Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Knife

"I don't think the competition is what you think it is, dad," I say to my father as I follow him out to the cruiser. Edward is ahead with the luggage as Jacob mopes in his truck. Marta is hanging back with Alice and Jasper. I can tell from the look on her face that she's concerned about the argument.

"Just saying I haven't seen such an instant dislike in all my days," Charlie chuckled as he threw the one bag he insisted on carrying into the trunk. My eyes followed Edward as he deposited the rest of the luggage in the back of Jacob's truck and headed off in the direction of the rental car counter.

"Don't you dare!" Alice shouted from behind me, making me spin to see that she was looking at Edward as well. "I will not ride in a Daewoo!" she added, stomping her foot as Edward actually started to laugh. What surprised me was hearing a chuckle come from Jacob as well. I decided to get the rest of the introductions taken care of while everyone was still in a relatively good mood.

"Alice, Jasper, Marta, please meet my friend Jacob," I said, pointing each out and getting a nod from Jacob in reply, until his eyes landed on Marta.

I watched as his eyes grew and zeroed in on my friend. He made a loud gasp just as the steering wheel snapped from the pressure of his hands squeezing it. A loud growl followed the snapping sound, causing Charlie to turn from climbing into his car to see what was happening.

The door was wrenched almost completely off the truck as Jacob threw himself out of it. All but pushing the huge vehicle out of his way he came around and rushed toward Marta, who was beginning to back away from his strange behavior. Alice grabbed her arm to move between them, but in a flash Edward was there, telling her to stop, that Marta wasn't in any danger. Charlie noticed.

"Are you sure about that?" Marta asked just as Jacob fell to his knees in front of her, looking for all the world like he might propose.

"What is going on now?" Charlie asked in full cop mode, grimacing at the state of the door on Jacob's truck. "Jacob, why are you on your knees? How did Edward get here so quickly?"

All the vampires froze at that, especially when Marta glanced over to them with a confused frown before giving an even more confused look to the man in front of her. The tension so thick in the air it could be cut with a knife.

"Can we explain everything later?" Edward said. "I'll go back and finish renting the car. Alice and Jasper, please ride with Charlie. Marta, I think Jacob needs to talk to you. Bella, if you please, come with me?" He was holding his hand out to me but looking imploringly at Charlie who was looking suspiciously between him and Jacob.

Marta looked over to me. Fear and confusion over what was happening was evident in her eyes. "She needs to go with Jacob, Bella. I'll explain on the drive. Just do whatever you can to convince her to go."

Jacob stopped looking at Marta long enough to give Edward a nod of thanks. "You might want to fix that door before you go or she'll get cold," Edward told him.

Jacob laughed. "Nah, I make a great heater."

"Right now you make a great psycho," Edward replied with a laugh as Jacob grimaced. "You might want to break it to her a bit more slowly than that." Jacob rolled his eyes at Edward, but at least got up and walked back to the truck, pulling out a dent he'd made when he tried to shove the vehicle out of his way before wrenching the door back into position as if it were made of clay rather than steel.

"Bella?" Marta said, confusion thick in her voice so I let go of Edward's hand and walked over to her. "You don't actually expect me to ride with him do you?"

"Um, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I've known him most of my life and he's always been gentle and nice." Until he started ripping doors off of trucks, I don't add. "I can promise you that you'll get to my house safe and sound, can't I?" I asked the last of Jacob, who was nodding sheepishly.

"Okay, but if this is some trick to pair me off with your friend," she threatened in my ear. I could see Jacob cringe at that, which surprised me since I could barely hear her.

"You don't have to say yes if he asks you out, you know." She shakes her head at me, but walks over to where Jacob is holding the passenger door open for her. With one last look at me she climbs in, sitting as close to the door as she possibly can without being on the other side of it, and watches Jacob as if he's a mortal threat.

Alice and Jasper are climbing into the cruiser with Charlie, seeming to have already calmed him down and gotten him ready to leave. Leaning out the window Alice calls to me, "Edward is waiting for you at the rental counter!"

Letting out a large sigh I walk to where he is finalizing the paperwork. The clerk is being rather obsequious, all 'Yes, sir' and 'No, sir' and 'Whatever you wish, sir' as Edward peppers him with requests. I just fold my arms and glare. Edward finds this amusing, as does the clerk. A black credit card is passed back and forth over the counter, along with assurance that the car will be brought around.

We are waiting by the curb when a white Mercedes pulls up in front of me and the clerk rushes to open my door. "Mrs. Cullen," he says as he bows me in with a smile.

"Missus?" I ask Edward, only to be shushed as he sits down beside me, shuts the door and reaches across the console to pull me close. When he runs his lips lightly over my temples I reach for him, only to have both hands grasped in one of his, pinning them to my leg. "Please…"

"Shh," he says, trailing his lips down my face. My breath is coming in gasps by the time his lips reach my throat. "Let me just say I'm not the only mythical creature in love."

I'm enjoying a rare day off right now, being incredibly lazy. I hope you enjoy!