B-POV

"Please?" I asked, wrapping my arms around Edward's waist as we walked down the bustling streets of downtown Seattle. The clouds were low, yet there was no chance of rain. The perfect weather for a day out for a vampire.

Because he never, truly enjoyed saying no to me, Edward deflected yet again. "We're going to have to cross the street here."

Our friends were waiting for us at a place downtown. The outdoor area of a local restaurant was becoming one of their favorite spots when it wasn't raining. Typically, Edward and I couldn't attend, because if it wasn't rainy, it was sunny. That day was the first exception.

"Edward. Can I please tell everyone you're doing a set tonight? I'm sure everyone would love to see you play!"

"Bella, you are the only member of the audience I'm playing for. Every note, every key is for your ears only. I won't even notice anyone else in the crowd."

"Then, you won't mind if four extra people attend."

"Oh, look. We've arrived."

It was a Saturday afternoon, so naturally, the place was crowded. Luckily, our friends were already there. Trust Jessica to arrive before the crowds to secure the perfect table. Mike and Ben had a giant game of Connect Four so large, it sat on the grass beside the picnic table. I joined Jessica and Angela.

Edward gave me a peck on the lips and left to buy me a drink. I sat beside Jessica, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. Whether it was the fresh air or the comradery, I was not sure. Halfway through my discussion with Angela and Jess about their week, I realized why I felt so at ease. Jacob wasn't at the table.

The relief that came with his absence was short-lived. As nice as it was to have a break from his presence, it was imperative that his thoughts were available for Edward to listen for something useful. Anything Carlisle could use to approach the Hunters and plead for peace. The family could only stay in hiding for so long before it had a negative impact on their human personas. Family meetings were held to discuss options. Biting the bullet and approaching Jacob himself. Another member of the family revealing themselves in front of Jacob. But Edward was adamant about leaving as many family members out of harm's way as possible. I assumed Rosalie's imposing, yet approving glare, had something to do with it.

Edward noticed straight away. As he handed me my lemonade, he asked, "Where's Jacob?"

Jessica frowned and looked around, as if she had just noticed his absence, as well. "I don't know."

Mike immediately knew what to do with the look he received from his girlfriend. He pulled out his phone and typed. Moments later, he had an answer. "He's still at the gym downtown with some of his buddies. Do you want me to go grab him?"

Beside me, Edward stiffened. Jacob's buddies were possible hunters.

"Yes," Jessica said. "Please. This is the first time we have the whole group here."

Mike nodded his head, instructing Ben to follow.

"I'd like to come too if that's alright." Edward didn't even need to look down to see that I tossed him a look of alarm. He patted my head. "I've been meaning to check that place out. For my brothers and me."

I gathered the fabric of his sleeve in my fist. "Edward." Alice's vision played in my head, unprompted. Edward at Jacob's mercy, covered in blood and suffering his bloodlust. He promised he wouldn't be alone with Jacob.

"I'll be fine," he promised, under his breath. He gestured towards Ben and Mike. It's true he wouldn't be alone. It eased my dread.

Mike grinned. "Of course, you do, buddy. How much do you bench?" he asked, eyeing Edward's arms appreciatively. Even through the sleeves of his button-down, they were impressive.

"Two hundred."

Mike shook his head. "You're being modest. Two-fifty minimum."

Edward smiled wryly.

"Dancing, weightlifting. Is there anything you don't do?" Jessica asked, resting her chin on her hand.

"That's about it." Edward deflected.

"Isn't he a musician, too?" Angela recalled.

Edward looked down at me, silently pleading for assistance. I patted his forearm, crossed in front of his chest. "Yes, he is."

"What do you play?" Ben asked.

"Piano," Edward answered, hoping to cut the conversation short.

But I wouldn't have that. "And guitar and drums and bass and saxophone…"

Edward glowered at me as the group prattled excitedly about the news. Mike played a little guitar; Ben also took piano lessons.

"I've always had a great idea for a band…" Mike said to Edwad over the chatter. "All the members dress up in Halloween costumes at every gig."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Not this again. Edward, ignore him."

However, it brought a genuine smile to Edward's face. One that sent my heart soaring. "Not only does a band like that already exist, but it's also my brother's favorite band."

"Really?"

Still grinning, Edward pulled out one of three sets of headphones from his bag and one of his old MP3 players. "Mike, I am about to introduce you to something you are going to thoroughly enjoy." He handed the player to Mike, who inspected the old device curiously, before putting the headphones over his head.

"Is that a Walkman?" Ben asked, peering into Edward's bag.

Edward handed it over. "Sure is."

Ben inspected it with an eager smile. "You're so weird."

Jessica, Angela, and I watched the boys leave with matching smiles. Jessica and Angela could hardly contain their excitement that the boys were getting along. Jessica already had a list of triple dates queued up.

"Now all we need to do is set someone up with Jacob and then we'll have the perfect group!" Jessica chirped.

Jessica left to place an order for food at the bar, hoping to have a full spread for when the boys returned. Angela and I talked about school for a bit, but then she received a phone call from her mother that she was expecting. To give her some privacy, I followed Jessica to where she stood in the long line.

The plan was to simply keep her company, but she frowned at my arrival. "I hope you're not getting another lemonade. It has so much sugar."

Ever since Edward encouraged me to stand up for myself, I had the same conversation with Jessica a million times. In my head. But as I had for the past week when an opportunity arose, I chickened out. "No, I'm getting something for Edward."

Her frown flipped into a delighted grin. "Oh! How nice." She turned her attention to the menu. "I have no idea what you're going to get your male model of a boyfriend."

"There's veggie crudo or a hummus plate we could share." Meaning, Edward would pretend to eat and return the food to the plate in a motion too quick for human eyes to detect, while I did all the actual eating.

"He really doesn't eat any bread?" Jessica confirmed in a high, disbelieving tone.

Fighting a smile, I shook my head. Jokes involving Edward's real identity were fun when Jacob wasn't around. "Not even the gluten-free replacement."

Jessica blinked, impressed. "Mike eats like a long-haul trucker. I swear, if he didn't get free smoothies from work, I would worry he'd get scurvy."

I snorted.

"Honesty, I don't know what's more annoying to deal with: Edward's diet or Mike's."

"I don't mind Edward's diet at all," I shrugged. If anything, it besotted me to him further. Keeping the monster inside at bay for the sake of his humanity. Though it wasn't nearly as romantic as having a vampire boyfriend occasionally sink his teeth into my neck, it was far more honorable. And rational.

"Really? You don't feel bad eating the things he can't in front of him?"

"Not one bit. Edward is very supportive of our different eating habits. He's never pressured me into joining his diet."

I realized just then how true my statement was. Edward never once asked me to start his diet—to join his world. The thought of me becoming a vampire hadn't even come from Edward. Alice and Esme mentioned it. Perhaps the eventual change was as obvious to him as it was to me—something that didn't need to be discussed. Another inevitability of our relationship, like how we would spend Christmas vacation or which day during the rocky start of our relationship would be our official Anniversary. Something too obvious to mention until the time arose.

I released my bottom lip from between my teeth. I had nothing to worry about. Edward proposed, for heaven's sake. The insane, hopeless vampire that he was. I swallowed, then fixed a convincing smile on my face for Jessica's benefit. "He once kissed the spoon before feeding me a bite of chocolate cake."

"Fuck," Jessica muttered, mostly to herself.

I merely nodded. There was no point in rubbing it in that I miraculously won the heart of the most perfect boy on the planet. Everyone already knew—especially Jessica.

"Well, then I guess Mike's diet is worse," she continued. "I just cannot stand how he's able to eat whatever he wants without thinking and still look as good as he does. He's no—" Her dark eyes flickered toward me. Again, I suppressed my comments. "—he has a great body. If I ate like him, I'd be a cow by now."

It was another perfect segue. Another comment that suggested Jessica's biggest fear was to look like me.

I fixed Edward's dazzling face behind my gaze. To the image, I added his saddest smile, his most lost, loneliest eyes. Then, remembered his smile when he got to be his own, likable self in front of his friends. I was doing this for Edward, to give him the happiness he didn't realize he needed. To excavate him from the layers of isolation he placed himself under over the past century. I loved him. I could do anything for him.

"Would you break up with Mike if he started to gain weight?" I asked, my voice embarrassingly meek.

Jessica bit her glossy bottom lip. "I think we would work together to fix the issue," she decided, after some thought.

"How would you feel if he did the same to you?"

She eyes me curiously, "I would hope he would do the same for me."

It made sense. After all, it was what she was currently doing for me. Helping me lose weight, because she thought that was what people did for those they cared about.

"So, you don't think fat people belong in happy relationships?"

She sighed, sensing where the conversation was headed. "Bella, you're not fat."

Years ago, I wouldn't have been able to admit it to even myself. Just earlier this year, I would have struggled to say the words. But as I imagined the desire in Edward's eyes as he touched my every curve, I was able to say, "Yes I am."

"Come on, Bella," she rolled her eyes, "Look at your boyfriend. Would a fat girl be able to pull that?"

"One did."

Jessica had no idea what to do with the declaration. It took her a moment of composure before she could admit her confusion. "What do you want me to say, Bella? Because if you want me to insult my friend, I refuse."

I met her gaze with confidence I didn't realize I had. "It wouldn't be an insult."

Her jaw set. Jessica didn't like to be wrong, and it was slowly donning on her just how wrong she was. "It's not my fault, you know. The way I think. I was raised this way."

I frowned. It's how most people were raised. Without Charlie's constant affirmations and love, I might have been thinner, but at a terrible cost.

"I remember thinking I was fat in fourth grade. I was too scared to go into Limited Too because I didn't think I was cute or small enough to shop at the store. Can you believe that? My first fucking memories include hating my body."

"I'm sorry, Jessica." And I meant it.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she kept a few tears at bay. "I was terrified to reach a hundred pounds because I thought that was too fat. I would suck in my stomach. I would tell people I only weighed forty when I weighed eighty. People always looked at me in horror, rather than the pride I expected." She laughed without humor, "I was a stupid kid, I didn't know any better.

"It didn't help that my mom bragged to her friends that I was a size zero. I was so embarrassed when my pants size went up, I bought pants extra sizes too big so they purposely looked baggy and I wouldn't have to face the fact that I was a six and not a zero. It wasn't until recently that I learned most celebrities are a size six, and it's okay."

I let her get it all out, nodding sympathetically whenever she looked at me for approval.

"It just sucks, you know? There was never anything wrong with me. I spent my entire childhood fearing my size for absolutely no reason. Even now, when Mike tells me I'm pretty and says he likes my ass, I can't help but look at anyone smaller and wish I was them. What else am I supposed to think? Look how we grew up!" She waved her hands around, vaguely. "I idolized the fucking Disney Princesses. How was I supposed to think I was beautiful if my waist wasn't smaller than my head."

"How do you think I feel?" I asked, gently. "I look like the Disney villains."

Jessica looked up at me, and it felt like for the first time, she really saw me. One of her tears escaped. She caught it, smudging the sharp wing of her eyeliner. "Oh, Bella. I'm so sorry. Listen to me going on and on when growing up must have been a nightmare for you!"

"It wasn't so bad," I sugarcoated. Honestly, I didn't know there was anything wrong until I was old enough that people felt justified voicing their comments. "It just would have been easier if people simply let me exist."

Shame washed over Jessica's features as she realized what role she played. "And here I am, talking to you like that awful, little voice in my head talks to me."

I smiled sadly, unable to deny her confession.

"I am so sorry."

I was always one to forgive easily. "It's alright, Jess. I could always tell your heart was in the right place. I just needed to give it a nudge in a better direction for me."

"Thank you."She smiled, large enough that her eyes crinkled—smudging her eyeliner yet again. Just when I thought I had done my part and the past was behind us, her smile faltered. She glanced up at the counter that we were inching towards at a painfully slow rate. "There's more for me to apologize for."

I waved her off, "You said you're sorry. I trust you not to do it again. There's nothing more you need to do."

"It's about the reason I was so… invested." She swallowed. "You got him." She didn't need to say his name. "I was so jealous. I couldn't accept that he would choose you over me. I was too happy with the idea that his affection was a joke and I didn't want to let it go, even after you proved otherwise. When Angela asked me to give you and Edward I chance, and I had to see how much he really liked you, I decided I would have to make you something I thought was worthy of his affection.

"But you never needed it." She shook her head, placing her palm on her forehead. "I am such an awful friend."

Her immediate surrender and the genuine apology that followed said otherwise. "No, you're not."

"Can you ever forgive me?"

"I wouldn't have brought up the issue if I hadn't already forgiven you."

"You have such a good heart." She placed her hand on her own heart and sighed graciously. "I understand why sweet, shy Edward fell madly in love with you."

For some reason, it was the best thing Jessica could have said. Probably because of the sincerity that rang in every word. There was not even a hint of jealousy in her features, only awe.

We finally reached the front. Sharing a smile with me, Jessica ordered every appetizer, including the crudo and hummus for Edward. When we returned to the table, Angela was there with Jacob. Fear shot through my spine. I had to swallow my scream of terror—Angela was perfectly safe with Jacob.

"Jake!" Jessica waved. "How did you beat the boys here?"

"I didn't realize they left to get me."

"They'll figure it out."

Jessica leaned down to give Jacob a big hug. Again, I had to fight the urge to warn Jessica to stay away.

She ran her fingers through his glossy, black hair. "Did you just shower?"

"Sure did. Would you do the honors?" He held up a hair tie, like it was a custom between them. For all I knew, it was. Between the time spent with Edward and time spent avoiding Jacob, I rarely saw my friends interact with him. Jessica sat on the bench of our picnic table and Jacob settled between her legs on the ground.

"I love girl time," he smiled, while Jessica massaged his scalp with deft fingers. She neatly arranged his hair in a braid.

To my surprise, they switched places when she finished. I watched in wonder. Jacob seemed so sweet, so careful as he smoothed down the sides of Jessica's hair.

What would it have been like to date this Jacob in high school? To have my boyfriend play with my hair, as Jacob did to Jessica. I tried to put the thought out of my mind—replace it with the many, many times Edward twirled a strand of my hair between his fingers or absentmindedly combed through it. I had no doubt that if I asked him to braid my hair, not only would he gladly comply, but he would also put forth the effort to become a braiding expert overnight. Still, I felt a pang of jealousy. One I never felt during one of Jessica's many fruitless attempts to flirt with Edward. I think it hurt so much to see that he could do it. He could be gentle and tender. He chose not to be any of those things for me.

Our food arrived at the table faster than it took to place the order.

"You guys went wild," Angela stated, reaching for a mozzarella stick. "What about your diet, Jess?"

"There's plenty of vegetables," Jess said, filling a plate with a fistful of truffle fries.

Behind her, Jacob met my gaze. His expression softened for just a second. If I wasn't so used to deciphering Edward's quick emotions, I wouldn't have caught it. Then, his black eyes hardened into onyx. All traces of his easygoing nature was gone, like it always was when forced to interact with me in the public eye.

"I thought the goal was to bring Bella down to your size. Not the other way around."

My cheeks flushed.

"You don't know that," Jessica laughed. If she heard the hostility in his voice, she ignored it. "Bella has that fabulous collection of vintage clothes. Maybe I want to borrow some outfits."

It was no wonder Jessica was Valedictorian and Prom Queen back in her hometown. One conversation was all it took for her to become everything I needed her to be. I couldn't have deflected Jacob's words better myself. I could kiss her. Better yet—I could convince Edward to kiss her.

"I thought you said you wanted to help her."

The corner of Jessica's lips twitched. "Bella's a big girl. If she wants help, she will ask for it."

Jacob snorted at Jessica's word choice. "That's the whole reason she needs help."

"That's enough," Jessica whirled. In one, defiant act of pettiness, Jessica undid the work Jacob did to her hair by combing her fingers through and fluffing it out. "Grab the food—let's get a table inside. Jake can stay out here until he remembers how to be a decent person."

Eager to get far away from Jacob, I hopped up and followed Jessica and Angela. I snuck one look back. It was a mistake. Jacob's expression was unbelievably tender, his mouth puckered in remorse. Distracted, my hand missed the door. It swung close. I fumbled for the handle. But the single second was all Jacob needed.

He wrapped his hand around my wrist. In one, fluid motion, I was around the corner, behind the restaurant. Hidden from view. Edward's warning blared in my head like an alarm: It wouldn't take a genius to see I would risk anything—everything—to keep you safe. Jacob couldn't be stupid enough to do something to me here. Jessica and Angela knew I was with him—would turn around for me at any second. Edward wasn't even close enough goad.

"Bella…" his voice was so sweet, so soft. I knew I was in no physical danger. That was always the issue with Jacob—all the torture was invisible.

I refused to look at him. He loosened his grip on my wrist enough to rub circles on my hand with his thumb. "You look beautiful today. You know how much I love you in purple."

I made a mental note to burn every purple thing I owned.

"Why won't you look at me? You never use to be this difficult." He yanked my arm and held it against his chest. I closed my eyes, childishly.

He sighed, impatiently. "Here I am, fighting for you in ways you will never know, but you can't even talk to me?"

"Then stop fighting."

"I can't. I never will." His heroism was lost on me. A too-warm, too-soft knuckle ran down my cheek. "Once you see what I did to save you, you'll regret acting this way."

"I will never be with you, Jacob. If I had to choose between you and a monster, I would choose the latter."

He shook his head, grimly. "You have no idea what you're saying."

"Edward could be a fire-breathing dragon, I would choose him over you."

Jacob pressed his lips into a hard line. His gaze flickered over to something on our left. Again, if I weren't so used to picking up vampire quirks, I wouldn't have noticed. I turned to see what it was.

Suddenly, my chin was in Jacob's hand and his lips were hard on mine.

Panicking, I tried to shove him away. He pulled me tighter for one moment, deepening the kiss, then shoved my face away from his.

"In your dreams," he snarled and pushed me away.

I stumbled back, waving my arms for something to catch and save me from tumbling to the ground. Something cool and hard wrapped around my waist. Breathing in the sweet scent of butterscotch, I clung to Edward.

He gently detached himself from me and stepped forward. I was pulled into Angela's arms and felt Jessica's hands take mine. Angela asked if I was okay. Jessica rested her cheek against my shoulder, "I'm sorry, Bella…"

I barely heard them. I could only stare in horror as Edward pulled his elbow back.

He was so sure that Jacob was going to attempt to hurt him—or me—to force Edward to reveal himself. But he didn't need to. How could Edward not see he was falling into Jacob's trap? Surely, he could read the intent in his thoughts. I could see it through his dark, piercing eyes.

"Edward, no!"

My plea was too late. Edward's fist contacted Jacob's face with a sickening crack. Jacob hunched forward in pain. Behind me, the boys cheered for Edward.

When Jacob straightened, his bloodstained mouth was twisted in a sickening smirk. He got what he needed.

He felt Edward's cold skin. Was a victim to Edward's unyielding strength.

Jacob had definite proof Edward was a vampire.

He was going to kill him.

I hope that was as satisfying for you all to read as it was to write!