coincidental. There is such a huge amount of Twilight fan-fiction out there that it would be impossible to trawl through it all to see if someone has already had this plot idea and I assure you that if there are any similarities to other Twilight fan-fic stories, they are completely unintentional and inadvertent.

Chapter Six

– Rejection –

Forks seemed even smaller after my visit to the Big Apple. I had tasted the apple and now it was like an eviction from the Garden of Eden after biting into the forbidden fruit. But even though I loved NYC, I realized that maybe Forks was the best place for me. I never expected to stay here for so long and I knew I would have to leave someday but for now, it was home.

A few days after my return from New York, I had an unexpected visitor. When I opened the door, Sam Uley stood on the front step. "Oh," I said in surprise, "Hi Sam, how are you doing? You'd better come inside. It looks like we're going to have a rainstorm any minute now."

Sam followed me into the kitchen and I occupied myself putting the kettle on and making tea for both of us.

"Can I have a word with you, Bella?" he said, his tone serious.

I turned around, "What's wrong? Is Jacob okay?"

"Jacob's fine but I need to talk to you about him."

I sighed and sat down heavily, irritably thinking "what now?"

"I know what happened between you and Jacob when you were in New York," Sam began, apologetically. "Sorry, it's hard to keep anything private in the wolf pack."

"Yeah, I know," I said. "I guess it kind of sucks that every thought you think gets shared with the rest of the pack when you phase."

"It's not always easy when privacy is involved," Sam agreed, smiling and then becoming serious again. "And I am sorry for intruding but I have to say this to you, Bella. I know that you feel something for Jacob and I don't know if you plan to reciprocate his feelings, but it can't happen. If you become a couple and Jacob imprints on some other girl, he would leave you. You've seen the heartbreak which I caused Leah when I imprinted on Emily. I hated myself for doing it to her but I couldn't stop it. Imprinting is not a voluntary process. And that is why a relationship between Jacob and you can't happen, ever."

Sam paused for breath and I spoke, "Thank you for your advice, Sam. I know you mean well."

"I'd just hate to see you hurt again," he said. "You deserve happiness, Bella."

"I appreciate you caring. I really do, Sam," I said. "But please don't worry about me. There's no need."

he said quietly. "I just needed to speak to you but I have interfered too much."

"No, no," I shook my head. "You haven't interfered, honest."

"I should go now anyway," he said. "Emily's probably waiting for me to get back to La Push for lunch. See you later."

"Bye, Sam," I said as I closed the front door.

His words ran through my mind: "a relationship between Jacob and you can't happen, ever". Can't, can't, can't…the word rang through my head. The more times anyone says I can't or shouldn't do something, my stubborn personality trait kicks in and the more inclined I am to do it. After marrying a vampire and discovering facts which most of the world population thought of as myths and fantasies, the limits of what was and wasn't possible were stretched wide open. I knew what I had to do as I grabbed my car keys and ran out the house.

When I got to La Push I parked my car outside the garage at Jacob's house. Unless he was out with the wolf pack, I knew the garage would be the most likely place for him to be. Sure enough, when I got out of the car, there he was. We had barely spoken to each other since that night in New York a week ago and the atmosphere between us was still uneasy. But he invited me into the house and said, "Billy's out so we have the place to ourselves for an hour or two. Have you had any lunch?"

"Not yet," I said.

"Do you want any? I was just about to get a sandwich for myself but I can easily fix one for you as well."

"Okay," I nodded. "Thanks."

My stomach was in knots and I had no idea how I would manage to actually eat lunch but it seemed rude to refuse. Jacob made the sandwiches and we talked about mundane stuff until he suddenly began, "I know Sam visited you this morning."

"Yeah, he did."

"That was one awkward conversation."

I smiled, "Yes, it was, but it's made me realize something which I have been fighting against for a long time."

Jacob said nothing; his back was turned to me. I got up from the table, nervously…slowly, my heart beating faster and faster as I walked across the floor to stand beside him.

"I love you, Jacob Black," I whispered the words.

He turned to me and my heart skipped a beat at his expression as he spoke, "I don't know what to say but I don't think you're ready for this."

"What do you mean?" I said, my voice shaky.

"I just…think we need some space and time, Bella," he replied. His tone softened: "Look at you. You're still grieving for Edward. I don't think you're sure what you want."

"I am sure," I protested. My tone sounded like I was pleading with him.

"Are you?" he said. "Or are you just trying to get me before anyone else does, before I imprint?"

I took a step back, stung by the harsh words that he uttered. I could feel my eyes beginning to fill with tears as I ran out the door and jumped into my car.

"I'm sorry," he said.

But I slammed the driver's door shut and revved the engine as I sped away from the house. I could see him in my rear-view mirror but he became just a foggy outline as more and more tears dripped down my face and I drove away.

Author's note: oh dear, poor Bella…what do you think? Why has Jacob rejected her so harshly after he has been in love with her for so long?

The next chapter will be from Jacob's point of view. But I will switch back to Bella's POV after that.