SM owns all. This is the way that I wanted things to go. Thanks to Goldengirl62, for your help, I do appreciate you, and thanks to my beta, Ladyofspain, thanks you sweetie.

This story shows the love of Jacob and Bella in a beautiful loving heart, they felt way.

Jacob's Twilight

Chapter Four

He is Back

(Bella's POV)

The tension in the air, the sizzling of the atmosphere around me, could be caused by no other reason, but that he was back. I wanted to whip right around and leave, but instead of rushing back out of the room—like my mind kept screaming at me to do—I straightened my shoulders, and held my head up high. I walked forward to get my lunch, resisting the urge to openly look in their direction, and the tugging of my heart that kept trying to pull me to him. I refused to put myself in the position to be humiliated by him ever again.

Some of the Quileute boys were already there before me, but I paid them no attention as I went about picking up a salad and cranberry juice. I paid for it and was walking back to the table, when I noticed they had my favorite dessert today. I didn't notice it before because it was placed so high up. I figured I would take what I had to the table and come back for it later. Not even his presence could ruin my appetite for almond ice cream.

I still couldn't understand why I was feeling this way over a boy who obviously hated me on sight. Why did I feel this connection, this tugging at my heart? The sizzle in the air because of his presence, or whatever it was, surely would go away. It had to, because it couldn't go on like this indefinitely, could it?

I placed my lunch on the table and sat, waiting until the Quileute boys, who kept walking by our table to get their lunch, were back at their own. I didn't want to take the chance of running into him.

"Hey Bella. How did classes go today?", Angela asked, pulling out her chair.

"Same as usual," I replied, not really paying much attention.

I guess she must have noticed. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just a little tired." I didn't feel like explaining about Jacob right now.

"Hey, Bella," Mike began. "You thought anymore about the movie idea?"

"To be honest, I've had a lot on my mind lately and haven't thought too much about it," I replied.

"Oh, okay. Well there's no rush; we can go whenever you feel like it."

I didn't respond, just smiled slightly and nodded at him.

Angela looked at me with concern. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah".

"If you ever need to talk, just give me a call."

Still smiling at her, I answered, "Thanks, I'll do that."

Glancing over to the lunch counters, I noticed all the Quileute boys had left the area and were back at their table. This would be a good time to go get my ice cream.

Getting up, I walked over to where it was, and realized it was placed higher than I thought. I stretched up until I had it. In the process, I almost lost my balance, when I felt a hand on my back preventing that from happening. I turned around to thank the person and ended up looking into the eyes of Jacob. Again, I felt the intensity of the pull towards him. It was a need to always be around him to stop the dull ache, the emptiness, that I had felt in my heart since I first saw him and he disappeared. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let go.

But I resisted, I would not be humiliated again by this boy. I pulled myself together.

"Thank you," I said quickly, moving around him to get back to the table. I hadn't taken two steps when he stopped me.

"Can I talk to you a moment?", he asked.

"My friends are waiting for me to get back, so I can't right now," I hurriedly remarked, wanting to get away from him.

He looked pleadingly at me. "I just wanted to apologize for my behavior to you the other day." He ran his hand over his head. "I wasn't feeling well. I know it's no excuse for my rudeness, but I would really like a chance to make it up to you." He grinned a little. "We could even become good friends."

I stood looking at him for a minute. He seemed sincere, and the way he was looking at me with such longing and hope, touched my heart.

"Just one chance," he pleaded, "To show you I'm not the prick, I acted like when we first met."

"Okay, I'll forgive you for that incident, but as for us being friends, I don't think that would work. How do I know you won't act that way towards me again? I forgive you, but plan on staying away from you as you asked."

"I really feel bad about the way I acted towards you; I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." He looked pleadingly. "Just one chance is all I ask."

I stopped and gazed at him for minute. His eyes were filled with so much love and regret that my heart ached for him. Were all those feelings for me? That couldn't be posible; could it? However, I refused to be swayed.

"Look, if giving you my forgiveness will remove any remorse you feel, then you have it, but you don't need me as a friend. You have your own circle of friends and now I have mine." I stopped, taking a breath. "I know that within your group are very nice people, two of which I have met, Leah and Kim. I am hoping to continue building a friendship with them, but a far as you and I are concerned, you asked me to stay away from you, so that's what I intend to do. And now I ask you to do the same."

The hurt and anguish on his face when I said that, made me almost give in. What could have made him change his tune all of a sudden?. "You know, I am wondering if you're bipolar, because the last time I saw you, you asked me to stay away from you—not even asked, but commanded. I really don't see what has changed now."

Just as I finished talking, Mike came over to us. "Everything okay here, Bella?", he asked, giving Jacob the once over. Unbelievably, I could've sworn I heard Jacob growl. Growl? I must've been mistaken.

"Everything is fine," I replied. Then, turning to Jacob, I added, "You have a nice day."

Before I could turn away, he spoke, stopping me in my tracks. "I'm not willing to lose a possible friendship with you because of my stupidity; it means too much to me. So I will do everything in my power to prove that the person you met the other day isn't the real me." His intent was clear.

"You'll just be wasting your time," I said with meaning, though everything in me was saying something different.

"It's my time to waste," he quipped with a grin.

I shook my head and stared at him for a minute before walking back to the table with Mike.

Before I sat, I glanced back over and he was standing in the same spot, with the look of such pain and regret. Again, I felt like rushing over, wrapping him in my arms and saying that everything would be fine. And again, I resisted. How did I know this wasn't an act, an excuse to find some way to humiliate me again?

I won't take that chance, I thought to my self as I sat, but before I did, I noticed that girl Lauren, walking over to him. I looked away; for some reason I did not like that girl standing so close to him, touching his arm.

As soon as I sat, the questions began.

"What was that all about?" Angela inquired.

I looked at her, trying to brush it off. "Nothing, just a minor misunderstanding."

"It didn't seem like nothing," Mike added. "I could feel the tension between you when I walked up."

"Believe me, it's nothing to make a big deal over. Let's just forget it and enjoy our lunch." I began doing exactly what I just suggested.

They all seem unsure, but did as I asked.

(Jacob's POV)

I watched her as she walked by our table to get her lunch, but not once did she even glance my way. Even when I walked by and stared directly at her, she still didn't look at me. I guess she was doing exactly what I asked—to stay away from me.

If there was a way to re-do a day, that day would be the one, to take back those stupid, hateful words that came out my mouth. The pain I was causing by my inconsiderate actions was inexcusable.

I knew the imprint was having an affect on her as it was me; it was too strong not to. I noticed the changing expressions on her face, the confusing expressions flashing across it when she thought no one was watching. But she was fighting it— wouldn't even acknowledge my presence, and it was all my fault.

I began eating my lunch and listening to words of encouragement from my brothers and sisters, when I felt her walk by me again. Turning to watch her, I noticed Bella reaching for one of the desserts that was placed a little too high for her to reach.

My heart caught in my throat as I watch her almost topple over. I was out of my seat faster then I should have been in front of all these humans, but I didn't care. Allowing her to get hurt was unacceptable.

Then she spun around and our eyes met. For a minute I was lost in them; everything around us disappeared. I pulled myself together when I saw the look on her face. It went from shock to awe. That was quickly replaced by indifference—or at least she tried to give that impression. But I knew differently by the sound of her heartbeat; the catch of her breath when she realized who had helped her.

When I asked to speak to her for minute, I really didn't think she would, but who could blame her? When she said she would forgive me, my heart felt light and filled with hope. When she still insisted on not have anything to do with me, that we could not even be friends, I realized then just how much damage I had done with my callous words. It would be hard, but just how hard would I have to work to win her heart? It made no difference, I would do whatever it took to win her.

Then Mike coming over, thinking to rescue her from me, almost made me laugh. If he only knew who he was trying to tangle with, he would've stayed away.

After saying everything she wanted to, she walked away, with him. And it hurt. Badly.

I stood there watching her walk away, feeling the pain in my heart intensify with every step she took away from me; it was my words, my own actions that brought this on. I still stood, fighting the urge to go to her, to get on my knees to beg her to make a place in her life for me, but I resisted; I did have my pride after all. Pride, yeah right—what good would that do me, except losing the only girl I had ever loved.

I looked at the boy who called himself saving my mate from me, Mike. Who did he think he was? The way he was flirting with her, acting as if he had dibs on her, was really making me angry. I heard when he asked about the movies and was relieved when she didn't say yes.

I needed to calm down, so, returning my gaze to Bella, I blocked out all other scents and breathed hers in without anyone the wiser about what I was doing. I immediately felt a calm wash over me.

I was about to walk back to my table when I felt someone touch my arm. I turned. Lauren—this girl didn't give up did she?

"What can I do for you?", I asked a little impatiently.

She smiled, ignoring my impatience. "I just wanted to see if you were alright. You look a little down standing over here."

"I'm fine," I replied simply. I was about to walk off when she spoke again.

"Have you thought anymore about going out sometime?", she asked hopefully.

"Look, Lauren, like I told you before, I don't think that's a very good idea," I answered honestly. I don't believe in leading a girl on, for any reason.

"Why not?", she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes at me. Was that supposed to look sexy? It just looked as though she has something stuck in her eyes. I studied her face. To some she might be pretty, but in my eyes, she had nothing on my Bells.

My eyes kept traveling back to where Bella sat. "I have a lot on my mind and don't feel like talking about it right now." I looked at her and noticed her eyes went from Bella back to me.

"Does it have something to do with her?", she snorted, sounding jealous.

I didn't answer that question. "I gotta go." Then I left her standing there, without a backward glance.

When I returned to my table, my friends were looking at me with sadness. Since they found out about what happened, they had all offered support. Embry leaned over to me and whispered.

"Don't worry, Jacob, we're all willing to do anything to help you and let her know you're not the type of guy you showed her on your first meeting. It'll work out, you'll see." Then he clapped me on the shoulder.

I believed his words; I knew my brothers felt my pain since the first time I phased after getting back. I allowed them to see everything and because of our mind link, my pain became theirs. All my brothers offered me support.

Leah and Kim told me all about their building friendship with Bella and their invitation to her to one of our bonfires, though she didn't accept or deny their invite. I was holding out hope that she would accept, that way, I could at least have her near me.

As the talk went on around me, I was searching my mind for something, anything that would make her begin to see I was not the guy she thought I was. I was never rude or dis-respectful, especially to women. I was just really desperate, fighting to hold onto the love I had for my childhood friend. The connection that formed between us was forcing me to betray my heart and the heart I really wanted… then something occured to me, before I really thought about it.

"Bells." I spoke it loud enough for her to hear. She turned and stared at me, locking eyes with mine, in shock. I heard her heartbeat speed up; she blushed and looked away, but I was filled with a sudden joy. I knew she remembered that name and the young boy who used to call her, his Bells.

When I said that word, I glanced back at all my friends seated with me. They were looking at me as if I was nuts, then peered over at Bella, then back at me. Before turning their gaze back to Bella, they finally realized that the one word I uttered had changed something significant between Bella and me. It meant something important to us, but they weren't sure what it was. I hadn't explained to them yet or allowed them to see, how special that one word was. It separated a friendship between two kids from all others and began a love that age, distance or time couldn't end or diminish.

But I would soon.

Turning back to my Bells, I couldn't stop myself from grinning; at last, I felt some real hope.

(Bella's POV)

"Bells."

When I heard that, I was surprised. Turning quickly in shock, I looked into the eyes of Jacob. I remembered that name, and only one person ever called me by that, my childhood friend, Jacob. Was that truly him—the boy I had fallen in love with, before I knew the meaning of the word? Now I was really confused. He had changed so much, but now the feeling of familiarity, was explainable.

My heart picked up speed. Why did I feel the need to hold his hand and never let go, or to be held in his arms and stay there forever?

I blushed at my thoughts and quickly averted my eyes. I was not sure what any of this meant. I glanced over at him again from under my lashes and he was smiling? Yeah, he was smiling, while I felt more confused than ever.

I began to eat my lunch again, pretending it wasn't falling like a ball of iron into my stomach. Although I felt like getting up and leaving, to go somewhere and try to make sense of my confusing emotions, I didn't. It would be too obvious to everyone how affected I was by that one word.

I forced myself to sit and eat every bit of my lunch as fast as I could, but not obviously so, pretending it didn't taste like saw dust in my mouth and lead going down my throat.

When done, I sat back for a minute, to appear calm, then stood and gathered my things. I needed to go outside and get some air, just to think without his presence messing with my emotions.

"You're leaving?" Mike asked as I stood.

"Yeah, it's a little stuffy in here and I just need some air," I replied while grabbing my backpack.

"Would you like some company?" he inquired, hopefully.

"No, stay and finish your lunch, I'll probably just read until the bell rings," I muttered quickly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Angela asked again. She was looking at me with concern. "You do seem a little pale."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing some fresh air won't help," I answered, smiling to re-assure her.

She didn't seem convinced. She studied my face before saying. "I think I'll come with you anyway, just in case you really are sick and need help getting to the nurse's office." She stood, gathering her belongings, then looked back at me. "You don't have to talk, but I'll worry less if I accompany you and if you do feel like talking, I'll be around." She added, "Whenever you're ready."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed a little. "Thanks, Angela." Then turning to the others: "I'll talk to you all later."

Then calmly, Angela and I walked out of there, with me still acting as if everything was alright. As if that one word and presence of the boy who said it, didn't have my emotions in turmoil!

(Alice's POV)

I watched my brother's expression as he watched the interchange between Bella and Jacob, before turning my attention to them. There was something there, I could feel it. The tension in the air between them was so thick, you could cut it with a knife, but I also felt a bond there between them. It didn't seem new. It seemed to have been there for a while, but got even stronger recently. Hmmm, it would be hard to break, but that still wouldn't stop my plans.

"She doesn't even know that she is talking with a werewolf," Edward said, breaking into my thoughts. "She needs to be warned how dangerous they are."

I knew that was not all he was worried about. He was concerned that Jacob would be able to catch her interest before he had a chance to.

"We can't exactly tell her what he is, now can we?" I reasoned. "At least not without breaking the treaty."

"I don't like it. Treaty or not, she needs to be warned," he commented stubbornly.

I smiled indulgently at him. "Are you sure this does not have something to do with your interest in her? That the girl you feel so drawn to could be interested in your mortal enemy?"

"That might have something to do with it." He looked directly at me. "I still think she should be warned, maybe not told what they are, but warned of the dangers of being around him."

Raising an eyebrow at him, I snapped, "Him or all of them?"

"What difference does it make?" he grumbled.

I didn't reply, but glanced over at where the wolves sat and noticed them watching us. I knew they heard every word we said, but I didn't care. Jacob was now back in his seat, receiving words of encouragement from his friends.

So, that's what it was; he imprinted on the girl. I turned to say something about it to Edward when he uttered, "I know."

Watching Bella talking with her friends, I was about to say something else to him, when I heard the word, "Bells". It came from Jacob. I looked between him and Bella and my first thought was, oh, no! That word definitely meant something to her.

I looked at my brother and he appeared to be miserable—well as miserable as our kind can look. My mind was made up then; I would do everything in my power to help my brother get this girl. I would start today to put my plans in motion.

He had been alone for a long time, I knew seeing me with Jasper, and Rosalie with Emmet had been hell for him.

Besides, my brother's happiness meant more to me than a werewolf finding its mate or losing her.

Movement brought my attention back to her table. She and her friend Angela were leaving and I decided right then to follow the two. I waited five minutes after she left, before going after them.

She was leaning against her truck, with Angela standing quietly by her side. I was surprised how close those two had gotten so quickly. They were both deep in thought and did not hear me approach. She jumped when I touched her shoulder, Angela just calmly watched me.

Her hands to her chest, she spouted, "You scared the crap out of me."

Before replying to her, I greeted her friend. "Hello Angela," I said, warmly. She just looked at me, shocked that I spoke to her. Then to Bella, I explained, "I didn't mean to. I saw you both leave and was wondering if you were okay."

"Yeah, just needed some fresh air," she remarked.

I wondered how to bring up the subject. "I do have another reason for following you," I confessed.

She looked at me suspiciously; so did Angela: "What other reason?"

"I noticed you talking to Jacob." I looked for a reaction and found it.

I knew all about the connection between Bella and the wolf. I even knew she loved him, though she didn't want to admit it, but none of it makes any difference to me. My brother's, my family's needs and wants came before them, so whatever I could do to pull her to our side, I would do.

"What of it?" She asked once more, suspiciously.

"I thought it fair to warn you that it isn't safe getting mixed up with him. In fact, it wouldn't be safe being around most of the Quileute men."

She raised her eyebrows. "Dangerous? How would it be dangerous for me to be around them?"

"Yeah," Angela added. "How could they be dangerous? I have never seen anything to make you say that. They stick to themselves; so do you and your family, but that does not make them dangerous."

"Because of a certain thing; I cannot actually say why." It was a little upsetting that Angela was here trying to defend them. What did she really know anyway?

"So I'm just supposed to take your word for it?" She sounded irritated. "Someone I actually just met and don't really know anything about?"

"It's all I have. I have been around here a lot longer than you have, just take my word for it. They are dangerous to be around."

With irritation lacing her words, Angela blurted, "So have I, and I've seen nothing to back up your claim."

Then I thought of something. "Why not accompany us to the park after school? Edward might have more to tell you." We were actually going hunting after school, but that could wait, this was more important.

"Sure, why not," she replied after thinking about it for a minute. "But I can't stay too long." Then she peered at Angela. "Do you feel like going to the park after school?"

I was hoping she said, no. After looking between Bella and me a few times, she retorted, "Okay, I'll go with you, but like you I can't stay long. I better get to class now; I'll meet you here afterwards." Then she left.

"Now that's settled, I'll see you after school." Then I whirled around and noticed Edward walking towards us. I nodded at him and kept going.

We almost had her where we wanted her. Having her agree to accompany us to the park wais a step in the right direction.

Ever since my brother told me he could not read her mind, I realized that she had a valuable gift that could be used to our advantage. Yes, she was mate to Jacob, who should rightfully be the Alpha of their pack. He hadn't taken his rightful place yet, though I sensed he was the strongest wolf they had. I did feel he would step up now that he had found his Luna, but something told me we couldn't allow that to happen.

Although rightfully, she belonged to the Quileute people, and Jacob would suffer without her, it made no difference to me. My brother wanted the human, I thought he had even fallen in love with her, so I would make sure she learned to hate the wolves—to hate Jacob—no matter the kind of pain they might suffer being apart. My brothers' welfare came first.

I glanced behind me and saw Edward and Bella walking together towards the gym, the last class of the day. I grinned to myself. That human girl held something that could very well be an advantage to us, so it didn't matter that she was the imprint of the true Alpha. I would do whatever it took to makes sure she fell for my brother and that our family would benefit from it.

The race to win Bella over to our side was on, and I had no intentions of losing.