Disclaimer: I do not own the amazing characters or marvelous places from Stephanie Meyer's the Twilight Saga however I do own my characters and plot line of this story such as Zoe, Liam, their mom, and what other character you peoples don't recognize.

Chapter 23

"What the fuck is he doing here?" I asked Jamie while I filled a customer's cup with scolding coffee. He's changed. With longer hair, more defined muscles, a five o'clock shadow, he looks like a rugged lumberjack. The one thing that didn't change was his eyes. They were still that deep green color that once made me swoon.

"I have no idea. He just walked in one day and we needed a waiter. Rick didn't think that you'd come back since you were with Jake so much." She whispered before picking up her tray and delivering food to her table. I stared at him and wondered why in hell would he want to work at some dumpy diner in west bumble-fuck nowhere?

"Shit!" I yelled as the hot coffee poured over and soaked my hand. Everyone looked up, including the man himself. He said something to his customers and walked over to me.

"Let's go get that cleaned up." He said reaching out for my hand.

"Go to hell Ethan." I spat cradling my hand as I walked out from behind the counter and to the bathroom. Being burned was nothing compared to the pain I felt every time I look at that bastard. I didn't even hear the door open as I was too busy focusing on the cool water as it washed over the burn.

"Why did you walk away like that? You know that I know first aid. I could have helped." Ethan said from behind me.

"Don't you think you've done enough already?" I said not looking up from the water.

"You're seriously still mad at me for that. I was wasted. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't mean it. I swear. I've changed."

"Yeah, yeah. Like I've never heard that before."

"You don't understand how much I mean it though. I've gone to AA meetings and they've helped so much. I've been sober ever since that night. Do you really think I want to be that guy?"

"You don't have to want to be anything because you ARE that guy. You will always be that guy. You're that guy and there's nothing you can do about it so do us both a favor and leave." I said making my way for the door but he stepped in the way.

"No. I'm not leaving, not until you see the real me. I still love you Zoe and I'm not ashamed of that." What he did next was unforgivable. Ethan wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him, locking our lips, my eyes open in shock. I didn't know whether to push him off, which at this point was near impossible, or to just let him keep kissing me until he's done, then I can punch him. I kissed him back and eventually he released me and looked into my eyes.

"I've been waiting so long for that." He breathed.

"Well then you should have expected this too." I coiled back my arm and punched him square in the nose. Soon enough he was on the floor, cupping his nose, blood seeping through his fingers. I squatted in front of him and made his teary eyes look in mine as they did before.

"If you touch me ever again, I will get someone ten times bigger than me to beat the shit out of you and baby, trust me, it'll hurt ten times more." I stood back up and strolled out the door.

"Rick, my shift's over so I'm going home. By the way, it seems as if Ethan is injured and is requiring some medical attention. He's in the girl's bathroom." I yelled as I clocked out and made my way out to my car.

"Get your ass back here!" Ethan yelled as he stumbled out the door.

"Peace beast!" I yelled back as I flipped him off and drove away.

Before heading off to Jake's, I ran home and changed (cgi/set?id=59970263) and grabbed an overnight bag even though I highly doubt I'll use it considering what's been going on between us lately. Whatever, ya never know, right?

I first stopped at Billy's house and to my surprise, it was empty, so I tried Emily's. Yet again, no one was there. The last place I could think of was the beach. Luckily, I found them.

"Hey guys!" I said to Leah, Seth, and Jake, who were surprisingly sitting away from everyone.

"Hey Zo!" Seth said jumping up to wrap me in his long arms and spun me around.

"Damn Seth, I think you broke a rib." I said gripping my side as I laughed.

"Sup." Leah said in her always broody voice. Okay, everyone but Jake said hi. Hell, he didn't even acknowledge my presence.

"Babe?" I questioned.

"Hi." Jake said in his monotone voice.

"He's pissed cause he imprinted on you and now his life is pretty much over." Leah said bluntly.

"Oh…my bad. I mean I can just go and move to Europe like I've always wanted to do. Make your life a little easier." I said sarcastically.

"Aw Leah, you didn't have to be so mean. Jake didn't even say that."

"Out loud he didn't." She scoffed.

"Leah!" Jake yelled.

"Well, on that note. Fuck you both." I stormed off back to my car and threw the door open. I heard a bunch of yelling but honestly, I'm done. I started to climb into my seat but Jake pulled my arm back.

"I didn't say any of that." He said holding me against the car next to mine.

"Bullshit. That explains why you've been such an ass. Look, I didn't ask for any of this. I would have been perfectly fine just being boring old me, working at the diner until I graduated college. I had dreams Jake, but I continually put them off for you when you don't even want me here. I get it now. I'll fucking leave so you can go back to being depressed over Bella. You can let that consume you instead of loving me." I sobbed.

"Zo…" Jake said softly as he wiped away the tears.

"No. Just go. Okay? I'm tired of being this hurt all the time. All I do is cry. I'm sick of it. Obviously we shouldn't be together."

"That's the thing, I know we should be. I've loved you since we were kids so I know that this isn't just the imprint thing. I just…don't know how make someone else my world. I don't chose to be this angry about it. All I want is to love you and be a perfect boyfriend. I just don't know how to be that for you yet. I am trying though."

"You've said that before and nothing's changed. You'll love me one day and then the next you can't stand me. You have to choose now."

"I'll always love you. I just won't always like you." He smiled.

"You're such an ass." I laughed.

"I know. You know what you should do?"

"Fix my mascara?"

"Nah, you should kiss me." Jake said. I stood up on my tippy toes and leaned in. At the last second, I pulled away and ran back onto the beach.

"You little…" He smiled that perfect Jacob smile and chased after me. As expected, he caught up and we fell to the ground, him on the top holding my arms by my head.

"I did better than I thought I would've."

"Yes you did. You lasted a whole three seconds. I'm proud." Jake said before kissing me passionately.

"Hey you two! I don't think Clairebear wants to see you guys making out." Sam said.

"Shut up Sam!" I yelled back at him before kissing Jake again. We were rudely split up by cold ocean water being poured on our heads. When we looked up, tiny little feet were swooped up and taken away by a laughing Embry.

"Enough games guys. It's time to head back for dinner." Sam called out to everyone. Jake helped me up and we left together.

"Damn. Those were some good ass burgers." Embry said patting his stomach.

"Considering the fact that you ate six, I figured that you liked them." Emily smiled.

"Well I'm stuffed. I should go home while I can still move." I said getting up from the table.

"You're not going anywhere. It's movie night tonight and it's your pick." Em ordered.

"Are you guys sure?"

"When have you ever been unwelcome here?"

"Good point. I'm going to call my sister really quick to tell her I'm not coming home." I went back into 'my' room and called Catherine. Surprisingly she was kinda pissed I wasn't coming home for some reason but I stayed anyway. I ended up choosing '10 Things I Hate About You', falling asleep halfway through.

"Babe?" I groaned as Jake carried me to my bed.

"Shh. Did you bring pajamas?" He shushed as he kicked the door closed behind him.

"Yeah. Put me down." And he did so. I rubbed my eyes and searched through the dark for my bag but came up with nothing.

"Fuck it." I said as I took my shirt off, revealing my floral bra and unzipping my jeans, letting them fall to the floor.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked flustered.

"Calm down big boy. I can't find pajamas so I'm improvising." I said kicking my jeans off. I then walked over to the bed, pulling back the sheets and climbing into bed.

"Are you going to come to bed or what?" I said patting the spot next to me.

"Yeah, yeah. Um. Okay." Jake said pulling his own shirt over his head and taking off his shorts.

"Babe, you do know you're not wearing underwear, right?" I said covering my face.

"Oh yeah. Forgot about that. Hold on." I peeked through my fingers and stared at his muscular ass as he pulled a pair of boxer-briefs out of the drawer and slipped them on before climbing in next to me.

"That's better." I said nudging into his chest.

"Come on, you know you liked what you saw." Jake said kissing my neck as he turned me over to face him.

"Oh yeah, def. I'm so lucky. I just can't keep my hands off of you. Oh baby." I said kissing him lightly until he deepened the kiss, running his hands all over my body. It felt good, it felt right up until he began fumbling with my bra.

"Jake…" I softly pushed him off.

"What?"

"Not now, not here, not…tonight."

"Why not?" He questioned.

"We're in a house full of people, your family to be exact and we don't even live here. It's just…weird."

"Okay I guess."

"Sorry babe."

"It's okay. We won't do anything until you're ready." Jake smiled down at me. He then kissed my nose and wrapped me in his arms.

"I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Goodnight."