*A/N: I'd like to keep this author's note short. :-)

Thanks to my awesome betas. Thank you for the reviews, comments, questions, & alerts.

Chapter Summary: Bella has learned the fate of Laurent, but her worries are far from over. Bella's life has just become a little more complicated; her school work is not getting any easier as the end of senior year approaches, a vampire hell-bent on revenge is after her, and her new best friend is werewolf. A werewolf whom she finds very attractive. Life was sure a bit simpler when she lived in Phoenix. Yup, no vindictive vampires or hot werewolf best friends running around there. The worse thing to ever hurt her was a cactus.

*Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, but it had a horrible influence on me. TL, Jacob, & this story have completely monopolized all of my time.

Chapter X Title: 'Bad Influence,' by P!nk

(BPOV)

La Push was throwing a bon-fire party to celebrate a "coming of age" for a few of the boys on the reservation six days later.

Jacob was one of the boys.

I felt obligated to go, but I wasn't thrilled about it. I even wore a skirt for the occasion. A simple cotton, black skirt, but it was still a skirt nonetheless. I hated it, but besides wearing the same khaki skirt that I had worn with Edward...The new, unremarkable black skirt it is, I sourly thought. I was still upset with Jacob for not seeing the severity of the changing dynamics in our friendship and he only seemed concerned with letting me know at every waking moment that he was not interested in staying just friends.

He thought that since I had taken to the idea of him being a werewolf so maturely that there was nothing that the two of us couldn't handle together. I disagreed with him and told him so on numerous occasions. "You're good with weird," he stated openly.

"I like you better as a wolf," I said to him nastily one afternoon. "You talk less."

He had shared details about the pack hunting and killing Laurent, which had me relieved, but I felt far from safe again. Jacob figured that if Laurent didn't report back to Victoria, she would just assume that he had met his match with one of the Cullens and that everyone in Forks would be safe. I knew the nature of a vampire better than he did.

"You know that Victoria is after me, right Jake?"

"The redheaded leech? Don't worry. She won't get you."

I swallowed. "Why do you call them that? Leeches, I mean. What did they do to you? The Cullens never harmed you or anyone."

Jacob's eyes grew dark as he looked at me, seeing right through me. I knew that he was thinking that at least one of the Cullens had hurt someone. My jaw tightened as he said carefully, "We hate them for existing. We're supposed to. They're the reason that we have to protect our land. When a bloodsucker moves in on our territory or close by, the few of us in the tribe that carry the gene get this fever, for lack of a better word."

"What fever? The werewolf-fever?" I asked, feeling stupid.

Jacob slowly nodded. "I was born this way, Bella. The Cullens weren't born vampires. It's in my blood, in my heritage to protect our land from the likes of those parasites. Do not defend them." His eyes flashed anger, but it quickly faded. "Bella, honey, we will protect you. Nothing will hurt you. I won't let them. My pack won't let them."

"But you guys are just—"

"Give us some credit, Bells." Jacob brushed the side of my face with a breath and small smile. "Your lack of faith in us is starting to become a little insulting; this is what we're built for."

I subconsciously touched my lips with a free hand and immediately had a dirty thought: that's not all you're built for. Jacob's mouth turned a little upward, making the way for a smugger smile before I sucked my teeth and pushed him away with my sweater-covered hands. I wouldn't allow myself to touch his hot skin any more than necessary, out of fear of what it might do to me again.

By the night of the party, I was still pretty upset with Jacob. He had been to my window every one of the six nights since our second kiss, but I never invited him up and he didn't ask. He would watch me from the window and every other hour or so I would get up to check on him, seeing if he was still out there. He never left. But I wouldn't give in to him either, convincing myself that it was just part of his patrol.

I would lament and pray to see Jacob every chance I got, but once I saw him, I would get angry with him all over again. I'd imagine hugging him as a human or burying my face in his fur when he was a wolf when he made it over before his many late afternoon patrols, but then I would turn him away as soon as he actually appeared. I needed my small daily fix of Jacob and he always seemed satisfied enough to give it to me no matter how little I gave back to him. I knew I couldn't keep it up. Soon, just seeing him wouldn't be enough and I would have to shed my long-sleeved clothing just so my skin could disappear into his. In the end, we were two cars trying to finish the same race.

"Hey vampire girl, you want another drink?" Embry's voice called from my far right. I gave him a nasty look from the table before he took a shy step back. "Sorry. Want to be called 'wolf girl' instead?" Quil held in a chuckle unsuccessfully and I saw Jacob flinch. Jacob looked tense and I turned away from the boys. I pulled on my skirt and tried to focus on any other thought besides Jacob. I was quickly running out of options.

"So which one of these dogs are you here with?" A pretty girl with cropped hair asked me, cutting into my thoughts. She was pretty and I felt intimidated; her eyes had almost the same intensity as Jake's, but there was no warmth, only fire. Her skin had a natural red flush, but I had the feeling that this girl would have been angry or unmoved by any person within twenty feet of her. Though her fingers tapped impatiently against the plastic cup, waiting for my answer; I amicably accepted the distraction she provided. We were sitting at the small picnic table as she fingered her dark-colored drink freely after she was certain I was going to answer her question. I was certain I had seen her before. Perhaps she was one of Charlie's friend's daughters?

I blinked and answered her question with one of my own, "You know too?"

"Know what? That all men are dogs, especially La Push guys? You learn soon enough." And she sipped her drink.

I had been nursing a beer when Emily approached us, looking sorrowful. "Leah, what is that you're drinking?" Leah? Harry Clearwater's daughter?

The girl called Leah sighed and gave Emily a nasty smile, "I think it's called a refill. And I'm fairly certain that I'll have another while you two chat about me behind my back." She turned away from us and proceeded toward the other small picnic table, which was serving as a refreshment stand. "Emily's great for that. Talking and taking things behind peoples' back," Leah called from behind her hair that suddenly covered her sad eyes. I almost hadn't recognized the mourning type of anger that inflames and consumed equal amounts of your time and your heart, except that I once wore the same look some weeks ago.

"I'm sorry about that. She doesn't…well, she's still dealing." Emily stated apologetically, but she didn't look embarrassed. In fact, she still seemed somewhat protective.

"Still dealing with what?" I wondered out loud.

Emily's eyes moved across my face before her lips pursed together. "It's not my place if Jacob hasn't said anything, but there are no secrets in the pack. Not for long, anyway. Do you see that girl over there? Kim? The one sitting on Jared's lap?"

I nodded briefly. I recognized Jared from the carnival, but the way he was with that girl seemed unreal. He had been cold and unfriendly at the fair, siding with that other mean boy, Paul, whom had been also standing off to the side with Sam. Now I watched him smiling and giggling, playing with the pretty, but average Quileute beauty's hair.

"That's Kim, Jared's imprint. They met earlier today."

"What's an imprint?" My drink held less interest now.

"It's a way for the boys—the "protectors" of our tribe—to find their soul mate. Or someone equivalent thereof."

"Like matchmaking?"

"Something like that."

I glanced at Jacob, who was intently staring at me. My annoyance flared. "Has Jacob found his?"

Emily looked at me. "I can't really say. It's not my place."

My temper seethed into a slower boil as my mind ran through the possibilities of Jacob finding and meeting another girl. Another loved one to protect. As his friend, I would have nothing to say in the manner and he would leave me, alone. I'd have no Jacob. I'd have no Edward. Fair was fair. Life was short and horrible.

"I need a drink," I stated suddenly.

"Bella—" Emily was cut off by Leah.

"I heard someone needed a drink. Here. Took the liberty of spiking it myself. Paul didn't put enough in it." Leah smiled as she pushed the drink into my hand. I took it without bothering to ask what it was.

I was on my 3rd rum and coke less than an hour later. After about two beers in between I didn't feel as though they were doing the job fast enough of helping me to forget the anger I was feeling toward Jacob. Jacob had tried to speak with me three times to talk me out of my anger, but in the end my stubbornness to keep him at bay finally gave him a hint. Bella Swan was not to be messed with tonight.

I thought vaguely about switching to a vodka and tonic, but I think I had read somewhere once that you shouldn't mix the liquors. I would have to check when I was a little more up to it…and sober.

I knew I was drunk. I couldn't even lie about it.

I could hear someone chatting in my ear telling me that they wanted to dance. I hated to dance. I had not been blessed with the gift of rhythm and movement, but the rum made me invincible. I wanted to be something more. Again, I wanted to feel normal. I had been dumped by my vampire ex boyfriend and my best friend, whom had given me two amazing kisses now and whom just happened to be a werewolf, hadn't thought it was a big deal to kiss me.

My best friend was an ass. My father was a police chief and if no one started to drink simply because their father was a police chief truly wasn't normal. Well, I couldn't be normal anyway. No guy I had been involved with since I came to Forks had been normal. I wondered briefly if Tyler was secretly a Martian here on Earth on a sports scholarship and Mike was really an ogre who fed on unsuspecting teenage girls that weren't blonde. That would explain Mike's attraction to me. I was just so goddamn edible to everyone else. Why not him too? I needed to do something different than what I was doing because I certainly was not making much progress.

Music played. Some upbeat tempo that wasn't in English. I moved as best as I could without feeling ashamed. I suddenly wondered why I didn't drink more often.

Maybe I should kiss another werewolf. It relaxes the mind and dulls the senses. I giggled internally. No one could ever kiss you like Jake, Bella. I felt tears pushing to get out behind my eyelids, but I compelled them back with a forced smile. "Except maybe Edward." My heart immediately sagged, but it didn't deflate. Even Edward hadn't been able to kiss me like Jacob. Jacob didn't hold back from me and I never had to ask him too. I exhaled loudly. I wondered if my fondness for Jacob was now the glue that now held me together. I shivered as I swallowed another large gulp of my drink and threw my arms around the unnamed boy in front of me.

(JPOV)

God, Bella was really mad at me. She was doing her best to ignore me and it was working. I had seen her knock down at least two drinks of rum and something else. With her weight, there was no way she was going to be able to walk or see straight enough to get home. I couldn't let her go back to Charlie like that.

I watched her move on the dance floor with some kid I didn't know.

I can take him. Immediately I thought of the worst case scenario: I'd have to bash some guy's brains in order to keep his hands off Bella. She wouldn't want my help, but I didn't think she'd be too hard to handle if she dared to take another drink.

"Girl's got a few moves," a grave voice taunted in my ear.

My arm jerked as a reflex. Paul was starting early. He had already tried to coerce me into another fight earlier in the evening, but I had stayed focused on Bella. I couldn't let her get hurt. I couldn't stand the thought of her getting hurt.

I swallowed back a nasty comment and took a long swig of the warm beer I had been holding instead.

His unkind grin sent a small tremor through my back. "Hey, you old enough to drink?"

Paul was really testing my patience tonight. I was already thinking about using my almost empty beer bottle to smash over his head.

Embry's voice suddenly erupted through my train of thought. "Jacob! Jake, man, I think she's down!"

I pulled my attention from Embry to Bella. She was slowing down in her dancing and she slumped a little, but she wasn't down. Not yet. Another half hour or one more drink later and I would have to carry her out. I scowled at Paul for making me lose my concentration even for just a second on Bella.

"That 'vampire girl' is a bad influence on you. You used to be fun. You use to want to fight." After I didn't respond for a few seconds, Paul shrugged and walked off; probably to fight with someone who wanted to be provoked on a night like tonight.

I began to watch Bella again. The simple way she moved, the way her hair blew, and the way her breath rushed out of her even when she had no words to say drove me wild. The way her eyelids moved when she slept and said my name out loud. I had almost jumped out of the bed the first time I heard her sigh my name. I had listened even closer, begging and praying to hear my name escape her lips again and again. I vowed to make her think of nothing but my name if she would only let me. I couldn't believe how much power she had over me.

"Jacob."

It was Sam's voice this time.

I rushed over and Sam already had one arm around Bella and the other hand was holding off the guy that Bella had been dancing with. I immediately felt a little jealous of Sam touching my Bella and my arms tensed at my sides, starting to shake—

"Jacob, Bella should get home."

"I'm sh-finesy. Stils drswinking," Bella slurred. Even I rolled my eyes at her inadequacy to talk.

I nodded curtly toward Sam and took over Bella-duty.

Her arms flailed. "S-no! No! I'se mad atcha! So mad atcha! Youse don't likes me! Youse don'ts like mes at al!" Bella struggled against me.

"Bella. Sweetie, stop."

She tried to pull away but I grabbed her waist, accidentally lifting her shirt a little. A jolt passed through my body and I felt myself get excited. Her touch was making me crazy. This was worse than her saying my name in the middle of the night; feeling her pulse through my fingertips was enough to make me shiver from more than just her fair skin. It was torture.

I implored her, "Stop it, Bella. Come here."

I leaned my body more toward Bella and then hoisted her up in my arms. She really wasn't heavy at all, even as a dead weight. Well, a dead drunk weight.

Bella finally seemed to have settled and she wrapped her arms around my shoulder. She passed out with her face buried in my neck. I carried her home, listening to her breathe heavily, and enjoyed every minute of it.

She said my name once while I carried her, but then she had uncharacteristically cursed right after. I would have a lot of making up to do when she woke up.

I laid her down in my bed when we got back to the house. Once my arm left her head, her eyes fluttered open.

"Jake, don't. Don't leave."

She sounded sober. She didn't look sober, but she still looked gorgeous. She still captured my breath. My heart still slowed and quickened at just her touch.

"I'm here," I whispered as low as I dared so that she could still hear me. "I'm not leaving. But I think you should sleep. You've had a lot to drink."

She lowered her eyes and then her hand touched my face. "Jacob. Mine Jacob."

I knew what she meant. "Yeah, Bells. Your Jacob."

She sighed and gestured me closer. I couldn't resist kissing her gently. Much gentler than I had actually wanted to, but I didn't want to take advantage of her. And I also didn't want to get overexcited. I was internally speechless and wanted to use my tongue for nothing more than to support and empower her. I forced myself to remain calm as our noses bumped and our lips grazed each other's. I closed my eyes to better memorize the shape of our mouths linked together, as it should have been. As it could always be. All I wanted was for her to feel safe with me. That redhead could not have Bella. Those Cullens couldn't have her either. She was mine.

I used both of my hands to caress her face as we continued to kissed and then I suddenly felt her hand on my lower stomach.

Her next words tumbled out of her mouth. It was what every man wanted to hear: "You'se won't needs those." Well, it was sort of what every man wanted to hear.

Bella tugged at my jeans and the bottom hem of my shirt. I grabbed her hands lightly but forcefully said, "No, Bella. Stop. Stop it."

Her hands drew back and she looked as though I had broken her, like I had dropped her into an abyss that she had not seen and then left her there to wallow alone. And then she looked pissed enough to have uprooted a whole oil well by herself.

Bella reached for my clothing in what I think was an attempt to rip it off. She then scratched at my shoulders. I grabbed her again and she shrieked in anger.

"Geoff me! I'm gouin home! I wants gouin home!" She struggled uselessly and I pulled her into me, desperate to keep her calm, and to keep her on my bed. I began kissing every part of her face except her lips. Each kiss bringing equal amounts of pain and pleasure to my heart and aching loins. I whispered my favorite nickname for her, in Quileute, into her ear. Other words, I am sure, I just made up. I begged her to stay. I begged her to be quiet. I begged her to just be happy.

She was my heart, my soul, my hìtk.*

She would never be taken from me. Even my ancestors were aware of how much Bella meant to me. How much I needed her to be in my life, in some way.

Bella settled finally and kissed (while drooling) my lower chin. My erratic breathing began to slow and then my thighs began to feel heavier.

"Jeez. Not now," I moaned to the ceiling. And then my eyes settled on her pearly thighs.

Bella's skirt had raised a considerable length on my bed. I couldn't help my thoughts, which were already sinking lower and lower the longer she slept on my bed. Don't be an idiot, Jake. Don't be some overactive, teenage boy. My fingers trembled as I touched her bare skin. A knot formed in my stomach and rocks anchored the rest of my body. My knees almost knocked into the floor. I succeeded in straightening her skirt and covered the rest of her beautiful legs with the bed sheets. I was crazy not to do more. I knew I was, but I just couldn't do it. I drew in a small breath and her scent was all over my room. I would never wash my sheets again. At least, not until I was sure that she would lie on my bed again. Lie in my bed again, with me. Jesus, Jake! What's wrong with you? I cringed internally.

Now calm, Bella looked like the angel that she was. The beauty that I knew was there. Her skin matched the moon's reflection in the water. Her hair reminded me of the burnt autumn leaves just before the winter. Her breathing even slowed to the sounds of soft moaned pleasure; the same moans that escaped from her lips when we had kissed.

I walked over to the bathroom hunched over, towel in hand, and unable to help myself.

The whole process took me less than 10 minutes. And I did it twice.

A/N: Hìtk means 'heart' in Quileute.