I sat in my room all morning just staring at the wall, finishing the last of my summer work, or plotting more ways I could torture and then kill Jacob fucking Black.

So far, I had a very long and creative list.

Charlie had made sure to stomp anytime he passed by my door. He's where I get my stubbornness and attitude from, in case you didn't know. I swear at one point he was just stomping up and down the stairs for no reason but to annoy me. Mom eventually told him to stop it already unless he wanted to be grounded too.

I couldn't believe that I was spending the last day of summer at home. I hadn't spent a full day in this house all summer, and now, on the last day, I was trapped.

I flopped back against my bed and sighed. I could always just get lost in Wuthering Heights again, but I couldn't focus on anything for more than a few minutes.

I looked over at my clock again. Only two minutes had passed since I last had. I wanted to scream because this was the worst thing that had ever happened to me! I hadn't even done any of the shit Jacob had said! I mean, yes, I was friends with Paul, and, yes, I knew Charlie didn't want me to be, but I was turning eighteen in September- I'm old enough to choose my own friends! And I definitely was not a thirteen year old who needed her father's approval on who to date.

I couldn't believe that Mom hadn't gone off on Dad yet. Usually, if he went off on a soapbox or something, she had him better in just a few hours. Did she believe Jake too? I knew she wasn't exactly a big fan of Paul- did Charlie tell her he saw us kissing? Most likely.

But still- she knows I would never drink or smoke or anything like that! Jacob is the son Charlie never had, so he had always held Jake on a pedestal as well. But mine was knocked down with lies and deceit and backstabbing while Jacob's only grew taller. Charlie probably now thought him a hero for "saving" me from Paul.

Bull. Bull, bull, bull, bull, BULL!

An agonizingly slow hour passed and then another before Mom came and knocked on my door.

"Bella? Do you want to run to the store with me to get some groceries?"

Truth? No because she didn't stick up for me, but I couldn't stand one more minute of staring up at the ceiling.

I pulled on my shoes and opened my door.

I don't know what my face looked like- if it was pissed, blank, or what- but she sighed and turned to walk down the stairs.

I went ahead to the door while she detoured to the couch.

"We'll be back in a bit, Charlie," she said as she kissed the top of his head.

He nodded. "Have fun."

As she shut the door, her attitude changed.

"Hurry up and get in!"

"Do what?"

"Come on!"

I rushed to get in and get myself buckled. "What in the world are we rushing to get groceries for, Mom?"

As she backed out of the driveway, she looked over at me and smiled.

"We aren't getting groceries- I am; you are going to have a few hours in La Push because I am going to call Charlie and say that I decided to drag you shopping for some new clothes in Portland before we go to get groceries."

I couldn't believe it!

"You are the BEST mom in the world!"

Her smile widened, "Oh, I know! I tried talking to your father, Bella, and he doesn't really know what to believe. He said he saw you making out with that Paul boy; is that true?"

I looked away and out of the window, "Not really making out, but he saw us kiss."

"Bella-"

"It was the first time we kissed- I swear I'm not secretly dating him or anything!" I defended myself.

"I wasn't thinking that, but I was going to say, I know you're growing up and want to make your own choices. I also know that you're a smart girl and would never get involved in any kind of drug or alcohol problems. Charlie knows that too, and he defended you when Jacob first started telling us all of that, but when he saw you with Paul, baby, he didn't know what to believe anymore."

So it wasn't as bad as I thought it was; he just felt betrayed… And I had betrayed his trust… But could I give up my new friends to please my father? And, yes, I would have to give them all up because they would never exclude Paul just so I would stay around. They all love me, but those boys are as thick as brothers.

"I am sorry, for what it's worth," I said quietly, "But Jake didn't tell you guys the whole story."

Renee took my hand in hers, "Honey, that boys feelings for you are as clear as day, so I'm pretty sure I can guess why you quit hanging around with him."

"Oh, turn here!"

She pulled off into the little driveway of Sam's yard.

"You truly are the best mom ever," I kissed her cheek before I hopped out of the car.

"I'll be back I a couple of hours! Don't let Jake or Billy or anyone else besides your friends here know that you're on the res, or Charlie will flip on both of us!"

"I won't!"

With a wave, she was pulling back out of the driveway and gone.

I couldn't help myself and yelled excitedly, "I'm back!"

I started running to the porch and the door opened with everybody spilling out to greet me- Paul met me halfway and scooped me into a hug to swing me around in circles.

"See, told you he wouldn't kill you," Leah laughed.

"Oh, he still might- he doesn't know I'm here- Renee snuck me!"

The rest of that day was one of the best ever, and I was sad when Renee pulled up.

But I did get a goodbye kiss that left me blushing and Renee smiling.