The ride was quick though it felt much longer than a few minutes, I held fast to Jake enjoying the fresh cool air blowing around me. With my eyes closed I took in the sent of fresh wet earth and pine as it clung to us. Despite the cold icy fingers of the wind whipping around us, Jake's overheated body kept me warm.

I gave a sigh of relief as we passed into the Quileute border. I hoped that Edward wasn't rash enough to put his family in danger by crossing the line and getting me. The treaty was what kept the very fragile peace between the Cullen coven and the people or Protectors of the tribe.

Jake heard me and placed one of his large warm hands over mine on his stomach and squeezed reassuringly. There was a change in him to, I felt him relax ever so slightly when we passed the first house on the reservation. It seems he had been thinking the same thing and knowing Edward could have caught up with us so quickly, Jake no doubt was ready to fight if he'd shown up.

On we went straight over to the beach. I think he wanted this time to just be with me. And I didn't mind that. Our time right now was precious to me because I didn't know what I would be going home to.

Edward would be very upset. I had no idea what he would do.

We came to a stop. The wind on the beach was blowing a little hard and the waves where being pushed into the cliff side with loud crashes. I took the helmet off and placed it on the handle of the bike, my hair blew wildly about me. Jacob stood the bike on the stand and took a few steps away from me looking out over the ocean. I wanted to know what he was thinking.

I bit my lip looking at him as he rubbed his head looking at the ground before finally turning to me where I still sat straddling the bike. I didn't know what to do under his gaze so I clumsily got off and started walking slowly with Jacob following me.

It was quiet for a moment. Without seeming to think about it, he reached out and took my hand. We paced silently across the rocks.

I thought of how we looked walking hand in hand down the beach- Like a couple, certainly- and wondered vaguely if I should object. But this was the way it had always been with was no reason to get worked up about it now.

Finally the silence was broken when he asked.. "So what's the story, anyway?" He kicked a piece of drift wood and I thought about what he had seen earlier. I didn't quiet want to answer either. "I mean, since the last time we . . . well, before you know . . ." I could tell her was struggling for words. He took a deep breath and tried again. "What I'm asking is . . . everything is just back to the way it was before he left? You forgave him for all that?"

I took a deep breath, " There was nothing to forgive."

Clearly there was, things had changed somehow. But I wanted to skip past this part. I didn't want to have to deal with it. It just seemed easier to pick up where we left off.

Jake's face puckered up like he'd just licked a lemon.

"I wish Sam had taken a picture when he found you last September. It would be exhibited A"

"Nobody's on trial," I sighed.

"Maybe someone should be."

"Not even you would blame him for the reason he left."

He scoffed and glared at me a moment, "Okay." he challenged. "Amaze me."

His hostility was wearing on me, it hurt to have him angry with me. It reminded me of that long ago time when under Sam's orders he told me that we couldn't be friends.

"He left because he thought it would be healthier for me if he left. He didn't think I should be hanging out with vampires."

"He came back thought, didn't he?" Jacob muttered. "To bad he couldn't stick to his decisions."

"If you remember I went to him."

He stared at me for a moment and then backed off. His face relaxed, and his voice was calmer when he spoke.

"That's true. So I never got the story. What happened?"

I stood quietly thinking about it all. "It's a long story?" I replied.

"I don't mind long stories. As long as there's some action."

"There's a little action," I rolled my eyes playfully.

"It wouldn't be real horror if there wasn't a little action."

"Horror," I scoffed. "Can you listen, or will you be interrupting me with rude comments about my friends."

He made like he was zipping up his mouth he locked it and threw away an invincible key. And I began. I told him everything but leaving out anything that wasn't essential. He had only interrupted me when he echoed that Alice couldn't see them. His face was both fierce and gleeful. I glared at him and continued on until the end.

His expression was easier to read when I got to the part about the Volturi, so I didn't go into specifics. I just told him that Edward had talked us out of trouble, without revealing the promise we had to make, or the visit we were expecting.

We returned to silence, so I began to walk again. "What are you thinking about?" I asked after a long quiet pause.

"I'm thinking about what you told me. About when the fortune-teller saw you cliff jumping and thought you were committing suicide, and how it all got out of control. . . If you had waited for me like you were supposed to she wouldn't have seen you jump. Nothing would have changed. We'd probably be at my garage right now, like any other day. There wouldn't be any vampires in Forks and you and me . . ." He trailed off deep in thought.

"He would have come back." I said quietly.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Being apart . . . it wasn't really working out for either of us." But I could help thinking that being together now didn't seem to be working out for me either.

"Did you know Sam is mad at you?"

"Me?" It took me a second. "Oh, I see. He thinks they would have stayed away if I wasn't here?"

"No. That's not it."

"What's his problem than?"

"He thought you were the one person in the world with as much reason to hate the Cullen's as he does. Sam sort of feels . . . betrayed that you would just let them back into your life like they never hurt you."

I couldn't find any valid argument to go with what he had said. If I were in Sam's place, with everything he went through I would probably feel the same way. I sniffled, not sure why I was suddenly about to cry. He was sort of right though. Lately I had found it a little strange that I had taken them back so easily.

The quiet between us was deafening, and I could tell Jake was trying not to be annoyed with how things were and my decision to go back to Edward so quickly. He turned to look around the beach trying to distract himself, though there was not a soul to be seen. There was so many things I wanted to avoid right now. So many questions with answers Blooming to life inside me and I was afraid of where they were going. I looked up at the place where Jacob was standing. His shirt splayed tightly against his back. I could see his muscles move with the little movements he made.

For a moment I wanted to tell him I wanted to come to him last night. But that I was stopped by Edward, but I thought it best not to. He'd only get even more upset. He would think along the lines of Sam in that I should be upset with the Cullen too.

Instead I continued to watch him for a moment.