Thank you for favoriting, following, and reviewing.

Chapter 11

The large frame of the person sitting in the desk chair with his feet up on the bed told Bella, It was not Edward.

She squinted her eyes to see the dark figure better. "Jake, what are you doing?"

"Being romantic." He claimed with a smirk in his voice.

"Ugh." She groaned "Alright I get it, it's creepy." She rolled her eyes at him.

"No," His mirth was obvious. "I get it. Well, I get his side of it, you are very amusing when you're asleep."

Bella groaned again. Lying back down she pulled the pillow over her head. "Shouldn't you be on patrol?"

"No, I'm on Bella watch." He said. She didn't miss the double entendre.

"Ha, Ha." She said sarcastically, "What do you want?"

"You're in my bed."

Bella peeked out from under the pillow. "Do you need me to move? I could sleep on the floor."

"No, that's not... I just meant, you're in my bed. I've missed you, and you're right here. I just-" He choked on his words.

"I've missed you too." She confessed.

"Do you remember, after I phased, how some days I would be so tired we would end up cuddled up on the couch asleep?"

"Yes." She said cautiously.

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the minuscule space on the bed. Then he stuck out his lip and gave her his big puppy dog eyes.

She took a deep breath. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I chose him."

"I know, I am, friend-zoned for life."

If she wasn't starting to get tired again she would have protested more. But he said he knew where he stood. They were just friends, and it wouldn't be the first time they fell asleep next to each other. Of course, that was sitting up and on the couch. Oh, hell, she was thinking about this too much.

Giving in, Bella scooted over to give him more room. "Fine," She huffed out. "Get in."

Waking up the next morning was worse than the day before. This time it wasn't drool Bella was drenched in, but sweat. "Eww, I'm going to take a shower."

While she went to do that Jake went into the living room only to discover Charlie had taken down all his family photos and made his living room wall into a murder board. Fishing twine was wrapped around the screws that once held the frames. The string went from post to post creating an overlapping zigzag pattern. Behind the string were papers, some held lists, others were just a note or two.

"What's all this?" he asked

"What I know so far," Charlie answered. "Starting with the reasons My daughter wants to be one of those things. Jake looked at the paper. Charlie had written positives of being a Vampire.

Positives of being a Vampire

Don't age

Advanced senses

Strength

Speed

Beauty and grace.

Never tripping over her own feet again

Eternity with Edward.

Next to that was a note that read: Why she wants to be with Edward. He followed the string to another note. Because Being with Edward means she will stay young and beautiful.

Jake rubbed his forehead. He knew his best friend better than anyone. This board was missing a lot of Info, and Charlie needed to know it.

"Charlie, I know she has a thing about age, but she is not this vain," Jake said pointing at the note.

"I didn't think so, but it was her words."

Jake shook his head. He refused to believe that was the only reason she chose the leach over him.

He pointed at the first list. "There is something vital missing here."

Charlie looked at the paper. Taking out a pen he poised to write. "What?"

"Bella hates having to rely on anyone. She feels powerless when others fight for her. If she becomes like them she will have the strength to fight for herself."

"Who the hell does she need to fight?"

Jacob gestured to the older man. "You better sit down."

Charlie didn't ask any more questions. He promptly sat on the couch, listening intently as Jacob told him about Victoria, how she wanted revenge for her mate's death and how she had her sights on Bella.

"So, this, um, person, wanted to kill Bella. And since he was killed instead his, um, mate, wants revenge on the person he was trying to kill?" Charlie asked, his face was screwed up like he was trying to figure out a difficult puzzle.

"Pretty much, yeah," Jake answered.

"Jake." Bella called.

When Jake went to go see what Bella wanted he heard Charlie yell, "That doesn't make any damn sense."

Bella had a problem, she didn't have any clothes. The ones she did have were damp and stank like sweat. She wrapped a towel around her and paced the bathroom for ten minutes trying to figure out what to do.

She remembered Jacob offering her clothes the day she jumped off the cliff. He said they didn't fit him any more. She didn't want to borrow his clothes, glancing over at her clothes she grimaced.

"Jake." she called, praying he still had those old clothes.

Thank you for reading.