B-POV

Rubbing my eyes with the heels of my hand, I stood in line at the coffee shop for the second time that day. After only a weekend spent in Edward's cool embrace, to the sound of his gentle humming in my ear, it was more difficult to sleep without him. I now spent my nights longing for his presence in ways I hadn't been before. If not for the stupid Hunter he spent his nights searching for, I could have his hands…

"Why aren't you at lunch?" a voice from behind interrupted my thought.

I turned around to see Jessica, two people behind me. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, displaying her pretty face.

"Oh, I needed another jolt." I stepped out of line to let the people behind me pass, so we could stand together. "I could ask you the same question."

She rolled her eyes. "Mike spent all night playing that stupid video game. He said if he didn't drink something with four shots of espresso, he's going to keel over and die."

I chuckled. I knew the feeling.

"Edward seems to be coming out of his shell," she said after another beat of silence. "That must be nice for him."

"Yeah," I agreed, fully. Ever since he joined our small group for lunch, Edward had spoken a few times. Mostly in response to Angela, but also to Jessica every once in a while. The boys avoided him entirely. I suspected Jacob had something to do with their glaring distaste for my boyfriend. "He's getting there."

The more I watched him interact with his family as his most comfortable self, the more I wanted him to integrate into the group. He needed one more push to start speaking with the boys. I truly believed once Ben and Mike figured out how fun Edward could be, they would grow on him.

"He really is quite the charmer, under all that brooding."

I hummed, satisfied. "I always knew he was…"

"Good looking… charming… so romantic! I'm still so jealous he took you dancing. Mike refuses to be swayed."

"We can trade one night. You'll go dancing with Edward while Mike and I do something more fun. Like eat glass."

"Deal," Jess agreed with a laugh.

I continued to joke about hating dancing, even though I had a good time. I had low expectations for the night. An overnight bag for the hospital was packed and waiting by the door, ready for an incident. Not only had Edward and my various dance partners kept me safe and upright, but I also actually had fun. I would be willing to go to another ballroom dancing night at the country club, and not just to kiss Edward in that back hall again.

Though his kisses that night were something else.

He was affectionate from the very beginning. As our relationship progressed, he became increasingly braver with his tongue and his hands. But that night was on another level. His hands were desperate, his lips insistent. When I did sleep, I dreamed of those kisses…

It didn't take long for Jess and me to receive our coffee orders. When I was handed a croissant along with my latte, Jessica made a face but didn't comment. We rolled our eyes at Mike's enormous, obnoxious cup. Jessica took a sip of hers, wrinkled her nose, then reached for a sugar packet. "I'm trying to get myself to drink black coffee, but I just don't think it's worth it."

I sipped my latte, swirled with sweet vanilla. "If you can't enjoy your coffee, there's no point in living."

"Amen."

Dumping the contents of the sugar packet into her cup, she took another tentative sip and nodded her head in approval.

"So, what are you doing to lose weight?"

The question was straightforward like she asked if I needed a lid for my cup.

"Excuse me?"

She quirked her head to the side. "Well, you're not going to the gym with us. It doesn't seem like you're trying to eat better. I was just curious what your plan was."

It took a while for me to find a response that wasn't an oath, but when I managed, I said, "There is no plan."

Her eyes bulged under her sharp winged eyeliner. "Oh, Bella. You gotta have a plan. We just talked about how dreamy and delicious your boyfriend is."

Feeling my cheeks heat up, I stared into the contents of my cup. "Edward doesn't care about that."

"Okay, so he proved he likes you for who you are." she waved that off, as if it were some silly, childish nonsense. "Wouldn't it be nice to return that gesture of faith by giving him a bit of arm candy?"

I clenched my jaw to keep back all the things I wanted to say.

"Oh god, please don't be offended. I'm only trying to look out for you. You have such a pretty face, Bella. Seriously. I would sell my soul for skin like yours. I just know if I had a guy like Edward, I would do everything in my power to keep him."

I nodded and muttered something vague.

She patted my shoulder, affectionately. "Don't worry. It's going to be easy. Jake and I will be there to help you!"

It was more of a threat than a promise, but I acquiesced to her request. If only to get her off my back.

I was surprised to see Edward standing right outside the shop. Though there would never be a time I would be unhappy to see him, shame bubbled in the pit of my stomach. I wondered if he heard my conversation with Jessica.

The question was answered by a terse hello in her direction. Then, the answer was confirmed as Edward snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me tight against him. "Hello, my beautiful, perfect girl."

My blush deepened.

I wasn't sure how I felt about Edward's new habit of complimenting me to combat negative thoughts in my direction. Though I knew he wasn't lying, the circumstances turned the sweet comments saccharine. I greeted him in a small voice before the three of us made our way back to the dining hall. Jessica trotted along my side, blissfully unaware of Edward's irritation and my distress.

"Don't ever listen to anything like that," he said in a low voice. Jessica was in the middle of a story, looking only for an occasional nod of the head from one of us.

"Her heart is in the right place," I said in her defense, for it was true. She wanted me to keep Edward. I wanted to keep Edward. We were on the same side.

"That sentiment can only extend so far, my love. Her heart may be in the right place, but her thoughts could use some direction."

I sighed, unsure how to explain to Edward that's just how things were for me. There was no fixing it. When I decided not to waste hours at the gym or engage in some rigorous diet for the rest of my life to force my body into a shape it didn't want to be in, I also decided to endure comments like Jessica's for the rest of my life. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own.

At our arrival, Mike generously thanked Jessica as he took the cup from her hand and offered her his seat. As Jacob's head began to turn in our direction, I shrugged out of Edward's embrace. I had experienced all the shame I could take that afternoon. I couldn't handle the sneer of disgust Jacob gave us whenever he saw Edward's hands on me.

Angela hopped out of her seat, claiming she was finished. She joined Edward along the wall behind the table, where a few of us lingered when all the chairs were taken. The conversation at the table centered around a story of Jessica and Jacob, so I did my best to remain out of it. Edward and Angela happily chatted behind me. I didn't want to interrupt that, either, because I wanted Edward to be friends with her all on his own. So, I picked at my lunch in silence.

"Oh, the sun's coming out," Angela noted, absentmindedly.

I whipped my head towards the nearest window. Sure enough, the omnipresent clouds were parting. My stomach dropped down somewhere around my ankles. One, stray sunbeam was all it would take for Edward to be outed as inhuman. To be hunted and hurt and forced to leave me forever. My mind reeled for an excuse to get him out, reasons for his abrupt departure.

Then, Edward bent down, kissed my cheek, and said goodbye to the group. Panic closed my throat, but everyone simply said goodbye back.

It wasn't until Edward was out the door that I realized it was perfectly normal for one of us to leave for something or another. No one said anything. The only effect Edward's departure had was Angela squished into Jessica's seat because her conversation partner had left.

"You alright?" Ben asked.

"Yeah," I breathed.

"You look…" he searched my face for the right word, "…anxious. Do you have a test?"

I glanced around the table, to see if anyone else shared Ben's concern. Angela and Jessica giggled in their chair, and Lauren entertained Tyler and Mike. Jacob was the only one who met my gaze—his black eyes unfathomable.

"No, really, I'm fine," I searched for another subject, anything to get Jacob's attention away from me. "Tell me about that game you've been playing."

Ben visibly brightened as he launched into a description of the game. It worked—Jacob returned his attention to Jessica. I sat back comfortably in my seat, allowing Ben to prattle on. I was pleased that he could dominate the conversation and I only had to hum or nod at appropriate times. I usually had to rely on Jessica for that kind of conversational heavy lifting. He was halfway through recounting a particularly challenging level when something caught my interest. "Wait. You talk to each other through the game?"

It clearly wasn't a detail Ben thought I would ask him to elaborate on. His expression twisted with confusion as he hesitantly answered, "…Yes?"

"So, you guys don't have to be in the same room to play together?"

"We usually are all in the dorm together. But no. We don't have to be. There's a chat feature we can use."

An idea hatched. One Edward would absolutely despise. "Someone could play—oh I don't know—about fifty feet away from you? Maybe more?"

"I'm sorry. Are you eighteen or sixty-eight?" Ben teased. His laughter was too timid to be insulting. "Do I need to explain how telephones work, too?"

"Close. My dad jokes I was born in my thirties and I get more middle-aged every year."

Ben laughed.

"You know, Edward's really good at that game." I wasn't sure if he even heard of it, or even touched a video game in his impossibly long life. But he was good at everything, so it was probably true.

Ben shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. "Is he?"

"Really good!"

I tossed a meaningful look at Angela, who caught on right away. "Ben, you should ask Edward to join you. Didn't you mention that Tyler didn't log on as often as he used to?"

"That's because Tyler learned what's good for him," Lauren declared, proudly. My half of the table ignored her.

"What do you say, Ben?"

Ben stammered, looking for an excuse to say no. When he couldn't think of one, he deflated. I was glad Edward wasn't around to witness Ben's defeat. Ben ripped out a page from his notebook, wrote down three inscrutable phrases, and thrust it into my hand.

"That's my username, our server, and our game code." Ben rattled off a few more instructions for me to relay to Edward, like when he should log in or how to reach them.

"Thank you! You won't regret this, I swear."

Ben looked less than enthusiastic, but I beamed, proud of my meddling. I realized that Edward had never expressed interest in video games. I didn't see the appeal in them, either. However, I thought it would be a great way for Edward to get to know the boys without their thoughts in his head. And freed from the mental barrage, Edward could truly be himself and the boys would see how smart and funny and interesting he really was—especially Ben. Once they got used to him, their defensive thoughts would lessen when Edward was around, and maybe Edward could actually have fun.

For it was all I wanted. Edward to have fun. Edward to realize his self-inflicted isolation was unnecessary.

My smile faded when Jacob's voice called my name from across the table. "Is Edward coming back?"

"Um, I don't know."

His eyes lingered on my face. I wanted to hide under the table and burrow into a hole where Jacob couldn't look at me. With Edward gone, I felt raw, exposed. Responsibly for Edward's sake was the only thing that kept me at that table. Fear of what my friends would say about his absence overrode my desire to flee.

He leaned back in his chair. I hoped the conversation would end there, but Jacob persisted. "I only ask because I wanted to talk to him about his diet. He's a lean guy with decent muscle definition."

Jessica perked up, as if it were a subject she had a lot of opinions on. I was certain she did, but she was smart enough to keep those opinions to herself.

I shrugged, "He eats three square meals a day—same as you."

"He doesn't eat lunch with us. I was just curious what he did."

I met Jacob's dark eyes, hoping he couldn't see the naked panic in mine.

"Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever seen him eat," said Lauren.

"Me neither," Jessica realized. "Bella! Is he, like, anorexic?" She whispered the last word.

"No." I used the standard lie any member of the Cullen family used when asked about their eating habits. "He has a very strict diet, is all. He prefers to eat at home."

Lauren was the only one who found the idea of Edward's strict diet amusing. I wasn't surprised.

"What's wrong with him?" Jessica asked. I could have said it wasn't my place to say, but something about Jacob's calculating expression inspired me to continue.

I counted the lies off my fingers. "His sister is lactose intolerant. His brother has celiac disease. His mother has been vegan for her entire life. Since they're all adopted, it's very important to their family to eat together and support those diets."

"That's sweet," Angela commented.

"Oh my god, Bella! That's it!" Jessica beamed, "A good girlfriend would support her boyfriend's diet. Think of what would happen if you gave up dairy, gluten, and meat!"

"I'd lose the will to live," I said, flatly. Murmurs of congruency echoed around me.

"You'd have to, if you ever plan to join his family."

"When I do, I will," I smiled. If Jessica knew what kind of diet I would have when I joined Edward's family, she would lose her mind.

"God no wonder the guy scowls like that all the time," Mike mused, shaking his head, "He's never had a cheeseburger."

Because of Mike, the conversation shifted away from me as the group discussed the worst parts of Edward's diet. I decided it was a good thing. For one, it solidified the expectation that Edward did in fact eat human food, but it also gave the group insight into Edward. Completely false insight, but insight nonetheless.

By the time people packed their stuff for their next classes, the conversation had strayed away from Edward entirely to how many hot dogs each person could eat in one sitting. To Jessica's horror, Mike was adamant that she would eat the most.

"It's not about how much you can eat, babe, it's about the determination!" he explained as he helplessly trailed after her.

I smiled to myself, pleased with the work I did on Edward's behalf. By the time I was done with him, he was going to be so human and relatable, he would have more friends than he would know what to do with.

Outside, I squinted against the harsh glare of the sun. It always seemed exceptionally bright after the dark and stormy winters of the Pacific Northwest. Despite the sun's brightness, I huddled into my coat from the chill. My Tuesday afternoon classes were the most interesting but would be lonely without Edward. The same sense of duty that kept me at the lunch table to defend his honor instructed me to head to class and take good notes on his behalf, instead of ditching class to find where he hid.

With a purposeful sigh, I set off to class. It wasn't until I was in the building, walking up the typically empty staircase to the third floor, when I finally realized I wasn't alone.

I whirled, hopeful that Edward had somehow manifested and would join me for class after all, but instead of golden eyes under delightfully tousled bronze hair, black eyes bore into mine.

"Jacob," I hissed, "What are you doing here?"

His tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. "This was my only chance. You're always with him."

"If by him, you mean Edward, with whom I am in an extremely committed relationship, then yes. I'm always with him."

Jacob pulled his braid over his shoulder and fiddled with the tuft of hair at the end. The gesture would have been endearing if he wasn't a constant thorn in my side.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted, growing bolder with each word. "This confidence you found it's… sexy. You weren't like this in high school."

Maybe because you were the one constantly shattering my confidence, I wanted to shout in his face, but I didn't want to engage with him, either. I crossed my arms against my chest and stood still, waiting for whatever this was to pass.

He took a tentative step closer. His bulk took up most of the space in the narrow staircase. Though, despite his hulking figure, his expression was gentle. His dark eyes glittered and his perfectly white teeth flashed in a smile. When he was like this, it was easy to remember why I fell for him in the first place. If this were the only side of Jacob, I could have been so happy.

I supposed I should have been grateful for the side of him that pushed me away. Otherwise, I might not have found Edward.

"What do I have to do to convince you to give me a chance?"

I ignored his question. "What are you doing here?" I repeated, louder. "How did you find my friends?"

"That was pure luck." He stroked my cheek in a gesture so similar to Edward's, I almost gagged. "I had no idea they were your friends." He pulled up the corner of his mouth into a lopsided smile. "I told you we were meant to be. The world keeps pushing us together."

I shoved away his hand. "That's a shame, because there's nothing you or anyone else can do to convince me to leave Edward. I love him."

He didn't look that surprised at my rejection, or even insulted. He rubbed his jaw, pensively. "I'm sure he's got you to think that."

I didn't have the patience to piece together his riddles. Nor the time. "Look Jacob, I'm late for class and you probably are, too. You can hang out with my friends all you want, but I'm still going to be with Edward."

He only laughed, as if we were pleased by my rejection. I wished Edward were there to read his thoughts, as insane and erratic as they might be. He skimmed the length of my forearm with his knuckles, "We'll have a great story to tell."

"Touch me again and Edward will break your face," I threatened on my vampire's behalf.

Jacob's eyes flickered to the small window behind my head, illuminating the staircase with weak sunshine. "Don't worry, Honey. I can handle myself against Edward. I'll keep you safe." I wanted to smack the smug smile off his face. "Have a good time in class."

I turned with an audible huff. Much to my dismay, Jacob's interruption made me late to class. I snuck in as quietly as I could manage. The professor didn't mention my tardiness, but I felt the askance stares of my classmates. Typically, I was on the arm of a stunning bronze-haired boy. I felt naked without him. I slammed my books on the table with a bit too much force, bringing more unnecessary attention to myself.

Stupid Jacob, I scribbled in my notebook, instead of the lecture notes I should have been taking. He was infecting my life again, seeping into every pore. My friends, my school, my mind. It should be Edward on my mind. Pale, elegant fingers running through bronze hair, not golden hands tugging on a black braid.

Any kindness he showed in private was moot by the way he acted in public. It didn't matter how sexy he found my confidence if he goaded me about Edward in front of my friends. I didn't even understand the purpose behind his pointed questions. So what if Edward never ate in front of anyone? It was none of his business. Nothing about Edward or our relationship was his business.

I scribbled out the doodle of his smile I thoughtlessly drew in the corner of my notebook. The stupid smug smile he wore as he spoke Edward's name with a sneer. As if he needed to keep me safe from Edward. Edward was a literal vampire, yet Jacob was the one I needed to be rescued from.

As I drew a second smile with a set of fangs, realization dawned on me, like the sun feebly breaking through a barrier of clouds.

E-POV

"You have to get your hips into it," Emmett instructed, from behind.

Shifting back onto my heels, I broke away from the mountain lion. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, then the back of my hand on my pants. "That joke is never going to be funny."

Emmett smirked, unconvinced. "It's only because you don't get it. You see, from behind it looks—."

I held up my hand. "I get it."

My brother was always in an especially chipper mood. He always got this way when we were able to hunt in the sunlight. At some point, he would drop his pants, point at his crotch, and say disco balls, like he'd been planning to do for weeks since he thought of the joke. Unlike me, he adored the effect sunlight had on our skin. In fact, he found joy in almost every aspect of our monstrous existence. I envied him for it.

At that moment, a flock of deer whizzed past us, while Alice trotted happily behind them. She enjoyed the chase more than anything. Jasper lumbered behind us, his eyes bright gold. Blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.

He appraised the beast at my feet. "Nice one. Did it put up a good fight?"

"You know Eddie does the bare minimum." Emmett meant for it to be a pun, but the quip was lost because it was in reference to the mountain lion and not a bear.

"I'm efficient."

"You're lame."

My brothers and I began the trek back to the house, ambling through the trees. With the sun in the sky and fresh blood in our systems, spirits were high. Emmett wasn't the only one in a joking mood. We teased and taunted, picked up a random game with a precarious boulder Emmett spotted. At one point, Emmett caught a whiff of something tasty and scampered back into the trees.

When we were alone, Jasper elbowed me in the arm, "Alice told me the news on the Hunter. Shame you couldn't track him."

I ducked my head. Alice and I hadn't exactly put forth our best effort into the endeavor. Neither of us was truly invested in the fruitless hunt, no matter how seriously Jasper took the threat. I had a miserable girlfriend to cheer up and could think of nothing else. It didn't help how eager Alice was to prioritize Bella's feelings over the Hunter. So, we spent our time in Alaska and Canada online shopping for vintage clothes, periodically reminding ourselves that if there was a Hunter, they would never get past both of us.

Jasper assigned my guilt to my alleged failure. "Regardless of the results, I appreciate your efforts. We're going to have to call it what it is," he shrugged, "A hunter passed through town. Nothing more. Nothing less."

After a few more feet, Jasper, too, caught a scent and darted after it through the trees. I sighed. I could have joined them, continued to hunt, and roughhouse in the sun. I wasn't in the mood anymore. Guilt weighed on my chest. If Alice and I were wrong in our assumption that there was no threat and a Hunter found our family, I would never forgive myself.

I ambled through the bush that bordered our house. The first thing I saw was a rusted red Chevy, bringing a smile to my face. Its owner was possibly the only person I wanted to see as I wallowed in guilt. I scanned the yard and spotted her walking up the steps to the porch, gripping the railing.

"Bella!" I called, waving to catch her attention.

She stopped dead in her tracks, suddenly stunned. Even from the far distance I stood, I could see her knees quake and start to buckle.

"Bella?" I flashed to her side, catching her just as she collapsed. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She blinked, slowly. Her bottom lip quivered, as if she were trying to speak but couldn't.

"Sweetheart?" I pleaded, hoping to break her free of whatever clouded her vision. I lowered my face to hers, trying to pull her back to reality.

I kept my hand cupped under her elbow as she moved her hand up to my face, where she stroked my glistening skin. "You're beautiful."

I choked out a laugh, relieved. There was nothing wrong with her. Aside from our superhuman strength and speed, our enhanced beauty was exemplified whenever we were in the sun. Vampires were able to ensnare their victims by literally dazzling them into a stupor, like the one my lovely Bella was in.

I rested my forehead on hers. "What are we going to do with you, my love? One glance and you've been conquered by the beast."

She blinked again, smiling only because I smiled.

"You're beautiful," she repeated, reverently.

"Not nearly as beautiful as you are."

Her perfect lips parted, and her eyes alit with awe. Under the influence of the monster, Bella was much more amendable to praise. There was no furrow between her brow or fidget in her stance or lip between her teeth. Just delight. Acceptance. I leaned my cheek into her touch, wishing it could always be this way.

I lifted her up by the waist and sat her on the railing of the porch, to bring her face closer to mine. She gasped a moment too late. I laughed, delighted by her delayed reactions. A kinder soul would have placed her in the shade only a few steps away to free her from her dazzled state. But I was a soulless monster. And I had every intention to revel in it. She traced my face with delicate fingers, I kissed them whenever she got too close to my lips. I showered her with praises, eager to see her accept each and every one without protest.

"I never want to leave your side," she confessed, chocolate eyes melting.

"We can arrange that."

Her pinky finger traced the bow of my lip. "Promise me."

"I'll do one better—I'll marry you."

She blinked. "Right now?"

I chuckled, "Whenever it's most convenient."

Her eyes fluttered shut in contentment. She raised her chin, like a flower blooming towards the sun. I kissed between her eyebrows, each eyelid, and her nose.

I almost groaned when I sensed Alice's thoughts quickly approaching. When she appeared on the porch step seconds later, I paid her no notice. She watched Bella adoringly trace my features with a raised brow.

"Isn't that a bit cruel?"

I turned just enough to glower at my sister. Bella tried to move with me, nearly falling off the railing, but I caught and steadied her. "Go away, Alice."

"I'm just saying, I don't think she'll be very happy…"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Dissatisfied with the minor obstruction, Bella attempted to pry my hand away from my face. I let her succeed. I smiled as she clutched my hand in both of hers, eyes bright and victorious like a puppy with a toy.

"Jesus. It's like she's been drugged."

"What do you want?"

She lifted her chin, "I actually came here for Bella." Alice waved her hand in front of Bella's face. "Hey there, Bella."

"Alice," Bella gasped, finally noticing my sister's arrival. "You're beautiful…" She shifted to move towards Alice, like a moth to a flame. Glowering at my sister, I helped Bella down from the railing so she could go where she wanted.

Alice held Bella's hands in hers, swinging their arms. "Bella! You are right!"

Bella sighed adoringly, transfixed by Alice's luminescent skin and uninterested in what she had to say.

I, however, was quite interested, "What was she right about?"

In her mind, Alice recalled a vision. It was dim and fuzzy—a vision of something that would no longer come to pass. Too many factors happened between her vision and now that the outcome had changed. Through the haze, I could just make out Bella rushing into our house to make an announcement.

Alice spoke in unison with the Bella in her vision, "Jacob Black is the Hunter!"