Disclaimer - This is based off of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. She created the characters and the basic plot, and this is my spin on it. These are my words about her world. Stephenie Meyer has all of the rights to her characters and the parts that were taken from her plot.

Chapter Three

The steps in Charlie's forty-year-old house creaked as Bella trotted downstairs. Halfway to the bottom, she stopped in her tracks as she was hit with the overwhelming smell of too-strong coffee. Something thumped as it was dropped into the sink, and Charlie's grumbles floated into her ears.

Bella smiled when she rounded the corner and peeked in at the kitchen. Charlie stood in front of the little coffee machine with his hands pressed on the counter, eyebrows pulled together in confusion and frustration. She spied about three used coffee filters in the trash can and the counter around the machine was totally covered in both coffee and water. Charlie angrily jabbed the buttons on the top to turn it on, but there was no cup to catch the coffee as it came out.

"Wait, Dad!" Bella hollered, rushing forward to snatch a coffee mug out of the cabinet. She couldn't move fast enough, and Charlie was splattered with hazelnut-flavored liquid.

"How on earth do you use this stupid thing?" he complained. He grabbed a dishtowel that appeared to have already been used to clean the same mess multiple times and wiped his hands clean.

"You have to do things in a certain order," Bella explained. She opened the lid and removed what she calculated to be the fourth attempt at a cup of coffee that morning. How had this man survived without her for twelve years? This coffee maker was, of all that existed, among the easiest to use. Surely no man could be that incapable of doing things for himself.

But clearly Bella had overestimated him.

Smiling to herself and trying not to laugh, she quickly restored order to her tiny kitchen. In no time she'd cleaned the counter, started a new round of coffee, and started three eggs cooking on a skillet for their breakfast after sending Charlie to the dryer across the hall to retrieve the towels she'd put there the night before, knowing there were none left in the cabinet in the bathroom and they would both need a shower before they went over to Billy's. While Charlie sat in the living room and attempted to fold the towels, Bella microwaved the bacon, topped off the eggs with some shredded cheese, and prepared each of them a plate with a cup of well-earned coffee to accompany it.

She clicked on a morning talk show that she had no intention of paying any attention to and sat on the dark wooden chair, purposefully taking the seat that was closer to the wall so her father wouldn't have to struggle. Charlie was getting older, and though he wouldn't admit it, Bella knew he was having trouble with his knees. She had a feeling he was developing arthritis in them, but he refused to consult a doctor.

"Dad, come eat while it's warm," she called. Sometimes she felt more like the adult in the house.

Of course Charlie had insisted they take his police car to the Billy's barbeque bash. "Why use your gas when we can use the police station's?" he'd reasoned, but Bella knew he just liked to remind everyone of his authority. Even when he wasn't on duty, he was on duty. As the Chief of Police, he was responsible for keeping the people of Forks and La Push safe, and he knew there would be alcohol at this shindig. He hoped that the presence of his PT Cruiser would remind the underage partiers that any alcohol consumption would not yield a happy result for them.

There wasn't a problem finding a place to park when they arrived at the Blacks' small red house. The only other cars that sat in the medium-sized driveway were Jacob's – the Rabbit, a motorcycle, a red truck that looked similar to Bella's without the rust, and another small beige car that probably belonged to another guest. People that lived on the Reservation wouldn't have to drive. So many of the houses were built within walking distance of each other.

The two slammed the car doors shut behind them and Jacob appeared in the screen door, his natural smile lighting up his face. "Hey, guys! Glad you made it." He watched as Bella opened the trunk and bent to scoop up a box that contained four pies that varied in flavor and a bowl of mixed fruit. "Hey, wait a second, Bells, let me send someone out to help you with that." Jacob himself had about seven bags of hamburger buns and a pack of hotdogs in his hands.

"I'll get it for her, Jake," Charlie insisted.

Jacob apparently had noticed Charlie's recently worsening health as well. He propped the screen door open and held it there with his backside. "No, no, Charlie, we got it. Hey, Paul," he called into the house. "Can you help Bella carry in the dessert?"

Charlie took that as his cue to disappear into the backyard – where the smell of burgers and hotdogs was wafting from. Bella rolled her eyes.

"Paul!" Jacob called again. One of the umpteen packs of hamburger buns fell from his arms and he grunted, peering down over the rest of the pile helplessly.

"I can help." The statement came from a deep, rumbling voice behind her. Bella jumped and spun around – and there he was. Sam Uley stood just beyond the tall white fence that marked the Blacks' backyard. His arms were crossed over his chest, his chin held high. He was dripping with confidence and sex appeal. Their eyes met, and Bella felt her face redden. He shifted his weight and then he was stalking towards her.

Bella's heart fluttered.

When he reached her, he stared down at her motionlessly for a second. She blinked up at him, bewildered. He was absolutely the most handsome man she'd ever laid eyes on. His eyes were a deep brown, almost black. His skin was tan, but there wasn't a hint of sunburn anywhere on his nose where one would expect it. His short, choppy black hair fell just above his eyes and framed his face. Bella twisted her fingers together, feeling nervous as his intense gaze pinned her feet to the ground.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time that Bella could only assume was awkward for anyone watching, Sam bent to retrieve the box of dessert from the backseat of the cruiser. Bella blinked as her face was assaulted with a waft of his very manly cologne. She sucked in a deep breath involuntarily. "You shouldn't try to lift things that are this heavy," he scolded her.

Annoyance wiggled its way into her heart, right next to the anxious attraction. Bella huffed. "You don't seem to be having a problem with it."

Behind her, she thought she heard Jacob chuckle. Sam's eyes sparkled, lips puckered as he glanced down at her, amused. "It's very safe to say that I could lift you and throw you ten feet into the air if I tried." He straightened and balanced the box on one arm. "I could catch you with this arm –" He waved his free hand in the air. " – and not ruin any pies." He seemed to hesitate for a second before his eyes softened and he added, "Which smell delicious, by the way."

Bella bit her lip. "Thanks. I had to buy the bottom crust, but the top layer is homemade."

"I figured as much," he murmured.

Jacob cleared his throat. "You know, some of us want to actually eat today, and I've got the buns, so maybe we could move this conversation into the house?"

Sam's eyes shot up to him and he was instantly glaring. Bella frowned. His expressions changed so easily, as if there were a button on his chest that switched him from carefree and relaxed to angry and brooding. "I think we can open a door by ourselves, Jacob. You aren't needed here." His voice was rough, hard. The lighthearted joking was clearly over.

Jacob's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Are you sure?" He glanced into the house. "I think Embry might have a disagreeing opinion on that."

Sam's lips peeled up over his teeth and he sneered. "Don't test me, Jacob." It sounded like a father scolding his son, not a man cautioning his friend. But the crazy thing was that Jacob's expression immediately sobered from amused and teasing to obedient and docile. Bella blanched as her best friend disappeared into his house and the screen door slammed shut behind him.

Sam lifted his head, seemingly unbothered. "The party has been set up in the back." He marched off in front of her as if he expected her to follow like a lost puppy.

Suddenly irritation combined with rebellion swirled up in her stomach and she turned on her heel. If Sam Uley intended to enter the backyard by going through the house, Bella would go through the gate outside.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!"

Bella knew she should be singing, but really her attention was elsewhere.

The staring had resumed.

She couldn't really feel her body anymore. Her palms were sweaty but she couldn't move them to rub them against the sides of her shorts. Bella bit down on her lower lip, trying to feel something other than the steady increase in her heartrate under his steel gaze, but it offered no distraction.

"Happy birthday, dear Billy," the group around her continued. Sam wasn't singing, either, but Bella really wouldn't expect him to. He didn't seem like a sing-song kind of man. And Jacob probably wasn't joining in. Granted, Bella couldn't find the strength to look away from Sam to find out for sure, but she couldn't hear anything that sounded like cat dying after being hit by a car, so she assumed he was keeping silent. Her best friend wasn't the most musically talented.

"Happy birthday to you," everyone concluded. Charlie clasped a hand over Bella's shoulder, breaking her out of the trance she'd been under. Sue Clearwater snapped a picture as Billy Black leaned forward to blow out the single candle that was flickering in the middle of the cake. It went out and immediately lit up again, and did the same thing when Billy once again blew it out. A trick candle. The adults and children around her found it hilarious, and Bella felt a smile curl at her lips but no laughter bubbled up her throat. She was tense; his eyes were still on her. She could feel them.

"Hey, Billy," Harry Clearwater called from the porch. The crowd turned to look at him. He held the wireless kitchen phone out to Billy, his hand over the receiver. "Rebecca's on the phone for you."

Billy's face lit up. "Sue, will you distribute the cake?"

She smiled at him. "Of course." Then she gestured to the general space next to her and increased the volume of her voice so that it stretched across the entire yard. As she spoke, the light chattering stopped as people gave her their attention. "Okay, everyone who wants cake can form an orderly right here!" Instantly she was flanked by four boys who looked like they'd be willing to rip each other's arms off for a piece of cake – Quil, Embry, Paul, and Jacob.

Jacob reached up to slap Paul on the back. "I think you should let me in front of you."

Paul snorted. "Not a chance."

"This is my yard!" Jacob yelled.

Paul rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. The gesture reminded Bella of Sam. "Oh, please. Don't even try to play that card. We both know –"

Bella zoned out as the argument droned on. Quil seemed to be taking his good old time choosing his piece. Bella imagined he didn't make it to the front of the line very often and wanted to bask in the spotlight for a little while longer.

"Exhausting to watch them, isn't it?"

Bella turned. She wasn't exactly sure when Charlie had walked away from her, but apparently he had, for now Sam Uley stood in his spot. "They fight like brothers," she said.

Something flashed in Sam's eyes. Excitement? Pride? "They are brothers. In many ways."

Bella didn't ask for an explanation to try to understand that. "Have you enjoyed the party?" Now more people were moseying their way over to the picnic table. Embry reached up to shove Quil away from the cake, apparently tired of watching him look between two pieces that looked to be exactly the same.

"Oh, yes," Sam answered. He glanced over to Jacob's drunken Uncle Theo. There Charlie was, Bella realized. Her father supported Theo as he stumbled. Sam and Bella watched him jab a finger in Charlie's face as he insisted he was totally fine and he'd only had a few beers. Charlie snatched a set of car keys from him and held them out to his daughter, Jacob's cousin Kylie. She nodded at Charlie knowingly.

Sam chuckled next to Bella. "Theodore Black is always great entertainment."

"Well, if y'want tah drive meh home," Theo said loudly, and a few adults around them snickered, "ya gotta wait 'til I'm ready ta leave."

Bella smiled. "Yeah, Jacob always has great family stories to tell."

Sam's expression darkened momentarily, but when he met Bella's gaze, his eyes softened. "Bella."

Bella's heart leaped when he said her name. "Yes?" Geez. What else could she say? She shifted her weight, nervous as she waited for him to continue.

"Would you like some dessert?"

Bella's hopes fell, and she had no idea why. Gosh, it was the very last question she imagined he'd ask. She'd thought he'd ask her something about herself . . . something personal . . .

. . . something romantic.

No! Bella was furious with herself. No romance! You will not date this man!

Oh, but the way he was looking at her . . . as if she were a prize, a gift – a treat for him to look at. Bella felt beautiful under his gaze.

Bella blinked. "Yes, that sounds nice."

He disappeared then, over to the end of the picnic table where Paul and Jacob still bickered back and forth. They were jabbing their index fingers into each other's chest, but as soon as Sam got within five feet of them, they instantly stopped and turned to him. They watched him, seeming to await some sort of direction. Sam crossed his arms over his chest. His back was to Bella, but she could he wasn't in the carefree, teasing mood he'd been in two seconds ago while he spoke to her. The muscles underneath his faded green T-shirt were tense. He said something to the others, who once again looked as though they were just mini versions of him. They both nodded vigorously at what he'd said and stepped aside. He stepped up to Sue, who gave him a knowing look – though what she knew, Bella didn't. And she wanted to. Badly.

Was Sam's secret the same as Jacob's?

Bella frowned at herself. Just because she didn't know what Sam had said to Paul and Jacob to get them to back off of each other didn't mean he had a secret. Honestly, the man made her crazy.

"Rebecca offers her apologies to everyone else for not being able to make it back home today," Billy announced from behind her. He rolled down the wheelchair ramp Bella was sure Jacob had built himself. Himself being the most important part. This was before this cult of boys took over his life and turned him into the secretive jerk he'd recently become.

"I doubt that," Sam said. He set a small dessert plate down on the smaller, temporary picnic table next to them. Bella could tell it was old and not used very often. They'd only brought it out to create more seats. She sat down, rubbing her hands over the table anxiously. Gosh he made her nervous. It was like she could feel him next to her, like the air around them was vibrating. She felt Sam's deep voice rumbling through her chest as he continued, "Rebecca Black always hated the Rez. We all knew she'd leave the first chance she got. That girl will never be back – especially now that she's got that husband of hers."

Bella felt as though she needed to defend Rebecca. She'd been friends with her before Jacob, actually. "I don't know about that. I think she'll visit once she has a baby."

Sam must have sensed the distrustful tone in her voice and his expression shifted from strained to gentle. "Perhaps you're right."

That's it? Bella thought. You've got nothing else to say?

His eyes widened out of the ever-present glare as she stared up at him. Who on earth was this man? And how had he managed to completely throw Bella's heart out of whack? He licked his lips, and Bella found herself watching, suddenly wanting him to press them against hers. Her breath caught in her throat. "Um – d-do you live by yourself?"

Stupid! Bella almost rolled her eyes at herself. That is the dumbest question you could have asked! Of course he lives by himself, he's a twenty-two-year-old man!

"Yes," Sam answered softly, "though it really doesn't feel like it. My house has somehow become the hangout for all of these morons." He jerked his head towards the corner of the yard where Jacob and the rest of the boys from the barbeque last week had gathered. Most of them had finished their cake. Paul was the only slowpoke, taking little bites as if he were trying to savor it. Jared and Seth were watching Collin chug cans of soda. His head was thrown back as he gulped. Three cans were lying in the soft grass by his feet and about six sat unopened and waiting on the little table next to them. Jared had a stopwatch in his hand. Briefly Bella wondered why Kim hadn't come with him today. Quil and Embry appeared to be in a deep argument. They spoke with wide, exaggerated hand gestures and animated facial expressions. Jacob sat back, smirking as they fought.

And then everything changed. Suddenly the entire party had gone tense. Quil had reached up to smack Embry on the back of the head, and Embry had retaliated by shoving him backwards by the shoulders. Quil stumbled backwards, unable to regain balance due to his abnormally large, muscular body, and smacked right into Paul, who'd been standing just three feet away. Paul was knocked straight onto his stomach with Quil landing on his back on top of him. Paul's cake suffered a worse fate – it smashed right onto his face; some icing even spattered up into his hair.

To the rest of the world, it was hilarious. To Paul, it was infuriating.

Bella blinked and suddenly Quil was on his back ten feet away. Bella gasped. Had Paul thrown him that far? How?

A stream of profanities flew from Paul's lips as he stood and stomped over to Quil, who sat up and watched him, preparing to defend himself. Obviously he wasn't prepared enough because Paul landed a solid punch to his jaw. Quil reared up, ready for a chance of his own, but he never got his chance.

Sam shot up from his chair, his body radiating fury and dominance. "Enough." It wasn't a yell. Actually, it was barely a statement. His body language was harsher than his voice; his hands fisted at his sides and caused the muscles in his arms to flex. Bella watched as he pinned the two with a rigid stare.

It seemed as though Sam's command had an effect on every boy in the group, not just Paul and Quil. Every one of them stopped moving. Their shoulders tensed and their heads snapped towards him, eyes wide and maybe a little fearful.

Bella tore her gaze away from Sam to look over at the adults around them. Her father stood next to Billy and Harry, watching the scene in front of him skeptically. Even though he didn't have his police uniform on, his hand was twitching towards his belt instinctively, to the place where his gun usually hung. Bella's heartrate picked up. If this fight grew any more violent, Charlie would step in and break it up. These boys were so . . . large. Strong. Charlie would get hurt.

But one look at Sam told her he would not let it escalate any farther.

Next to Charlie, Billy and Harry watched, but they didn't seem surprised, and that confused Bella immensely. It was like they'd expected some sort of fight to break out, but more so, as if they knew that Sam would be able to stop it. These boys were strong enough to do some serious damage. If an all-out brawl broke out, they could seriously injure someone – but no one really looked worried.

Sam glanced down at Bella. He reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. His thumb rubbed over her bottom lip. The feel of his fingers under her chin made her tingle. It was the first physical contact they'd had. Then just like that, he pulled his hand away and turned and his soft, gentle expression transformed into anger. He lifted his chin and strode over to the group of boys who stood motionless.

Bella bit her lip and wiggled her fingers in her lap, still feeling jittery from his touch. She strained to hear what he said to them. He faced away from her, blocking her view of his face, but the power in his voice told her he definitely wasn't smiling.

"I will not tolerate this," he growled. The boys all took a step back and bowed their heads, frowning at the ground. "You all must learn to control yourselves. You put more than yourselves in danger of injury when you give in to your anger. You endanger us as a whole – you endanger this tribe, these people – because you know what will happen if your anger takes you to that edge that you cannot come back from." Paul and Quil nodded in agreement, but Sam wasn't finished yet. "But do you know what infuriates me the most? You almost put Bella in danger. You think you've seen me angry before? Just imagine the wrath that would fall upon your shoulders if anything were to happen to her at your hands." He looked to Jared. "Surely you can understand where I'm coming from."

Jared nodded. His eyes flickered down to the cell phone in his hands.

Sam looked over to Paul and Quil. "You two will be seeing a lot of running in your immediate future. Go. Blow off some steam." Without a word, they took off in opposite directions.

Bella had been right. There was definitely something big stirring between this group of friends – something different than anything she'd ever seen before. Her stomach knotted as she thought of herself having such an intense attraction to a gang leader. But something told her this wasn't a gang. It was a much stronger bond. This wasn't just a group of friends. They were family.

"They are brothers. In many ways."

Bella was beginning to see that.

Sam swaggered over to her slowly, approaching her as if he were afraid of frightening her. As he had just two minutes before, he reached over to grasp her chin. His thumb pulled her lip out from between her teeth. "You didn't finish your cake," he noted.

Bella looked at the chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and suddenly didn't have an appetite. "I'm – I'm not really hungry anymore."

Without another word, he sat and picked up the small plate. Using her fork, he lifted a piece to his lips. The entire plate was clean in a matter of seconds. Well, that's what it felt like to Bella, but then, she was too mesmerized by the sexiness of his using her fork to notice silly things like time passing.

Bella's eyes widened with epiphany. Fighting this attraction would be the right thing to do. But it would also be the most difficult.

Thank you for reading! Please tune in next week for Chapter Four! Leave me a review with thoughts, predictions, and your favorite line from this chapter!