Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.

A/N: One of my Betas have looked this over now. Thanks to Angelinia, who beta this story.

On another disappointed note (to some of you at least), I couldn't get through Eclipse. I was planning on doing a big chapter but it takes forever to write this and after awhile my head starts to get cloudy about what to write. Besides, I spent more than ten hours writing this, it's over 8500 words long, and it was only half the book. So, for all of you who wanted another update on Tuesday be happy, for the second half will be done then. And seeing as Breaking Dawn is even longer than this book, I'm assuming that will be broken in half as well.

Chapter Eighteen

Reading Eclipse Part One

After her lunch was finished she sat down on the couch, leaning back in Edward's arms. "Is this book going to be to be any better than the last?"

"Well, I'm in it more so..." Edward started to say, smiling.

"It will be better," Bella nodded her head, but she could see that there was something in his eyes that made her afraid of what was going to happen. She opened the new book and sighed, as she read the preface. Did they always have to start off the books like this? Well, at least she was with Edward this time. She sighed again as the first chapter started with a letter from Jacob. She couldn't help but wonder if something like this was going to happen to her in this reality. What if Jacob didn't think he could be friends with her after he changed? What if she had to stop being friends with him because he liked her too much and she didn't want to lead him on? She didn't want that, but she was determined to do the right thing this time around.

She groaned at Charlie's attempts at cooking and made a note to tell him never to use the kitchen unless he was making eggs. She liked that her dad was letting her off being grounded, but she didn't know if it was such a good thing with the conditions that he set. She could already tell that the Edward in the book didn't want her to go anywhere near Jacob and now that Charlie was out of the way this issue was only going to get more challenging. This had her thinking of something else though.

"Edward," Bella said putting the book down and looking at him.

"Yes," Edward said, obviously trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"I was just wondering how you were feeling when you first realized that I was friends with Jacob?" Bella asked. Obviously Jacob was Edward's greatest rival for her attention, not that it was much of a competition, but she didn't know how he could deal with that all the time. As far as she could tell, Edward liked Jacob, and was nothing but nice to him. She wasn't sure she would have been able to act as calmly as Edward is if someone that liked him like that was always around.

"I wanted to rip his head off and keep him away from you," Edward chuckled, "still do sometimes... It helps though that Jacob didn't think of you that way... he seemed to realize that I'm the one you want.

"Oh," was all Bella said to that.

"I thought for sure he would try to convince you from the beginning that I was no good... but... he wasn't that bad," Edward sighed. "Though now... I don't know what he's thinking, but he's starting to resent me... and he's thinking you're beautiful and I just don't think I can handle him being around if he's going to like you like that. I know he's your friend... and I would say he's mine too... but I don't..."

"Edward," Bella stopped him there, placing a hand on his lips to stop him from speaking. "I won't let that happen either... if Jake likes me... I won't be able to see him. I'm not going to hurt either you or him like that."

"Okay," Edward smiled at her, and it seemed that Edward really relaxed at that.

Bella then picked the book up and started reading. She smiled and rolled her eyes when the college talk started and how Edward seemed to so enthuse to get her to sign up.

"Dartmouth! Seriously Edward, do you really think I could get in there?" Bella rolled her eyes.

"Of course you can," Edward sighed. "And my whole family agrees with me..."

"Well, your whole family tend to be just as delusional as you are when it comes to me some times," Bella mumbled. "Edward I..."

"Carlisle has been a professor at Dartmouth a few times and trust me, he knows the kind of students they are looking for," Edward said, and before Bella could interrupt him he went on. "And believe me; he knows you would do well there. He said you have a very creative mind and any school would be lucky to have you."

"Edward!" Bella blushed, she could read the sincerity in his eyes, and even though he was a practiced liar, she could still see that he was telling the truth this time. Edward just smiled at her and after awhile, she started reading again, feeling a little dazed by what he had said. She never thought of herself as being that good of a student, you now the kind that got into schools like Dartmouth.

As she kept reading she wasn't too pleased by Edward's lack of concern about the dangers that were facing them. Or maybe it was by his insistence that he keep her human, but she was really wondering what it was that made Edward change his mind about that issue, though she knew better than to ask about it now. He would tell her to just keep reading.

Then she was shocked to hear about the deaths in Seattle and how it was vampires doing it. She wondered why that was being mentioned in the book and felt very apprehensive about what danger this was going to hold for her. However, she kept reading that was the only way she would get answers now.

"Edward?" Bella asked.

"Yes?" Edward said, looking apprehensive himself.

"You know how the last book you mentioned Romeo and Juliet," Bella said and now Edward started to chuckle, he was obviously not expecting this question. Bella, however, went on, "Does this mean that this book is going to have themes of Wuthering Heights?"

"I suppose," was all Edward would say, his eyes hard to read. Bella wasn't sure if she was going to like that.

Bella wasn't sure if it was such a good idea that she was that determined to see Jacob again even when Jacob was telling her to stay away. Yes, she didn't like the fact that he was hurt, but wouldn't it be better if she let him heal without her, seeing as she wouldn't be in his life that much longer... she was sure that as soon as she was a vampire they couldn't be friends. She sighed at this thought; she knew that was true for this reality, too.

Bella raised an eyebrow at the title of the next chapter, but otherwise let it go. She kind of liked how the book showed that she was friends with Angela and how the shy girl had accepted Alice and even Edward easily. Alice was already working on Angela now, and she could see that this was going to be the outcome of her efforts. Then Alice had a vision and she knew that it was something bad for Edward had ignored her for the rest of the time at school. And she didn't buy his reason, like her book self seemed to, and was suspicious when he tried to talk her into going away that weekend.

She turned to glare at Edward when he said that Alice had seen Jasper going to see this Maria vampire, sure that he was lying to her. Edward tried to look innocent, but she didn't buy it, he was too innocent.

"Edward, why are you lying to me?" Bella hissed at him.

"I want to keep you safe," Edward said pinching the bridge of his nose, "... I didn't want you to worry."

"I would prefer it if you didn't lie," Bella said stiffly. "I doubt this is really going to stop me from worrying... So what is it that Alice saw?"

"Victoria," Edward answered with a sigh and Bella nodded, she had figured as much. Bella was surprised how easily she took the news; she supposed it had something to do with the fact that Victoria could never hurt her in this reality, so this part was completely fictional to her. The other part, dealing with Jacob on the other hand could still be a problem and it was something she had to worry about.

She started reading again and glared more at Edward when he mentioned the trip to Charlie, she knew why he was doing this, but she hated that he caused her to argue with her dad. She didn't want to fight with Charlie and she hated that she was hurting him with what she said. Edward whispered his apologies to her and that made her relaxed a little. She was reminded that Charlie didn't hate Edward in this reality and he probably wouldn't have reacted this badly if she and Edward were to go visit her mom.

"Holy crow!" Bella groaned when she figured out what Charlie was talking about once she got home again. Her face turned bright red and she shuddered as she realized that Edward's family had read all of that, too. She wouldn't be able to face them for a week at least.

"They mostly laughed at me," Edward informed her, obviously amused.

"Hmph," Bella groaned again, that didn't help her feel any less embarrassed. It was bad enough that her dad was giving her the sex talk, did her other family have to hear all about it as well.

Edward kissed the top her head and snuggled closer to her and she felt herself automatically relax into his chest. He wasn't playing fair, but at the moment she didn't mind, she didn't want to think about what she had just read.

Bella continued reading and groaned as she tried to sneak off to meet Jacob and sighed when Edward had sabotaged her truck. As she finished the chapter she got angry though, what right did Edward have to stop her from seeing her friend if she wanted to?

"Edward, I really hope you never do anything like this in our reality," Bella said coldly.

"Don't worry; I won't," Edward said, "though I have to tell you that I was afraid for your safety..."

"I know," Bella said softer. "But that's not the only reason why you didn't want me going to see Jacob."

"No... I don't think it was," Edward agreed.

"I'm sorry," Bella said snuggling back into his chest. "But please don't try to control me... I don't like it when people tell me what to do."

"I promise," Edward sighed, kissing the top of her head.

As she read about her mom Bella sighed. She missed her mom so much; she wished she could see her. Though she knew there was no other place she'd rather be than wherever Edward was, a part of her wished that she could have move to Florida with her mom. For of course near the end of the last semester her mom told her that Phil had been signed and she could live with them in Florida. Her mom had been perplexed at first as to why Bella would refuse to go, but when she came to visit Forks, she quickly realized that Edward played a major part of it. Renee had watched her and Edward closely for the first few days she was there and Bella was sure that she was wary about their relationship, but as the week went on Renee seemed to relax. Bella wasn't so sure what that was about, but she was happy that her mother seemed to really like Edward. It was even better when the Cullens had Renee and Charlie over; Alice had planned the whole thing and it was very uncomfortable at first until he watched some game with Emmett on the Cullens' awesome TV. Renee simply loved Esme and Alice and the rest of the Cullens, and Bella was sure she would have no trouble from her mom in the future.

"You miss your mom," Edward stated.

"Yeah, I really do," Bella said, "I wouldn't mind if I got these tickets as my birthday presents..."

"Subtle hint," Edward chuckled.

Bella kept reading, and was surprised when Jacob called her and horrified that he might believe that she had been turned. She agree wholeheartedly though with her thought that they were going to have to leave whenever it was that she was turned. The wolves aren't going to be too happy with that.

And then she was annoyed at Edward again for the fact that he had lied to her, but she mostly let it go, she had already scolded him about that and she was sure that he wouldn't lie to her like that (and if his book self knew what was good for him he wouldn't lie either). She didn't really like how Jacob was described in this chapter, she already felt nostalgic for her friend and wondered if Jacob right now changed to the way he was described in the book.

"What is he doing to you?" Bella exclaimed when it mentioned Edward's pain, how he looked the same when Jane was torturing him.

"He's showing me Sam's memories," Edward sighed. "The ones of you... in the forest..."

"Hmph!" She found herself getting really angry at Jacob for being so cruel as to do something like that.

"He thought I was a monster, Bella," Edward said to calm her down. "You know how Sam and Jared feel about me... well, that's how this Jacob feels too, except he has even more reason to hate me because he likes you... and because I did hurt you."

"That doesn't make this right," Bella mumbled.

"No, but I know for a fact that the Jacob we know would never do this to me," Edward insisted.

"He doesn't have a memory that could hurt you like this," Bella pointed out.

"Even if he did... I don't think he would use it," Edward said. "His perspective on us is completely different..."

"Fine," Bella sighed, still she was upset about this, she continued to read. And was only able to smile when Edward and her were exchanging notes. But she felt worried again when Mike, Ben and the others talked about who would win if Edward and Jacob were to fight. She knew if something like that ever happened it would ignite a war between her family (as she had come to think of the Cullens) and her friends. She found herself praying that something would happen that would make the two groups get closer and she prayed that she wouldn't be the catalyst that caused them to fight.

She went on to the next chapter, and sighed when she was heading towards La Push. She knew this was going to happen, but she worried how Edward was going to react to that. She looked up at him, "how bad are you going to react to this?"

"Bad," Edward chuckled. "But I'm not going to do anything stupid."

"Unlike me," Bella mumbled. "So you're not going to break the treaty and come in to get me?"

"No," Edward was no longer laughing, "I'm sure I wanted to. To be honest, I get worried every time you go to La Push, and I know nothing is going to happen to you now."

"I'm sorry," Bella frowned; she didn't want to make him worry.

"It's okay, like I said I know nothing is going to happen," Edward said, wrapping his arms around her. "I just get anxious whenever I can't see you or hear your heart beating."

Bella smiled at him, her heart seemed to beat harder in response to his words. She started reading again and was happy and yet wary about how she reacted to Jacob. She really shouldn't have come down here; she was giving Jacob the wrong impression again, and now she didn't even have the excuse that she was trying to keep herself together. She tried to focus on the fact that she was helping a friend out, and that he needed her, but she was terrified of how much this was going to hurt everyone in the end.

She felt it was good that she was telling Jacob more about Edward, sure that if her friend understood Edward better in the book they could learn to like each other like they had in this reality. Well, maybe not that much, they would still see each other as rivals but if they understood each other it could only help things, right? And learning what happened in Italy that would only show how much she was willing to do for Edward and his family and what they were willing to do for her. Right?

She groaned when she heard of the almost fight between the wolf Paul and Emmett. She seriously hoped that the two groups weren't as close to fighting as they seemed to be in this book.

She snorted when Jacob said that Sam thought that she could ever hate the Cullens. It wasn't in her to hate them, even in her darkest hours in New Moon, she had never hated the Cullens. Then she was annoyed when Jacob questioned why she liked Edward. But she didn't let that bother her too much, she knew her Jacob didn't question that and this one... well Edward was right, when it came to the whole vampire issue he was a lot different from her friend.

She did have to laugh at her own comment when he mentioned dating her own species and she said that she was stuck with Mike Newton. It served Jacob right for being such a jerk about this. It wasn't like he was a normal human anymore.

The next chapter really seemed to hold her interest, though she was saddened to hear that Quil had turned into a werewolf too, she was still interested in hearing why Sam was so moody about the Cullens. She of course had meet Emily a few times in the past, and knew who had given her, her scars, but she'd never heard the story behind this. She was too afraid to ask Sam or Emily about this, and she didn't think it was her place to even ask Jacob. That didn't mean she didn't wonder. Nor did it mean that she wasn't struck by how much Sam and Emily seemed to love each other, how it seemed to shine through them whenever they were around each other.

She wasn't as shocked as he book self to hear that Jacob wasn't ageing and was even able to laugh at her own reaction (reminding herself that Edward had promised that he would turn her as long as she wanted to). She had already known the wolves wouldn't age unless they stop turning into wolves.

She had no idea that Leah had been involved with Sam and she agreed with her book self, that it was odd picturing him loving anyone but Emily. It was terrible hearing that Emily and Leah were cousins, close to sisters, and how hard that must have been on the two of them. But Bella knew that Emily had no choice to love Sam back, she knew what it felt like having someone love you with everything they are... that was how Edward loved her and there was no way that she could ever not love Edward.

"Aw," Bella let out a relieved sighed when Jacob confirmed that he hadn't imprinted on her. She was pretty sure that couldn't happen... it would have been obvious by now if he had she was sure... but it didn't make her relief any less, knowing for sure.

"Worried that he imprinted on you," Edward stated.

"Sort of," Bella sighed, "but it didn't seem practically that that would happen."

"What do you mean?" Edward questioned.

"It seems a little silly to me if a wolf imprinted on someone who had already found the love of her life," Bella said smiling at Edward. "One would think that their instincts would be smart enough not to do something like that, knowing it would only doom them."

"That makes sense," Edward smiled.

"And seeing as I already know that I love you more than anything, with my entire being, he could never imprint on me," Bella concluded smiling at Edward and leaned up to kiss him. It was some time later that Bella continued reading the chapter. She sighed when she agreed to see him again when Edward was 'away' knowing how much Edward would hate that. And she felt even more foreboding about this when Jacob admitted that he missed her more than she knew... why did she have to continue to lead Jacob on...? It wasn't right. She valued her friendship with him, but this wasn't right.

The next chapter she almost laughed at the way that she reacted when Edward was following her, but she was reminded how close Edward was to breaking the treaty and it wasn't so funny after that. Her talk with Angela, however, was nice. She liked knowing that there was someone normal that she could talk to if all the supernatural things got too much. However, she didn't really like the fact that she wouldn't be able to be friends with Angela after the transformation. It was sad, but there really wasn't anything she could do about it.

She wasn't that surprised with the way that Edward reacted when she got home, but she got a little annoyed with how he decided to deal with her. He had Alice babysitting her. Argh.

"Edward!" Bella groaned after she got to the part where she was about to call the book Edward. "Seriously, what were you thinking doing this?"

"That I didn't want you near the dangerous young wolf," Edward answered and Bella narrowed her eyes at him. "Bella, I'm not reacting like this now..."

"I know that," Bella rolled her eyes, "and I know that you have a reason to be like this, but Edward, it's not healthy for you to control me like this and I really wish you wouldn't involve your siblings in our disagreement. I don't want to be angry at Alice too..."

"Sorry," Edward sighed. "But I knew you would try to see Jacob again..."

"That's not an excuse... or at least it's not a good one," Bella glared at him.

"You know how much you mean to me," was all Edward said and the glare melted. She couldn't argue with that and she didn't want to. It was still annoying that he would do this, but she had to let it go.

As she read on she smiled at her reaction to Edward having a bed and that she went to the couch to sleep on, it really was something she would do when she was being stubborn. And then Rosalie came in and Bella sighed. She already knew what was coming in the next chapter and knew how sad it was. She read the next chapter and it seemed to ring out to her with more effect than when she was reading the other chapters because she could hear Rosalie's voice as the read. She knew exactly how each part would be said and it made all the more depressing.

She shed a few tears at the end, something she hadn't done in the blond, proud vampire's presence; she wouldn't have appreciated that. She found reading this part was even sadder than hearing Rosalie the first time, for she knew what Rosalie had wanted and the sad details seemed to stick out more.

She was almost happy that after the heavy stuff that Rosalie mentioned Tanya and her sister. She had read exactly how Edward felt towards Tanya so there was only a minimal amount of jealousy about that. However, she did wonder something.

"Edward?" Bella asked and he nodded his head so she knew she should go on. "I'm I going to meet your cousins as you call them?"

"You mean Tanya and the others," Edward clarified and Bella nodded her head this time. "Hm... do you mean while you're still human?"

"Yes."

"I would think so," Edward said. "But I don't see you meeting them any time soon. They don't even know about you yet in fact."

"Why not... are you ashamed of me?" Bella pouted and Edward laughed.

"Of course not, you silly girl," Edward chuckled.

"But I'm only a human..." Bella went on and was surprised that this only made Edward laughed harder.

"They can't say anything on that part, seeing as how they love human so much themselves," Edward explained and Bella looked at him oddly until she said 'oh'.

Shaking that thought out of her mind, she asked, "so why haven't you told them yet?"

"Well, we don't always talk to them for one things," Edward said, and then sighed. "And we didn't want Laurent hearing about you... I don't feel comfortable about that at all."

"No," Bella agreed with that, her body shuddering in Edwards arms.

"He's not going to hurt you," Edward whispered reassuringly and when she relaxed he added, "I am hoping that you will get to meet them though... later on, though you will still be human."

"What does that mean?" Bella questioned him and he smiled, not answering her. She groaned, when she realized he wasn't going to say anything and then kept reading.

She cursed herself when she got on the motorcycle with Jacob... this wasn't going well at all.

She was shocked and a little disgusted when Quil imprinted on a toddler. It just didn't seem right. Then she thought about the fact that Quil would likely stay young until Claire was around his age and then try to quit being a wolf so they could grow old together. It was still disconcerting, but when she thought of the fact that Edward could easily have met her as a baby... that he was old enough to be her great-grandfather... well, she stopped thinking about that then.

"What is it?" Edward asked noticing the odd look in her eye.

"Nothing," Bella shook her head, she wasn't going to tell Edward this particular thought. "It's just odd... you know that he could imprint on a kid like that."

"Yes," Edward said and there was a stiffness in his voice that confused her. She got the impression that he was upset about something more than just Quil and Claire. She raised her eyebrow, but Edward wouldn't say anything so all she could do was read.

Then Bella felt bad again when Jacob said how much he liked her. She couldn't understand how her book self didn't see how much it would hurt Jacob and Edward if she kept insisting on visiting him. She knew that Jacob was in pain now, and it would be hard for her to ignore that, but it was wrong of her to stay when he was telling her that he liked her that much.

And then he said that he rather she died instead of turning into a vampire and she felt so hurt... for she was afraid that the Jacob she was friends with would think the same thing.

It was odd that Edward had changed his mind about his strict no Jacob policy when she felt as if her book self might have actually seen that it was better to stay away... for a little while at least.

Other than that, she really liked the conversation she had with Edward, it seemed like how they were now, and she loved that they would be talking like this in the future too and hopefully forever.

Before she could read the next chapter she had to make dinner for Charlie. Seeing as she was starting so late she just made one of her quicker meals and it was just barely finished by the time Charlie had gotten home. She enjoyed another pleasant dinner with her dad before he went to watch the game and she went to her room to read.

Then next chapter she sighed at the fact that Jacob had called her to apologize and that she was likely going to forgive him and see him. She was really starting to worry about what was going to happen there. As far as she could see from this book, there was a good reason why Edward had acted the way he did yesterday when Jacob almost phased in her back yard.

She felt odd about Alice taking her things, when she had the sleepover at the Cullens; Alice didn't usually do that, nor did she straighten up her room. But she shrugged that off because she had to confess she had never been kidnapped before, she had always known in advance that she was going to be staying with the Cullens so she had packed accordingly.

And then Edward came to her house and everything thing else went out of her mind. She could feel her heart to start to beat faster at his reaction, knowing something bad was going on. Edward's cold hands made soothing motions on her back calmed her down some, but she couldn't help the panic that came when she heard there had been another vampire in her room. That Charlie had been in the house alone when a stray vampire came to her house.

Edward whispered that this wouldn't happen and she believed him, but she couldn't help but wonder if that only meant that this vampire wasn't going to come to her house or no vampire would. He couldn't promise the later and that terrified her... She wasn't so afraid for herself, for she was rarely home without Edward, but the same couldn't be said about Charlie. She didn't voice her fears however, knowing that there wasn't anything Edward could do about this and didn't want to make him feel worried or guilty.

She felt worse when they got to Edward's house and no one knew who was in her room. All the reasons that they came up with scared her, she didn't want to think that the Volturi had sent someone there to check up on whether or not she was human. She didn't like the idea of them coming before she had been changed and the Cullens getting hurt because she was still human... she wished that Edward would just change her already, but knew that wasn't going to happen. However, it was what Esme suggested that scared her most, because it was what she was thinking about now. That it was just some random vampire that happened to come across Edward's (and the others) scent and stopped by her house.

Edward seemed to notice her reaction and groaned in her shoulder. She groaned too, she didn't want Edward to know she was afraid of this.

"Alice is keeping an eye on that," Edward said softly. "She always sees when one of our kind is coming... even if they don't know if we're here, she sees it."

"Then how..." Bella started to asked.

"This vampire knows how to get around Alice's visions, but there isn't anyone that knows how to do that now... well, except for my family," Edward said, "Don't worry, Bella."

"Okay," Bella said and really did relax this time.

Bella sighed when she read about Jacob calling and she made up with him. Then Edward was talking to him and told Jacob about the vampire problem and Bella had mixed feelings about that. First, she was a little afraid for the werewolves' safety for she wasn't sure how strong they were (not having seen their wolf form yet). Second, she was thinking that having a common enemy might strengthen the relationship between the wolves and the Cullens, so she was almost happy about this. However, the last thing she was feeling was apprehension; she wasn't sure what this would do with the growing tensions between her relationship with Jacob and Edward.

The next chapter proved she had a right to be worried because Edward was leaving... he couldn't be in the same room as Jacob because he predicted that they would fight. She really didn't like that. She actually didn't cringe that much in this conversation with Jacob, it seemed to be closer to the ones she had now with him. She only rolled her eyes when he teased her about Edward having fangs, it was a joke that was told a few times by the Jacob she was friends with now. She was worried when he cut his hand and was surprised to see how quickly he healed.

And then Jacob was gone and Edward was back and they discussed several things. The subject of colleges came up again and she was surprised to learn she was accepted to Dartmouth, not sure if what her book self thought was true or if she should listen to what Edward had said earlier, but she knew there was no point in bringing it up right now.

Then the news about the vampire in Seattle was brought up again and she felt herself shudder. This was definitely going to affect them.

"What does it mean that Jasper is sort of an expert on young vampires?" Bella questioned and realized that she didn't know too much about Jasper past. She got the feeling that it wasn't something he liked to talk about so she didn't think it was good idea to ask about it.

"You'll see," was all Edward had to say about that.

She sighed when she realized that Edward wanted her to accept Jacob's invitation to La Push, not sure if it was a good idea. It really was odd how he seemed to be pushing her to do this, but she felt that it might be because he could see that her book self did want to go and Edward always wanted to give her what she wanted.

"You got yourself a bike," Bella smiled at that.

"Well... it seemed like a good idea," Edward chuckled.

"And you got me a helmet..." Bella chuckled, "I probably should have thought of that before."

"Yes, you should have," Edward said not smiling this time; her safety was no joking matter.

"But I think the protecting me from road rash is a little much," Bella shook her head.

"Maybe I just got that jacket because I knew you would be sexy in it... did you ever think of that?" Edward asked and chuckled again when she blushed. "I'm thinking about getting you a jacket like that now, even though you don't have a bike to ride."

Bella blushed more than ever at that and the look in his eyes, before he kissed her, then again she couldn't remember anything but to kiss him back... forcing him to pull away when she stopped breathing.

"Bella," Edward said in his exasperated, but smug voice and then leaned back waiting for Bella to start reading again. Which she did after a few minutes of calming herself down. The book had her sighing again in no time; it was just odd being handed off between Edward and Jacob...

There was nothing new in the next chapter she read (besides the comments from the pack members) for she had already heard about the legends when she had gone to the meetings with Jacob earlier that month. She did think it was odd that Seth and Leah were there, they weren't there now and as far as she knew the council wasn't planning on inviting them to come. She would have thought they might be werewolves too, but Jacob had never once mentioned a girl being a wolf and she didn't think it was possible. Even though she had heard the stories before, she found that she enjoyed listening to them again, this time thinking how the Cullens would have reacted to this.

"Carlisle must have loved this chapter," Bella smiled.

"You have no idea... he was practically bouncing in his seat," Edward chuckled. "He was almost as bad as Emmett was. He still wish he could hear the legends from Billy and Quil Ateara, to get the whole experience."

"He really should, it's a lot better hearing it from them," Bella agreed.

When she started reading again she wasn't so sure she was dreaming the part where Edward was reading Wuthering Heights, she thought that there was something that Edward could think (though she hoped that Edward wouldn't have really had hurt someone).

The next chapter had her worrying. The way that her book self was panicking made her uncomfortable. Was she, herself going to panic like that when she was facing her own mortality? She knew she wanted a life with Edward, and the only way that relationship would really work out was if she was a vampire. She also knew the argument against becoming a vampire. She didn't believe that vampires were soulless, so she didn't agree with Edward's argument. She felt it was true that she didn't know what it was like when you first became a vampire and that scared her a little. She knew she would essential be the same when she changed, but she only had a vague idea how strong the pull of blood was going to be for her. She remembered hearing how Edward had suffered in Midnight Sun and wasn't looking forward to that. But Edward would be there for her; he would help her through the transition and make sure she wouldn't hurt anyone.

Then she thought about what she would give up being if she became a vampire. She could never have a child. She had never really thought of that issue and it didn't really bother her now, but maybe it would someday. Was Rosalie right about that? One day she would regret never becoming a mother? However, she couldn't think about this without thinking about the price. She knew she couldn't live without Edward, she never wanted to try. Perhaps she would give herself a few years time... to see if she would actually want a kid in the future and if she did she would get artificially inseminated or something like that. She could last a few years being human to make a decision like this, couldn't she? She didn't like the idea of reaching twenty and still be human (she liked the idea of always being a teenager like Edward was) but as long as she had his insurance that he would change her, it would be best to give herself time for this.

She felt better after she thought about this, the change didn't seem as scary and she wasn't sure why. She continued to read and picked out when Edward had said that they could have been human together. Hearing his description of the type of man he was, the one that would have wanted to marry her as soon as he found her took her breath away. The picture painted in the book flashed before her eyes and she almost wished they could be human together too... but that was not possible, so she was just going to have to grow old with him without ageing.

She had to admit, this image was making the thought of actually marrying Edward seem slightly more tempting. She still didn't like the idea of getting proposed to before she was even out of high school; they were (or at least she was) so young, but it wasn't like she was going to change her mind about wanting to be with Edward forever. However, she couldn't get rid of the well placed fear that her mom drilled into her when she was young; smart people don't get married until they were thirty! But she was smart, and marrying Edward seemed right to her somehow... But she could just see what everyone was thinking when they heard that they were getting married...

"Bella, what are you thinking?" Edward asked, his chest vibrating from his suppressed laughter.

"Nothing," Bella mumbled, and Edward chuckled more.

"Okay," Edward said like he actually did know what she was thinking, and she sighed, knowing that he probably did. She continued reading to try to hide her embarrassment and was almost immediately horrified about what was happening in Seattle that so many people were dying there. Why were so many people dying? Why were there so many vampires there killing people? She couldn't help but feel like it was somehow her fault.

Edward took her to the Cullen house so he could talk to Jasper and she quickly read on to the next chapter to learn what Jasper's upbringing was like. It wasn't a happy story that was for sure. She couldn't imagine living the way he did, constantly fighting (allies and enemies alike). She hated that Jasper had to go through that, believing that there was no better life for him out there. And she felt even worse knowing that though his empathetic powers helped him survive it also meant that he was feeling everyone hate and angry all the time... that he lived decades like that. She felt she would always be grateful to Peter (and Charlotte) for letting him know that there was a better life for him out there. That he didn't have to live like this. Of course they still hunted humans, but at least it wasn't in this craze way like it was down in the South.

"Edward?" Bella asked suddenly worried about something. "Um... Florida is not the South is it?"

"You mean for vampires," Edward said. "Well, there are parts that are bad, but nowhere near where your mom lives."

"Okay," Bella nodded her head and then went back to reading and than almost immediately said, "it seems like Jasper would have tried to adapt himself to the way Carlisle hunts by himself... I mean if he was feeling adverse to hunting humans because he could feel their emotions at the time."

"Yes, I believe he would have eventually have found his way there on his own if he didn't meet us," Edward smiled. "He's not so sure about that seeing as he has so much difficulty with our diet still."

"Hmph," Bella sighed and then continued to read. She really did like the part where Jasper and Alice meet, it really was cute, especially, how they seemed so happy when they acted it out. She wished the chapter had stopped there for it would have been perfect but no, it had to go into how Jasper was talking about a newborn army. And she had to realize that was what was happening in Seattle, that someone was making an army... an army to destroy her family.

She wasn't sure who had commissioned this army and she didn't worry about trying to figure it out. She was too worried about what they were going to do to her family. She seemed to brighten up when she heard that Carlisle was calling Tanya and the other but was devastated when they refused to help him. She didn't understand how they could refuse if they were supposed to be like extended family and the Cullens were facing death!

"How can they not come?" Bella demanded of Edward.

"Because the wolves killed Laurent," Edward answered, knowing that she had already read that part.

"But they're your family... don't they know that the army could kill you?" Bella exclaimed.

"I'm not sure how serious they thought the danger was," Edward said thoughtfully. "As the way things were now, we had no proof the army was going to attack us. Plus, if Irina really is the mate of Laurent, then there is nothing that will stop her from getting her revenge for his death and her sisters, no matter how much they liked us, would have to side with her in this case. How would you feel if Alice lost Jas..." Bella flinched at those words and Edward seemed to change his statement (though only slight), "actually it would be more like if I lost you, seeing as we have known each other for the shortest amount of time. But either way you can imagine how we would react if we were in their situation."

"I suppose," Bella frowned and then read on but she couldn't help but still feel resentful when she read the last line of the chapter, about one of her family members not surviving.

The next chapter didn't start off very well with the mention of the graduation party that Bella was sure Alice was already thinking about now, probably deciding how to make it even better than it was in the book. And then the chapter just got better when she went to see Jacob. She couldn't be sure, but she had a feeling she knew what declaration was about to be made and she didn't want to hear it.

She was tense of the whole chapter, just waiting of the talk to come and how she was going to react. Edward seemed to try to soothe her but she wasn't being that receptive. Again, she knew something like this had a higher chance of happening and it made her feel worried. And then at the end he said it... he told her that he loved her and it made Bella feel sick. She didn't want him to love her in that way in any reality because she knew there was no happy ending there. She would never love him like he wanted her to. It made her feel worse when she read the next chapter.

"I shouldn't see him anymore!" Bella said, when she read about their conversation. "How can I justify being around him when I know I won't return his feelings?"

"He's a big part of..." Edward started to say.

Bella hissed at that, "it's not fair what I'm doing to him..."

Edward raised his eyebrow, not sure if she would feel that way in a second, and said, "no but he's incredibly insistent... he's not easy to discourage."

"Whatever," Bella mumbled reading on and was horrified when he kissed her. "Argh!" she groaned immediately, she didn't want to kiss anyone but Edward and she hated that he didn't even ask... or waited to see if she wanted to kiss him, he just kissed her.

She was angry now, as she read through this part, and it just fuelled her anger. The jerk wasn't even sorry for what he did... looking all smug!

"Ha... I hit him," Bella smiling, not really that surprised about his, for she was thinking about how much she wanted to hit that Jacob at this moment. The stupid jerk.

"Yep," Edward chuckled. "I was so proud of you."

"Argh! It didn't even hurt him!" Bella groaned this time. "I wish I was stronger..."

And then she continued reading, really mad that Jacob didn't even feel sorry about what he did, even when she made it clear that he had pushed her into the kiss. He was acting like it was some kind of treat... stupid mutt... well this was definitely not endearing her to him at all. She couldn't believe that he could be so bad.

"I can't believe that Charlie took his side!" Bella grumbled. What a traitor, laughing at her joking around with Jake, just because he didn't like Edward. Edward just seemed to chuckle at that, but Bella hardly noticed. She was too busy reading, trying to see how Edward was going to react. At the moment she wouldn't have minded if he punched Jacob, but Edward was probably right, she wouldn't feel that way for long. Still, for something like that he deserved to at least be hurt by the hit he received.

It didn't help her anger at all to learn that Emmett and Jasper were betting on how many people she would kill when she became a vampire, though it did make her feel sick now too. Was she going to read about herself slipping and killing an innocent bystander... could she live with herself if she knew that would happen? But she shook her head, Edward wouldn't be so willing to change her if she was going to kill someone... he would know that she couldn't stand that idea. Still she had to admit she had a temper and it was probably best if she learned how to control it.

"I can't believe they bet on how... on that," Bella sighed.

"They bet on everything," Edward shrugged.

"But that... It's horrible," Bella groaned. "I supposed this means they made a bet on this when they were reading the books too."

Edward was silent for a while before nodded his head. "Yeah, though it might amuse you to know that they switched their bets, Jazz bet low and Em bet high."

"No, that doesn't make me feel better," Bella rolled her eyes and finished the end of the chapter, blushing a little. She could think of one human experience that she wanted to have before becoming a vampire.

"I think you should go to bed," Edward said, knowing that the rest of the book would have her nervous the whole time she read.

"Okay," Bella gave up, putting the book down and snuggling closer to him. Her last thought filling her mind as she drifted off to sleep.