Author's Note: Short chapter ahead! Just a warning. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 13

"Hey, Bella," Billy Black, my father's friend, greeted me warmly at the door. "How you doing?"

"Hey, Billy," I said, smiling. "I'm doing fine. How are you?" I shook the hand that he offered me.

"Just marvelous. Especially since your father's been around a lot."

I followed him into the kitchen. "I'm sorry about that. I'm actually here to convince him to come back to the house. Renee's never around anyways."

"Oh, don't do that," Billy said. "He's wonderful company. We don't mind at all."

Jacob looked up his homework. He brightened up when he saw me. "Hey, Bella!" He waved, grinning widely.

I hadn't had a taste of his bright attitude in a long while. "Hey, Jake. It's good to see you."

"Same."

"Billy, where's the toilet paper?" Charlie's voice rang out, and he entered the kitchen. He stopped short when he saw me. "Bella."

"Hi, Dad," I said, leaning on the counter. "Miss me?"

He pursed his lips. "I thought I told you not to come down. I'm fine where I am, thank you very much."

I sighed. "The house is empty. Mom's not there."

"It doesn't matter. If I go back, I'll be losing this round."

Billy rolled his eyes. "You two were never right for each other. Always fighting. Stubborn."

"How are the Cullens?" Charlie asked as he sat on a stool next to Jacob. "Anything new happen at all?"

My expression darkened as I recalled yesterday's events. "Nothing much. Same old."

He studied my face suspiciously. "What happened, Bells? You can't fool me."

"Nothing," I insisted. "They're fine. I'm fine."

He raised his eyebrow.

Jacob scowled. "How's Edward?"

I glanced at him, amused. "It's obvious that you don't like him, Jake. You don't have to try in front of me."

Jacob grimaced.

I recalled today's Biology class. It had certainly been awkward sitting next to Edward. He'd tried to talk to me several times before giving up when I only answered shortly to his questions.

As I left the classroom, he'd grabbed onto my wrist and warned me, "Don't avoid me anymore."

"Why in the world do you not like Edward?" Charlie asked Jacob now. "He's a good kid."

Jacob shrugged.

"He's tall, handsome, and intelligent. Popular too," Charlie added under his breath.

Jacob's eyes flickered to me briefly before looking away. "I just don't like him, that's all. He's too…perfect. It's abnormal."

Billy guffawed. "I don't think it's nothing. There's always a reason for everything. And judging by the way you looked at Bella before answering, you're jealous, son."

Jacob flushed. "I am not! Why would I be jealous of Cullen? I'm not crazy."

"Aw, come on, Jake," his father said. "It ain't exactly a secret that you have a crush on Bella."

I blushed with Jacob this time, and I turned away. This love business wasn't funny anymore.

Edward's Point of View

I was still annoyed with Alice. Bella had barely talked to me all day, even in Biology.

Alice and Rosalie were chatting excitedly about the dance while Emmett and Jasper were talking about football. And I was sulking alone.

"Come on, Edward," Alice groaned suddenly. "You're no fun. Stop sulking."

"Easy for you to say," I retorted. "Your best friend is still talking to you."

"I told you," she said patiently. "You two can never be friends anymore. It's just not possible. And even more, with Bella's stubborn attitude." She gave me a meaningful look.

I rubbed my temples absently. I was developing a headache.

"Why didn't you drag her over today?" Emmett asked. "We could've forced her to listen to Edward."

"Because she left before we got to the parking lot," Rosalie answered.

"And because she had to go down to La Push," Alice added.

That caught my attention.

"Why?" I fired up immediately. Jacob Black and my dislike for him flashed into my brain, and I hated him even more.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Calm down, bro. Bella didn't go down to see Jacob. She went down to see Charlie."

I didn't relax. "Still. She would see him while she's there."

"Honestly," Jasper snorted. "Your jealousy is getting seriously ridiculous. Jacob is just a friend of Bella's. Why do you have to get so agitated?"

I sank back in my seat, still unhappy. "Because he likes her in another way. That's why."

"And it bothers you, huh?" Emmett asked, grinning widely. He found my jealousy amusing.

"Of course," I said softly. "Whenever we get together, Bella pays more attention to him than she does to me."

"That doesn't mean anything," Rosalie said. "She hardly ever sees him. It's only natural that she gives him more attention when they get together. She sees you every day."

Jacob Black. My fists clenched together at the name. We had never liked one another, even though we'd known each other since we were young. The fight for Bella's attention had always been ongoing. He'd been competition from the very beginning, only because I didn't know how Bella felt about me in that way.

"If you're so worried, call her," Alice said nonchalantly, feigning disinterest as she studied her nails.

I gave her a look. "She won't pick up."

"Just bring her over tomorrow!" Emmett said impatiently.

"She can't," Rosalie said. "She's going over to see Renee tomorrow."

I scowled and knocked down a book from the table beside me. It was a childish action, but I couldn't help it. "Why can't she go see her today?"

"Maybe she'll sleep over at the Blacks," Alice said casually.

I glowered at her. She was trying to make me jealous on purpose. "Stop it."

She smirked. "Make me."

"Alright, you two," Emmett said, intervening before I could retort. "Enough. Alice, leave him alone. He's already upset because Bella went to see Jacob because she loves him so much."

I shot him a look. "You're not helping either."

He grinned mischievously.

"Look," Rosalie said. "We're going to make Bella come to the dance. Isn't that enough? You just make sure she's never alone. Ditch Denali, and seize Bella before someone else takes her away. Okay?"

I sighed wearily. "She'll only push me away."

"Pessimist," Alice mumbled under her breath, shooting me a dark look.

AN: Sorry about the short chapter. Reviews, please!