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

Chapter Twenty-Three

Midnight Sun 1-3

Isabella Swan was just getting off the plane, waiting with wary trepidation for her father, Police chief Charlie Swan, to arrive and take her to the place that she would be calling 'home'. She sighed. Her plane landed twenty minutes early and she didn't think Charlie would be there yet, though that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, seeing as she didn't really know what to expect from her father. She had only seen him a few weeks during the summertime over most of her seventeen years of life and this was the first time since she was a toddler that she would be living with him with any sense of permanency.

"Bella," she heard her name being called from behind her. She had gotten her bags and had only been waiting two minutes before she could see Charlie walking towards her. Before she knew it, he was giving her an awkward hug.

"Ch … Dad," she said, trying to hug him back.

"How was your flight?" he asked nervously, rubbing the back of his head before he reached down to get her two bags.

"It was all right," she said. She would have preferred a flight that was a little closer to when she would have to start school, but they had all been booked up. She thought that all six flights she could have taken before this all being fully booked at this time of year a little weird, but there was nothing she could do about that now. And now, she was going to have to spend three nights and two whole days with nothing to do. This wouldn't have been such a bad thing – she didn't mind having her alone time, but she really wished she could have spent a few extra days in the sun with her mom. Not to mention, she wasn't sure of what Charlie had planned and hoped it wasn't anything too bad … maybe he could even be working this weekend, so she didn't have to constantly keep up the facade that she was happy about this move.

"Er …." Charlie stammered when they were halfway through their three-hour drive to Forks from Seattle. For most of the ride neither one had said much. In fact, after the pleasantries were done with, neither of them had spoken a word. Though it was odd, neither was overly uncomfortable about this situation, except for the fact that Bella wasn't particularly thrilled that they were riding in the police cruiser.

"Do you remember my friend Billy … Billy Black?"

"Hmm …." Bella said, frowning thoughtfully. "I don't think so."

"I go fishing with him all the time," Charlie said, trying to see if that would help her remember. "I used to take you with me sometimes when you were little, and you would play with his kids …."

Bella frowned at that, still not remembering who Billy Black was and now wasn't trying to remember. She really hated it when her dad would take her fishing. That's why she had insisted that he come to see her in California for two weeks instead of going to Forks – well one of the reasons – the other being that it was always raining in Forks, no matter what time of year it was.

"Sorry C … Dad."

"Er …." Charlie hesitated, nervous again. He was hoping she would remember them so it wouldn't be so awkward, but there was nothing he could do about this now. "Well, they…er … Billy and his son, Jacob that is, are kind of coming over for dinner … if that's okay."

"Sure, Dad," Bella said, not really comfortable with this idea, but there wasn't really anything she could do about it. Hopefully they wouldn't stay too long so she could brood over the upcoming days in peace.

"Good," Charlie sighed, but gave her a wary look, like he knew what she was thinking. Luckily, Bella didn't notice; it only would have made her feel worse. "I do have another surprise for you."

"What?" Bella asked.

"You'll see," Charlie smiled and the rest of the drive passed in silence. The surprise turned out to be an old, beat-up looking, red truck that, despite herself, she instantly loved.

"Wow, Dad, this is great!" Bella said as she looked it over.

"Your mom said you wanted a car," Charlie explained, looking more uncomfortable than she had seen him all day. He was blushing slightly at her reaction to his gift. "I thought I would get it for you as a welcome home gift."

"Thanks, Dad," Bella smiled at him – it seemed to be a more genuine smile than he was used to, and he couldn't help returning it.

It was only a half hour later when Billy and Jacob showed up. Billy was being helped in by Charlie and Jacob because of his wheelchair. The moment that she saw Billy, Bella instantly remembered him, however, she didn't recognize his son at all. Dinner, pizza brought by the Blacks, went a lot better than she could have imagined. It was more than a little awkward at first since she couldn't really relate to any of them. Charlie and Billy seemed to have gotten into a heated discussion about some kind of sporting event and she wasn't interested enough to follow the conversation. Jacob didn't really say much; he was stuffing his face with half the pizza before anyone even had one piece, but he was giving her weird glances and looking away quickly when he was caught looking.

"Well, that was good. It looks like the game is almost on …." Charlie smiled and then he glanced at his daughter hesitantly, not sure if it really was okay to just leave her like this as he wasn't used to living with anyone.

"So, Bella, I bet you're excited about going to a new school …." Jacob said, trying to start a conversation so Charlie would be okay with leaving them to watch the game.

"Of course, doesn't everyone dream about starting at a new school in the middle of the term," Bella said sarcastically. Though, she was grateful to Jacob for the question because she had no interest in watching whatever game was on, even if her dad did.

"It must help that it's in a small school, too," Jacob chuckled. "Everyone has been talking about you."

"Thanks for the reminder," Bella groaned, gratitude fading, but at least Charlie was out of their hair for now.

"Er … Bella, um … I've got to tell you … er … show you … um … well it's something kind of weird," Jacob stumbled over his words, not really knowing how to bring this up.

"What is it?" Bella eyed him suspiciously.

"Well … er … it's kind of the reason why we're here today, me and my dad, that is," Jacob said, lowering his voice so he wouldn't be overheard - not that either of their dads could hear anything they said with the game on. "I mean, why I got dad and Charlie excited about this game, well more like watching the game together, they're always excited about …."

"Jacob," Bella interrupted his rambling.

"Sorry," Jacob blushed slightly. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, and you'll probably think I'm an idiot for following through with this. I mean, it could just turn out to be some kind of prank one of my friends is pulling on me … though, of course, it's probably not, seeing as they don't even know who you are … of course, with Charlie blabbing all about you …."

"Jacob," Bella interrupted again.

"Sorry…again," Jacob sighed and then said simply, "I was given this manuscript and told that I should read it with you as soon as possible."

Jacob then handed her the stack of papers loosely held together that he had been given a week ago. There was a note telling him that he had to read this book with only Bella Swan, who his dad had told him weeks ago was moving to Forks, and by no means was he to read the book by himself, which he had no inkling to do.

Bella just looked at the book for a moment with furrowed eyebrows. "So, you just came here because you were told to?" she finally asked, looking curious.

"What?" Jacob asked. He was expecting her to think he was crazy and not take this seriously. "Yeah, I guess … the note said we would be friends, too, if that helps any."

Bella was looking thoughtful, not really sure what to make of this. What was with this mysterious manuscript? Did it have anything to do with all the flights that were booked up? Should she really follow what a piece of paper said when she had no idea where it came from? Jacob seemed to be happy enough to follow it, but was it really something that she should be doing? Then again, she had nothing to do over the weekend and this would get her out of the house a little. Besides, Jacob seemed like a nice enough guy – she might even become friends with him. "Okay, I guess we could read."

"Good!" Jacob said, truly looking relieved. "I was afraid that you would think I was weird. Plus, it's always nice to make a new friend."

"What makes you think that we're friends?" Bella teased. "I'm still on the fence about you …."

"That's good enough for me," Jacob smiled and she rolled her eyes, but smiled too as she started to open the book. "Wait," he said, putting his hand on the pages, pausing to look at Billy and Charlie in the living room. "The note specifically said that this was something only you and me can hear … can we go somewhere they can't hear us?"

"I guess," Bella said warily and got up to go to her room.

"What are you two kids up to?" Charlie asked; of course, there had to be a commercial break.

"I was just going to show Jacob my room … it's a little loud in here," Bella said, trying to be as truthful as possible so it would be more believable. She was a horrible liar.

"Okay," Charlie said, looking a little suspicious, but the game was starting, so his attention was divided again. "Just leave your door open."

"Fine," Bella said, rolling her eyes and she motioned for Jacob to follow her up the stairs. "Are you happy now?"

"Sure," Jacob chuckled, not sure where to sit, so he picked the chair at her desk and Bella sat down on her bed.

"I guess I can read now," Bella huffed as she finally got to look at the manuscript and read "Midnight Sun."

"What does that mean?" Jacob asked.

"You didn't even read the title?" Bella asked, incredulously.

"I didn't see the point," Jacob said. "And you still haven't answered my question."

"I don't know what midnight sun means," Bella said, wondering if she could really get through all this if he was going to interrupt like this all the time.

First Sight

Mentions or was purgatory the right word:

"I would go with purgatory," Jacob chuckled.

"School's not so bad," Bella said.

"Oh … er … maybe I should leave," Jacob looked at her skeptically.

Bella rolled her eyes and started reading again.

Mentions if there was any way to atone for my sins, this ought to count:

"How many sins could this guy have committed if he's only in high school?" Jacob asked.

"First of all, you don't know it's a guy yet," Bella said. "And it could possibly be a teacher speaking."

"It sounds like a guy to me," Jacob shrugged, "and it would really be pathetic if this is a teacher … I mean it would be their chosen profession and all."

"Good point."

Mentions if sleep was defined as the inert state between active periods:

"Er … I don't know if I like this book …." Jacob started.

"Manuscript," Bella corrected.

Jacob rolled his eyes, "manuscript very much."

"What, is the vocabulary too hard for you to understand?" Bella asked dryly and Jacob made a face at her.

Mentions it was one way to tune out the voices inside my head:

"Okay … that explains a lot," Jacob said.

"What are you talking about?" Bella asked.

"This guy is crazy," he said. "He hears voices in his head."

"He doesn't sound crazy," she said defensively. "And you shouldn't jump to conclusions."

"Okay … but what else am I supposed to think when someone says they're hearing voices in their head?"

"Er … that they have ESP or something," she said.

He looked at her raising an eyebrow; he seemed to think that she might be the crazy one now. "Do you actually believe that's possible?" he finally asked, laughing.

"No, not really," Bella said. "It was the best I could come up with."

Mentions when it comes to human mind, I heard it all before:

"Hah … it sounds like mind reading to me," Bella exclaimed proudly, and then was shocked by her behavior; she wasn't one to yell like that.

"So, this book is fantasy then," Jacob said. "I suppose that's better than reading about some crazy guy."

Mentions trivial drama of a new additions to the small student body here ending with like flashing a shiny object at a child:

Bella shivered at this.

"What's the matter?" Jacob asked.

"I'm going to have to go through that in two days," Bella groaned. She was dreading that day, and this was just making it sound worse.

"Oh … yeah …." Jacob wasn't sure what to say to that.

Mentions half the males were already imagining themselves in love with her, just because she was something new to look at:

"That's ridiculous," Jacob scoffed.

"Really …." Bella said, nervous, that wasn't something that she would want to happen to her.

"Er …." Jacob stammered. He was talking about more the fact that it was stupid to like something just because it's new to look at, but he was sure that's not what she was thinking. "Sure, sure."

Mentions Rosalie had caught sight of her reflection, and she was mulling over her own perfection:

"Argh," Jacob groaned. "I hate stuck up b …."

"I would prefer it if you didn't swear," Bella said.

Jacob looked at her and just started to laugh. "I can try, but I'm not making any promises," he was finally able to choke out.

Mentions if Rosalie was a shallow pool, then Emmett was a lake with no shadows, glass clear:

"I could see how that one would make him feel less uncomfortable," Bella said. "I would hate it if someone knew my thoughts like that."

"Yeah, that would kind of suck," Jacob agreed. "But it might be cool to be the mind reader … you could know everything that's going on that way."

"That just sounds annoying to me," Bella said, "and I really don't want to know my friends and family's thoughts."

Alice thinks Edward:

"Ha … it is a guy," Jacob exclaimed.

"I thought it was a guy too," Bella shrugged.

Mentions that Alice searched ahead, into the immediate future for the source behind my frown:

"Ah … so there's another freak," Jacob said.

"It's not nice to call them freaks," Bella said.

"Then what should I call them?" he asked.

"You could try their names," Bella said.

Jacob just rolled his eyes at the suggestion.

Mentions wouldn't it be safer to just admit he might never had the thirst the way the rest of us could, and not push his limits:

"Thirst?" Bella question, "What is it, Jake?"

"I'm not sure yet," Jacob said but he narrowed his eyes. This seemed to trigger a memory, added to it the names that were old but familiar ….

Mentions a little uncomfortable occasionally, if a human walked too close:

"Why does he keep saying human … as if he isn't one?" Bella asked.

"I think this might have something to do with one of our legends," Jacob said.

Bella looked at him curiously, hoping that he would tell her what he meant by that, but he didn't look like he was ready to say anything.

Mentions I was used to the way the second made me feel ending with the excess flow of venom in my mouth:

"Er … okay, what's going on here?" Bella said, a little unnerved by this. "Are they snake people or something?"

Jacob, who was tense from the moment before, had to laugh at that. He laughed so hard that he couldn't stop himself for a whole minute. "No," he managed to get out.

"Then what are they?" Bella asked, glaring at him.

"I think … they might be …." Jacob said. "Cold Ones!"

"Cold Ones," Bella repeated slowly, like that made any more sense than snake people.

"Vampires," Jacob clarified. "My tribe called them the Cold Ones, but basically they're vampires."

"Vampires," Bella said. "You mean, you think there are really vampires out there?"

"No," Jacob snorted. "It's just that these sound like the ones that Dad always talks about. Besides, Bells, this is just a book … er … manuscript, remember."

Mentions imagining how the hot flow of her pulse would feel under his mouth:

"Argh … that sick," Jacob said. "Stupid bloodsuckers."

"It is kind of a gruesome picture, but Edward did say that Jasper was just thinking it," Bella said.

"And that makes it okay...? Do you think of things like this?" Jacob said.

"All the time," Bella rolled her eyes. "Of course not, Jake. But I'm not a vampire. Hm … do these vampires … hunt humans?"

"Oh … I'm not sure," Jacob said. "If they're the ones I'm thinking of, then no. However, that doesn't change what they are…as you can see."

"Okay, I think you need to tell me this legend of yours," Bella said. "I have a feeling that I might understand this story better if I know that."

"I'm not really supposed to tell anyone that," Jacob said. "It would break the treaty."

"What treaty?" Bella asked.

"Oops … I really shouldn't have said that," Jacob smacked his forehead with his hand.

Bella looked at him with hopeful eyes; she really wanted to know what he was talking about, and Jacob couldn't help but tell her. So, he told her a quick version of the legends that dealt with this, which was basically the same thing that he would have told her months from now if they had never gotten this book.

"I see," Bella said. "That was…interesting."

"Yeah, it's a nice story," Jacob shrugged.

"You don't think it's real, I take it," Bella said.

"Come on, it's full of vampires and werewolves … how could anyone believe that?" Jacob scoffed, but as unbelievable as it was, there was a part of him that had always believed it was true.

"I don't know," Bella said thoughtfully, but decided that she should start reading again.

Mentions I could hear shame and rebellion war in his head:

"Poor guy," Bella said.

"Oh yeah, and it would have been better if he kept thinking along those lines and attacked the innocent girl," Jacob said.

"I didn't say that," Bella huffed.

Mentions both freaks among those who were already freaks:

"Ha … they called themselves freaks," Jacob said. "I should be able to, too."

"Whatever," Bella rolled her eyes.

Alice says it helps if you think of them as people:

"What? As opposed to meals with legs," Jacob hissed darkly.

"You don't have to be so rude … they're not hurting anyone," Bella said.

"I know," Jacob sighed. "I just … I've heard a lot of bad things about them … well, their kind."

"I guess that makes sense," Bella offered. "It would probably be better if you tried to keep an open mind."

"I could try," Jacob shrugged.

Mentions Jasper should just accept his limitation and work within them:

"That's pretty sound advice," Bella said.

"Especially when they're playing such a deadly game," Jacob said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Mentions Edward Cullen:

"Yep, it's the Cullens," Jacob said.

"So, these are the people … er, vampires, in your legend?" Bella asked.

"Yep," Jacob said, feeling a shiver go through him.

"Do you think that means this is real?" Bella asked softly. It was unbelievable, but then again, why else would they get a book like this … with those people in it.

"I … don't know," Jacob said thoughtfully. "I think you should keep reading."

Mentions the new student, Isabella Swan:

"Damn," Bella said. She had a feeling since Edward had mentioned chocolate brown eyes that it was actually her that he was talking about.

"Okay … this makes it seem a lot more real," Jacob really shivered this time.

"Great," Bella sighed, thinking first about all the attention she was going to get at school and then her mind went to a different problem. "Why did this book come to us?"

"Er … I don't know … the note just said to read it," Jacob said, his mind thinking about what this could all mean.

"There has to be a reason why it was sent here … and why the story started when I first arrived," Bella said.

"Oh, great … you think you're going to attract these bloodsuckers," Jacob groaned.

"It would make sense," Bella said. "Great, just what I needed."

Mentions daughter of the chief of police, brought to live here by some new custody situation:

"Custody situation," Bella huffed. "That's not what happened."

"Then what happened?" Jacob asked.

"I wanted to come here," Bella said so miserably that Jacob had to laugh. "Oh, that's nice."

"Sorry," Jacob said trying to sober up, "but your face … Okay, I'm sorry. What's the real reason you came here?"

Bella sighed. "My mom wants to be with Phil … her new husband. She would never say anything, but I could tell that she would be happier if she was with him."

"Oh," Jacob said, nodding his head. "That's … different."

"Thanks," Bella groaned.

"Sorry … just, I don't think many people would have done that," Jacob said. "I mean, it's not like you even like it here …."

"How do you know I don't like it here?" Bella asked indignantly, but she also wondered how he guessed so easily.

"You stopped coming back, didn't you?" Jacob shrugged.

"Right," Bella sighed and then decided to start reading again.

Mentions Bella, she corrected everyone who used her full name:

"Why is that?" Jacob asked.

"I don't know, I'm just used to Bella," Bella shrugged.

"That's fine, Isabella is way too hard to say," he chuckled.

"Idiot," Bella rolled her eyes.

Mentions she had not been the one to think my name:

"Oh, crap … he's going to know what I'm thinking," Bella groaned. "I hope I don't take any notice of him … this is going to be so embarrassing."

"Ah … that sounds good to me," Jacob chuckled.

Edward hears of course she's already crushing on the Cullens:

Bella bowed her head. This was already embarrassing and she, her book-self that is, hadn't even thought anything yet. Jacob, of course, only made this better by laughing loudly at that, though it was more due to Bella's reaction than anything else.

Mentions now I recognized the 'voice':

"Why did you just do quote marks?" Jacob asked.

"Because the word had quote marks in the book," Bella said.

"I thought it was a manuscript," Jacob said smugly.

"Let's just call it a book from now on," Bella sighed impatiently. "Anyways, I think when he said voice, he meant the sound of her thoughts."

"Oh … okay then," Jacob nodded.

Jessica thinks fat lot of good it will do her, she's not really pretty, don't know why Eric is staring or Mike:

"Hmph," Bella said. "It might be best if I don't make friends with her."

"I think you're pretty," Jacob said.

"Er … thanks," Bella blushed a little. No one had really told her that before. "Wait … did she mention two guys liking me …?"

"I guess," Jacob shrugged. "But you know … they only like the new shiny thing."

"Gee … that just makes me feel so much better," Bella rolled her eyes.

"Oh … right, sorry," Jacob smiled sheepishly at her.

Mentions I listen to hear the new girls thought of Jessica's story:

"Or you could not … just leave the new girl alone," Bella said and Jacob failed in the attempt not to laugh at her.

Mentions I heard nothing, though I listened close beside where Jesssica continued to gush:

"He didn't hear anything," Bella said hopefully.

"That's what it said," Jacob said.

Mentions I looked to check, feeling off-balance, checking on my extra hearing wasn't something I ever had to do:

"Sorry about that," Bella said, though she was hoping that it would stay that way … that he wouldn't be able to hear her at all.

Mentions but I couldn't hear a whisper:

Bella's voice was becoming smugger as she continued to read this.

Edward explains Bella's emotions were clear on her face ending with embarrassing as I caught her staring at me:

And now Bella was making a face.

"I take that to mean that you're annoyed about this," Jacob chuckled.

"My face is so expressive … everyone knows what I'm feeling," Bella huffed.

"But evidently your mind is hard to read," Jacob chuckled again.

Bella couldn't help but smile at that, "I suppose so."

Mentions her odd eyes, odd, because of the depth to them, brown eyes often seem flat in their darkness:

"I think he likes your eyes," Jacob snickered as Bella blushed again.

Mentions this was nothing I encountered before, was there something wrong with me, I felt the same, worried I listened harder:

"Er … does that mean there's something wrong with me?" Bella asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "If I'm the only one that he can't hear …."

Jacob again started to laugh at that. "Yeah, the person that is weird is the one that can't be heard … it couldn't possibly be the mind reader himself."

"Hmph … it doesn't mean that I can't be weird too," Bella huffed.

"You'll get no argument from me there," Jacob snickered.

"Jerk," Bella hissed.

Edward listens to everyone's thoughts ending with maybe she'll be in my Spanish … June Richardson hoped:

"Is anyone not thinking about me?" Bella groaned, looking glummer than ever.

Angela Weber thinks tons left to do tonight, trig, and the English test, I hope my mom:

"There … she's not, you should make friends with her," Jacob said.

"I think I'll do that," Bella said.

Mentions of course I can hear what the girl said when she spoke, I could hear her low, clear voice on the far side of the long room:

"Wow … they have good hearing," Bella said.

"Apparently … I think I'll have to remember that," Jacob said.

"Yeah … me too," Bella said.

Edward explains about how thought sound like their speaking voice ending with entirely new:

"You know … I think he might like you," Jacob teased, and then frowned … that wasn't a good thing.

"Shut up," Bella blushed.

Jessica thinks oh, good luck, idiot:

"What a bitch," Jacob said.

"Jacob … no swearing, remember," Bella said.

"I told you it wasn't going to work," Jacob said. "And she really is one."

Bella didn't try to defend her.

Jessica says apparently none of the girls here are good looking enough for him:

"Obviously she's been rejected by him," Jacob laughed.

"Yeah … seeing as he said so much a few pages ago," Bella smirked.

"Like I remember that," Jacob said, waving her off casually.

Edward muses how he wants to protect Bella from Jessica's thoughts ending with what an odd thing to feel:

Jacob frowned for a second, and then decided it would be more fun just to tease her about this, instead of being worried about the stories he had grown up hearing. He couldn't do anything about it now, and it was fun seeing her blush. So, with that thought, he said, "It seems like he wants to be your knight in shining armor to me."

"Yeah, right," Bella tried to say with as much dignity as she could, but, of course, she blushed.

Edward is unbelievable frustrating explain things ending with there was nothing but silence from this very unexceptional human girl, why:

"That will certainly build up my self-esteem," Bella mumbled. He was right about everything that he said at first and she didn't really like how he had called her an unexceptional human girl.

Mentions when I decipher her thoughts they would be just as petty and trivial as any human's thoughts:

"Are not," Bella pouted.

"So, you want to be a weirdo … I knew it," Jacob smirked.

"Jerk," Bella said. "I just don't think I'm petty … maybe trivial though."

Angela thinks Bella seems just as shy as me, I wish I could say something, but it would probably just sound stupid:

"Yes … she does seem like someone I should get to know," Bella tried to smile … it wasn't easy.

Mentions her scent hit me like a wrecking ball, there was no image violent enough the force of what happened to me in that moment:

Bella stopped reading there … feeling a chill of fear go through her.

"I don't like the sound of that," Jacob said. "This isn't good at all."

"I don't like it either," Bella agreed and then started reading again; she needed to know what happened next.

Edward continues to think about her scent ending with her thoughts meant nothing, for she wouldn't go on thinking them much longer:

"Yes, she will … she will go on thinking for a long time, you bloodsucking freak," Jacob growled.

"Jake … I …." Bella didn't know what to say. She was terrified of this, but she wanted to continue reading … to know what happened.

"Do you want me to read?" Jacob questioned, trying to read her expression … well, an expression that wasn't terrified, that is.

"No," Bella said. "Just … just let me try to get through this as fast as I can."

"Okay, I'll try," Jacob said.

Mentions I was a vampire, and she had the sweetest blood I'd smelled in eighty years:

"Oh, crap … that can't be good," Jacob said.

Bella tried to glare at him, but she couldn't manage it through her panic. "We already knew that."

"That just makes it sound worse than I thought," Jacob mumbled.

Mentions the innocent bystanders, eighteen other children and one man, could not be allowed to leave this room:

"No … leave them out of this," Bella said.

"Er … you're worried about them when you're the one he wants to kill?" Jacob asked.

"I don't want nineteen lives on my head," Bella said.

"He would be the one killing them," Jacob said, stunned by her logic.

"But it's only because of me that they would die," Bella said. "I don't want that … I won't allow that to happen."

"Er … you do care about your own life too, right?" Jacob asked.

"Yes," Bella answered. "I'm not suicidal or anything … I just don't like to think about a massacre happening because of me."

"Right," Jacob said, still not able to understand how she could think it was because of her, when it clearly would have been the bloodsuckers fault.

Mentions she would not have time to scream or feel pain, I would not kill her cruelly:

"I'm sure that's a relief to her," Jacob hissed.

"It is," Bella said. It would be best if she never knew what was coming … if it did have to come.

Mentions for one second, I was able to think clearly:

"Okay … so we need more un-Bella scented air to go near him," Jacob said.

Edward explains about the two faces one of them his while he hunted humans ending with barely more human than I was:

Jacob thought that it was almost bearable to accept something like that, but in the present situation, it didn't carry much weight … Edward was a monster that was thinking about killing Bella.

Edward explains the other face is Carlisle ending with the similarity in the color of our eyes was another matter, a reflection of a mutual choice:

Bella furrowed her eyes and read the last line as almost a question.

"Their eyes are yellow because they only hunt animals … or so the legend goes," Jacob answered.

Edward thinking why did she have to come here ending with why had this human ever been born, she would ruin me:

Bella had a really hard time reading this.

"It's not her freaking fault, you stupid, dumbass monster!" Jacob shouted in Bella's defense. "And you're the freaking one that's not even supposed to exist … why don't you just disappear?"

Bella was grateful that he would say that but was still hurt by Edward's thoughts.

Mentions I didn't want to lose everything in a lifetime of sacrifice and denial:

Bella bowed her head at this … starting to blame herself too.

"Bella," Jacob groaned as he read her thoughts on her face. "It's not your fault."

"I know," Bella said, not really sounding convinced of that. "It's just …."

"…what he is," Jacob finished.

"He's trying not to be a monster," Bella said sadly.

"But he can't stop that," Jacob said, and seeing that he was only annoying her with this line of thinking, he didn't say more.

Mentions but I didn't have to breathe:

"They don't?" Bella asked at the same time as Jacob said, "Then why have you been breathing all this time!"

Mentions Mike Newton would notice if she left the classroom with me:

"Well, thank God for Mike, then," Jacob said.

"Only if that means that no one else has to die," Bella muttered. "If he goes back to killing everyone …."

"Right," Jacob shivered.

Mentions I was sane again, I could fight against what I didn't want to be:

"Good … now stay away from Bella," Jacob said firmly.

Mentions perhaps, if I avoided her there was no need for my life to change:

"No … I don't like the sound of that," Jacob said. "One slip …."

"I get it," Bella said, her nerves on edge.

"Sorry," Jacob sighed.

"It's not really your fault, Jacob."

Mentions she would never need protection from anything more than she needed if from me:

Bella frowned at that, again wondering why she got this book. She had feared that it was to warn her of her death at first … that seemed so likely when Edward was thinking about killing everyone … but now … Could there be a different reason? Besides, why would she be sent a book where she died in the first chapter … that wouldn't make sense … there has to be more to this. Yes, she was trying to build up her non-existent courage, but it helped her read, so who cares.

Mentions I hated that she had this unconscious power over me, she could make me something I reviled:

"Like it's her freaking fault," Jacob said. "I don't think I like this guy."

Bella didn't say anything. She was afraid of the threat that he was to her, but she couldn't gauge the guy himself yet. Of course, the fear she was feeling was definitely making her lean in one direction more than the other.

Mentions this would work better if they were gold instead of black, blackness frightened people, as it should:

"What does the blackness mean?" Bella asked, already having a good idea what the answer to that would be.

"I'm not sure … but I think it means he's … thirsty," Jacob shivered, and so did Bella.

Mentions a vision of an empty highway at night:

"Yeah, pick that option," Jacob muttered.

"I think he will," Bella said.

"What makes you think that?" Jacob said.

"Let me just finish this," Bella said and started to read again.

Alice says she's Charlie Swan's only family, it would kill him too:

"Yeah, it really would," Jacob said. "Your dad is always talking about you … er … at least when he talks at all, it's usually about you. Well, you or a baseball game … or basketball … or …."

"Yeah, I sound pretty high on his list," Bella rolled her eyes.

"You are," Jacob said firmly.

End of chapter, mentions to say goodbye to my father, or embrace the monster inside me:

"That's the end of the chapter," Bella said.

"So, are you going to tell me why you're so sure he's going to leave?" Jacob asked.

"Because I don't think it's likely that whoever sent you this book and made us read it would have if I was going to die in the first chapter," Bella said. "It just doesn't make sense. Especially, after it showed him fighting this monster inside him for so long."

"He is the monster," Jacob growled.

"That's not the point," Bella said. "It just doesn't make sense that I would get this book for that reason."

"So, what's this higher meaning you think the book has?" Jacob asked.

"I don't know," Bella admitted, flustered. "But I think we should cont …."

"Bella!" Charlie called from downstairs as he made his way to her room. Soon he was knocking uselessly on the open door. "The game is over, and Billy needs to get home so …."

"Right," Jacob said, trying to act normal for Charlie was looking at them suspiciously; they were more tense than they should be. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay," Charlie said.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Jacob asked.

"Obviously we're going to keep reading," Bella said.

"Yeah, it would be nice to know what happens next," Jacob said. "Where do you want to meet?"

"Charlie said that he was working tomorrow, so it would be safe to read here," Bella said.

"Yeah, except I can't get here," Jacob said. "Can't drive."

"Right," Bella said. "Then I'll come and get you … or I could read at your house."

"Either one would be okay," Jacob shrugged. "I have a garage that would give us some privacy."

"That would probably be easier," Bella said.

"Cool," Jacob said and then gave her directions to his house. "And I better take this with me," he added, picking up the book.

"Why, don't you trust me with it?" Bella asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Honestly, if someone was going to try and read this, which one of us would it be?" Jacob smirked.

"I suppose you have a point there," Bella agreed.

"I know I do," Jacob chuckled and then became more serious. "You know, it probably would have been better if we hadn't started reading this book tonight."

"Why?" Bella questioned.

"Because, I'm probably going to have nightmares now," Jacob shuddered.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Bella shuddered too. "And that suggestion isn't going to help any."

"I didn't think it would have been fair if I was the only one to have nightmares," Jacob chuckled.

"Jerk," Bella huffed, and then chuckled too.

O

Open Book

The next morning, Bella woke up early, really wanting to read the book … her nerves weren't helped by her dreams about murderous black eyes. She could not even begin to imagine what the face which held those eyes had looked like. She had the feeling that it wasn't something she could think up; she would have to see it.

She tried to take her time at breakfast, telling her dad what she was planning for the day. She knew that eight o'clock would be too early to wake up Jacob, but it wasn't easy to just sit there waiting. She was impatient to find out more about what was going to come, so she got in her truck at eight fifteen … though she did pull over when she passed the library. She had a fleeting idea that there might be some kind of image there of the vampire that she couldn't get out of her mind, even though she could only see his eyes. If not, she would at least be giving Jacob a few more minutes of sleep.

When she got in the library, however, she was starting to feel stupid about this impulse, but continued to head for the desk anyways. By the time she got there, she had already noted how small the place was, and sighed, thinking that it probably wasn't going to be that useful of a place for her in the future. She asked for old newspapers and was directed to a small corner. She was disappointed by her findings until she got to a section next to where she stood that had a vast collection of the yearbooks from the high school and junior high. She picked the book from the previous year and flipped through it, looking for the right page only to find that a few names were missing. She looked at the back of the book and noticed that it had listed the names of the people absent the day the photos had been taken and five names she recognized immediately. She groaned as she tried to shove the book back in place. Of course they wouldn't want to leave a record like this, she thought bitterly. However, the book fell out of her hands and as she looked down, there was a picture that caught her eye.

He was slightly out of focus, obviously not the main subject of the picture - which was of two people she could care less about walking to class laughing - but she knew instantly who it was. His bronze hair, golden eyes, perfect face - though the picture didn't seem to do it justice. It had to be a picture of Edward Cullen.

She bit her lip, somehow feeling better at being able to add a face to the eyes she was more than a little afraid of. At the same time, it made it all the more real. She picked up the book and walked back to the desk, noticing that there was an open door behind it where the librarian was standing.

"Sorry," the librarian said, walking back to her. "We're just getting some new books … someone made a sizeable donation …." she continued excitedly. "Ah, a yearbook," she added when she noticed what Bella was checking out, suddenly giving her a piercing look.

"Yeah … er … I'm starting at F …." Bella began trying to explain, feeling flustered.

"Oh … of course," the librarian said with an understanding smile. "Here you go, then."

"Thanks," Bella mumbled, getting the distinct impression that this person knew exactly who she was; Charlie really had been talking too much. She left as quickly as she could and drove to Jacob's, still arriving before nine.

"Hey, Bella!" Jacob opened the door before she could even get out of her truck.

"How did you know I was here?" Bella asked.

"I could hear you a mile away," Jacob chuckled. "That truck isn't exactly quiet."

"No, it scared me a little with I first started it," Bella chuckled, too. "I didn't think you would be up this early."

"I'm usually not," Jacob said. "But I couldn't sleep well … I just got up."

"Good," Bella said. "So where do you want to read?"

"We could read in the garage," Jacob suggested, pointing to a shed in the backyard.

"Sounds good to me," Bella agreed and followed Jacob as he walked toward it, the book in his hands, along with a few sodas and some food.

"Did you have breakfast?" Bella asked.

"Yeah … but I'm always kind of hungry," Jacob smiled. They soon settled into some seats that he had set up next to the frame of some kind of car. He explained to her that he was going to rebuild it and she was rather impressed, but they weren't there for small talk - both of them were anxious to read again.

"Why do you have that book?" Jacob asked, gesturing to the yearbook.

"Oh, it's the Forks High School yearbook from last year," Bella explained.

"And the bloodsuckers are in it," Jacob said. "I thought they would have been smarter than to leave evidence like that."

"Well, they're not really in it," Bella said, showing him the picture, she had found. "I think that's Edward."

Jacob frowned. He had never seen the vampires up close before, so he didn't know what to expect, but he was struck by how different and yet not so different this guy looked. "How did you find this?"

"I needed a face to go with the eyes in my head," Bella answered without thinking, and then blushed. "I went to the library before I came here."

"I guess I'll read now," Jacob shrugged. "Open Book."

Bella made a face, having a pretty good idea what that meant.

Jacob chuckled but chose not to ask her about it.

Mentions the sky above me was clear, brilliant with stars, glowing blue in some place yellow in other, an awesome sight, exquisitely beautiful:

"It does sound nice," Bella said, thinking about the stars in Phoenix … something she wasn't likely to see in Forks.

Mentions six days but I was no closer to freedom than the moment that I caught her scent:

"So he did leave," Jacob muttered.

"Told you so," Bella said.

"It doesn't look like he's going to stay away though," Jacob said.

"I didn't think he would," Bella muttered, but Jacob didn't hear that.

Describes Tanya and thinks exquisite, if I'd really been able to see her:

"It looks like all he can see is you," Jacob said again, deciding that teasing was the easiest thing to do while reading this book.

"Shut up," Bella blushed, not sure why she was feeling so uncomfortable.

Edward says don't let my stubbornness undermine your confidence:

"Ah … another girl he's rejected," Jacob said.

"I'm pretty sure this is another vampire," Bella said, still feeling uncomfortable for some unknown reason.

Jacob just shrugged at that.

Mentions Tanya preferred human men, with the added advantage of being sof and warm, and always eager, definitely:

Jacob shivered again, thinking about the women that meant certain death, but whose beauty was …

"Er … are you going to read any time soon?" Bella asked after he had paused for a while.

"Yeah," Jacob snapped out of his thoughts and started reading again.

Mentions Tanya's family discovered their conscience slowly, it was their fondness for human men that turned the sisters against the slaughter:

"Oh … so they're good vampires, too," Bella said.

Jacob looked uncomfortable about her term 'good vampire', as if that was possible, but let it go. "I don't know about that … it sounds like they killed tons of humans."

"Yeah, you're right," Bella frowned, "but at least they have stopped now."

Tanya asks where will you go if you leave, back to Carlisle:

"No, that wouldn't be good," Jacob said. "You can't get her out of your mind as it is … you'll just attack her if you go back."

"Jake, I'm pretty sure he's going to come back," Bella said.

"This is about us getting this book again, isn't it?" Jacob guessed. "Argh … this is annoying."

Mentions I would not be going to anywhere, I would only be running from:

Jacob narrowed his eyes, not liking this thought at all. It was like the guy cared more about his pride than Bella's safety.

Mentions my rejection bothered her more than she'd let on, she wouldn't want to see me again before I left:

"Ah, the poor girl," Bella said, feeling a little sorry for her and yet not as much as she thought she should.

"Girl?" Jacob said. "You know she's probably hundreds of years old."

"Er … right," Bella smiled sheepishly.

Mentions a pair of bewildered chocolate-brown eyes seemed to ask what this decision would mean for her:

"Yeah, I would like to know that, too," Jacob and Bella said the same thing, though his tone was an accusation and hers was a mix of worry and curiosity.

Mentions even in my imagination, I couldn't hear her thoughts:

Bella chuckled at that, and Jacob rolled his eyes.

Mentions Emmett and Jasper weren't above taking advantage of my distraction to bombard me with slushballs:

Jacob was smiling at this – he loved snow.

"Argh," Bella groaned.

"What?" Jacob questioned.

"Snow," Bella made a face.

"You don't like snow?" Jacob questioned, unable to believe that. "How could you not like snow?"

"It's cold, it gets everywhere, and then it melts," Bella made a face.

"You are so weird," Jacob shook his head.

Mentions I expected to hear more about the Cullens in the thoughts searching for the new acquaintance Bella might have confided in:

Bella chuckled at that and Jacob looked at her.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"I'm not going to tell anyone anything," Bella snorted.

"Why not?"

"Honestly, I don't even know what I'm thinking at this point, so I can't say for sure," Bella said.

"You seem pretty sure," Jacob pointed out.

"Because I'm not one to talk about my problems," Bella said. "Besides, there's no one there who I really know."

"So, if you were in Phoenix, you would have told someone about this?" Jacob asked skeptically.

"No," Bella said. "I don't think so."

"Weirdo," Jacob smirked at her and she made a face at him.

Mentions she said nothing to anyone about me:

"Not everything is about you, you arrogant jerk," Jacob huffed mockingly.

Bella chuckled. "I'm sure I'm thinking about him though."

"What makes you so sure?" Jacob questioned.

"I know I noticed his look …." Bella said softly, though she also knew that she would never have guessed what it really meant.

Mentions humans were constantly desperate to feel normal, to fit in ending with this girl would be no exception to that rule:

"So, are you the exception to this rule?" Jacob asked.

"Don't know," Bella shrugged. "But I never really fit in anywhere, so probably."

Mentions Bella must be exceptionally shy, if she'd confided in no one:

"You don't seem so shy," Jacob said, and then thought back to yesterday before they started talking. "Okay, maybe you are, but not exceptionally so."

"Thanks," Bella rolled her eyes.

Mentions perhaps she had spoken to her father, that was the strongest relationship:

"Yeah, it is," Bella said, but she was making a face.

"I take that to mean that you probably didn't talk to Charlie about this either," Jacob chuckled.

"Not likely," Bella shrugged.

Mentions I would have to pass by Chief Swan sometime soon to listen to what he was thinking:

"Don't you think that's a little overboard?" Jacob scoffed.

"Are you talking to me or the book?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Er …." Jacob stammered, smiling sheepishly.

"That's what I thought," Bella chuckled. "But yes, I agree with you, that's a little overboard."

Alice says she's coming in, try to look human:

Jacob chuckled uncontrollably at that, which caused Bella to laugh too.

Mentions Emmett reveal the snowball he'd saved in his palm, of course, it had not melted there:

"Why not?" Bella asked.

"We call them the Cold Ones for a reason," Jacob smirked.

"Right," Bella blushed.

Rosalie says very human, Emmett:

"No, it wasn't," Jacob chuckled.

"It was, in a way," Bella said. "I wouldn't really think of vampires having a snowball fight."

"You have a point there," Jacob admitted.

Mentions Jessica seemed to be skilled at feigning friendship:

"You really shouldn't be friends with this girl," Jacob frowned.

"No," Bella said, picking up the yearbook she got, thinking that she would like to know what the other people she was reading about looked like. "Probably not."

"What are you … oh," Jacob said, looking at the yearbook too. "She's kind of good looking, but I don't think she's worth the drama."

Bella rolled her eyes at that as she flipped the page to find Mike and then Angela.

"Well, that was interesting," Jacob said before he started reading again.

Mentions I wanted to go to my biology class, I realized that I wanted to see her face again:

That sentence gave Bella an odd feeling.

Mentions curiosity be enough to keep Bella Swan alive:

"You know, I'm really having a hard time reading sentences like that," Jacob said.

"You think you're having a hard time," Bella scoffed. "I'm the one whose life is hanging in the balance."

Mentions the girl sat a my – our table:

Again … there was that odd feeling.

Mentions make her think she'd been imagining things before:

"I don't like the sound of that," Bella said.

"Yeah, it makes you sound a little crazy," Jacob chuckled.

"And the note you got with the book said we would be friends …?" Bella asked, glaring at him. "I don't see it."

"Whatever…you know you like me," Jacob said confidently and then started to read before she could disagree with him.

Mentions that the hate I'd imagined this girl somehow deserved from existing, had evaporated:

"Well, that's nice, at least," Bella said, feeling better about that than she knew she should.

Mentions not breathing not tasting her scent, it was hard to believe that anyone so vulnerable could justify hatred:

"Not liking that so much now, are you?" Jacob laughed as Bella had made a face at the word 'vulnerable'.

"Shut up," Bella hissed.

Bella asks how do you know my name:

"I think everyone knows your name," Jacob teased.

"I know that," Bella said and then she was thoughtful for a minute, trying to think why she would be so surprised that he knew her name. The only thing she could come up with was …."he called me Bella, and not Isabella? That could be it."

"Whatever," Jacob shrugged, not really interested in the answer to this.

Mentions it would seem odd, and rude, for me to ignore her while we did the lab:

"I think it might be a little ruder if you end up biting her, though," Jacob said.

"Are you joking or are you being serious?" Bella asked, unsure of his tone.

"Er … I think I was doing a little of both actually," Jacob said. "I'm trying to let myself enjoy this book a little … but it's not easy."

Bella says prophase and then started to remove the slide, though she barely examined it:

"So, I take it you're good in Biology," Jacob said.

"I'm alright," Bella shrugged modestly.

"So, I take it you're probably a lot better in everything than I am," Jacob muttered to himself; she seemed the type to be good at school.

Mentions for one second, the heat of her skin burned into mine, like an electric pulse, surely much hotter than a mere ninety-eight point six degrees:

"He's calling you hot, Bella," Jacob teased, laughing.

Bella blushed bright red at that, only causing Jacob to laugh harder.

Mentions Bella stared into the eyepiece eagerness that quickly faded, the corner of her mouth turned down:

Jacob laughed harder.

"Admit it, if he would have gotten it wrong you would have thought it was funnier," Bella sulked.

"Definitely," Jacob laughed.

Mentions I stared back at her, trying to guess even one of those secrets:

"I don't really have secrets," Bella said.

"But to this guy, every little thought would be a secret from him," Jacob laughed.

Bella asks did you get contacts:

"Strange question," Jacob chuckled.

"Shows what you know," Bella said smugly. "I obviously noticed the difference in his eye color."

"Er … right," Jacob said.

Mentions another slip if I seen what she meant, I could have told her yes:

"No such luck," Jacob chuckled.

"Do you think I'm going to figure out what he is?" Bella questioned; she thought that she might.

"I don't know," Jacob frowned. He didn't like that idea.

Mentions that he sat near humans for two years and she was the first to notice the eye color ending with ignorance was bliss to the human:

"Well then, Bella obviously doesn't have a normal human mind," Jacob chuckled.

"And how many of those people he's talking about were glared at murderously like I was?" Bella huffed in her own defense.

"Probably none, but I still think you're weird," Jacob smiled.

Edward thinks perhaps you should go back where you belong:

Bella sighed at that. She didn't like hearing him think that, though a large part of her did want to go back to Phoenix right now.

Bella says no Phil is fine, to young maybe but nice enough:

"Do you really like him?" Jacob asked.

"Of course I like him," Bella said indignantly. "I'm not really a good liar."

"Sorry … it's just, I don't think I could like someone who married my dad," Jacob sighed.

Edward says and your mother sent you here so that she could travel with him:

"Of course not," Bella said angrily.

"Why is that such a bad assumption?" Jacob chuckled.

"Because my mom would never do that," Bella said.

Bella says and, looking as if it wasn't an aspect to be considered:

Bella made a face at that.

"Is that true?" Jacob questioned.

Bella shrugged; it was true in the sense; she'd rather her mom be happy.

Mentions unlike most humans, her own needs were far down the list:

"I think you might have impressed him," Jacob said.

"It's not really that impressive, though," Bella muttered.

"I would disagree with that," Jacob said before reading again.

Mentions beyond protecting my family from suspicion human thoughts were not significant:

"But I guess the absence of thoughts is significant," Jacob said.

Bella looked at him, a little stunned.

"What?" Jacob asked, feeling uncomfortable.

"That was quite insightful," Bella said.

"And you didn't think I could come up with something like that on my own?" Jacob huffed. "Well, it's nice to know what you think of me."

"No … I didn't mean it like that," Bella said immediately. "It's just … you haven't really shown … I'm sorry."

Jacob just laughed at her. "Your face was priceless just then."

Bella blushed, pleased that he was joking but said, "Shut up," all the same.

Bella says my face is so easy to read, my mother always calls me her open book:

"Oh," Jacob laughed. "I can see that."

"Why did I just tell him that?" Bella groaned.

Edward says on the contrary, I find you very difficult to read:

"So, does this statement have something that will help you figure him out?" Jacob questioned.

"I don't know," Bella said thoughtfully. "Though it might help me figure out that he can read minds …."

"You really think you could figure that out?" Jacob asked.

"No … but that's the only thing that this would help with," Bella shrugged.

Mentions that already I was anxious for another chance to talk to her ending with every second with him with her was a mistake:

"Okay, all joking aside … I think this guy likes you," Jacob frowned.

Bella blushed, but didn't say anything, feeling uncomfortable and pleased at the same time.

O

Phenomenon

"Phenomenon?" Jacob repeated, "what does that mean?"

"I don't know," Bella shrugged and started reading; she too, was curious about what this was about.

Edward says I have to go Carlisle, I have to go now:

"I never understood flashbacks like this," Jacob grumbled. "I mean if this was something that we should know, then why wasn't it said when it happened."

"I'll make sure to tell the author that you didn't like the way she put this," Bella chuckled.

"Good," Jacob smiled.

"There's probably a good reason for this," Bella said. "I think it makes the story flow better this way … or maybe he's going to say something that will only make sense to us now … I don't know."

Mentions when I'd known that he understood, my face fell with shame:

"You don't have to be ashamed," Bella said thoughtfully. "I mean, he is what he is and he can't stop something like that from happening …."

"I can't believe that you're defending him," Jacob said, looking at her like she had gone insane.

"I'm not," Bella said, before he could say anything else. "I'm just saying that he shouldn't be ashamed of a fact which is part of his nature. If he were to act on it … well that would have been a different case."

Mentions Carlisle was wondering if he did the right thing sending Edward away:

"Yes," Jacob said immediately. "Too bad he didn't stay away."

"I think it really was good for him," Bella agreed to the first thing that Jacob had said, but for some reason was sad about the latter. "He needed time to gather up his resolve not to do anything."

"Hmph," Jacob huffed. "You mean to talk himself into coming because he didn't want to be a coward running away from a little girl."

"I suppose," Bella said, a little amused by his comment. "It seems like he's pretty stubborn and believes that he can do most things. That should help him to stop himself from …." she trailed off there and Jacob wanted to stay 'from killing you' but he kept that to himself.

Carlisle says but you should do what you can to keep the Swan child alive, even if it means that you leave us again:

"Okay … I think I might like him," Jacob said. "Er … for a bloodsucker that is."

Bella rolled her eyes at the qualification which he felt he had to add at the end there, and then started to read again.

Carlisle says better that than to put her in danger she'll be gone in a year or two:

"I agree with him completely," Jacob smiled.

"You know I figured as much when you had said pretty much the same thing in the last chapter," Bell said, slightly annoyed that he kept interrupting her.

"Right," Jacob said, not missing her annoyance.

Carlisle says we'll come with you, if that's what you need, you've moved without complaint for the rest of them, they won't begrudge you this:

"Still, I think that blonde would have a word or two against this," Jacob said.

"That doesn't seem fair though … I mean if Edward has moved because of her, she shouldn't say anything about this," Bella muttered.

"Yeah well, selfish people don't really care about being fair," Jacob shrugged.

Edward says thank you, it's generous, seeing as how I give privacy to no one:

"You know I don't think I could live with someone who could read my mind," Jacob said. "It would be so annoying."

"That makes it sound like you have something to hide," Bella pointed out with a smile. "What kind of thoughts do you have …."

"I don't really have anything to hide," Jacob said. "And you don't have to be so smug just because he can't read your mind …."

"Sorry," Bella said chuckling. "I suppose that would be annoying, but it's not really Edward's fault … he can't control his ability."

"You sure do defend him a lot," Jacob pointed out.

"Shut up," Bella said, blushing slightly and Jacob snickered.

Mentions the story didn't matter, not one would question too intensely:

"I might … er … though I probably wouldn't say anything to anyone so it wouldn't matter," Bella said.

"Er … why would you question this?" Jacob asked.

"Let's see, first he gives me a death glare," Bella said. "Then, right after that he tried to get out of the Biology class that we shared. Next, he leaves for a week for no apparent reason only to come back for a day and then leave forever. I don't know … that sounds questionable to me."

"I suppose," Jacob allowed.

Mentions perhaps marry someone:

"That's not going to happen anytime soon," Bella said making a face.

"Why not?" Jacob said.

"I'm not going to get married until I'm thirty," Bella said.

"Okay," Jacob said slowly. "You know, my sister Rebecca just got married and she's only eighteen."

"Really?" Bella said, surprised and a little sorry about what she had just said.

"Yeah," Jacob shrugged.

Mentions one more day, I would see her one more time, I could handle that:

"Yeah right," Jacob chuckled. "This guy sounds like an addict to be … just one more time … and then I'll quit."

Alice asks would you take half her family away in one blow:

"I don't get it, why don't they all just leave?" Jacob asked. "I mean, his dad just said that they would all go with him …."

"I guess he doesn't want to inconvenience any of them," Bella shrugged. "Maybe they all like it here at Forks." At the end of this sentence Bella was frowning … who would like to live in Forks?

Alice says I think something is changing, though, your life seems to be at a crossroads:

Bella was thoughtful after reading that; she was sure that this had something to do with her and she really wanted to know what it was already.

Alice says I don't see you killing anyone today:

"Argh," Jacob groaned. "I think they mention things like that just to annoy me."

"Er … Jake … I don't think they realize that you're reading this," Bella said and tried to smile.

Mentions it's embarrassing how my world empty of everything but her, my existence was centered around the girl, rather than myself:

"Huh … that almost sounds like our imprinting," Jacob said.

"Imprinting?" Bella questioned.

"Er … it's just another one of our legends," Jacob shrugged indifferently. He wasn't really pleased that this guy was talking about Bella that way … it seemed to confirm his worst fear.

"Are you going to explain more?" Bella said a little impatiently.

"No, I don't think so," Jacob said, trying not to smile at the expression on Bella's face, though truth be told he really didn't want to tell Bella this.

"Hmph," Bella huffed and then started reading again.

Mentions the road was slick with ice and they were trying more carefully, I could see Bella was taking the added risk seriously:

"Of course … I wouldn't want to crash into anyone," Bella said.

"So, are you as clumsy a driver as you are as walker?" Jacob teased.

"I'm a very good driver, thank you very much," Bella said, annoyed by the questioned.

"I noticed that you didn't deny that you're a bad walker," Jacob continued to tease.

Bella glared at him before she started reading again.

Mentions no one else was having trouble, had she parked in the worst of the ice:

"Somehow I doubt that … this is just Bella," Jacob teased as he laughed.

"Okay, so I fall down a lot, it's not really that funny," Bella snapped at him.

"I think it's funny," Jacob shrugged, unaffected by her glare.

Mentions as if something about the tire was making her emotional:

"Er … okay," Jacob said looking at her oddly. "What's that about?"

"I have no idea," Bella said, looking at the book just as oddly. "I almost wish that he could read my mind right now so I would know what I was thinking."

"Really?" Jacob said amused again. "I thought you were quite pleased that he couldn't read your mind."

"I am," Bella said. "But I'm really curious about what this is about."

Alice gasps no:

"What?" Jacob said, sounding worried, thinking that something bad was going to happen if Edward went over there to talk to Bella.

Mentions the vision came just half a second before the reality:

"Not much of a warning there," Jacob muttered, he was on edge, having a feeling that Bella was in danger and judging by her voice as she read, Bella was thinking the same thing.

Mentions when I heard her head crack the ice it felt like I had turned to ice, too:

"That's not good," Jacob said worried about that, though not as much as before.

"But it's better than getting squashed by a van," Bella said in a shaky voice.

"I can't believe he just saved you like that," Jacob grumbled.

"Really?" Bella said. "It seemed like something that he would do."

Jacob made a face at that. "I know … I just mean … well, it's going to be hard to dislike him knowing that he saved you."

"And that's a bad thing?" Bella said, a little amused by his reasoning.

"Yes," Jacob said. "Before it was bad that he was coming back … endangering your life, but now … if he wasn't there, you would have …." he trailed off there.

"Died," Bella said softly.

"Yeah," Jacob said. "It's like you're damned if he's there and your damned if he's not … maybe you shouldn't have moved back here."

"Well, it's too late for that now," Bella shrugged. "It will kill Charlie if I just move away not even spending two days at his house …."

"Yeah, but somehow I think it would kill Charlie more if you died," Jacob stated.

"You're right, but I'm not dead yet," Bella said and with that she started reading again.

Mentions it was changing course coming here again, like she was a magnet, pulling it towards us:

"No way," Jacob groaned. "You really are unlucky."

"I would like to disagree with you, but that's really difficult at the moment," Bella sighed.

Mentions a word I never said before in the presence of a lady:

"How dare you curse in front of her," Jacob said dramatically, trying to relieve some of his tension (and only allowing himself to do so because he was sure that this guy wasn't going to let anything happen to Bella right now).

Mentions I was not oblivious to the risk I was taking not just myself but for my entire family, exposure:

Both Bella and Jacob reacted in multiple ways to this. Bella was mostly grateful and sorry that she would be causing his family more trouble. Jacob was thinking that saving someone should be more important than any of that, though he was shocked too that this guy would actually do this.

Mentions the van shuddered and shivered against the unyielding obstacle of my arms:

"Er … they can stop a van in its tracks like that?" Jacob said, looking a little pale. "Man, they really are strong."

"It looks like it," Bella said, looking shocked.

Mentions if I moved my hands, the back tire was going fall onto her legs:

"Argh …." Bella groaned.

"Seriously, what the hell?" Jacob said almost laughing at how the van seemed to keep coming at her.

Mentions Edward was too anxious that he hurt Bella ending with I could feel that heat:

"Yep … he definitely thinks you're hot," Jacob teased.

Bella, however, didn't really hear him, she was too busy thinking about what Edward was just thinking. It made her happy that he cared so much for her safety, and she was already blushing by the time that Jacob had said anything.

Mentions that the relief sour, the humor vanished, she had noticed too much:

"Sorry," Bella said. "But you said it yourself … I looked at you right before the van was about to hit me."

Mentions if I was very confident as I lied, it made any questioner less sure of the truth:

Bella wasn't so sure that was going to work on her, she could be stubborn when she wanted to be. The question was if she would want to be or not. Somehow, she had a feeling that she would … she thought that everything that has happened so far would make her more interested in Edward.

Mentions mostly students peering and pushing through the cracks to see any mangle bodies were visible:

"That's horrible," Bella muttered, she knew for one that she wouldn't want to be anywhere near this accident … though that might have to do more with the fact that she passed out at the smell of blood.

Mentions her jaw set, no:

"Too bad man, she's not going to believe that," Jacob laughed.

"I wonder what else I saw," Bella mused out loud.

"You think you saw more than him flashing to your side?" Jacob said, his laughter stopping abruptly.

"I might have," Bella said. "That might explain why I'm being so stubborn about this …."

"Oh … I thought it was just that you were stubborn," Jacob said with a small smirk, but his expression was serious again after a second.

"I can be," Bella said, "though I usually need a reason to be stubborn … I just thought that if I saw more that I would be really curious to know what he was …."

"Which wouldn't be a good thing at all," Jacob said.

Bella wasn't sure if that was true or not, and she was pretty sure that she would want to understand the mystery that is Edward Cullen right about now.

Mentions Charlie's wordless anxiety and guilt a great swell of them wash out of him as he saw his daughter on the gurney:

"Why would he be guilty?" Bella questioned.

Mentions when Alice warned that killing Charlie's daughter would kill him too was not an exaggeration:

Bella frowned at that; she never wanted anything to happen to her dad and especially not because of anything that had to do with her.

Mentions it wasn't until I heard Charlie that I realized his anxiety were not wordless, I just couldn't hear the exact words:

"Huh, it looks like Swans just have hard minds to read," Jacob said.

"I don't think he can read the minds of animals," Bella said, barely able to prevent herself from laughing.

"What … that's not what I meant," Jacob said rolling his eyes, though he was laughing too.

Mentions I always taken him for a man of slow thought:

"Hey … Charlie's not slow," Jacob and Bella both said sounding annoyed.

"Though it's not like it would have made much of a difference for this guy, he doesn't think much of humans anyways," Jacob added.

Mentions I'm sorry Carlisle I didn't mean to put us in danger:

"He's sorry about saving you," Jacob frowned.

"He's just thinking about his family's safety," Bella assured Jacob and herself, too. "Though I think that Carlisle might be happy that he did this …."

"Yeah, the good Doctor seems to actually care about people," Jacob allowed.

Mentions I felt like a cad:

"Cad?" Jacob said.

"A guy that being dishonorable or ungentlemanly," Bella said.

"Oh … then he is a cad," Jacob nodded his head in agreement and Bella rolled her eyes.

Taylor thinks she's pretty:

"It looks like you might have just picked up another admirer," Jacob said laughing at the face Bella was making. "You sure are popular."

Taylor thinks, even all messed up, I should take her out, to make up for today:

"That will not be necessary," Bella said. "Especially not to make up for anything."

"This guy is kind of cocky," Jacob said. "He sounds like he thinks he would be doing you a favor by taking you out."

Mentions there was no reason for me to feel … how did I feel, annoyed or was angry closer to the truth:

"Dude, it's jealousy," Jacob said. "You know, for a know-it-all there are sure a lot of things this guy just doesn't know."

Carlisle says look at all the healed contusions, how many times did her mother drop her:

Jacob snorted and Bella groaned at that.

"So … how many times?" Jacob asked and Bella ignored him as she continued to read.

Carlisle thinks Forks is certainly the wrong place for her, with you here:

"Agreed," Jacob said, though it was sadly, he really did like Bella.

"I don't think he'll like hearing that from his dad," Bella said. "And you don't like me being here?"

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Jacob rolled his eyes.

Edward says no blood, no foul, and then smiled widely at his private joke:

"That wasn't very funny at all," Jacob frowned.

"Huh … I would have thought that Tyler would have been bleeding," Bella said, he had mentioned that he had more injuries.

Bella says I'm fine again and then glowered once in Edward's direction:

"What's your problem?" Jacob asked, looking amused.

"I've probably had to say, 'I'm fine' too many times that day," Bella sighed; she always hated going to the hospital because they always seemed to ask that.

"And why are you glaring at E … the bloodsucker," Jacob asked.

"You can call him by his name you know," Bella said.

"I could," Jacob shrugged indifferently.

"He just saved my life you know," Bella pointed out stubbornly.

Jacob sighed, he had to admit that she had a point. "Fine, why are you glaring at Edward?"

"I don't know," Bella shrugged, a little amused this time seeing Jacob glaring at her, but then added, "but it might have something to do with him walking about when I have to be looked over by all the doctors."

Mentions she flinched; it burned like acid to watch my words hurt her:

"Why does that hurt you?" Jacob said.

"I don't like being spoken to harshly," Bella said, this was true enough, but knew that it was more than that. She didn't like that Edward in particular was speaking to her harshly. Funny that she would feel that way about this guy that she had never met, but the more she read the more interested she found herself becoming in him. And she knew that her book-self would be even more interested than her.

Bella explains what she saw ending with the van should have smashed my legs, but you were holding it up:

"Er … it looks like you saw everything," Jacob said.

"Apparently," Bella said. "There's no way that he's going to make me think I imagined this."

"And you think you're going to try and figure out what he is," Jacob said a little worried.

"Yeah … most likely," Bella said.

"And you think you'll actually figure it out," Jacob added.

"Well … I would have to say yes, that would go along with me getting these books," Bella said. "Besides, I already know now, so it would only make sense that my book-self would learn that too."

Mentions she clenched her teeth together and her eyes were glistening with unshed tears:

"Argh," Bella groaned.

"Why are you crying?" Jacob asked, amused by her reaction to this.

"I sometimes cry when I'm angry," Bella grumbled, "it's really annoying."

Edward says nobody will believe that, you know:

"Way to make her think that isn't true," Jacob rolled his eyes. "You pretty much just told her you did all those things."

Bella says I'm not going to tell anybody:

"How could you not tell anyone?" Jacob said.

"Just like last week … who am I going to tell?" Bella shrugged. "Besides, it would obviously be bad for him … I must have realized that by now … if anyone knew this. How could I tell anyone that after he saved my life, when I know it would cause him trouble?"

Mentions how endearing her anger was, like a furious kitten, soft and harmless, and so unaware of her own vulnerability:

Jacob burst out laughing at that and at the fact that she was giving him her furious kitten glare.

Edward says I don't know:

Bella frowned at that answer, that wasn't going to make her book-self happy at all.

"It's because you like her, you idiot," Jacob groaned, rolling his eyes.